RICHES OF HIS GRACE

Amazing Grace is one of the best known, best loved of English hymns. Rightly so, for the word grace occurs often in the NT and "the riches of His grace that He lavished on us"(1:8) needs to be celebrated often.
In Ephesians 1 and 2 the word grace appears 6 times. As I read these verses this week, I found myself humming a hymn that speaks of "marvellous, infinite, matchless grace, grace that is greater than all our sin." It is so true that the lostness of humankind could not be bridged with the holiness of God apart from a grace that is beyond description.
In chapter 2 we twice read "it is by grace you have been saved"(2:5, 7). God's favour, God's acceptance; what we could never earn by any goodness of our own or personal sacrifice, God offers to everyone through the work of Christ. Every language exhausts their adjectives to describe this marvellous, amazing, matchless grace.
Paul, inspired by the Spirit, tells us that "in the coming ages he might (will) show the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (2:7) Incomparable riches.
My parents often gave me grace; some friendly teachers offered me what I did not deserve - grace; friends have given me grace; my wife more than anyone has often given me favour that I did not deserve.
But in Christ, throughout eternity, ages without end, we will see and experience God's incomparable riches of grace. Almost makes you want to write a song or at least one. Keep singing and enjoying His amazing grace. 

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Am I responsible for myself or are you responsible for me? Paul seems to say both when we read Galatians:
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. --- Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load." Galatians 6:3 - 5
Both are correct and of course they are not as contradictory as they appear. In the first phrase we are being challenged to help any brother or sister who has fallen into sin. We must do our best to help them back onto the road toward holiness. This may involve loving rebuke, it may becoming an accountability partner, it may be simply daily prayer for them. Whatever it involves when we are weakened through temptation and sin, we need community. We need to know someone else is carrying our burden with us.
On the other hand, Paul says, every Christian needs to be actively serving God. It is not enough for me sit back and rejoice that "our church is doing so well." I need to test my actions. How am I helping the church do well? Am I bearing my share of the load?
I should rejoice that the church around the world is advancing as the Good News continues to spread. However I must make sure I am doing my part. Have I been ready to go across the ocean or across the street? Am I giving as I should and praying as I should? Paul says in effect "do what you can so you can take pride (humbly) that you are doing your part, however small or large it may be.
Carry your own load of responsibility. We need every part of the body functioning in a healthy way to accomplish what God has for us.
And be there to help your sister or brother when they stumble or fall. We need community. And if or when it is you who stumbles or falls, you will be very thankful for that community of faith.

FREED TO LOVE

We recently finished a short sermon series on the topic of love. When considering what the NT teaches it is natural to go to the Great Commandment in Matthew 22 and then to I Corinthians 13 and I John 3 - 5. And we spent two Sundays in I Corinthians 13. However the theme of love flows throughout the NT even in the book of Galatians.
In Galatians Paul battles against those who would lead Christians back to a life lived under the Law; those who started with grace and the Spirit but are being led astray into thinking that living the Christian life is about obeying the law and working hard to be a disciple.
Paul reminded them and reminds us that in Christ we are called to freedom but it is not a freedom to indulge our sinful desires; God frees us to become all that we ought to become; we are freed to love like He loves; we are freed "from" but also freed "to".
"What is important is faith expressing itself in love.--- For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:6b, 13, 14 
Divine love is revealed and shared with us through Christ and the Spirit. We have the privilege and the challenge of living out God's love in serving others. We express our faith by our love.
This theme runs so clearly through the Scriptures. Why is it that loving others is not the number one goal of every Christian? Jesus told his disciples that love for each other should be our distinguishing mark. (John 13:34,35) Yet still so many believers are better at bringing division rather than unity in the body of Christ. We are too often too skilled at the damaging gossip, the cutting remark, the critical attitude, the ego focused perspective that pushes people away from following Christ; that leaves hurt and wounded Christians inside and outside of our churches.
We must keep challenging each other: are we more loving than we were? Are we growing in love? Are we asking for God's help to love as He loves? Is this a priority for us? Are we, am I intentionally, consciously seeking to grow in love.
Of course we should be. We all know that. God's great love has set us free so that we can love others - how are we doing?

