20 Things You Didn't Know About Victoria Day

CityNews: 20 Things You Didn't Know About Victoria Day:

Are you thinking of Queen Victoria today? If you live in Canada, you ought to be.

"19. We all know that Victoria in B.C. is named after her, but so is the capital of Saskatchewan - Regina."

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Set to Ordain Gay Minister

Gay issue dividing Lutheran Church:

In an all too familiar story line...

"'In the midst of some of my painful experiences at seminary, I think I discovered something about the Gospel. I learned that Jesus ministered in the margins. And I discovered that table of outcasts. And I really met that Christ through those experiences.'

Dawn Hutchings, the pastor of Holy Cross, believes Mr. Ketola is the ideal person to become the first openly gay Lutheran pastor.

Rev. Hutchings said she knows her parish will face consequences, but she thinks going ahead with the ordination will be a benefit for the entire Church.

She said most people who are against gay ordination are opposed to it in theory. But she said it is harder to be against the idea when you work with someone like Mr. Ketola.

In fact, she wants Mr. Ketola to be an 'ambassador' for gay ordination throughout the Church.

Susan Johnson, the National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, also would like to see gays ordained, but she is against this ordination because it is a break with the Church as a whole.

Bishop Johnson said this is an odd situation for her because she remembers when women were not considered worthy to be ministers -- so she knows what it is like to be on the outside. But she still feels it is better that the Church come to a consensus before change takes place.

"People are very committed to their Church and they would prefer to remain within it. But they want it to reflect their understanding of theology, their understanding of scripture and faithfulness to God's word. And that's where the moment of tension takes place, when we have differing opinions."

Words of Death - Words of Life

1. You do not know me
2. You do not know where I am going
3. You do not know where I come from
4. You do not know my Father
5. You will die in your sin
6. You cannot come where I am going
7. You are from below
8. You are of this world
9. You will seek to kill me
10. You do what you have heard from your father the devil
11. You cannot bear to hear my word
12. You are of your father the devil
13. Your will is to do the devil’s desires
14. You are not of God
15. You dishonour me
16. You have not known God

Such is a brief summary of some of the words Jesus spoke to people in the Temple at Jerusalem.

A church sign near my home reads; “Out of faith? Come in for a fill-up.” Apparently this is intended to get bodies into the church building. Although it is just a sign, it signifies to me what so many want to do in order to win the lost – offer the meeting of felt needs.

In some cases, Jesus did appeal to people’s felt needs of spiritual emptiness, but never without identifying for them the false hopes in which they trusted. In many cases, that included words like He spoke above. Words that, by the way, were surrounded by invitation to come to Him and find life: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light [that gives] life.”

People need to know their real condition, anything less than that is a lack of love on our part.

Ordination Sermon - The Fuel to Pastoral Courage - 2 Timothy 1:7 - Part Four (last)

II. Rely on what the Spirit Gives -- The Spirit and His Gifts Bring

Power, Love and a Sound Mind

A. The Spirit Gives Ability – Power

B. The Spirit Gives Love

The Spirit of love has given you love.

Galatians 5:16 “...walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 22 [for] the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control...”

1 Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in... love...”

2 Cor 5: 14 “The love of Christ controls us...”

Power without love is dictatorship.

Jesus said, John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What is true for every Christian is true in particular for those called to lead the Christians in a local church. In his book on Leading with Love, author and pastor Alex Strauch writes of an elder he met who in the many years at one local church had been “physically choked, punched, had his jaw broken, been spit on, cursed at, falsely accused and threatened with a lawsuit.” (p. 31).

I do not expect such to happen to you at Grace Fellowship Church! But what if it did? Would you grow disillusioned with God, bitter in spirit and abandon the hard work of the ministry for some soft and comfortable little gathering of people who think just like you?

Love, in its Christian definition, does not mean soft clouds and easy sailing. To love a sinning Christian can be one of the most frightening tasks in the world.

