PSPT Pastor's Blog

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:34:42 EST

1. Recapture the Wonder, by Ravi Zacharias

Ranking: 3 Liked Best for: inspiration

I was hoping for something more. Maybe I was just feeling kind of spiritually empty and seeking a book to rekindle or refill me. I like Ravi's writings. This may not be in his top ten, but it is good. There are keen insights, sound teachings, practical directions. He writes on the popular level which makes this pleasant fireside reading before bedtime. Worth getting.

2. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Translated by Edward Fitzgerald

Ranking: 3 Liked

This will make some people wonder about me. I remember reading this in school, memorizing a particular rubai, which never left me. I thought it was Hindu philosophy, but learned that it is probably Islamic, written back about 1100 A.D. The Temperance Movement in the US called it in disgust a Bible for Drunkards. No, I'm not turning to another religion nor am I taking up drinking. But it has some interesting thoughts about life and fate and eternity. Sometimes a non-Christian song or story or sonnet has great insight into how empty life is, taken as it is.

3. Certainty , by Dr. Grant Richison

Ranking: 2. Didn't like Best for: polemics

The 1900's brought us the battle between liberalism and fundamentalism. From that, a "spectrum" was developed. That is, a line was drawn upon which theologians, preachers and churches could be placed. In the middle was a measuring tool or issue: modernism. If you saw it as evil or dangerous and developed your theology in a negative or reactive stance against it, you were placed on the right side of the line. The more you argued against or stood opposed the further right you were. "Fighting fundamentalists" usually saw nothing but evil in modernism, and chose not to have anything to do with anyone who even slightly differed with them. In fact, they often practised 'second level' separation, by separating even from other Christians who might be friendly or associate with the far left, the liberals.

The issue today is post-modernism You are now placed on the line relative to that middle. Evangelicals (who in the other spectrum would be to the right but not far right) are now dividing over this issue. Those who think or act somewhat open to or in acceptance of this philosophical stance, are placed to the left. If you are very open or even adoptive of the methodology of post-modernism, you are very left. The Emergent Church would be placed there. This book goes very right. Richison sees nothing but total disaster coming. And he wants us to be very aware of evangelicals who are flirting with or open to or accepting of anything post-modern.

He's not wrong in his concerns. But he's very one sided. And the whole debate is not over. The book has a touch of fundamentalistic attitude which bothers me. But what made me dislike it was that he took 300 pages to say what 30 or so could have done. It turns into a bit of a rant with repetitious ramblings. There is good stuff here to think about, but it gets tiring dragging through page after page to find it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Happy Birthday to Me!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:55:53 EST

Just had a birthday! It's been a riot. Everything has gone crazy. I think I'm losing my mind.

My cell phone showed my son's number on a call display. I took that to mean he had tried to call me and somehow I didn't hear it. It listed the call at 8:35 am. He never calls me on my cell phone. . . and not at that hour on any phone. I figured something is wrong. There were no answers to my calls to his house. At his office, the children's pastor said he wasn't in yet, but should be in minutes. After thirty minutes and no call back, I just knew it had to be bad. I called my daughter, while my wife waited anxiously to hear what was wrong. She was fine and knew of no problems, but now she was nervous. She started a series of calls to find out where he was.

Then he calls me, wanting to know what's up? He didn't call me at all, previously. My daughter calls on the other line. My administrative assistant tells her everything is fine. I'm confused. Apparently my phone dialled him and he didn't get the call because he wasn't home. But I didn't dial the number, so it must be that the phone wasn't locked and I pushed a button which automatically called him and then it flashed a note showing a failed phone call. That I misread as his calling me. So from my inability to understand these stupid new technology tools, I created a major panic throughout my entire family, and pulled my office staff into it as well.

Numbers of people have given me cards. Thank you. I got one card signed by numbers of women, left in my mailbox. I didn't recognize several of the names. My wife looked them over. I asked my administrative assistant for an interpretation. Putting together the names of church people we recognized, we were able to locate the card as having come from a home study group led by some of our church ladies, but attended by other ladies who don't regularly or never attend our services. But they all signed, Happy Birthday Pastor. That mystery was solved with a good explanation.

A good friend sent a text message wishing me a happy birthday. In good fun and questionable taste, he added the comment that I was now one year nearer both my retirement and death. Talk about mix messages resulting in mixed feelings. My wonderful daughter sent me a video song from the internet, which sang a silly song about getting older and acting stupider. Very funny! She enjoyed it very much. I shared it around. Everybody who saw it liked it. I'm still doing an evaluation of it, and wondering if I should get tested. . . for something or everything.

My wife put on her facebook that I've had a birthday and that I'm getting older. Dozens of people sent her congratulations. What is that supposed to mean? I checked my life insurance: it says I'm covered until 70. That made me feel a bit better; I don't have to be disposed of real soon as my coverage grants me a few more safe years.

I stared at this blank page for a long time this morning, wondering what to write. Is there anything at all left in my mind, or has it gone? Finally, I thought I'd share my birthday experience with you. I'm still alive, laughing! Whether I'm sensible: that's a matter of opinion.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read. . . .

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:30:41 EST

1. Real Marriage by Mark & Grace Driscoll

Ranking: 3 Liked it Best for: Marriage perspectives

Driscoll is a popular preacher with a large following. Often, popularity also creates an opposing group with intense dislike. Being cautious doesn't create followers or detractors. But being very dogmatic or very passionate and somewhat controversial will divide the crowd. Driscoll has done all that. This book, written with his wife, has won accolades and earned stinging criticism.

Just now, it is very trendy to write and preach on marriage. And with our society's obsession with sex, hitting that topic assures a hearing. Driscoll takes it all on, guaranteeing his book will sell. Having enough books on all this, I wasn't interested in buying this until one of his most hostile critics did a merciless critique, with the ultimate condemnation being his declaration that he would not permit his wife to read it. Wow! Well, now I couldn't resist; I bought it.

How does anyone in this day and age censure his wife's reading? I told my wife she shouldn't read it either, hoping she would. She showed no interest in either the book or my orders. I never could figure out how to manipulate her. Anyway, I think the book is interesting, informative in many ways, with some valid insights.

The controversial chapter is about sex: surprise! He answers, "Can We____?" I think it is one of his weakest chapters, but only because I've read better answers in other books. I don't agree with all he says there, taking exception to one issue in particular. But I won't discard the whole book over just that. So, to his worst critic I read I'd have to say: what's your hang up?

2. James by Thomas Manton

Ranking: 3 Liked it Best for: Preparing Bible expository sermons

I've been preaching through the book of James. This is a Puritan preacher from the 1600's. Typical of that time and style, he is long winded , detailed and sometimes wearies you. But he added pastoral insights to my sermons. If you're an expository preacher, get at least the best Puritan writer of that day who expounds on the book you're doing. That will give you pastoral insights to make your preaching full. Digging it out of the commentary will probably drive you crazy. Add to that other resources. For my "James" series, entitled, 'Living from the Inside Out,' I used The Expositor?s Bible Commentary volume for a general overview, Barclay's Daily Study Bible volume for quick word study ideas, Evans (ed) The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary for contextual and cultural gleanings, and Peter Davids' Commentary on James from the New International Greek Testament Commentary for my Greek exegetical analysis. Using a broad spectrum of resources ensures a balanced sermon that carries solid exegesis, contextual relevance to then and now, insightful ideas that gain interest and practical applications that make it worth listening to.

David C. Slauenwhite

Speaking About Sex in the Sanctuary

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:33:29 EST

We're showing a series of videos on Sunday nights from the set, 'Laughing Your Way to a Better Marriage.' Thirty years ago I would probably have had my credentials reviewed for this, or at least been the subject of gossip throughout the District. I'm sure the church would have requested my resignation: not just this church, any church! Certainly after the session last night, I would have been in big trouble. It was about sex! Let me elaborate, it was about sex being practised within marriage and about the devastating results on a marriage when pornography and masturbation invade the relationship.

Well, that should get your attention. And yes, you can get the video set by simply googling the title where on the site they are for sale. And no, we are not loaning the set out nor are we going to break the copyright by producing copies for all the many, oh so many, requests for them. Come and sit in on the sessions or buy your own set.

Up front, the attraction of the video set is two fold. Obviously, if you speak on sex you will get immediate interest. That says something that shouldn't be ignored. But this teacher is funny. So combining an interesting topic that most people are almost obsessed with to a hilarious presentation style, and you've got a winner. Showing five minute clips on Sunday mornings for a few weeks prior guarantees a crowd. . . and that we're getting.

Why would this have put me in trouble thirty years ago? We weren't ready to be real. The church clung to a false image of perfection. The topic was taboo then, even somewhat in society. Problems were hidden back in the good ole days. And yes, things weren't as bad then. Actually, preachers, well some at least, did address these issues then, but in more conservative tones and with great restraint. We felt that our sinful neighbours might do bad things, but we believed that you wouldn't find that kind of thing in the church. And if it turn up, we turfed them out!

Our culture is sex crazed. Every wall is down and now used as a staircase to everything. There is not a sexual sin of any sort that I know of, from adultery to group sex to orgies to bestiality to child abuse to rape and even worse. . . that I have not had dumped onto my desk as a pastor from someone sitting regularly in my pews, in the several churches I've served. Whatever is in the world is also now found in the church. So we can ignore it or we can face it. Interestingly, it is the older generation who are most being helped by the video series, and expressing appreciation.

If you're shocked that I've found such sexual sin in churches over the years, and wonder if that's just because I've been unfortunate to get the worse congregations imaginable, no! If you become a pastor who preaches the Word, loves the people, becomes available, offers grace, and if you are seen as safe. . .you will have broken people come for healing. Our pews are full of them.

Today, we have to speak on what is there. Sex is a beautiful gift from God. A positive and grace filled message needs to be heard. It starts by exposing Satan who distorts the good and destroys our lives. It ends by declaring a God of grace who restores our lives and heals our souls.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read. . ..

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:44:33 EST

1. Your Brain on Porn by Luke Gilkerson.

Ranking: 3 Liked it Best for: information and guidance

Not really a book, it is a seventeen page booklet found free on the website Covenant Eyes. Porn is not just an industry and neither is it just addictive. It is sin. But as a plague it is running rampant both in society and the church. In searching for resources to aid me in counselling the many men (and some women) who come seeking help, I have to admit that I?ve not found much that was helpful. There are books and surveys and studies, but I think the depth of problem is revealed by the shallowness of the solutions offered. Frankly, I've really struggled in finding effective pastoral counselling tools and been embarrassed by my inability to 'cure or fix' their problem. This small booklet is good and I think helpful. You can get it free on the site.

By the way: counselling doesn't nor is it meant to 'fix' anyone. That is usually their expectation, that after a few sessions all the difficulties are gone the easy way. Just doesn't work! Recovery is a long and hard process that requires counselling, but more. Admission, Repentance, Commitment, Self-discipline, Spiritual Growth, and God's Grace. . .are even more necessary.

2. Courage & Calling by Gordon T. Smith

Ranking: 4 Loved it Best for: Spiritual Formation/ Theological thinking

Not a book to read just before you go to sleep. This requires attention and thoughtful reflection. Best read over several nights so you can ponder and reflect. Smith, who teaches at Regent in Vancouver, has authored other books, establishing himself as a thoughtful theologian. This volume addresses not just the spiritual reality of our vocations (whether in church ministry or the 'secular' realm) but delves into the depths of what that really means. He distinguishes between a vocation and work or career. He helps us process change in our lives as we engage in faithful stewardship, understand the meaning of our work, serve with congruence and integrity, outlines the stages we'll progress through in life. He places us under the grace and oversight of God, helps us to think vocationally and describes four callings we must hear. There is more, all of it very thought provoking, instructive as well as spiritually edifying.

It is theologically framed and written. You must think through each page. You will have to engage Scripture and Spirit in reading through the chapters. And for the preachers: there is a set of sermons to find here. But they won't be found as outlines or easy ideas. They are concepts requiring personal study, out of which could come some deep and engaging teaching that could bring your people into a fresh and encouraging understanding of just how significant their lives are. A great book!

David C. Slauenwhite

Thoughts from My Empty Box

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:08:42 EST

Here I sit, staring at the screen once again, with a totally blank mind. Makes me think that the computer is a mirror. What I look at, nothing, is exactly what I'm thinking.

Authors call it writer's block. Preachers describe it as having an empty well when you go to find water for the next sermon. It is exasperating and creates near panic. You are committed to deliver and your livelihood comes from it. But there's nothing there. The house you're building has to be put on hold, since there is no lumber. You turn on the gas pumps but the tank is empty, so customers go elsewhere. You open the store to reveal bare shelves. You teach at a school with no books, no resources. But it's time to produce!

When your life hits a hard place, how do you keep going? When things are all wrong and no right can be found, where do you go next? How do you pull it all together when no lines are near to grab?

Getting through those empty places requires a self discipline that spells the difference between success and failure. The tendency is to blame others for the deficiencies, to complain about the situation as being unfair, to enter a long walk of lonely self pity, to run from the scene screaming it's not fair. Escaping the embarrassment is the first motivation to move you. Quitting to remove the pressure is your next thought. If not careful, you begin a slide downward that ends with a bump but never a fresh beginning.

My first step is to take a walk. That gets me from the scene of the accident. Then I look for a coffee. Unfortunately, I couldn't sleep last night (having gone to bed after receiving a very draining phone call at midnight), so coming to work before Tim Hortons opened only mocked my misery. Stopping to read Scripture and then to do a listening prayer (no talking, just sit and open your mind to the Spirit) settles me into only being scared, not scary.

It's like when your computer won't work properly. Turn it off and reboot it. So once I've puttered around enough to shut down my fears that I'm losing it, then I switch on the button again. Looking at the blank screen, requiring a blog or sermon notes for Sunday, I hit a key. Just about anyone will do. The first letter turns into a word which develops into a sentence. Soon a paragraph is produced, which now requires further explanation. The third paragraph starts to feel like fun and by the fourth I know I'm in motion.

By the seventh paragraph, enough is written that I can call it quits without admitting I had nothing to say. By now, the poor reader, who is you, has been drawn into reading mere dribble. You've just realized that I've gotten away with it, at your expense. A blog is finished. And I've proven a point: when you don't know what to write or do, just start after calming yourself down, and it will come together. It may not be the best you've done, but it is something and will hold you over until tomorrow when you can start again, hopefully with something of substance to say.

David C. Slauenwhite

The Greatest Joy of Ministry

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:42:44 EST

In every church Carol and I have pastored, we have seen young (or sometimes even older) people leave to study for ministry, with many eventually serving in a full time capacity somewhere, with others engaging in another vocation while heavily involved in volunteer or part time service. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than this.

Two churches in particular saw a fairly large group take this route. The first was a small church where God suddenly moved into the very pathetic youth group, who were going nowhere spiritually. But their leader spent the summer praying and fasting for them. In deciding whether we'd close the youth ministry down or try one more time, he told me that God had shown him a revival was coming. And it did: in one meeting everything changed as we simply ask everyone to kneel and pray. That was it! That was the program for the evening. It should have been the final nail to finish them off. But I was there and watched God do something unbelievable within that hour. Almost a dozen went off to serve God in ministry. . . one today serving as pastor of a large church.

The second place was another Divine intervention story. This time it was mostly university students whom we brought by bus to church. Again, beyond normal conversions and spiritual growth of a few, we suddenly had an avalanche of about seventy students plus those brought up in the church, moved by God in a special retreat resulting in changed lives. Even the university felt the impact of their witness. Today, I'm proud to watch God using these men and women in places of ministry and spiritual leadership as they pastor churches, teach in seminaries or lead as administrators in places of higher learning. Others are key leaders in local churches and communities.

This week, another gets added to our list. She's a young lady whom we watch finish high school, go away for a year of service with a para-church ministry, then return for several months to participate again in our assembly. Yesterday she led worship in her final Sunday here. This week she flies to Australia to spend a year studying for ministry. A talented musician, a sincere worship leader, a committed Christian, and a young lady in love with a wonderful young man who also has been engaged in ministry with his missionary-leader father: this called by God woman will enter our book of memories.

May God bless and lead her, filling her life with his anointing and grace. Carol and I will always be watching with gratitude at what God will be doing in her life. This is what makes our ministry worthwhile.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read. . . .