I CANNOT, HE CAN

I was talking to someone very new to the faith today. It still amazes me that living the Christian life is both so simple a child can understand and so divine that after decades of study there is much that I still don't understand. The Bible is so clear and yet.
How can we who are so weak live in holiness? How can we who are so weak resist the seductive voice of sin as it tempts so strongly? We know we cannot live the Christian life alone. We need the life of Christ, we need the power of the Holy Spirit.
^"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.---  Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?" Galatians 2:20 & 3:3 
But how does that work? What does it mean "Christ lives in me"? We cannot live the Christian life on our own, we begin and continue the Christian life "by means of the Spirit."But what does that feel like - how does that work?
Now before you recommend books to me; or wonder if I've never studied these truths; I assure you I have. I know the Bible verses that explain these truths. I have taught and preached on what it means to live the Christian life.
Yet here is the reality for all of us: the life of faith involves mystery. We are living with the God of the Universe. He has come to live in us by His Spirit. We are united with Christ. But no human this side of heaven can truly explain this fully. It is a wonderful, marvellous mystery. Scripture stretches our minds and provides eternal truth. Daily living with God brings experiences that warm our souls and change our lives. God works in us and through us to help others.
Yet as limited humans, if we are honest, we stand in awe and see only "dimly through a veil". I wouldn't trust anyone who says they have it all together. If they know exactly how the eternal, unlimited God does His work in every believer, be suspicious. We are given all we need to know, but not as much as we'd like to know. His thoughts and ways are far beyond our limited understanding. We are called to walk by faith.
So when it comes to living the Christian life, we surrender to saying "I cannot, but He can." Somehow there is a mysterious mixture of God's power underlying human effort, strengthening and changing our will so that "in Christ" we can resist evil and choose willingly the good. Without fully understanding, we can fully live the life He calls us to live. Praise God.

CONCERN FOR THE CHURCHES

The Apostle Paul experienced more hardship than most Christians. He did not have a comfortable pastoral position. He did not preach evangelistic sermons in cosy church buildings or impressive stadiums. He did not travel among well established churches.
No, Paul experienced all kinds of difficulty from shipwrecks and hunger while travelling; beatings and imprisonment for preaching the Good News. He experienced much pain and many difficulties as he evangelized, planted churches and discipled young believers. But after he lists many of these challenges (II Corinthians 11), he adds these words:
"Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches." 11:28
Concern for the churches. Christ is building His church, one Christian, one family, one congregation at a time. Christ loves the church - as a whole and as made up of millions of churches. Paul cared deeply  for those churches he knew. This concern motivated him to write the letters we have in our New Testament. It motivated him to visit them, to send his co-workers to encourage and teach them; it moved him to pray for them.
Are you concerned for the church that Jesus loves? Do you pray for His church? Do you have a concern "for the churches? The one where you were first taught the truth; the one you now attend; the one you left for whatever reason? The ones that are in difficult countries? Do you pray for those churches?
Concern for the churches. I know of many Christians who are critical of churches; many Christians who have moved from church to church; many Christians who give their offerings to para church groups because they are not committed to a local church; many Christians who have quit going to any church.
What we need are more Christians like Paul who was very aware of all the weaknesses found in a local church. Just read what he deals with in those NT letters. Yet knowing how much Christ loves the church and those in the churches, Paul carried a deep concern for the churches. And so should we.
I hope you pray often for at least several churches - that they will grow in unity; that they will have a heart for our hurting world; that their leaders will be wise and godly.
Concerned enough to pray - and serve and give faithfully where you can. 

HAVING NOTHING

The second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians is a very personal letter. (Actually most scholars feel there was a "painful letter" written between I Corinthians and II Corinthians. See II Cor. 2:4 So there were at least three letters, and we have the first and third in our Bibles.) He shares a lot about himself in this letter as he works at maintaining a good relationship with this church in Corinth that he had started and to which he feels a strong relationship.
Paul several times defends his ministry, apparently because there are those who have challenged his sincerity, credibility, authority, etc. So in chapter 6 Paul lists some of what he has been through including beatings, prison and riots; and he mentions how he has ministered. The whole paragraph (6:3 - 10) is worth thoughtful consideration with its variety of descriptive words and phrases. But enjoy this one verse with me today.                                                                                                                         "---sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." II Cor. 6:10
What a vivid description of many of God's servants down through the centuries. It is an accurate description of Christians today, especially of so many faithfully serving God in poor and developing nations around the world.
In the midst of injustice and violence, His people are brokenhearted by the wounds people bear; they are sorrowful, yet in Christ always rejoicing. Facing overwhelming needs and systemic poverty, any of us can feel helpless: what can we do with our limited resources? We are poor; yet as we share the life changing, eternity changing Good News of the Gospel we are able to make the poor rich in Christ.
In so many cases, those serving Christ have chosen not to earn and consume but rather live on little so that they can serve and share with those in need. So they "have nothing" but again, in Christ, they possess everything of real, lasting value.
Rejoicing, rich, possessing everything! Have a great day!