^· Are you prepared to call back the wayward husband?

^· Rebuke the arrogant false teacher?

^· Plead with the wandering teen?

^· Have your motives questioned?

^· Be represented unfairly?

^· Know things about people that you can never tell anyone else except the Lord in prayer?

1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Praise God He has not given you a spirit of cowardice – but of POWER, and of LOVE.

C. The Spirit Gives Self-control

The third quality Paul highlights to timid Timothy is self-control. The Holy Spirit and His gifts are marked by self-control... or more specifically, a SOUND MIND.

There are times in the life of any church when “all hell breaks loose.” Satan and his minions attack and whether for chastening or humbling or refining, God permits troubles to settle in on a local assembly. “The gates of hell will not prevail...” but they will do their worst.

A young man told me of his military training. The trainers waited until the young recruits were sound asleep, then rolled a type of exploding sound bomb into their bunk and started shooting their weapons over their heads. This was to train them to respond in a level-headed and sober-minded manner! I think they got better at that on the third night! No one knows for certain when trials will hit a church – they will often come as suddenly and shockingly as an exploding stun grenade.

I met a pastor recently who in the span of one week found out that his assistant was going to die, his wife had cancer and a large doctrinal controversy was invading his church. Two weeks before, all was calm and pleasant. Now it was all bombs and shells and rockets.

Sheep are easily frightened... and there is nothing worse than a shepherd who flees when the enemy approaches.

^· You must be a David that grabs that lion by the beard and fights him barehanded for the sheep.

^· A shepherd who chases down the bear before striking him and killing him with a smooth stone.

^· The one who looks back at the trembling congregation and then into the face of the cursing giant, and says,

1 Samuel 17: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”

The Bible says that every day Goliath came out and cursed the Israelites, and every day they would flee from him. Panic. Fear. Confusion. COWARDICE!

Until along came this ruddy boy who kept his wits about him – preached the Truth of God to his own heart – then acted like it was true.

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

Such the Lord calls you to, Julian. Calculated risk and leadership in midst of panic...

You were not given a spirit of cowardice, but one of POWER and LOVE and SOUND MIND.

Conclusion

Consider your blessings – count them.

^· Saved from sin.

^· A godly heritage.

^· A Christian wife.

^· Beautiful children.

^· A church that loves you and affirms your gifting.

^· And to all this, the Holy Spirit has gifted you – to make you a gift to this assembly. And they all join with me in saying, “Fan it into flame!”

Do not waste this precious gift. Lean on the bellows cramp. Pour on the fuel. Poke, prod and push that fire until it blazes! So that your life is marked with POWER, LOVE and A SOUND MIND.

Fan it into flame. Let it burn and consume you so that men see Jesus, not Julian.

Die to self and let the firestorm of His presence work through you to bring LIGHT and HEAT to this church and this world!

^· Flee youthful lusts, and man-up to the ministry to which He has called you.

^· Love your wife like Christ loved His church.

^· Train your children the way God trains His children.

^· Preach as if you handled the oracles of God.

^· Serve with the humility with which Christ came to earth and died.

^· Labour more than all the rest, but not you, Christ in you.

^· Flee fear and walk in power, love and a sound mind from the Holy Spirit....

Then lie down and die – and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

His Image, Our Value

Not long after my son was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome and we began to wrestle through all of his disabilities, we found ourselves at a social gathering for families with special needs kids. There was much good in this gathering, but I left deeply troubled. In every conversation I kept hearing some form of one of the worst of the Devil’s lies. That lie suggests that worth is determined by contribution. Therefore, in order to justify a person’s existence, you must be able to demonstrate some way in which they contribute to society.

Looking for ways that people with special needs contribute to the world can be a fine exercise, but when it becomes the justification for their existence, we have bought the utilitarian tale. The Truth, according to God, is that people are valuable for the simple fact that they are made in His image. Value is all in relation to Him, not my supposed contribution.