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:26:29 EST

1. In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart by Ruth Graham.

Ranking: 3 Liked it Best for: Pleasure

Ruth, daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, shares her personal life story of hurts, difficulties and failures. Not easy to read, it challenges those who believe that Christians won?t go through hard times. Messing up her marriage several times and engaging in less than good relationships with others, she found the mercy of God. The story is real and often repeated within our churches. Her mother's love was a major positive influence. Unfortunately, the church wasn't always caring. But God was faithful! As a pastor, this book reminds us that there are hurting people in our pews. It's helpful to remember that her story is not yet over. Other chapters are obviously still to be written, whether by pen or in experience. No church pew is empty of a broken heart. No church altar should be empty of hearts being healed.

2. God Touches by Dan Gilliam

Ranking: 2 Didn't like. Best for: Casual read

This book was less than I expected. Basically it's a bunch of stories by a man who has spent his life drifting, engaging in various ministries, doing art painting, writing stories, taking some time to be a youth pastor, roaming here and there. It's a nice testimony of God having brought him through many ups and downs, and as such makes light but positive reading of God?s goodness in a life not always lived well.

3. An Eyewitness Remembers The Century of the Holy Spirit by Vinson Synan.

Ranking: 3 Liked it. Best for: Historical information

I like reading about behind the scenes..Here is a personal account of involvement in key events of the Pentecostal and charismatic history in the last half of the last century. Synan is an American Pentecostal church historian who is well known in academic circles. Previous books by him have been historical or doctrinal volumes meant to instruct and inform. This is a partial memoir. As such, it is interesting to those who have grown up in the Pentecostal world, particularly if you lived during that time period covered. Background information is told, stories of what really happened behind the scenes. His perspective comes through as well as some interesting revelations of other well known persons who were key leaders in those days. A book Pentecostals interested in their broader history in North America will well enjoy.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read. . .

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:13:41 EST

1. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster: This is an older book, considered by many as a classic. Much of Foster?s ministry has focused on the renewing of the church's spiritual life. Many consider that the basic problem of the North American church is its failure in making disciples. I tend to agree. We've constructed large buildings, developed diverse programs, gathered crowds of religious observers and produced a massive religious enterprise. But how does all this relate to the most basic command of Jesus, that our mission is to go and make disciples?

Evaluations taken of our church operations on this continent are not encouraging. Adherence to Biblical doctrine, commitment to holy living and enjoyment of the presence of God seem minimal. In fact, departures from the church, both mainline and evangelical, are in record numbers. We have become driven by church as a business, ministry as a consumer product and God as a supplier of self centered needs.

Foster challenges us to return to the Biblical disciplines. There are no new methods that produce spiritual lives. Unless we commit to Jesus and follow him on the path of the cross, Jesus said we cannot be his disciplines. How sad to end life as a good religious church person, only to discover we enter eternity as an unspiritual and godless soul.

This book encourages and explains how you can develop your spiritual life through meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance and celebration. Nothing new in it, but much that is good.

2. Dear Church by Sarah Cunningham: Two nights ago I started this book, expecting it to be much of the same that recent writers are pushing. The twenty something generation, as Cunningham labels it, is really disillusioned with the church. They have become experts at exposing its faults. Not stopping there, they have become a massive emigration crowd walking out the doors. Nothing seems to work anymore at holding them in the pews. The first half or more of the book was as I thought it would be, sort of. But she was reasonable and not ranting.

While the faults of the church are listed as a main reason, these issues are only compounded with all the usual causes for deserting the faith (please note: I do differentiate between leaving a church and leaving the faith. . .though they often go together). Most people actually leave a church because they don't feel wanted (that?s a church problem) or because they have issues in their lives (that's their problem).

Back to the book. . . so I finished it last night. The last section was her solution. This made the book worth reading. She became wise and understanding, knowing that she risked losing the younger generation as readers at this point. Without recanting on her valid criticisms, she turned her guns on those who like to shoot the church on the way out. What she saw, which most critics close their eyes to, is that the church is God's people and not just an organization. And every critic who walks away has a responsibility before God to have done their part to make the church work. The church is not a separate institution from those who attend it; they are the church. So every problem has a name on it: yours! And every answer has a responsibility attached: you!

I'd encourage every person of both older and younger generations, who are concerned about what is happening to our churches, to read this book and then think and respond spiritually, instead of just complaining and reacting emotionally. A good book with a great ending.

3. The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard: Probably no one can match Willard currently as the most thoughtful and theological writer on spiritual growth and life. He is a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California, hardly the context from which you would expect spiritual formation writing. Be aware that reading his books is not light work, though he does not make them academically above the average reader. But you do have to work your way through, and more so if you lack a theological background or haven't read much in doctrinal and biblical areas.

Willard addresses his themes from a strong Biblical basis. He does not flow with fads or easy conversion trends. He insists that we take God seriously, read the Bible diligently and think deeply about what it means and how it applies. The spiritual life is not a mere matter of church attendance and engaging in religious duties. It requires commitment, knowledge, faith and action. He elaborates what the spiritual life really means and how it is to be developed.

Here is a good book for those who are wanting to grow spiritually, but not thoughtlessly. Willard will engage your mind, challenge your commitment and enlighten your understanding. A great book for those wanting a bit more than average spiritual knowledge and life.

David C. Slauenwhite

Blogging Along

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:30:27 EST

My first blog was July 19, 2009. That's over two years ago! This is now number 136. In my very first one I rambled about why I was pressured into doing it, how I really didn't know what to do with it, and what is a blog anyway? Now here I am, with the same questions.

Recently, my son advised me that I'm still writing articles, not blogs. After years of doing articles for magazines and getting lots of brownie points for them, it's hard to write in a completely different mode. I'm still struggling with this whole thing. And I'm still only doing it because I'm told that a church website should have a blog by the senior pastor. . . even if no one reads it. I think Shakespeare wrote about blogs as "Much Ado About Nothing."

To educate myself, I researched blogs over the past few months. I subscribed to a few. One is very popular: a daily delivery by a very sharp guy who has something to say about everything and has up to 100,000 readers. If he'd loan me a few of them, then I might think this more of a worthy chore. Another blogger does a theological treatise every week. I attended a lecture series by him years ago and had a personal chat about his doctrinal position on a topic of mutual concern. But he turns me off, as much as I like theology. He rants in a polemical way against everything as if only his views are right. Of course, only mine are. Then I found some blogs that once read need never be seen again.

My favourite blogger is my son. Without prejudice (I lie) I will say that he's the one I enjoy the most. He takes a particular slant and stays (at this time) with a focussed set of topics. The only frustrating thing, about which I just sent him an email, is that I can't find the address or site or how to direct anybody to it. Here we are with unlimited capacity for communication, and I haven't a clue how to find his blog (it comes to me by subscription). This is why I prefer magazines on paper. You send money to an address and they send a hard copy, an actual thing you can hold, to your address. Works for me. (I found it, well, truthfully he told me: www.artofaxiom.blogspot.com)

Anyway, I'm once again pondering this whole blog thing. What shall I write? Why do it anyway? Who reads it? Whatever in the world would lure them into looking at it? How should I do a blog anyway? I've been wrestling with some ideas, none of which seem very bright.

In the meantime, if there is anyone actually reading this and you've got any ideas about all this or what you'd like me to talk about or some suggestions for doing a blog better or even how to do it properly, make a comment. That, I guarantee, I will read, even if I don't publish it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Just Share Yourself and Nothing More

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:05:23 EST

How do you comfort someone in grief? Our society seeks to deny death. We expect to live long and well, thanks to the progress of medical science. Life is supposed to be pleasant, filled with happiness and success, according to the advertisements. So when someone passes away, we almost feel victimized: like this should not have happened. Approaching someone who has just lost a loved one, we almost feel we have to apologize for what happened.

Not knowing what to say, where to sit, how to stand, what to do. . . most people feel awkward in the presence of pain. We want to help, but feel quite inadequate and sometimes plain silly saying stuff that we know really doesn't make anyone feel better. What should we do?

First, just be there. Don't prepare a speech or try to erase or even ease their sorrow. No one will remember what you said unless you say something you shouldn't. So be simple. Say a brief word of sympathy, an expression of your concern and love. . . and leave it at that. Give a hug. Shed a tear if you feel it. Stand there, sit down, be present! That is what helps the most.

Then, feel and respond to what is happening. If the mood is quiet and deep, be quiet and reflective. If the moment becomes one of joyous sharing of happy and even hilarious memories, laugh with them. Be careful about adding your funny stories. Be sure they are appropriate and would be welcomed. Follow the emotional path of the one grieving the most and you'll be a support they will appreciate.

Look for some way to help. Do not offer it verbally. Do not say the common phrase as you leave, "if there is anything I can do to help, just call me." They won't. Instead, hunt out a way to help. Pass out food or coffee. Hang up coats of those coming in. Chat with others who seem lost and strained at being there. If small children are present, assist in keeping them occupied. And after you've gone, think of a way to return. That is, bring something back they might like Obviously, a prepared meal will appreciated. But also, as the week of mourning moves on, come and cut their lawn or shovel their snow, take their children to school or sports events, offer to drive them to the mall or store if they lack transportation. Just look and see and do.

Pray for them. Do this privately and with them. Don?t be long or complicated: just say a prayer!

And, after the funeral, come again. It's after the memorial is done, that the pain really sinks deep. Close family members are gone. They are truly alone, without their loved one. Often, we all now go our ways, while they grieve with no one there. Continued visits help. But don't say things such as "time will heal." Don't discourage their mourning. Don't expect them to get over it soon. Healing from this loss takes time, even years. So respect where they're at, and move into that place of pain with them. You can't remove it, nor should you. But you can be there, with them and for them. That's all they need and it's everything you should give.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read. . .

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:18:31 EST

1. Love as a Way of Life by Gary Chapman is a follow up to his very successful volume The Five Love Languages, which sold 4 million copies. He has achieved wide recognition as a marriage counselor (he's also an ordained minister). In this book, he aims to provide seven keys to transforming every aspect of your life. What follows is a practical description of spiritual traits that should be developing in every believer's life: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, honesty. He concludes with three chapters applying these specifically to marriage, parenting and the workplace, with a final chapter on the motivation to love.

Basic themes addressed in a practical way!

2. Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef is on the best seller lists. This is a gripping and fascinating account of the eldest son of a key leader in the terrorist movement, Hamas. Operating in recent years out of the Palestinian camps, it is fundamentally an Islamic religious group, that moved into terrorist activities over time. Mosab lived and worked beside his father, associating with all the key players of the mid-east Arab movements located in the Palestinian areas. He spent time in prison, organizing riots, etc. Over time, he became very disillusioned with the Muslim religion, the terrorist leaders and the Palestinian authorities. At the same time, even though he does not approve or condone the Israeli brutalities, he became sympathetic to their cause for existence. This led to his becoming a spy for the Israeli intelligence agency for over ten years. Along with this incredible account, comes his exposure to Christianity and eventual conversion. He is convinced that God led him through the years, sparing his life and bringing him to the truth. His book appeals for all: Muslims, Jews, Christians, politicians, terrorists. . . to recognize the true God who loves all equally and through Christ died to save us all.

This is a powerful book, boldly written. It reveals inside information on the Jewish- Palestinian conflict and the Jewish/ Christian/ Muslim tensions. Mosab is now living in the United States as a political refugee, with a constant death threat over him. I enjoyed Boxing Day reading this volume. . . it's worth getting.

3. Falling Upward by Richard Rohr was my last book read in 2011. This year I managed to average two books a week. Finishing with this one was both a disappointment and a surprise. Buying it, I thought I was getting another "nice" spiritual theology type by a Catholic, who are the best writers usually on such themes. But I found it to be a mix of Christianity, New Age, Eastern mysticism, philosophical speculations with a foundation of Carl Jung psychology. (Many years ago I studied Jung becoming at first enchanted and then disillusioned by him.) After the first few chapters I thought the book wasn't worth much to me, then I began to catch some interesting concepts when he got past his introductory comments. While not endorsing all he says, he does have a valuable philosophy of how we should mature as we grow older into elders of wisdom and understanding. Not a book I'd recommend if you don't have some basic exposure to psychology and mystical philosophy along with a good theological grounding. But, otherwise, most insightful and interesting.

David C. Slauenwhite

A New Year or just Another Year?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:21:31 EST

No matter how "contemporary" or "post-modern" we are, each of us easily falls into traditional mind sets or patterns, given the right occasion. New Year's Day is such. I'm thinking not of the celebrations per se, but of the psychological game that goes on in our heads.

We feel that we have closed a chapter and started a clean page on which to pen something new. Whatever was the past, the future will be different. Hope bubbles up that somehow, just maybe, this year we'll get that promotion, become a success, develop new friends, solve our difficulties. So we wish one another a happy and prosperous new year. We leave out of the greeting any suggestion as to how that might actually happen or why we expect such given that we're not really about to change anything much about how we live, what we value and why we want it all.

In a very traditional, sentimental and yet hopeful way- we look towards a new year with dreams that just maybe, this year will be different. I truly hope so, but I doubt it. And so do you. Give a week and most resolutions are forgotten. In a month we'll be dragging along just as before. We will discover that hard work often pays off, but not always. We'll admit that most things are not under our control and that what is, often results in foul ups caused by that very fact.

Just because it is a new year, doesn't seem to make any real difference. Yet the Bible constantly holds out the hope that things can be different. So why doesn't it happen more often, that the promises of a better life, a greater success, a richer relationship, a loving marriage, a joy filled life. . . why don't these things happen more often? Why do we read wonderful promises by God, yet don't find them fulfilled that often? Why are such glorious changes portrayed in Scripture as being even the "right" of the children of God, yet we stay the same so long?

The answer is found in the question. We stay the same so long! At the root of all progress in our lives, is the progress that takes place in our hearts. The promises of God must be worked out from the inside. Joy, peace, victory, happiness, contentment are all internal traits, dependent upon how we believe, think and act. Relationships improve when we change. Success comes when we work, Happiness comes from how I look at life. Getting ourselves right with God, in harmony with his purposes, obedient to his will, seeking his presence. . . this is what makes everything else fall into place. This is what the Scriptures say, and I've found is true.

Usually we want God to work on our circumstances, change our spouses, fix our children, give us money, grant us success. . . the list is endless but yet the same. We want God to change everything around us, but nothing in us. Our hope is outside ourselves and our love is fixed on idols, frankly. Anything less than God that is valued or adored or wanted, is an idol we worship. God has to destroy that! So no wonder we often feel that God is against us. He is! That is, he's against what we?ve set up as our false god. He must remove what we love most, if it isn't him.

A new year is about to begin. May God be truly in our hearts, so that we can find him fully in our lives.

David C. Slauenwhite

Merry Christmas

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:08:19 EST

Good Morning on Christmas Day, 2011 !

Our day began at 5:30 am with a phone call from our grandson. He was up and could see no reason why Grampa and Gramma shouldn't share his joy. Yes, kids do make Christmas. . . and keep us adults in a state of perpetual childhood. Christmas Eve Gramma spent a fair amount of time talking with the grandgirls: I enjoyed being in the background listening to the "girl chat."

All this happened on the computer, with live camera action. You can be virtually there: watching, talking, laughing.

God came in reality, not virtually, two thousand years ago. Jesus became one of us. And he remains for all eternity as the God-Man, our Mediator.

Today we celebrate that Christ is our Savior and Lord. It began before time began, that he loved us and offered himself as our Redeemer. He came in the fulness of time, to offer himself as our Substitute. He will come again in due time, to present himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

We rejoice: the Lord has come!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Pastor David

There is Light in this Darkness

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:25:08 EST

Probably the most devastating and demoralizing dilemma a pastor faces is the departure of people from his congregation. When it first happened to me, after having served some months as a first time pastor, I called my father (a veteran pastor of many years) for reassurance. His response was not what I expected. He said, "You mean it's only now happened? You usually get your first loss within a month or two upon arrival in a new pastorate." He went on to explain that this is something that will inevitably happen, that you simply must learn to live with it.

Lloyd Olgivie, as a competent pastor of a very large church, once indicated that he had to take in 600 new people per year to hold his attendance even. Another internationally known pastor told me as I visited his mega-church in the USA, that he frequently experiences two hundred or more disappearing on any given week over any kind of issue. These are not visitors, but regular attenders. One study suggests the average church loses fifteen per cent per year. Only about 30% of any congregation can be viewed as truly committed to stay over a long time period.