RISK AND REWARD

Earlier this morning I ate a few pieces of dragon fruit while waiting for the kettle to boil. (I start the day with a cup of tea and my Bible.) After my workout (usually three times a week) I ate several very small bananas and an apple. I work at home on Wednesdays, so as I ate lunch with Jan we each enjoyed several pieces of pineapple. Then this afternoon for a snack I ate an orange. You might have guessed that I love to eat fruit (and it keeps me from eating too many sweet things.)
All fresh fruit, all from a local market. (Well maybe the apple was imported, but it was good.) I thought nothing of eating five different kinds of fruit today until I suddenly realized I would never do that in Canada. If I ate three kinds of fruit in one day it would be great but very unusual. Even while living in Florida, with fruit trees in my backyard, I don't think I tasted more than three kinds of fruit in one day. Yet here, with so much fruit available at such low cost, it is not unusual.
And I tell you this, why? Because it would have been easy for us to stay in Canada rather than come to Vietnam. In some ways it was quite costly for us to say "yes" to God's leading and move here. However fresh, cheap fruit is one of the small rewards we now enjoy. No, that did not figure into our choosing to come, but it is a nice little - and very healthy reward. :)
Too often when we speak of serving Christ, of following Him, of going wherever He leads us, we speak in terms of submission and the cost of discipleship. All of that is good, proper and biblical. But Jesus and the NT authors while speaking of the cost, do not hesitate to also speak of the rewards God promises to those who choose to follow. They are many. Most are not seen or touched, because they are spiritual and interior - like feelings of peace, purpose, joy, fulfillment, deep satisfaction. Other rewards, and these are the heaviest to use Paul's language (II Corinthians 4:17), will not be experienced until we pass to the other side. So don't be afraid to risk as you obey and follow wherever Christ leads.  

PRODUCING UNDER PRESSURE

I am always surprised how "nothing" can fill our days! Does that happen to you? One indication that it is a common occurrence is how so many retired people have told me "I am busier now that I have retired."
How is that possible? You were working a job from 8:30 to 5:00 and spent 45 minutes commuting each way. So when you retired you gained 10 hours a day, 5 days a week yet you are now busier than ever? Hmmm, is that a huge exaggeration, are you wonderfully involved in extensive volunteer service, or have you filled your days with "nothing"?
Of course this is not an issue only for those who've retired. I have noticed over the years that I am far more efficient when there are pressing responsibilities that must be handled. From filling some hours with "nothing important", I simply use that time for important jobs. Instead of taking 6 hours to accomplish something, under pressure I focus, I concentrate and do that task in half the time.
Of course with all of us there is a limit. If we experience pressure to produce that is really beyond our limit, we may lose efficiency and in fact become terribly unproductive. We've all experienced hours like that: I have so much to do, I kind of "freeze" for a while and do nothing!
However that is the exception. Normally we need some "pressure" if we are to live well; if we are to live productive lives for the glory of God and the good of people we are called to serve.

"For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."        II Corinthians 5:14, 15

I like the active word Paul uses in the first part of this passage. "For Christ's love compels (rules, controls) us." Paul is "under pressure" to love others, to serve them, to share the Good News with them. This Divine pressure is the love he has enjoyed from God. It is the love that he knows God has for others. It is the love that he feels for others because of God's work in him. How much God produced through Paul, because Paul lived intentionally under the pressure of Christ's love.

What a powerful yet tender pressure: to be controlled and compelled by Christ's love. I want His love to move me to be what I should be, to love as I should love, to do what I should do, to produce what He wants me to produce. This is the pressure that should motivate us so that good things fill our days, our minds, our hearts.

Under Christ's tough and tender love we will then "produce under pressure".