This is gloriously freeing! I do not have to justify the existence of my disabled son (or my “abled” daughters and wife or even me!) to anyone – our value, your value is that you were made in God’s image.

So, I was glad to read this little paragraph today in Stephanie Hubach’s book. Same Lake, Different Boat:

Consider it this way: the image of God within each indi­vidual can be likened to a mirror that reflects God’s glory, in part, to others. Unmarred at creation, what an incredible and awesome reflection that must have been! In a world now impacted by the fall, each person’s mirror is cracked, yet all the pieces still remain. Consequently, the looking glass reflects a distorted view of God’s glory—but it remains a partial mirror of him just the same. Our struggle enters in because we find it so much easier to identify the cracks in the mirror, and so we miss the image entirely. It takes a conscious effort for us to concentrate on the most fundamental blessing of creation—that we are all created in the image of God—and to gaze speechlessly at his goodness, truth, and beauty in oth­ers. Yet lives are radically transformed—ours and those around us—when we intentionally choose to focus on the image of God within.

Why We Whisper - The Mounting Financial Cost of Sin

Why We Whisper:

Chuck Colson writes:

"For example, there is the cost in treating sexually transmitted diseases. Research shows that more than half of all Americans will contract a sexually transmitted disease at some point. The cost: Some $17 billion in higher taxes and health insurance costs every year. And that does not include secondary costs, like treating cervical cancer, infertility, birth defects, and brain damage. And yet, our government does little or nothing to discourage premarital sex.

And then there are the huge costs of out-of-wedlock childbearing. Welfare costs alone to single-parent families amount to $148 billion per year. We pay indirectly, as well, through costs associated with child abuse—much more common in single-parent homes—and in higher crime rates."

This confirms the clear teaching of Romans 1 and 2 that where sin increases, God's wrath against that sin also increases... not only in the age to come, but in the age we live in.

I am not convinced that these kinds of stats will win any argument, but it reminds me that one tool in our evangelism is to point out what sin pays: slavery and death. Those two words are far more than metaphor.

Ordination Sermon - The Fuel to Pastoral Courage - 2 Timothy 1:7 - Part Three

II. Rely on what the Spirit Gives -- The Spirit and His Gifts Bring

Power, Love and a Sound Mind

There is some discussion over whether or not the word “spirit” in this verse should be capitalized. Is Paul writing to Timothy that he has been given some inner spiritual condition (state of mind) that is marked by power, love and self-control? Or is he saying that Timothy has been given the Person of the Holy Spirit – and that Holy Spirit is marked by power, love and self-control?

I say our answer to this is of little consequence. Both answers lead to the same conclusion!

In my mind the matter is settled by that little word “us.” “God gave US.” Paul includes himself in this gifting and by deduction I would say he includes all of us who are elders.

More than that, if the Holy Spirit gives a Christian the gift of mercy... that gift of mercy will not have “fear” attached to it! Showing mercy can take enormous courage and love and self-control! So there is a sense where every gift the Sprit gives has these three attributes attached to it. So, I will suggest both: Timothy received the Holy Spirit of power, love and self-control. Timothy also received a gift from the Spirit and attached to it were power, love and self-control.

Let’s consider these three....

A. Ability – Power

In Ephesians 1, Paul prays that we Christians would have our eyes opened to the “immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.” The longer we follow Jesus the more we understand the resurrection-like power that was required to bring us from unbelief to belief.

This same omnipotent ability to raise sinners from death to life is the same power with which Jesus rules over all creation now – for the good of His church. And since the Holy Spirit is equal in every way to the Father and the Son, it is the same power that marks Him and His gifts to Christians.

If we fear, it is not because we lack true power.

Now, there is such a silly thing as what is called, “power religion” where people get all in a lather to stun the world with great signs and wonders and their yabba dabba doo tricks. But that is not what we are all about. The Spirit is not out to WOW people into the Kingdom – He is much more powerful than that!