What makes this really sting, is that our society is all about success, as defined by size. Church culture in the North American context considers constant growth in numbers and finances as the mark of a truly great church and competent pastor. It's a formula for failure: churches to which few make much commitment yet in which nearly all demand continuous increase if both congregation and minister are to be accepted as at least normal if not successful. To this point, we haven't even mentioned anything about where God fits into all this and what he might expect. Rather, we sanctify our cravings for success with scriptural twists that leave us believing God for what he doesn't promise.

Until we return to a Biblical understanding, which requires some Biblical knowledge first, of what church is all about and what Christians really should be, we haven't a hope. We'll continue to run something akin to a TV reality show, where what you see isn't at all what you really have. And we'll watch it all come to a crashing climax in due time. God is in no way obligated to bless, support or maintain something he didn't start or over which he really doesn't have any lordship. The Scriptures declare that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

I long for a move of God where he is sought for himself, worship is engaged in from the heart, the Word is accepted as being from God, the Spirit is working strongly in each heart, and Christ is loved for all he is. I pray that God will revive our churches in Canada from an absorption in self and redirect us to the Spirit who brings life. I hope that the next generation will move beyond the deathly legacy of legalism which often a past generation instilled in our definition of spirituality, but at the same time they will be delivered from the permissiveness that the world has implanted into us through media and educational programs.

Can the church be revived? Scripture says yes as to possibility; history suggests when as to probability. In the darkest moment, God often turns on the light. Recently, I've been talking with many younger pastors, and I think I see a glimmer of something good about to happen.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read (Nouwen, Lawrence)

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:50:13 EST

Some friends took my wife and I to Toronto recently for a couple of days to go book shopping. We covered the annual sale at Trinity College (U of T), plus any other book store within walking distance. It was fun, relaxing, therapeutic (is feeding my addiction healthy?). I love reading. And yes, there are books in heaven: it does say that at the Judgment, the "Books" will be opened.

Henri Nouwen is a favorite when it comes to what I call "spiritual" theology. But his books are usually quite expensive. So I was elated to get a string of his volumes in mint condition for a couple of bucks each. So I read one book a night for a week.

He wrote The Selfless Way of Christ when he taught at Yale, responding to the "yuppy values" of prosperity in the 80's. It's a bit harsh and direct in expressing his struggles with the middle class life he was enjoying. Nouwen spells out that downward mobility is God's way of spiritual growth and ministry, contrasted to our society's obsession with success and wealth. He states that the cross is not our way of imitating Jesus, but the way God transforms us into "living Christs" by our relationship with his Spirit. Then he exposes the lure of upward mobility by examining the temptations of Jesus. Nothing has changed in how Satan lures us into a false sense of godhood, making ourselves winners by wealth. Nouwen's little book has a big punch.

In Life of the Beloved, Nouwen opens up a deeper meaning of the Eucharist/ communion. This is a powerful exposition of that simple act where Christ blessed the bread, broke it and gave it. He takes us into what it means to be those beloved of God. Nouwen struggled all his life with a sense of well being, battling depression and low self-esteem. God used that to bless him, break him and then give him to us as a writer of spiritual depth. A great book with a good message!

I'll not comment on other volumes I got: Lifesigns, Here and Now, etc. Anything he writes is worth reading.

Sifted by Rick Lawrence is about the sifting of Peter that Jesus spoke of just before the cross. There is so much to say about this book, that I'm going to say next to nothing. Simply put, I consider this as one of the best books I've read this year. Normally, I would read this size book in an evening, taking my time. But I took hours to read this: pondering, thinking, praying! I got up at 4 am to read just one chapter, taking three hours just to pray and ponder it. Every pastor should get this and it wouldn't hurt if every believer did the same. I will be reading it again, soon. Published by David C. Cook. Get it, read it. . . then get alone with God: he'll use it to turn you inside out.

David C. Slauenwhite

Keeping Your Children's Marriages Together

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:32:10 EST

The "most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." Though I forget where I read this, I like the expression so much I'll quote it without permission. It's true. The experts who a generation ago told us that children are happier in a divorced home than in one saturated in constant conflict, were wrong. Current studies say nothing replaces a home that is lost. But an unhappy home is. . . unhappy.

If we really are concerned about our children, and if we really are committed to the Lord, than our marriages need to reflect that. Even if things are tough, the relationship appears to be in ruins, the clashes are more frequent than the cuddling, and the past looks better than the future, we need to follow through with our vow we made to each other and before God, that we're in this for better or for worse. God does hold us to it!

Our youth will most likely carry into their marriages what they've seen modeled in ours. That's the way it works! My belief is that marriage is founded on commitment, not love. Romantic love is beautiful, sweet and wonderful. . .I've nothing against it. But no marriage will survive on that. Romance is an environment, that may change. It is an experience, that will come and go. Even deep love has its moments of dilution. However, commitment is an act of the will. When it is unconditionally made, under a vow before God, then you just do it. Your happiness is not the issue, your honor is.

The good thing about sticking it out instead of walking out, is that eventually things do change. The "for worse" can actually become "better" again. It just takes some time. What will hold you to that point is commitment. Such commitment held and honored, will bring you back into love again. It just happens! So, hang in there and if you mean what you said at the altar, you'll eventually be hugging again.

As our children turn into teenagers, they need to see our homes as places of constancy. What is, will be! Then they'll make that same determination to devote themselves to the love of their youth. They will observe that we made love work, even when we didn't feel it. The best gift you can give your grandchildren is parents who have seen and now imitate a marriage of commitment and determined love. We'll reap what we sow: stability and strength in the homes of our children and of the generations to come.

What our youth most need are mature parents, who understand and live godly lives expressed in commitment, enjoying the fruit of love given, "for better, for worse, in health and in sickness, for richer and for poorer."

David C. Slauenwhite

Book: Dancing with Max

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:12:35 EST

A Review by David Slauenwhite: (available in the library of PSPT)

Chuck Colson provides the opening and closing of this narrative by his daughter, Emily. It's a story about Max, his grandson. Emily shares her story of being suddenly a single mother with her only child diagnosed with autism. The whole family goes through tragedy and triumphs, pain and joy, battles and victories as they face this issue along with other personal difficulties.

Sometimes a story is the best way to convey truths, lessons and information that we all need to know. Knowing that others have experienced hurts and healing in areas where we may ourselves be facing challenges, can be very helpful and encouraging. Here is a story that is interesting. But more importantly, here is a life situation described that will help us to understand the grace of God in the midst of trials.

A Little Light on a Big Fire

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:57:15 EST

For some past years a theological debate has been intensifying over "hell." There's been a lot of heat generated over the question of there being any fire (I know, that's a sick pun, but I couldn't resist it). Where before liberals denied basic New Testament doctrines, now it is the evangelical camp that has such departures from basic dogma.

Rob Bell's book Love Wins brought it all before the general public this past year. For those who don't read current church trends in theology, there was surprise. Reading just his treatment of the subject, immediately convinced many without much biblical background or solid doctrinal teaching, that the church has been wrong in its stance and we need to revise our thinking. Bell is a powerful communicator. He writes to persuade, even if his arguments aren't convincing. He uses an effective method of raising questions without answering them, insinuating mistaken perceptions without clarifying the issues, presenting extreme statements without balancing them by thoughtful examination. He picks and chooses his points so as to win the debate. He ignores what doesn't fit where he wants to go.

It's very convincing, when you don't know the full story. It appears very strong when you aren't given the weaknesses of the argument. Bell has hurt himself deeply among his evangelical peers, being seen with some justification as having turned into a liberal. While he hasn't denied hell, he won't affirm it either. He just asks questions and leaves you to figure it out by yourself.

Responses haven't been long in coming. Some grabbed the opportunity to write a book on a hot and current topic, just to make sales. Unfortunately, that doesn't help anyone. But a few well recognized, thoughtful and educated theologians, have presented some orthodox and historic arguments that will balance out the trite with the thoughtful. Admittedly, no one likes the concept of hell, if you know what it really means. But just because our culture has denied the primacy of God, the Lordship of Christ and the Scriptures given by the Spirit, does not mean we can deny what the Bible clearly declares. And once you discard what you don't like, you'll soon find the list growing, until you can get rid of the cross, redefine sin, put God where he's safely harmless to us. . . and then just do what you wish.

A small but well written little book, succinctly and scripturally addresses this topic. Written by several theologians of high standing, it brings us back to the Bible with good argumentation and balanced theological thinking. Is Hell for Real or Does Everyone Go to Heaven?, edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson (Zondervan) is an easy, though not simple read. For those who want more than a journalistic rant that confuses more than clarifies, this small book will help. When truth is needed to keep us right, we need to return to the revelation of God, not just stir up emotional reactions with irresponsible spiels. Here's a book that will help you to understand and not just hinder you in knowing what the Bible really teaches.

David C. Slauenwhite

Our Youth Want a Church that We Had

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:39:29 EST

Teenagers live in a world of turmoil. In my high school, we had smoking and drinking. That was about it. Oh yes, there was sex, but that has always been and always will be. It's not time related. Today, the temptations are completely changed, and constantly changing.

Your teenager finds drugs easier to buy than cigarettes, music as more a noise than a melody, technology easier to understand than personality, fashions having nothing to do with taste, pornography more available than literature, sex more controlled by preference than hormones, pregnancies and abortions linked in word association tests. To them, life has little history, no meaning and an unpredictable future. That's the kind of a world we created for them.

Well, at least we still have the church. Pardon me, but from my perspective what we have today is certainly not what we had yesterday, and I'm puzzled as to what's coming. You see, I grew up in a time and church where God mattered, much! We did Sunday School, attended Sunday morning and night with worship where we sensed God's presence, heard in-depth sermons, engaged in joyful praise, preached about getting saved, and had lots of fairly long altar prayer times. Oh yes, we also came back for mid-week Bible Studies, and Friday youth services.

That's a lot of church, compared to today. And both adults and youth did all of that. But we did see church growth, we did experience God, we did have our lives changed, and we did know a lot more about the Bible. Today, it seems like we're just running a religious business, in comparison. And this has sparked an interesting reaction. Many younger pastors and Christians are leaving the organized church to create fluid and small believers' gatherings. They liken it to the Protestant departure from Rome over doctrine, the Methodist revival versus the Anglican formality in the 1700's, the Pentecostal movement versus the mainline churches in the 1900's. Each reactionary spiritual movement does contain extremes. That's the point: they are reacting against extremes they see in what they leave: spiritual barrenness or apathy, religious formality or legalism, absence of community or spiritual life and health.

Youth in many of today's churches are dying in a spiritual vacuum. Closing the doors against change, shutting the windows against any breath of fresh air, rejecting the call for evaluating ourselves in a prayerful mode of repentance, is driving them out. So new forms of church are developing, many of which rightly cause concern about their orthodoxy in both doctrine and spiritual practice. But there they are, demanding that spiritual life be taken seriously, even if they do it wrongly.

What we need is what we had, but lost or forsook. A return to seeking God, to frequent church attendance where worship and prayer dominate, a repentance over sins committed, a restoration of relationships with God and each other. Where God is sought, the Word is preached, Jesus is honored as Lord, and the presence of the Spirit is enjoyed: people will come. Otherwise, our youth will leave for something somewhere that satisfies, even if doctrinally wrong or spiritually deceptive. We only have a future, if we return to what we had: God moving in our midst.

David C. Slauenwhite

Helping Youth Find Their Way

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:55:11 EST

The world belongs to the young. Ironically, at least in the west, the world is filling up with the old. Our population trends are leaning towards the elderly increasing in numbers. Failing to die off in younger years as in the past, the demographics are changing. But at the same time, young people dominate the culture, the business world, the leading edges of politics, education and religion.

Someday, someone is going to wake up: we don't need youth pastors as much as we need "seniors" pastors. What will be interesting, is that you need experience to pastor "seniors" while only inexperienced pastors will be wanting or available for the job.

One thing common to young and old, is that their world is constantly changing. The difference is that one group likes and promotes it (guess which age level ! ) while the other age set hates and resists it. As much as any of us dislikes change in our lives, in our world it is continual. Not always for the best, but never going to stop! For young people, it is exciting and even desirable to have things happening, changing, evolving. They love the latest technological marvel, the newest model of anything and the improved aspects of everything.

Yet at the same time, change unsettles them. Psychologically and spiritually, they are adrift. Nothing is constant, everything is moving! Resulting stress drives them into addictions and excesses. Because life moves on, all the time, they don't know where they've been with any certainty. So how can you predict the future when even the present is gone before it began?

One analyst claims that every six to twelve months a new youth culture is born. That is probably a bit exaggerated, but not far off from reality. Being a parent or a pastor to youth is like trying to shot a moving target that is invisible. You know it's out there somewhere, but wherever that is, even they don't know.

May I suggest that what young people most need today is someone in their lives who is solid. Now that's not the same as being stagnant. They look for mentors and encouragers who have sympathy and care about where they're at, or have been, or are going. But while they want understanding, they also need someone who knows what matters in life. They need a parent who is always there: not chasing the latest fads. They want a church where truth matters, even if our culture doesn't know what truth is.

God has called us to know Christ, the eternal one who never changes, yet changes all things. Jesus leads the way, because he makes the way in himself. While all else is uncertain, the Holy Spirit is always present. Ministry to young people is not about finding out what they want, but giving them what they need. The unchanging God is the one and only answer to a world that is diverse and multiple in its nature. The best way to help youth find life, is to live one yourself: that is built on eternal values and related to the Eternal God.

David C. Slauenwhite

Watching Yourself Happen Again

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:51:16 EST

One of the certainties of life is that if you have children, one day you'll discover a teenage is living in your house. Now this is a very different thing from having a child or another adult in your home. The technical term for a person is this stage or age period is 'adolescence' from the Latin meaning 'to grow into maturity.' Therein lies the wonder and the mystery. They are not children, so you cannot treat them as immature; they resent that very much. They are not adults, so you cannot treat them as mature; you resent that very much. The fact is, neither they nor you know what to do with them.

One youth specialist commented that the only constant in ministry with youth is the fact of change. Teenagers are in a time of transition. The good news is that this is a period of time. There is a beginning and there will be an ending. It's the middle part that is miserable. Further, young people are growing into personhood (note: I did not say adulthood which is age related, but personhood which is personality related). So there is a process happening. That means there should be progress. At times, you'll doubt that, but if you can hang in there without hanging them, you should eventually see the results, even if they're turning 60 and still living at home. At least you'll find it easier to turn things over to them, since they've never left. One more thing, these years are evidenced by a lifestyle of change. Their perception of life is that whatever is now, won't be tomorrow. Just when you've got them figured out, they throw another twist in the tumbler of time and you're left looking backwards instead of forwards. They are unpredictable. Take that as comforting; if you knew what they're up to or about to become, you'd need to be committed.

It helps to remember that where youth are at is not what they're going. But again, neither they nor you quite know where they're going. You do know they're going somewhere, and sometimes you have some strong suggestions as to where that place should be, but it's not nice to say that. Just be happy that whatever you're facing now, won't be there tomorrow. Be scared, for what you'll face tomorrow, is something you can't face now. However, just give it another day and it'll change again.

To be a teenager is to be the meat in a sandwich. It is to be grounded up, mixed up, and spread out. . . between the slices of childhood and adulthood. The problem is, parents have to eat this. So one minute they are so childish and you feel like they'll never grow up. Next they act so much like an adult, that your pride knows no limit. But they're unstable, so whatever is, won't last. Again, just realize that another day is coming and another sandwich will be eaten, and you'll get over your indigestion in due time.

Love them! They were created by you, they look somewhat like you when you scrap off the paint and remove the hardware, and one day they'll determine what nursing home you'll enter. So love them and remember that how they are, is what you once were. And look how you turned out. Now that is really scary.

David C. Slauenwhite

More Than Repaired; Made New

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:16:34 EST

There are two ways we must look at sin. The first and most frequent approach or understanding is individually focused and event/ activity specific. Sin is viewed as something we do. The Bible has various terms for this: missing the mark, crossing a line, offending a person, violating a law. A person commits a sin. It may be intentional or accidental. One may know full well what they did or they may have no concept at all that what they did was wrong. Nonetheless, something was done that was wrong in one way or another. And while it may have been an offence against a person or even oneself, the bottom line is that all sin is against God. Repentance is required.

But there is another side to sin that is not so well understood. This view must be taken from a broader perspective. It considers society and all the diverse components of it. It weighs out not just acts of transgression, but attitudes and motives and values and standards. Not just what is done or undone, but why things are as they are, is under the microscope. Sin is analyzed as an infection into society, a twist in our psychology, a corruption in our politics, an ignorance in our education, a self righteousness in our religion, a greed in our business, a brokenness in our humanity. We are mostly unconscious of this as being a sin. It is defined not basically in terms of an action that is wrong, but in a character or state of being that is evil. It requires that we confess that we are not just victims, but the offender. It cannot be cured by reformation. We have to become a whole new creation and be born free of the infection.