RELYING ON GOD

The theme of suffering is never too far from discussion as you read through the NT. It is expected that as humans in a broken, sinful world we will suffer. It is expected that as followers of Jesus Christ, in a world dominated by the evil one, we will suffer. God offers us warm compassion and wonderful comfort as we go through various difficulties. More than that, God's comfort produces something positive in believers, the quality of "patient endurance" through suffering. II Corinthians 1: 3 - 6)
I think of one friend who has struggled with cancer for a long time. She is going through more treatment at the present time; but the pain has increased and it is very difficult for her to sleep. In the past she has displayed it and now she continues to develop the quality of patient endurance.
I think of a report Jan and I heard during a conversation a few months ago while we were in a different country. We were told of an area where Christians are being harassed and persecuted. The treatment they've received is painful and unfair. The woman telling us listened to what these believers had endured with shock and said something like "That is terrible."
But she told us, the believers who had witnessed and experienced the suffering were surprised by her reaction. "Why terrible?" they responded. "This is good for the church, it helps to purify and test us." And they might have added, "it has developed the quality of patient endurance in us".
We western Christians think of suffering and we think of physical or emotional pain caused by disease or relational wounds. But in other parts of the world, Christians read the NT with 1st century eyes. They know first hand what physical suffering for Jesus' sake is like. They are acquainted with abuse and persecution. God's comfort and compassion are their companions.
Their sometimes extreme suffering forces them to look beyond themselves. They experience what Paul meant when he wrote:
"In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us." II Corinthians 1:9, 10
When the suffering became too hard, writes Paul, I learned to rely on God, the One with the power to even raise the dead.
So Paul, early Christians and many 21st century Christians have "been forced" to look to God and rely on Him. We pray for those enduring persecution for Jesus' sake and for those Christians suffering simply because we live in a world marred by sin; a world of much physical, mental and emotional suffering. We pray for them; and we depend on God's grace to be sufficient when our time of suffering comes. The testimonies of Jesus' followers ring down through the centuries. His strength really is enough.

COMFORT

In my last blog I shared the words from I Corinthians 16 in which we are challenged to be strong and courageous.
This morning in my devotions I got "stuck" in the familiar opening words of II Corinthians. Rather than challenge they bring us comfort and encouragement to serve others.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." II Corinthians 1:3,4
What a great God and Father we have! Instead of reading the rest of the chapter, I paused on these words and worked to memorize them. I hope to do meditate on them throughout today. We have friends visiting from Ontario. We will take them to the "pottery village" and to the "silk village" before they catch their departing flight tonight. Unfortunately you can no longer watch people in these villages make silk clothing or fashion the pottery. However we will enjoy seeing the end results.
So as we drive around I want to rejoice in the comfort God provides and pray for those to whom I need to be "passing on" His comfort.
May you either rest in God's comfort today or share His comfort with someone you know who is hurting. Or do both!

STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

Do you remember how many times Joshua was told to be "strong and courageous"? He had a huge task in front of him. He was the appointed leader of Israel - stepping into the large leadership sandals of Moses and becoming the one about whom all Israel would complain when anything went wrong!
So Moses, God and the people of Israel tell Joshua to be "strong and courageous" a total of six times. Maybe it was said more often than that, but you will find this challenge and encouragement recorded six times at the end of Deuteronomy and in the first chapter of the book of Joshua.
We are told in the NT that these things (things recorded in the OT) are written for our learning. So we are right to think that God might say to all who serve Him: "Be strong and of good courage." The Apostle Paul seems to echo the words to Joshua as he concludes his letter to the Christians in Corinth.
"Be on your guard; stand firmin the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." I Corinthians 16:13 - 14
What in your life calls for extra strength and courage these days? Do you need to be courageous and strong to keep persevering in a task that has worn you down? Do you need courage and strength dealing with physical pain that eats away at you day by day? Or for the loss of a relationship that can't be restored? Or to resist temptation that attracts you to disobedience? Or for Christian service that is important but goes unnoticed and unappreciated? Or in living for Christ in a family or company that rejects Him? Or ---.
Hear these encouraging words from Paul by the Spirit: "Stand firm in the faith; be courageous and strong." The Holy Spirit lives in you. You are intimately connected to Christ. You are loved unconditionally by the Father.
You can persevere. You can continue to pray. You can continue to serve. You can continue to love those who may not love you back. Ah, yes. That is the NT addition to what echoes the OT words of encouragement. "Be courageous. Be strong. Do everything in love." Yes, God wants us not only to persevere, to pray for others, to serve where we can. He calls us to be like Him - to love everyone, all the time!
Hmmm. Loving everyone, all the time. I think for that I need to strong and courageous. 