Think of how the Holy Spirit shows His power.

He brings life to the dead; He makes Christians: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” “... you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

He kills sin in Christians: “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live...” “...walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

He assures Christians they are Christians: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...”

He improves the prayers of Christians: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

He give Christians gifts to serve other Christians: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit... To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

He teaches Christians the Truth: “12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Now, if you stop and think about it, you will see that everything God is calling you to do in pastoral ministry, Julian... every single task, is something that only God Himself through the agency of the Holy Spirit can do!

^· Who can save a sinner and make him a Christian?

^· Who can put sin to death in a Christian?

^· Who can give assurance to a Christian?

^· Who can give a supernatural gift to a Christian?

^· Who can improve another Christian’s prayers?

^· Who can teach the Truth to a Christian?

Well, you. But not you!

Colossians 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 Corinthians 15: 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

In fact, it was a conscious choice on Paul’s part to model for us the very thing we most need in Christian ministry. A life on fire – not with personal energy or programs or self-advancement – rather, a life set on fire by having been in the presence of God’s glory.

A man who has met with God is purposeful to expend himself, but in the unending strength of God. He is a man intent on making nothing of himself, and much of God... with all of his strength!

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

“With them in fear?” Paul the great apostle? Yes, there was fear, but it was not determinative... it was not controlling... it was not his guide in word or action. Rather than succumb to the fear of not wanting to look dumb to these sophisticated Corinthians, he chose to magnify Jesus. Was that a fearful thing to do? Yes, at one level. But here is the antidote to fear – doing what is right in the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

Whatever your particular fears and misgivings you may be certain of this: the Devil will do all he can to remind you of them, to pry them against you, and to trip you up through them so that you will seek...

^· a comfortable ministry

^· in a comfortable church

^· on a comfortable chair

^· behind a comfortable desk

^· in comfortable loafers.... (well-named after their owner!)

Are you willing to face those fears? To cry out for grace and strength when they rage against your soul? To step forward when gravity itself seems to be pulling you back?

God has not given you a spirit of timidity – but of power.

Grand Theft Decency - Al Mohler Being Wise

Grand Theft Decency:

Commenting on the release of the new video game, Grand Theft Auto IV:

"In some sense, we are what we play. This is not to say that every young male playing 'Grand Theft Auto' is now or will become a violent sexual predator who steals cars. That is clearly not the case. But it is to say that these players are filling their minds with these images and narratives and they are feeling the competitive exhilaration of engaging in immoral acts as players in a game that engages multiple senses and sensations. This is dangerous stuff for the soul."

Ordination Sermon - The Fuel to Pastoral Courage - 2 Timothy 1:7 - Part Two

In Timothy’s case, it was a fear of man (the cowardice that flows out of shame/embarrassment) that fuelled the neglect of his spiritual gifting. He had an ample supply of fear-triggers.

1. Imminent persecution. Paul himself is writing from prison. Deserted, cold and suffering – and this after much public opposition to his work. The same fate always lurked about for Timothy.

2. Older saints opposed to his ministry. It is not always the case, but sometimes, some churches are full of old people who are too proud to listen to a younger man. Timothy was ever conscious of his young age and apparently there were some in Ephesus who were as well. Paul would write in 1 Timothy 4:12 “ Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

3. Sophisticated false teachers abounded. These wolves in sheepskins were deceptive, slick and always saying enough good to make you think their bad was not so bad. They were a formidable enemy.

4. It appears that Timothy was not altogether healthy and might have worried about his ailments. Or, he might have been so anxious over other matters that it affected his health. Paul would write to him: “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Persecution, grumpy old men, false teachers, sickness – lots to be afraid of!