Both of these understandings must be considered when we deal with the evident problems of our lives. The person who insists on messing up their marriage, demands getting their own way, refuses to take responsibility, abuses the weak or elderly or child or spouse, violates the laws of the land, curses with their mouth, cheats against their neighbor or nation, steals from employer or friend, lives a life without God or godliness. . . will only get their life right when beyond forsaking the action, they are transformed in person and nature. One requires repentance but the other requires regeneration.

When only the first step is taken, deep change doesn't occur. Often we repent of our deed because of the consequence it brought. But unless we are changed in our heart, we'll do it again or in another way. Both our conduct must be changed and our character must be cleansed.

The Gospel is the only full answer to sin. Our penalty is paid at the cross: our debt due because of deeds done is cancelled. We are forgiven. But the cross also takes us beyond the judgment bar, into the Most Holy Place where a gracious God renews us. The Holy Spirit comes to give us a new birth, not just a new record. He empowers us from the inside out. Body, soul and spirit are renewed. What we did and who we are, are dealt with effectively and graciously.

If any one is in Christ, behold: a new creation!

David C. Slauenwhite (not the old David, the new David in Christ)

Pulled to Pieces

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:28:07 EDT

Something I've never quite mastered in being a pastor, is how to work together two very different and opposite demands on my time and mind.

The first demand is studying, or more precisely, sermon preparation. At least one sermon a week must be churned out. People rightly expect that it should be worthwhile to hear it. Therefore, I need significant times of solitude to ponder, pray and prepare. People need a message from God, not just a sermon by a speaker. Interruptions and distractions not only steal time from studying, but also distort and fragment a pastor's thinking. Well balanced presentations of the Word require hard thinking, deep feeling, long researching and real praying. Working in a church in today's world works incessantly against that.

The other demand is the administration and pastoral care of a church. The difference is not just in the nature of this type of work or in the kind of skills needed, though they are very distinct from producing sermons. Administration requires knowledge of procedures and policies. It calls for instant decisions, quick assessments, hurried delegation. Further, it is diverse in kinds of tasks and demanding in calls for immediate attention. It seems that all the time and at the same time, you are managing finances, planning programs, recruiting personnel, reviewing curriculum, adjusting records, processing reports, creating agendas, processing minutes, taking phone calls, answering emails, writing texts. Meantime, the insurance company sets deadlines for revision of church procedures, the government regulations need to be studied again because they were revised again, denominational directives must be obeyed, committees need direction, etc.

Pastoral care is another and similar undertaking, just that it's all about people. Now there are visits that have been too long deferred, hospital calls that really must be made now, counseling calls with serious complexities, new people coming with sincere questions and long term members with serious concerns. Babies are born while others pass into eternity. Then there are just simple times of social interaction, which help bond pastor and people, yet take hours of time. While pleasantly chatting in small talk, a pastor often is remembering he forgot to answer an urgent call and that he still doesn't have Sunday's sermon ready.

But my point is this: a pastor needs to give time every day both to sermon preparation and church administration/ pastoral care. One demands long periods of isolation, the other continual short bursts of instant availability. The first can only be done with reflective thinking, but the other requires immediate deciding. Preaching can only come out of a quiet heart but administration only works from a fast paced mind. It seems like you're pulled in two directions not just in types of tasks, but in the kind of person and skills and style which each requires.

So that's a quirk I've discovered about ministry as a pastor. And I bet that each vocation whether as a professional, tradesman, laborer, or whatever, has similar stresses. In it all, may God give us grace, strength and wisdom, that above all else, may we find and do his will to his glory.

David C. Slauenwhite

Waiting for the Wind

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:33:06 EDT

Being Moses, standing on the edge of the Red Sea, with nowhere to go, must have been very disconcerting. In the distance dust was flying from Egyptians chariots in hot pursuit slaves. Around him people were in panic, no longer listening to his preaching that all would be well. They're trapped in the desert, death by the sword is coming at them, death by drowning is lying before them. So, Moses, now what will you do?

That pretty well sums up critical moments in leadership. Nowhere to go but a great urgency to move. Nobody willing to follow, but everybody demanding that you take them somewhere. And you made this mess. Many are happy to remind of that too. You told the people that God had something better for them. You said that the Lord would deliver them. You convinced them to pack up and move on. You promised them a new land if they would only leave the old place. You preached that the Spirit would move if they would follow you.

Running from slavery through the wilderness was exciting. Going to a new day in a new place was motivating. Dragging through dust was bearable when you focused on the farms promised. But coming up against the Red Sea, that was a reality check. Suddenly, you're scared.!

Leading a church into God's promises is hard. Nobody likes change. Everybody wants something better. The irony of that isn't always understood. Moving on will inevitably take you through trials and bring you into troubled waters. Nothing happens easily. Leadership that persuades people to take a risk will face challenges. Somewhere on the way, something is going to go wrong. The only thing that will hold you steady on the edge of disaster is that you know God, and that you know you heard God.

Lifting up a rod was silly. Commanding people to be quiet was not well received. Stating that the Egyptians were not to be feared sounded senseless. Telling everyone that tomorrow we're crossing the water without getting wet, well. . .would you believe it? Only time would prove if Moses was a man of God or a mad man.

The Bible says they spent the night waiting while the wind blew the sea back. Meantime, the Egyptians were organizing the slaughter. Moses should be writing his will. People talked late.

Waiting for the wind to clear the way is the hardest part. Yet no one goes anywhere until the wind under God's command opens the way. There comes a time when neither people nor prophet can do anything more except to sleep. Faith enables one to wait; fear propels one to run.

Those who wait it out during the long night of frustration, perplexity and inaction, get to go the way God prepares. Those who run away will die. Often God lets us sit in the sand while he slowly works, just to make the point that we're not in charge. If we take over, we'll go under. But if we submit to his way and time, we'll go across. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is nothing. That's when you let the Lord do everything. So, are you waiting?

David C. Slauenwhite

Been Biten ?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:42:08 EDT

Having just read a book on the new digital age and its effects on our lives, I'm still pondering the pros and cons of technology in the church. Without doubt, we have reaped many benefits. Teaching can be enhanced with slides and video clips. Musical presentations now include full orchestras on the speakers behind the lone actual singer. Instant communication with everybody is not only possible, but actual. Emails and text messages come in all day long without interruption. There is no longer such a thing as being unavailable: just call my cell phone and there I am. Even books can now be purchased on line and placed in a personal digital reader.

Of course, all these benefits are the problem. Teaching may not be really heard due to overpowering pictures. Music that is mechanically presented may interfere with the Holy Spirit who resists programming. Is this worship or just entertainment? Being always available digitally means that everyone else controls your time all the time. If there is not an instant answer to every email and text sent, people get offended. All this becomes very distracting, to the point that we are unable to focus well anymore. It also gets frustrating. Meetings are interrupted by not just cell phone calls, but by blogs, news, texts, emails, etc.

Those born into this digital world are now unable to cope with life unless their device is constantly with them and on. Every several seconds they are checking the inflow of messages. And they can't wait to reply. Group meetings are now a bunch of bodies whose minds are elsewhere. They have learned to multi-task: which actually means that while they are talking to you, they are sending text messages to their friends, checking their emails, reading a blog, and who knows what else. They are only partially present to any of this.

Life has not been made easier, just faster. Quality has not been added, only quantity. Yes, I do prefer a laptop word processor to a typewriter. I like being able to have quick and immediate access to family through the electronic airwaves. I enjoy the high definition movies, the ability to access masses of information on the web, and the sharp music sounds of my high quality stereo. We also need to realize that our future will have even more of all this, but in ways we can't even imagine. But with every advance, we'll also pay a price. Unfortunately, we have no control over any of this. The struggle will be to avoid being controlled by all of it.

That's where we have to draw some lines. So I limit my use of screen aids in my sermons. I turn off the cell phone. I refuse to check my emails every minute. I will not get back to text messages until I have time and energy to do so. And, if you are rude enough to read your texts, answer your phone, check your incoming blogs or bits, watch or listen to programs or messages on your personal digital device. . . all while you're supposedly talking to me, then I will try to avoid you, ignore you and definitely not take you too seriously. Get a life!

By the way: this message is coming to you via the wonders of digital computers.

David C. Slauenwhite

Been Hit, but Getting Up

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:15:05 EDT

My sister-in-law once said to me, that whatever I preach on, that is where my next life test will be. Unfortunately, I have found that what she said has been the truth. It seems that Satan sits in the sanctuary every time I preach. Further, I think that he targets me according to the themes of my sermons. It?s happened too often to be chance. And my dear sister-in-law was quite discerning in linking what she heard from me to what she saw happening to me.

As I write, I'm preaching a series from the book of James. Today I put in a few hours developing the text. It's about not blaming God when troubles hit or temptations happen. How we handle it determines whether a test in life becomes a temptation to sin. He does not tempt us; but we enter temptation when our feelings are allowed to flow unchecked.

Moments ago, I had to live what I just studied, and will preach in several days. If I don't handle well what just hit me, I won't preach with any conviction or credibility on this text. It's not fair: now I have to deal with my emotions not only for my own sake, but for the sake of my congregation. Frankly, I am upset. Honestly, I'm handling it quite well, at least for the moment. Writing this blog will help me even more.

Life isn't nice or easy or good at times. Right now, it hurts. . . and I mean really hurts. I'm crying while I type. But what surprises me is that anger isn't my dominant emotion, though you'd think it would be if you only knew what happened. (No, I 'm not going to tell you what it is.)

Isn't it amazing that the sermon I prepared this afternoon, I get to practice tonight? Is it possible that God led me through the spiritual application before I needed it, knowing how much I'd need it? And did Satan hold off this assault until now, so that he could test me on what I am going to preach, in order to tempt me to tear up the sermon? Does this mean that not only I, but someone or others in my congregation need to hear this too?

Yes, life is a battle. But the victory is already achieved. Jesus died and robbed Satan of his power. Jesus rose and is alive. By the Holy Spirit, God is with me. . .and you, to implement that victory right now. Prize fighter Muhammad Ali is supposed to have said something like this, that getting knocked down isn't a shame, but staying down is.

So we all take hits. And we all go down, sometimes. But we will get up! We are more than conquerors through Christ. Without his help, I know that right now I wouldn't be handling this situation well. But God is helping me to get up and go on. After all, the bell hasn't rung it and I just may yet win the round, with God's help.

David C. Slauenwhite

Book Review: The Next Story

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:08:00 EDT

Tim Challies is a pastor from Toronto who writes a blog that 20,000 people read regularly. As a young and upcoming writer, he carries significant influence. I subscribe to his blog and find it interesting, informative as well as entertaining. He tends to be on the cutting edge of what's happening in the Christian world, in the sense of knowing about it and evaluating it.

His new book, The Next Story is very good. He addresses the digital age into which we have now entered. His approach is analytical, biblical and thoughtful. As a blogger who is very much aware and involved in the digital world, he knows what he is talking about. But as a theological thinker, he is very cautious and critical (in the sense of evaluating, not complaining) in his understanding of it.

Challies has done his research. But more impressively, he has done his discernment with a balanced and open mind. So he admits where the good is. He acknowledges that what is here, is going to stay here. Whatever evils the digital age has unleashed or however much we dislike what is happening around and to us, we will not see it go away just because we don't like it. This is the day of cell phones, internet, computers, websites, texting, twitting, telling. . .the whole bit.

In this book he looks at all this from an experiential involvement, a theoretical analysis and a theological critique. What we read is highly disturbing at times. Basically, a new god has risen to reign over our minds, our lives, our world. As we plunge into the latest gadgets and buy the newest devices, we are selling our souls. And we don't even know it.

Every young adult should read this book, but won't, mainly because we haven't the capacity to read anymore. The fact is, the digital demons have distracted us into shallow thinking and superficial living. The impact of how the new system works has made us into mindless muddlers who flit from tweet to tweet. Our thoughts are scrambled, our emotions are sordid and our lives are empty.

Unless we get hold of ourselves, we'll be taken captive (actually, most of us are already in bondage) by beeps and bits. Filled with information, we know little. In contact with everyone, we aren't really in touch with anyone. Crammed full of incoming messages, we now lack the ability to hear any voice.

What Challies reveals is what I discovered with horror one day in my study, when a couple struggling with marriage issues admitted: they find it easier and better to communicate with emails and by texting each other, than to sit and talk face to face. In today's world, people have virtual friends, virtual marriages, virtual sex, virtual community, and virtual faith. Problem is: God isn't virtual; he's real and only talks to people who get real. A good start is to read this book.

David C. Slauenwhite

Find a Sanctuary

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:22:38 EDT

Everybody needs one: a sanctuary! No, I'm not talking about the church building or some chapel. I mean a sacred place with you can hide out with God. It could be anywhere, but it's not everywhere. You choose it, but you don't make it. It's someplace where you go when you've got no other place you want to be.

Adam used to walk with God in the cool of the day (read evening) in the Garden. Abraham talked with God at specially built altars. Moses ran from the palace of Egypt to the bush in the desert, where he found himself and then God. David sang on the hillsides, Elijah hid in a cave, Jesus went to the wilderness. Wherever, it became a place to run for whenever!

Life hits us hard, sometimes. Then you need to place to recover. People stress us out, often. Then you need a retreat, in loneliness. Circumstances get confusing. Then you need a spot with peace where rest can calm your soul. A sanctuary is a place where only you go, except for God. It becomes a point where your earth can feel the presence of heaven. Everything else around you goes while anything God has for you can come.

You enter a sanctuary tired and beat and hurting and confused. If you stay as long as you should, you leave your sanctuary rested and strong and courageous and with new faith. In a sanctuary you pour out your pain and anger and doubt. From the sanctuary you run out with a vision and passion and boldness. You become what you're called to be, when you go to where you see what God has designed you to become.

Find your sanctuary. It could be a room at home, but only if no one ever interrupts you there. More likely it is a stone by a beach, a path in the woods, a seat in a park, a tree by a river or even a drive on a road. But you know when you've got one. And everybody else knows when you've been to it. Best of all, God is there, waiting for your next visit.

David C. Slauenwhite

Undercurrents from the Underworld

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:05:30 EDT

I first saw it when I served in denominational leadership. When within a church or minister under my oversight, a specific type of problem or trouble would surface, in a short time that same kind of difficulty would often spring up in other places or persons totally unrelated by geographic or relational connections.

We would go through stresses and issues in bunches. If one church broke out in conflict or controversy of a particularity that you'd expect it to stay confined in that one place, nonetheless, that very same issue would often flare up in several other places. If a ministerial couple had a marriage breakdown, often in relatively short order, several others in ministry would enter similar stresses. Without going into details, these kind of things could be narrowed at times to such micro-matters as to make you wonder if there had been a conspiracy created.

Biblically, that probably could be supported. Paul enlightened the church at Ephesus that their church and life struggles were in fact not with 'flesh and blood' but with spiritual forces in high places. Behind the apparent disorders were powers at work, invisible and intangible, but nevertheless very real and influential. The currents of controversy or the sins of the saints or the conflicts hitting the church were being fueled by spiritual forces determined to destroy the saints.

This is a reality we tend to forget. So we beat each other up over petty stuff thinking something big is going down. Churches fight themselves into spiritual failure over foolish matters, thinking that truth is under attack. We miss the point, that in fact, we are battling the wrong foe in the wrong way. The underworld of demonic personalities targets the church with threats and tensions that tear it apart. Through hurts and pains, by ignorance and misunderstandings, from grudges and dislikes, we attack one another, assuming that the assaults we face are person driven. Sometimes they are. But underneath all that is a sinister and satanic conspiracy to distract the church into civil war. Dividing and conquering really does work.

The Spirit of God within us is greater that the demonic powers around us. So evil works better by invading our minds with deception. We interpret our circumstances as a sign of being God forsaken and we read our situation as being under attack from others. Our minds become deceived, our emotions become inflamed, our spirits spiral into sinful states of attitude and behavior. Yet the truth is that Satan is manipulating us into misery and anger and sin.

Wisdom is needed to discern from where the winds blow. The Holy Spirit will fan our hearts into love for God and others. Satan will seek to bring us into whirlwinds of rage and revenge.