FROM HEAVEN

Jesus is unique. We who follow Him are convinced of that fact. This is why we follow Him. But of course, in many parts of the world especially the post Christian west, people shy away from this fact. If Jesus is unique, He must be uniquely important in connecting us to God. In fact He may be the only way to fully connect us with God!
The post Christian, post modern west is quick to reject this because pluralism, tolerance and suspicion of any absolute truths have been fully embraced. Think highly of Jesus if you will, but don't claim that He is unique and is the unique way to God.
Yet anyone who takes the Bible seriously has to see how unique Jesus is. He himself claimed this many times. For example:
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man." John 3:13
Jesus boldly declared to a Jewish religious leader that He was one of a kind; the only Man who had come from heaven. I was reminded of this today by the several references that can be translated "heavenly man" in the great "resurrection chapter."

"The first man (Adam) was of the dust of the earth; the second man (Jesus) is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I Corinthians 15:47 - 49

Of course Jesus was unique. If indeed He was and is the only One who has ever come from heaven, then we would expect His teaching to be powerful and unique; we would not be shocked by His amazing control of nature or demons displayed in various miracles. This is what we would expect from a Heavenly Man.
Authors and movie makers are enamoured with creating fictional superheroes and super villains who can do the spectacular. The reality of Jesus is far better than the best of these fictional characters. We who follow Jesus understand and believe He really broke into human history, this Visitor from Heaven, 2000 years ago. The baby born in Bethlehem was indeed sent from heaven.
We worship the Man from Heaven. And we are promised that one day we will share eternity with Him. 

AM I READY

The four of us (office manager/unofficial deaconess and three pastors) have begun to meet for an hour on Thursday mornings. We each share something we've enjoyed from Scripture in the last few days. Then we spend most of the hour praying.
This morning the last prayer used the phrase "so that we will be ready". This phrase would not have startled any 1st century Christian. However I noticed it because I can't remember when I last heard it. Several decades ago a popular Christian song plaintively repeated "I wish we'd all been ready." I think there was more talk about the return back then.
Being ready is a theme of a few of Jesus' parables. The owner is coming back. The bridegroom will arrive and the doors will be closed. Jesus promised to return. He warned us to be ready. But I suspect that I and millions like me often fail to reckon on "being ready" for the return of Jesus.
I wonder what might happen if we Christians replaced our normal greetings of "Hello, how are you?" with an occasional: "Hello, are you ready? Ready for His return?"
I remember decades ago reading of a Christian who began every day as part of His morning prayer: "Will it be today?" and ended his day by asking: "Will it be tonight?"
We are closer to the return of Christ than He was! We need to be ready.

RECONCILIATION

What a wonderful, hopeful word this is. To reconcile: the prayer of parents of a rebellious teen or adult child; the hope for adult siblings who drifted or argued their way far apart; the joy when it happens in a broken marriage; the peace that comes to a country where civil war has raged. Reconciliation.
The word occurs several times in Romans 5. We learn the stark truth there and elsewhere that by nature and choice we are enemies of God. Some of our rebellion is active, some passive. Whether we know it or not, without Christ, we are not and cannot be friends of God.
But the Good News is that "we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through his live." Paul affirms that we rejoice in God because of this wonderful reconciliation. Romans 5:9 - 11.
As we continue through the NT we learn that God has now given us the ministry of reconciliation. We are all to follow in Paul's footsteps as Christ's ambassadors. Like Paul we should "implore (others) on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." II Corinthians 5:20
How sad that no one seem able to bring reconciliation in Syria right now; or between Israel and Iran; or between countless marriages that are heading for divorce.
May we be ambassadors, at whatever level, of peace and reconciliation, since we have been reconciled to our God of Peace.

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

The Apostle Paul twice reminds his readers that we "were bought with a price." The first time it is in the context of a call to reject sexual immorality. The Holy Spirit lives within every Christians, therefore her/his body has become a temple! We must guard this temple from being involved in idolatry: in worshipping sex through sexual immorality.
"You are not your own; you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:20
Christ paid the price so that we can be forgiven and free to love and be loved by God. Therefore we are to pursue holiness.
Surprisingly (since they appear together nowhere else in the NT) we see the same two Greek words in the next chapter.
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings." 7:23
Here the context is a brief word to any first century Christian, a slave or freedman. The important thing to remember was not their relationship to humans but to God. Whatever their status in a society of many owners and slaves, their real status was as slaves of God! He was their owner, their ultimate boss.
Twenty centuries later the phrase remains a sober reminder and challenge to all believers. We've been bought with a great price; the loving, voluntary sacrifice on the cross of our Lord and Saviour. We've been united to Him by the Holy Spirit. With this high status, we must not let ourselves be controlled by our runaway sexual desires or by any domineering human. We should live like who we are: slaves of our all wise, all loving God.

