Friday, July 25, 2014

A day for the ages

When we first were thinking about moving to this field we were told that rarely was there any wind here. Well it seems that's been changing lately a good deal and today nearly blew us away.

With a wind warning out and gusts in the 50+ kms, the rain was running sideways.
The garden pretty much got mowed over, the yard light on the church blew off and missed me, and our 55 ft Internet tower buried in dirt and mounted to the wall, moved 8-10 inches at the base.
Got a little scary around here.

Tonight it's still raining, but it doesn't look like it was such a crazy day out there.
Acting like nothing happened.


Windy Day


Saturday, July 19, 2014

Called to Pastor?

Before a pastor can help a church he must become a student of it.
He must learn her ways and her motions, her strengths and weaknesses.
He need discover what gifts she carries in her body, and what her core strengths are, and in knowing this he will also have an idea of her weaknesses for they are often the very same things.

He looks at her foibles and doesn't ignore them or pretend they aren't there, but faces them with honesty and love.

He needs to study and become an expert at her ways, looking at her, listening to her, praying for her and listening for the soft sounds of the Holy Spirit who is at work in her.

If he comes first to listen, and if he comes as a servant to God to discern rather than to dictate, if he comes to love and to give, then perhaps he will be offered the vulnerable place of authority and work hand in hand with the Father, gently directing her in the ways God has for her.

This is not a work for the faint of heart, but it is a good work for those who are called by God to do it. So be brave and very courageous, and serve well.

-Randall Friesen, in the shower, to no one in particular.


*by "he" I could of course mean a she, depending upon the local context. And by "she" here I mean the church as the Bride of Christ.



Thursday, July 17, 2014

A very broken day in this world today.

Today the kingdoms of this world groan beneath the weight of darkness and lostness. Many many lives will never be the same, because of the activities this tired world and it's human leaders have felt worth pursuing.

You may live in this world yet belong to another kingdom. And if so, may it be your task this day to take time to call out to God for mercy and help, and to take more time to do that than take time to express your political opinions.

Need a place to start? How about:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven...

Sunday, July 13, 2014

On nights like these when the miles are long

It's on evenings like this when the sun is going down and the darkness takes over and the night comes quickly that my mind turns to the kids.

Are they safe tonight? Are they ok? Are they hurt or lost or lonely.

And before I can even think words to pray, my heart is already calling out their names before God.

And He is already on it.

Amen.

Friday, July 11, 2014

When friends come to visit.

IMG_5705

I think it was July 17, 2003 when Toni from England left his first comment on this here blog. Over these eleven years we've built sort of a friendship that can pick up where we last left off, even when we don't see one another for a bunch of years.

If you search for the word "Toni" in the search box here, you'll see that they have found a place in our hearts and you'll also see that life hasn't been particularly easy on them.

But they've been to visit this week and it's been good to spend some time together. Really good.

So we share some stories and memories and prayers and part ways again until some time down the road.

It's a good grace to us, these times.
They will be missed. Again.


Thursday, July 10, 2014