Spiritual discernment comes by immersion in the Word of God, sensitivity to the presence of the Spirit, and submission to the church. When we learn God's ways, listen to God's voice and care about God's people, we block the attacks of the enemy. Many of our battles are nothing more than confusion creeping out of our souls. By resting in the Lord, believing the best about others and keeping our mouths closed, we can often stop many squabbles before they start.

David C. Slauenwhite

It Hurts to Heal

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:45:51 EDT

Life can be painful. No one likes pain. So, I would expect that we'd all try to find healing as quickly as possible. Interestingly, this is not always the case. Sometimes we cry a lot even as we evade healing.

Jesus faced this with the man at the pool, when He asked him if he wished to be healed. The reply was not straightforward. Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted, as if neither really knew. Yet an honest admission of need was required before the healing occurred.

Sometimes we really like our hurt. It defines us. Being in pain gives excuses for how we act or a basis for demands we make. At times, the attention we gain from pain is well worth the price. Other times, being sick or distressed or upset or hurting gives us a cover up for sinful attitudes and actions.

Then there is the pain of the process of healing itself. It can hurt to be healed. Physically, surgery isn't a choice preferred because it is easy and soothing. Being cut creates another searing sensation. But the end result makes it better to be on the table than in bed, well, at least most times. Facing emotional turmoil and confronting the cause can be very uncomfortable, enough so that sometimes we'd rather stay in our sadness. Dealing with disorders in our lives is difficult. Honestly admitting to our part in conflict so that resolution and restoration can occur is often more humiliating than we're prepared to endure.

So we often choose to stay in conflict, bound in bondage, ill with disease or agonizing in anger. It's more comfortable than working through the issues. But we never move on, grow up or become better. We just sit it out. Sad!

God never leaves us in peace when there's turmoil or tensions requiring resolution. His Spirit will haunt us; His Word will convict us; His blessing will stop. However long it takes or whatever agony we must face, God will not accept our will as higher than His. He will take us down, work us over, stretch us out, or even beat us up. He will chastise and cut and encounter us where we're at to take us to where we must go. He won't give up and He won't go away.

It may hurt to be healed. But in the end, it's better. Thank God that He can be so difficult with us just to make us better.

David C. Slauenwhite

9-11

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 09:38:31 EDT

It was only a few weeks after that terrible day, that I was flying to Bermuda to meet with the church and conduct some meetings with leadership and the congregation. As we approached New York, passing over at thirty thousand plus feet, the pilot broke into our presence with his announcement. He seemed strained. He briefly mentioned that within the minute we would fly over Ground Zero.

A silence screamed in the plane. Flight stewards grouped in their corners or sat in open seats. Eating and drinking stopped. Papers and books were laid down. Laptop computers were closed. All sat and stared.

I was on the side the saw it. The pilot slowly dipped the left wing for a few seconds. It was quickly spotted, though no one said a word. A big black hole in the middle of the city. That was all there was to see but it was more than enough.

Our trip continued, as life does. But we flew on with less chatter, less laughter, less happiness. We needed a day away from death on the beaches of Bermuda to bury the sight. Yet the memory remains. And we knew we had to fly back over it.

Whatever we face, we'll usually see again. The evil that brings disaster doesn't go away, it has to be removed. Until life grows back where death once reigned, there will be no joy.

Jesus left the black hole of a grave and now declares: I am alive, and I have the keys of death. Oh grave, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?

Jesus brings us life in the midst of death and joy in the place of sorrow. We'll always remember, but we don't have to be doomed. Thank God we have hope in Him.

David C. Slauenwhite

Worshiping Together

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:44:04 EDT

Doing it together is crucial to corporate worship. Yet contemporary contexts of worship often ignore or even resist this. It's all about me!

In our culture, doing your own thing is almost a human rights issue. We are very concerned about our rights, our fulfilment, our options and our place in the scheme of things. So when we go to church, we like to worship our way, even if all by ourselves! You've seen it, how that sometimes during singing, some individuals are somewhere out there between heaven and earth, flying solo. They stand when others sit, kneel while others stand, read the Bible where others are listening, and appear to pray as others sing or fellowship or whatever. The thing that stands out, is them. However others are engaged in worship, they're not. You can't help but wonder if the whole service is just about them, at least to them.

Paul addressed this issue in his first letter to the Corinthian church. They had some problem people who would speak in tongues on and on, sing in the spirit by and to themselves, praise loudly and long, carry on in their spirit with manifestations being the main thing. To them it was a wonderful meeting when they got to do their thing, even if the rest of the congregation had to sit by and wait. I've heard worship leaders even encourage this individualistic focus by saying that everyone is just simply free to worship as they wish: you know, stand if you want while others sit, come and kneel at the altar while the church sings, or just "take your liberty" and however you feel the spirit is moving you, go for it.

Biblically, this is unacceptable. Paul taught the Corinthian church that in corporate worship, you worship in a corporate fashion. You hold back your own inclinations and worship together. No one person should stand out, no individual worshipers are to go off in their own ecstacy, nobody takes the congregation hostage to their time and way of worship. In fact, he makes a point in stating that anyone violating such protocol is to be unrecognized, that is, they are to put in place.

Worshiping together requires a focus on God, not on ourselves. We are there to praise him, together. While individually we each must enter into the flow of the service, we are also to stay within the flow. What we do, is to be done in unison. We stand together, sit together, sing with each other, pray mutually and in concert, hear the Word with attentiveness. Balance is to be present. No service is to be taken up with any particular aspect of worship to the exclusion or diminishing of another aspect. So we should seek to embrace prayer and praise, communion and fellowship, hearing the Word and obeying it, singing and exalting God, all in the same service. Further, we need to keep pace with one another and with the Spirit. As our worship leaders take us along together, we should follow the leader. That way, we are all going in the same direction and we'll all arrive together to where we?re going. Add to this, is a blend. God listens to hear us, while we look to see Him. There is a mixture of the human and divine in any true worship. God speaks and we respond. God acts and we obey. God comes and we rejoice. When it's all done together, we'll all leave saying, it was good to have been in the house of the Lord, together!

David C. Slauenwhite

When Life Goes Crazy!

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:39:22 EDT

Some days I feel like the devil decided to pick on me, above everyone else in all the world. Well, I suppose I'm not all that important to him, but it sure feels like it, occasionally.

Have you noticed that when something goes wrong, everything else seems to slide downhill with it? Or if someone picks on you early in the day, others appear to join in along the way? When your schedule gets hijacked by intrusions, people line up to add to the interruptions? Do things really come in threes? Sometimes stresses appear to arrive in serial fashion.

Sure, sometimes there is a spiritual side to this insanity. The enemy of our soul does bring bad things to bear upon us. Read the book of Job and weep. Behind his back and without his consent, Satan and God decide to use him as the ball on the ping pong table of a heavenly match to see who would win. While we read good theology in this story, we don't get easy answers.

But let me look inward again as we ponder life's pressures. Often when some one thing goes bad, our inner frustrations fester into a false perspective. Psychologist Albert Ellis developed what is known as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Basically it suggests that much of our inward stress is created by our taking on an irrational view. That is, something happens to us, and from it our imagination takes off to assume and then assert that worse is going to happen. Or we interpret life by an emotional reaction to a bad event, leading us to mentally believe that many other bad things are now going to happen.

So, following this theory, when someone chews me out, my mind locks into a self defense mode, and when an innocent person happens along and comments about something else, I interpret it as another negative and blow up. When the dog bites me, I kick the cat when she licks me, figuring the feline is just tasting me before she bites. When I look at life negatively, I find all kinds of proof in my imagination that will testify that I'm no good, people dislike me, things are all going wrong, the devil is picking on me and God has forsaken me. With all this stuff going on in my head, I now sit and brood, procrastinate, get angry, withdraw from others and fail to get things done. This is turn gets me into relational tensions, job overload and spiritual depression.

Yet in fact, life is actually not all that bad. It's just that my mind has switched from logical or rational interpretation of life to an emotional and irrational reaction. So it's not life that got crazy, but me! (I'm not sure I like this conclusion; it might make sense but it feels bad.)

Now we understand why the Bible tells us to guard our hearts. We read that we should think on things that are good, honest, pure. . . of good report. Dwell on the positive and feel better. Letting your imagination lead you into depressing thoughts only develops into despair.

When life suddenly goes bad: stop everything and retreat into God. Pray. Meditate. Guard your mind, feed your soul, rest your body. Laugh at something. Now, go back to work.

David C. Slauenwhite

Let Love Lead

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:18:30 EDT

(This is Blog Three concerning a current issue: see 1. Reacting our Way into Ruination and 2. Every Path We Walk Needs Boundaries)

Christian freedom is marked by responsible attitudes. While God has brought us into the realm of grace as opposed to law, yet in this relationship with him we are actually in a stronger and clearer position with regard to how we live. Our choices are made not just by objective rules, but by subjective relationship. While the Word of God clearly states precepts and prohibitions on some things, along with principles and patterns for a godly lifestyle, the Spirit Who lives within us also lends his influences inwardly towards a sanctified life. God does not just decree from on high in isolation, but lives and works within us in relationship. If we do not walk close to him, we will wander into confusion. But developing a sensitive spirit to his Spirit's leading will make both the Word and Way of God personal, clear and powerful in our life. We are a new creation; we live by a spiritual life force which is God Himself.

Under this way of life, we find ourselves responding to choices and lifestyles through how it affects our relationship with God, not just by whether it is right or wrong in itself. This is not to say that there is no right or wrong, but that we live by something deeper and greater. It is our life with God that really matters. Nothing must interfere with that. We come to value our relationship with him as life itself.

So in this whole matter of alcoholic consumption, our starting point is not with whether our forefathers were right or wrong in their choices and consequent rulings. Nor do we argue about whether we can or can't, as our bottom line. Our freedom moves us into more significant evaluations. Where the Bible doesn't give precise commandments, we ask questions to ourselves such as: Does this hinder me in any way? Does this affect my decision making ability? Where are my limits in exercising this freedom? How does this influence others close to me? How does this impact my witness? Could this lead me into bondage or excess? What am I able to handle? Why do I wish to participate in this? In what context does this become inappropriate? Does it bother my conscience? Does it adversely affect my spirituality?

Yes, there is a first consideration on any matter: is it specifically forbidden or required by God?s Word? But when that is not answered in propositional form, then we are left in areas where conscience, preference, discretion, priorities, influences, witness, personal godliness, spiritual maturity, etc., are the criterion by which we must choose. Our hearts must take our freedoms and consider them through a spiritual lense. And that is aided by the Holy Spirit who will speak to our hearts about where we stand and how we must live in each context and time frame.

Of course, such personal freedom may result in each of us reaching different conclusions. We might even have diverse decisions made on the same issue under different circumstances. That is again the whole point: freedom is exercised not by law, but by love. Relationship drives that love. Loving God and others, we seek to be mature, spiritual and good. Decision is by devotion!

David C. Slauenwhite

Every Path We Walk Needs Boundaries

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:47:31 EDT

(This blog is a follow through from my last one, titled "Reacting our Way into Ruination.")

To the past generation of evangelical/ pentecostal believers, it is mind blowing to see the changes that have hit our churches. Of course, the music wars are the first frontier of fighting, but they are certainly not the only occasion for opposing viewpoints. Preaching styles have changed, fellowship activities have evolved, programs have become technologically driven, church operations have been forced into legal considerations as a first concern, etc. If church members think all this is frustrating, they should sympathize with pastors who have to work with it and often face opposition. One in three pastors will lose their position, sooner or later in their career, over some battle in which they face an impossibility to please everyone.

So back to our topic in the last blog. The whole issue of the use of alcoholic beverages. I must be crazy to address this, except it is staring me straight in the face and cannot be avoided. It will become even more sensitive in days to come. Many of our churches now have wedding receptions with dancing and drinking as a main course. Our young people drink at home, at the bar, in their parties, and increasingly at their social activities . . . yes, even church ones. For them, reading this paragraph is rather puzzling: what?s the issue? For the generation before them, and for the generation before that, this activity is almost unbelievable.

I am not interested in this blog set, to enter the debate about whether all this is right or wrong and supplementary questions about whether Jesus changed water into actual wine or just a watered down imitation. This is not because I don't have an opinion, but because I'm wishing to address practical concerns, not belief issues here. (And if you read my sentence about Jesus above, you should be able to read between the lines as to my belief on that.)

Setting aside drunkenness, which the Scripture definitely defines as crossing the line, how do we handle our new found freedoms? It is disturbing to me that young adults or teens in our congregations are facing pressures to drink, from others within the church. (When I speak of church here, I refer to the church world at large, not my local one. . . except in application.) I am also disturbed when Christians drink to excess and become drunk. And when it becomes a matter of proving your freedoms by engaging in free style drinking, then we are opening ourselves to spiritual bondage. Furthermore, when our drinking influences our children towards a life style focused on doing what we want regardless of how it affects us or others, then I fear for what we'll reap in the next generation. And, let's not forget, that if our activities or freedoms become a poor witness or hindrance to the world of unbelievers, then we've sinned against them.

Freedom must be bound by restraint. Doing whatever results in getting whatever. Every path we trod needs boundaries, or we'll roam everywhere. So, where do we go with all this? (Next time)

David C. Slauenwhite

Reacting our Way into Ruination

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:01:57 EDT

When we hold to a position, belief or behavior that may be too far off center, we tend to do so with a rigidity that resists any modification. We feel we're right, and that's it! Then time works on us and experience humbles us and new ideas challenge us and thinking changes us. We realize that we might be mistaken, even actually wrong. Now we face a dilemma. If pride or prejudice or pugnaciousness grips us, then we might reinforce our previous stand into a fierce militance that takes us into fanaticism. We might cling to our old views and positions and ways unreasonably and with intolerance. We have to be right because we can't face being wrong.

But, we might take another route that is just as harmful and illogical. We go to the other extreme. Realizing we were wrong, we now reject our previous positions totally and embrace new ones uncritically. We admit we were wrong, but accept what we think is now right, to the point of a similar extremism.

Currently, we?re facing such a situation. In correcting a past extreme, we are moving to a new excess. Attempts to bring balance on this often result in very negative reactions from both sides of the issue. The old right says we must stay where we were, while the new left says we must move on. Let me take a position where both can hit me.

I grew up in a church climate that had more than a little legalism. The use of alcoholic beverages is the matter on my mind here. Drinking was not just unacceptable; it was sin. I've even heard it said, with passion, that even to inadvertently or unknowingly or accidently, have a drop of alcohol in one?s beverage that happens to be there by whatever means. . . and your lips touch that drink !!!, well, you're on your way to hell.

What? So you didn't even know you'd done it nor did you mean to do it, but now you're doomed. How can you repent of that? This is stupid, to put it kindly and in theological terms that match the dumbness of that dogma. (I'm being a bit sarcastic in case you haven't caught it)

But equally scary is the reaction to this mistaken belief. Now that we know that alcohol is not an evil thing in itself (I know, this statement will be the first point of attack against what I'm saying), we've gone the other way to make alcohol almost a good thing in itself. Where abstinence was once total and imposed, participation is now spreading and encouraged. Misuse of alcohol is now a major concern in our churches. Many young adults are frequently drinking themselves into drunkenness. As a pastor, in the past I've often had non-church people come for help for either their alcoholic addiction or the consequences of drunken behavior. Now it's church people coming for help. They insist, rightly, that drinking isn't a sin. But they are sinning in several ways because of their drinking. And they are confused and in trouble.

Just because something isn't wrong in itself, doesn't mean engaging in it is alright. We need some balance and some discretion and some understanding here. Freedom is never without restraints. Balance is never taking a reaction to the other extreme. ( But more on this in the next blog)

David C. Slauenwhite

Cultivating Culture: Totally Like Whatever, You Know

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:52:09 EDT

By Eric Versluis

If you've ever wondered about the power of art and culture, our most recent blogs should help reinforce what powerful forces they are. Anything that can have the publicly emotionally reserved Pastor David fighting back tears at the Stockey Center has an incredible power to move us. However, Pastor David is not alone. I didn't mention it in my original post but upon finishing 127 Hours the first time, I immediately had to go back and re-watch the ending because the first time through was a little fuzzy due to the accumulation of tears. This is why we are spending all this time trying to get a better understanding of culture because it has such power to move us emotionally as well as shaping how we think and respond to the world.

I'm working on a larger post that begins to delve into the cultural power of words and how little thought we give to the importance of how we speak and what we talk about. To get us thinking along those lines, I want us to briefly consider a form of culture that takes words and how we use them very, very seriously: poetry.