PEACEMAKERS

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons (or children) of God." Making peace, keeping peace in relationships is not easy, but is important.
In the later chapters of Romans, Paul encourages us to work at peacemaking.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 12:18
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 14:19
Of course Jesus followers should bring peace to relationships. We have peace with God through ourLord Jesus Christ. As we walk by faith, trusting in His control, we enjoy the peace of God, even when we would naturally be filled with anxiety.
Therefore it is not surprising that we should have great advantage in living at peace with people, even irritating people! We can bring peace in on the job relationships and family relationships. We serve the God of Peace.
So lets make an extra effort this week to be people of peace.

A FAVORITE SUBJECT

I am preaching on love for four Sundays, one of my favorite subjects. I am so glad that it is also "one of God's favorite subjects." While I am preaching from I Corinthians tomorrow, I was reading this morning in the book of Romans.
Many students of Romans agree that chapter 8 is "the mountain top" of this powerful book. There are many "mountain peaks" within the chapter, wonderful verses full of theological and heart warming truth. Within the chapter, many of us might identify the highest peak in the chapter comes in those glorious final verses of great assurance:
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future,nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 8:38, 39
As I began to write this blog, I remembered a favorite song of mine by veteran Canadian singer Anne Murray. It is titled "Someone is Always Saying Goodbye". It recounts the plaintive truth that in our transient and travelling world, people are always saying goodbye: to loved ones leaving in taxis and buses, on trains and in planes. It avoids mentioning the final, ultimate goodbye that no one can escape.
Living in an international city among expats, all far from home, and none expecting to retire here, we say "goodbye" even more than most people.
Human love is often so fragile: witness broken friendships, broken promises, broken homes. Human love at best is so often strained by distance and broken always by death.
But God's love - God's marvellous love never fails. Nothing, absolutely nothing "can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
No wonder we want to gather with some of God's people every Sunday to praise and worship the God who loves so deeply and eternally. 

VOTING

It is Tuesday night as I write this short blog. At dinner a person from Singapore commented on her interest in the American election. In spite of China's ascending power and some decline in America's influence, the world still watches closely.
Someone from another country was in the same conversation. She is over age 30 but has never had the opportunity to vote. If you are in the USA, I hope you are using your freedom to vote, even though there are no perfect candidates.
There is only One, and while He is Lord of the universe, He continues to allow humans to rule on earth. Sadly the Prince of this age, Satan, still has great influence. However we know that Jesus one day will reign over everyone and everything. So we follow elections; we hope and pray that the best people will be elected.
Yet we know the very best is still to come. Until that Day, we continue to pray "Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven" and we cry, "Come Lord Jesus."

MIXED SIGNALS, NO CONFUSION

All serious Christians want to sensitive to the Spirit and led by the Spirit so that we may do God's will. Several chapters in Acts provide a very interesting account of one Christian's leading. Was Paul's decision and insistence that he must go to Jerusalem his idea or from God? Acts 19:21
We are not told why he decided to go, but Paul
"was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost."
Acts 20:16
Pentecost was one of the primary festivals for which Jews would gather, but I wonder if the Day of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came upon them, was already seen as very special to Christian believers, even though there was not yet such thing as a "Church calendar".
Paul felt "compelled by the Spirit" to go to Jerusalem, although he apparently knew nothing more. Acts 20:22 But somehow Paul knew that he would not be free to visit the Christians at Ephesus ever again and so said a very teary good-bye to the church leaders. 20:27, 28
However when he next meets with a group of believers we read:
"Through the Spirit they (the Christians from Tyre) urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem."21:4
Was that a directive from God for Paul not to go? Or was it simply that by the Spirit they knew trouble lay ahead and Paul was being prepared for it?
Then we read of Paul being strongly and clearly warned that trouble lies ahead in Jerusalem. Agabus, known to be a prophet both speaks and acts out the future.
"Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 21:11
But Paul would not be stopped by this warning, or the pleading from those who loved him. He asserted that he was ready to die in Jerusalem "for the name of the Lord Jesus." And so Luke records that the disciples gave up trying to stop him and said, "The Lord's will be done."21:12 - 14
When finally Paul arrives in Jerusalem and meets with the leaders he reports on his missionary work among the Gentiles. They praise God, but they are concerned about the unrest among the legalistic Jewish Christians unless Paul demonstrates his own submission to Jewish law. He takes their advice and as result is almost beaten to death and arrested. 21:26 -33 "The rest is history."
Looked at simply from a subjective "how do I know the leading of the Spirit, the will of God" these passages provide a somewhat puzzling example.
I mention this because the life of "walking by faith" is not always clear. There are times when even the most devout believers do things that may appear to others as wrong or misguided. And there are times when very devout believers are not really sure of what they should do, they simply act in faith.
Read over these several chapters, Acts 19 - 21. If you were Paul would you have gone to Jerusalem and submitted to the purification ceremony? After the warnings about danger; after the pleadings of sincere believers saying "Don't go." Even if at first you felt "compelled by the Spirit"?
When seeking the will of God we need to pay careful attention to the advice of other believers, especially if we know them to be wise and godly. But ultimately each of us must seek and do the will of God as we know it - from the Word and the Spirit. Sometimes (perhaps often) there will seem to be mixed signals. Yet each of us must ultimately do what we believe God calls us to do. We walk by faith.