But to all these possible causes of fear and shame – we are given one answer. Julian – to all your triggers to fear and shame, whether the fear of hurting someone, the fear of looking badly, the fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time... to all these triggers you are offered one word. And I want to preach that word to you, my brother! And may God give you grace so that fuel for Gospel courage, that cure to shame and fear – the true cure – marks your entire life and ministry!

The Cure? “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

I. Remember what the Spirit does not give -- (Fear

Was Not Attached to the Given Spirit or His Gifts

The Holy Spirit that God gave you – and the gifts with which He has blessed you – are not marked by fear.

That means that any fear in you is man-generated, sin-generated. It is a symbol of our fallenness, not our righteousness. It is evidence of your spirit, not the Holy Spirit.

Saul was a tall and handsome man. He stood head and shoulders over everyone and when the people of Israel saw their new King, they said: “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” But where was Saul before they brought him to the coronation ceremony? Hiding in the luggage. He was afraid.

You are a good looking chap, Julian. People see you as smart and friendly and full of good works. And all that pressure to perform, to not disappoint people, may tempt you to hide in the luggage. To duck back behind books or administration or fellow elders... but that is the fear of man – not a mark of God’s powerful Spirit!

It was not humility that kept Saul in the luggage – but disbelief that gave birth to her screaming child, Fear. Saul had already been assured by God that the Sovereign Lord would be with him. He had been anointed by God to this ministry. He had been given confirmations of this through circumstance and people. He was called to be King – not coward.

And you too have been called, not to a kingship, but the eldership. An office in God’s church that requires you to serve by leading. You will lead by example, yes, but you must also lead by word and action. The best Kings in Israel’s history led their troops to battle; they marched at the front of the lines. Like King Theoden in Lord of the Rings they rushed down to what appeared to be certain death. They took risk for God’s glory. Necessary risk – no one WANTED to fight those Orks, but someone HAD to!

There is no room for the faint-hearted in the leadership of a church. By taking on this ministry you are inviting, at some point, persecution and suffering. You are offering your life to the King as the one who will go into the battle when someone HAS to. You might as well decide now not to fear!

Jesus calmed a raging storm from a little fishing boat. After they woke him up from his nap, He asked His disciples (in the midst of the tumult!), “Why are you afraid?” and then with a word stopped the wind and waves. He did not console them, dry the rain and salt water off their faces... He asked them why they feared. They should not have been afraid since the Lord of Creation was in the boat with them! And the Lord of creation is “in the boat” with you, Julian, in all you do.

The more fear controls your ministry, the less the Holy Spirit is at work.

Although there are plenty of worldly reasons to run away in shame and tremble in the corner – there is never a spiritual reason. God Himself has removed all “triggers to fear” by removing the greatest risk known to man – death. By conquering death, he conquers fear. Perfect love casts out fear.

The presence of God’s Spirit and the gifts of His Spirit in us – are not gifts of fear.

In Paul’s words, God has not given us:

^· The Holy Spirit of Timidity!

^· The Coward Spirit.

^· The Barney Fife Spirit – with shaking hands and wobbly knees.

^· The Golly Spirit of Indecision and Second-guessing.

^· The Buckle-Under and Roll-Over Spirit

God has not given to us the Spirit of Fear... “BUT” (that lovely little adversative....) BUT, He has given the opposite, something entirely better and different!

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

“The Spirit and the gifts are ours!” Ours through Christ our Lord. Now, tell us about the Spirit and the gifts... how do these impact our fearful tendencies? How do the Spirit and His gifts help us fight off the cowardice that tempts us when sickness, persecution, strife and false teachers attack?

Tax Day! "Give unto Caesar..."

CTV.ca | Canadians rush to file taxes as deadline looms:

"TORONTO -- With Wednesday's midnight deadline bearing down, millions of procrastinators across Canada are scrambling to get their income taxes done and filed.

Some waited more than two hours at a downtown Toronto tax service company Tuesday to get their finances in order before 11:59 p.m. Wednesday -- a last-minute trend that comes as no surprise to those in the business."