This is Taylor Mali. Taylor is a 10th generation New Yorker who spent nine years working as a teacher before leaving teaching to become a full-time beat poet (a move obviously based on the clear financial benefits of the lucrative world of beat poetry). Taylor specializes in what is called 'slam poetry'; poetry competitions where artists perform their poems out loud (usually for a maximum of 3 minutes) for the benefit of a panel of judges and an audience. A YouTube search of Taylor Mali brings up a whole collection of live performances of his poem, many of them moving and challenging, some of them hilariously funny, not all of them entirely PG, all of them engaging.

As a former teacher, the son of a published author and a former Shakespearian actor, much of Taylor's work is focused on getting people to take seriously what they write and say. Taylor believes in the power of words, he wants his audience to share his belief. My favourite example of this is Taylor's poem called 'Totally Like Whatever, You Know'. On the surface it's a hilarious way of mocking the way the younger generations of today talk, with our 'likes' and 'you knows' and our general unwillingness to state our case clearly (Sample line 'I'm just inviting you to join me on the bandwagon of my own uncertainty). Underneath the obvious point is the real point. Taylor is taking issue with a post-modern society that refuses to take a stand for anything, that refuses to hold onto their beliefs with conviction and puts everything we say through a filter of irony so that if we are challenged, we can simply laugh our statement off and protect ourself from embarrassment .

It's a fascinating poem and Taylor's delivery of it takes it to a whole other level. By using the exact sort of phrasing that he is challenging, it's not just the words that Taylor uses but how he uses them that give his point it's potency. I recommend you take a few minutes to check it out and think about the way you speak and words you choose to use.

Without further ado: 'Totally Like Whatever, You Know'

God is Glorified, Wherever

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:28:06 EDT

The Bible declares that God is creator and lord over all the earth. That also means culture, politics, education, science. . . the whole bit. Within everything God can be found, though he is not to be confused with everything, nor is it to be assumed that everything that is, is how God wants it or that it is pure theistically in its expression. So philosophers can speculate about life and its meaning, often going into anti-theistic or ungodly rant. But look and listen closely, and you'll find traces of truth still underlying the foundations of thought. Even other religions, or as we used to call them, false religions, will reveal that behind it all, stands the true God. As much or even more than a false or opposing faith system, it may be the result of a wandering or fleeing belief that as some point resisted submission to the Lord.

All this to say, there is much to be found of good in our culture. The arts and literature in particular often reveal God, even when the creator- authors did not mean to do this. A deeper analysis of the Harry Potter series shows the substance of the Christian theology of man?s true nature, religious roaming and quest for reality. There are the usual traces of truth in the concepts of good struggling with evil, the realization that it is the inner thought or realm where reality or truth or power is to be found, and that it is through death that one comes out to fulfilment or a kind of resurrection. With some penetrating analysis, you can point out the gospel underneath much of modern literature.

How much more is this to be found in the ancient arts and literature. Only then it was not hidden or subtle like today. The musical classics we enjoy were frequently the creation of great people of faith. In spite of how much our current society rejects theism or at least the God of the Bible, it still can't shake off the enjoyment that comes from the great paintings, music and literature based on Biblical truth.

Yesterday I attended the Festival of the Sound evening concert. Parry Sound has an annual musical feast that is absolutely outstanding. If I had the money and time, I'd take a three week holiday and attend every event, usually numbering almost seventy. Last night, the Requiem by Eleanor Daley (a Parry Sound composer with international status) followed by the Requiem Mass in D minor by Mozart was presented by world class musicians, singers and choir. It was fantastic, well played and moving. It was a special moment to recognize Daley who was present. Of course, Mozart missed it.

Going past the music into the lyrics, brings one face to face with God. It's all about our faith. It reveals the sufferings and reality of death that we all face, but these two requiems take us into the truth that God has given us hope. They speak of resurrection faith that Christ gives. While probably most there had a musical experience, I had a spiritual one as well. Fighting back tears lest those beside me think I'm slightly off center, I had to bite my lips to keep from vocalizing praise. There, God was glorified. Through the excellence of musicians, the beauty of skilled singing, the use of tremendous talent in arrangement and presentation, the truth given in the lyrics, came the exaltation of the Lord of All. God is glorified, wherever!

David C. Slauenwhite

On the Fly, Again!

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:19:53 EDT

Life is a roller coaster out of control! I think we all feel that way sometimes. What makes it worse is that often I worry that my roller coaster isn't out of control, but that in fact, someone else is driving it. That is, everyone and everything else seems to be able to control my day, my moods, my agenda, my life. . .while I just hang on for dear life hoping to make it through another cycle of the coaster.

As a pastor, that is an occupational dilemma. Pastors are there to serve, right? They are suppose to be ready and available at any moment, correct? And they never feel rushed, troubled, upset, pressured? They are always calm, happy, peaceful and have all the answers to other people problems? Sure !

So I just finished vacation and my first two days back in the office were fine. Everybody seemed to have survived and even thrived, without me. When I was younger that would frighten me into fears that I wasn't needed or essential. Now I realize that this is true: I'm really not the "messiah" and everyone will do quite well with or without me. No longer does that scare me; it soothes me. But nonetheless, once I am back, it seems that within a short time everything starts to pile back up on me.

Is this because I just like to draw lightning? Or do I feel like I must run everything? Could it be that if I'm there, then everything just comes my way but otherwise it wouldn't? Should I be less available? What if I practiced the spiritual disciplines of Jesus and took long periods away from everyone to pray and ponder the ways of God? Now that would be nice! But no, that would not fly in today's church life.

Well, here I am in week two after vacation and it seems like I need another one. Just two work days into the second week and my agenda looks absolutely awful. I've had numerous phone calls, several visits to homes and hospitals, preparing two weddings and one funeral, getting committee meetings lined up, processing legal papers for church business, and wondering what to preach next. So life is back to normal and again I'm up and running.

But that was Jesus' situation too. He got so busy that scripture says at times he didn't get his meals. That helped yesterday when I missed lunch. Yet in all this, there is a certain sense of contentment. Doing little would both bore and bother me. Doing too much tires me. But doing something, that hopefully matters to God, is satisfying.

Today is the only chance we get to make another day count. Our calling is not about sliding through life but is concerned about making life glorify God. He is the Master who calls the shots. We are to be the bullet sent to the target. Please Lord, help me hit the mark and make a mark for you, no matter how fast I'm flying on the flight.

David C. Slauenwhite

Cultivating Culture: 127 Hours

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:45:35 EDT

By Eric Versluis

There is nothing new under the sun. If we are to follow in our God given mandate to cultivate and create culture, we need to realize that our contributions to culture are always going to be formed from the existing culture that we find ourselves surrounded with. As such, we need to be cultivators of culture before we can be creators. What makes good culture? What makes bad culture? Where do we find glimpses of God in the culture and how can we learn to build on that? Over the next weeks and months I will be sporadically posting 'Cultivating Culture' posts that will examine 'snapshots' of existing culture to see what we can learn from them and ultimately apply those lessons to our own lives to help us become more Godly creators of culture.

The movie 127 Hours is based on a true story account of a man named Aron Ralston who had a terrible accident while hiking through a canyon in Utah in 2003. Directed by Danny Boyle and starring James Franco 127 Hours was nominated for six Oscar awards and is a textbook example of excellent filmmaking (view movie trailer). Basically, the plot revolves around an 800 pound boulder that fell and trapped Aron's right arm between the boulder and the canyon wall, leaving him trapped there for five days. Facing certain death Aron amputated his own arm using a dull knife and began to hike to freedom before being found and rescued. It's an incredible story of one man's will to live.

As a story, it's an inspiring piece of culture that makes you want to step out into the world and make every moment count. Yet as I watched 127 Hours over and over again, I realized that there is so much more going on here then just the story of triumph over adversity.

Let me reduce the story this way. A man expresses his desire to 'live his own life' by pushing away his love interest and ignoring his caring family. He doesn't tell anyone where he is going because he can manage his own life just fine. When the boulder falls and traps him in a cave, beneath the ground, Aron Ralston finds himself in a tomb both real and metaphorical.

It is there, staring death in the face that Aron begins to remember the most meaningful moments in his life. Despite the fact that he has solo climbed all 58 mountains over 14,000 feet in Colorado, Aron's memories do not involve any solo activities but instead revolve around simple moments where Aron is surrounded by family, friends and a beautiful girlfriend. Aron begins to confront the reality that he has chosen to pursue a selfish life instead of a life of love and community and that this life of self-absorption has led directly to his downfall.

As the days go by and death seems inevitable, Aron has an vision where he sees a small child. Aron believes that child to be his future son and the thought that his life would find meaning and purpose in the act of sharing it with another person inspires him in a final attempt at freedom. In order to get out a tremendous sacrifice must take place. Aron must break his own arm and then cut through the skin and muscle, leaving his severed arm trapped in the rock.

As the music swells, Aron emerges from the darkness of his tomb into the blazing sunshine. In an interview with WideWorld Adventure Magazine Aron described the moment this way: 'When I stepped out out of my grave where I'd been hidden for five and a half days, was amazing. I was able to get out of there and step back into my life again. The closest I've come to being able to describe it is as a rebirth because I'd already accepted I was going to die. So it was all the joys of love and connection and discovery and wonder and amazement compressed into one moment. You take all the joys of life and put them in that one moment - and that was that moment of getting free.'

But Aron was not completely free yet. Bleeding out and 40 pounds lighter then he was five days previous, Aron attempts to hike back to civilization on his own. Unable to make it, Aron is found by a family on a hiking trip. Surrounded by people, accepting their love and care, Aron is rescued. He couldn't do it alone, he needed to accept the help of others.

As the movie winds to a close we are confronted with intercut with images of Aron swimming underwater in a sunlight swimming pool. At the very close of the movie, Aron comes up for air at the very edge of the pool to see an vision of his family and friends gathered around the side of the pool, watching him swim.

It is a baptism metaphor. The old, self absorbed Aron being left behind and the new, loving, community minded Aron emerging. There's a lot of symbolism there about a man moving from living a life that leads to death to a life that leads to more life.

Aron describes it this way: 'That's where I'm finally at today - my life is about being with my family, being with Leo, our son. This is what's important. I wrote a book because I'd seen how this story was a legacy for other people and an inspiration. And it was very touching and I wanted to continue - and the film was the inevitable next step. It led me to realize that my life had to be more than about me. At the end of the film you see my real family sitting on that couch: me, Jessica and Leo. And I believe that's why I got out of that canyon, so that I could find them.'

The last 10 minutes of 127 Hours are some of my favorite minutes of film ever. The soundtrack is provided by a band called Sigur Ros and the song that plays is called Festival (I strongly recommend listening to the song here). In its full version, it's a piece of music that starts as a quiet, meditative, almost mournful piece of music that explodes into a driving anthem of hope that pulsates majestically towards it's heavenly climax. It is a piece of music that over the course of its 9 minutes takes you from a place of death to a place of overwhelming life without a single intelligible word being sung.

Ultimately that's what 127 Hours is all about. It asks the question, 'what does it really mean to be alive'? and points us towards love and community as cornerstones of this sort of abundant life. It forces us to ask ourselves if we are really 'alive' or if the life we are living is ultimately leading somewhere else. 127 Hours tells us that moving from death to life is painful and may ultimately cost us a part of ourselves but that life, like the abundant life Jesus promised us, full of love and friends and family and community and joy and togetherness is ultimately worth dying for.

There's a lot of Biblical subtext in a film that, as far as I can remember, doesn't contain a single direct reference to God. Jesus is all about bringing people from death to life and even if the makers of 127 Hours never directly intended it, their movie resonates with the message of how 'abundant life' is available if we are willing to let go of ourselves.

As we seek to create culture, we need to ask ourselves if what we create, if the way we live our lives, helps to move people towards a greater appreciation for the wonder of life. God speaks through our stories and while you may not have been trapped under a rock and nearly killed, God is taking your life on a journey from a place of death to a place of life. What we create and contribute to culture should communicate that our lives are ultimately not about ourselves but about bigger things like love and community and self-sacrifice. As Aron Ralston said once 'On the poster for the film 127 Hours it says there is no force on earth more powerful than the will to live. I say - except for the will to love.'

Concerning Culture - Part 6: Creation & Cultivation

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:53:58 EDT

By Eric Versluis

For a whole month now I've been posting about the problems with some of the most common Christian responses to culture. Week after week I've pointed out various practical and theological reasons why I believe we so often fail to engage our culture in a godly way. Yet, it wasn't until today that I realized the most obvious reason why these responses to culture are often not appropriate for followers of Christ. The reason is simple. Could you imagine if God responded to our culture the way that Christians often do?

Could you imagine if God simply condemned our whole world, refusing to associate himself with us at all because of the rampant sinfulness in our culture? As God, He has every right to judge us for our failings and refuse to associate with us. Could you blame Him? Yet Jesus does just the opposite, taking on human flesh and coming to earth to walk among us, to associate and identify with our culture. More so, the Bible says that Jesus did not come in order to condemn the world, but to save it. God's response to culture is to seek to redeem it, not condemn it.

Could you also imagine if God simply spent all of his time criticizing us and the world that we live in? In light of God's perfection and holiness, human beings and human culture must leave an awful lot to desire. Are there things about the way we live our lives and the way our world operates that God wishes we would do differently? Absolutely. Does not His word contain repeated criticisms of the way that human beings live, act and think? Absolutely. But does not God also delight in each and every person? Does God not also declare that His creation is 'good' and that mankind is 'very good'? Does not God time and time again step into our lives to lovingly bring about change and growth when he could easily just sit on the sidelines and tell us how far we've fallen short of His holiness? Instead, God sends His son to bring about restoration.

Could you imagine if God simply copied what someone else was doing? A truly ridiculous thought to be sure. God would not be God if He were not original. But do we properly recognize exactly how original God is? God makes no two things exactly the same. The uniqueness of snowflakes and people is well documented and our constantly expanding understanding of the size and complexity of the universe is astounding. The Bible tells us that even God's mercies are new every morning. What God is doing today is different then what He did yesterday. God's work is not a replica, it's an original and it's a masterpiece.

Could you imagine if God was merely a consumer of culture and didn?t contribute or create anything at all? If God was like that, you wouldn?t be reading this blog because nothing, including you or me, would exist.

Instead, God responds to culture in two ways; creation and cultivation. In the book of Genesis, God speaks and brings life out of nothing. But creation is not just a one time event. In scripture, God declares that 'Behold, I am making all things new'. For God, creation is an ongoing, unending process. Creation did not end on the seventh day but will continue on unceasingly into the whole of eternity. Creation is taking place in you and me right now (as Paul says, when we are in Christ we are a 'new creation'). Creation is taking place in our universe right now (stars and planets are still being formed all the time). Creation is taking place in our world right now (heaven and earth are slowly becoming one).

God also cultivates culture. Scripture talks about God using the process of our life to purify us into the image of Jesus. God wants to bring the fruit of the Spirit to fruition in our lives and like a skillful gardner He fertilizes and waters the soil of our lives, carefully weeds out anything that may get in the way of our growth. His goal is to bring out what is good and true and beautiful in our lives and move us towards who we were created to be.

You and I were created in God's image. We are designed to create and to cultivate the culture around us. It is the Godly thing to do.

Summer in a Cottage Country Church

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:52:23 EDT

A young lady of our church just came in to practice a piano piece and popped around the corner to say "hi." Asking how I was doing, I said "great, I'm just writing a blog about how nice it is to pastor a church in cottage country," here on the Georgian Bay.

Life here, like anywhere, has it ups and downs. But there is something special about summer where people live on lakes, fish and swim and boat most days, and enjoy to the fullest nature as it is. In seizing all this pleasure during the short season we have before the snow returns, the church tends to cut out all regular programs to focus on activities that promote relationships and fellowship. My life as pastor takes on a different turn. My wife and I get to go to parties, dinners, boat rides, walks along nature trails, and barbeques. We draw closer to people instead of burning out on church business. With ministry, people is what it is all about, so this kind of interaction actually provides better ministry opportunities than sitting in an office putting in hours. Now don't get me wrong. Summer is not a long holiday for pastors. It's just doing things differently.

Having just finished our summer vacation, we're now back to work. During the next month the main thing to do is to get ready for the Fall. Plans are underway, programs are being prepared, people are being contacted and preaching is being scheduled. But with all this, we go slower, talk with each other longer, reflect deeper and worship in the context of the sheer pleasure of great weather and great people.