POURED OUT

This morning we celebrated Communion at our church. Many millions, perhaps 2 billion people have or will celebrate Communion today since it is the first Sunday of the month. Of course some take Communion every Sunday, others usually on the first Sunday of the month.
Anyway last night in preparation for Communion, I turned to Luke 22. There in verses 19 and 20 are the familiar words of Jesus, "This is my body given for you" and again, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." I was meditating on the "my" and the "you" in these words so often read and heard. He gives and we receive. His body, His life blood given freely for us.
Then I paused on the word "poured out" or in the older English version, "shed". I could not remember how often the original Greek verb was used in the NT, or in what contexts. When I checked I realized that it is actually used fairly often. However one verse especially caught my attention.
^"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:5

I enjoyed bringing those two phrases together last night and again this morning. ""my blood, which is poured out for you" and "God's love has been poured out into our hearts". What a great gift our Saviour gave. Allowing them to place a piercing crown of thorns on his head; to whip his back, and to  nail his hands and his feet to the Cross. And then finally a sword pierced his side. His blood, his life being poured out in death so that we might have eternal life.
And as we confess our sin and trust in this Crucified Christ, by the Holy Spirit, God's love is poured out into our hearts. Isn't it strange that we so often pursue and thirst for more human attention, affirmation, praise, and love; when we should instead thirst for a deeper appreciation and understanding of how much God loves us? Thirst for more even as we are satisfied with the knowledge that God loves us more than any human parent loves their most precious child.
"Dear Father, dear Saviour, thank you for the blood poured out for us; and thank you for the love poured out into us. We love because you first loved us." 

SLOWLY

Every taxi driver is different. Due to a variety of things (primarily old age and no motor bike driving experience) we travel almost exclusively by taxi. Each week between the two of us, Jan and I probably ride in 15 - 20 taxis a week. Some drivers are aggressive and very good, others are slow and hesitant.
One day this week I took a small taxi (they are the cheapest) to the office. Very quickly I noted that he was a very slow driver. For fun I thought I would watch the speedometer. Even when the road opened up for 100 meters in front of him, he never went faster than 40 km per hour. I think we averaged closer to 30 km for the 20 minute trip. In his case, a 25 minute trip. Very safe but oh, so slow. Yet it did not bother me a bit.
Life in most developing countries is lived "slowly". You either adjust or you are constantly frustrated. And of course we don't experience "slow" like many in less developed countries.
I was reminded that God often chooses "slow" according to our plans and our timing. Slowing down and waiting for God's timing is for many of us a learned skill.
Funny how we can be very slow to respond when God prompts us to do something: slow to break a sinful habit; slow to start a habit that would help us toward holiness; slow to make obvious decisions; slow to respond to the prompting of God's Spirit; slow to help another in need.
Yet when we pray for something we want God to act quickly. We would really like Him to be on our fast track.
Is it any wonder that in two very familiar passages the word and character quality of patience appears. "The fruit of the Spirit is love,  joy, peace, patience---". Galatians 5:22
"Love is patient, love is kind." I Corinthians 13:4

So here is to toddlers, slow taxi drivers, some government departments and all of those who, if we let them, will help us grow in patience.