It's nice to go away during the summer to have holidays with family, especially since they live two thousand kilometers away. But it's also nice to come back refreshed and eager to engage once again in the Lord's work. I think church during the summer should be joyous, laid back and refreshing. God delights in his people, created a wonderful earth for them to enjoy and grants us beautiful people to have fun with. During the holiday times we get to see cottagers come back to visit us again. Over this time we celebrate weddings. And we get to dress down for church. I never did like ties and suit jackets; having hot days is a great excuse to come dressed in casual clothes. And the annual summer church picnics bring it all together.

So, let's enjoy it while it lasts. The big danger is that we might try to enjoy all that God has given us while neglecting to enjoy the God who is the Giver. I don't understand how some just drop the church for two or three months, because after all, it's summer. If God can't be part of our summertime experience, maybe we need to do a reality check up.

Oh, one last comment about last month, when we were on vacation. My assistant pastor, Eric Versluis, wrote the blog pages. He has done an excellent job of analyzing culture from a Christian perspective. I've enjoyed the break and more so been very pleased with his articles. If you haven't been following them, go down the site and read. It's worth your while. So, I've told him to keep on writing . . . while I make the occasional blog along the way. After all, it's summer and I get to relax a bit. . . while he covers for me.

David C. Slauenwhite

Concerning Culture - Part 5: Consuming Culture

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:24:32 EDT

By Eric Versluis

So far we've looked at three primary responses to culture that North American Christians have used to varying degrees over the last century or so; condemning, critiquing and copying. While each of these responses can be justified and even necessary in the right circumstances, whenever they become the dominant response to culture they lead us to participate in the process of culture making in a way that is less then what God intended for us as humans made in His image.

So what about today? How are Christians responding to the culture in 2011? It seems to me that our current response to culture may be the worst of all possible responses; consumption. Now, obviously, there are certain aspects of culture that are only good for consumption. A pizza is a cultural good that is designed for the sole purpose of it's purchase and consumption. If the pizza is not eaten, it is wasted. Consumption is an inescapable part of interacting with culture.

However, as Christians I wonder if we have taken our consumption of the culture too far? A couple years ago I took our youth group to a large youth convention in Waterloo, ON. As soon as we loaded up the van and started driving, the kids took their ipods out and took turns blasting a who's who of whatever was popular at the time through the car speakers. What struck me was the way the kids were able to come out of a powerful worship service where kids were crying and dedicating themselves to Jesus and straight into the van to jump around to Lady Gaga singing about her 'disco stick'.

To me, the content wasn't a huge issue (to be honest there was little of it that I didn't already own or hadn't heard on the radio before). The real issue was that the kids seemed completely unaware of the dichotomy between how they had just declaratively sung that Jesus gave them 'what the world couldn't offer us' (a lyric from a Hillsong worship song) and their unthinking consumption of exactly what that world had to offer. There was a total acceptance of what was offered from the worship culture and a total acceptance of what was offered from the radio culture, even though the two culture's where offering essentially opposing messages. The culture of worship and the culture of radio are certainly not mutually exclusive but it's a life-long balancing act to get them to comfortably co-exist within one's own personal culture. What struck me was how no one seemed to be processing this struggle in any way.

When we fall into a pattern of mindless cultural consumption, uncritically taking in whatever cultural good is front of us, we are like a starving man confronted with an all-you-can-eat buffet. We lose our ability to tell what is good for us, what needs to be taken in moderation and when we need to stop going back to the buffet altogether. Instead, we grow fatter, sicker, lazier and less able to make any sort of positive contribution of our own.

I recently finished the book 'Bringing It To The Table', a collection of essays and writings on the topics of food and farming by renowned author Wendell Berry. One of the things that struck me about the book was Berry's comments about how our modern society views food. Food, for most people (myself included), is something that you buy in the store. Little thought is given to where the food came from, how it was grown or raised, what has been added to it and what methods of transportation were used to bring it to you. Most of us don't think twice as to how exactly it is possible to purchase 'fresh' oranges in Northern Ontario during the dead winter of February. We are shopping, we see oranges, we buy them and we consume them.

To Berry, the great pleasure of eating is enhanced tremendously by the accurate knowledge of what exactly you are eating. When Wendell Berry eats, he likes to know that his vegetables have been grown lovingly, in the best possible soil and conditions, with the utmost attention and care. His dinner is enhanced by the knowledge that the meat he is eating was once a living animal who was treated with dignity and care, allowed to live in a place with space and shade and water, not in some pen in a pile of it's own feces. He likes to know that whoever prepared his food is passionate about food preparation, takes great pride in the art of making a meal and derives great joy from seeing people enjoy the food they have created. Wendell Berry makes eating sound like a lot of work. Wendell Berry also makes eating sound romantic, meaningful and spiritual.

Because so few of us today grow our own food, we take for granted the amount of work, effort, knowledge, experience and care that it takes to grow good food. Berry suggests that instead of simply being consumers of food, that even those who are unable to grow or maintain a full garden, try growing even one food bearing plant and then eating the fruit of that plant to experience the difference that comes from eating something that you have known from the time it was a seed. To Berry, informed, engaged, contributing consumption is a more spiritual way to eat.

Yet mindless consumption is a tempting path to take because it requires so little effort. Our world around us is designed for ease of consumption. Our televisions allow us 24-7 access to the world of arts and entertainment. Our cities are designed for the ultimate ease of access to stores and malls that exist to sell us goods and services for our consumption. Advertisements fill our streets, our web browsers, our airwaves and our clothes, reminding us that in order to be happy, we need to consume more. That many churches have equated the pursuit of the American dream with the promise of the blessings of God has allowed us to justify our consumption without us giving much thought as to where our stuff came from, what purpose it serves and what lasting value it has.

The Bible refutes this response to culture. The book of Ecclesiastes is the story of a man who journeys through life consuming as much as he can; money, food, clothes, power, women, sex, pleasure and more. At the end of his journey, he proclaims everything in life 'meaningless', nothing but a vapour, here today and consumed tomorrow. The Teacher of Ecclesiastes has 'lived the dream' and found it that consumption is ultimately an empty pursuit.

Consumption ultimately enslaves us to the thing we are consuming. If we aren't contributing and only consuming, we become dependant on our cultural providers, rushing to pick up whatever they offer next (the fact that I daily check the Apple website for the release date of the new Lion Operating System tells you I am not immune to this sort of dependance). If we are merely consumers, we make ourselves passive, unable to influence the world around us because we are not offering anything new, simply taking in what is placed in front of us. On top of that, consumption is costly. There is much evidence that our style of living is causing severe damage to the environment around us and the well being of those less fortunate then us (for a more detailed explanation, watch this video)

At the end of the day, it's easy to tell our teens to ask better questions about the influence, message and worldview of the music, movies and shows they expose consume on a daily basis. Perhaps we need to take our own advice. If Wendell Berry is right and something as simple as eating can become a spiritual act if we are informed, engaged and contributing to the cultural world of our food then perhaps the same holds true of the rest of culture as well.

As Ecclesiastes tells us, meaning is not found in consumption. On the other hand, the book of Genesis teaches shows that acts of creation and cultivation have great significance. Perhaps if we want to exist in our culture in a godly way, we need to move past condemning, critiquing, copying and consuming the culture and learn to become cultivators, contributors and creators of culture instead. Like Berry's description of eating, it sounds like a lot of work. It's also profoundly spiritual.

Concerning Culture - Part 4: Copying Culture

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:14:37 EDT

By Eric Versluis

Because I was born in 1984, I grew up in the heyday of the third Christian response to culture; copying. We've already discussed how condemning and critiquing the culture are usually inadequate responses to culture. As a result, from about 1980 to 2000, the typical Christian response to culture was to figure out what was popular in the culture and then create a 'christian' facsimile of that trend. Whether it was 80's power ballads, grunge rock, ska, arena rock or hair metal the Christian music would invariably reproduce the sounds and styles of that day. Mostly, Christians did things like this:

And this:

And finally, this:

Basically, Christians built a whole subculture based around this concept of inserting Jesus into whatever was popular at the moment. Books, movies, music, clothing, radio, art, television, whatever. Christians started making content aimed at other Christians but directly influenced by the trends of the day. We were aware of the broader culture but instead of engaging with it on it's own terms, we just took it's ideas and 'christianized' them. This is what 'copying' was all about.

Growing up I remember these magazines that Focus on the Family would put out that were aimed at Jr High aged kids. They featured articles, cartoons and stories but the part that always fascinated me the most was the music reviews. You see, they didn't just review 'christian' music, they reviewed 'secular' music. So I would spend hours sitting and reading about the latest albums from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and REM, imagining what it would be like to actually listen to those albums because, at the time, 'secular' music was still in the 'no fly zone' of my life.

I don't remember all the reviews now but my general impression was that it was the rare album that Focus on the Family considered acceptable from young Christians to listen to. Most of the reviews talked about how many swear words each album contained, how many of the songs glorified 'pre-marital sex' and how few, if any, of these musicians lived lives that young people should look up to. Of course, to a curious young boy, those sorts of reviews only made you want to listen to the music even more.

I think the editors of this magazine knew this because at the end of each review they included a list of 'christian alternatives'. Basically, they listed any artist on a Christian music label who sounded remotely like the 'secular' artist and suggested that I go buy their cd instead. So they suggested Third Day instead of Pearl Jam, PFR instead of REM and The Supertones instead of The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones.

As you've guessed by now, there were and are several flaws with this response to culture. Among these flaws is the problem that, like with simply critiquing, copying is a responsive posture to culture. As a result, if Christians simply copy the culture, they will have great difficulty influencing it because they are always waiting to see what the culture does first. Copying does not allow you to set the agenda for the culture, the culture sets the agenda for you. Thus it was the rare Christian artist who was on the cutting edge of anything because by the time a trend was established in the culture and identified by Christian marketers, you still needed to find an artist who fit that trend, write their album/script/book and release it to the public.

The result was that by the time something started trending in Christian culture, the trend was usually already fading in the broader culture. As a result, this had the effect of ghettoizing Christians because what we were listening to, watching and reading was never in sync with the broader culture. More importantly, the broader culture didn't pay attention to what we were creating because they had already created something similar, three years earlier.

Not only will copying culture mean that you are always behind the curve, it reduces the quality of the contribution you are making to the culture. There is a reason why the Coca-Cola logo is one of the most recognized logo's in the world. Someone spent a lot of hard work and effort thinking up that logo, designing it and perfecting it. Some of the smartest, most creative, talented people in the world have put time, effort and energy into that idea. As a cultural contribution, something as seemingly simple as the Coca-Cola logo represents a tremendous amount of creativity, inspiration, hard work and determination.

Copying, to be blunt, is pure laziness by comparison. Simply adding the words Jesus Christ to the Coca-Cola logo does require nearly as much creativity, effort or ingenuity as the original logo. There is a Biblical idea that God wants us to offer our best to Him. Colossians 3:23 says, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all you heart, as working for the Lord'. In the Old Testament, God required unblemished sacrifices. Only healthy and whole sheep and cattle would do. To my mind, simply copying someone else's work is not offering our best.

Admittedly, there is nothing new under the sun and all culture making is taking what is in front of us and turning it into something else. But you are not the person who created the Coca-Cola logo. You are you, with your own perspective and history and way of thinking. You have something completely unique to offer. When contributing the culture, trust the fact that God has empowered and called you to contribute to the culture in your own unique way as best you can. Don't settle for trying to be someone else.

The final problem with copying is the issue of identity. What distinguishes a cultural item made by a Christian? Should cultural contributions even be able to be labelled 'christian'? This question deserves a lot of thought and discussion which we won't get into here but when it comes to copying, this question gets even more difficult. Think about music for a second. If I write a 'christian' song that I hope sounds somewhat like something I've heard on the radio, what is it that distinguishes my 'christian' music from radio music? Obviously, it must be the lyrics since the music sounds the same. As a result, I will feel the need to mention Jesus a lot in my music so it's clear who I'm talking to. The joke was that Christian musicians and artists were mandated to mention Jesus a certain number of times on their album. This would be funnier if artists like Michael W Smith, dc Talk and Switchfoot were not accused of 'selling out' their faith when they had secular radio hits with songs that failed to mention the name of Jesus. Saying the name of Jesus would become less about identifying a person and more about identifying a certain type of product.

Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with singing about Jesus a lot, but because Christians felt the need to sing about Jesus, they didn't spend a lot of time singing about relationships, marriages, family, hurt, pain, loss, depression, famine, hunger, injustice, doubt, helplessness, brokenness, loneliness or any number of things that all people, including Christians, experience as a regular part of life.

It is kind of like a blind man being given a set of glasses that enabled him to see and then spending all his time talking about and describing his amazing new glasses instead of talking about the beauty and wonder of the world that he was now able to see. As Christians, we have the opportunity to make a wonderful contribution to the culture. By God's grace, we are given a new perspective on the world and we have the ability to see things through God's eyes. As such, we should have lots to say about God's perspective on relationships, marriages, family, hurt, pain, loss, depression, famine, hunger, injustice, doubt, helplessness, brokenness and loneliness because God has a lot to say about those things.

The best cultural contributions come from the heart. They are honest, true and most of all, personal. Copying is giving into the belief that someone else's contribution is better then yours. God gave you a unique voice, don't waste it by sounding like somebody else. Our culture doesn't need any more t-shirts that look like Coca-Cola logos. Our culture needs more things that look like you.

Concerning Culture - Part 3: Critiquing Culture

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:16:56 EDT

By Eric Versluis

Last night after eating our dinner on that patio, I went and turned on the sprinkler so that the girls could have some fun on a beautiful summer's night. As I set the sprinkler down in the grass, I noticed a weed shooting up in between the blades of grass. To my horror, as I began to look more closely I noticed even more weeds. Thus, the next thirty minutes of my life were spent on my hands and knees, pulling weeds out of the lawn while trying not to get soaked by the sprinkler.

In the last post we discussed how condemnation was an unproductive response to culture. Christians eventually realized that disengaging entirely from the culture was not working so they decided to take a new approach. They began to 'engage' the culture, trickling back into theatres, listening to 'secular' radio, publicly entering into the debate on political issues. As Christians mingled with the culture, they began to sift through it to point out what was 'good' and to single out that which was 'bad'. They started to identify the lovely, pure, good and true that was available in the culture. As wonderful as this shift in response was, it began to develop it's own problems when 'critiquing' the culture became an end unto itself.

You see, while critiquing seems like a more beneficial response to culture, it can become an even more unproductive response because it can give us the illusion of contributing to the culture without ever having to do anything at all. Critiquing is only a useful response to culture if it leads us to contribute.

The first potential problem with critiquing is that this response to culture is just that, a response. It is a purely reactionary position. We passively sit back and wait to see what the culture is going to offer us next. We then pass judgement on whether it is good culture or bad culture. If all we ever do is critique the culture without ever contributing, our position as critics is severely compromised. The phrases 'armchair quarterback' or 'backseat driver' probably most aptly describe the this pitfall of critiquing as a primary response to culture.

My opinions about the quality of a framed house or a rebuilt car engine are essentially worthless as I am the sort of person who considers assembling Ikea furniture a 'handy man' project. Because I contribute little to the culture of construction or mechanics, my opinion on such matters are compromised. On the other hand, as someone who plays drums for hours a week, I am in a better position to make a comment as to the quality of another persons drumming. Because I am acutely aware of the skill, effort, practice and technical mastery required to properly play drums, my opinion carries slightly more weight.

This leads to the second problem with critiquing; it is almost always ineffectual. Just look at movie critics, the people in the best possible position to influence whether or not other people will go to see a movie. These critics are qualified, they know movies, most have been to art school. They not only criticize but they contribute by writing their opinions down and publishing them as articles for public discussion and debate. If we were looking for wise advice on a good movie to go see, a movie critic is about as good, credible advice as you could get. If anyone's critique should carry some influence it should be them. So does their criticism have influence? As of this writing, 62% of movie critics in North America haven given Transformers 3: Dark Side of The Moon a negative review. Many have essentially said, 'DON'T GO SEE THIS MOVIE!' Has it had any effect? In it's first week of release, Transformers has grossed over $400 MILLION dollars. Criticism cannot overcome cool.

Thus, if those of us who have far less credibility in the world of culture choose critique as our primary response, we should not be surprised when we have little influence.

My point here is not that we should not analyze our culture or critique it in any way. In fact, I think we should do more of that. My point here is that we should not mistake criticism with contribution. If our analysis of the culture does not lead to action then it is simply a poor response. If I had noticed the weeds littering my yard, complained about their presence and then hoped that someone else would do something about it, I would have been acting quite silly. If I want a healthy yard, free of weeds and full of lush green grass, I need to put in the work to remove the weeds, feed the grass and maintain it properly. I need to contribute time, effort and energy to make that happen. I can't just critique.

There is an old saying when it comes to politics; if you don't vote, don't complain. Politics is a part of culture and they work the same way. If there are things about the culture around you that you don't like, ask yourself how you are contributing to the culture around you. You will probably never make a $400 million dollar blockbuster movie seen in cinema's around the world but you probably are making dinner tonight. You probably have a yard that needs weeding. You probably live in a town that could use some improving. You probably have a job that you can do well at. You probably have a church that could use a volunteer. You probably have a family that needs a daily reminder that you love them. It's easy to criticize. It takes something special to contribute.

Concerning Culture - Part 2: Condemning Culture

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:02:58 EDT

By Eric Versluis

I have no memory of one of my earliest encounters with the 'cultural arts' but that has not stopped that encounter from shaping me. As best as I can put it together, l was being baby-sat at a very young age (probably 2 or 3) by my Aunt and Uncle who thought it would be a great idea to take a little tyke to see a Disney movie. So without much fuss, they packed me up and took me to check out a screening of Snow White. The movie itself must have had little impact on me as I have no memory of watching it, nor did I grow up to be a practitioner of black magic or go around planting kisses on unsuspecting girls as they slept.

What did have an impact on me was my parents response to this event. Worried about what people would say, they made it clear to my aunt and uncle that they should never take me to a movie again. I didn't understand the details at the time but being as young as I was, all I picked up was that I had been involved in doing something wrong. I would not set foot in a theatre again until I went to see Titanic over a decade later, simultaneously hoping that Jesus would not return and my parents would not find out where I was. This was just one of many times were I received the message, either implicitly or explicitly, that good Christians did not mingle with the culture.

Now, in my last post, we talked about a broader definition of culture then the one I was raised in. We talked about culture being primarily the process of taking what is available to us and making something of it. Thus culture is not just media, or something that happens 'out there'. Instead, culture is cooking, building, art, work, gardening, creating, speaking, organizing, shaping, learning. Culture is everywhere. As human beings we find ourselves immersed in culture from the moment we are born. Culture is intrinsically human (and God appointed and spiritual and heavenly for that matter).

We cannot escape culture, we can only respond to, shape it and create it.

What I want to focus on over the course of the next few posts is the various ways that Christians in North America have responded to the culture (primarily in the past 100 years but more generally, in the years post-Enlightenment). Broadly, I think these responses can be split into four categories: Condemning, Critiquing, Copying and Consuming.

Today we will look at Condemning.

There is a stereotype of the Christian fundamentalist response to culture, that looks something like a sweaty man, in a suit and tie, standing in a pulpit, waving his finger and warning of the dangers of 'the culture'. This is not exactly an accurate image. I don't remember my childhood pastor sweating. But I did hear many a sermon about 'holiness' and about how we were 'in the world but not of it' and that we should keep ourselves separate from 'the world' and make sure that we didn't stray from 'the path'. It was a dangerous world out there and if you weren't careful, Satan would snare you in his trap and you would be 'lost'.

All of these things are true. There is much that happens in our culture that is not only unhealthy, it is downright offensive and, may I add, sinful. If the air outside of your house were toxic poison, it would be a wise response to stay inside your home where the air was clean.

It was this way of thinking, of condemning the culture, that was handed down to my parents and prompted their anti-movie theatre response. They were part of a bigger Christian movement that condemned the culture as sinful and to be avoided. Churches provided programming on practically every night of the week so that Christians would not get bored and start exploring 'the world'. Even today, you don't have to go far to find a 'christian' condemning the sex and violence of Hollywood, the liberal media and the decaying morality of North America.

There are several problems with this response of condemning the culture. The first problem is purely practical; our condemnation of the culture has no chance of influencing the culture in any way.

Andy Crouch, in his book Culture Making, describes this problem with condemning culture this way: 'Consider the movie industry. A long economic chain stretches from the writers, directors, actors and producers of movies through the distributors and movie theaters to the customers who show up on a Friday night. There are tremendous incentives at every link of the chain to keep the cycle of production, distribution and consumption going. Suppose we don't like what the local cinema is showing on a given weekend. No matter how much we may protest, condemning the cultural goods on offer, unless we offer an alternative, the show will go on.'

We can condemn the culture all we want but if it is providing people with jobs and is profitable (and our culture is primarily interested in things that make money), the show will go on despite whatever sort of protest we decide to mount.

The second problem with the response of blanket condemnation of the culture is that, as we discussed in that last post, culture is impossible to fully escape. Thus, as Christians, we are forced to pick and choose which aspects of culture we will condemn and which we will embrace. The church has tended to condemn the culture of the arts but has been slow to condemn the culture of business or even the culture of success. The majority of churches own a building that was designed by an architect and built by craftsmen and financed by a bank (in case you haven't got it yet, all of those things are 'culture'). More so, the primary model for how a church operates today is found in the example of the Corporation (CEO, board of directions, shareholders, growth plans, market share etc) which is also a cultural artifact. Every church I know wants to be successful (increased attendance, programs, budget etc.). The church has rejected some parts of the culture and embraced others. We are unendingly inconsistent in our condemnation of culture.

Not only is condemning our culture ineffective and inconsistent, we are also faced with the problem that there is much that is lovely, good and true in our culture that will enhance our lives as humans and our understanding of God and who He is. Growing up I heard much about the dangers of our culture but I heard few messages about what tremendous good the culture around us has to offer.

The Apostle Paul taught us that it is Biblical, Christian and Godly to focus are attention on whatever we find that is true, right, noble, lovely, pure and admirable. There is much that is true about an honest song lyrics. There is much that is right about a well designed and constructed house. There is much that is noble about a well run business. There is much about dancing that is lovely. There is much about gardening that is pure. There is much about a well functioning democracy that is admirable. Our culture is full of God if our eyes are looking for Him.

For the longest time, Christians were focused on escaping this world and getting to heaven but a proper reading of the Bible teaches we don't go to heaven, heaven comes to us, on earth. This world is our home and it will be forever. We can't condemn this world and it's culture because God's plan is not to condemn the world but to restore and redeem it. That's what Jesus' life, death and resurrection was all about.

In the over 20 years since I was originally banned from movie theatres by my parents much has changed in the world and in my family. My parents no longer boycott movies. In fact, they are kind of obsessed with them. One of the reasons my parents enjoy pastoring a church with no Sunday night service is that it gives them an extra free night in their week to watch movies. Instead of taking a posture of condemnation towards the culture they have decided instead to engage it, to sift through it, to find the lovely, the good and the admirable and to celebrate it. They realize that to minister to a culture you must understand it and be able to speak it's language.

So if you ever run into my parents on a Sunday night, heading into a movie theatre, please know that they aren't being hypocrites. They are explorers, searching to find the lovely, pure and admirable in the culture around them. Some people go to church on Sunday nights looking to meet with God. Sometimes, people like my parents choose to look for Him at the movies instead.

Concerning Culture-Part 1: What Is Culture?

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:51:54 EDT

By Eric Versluis

'Look Daddy' Olivia said with a huge smile on her face. 'It's a princess house! Isn't it beautiful?'. As her Dad, I was quick to see the beauty in Olivia's 'princess house' but in reality, the 'princess house' consisted of six chairs set on their sides and arranged in a circle. As I thought about this moment later on, I realized what a quintessentially human and fundamentally biblical act Olivia had performed with her six chairs and her imagination.

When people in the church tend to talk about 'culture', they are most often talking about the world 'out there', outside of the church walls. Most of the time they are talking about things like movies, music, fashion, magazines, television, parties and 'the media'. To hear it described, culture sounds like something that you can step in and out of. You can choose to immerse yourself in the culture or you can choose to cut yourself off from it.

In the good old days, church people prided themselves in their refusal to participate in what they termed 'the world' (another Christian way of saying 'culture'). They didn't go to bars, movies, dances, roller rinks or any number of places where they might find themselves involved in 'the culture'. Pastor David always tells the story of how he was barred from going to the bowling alley as a child (because they served alcohol) but was allowed to go to the hockey rink (where the hockey was a secondary attraction to the cute girls). Why bowling was 'culture' and hockey was 'sport' was never really explained.

Obviously, things have changed a little since then but I think there is still a general misunderstanding of what people mean when they talk about the culture. Because if we are talking about music, movies and television, we're really talking about the arts. If we're talking about clothes and magazines, we're talking about fashion. If we're talking about athletes, politicians and movie stars, we're really talking about celebrity. All of these things are a part of the culture but none of these things, by themselves, are the culture.

So what is culture? Culture critic (what sort of job is that?) Ken Myers proposes this definition of culture: 'Culture', he says 'is what we make of the world'. As Andy Crouch says in his excellent book Culture Making, 'Culture is...the name for our relentless, rest-less human effort to take the world as it's given to us and make something else'.

The reason why we most associate culture with art is because this is where the process of taking what is given to us and making something else is most obvious. A painter takes a canvas and some paint and makes a picture. A potter takes a shapeless lump of clay and turns it into dinnerware. The artist takes what is given to them, makes it something else and we call that something else 'culture'.

But is this not what builders do? Do they not take wood and metal and materials and form them into a home? Is this not what a chef does; taking the raw materials of meat and vegetables and turning them into a meal? Is this not what a banker does? Using money and interest and portfolio's to turn your income into a retirement plan?

Is this not what Olivia did when she took the six chairs, put them in a circle and made herself a princess house?

Seen in this light, language may be the greatest example of culture. At some point, human beings took the sounds that they could make using their lungs and mouths and turned those sounds into a means of communicating. Roads are an example of culture. Technology is culture. Government is culture. Gardening is culture. Anytime we influence or shape the world around us, we are making and participating in culture.

In the earliest chapters of Genesis, God creates human beings in His own image. Since God is the Creator, as beings in His image, we are given the ability to create. More so, God tasks Adam and Eve with caring for the world (naming it, shaping it, nurturing it). God tasks Adam and Eve with making a culture. It is hard-wired into us to create, to take what is available to us and shape it into something that wasn't there before. This is not only human, it's Biblical; spiritual in fact.

I think it is very interesting that the Bible starts with the story of a couple of people living in a garden, centred by a tree and ends with a whole host of people living in a city that is centred by a tree. The natural extension of Adam and Eve caring and cultivating the world around them is the growth of a population and the development of a city. Because what is a city if not a really large, extremely intricate garden? The Bible says that when we find ourselves in heaven, there will be work for us to do. Of course there will be work for us to do because it is hard wired into us to take what is around us and form it into something else. I do not believe heaven will be static, it will be the greatest culture making enterprise we could possibly imagine.

And so when Olivia gathered those six chairs and formed them into a house she was tapping into something much bigger then she could possibly understand right now. She was participating in the God given practice of taking the world around her and forming it into something new. She was participating in 'the culture'.

I think this is why an understanding of culture is so important because I believe that culture is so important. It is how we as humans interact and understand our world. Making culture is a spiritual act, a moment where we are acting in the image of God. So when we cook dinner, write a letter, mow the lawn, do our job, we are creating culture. I believe this process of creating culture has been practiced by humans from the time we were created and will continue on in some form or another for all of eternity. That's why I believe that on some level, when Olivia took those six chairs and made a princess house in some small way, she was forming a little piece of heaven, right here and now.

So what about your? Do you agree that culture is "what we make of the world? Perhaps more importantly, how are you creating culture today? What piece of heaven are you forming right here, right now?

Much of the inspiration for this post and for this whole blog series comes from the book Culture Making by Andy Crouch. You can find out more about Culture Making here: www.ivpress.com/culturemaking

Concerning Culture - An Introduction

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:29:49 EDT

Pastor David is going to be away for the month of July and he has graciously asked me to provide content for this blog while he's gone.

- Eric Versluis

Back when Pastor David and I conceived the idea of 'Growth Facilitators' for PSPT I was struck with the potential of the format for doing a study of 'culture'. Anyone who knows me at all, knows that my love of the arts (music, writing, architecture, design) is essentially boundless and so I was very excited about the possibility of mining through our Western cultural experience for nuggets of 'truth' that we could find along the way. In my head, I imagined myself as a tour guide, leading a group of curious 'tourists', showing them how God can be found in the most unusual of places and hopefully enabling them to become 'tour guides' in their circle of influence, showing their friends the Godly truth poking through all around them. For various reasons the right time for this sort of Growth Facilitator has not come up (perhaps foremost among these reasons; the fact that viewing myself as some sort of enlightened cultural tour guide takes my usual egotism to all sorts of new levels). Someday that study will happen and when it does, it will be a group exercise in 'truth' finding, not a solo exploration by an enlightened tour guide.

In the meantime, I still find the ideas of 'church' and 'culture' interesting (perhaps more interesting is the idea that perhaps the church and the culture are the same thing). From personal experience, I know that God often shows up in the strangest of places (I must admit to crying during episodes of Gray's Anatomy and basing a future sermon on a Bug's Bunny cartoon). From my conversations with people, I know that I am not alone in being moved, inspired and spiritually nurtured through cultural items such as the arts. At the same time, there is much in our culture that doesn't seem to have any value in it at all. Do we throw the baby out with the bath water or would it be better if we take the baby out of the water entirely?

In the good old days, Christians pretty much rejected the culture entirely (whether this is actually possible or not is to be discussed in a later post). Nowadays I believe we have went to the opposite extreme; thoughtlessly consuming our culture without seeking to find the lasting value in it or being terribly offended by those things which should give us pause. How then should we as Christians interact with our culture? What does the word culture even mean? What does a Biblical approach to the world around us even look like?

Having this blog to myself for a month or so does provide me the opportunity to work through some of these questions that have been rattling around in my brain for over a year. So for the next few weeks we are going to be blogging through a series I've decided to call 'Concerning Culture' (a play on words that will warm Pastor David's literary heart). As I've expounded upon in this space before, I do not contain Pastor David's discipline nor (more importantly) his commitment to structure. As such, these blog posts will appear sporadically (instead of on the usual Wednesday afternoon, dependable as clockwork) and will almost definitely be threateningly long. I will try to put as much interesting content at the beginning as possible so those who fall asleep half-way through these posts will not feel cheated.

As I said before, these sorts of things work best when people pitch in with thoughts and comments and we explore the 'culture' together, so please, post your thoughts, comments and ideas so I feel less like a tour guide and more like a fellow tourist. Tomorrow I will have my first official post exploring the question 'What Is Culture'? Hope to hear from you then.

Vacation

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:27:29 EDT

Hi... to those who read this.

It's vacation time. So for the next several weeks I won't be publishing anything new. It is possible that you'll see a couple of book reviews which I've left behind. Otherwise, Pastor Eric will be doing a blog.

Enjoy his writings, have a great summer... and I'll be back later ...

Pastor David

Healing Can Hurt

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:44:33 EDT

Nobody likes pain. So we try to flee the torment of our troubles by seeking help. Then we discover that the process of counseling or the treatment of the condition or the application of the cure is also painful. Deciding our direction is now a choice between the pain of a known problem versus the pain of an unknown cure. Often, we just settle down to endure our difficulties, while complaining about our sad state of affairs.

Further complicating our willingness to heal is the comfort of being in our discomfort. That may sound odd, but it is only too true. There are benefits to burdens. People show us sympathy, we can complain to secure even more attention, special treatment and advantages may be given to us, our condition can be an excuse for avoiding involvement in things that we'd rather avoid.

Staying in our sadness is often preferred to working out of our issues. Denial of reality is not to be mistaken for an ignorance of our state; rather, it is a mental process whereby we can remain where we are while refusing to act on what we know we must do. "I?m OK" may not be a true statement of our situation, but it is a real declaration of where we prefer to be. . . in contrast to the pain of changing where we're at.

So Jesus asked the sick man by the pool, would you like to be better? He asked the blind man on the street, what do you want? He offered the rich man inquiring about a better life, a way of escaping the burden of his wealth. These were not conversation starters. They were honest questions meant to probe deeply into their will to be fully healed. Sometimes, we'd rather not.

Life goes through cycles where old patterns of behavior bring us back to painful consequences. God speaks into our conscience upon occasion to remind us that things are not all that good. Through circumstances, we are brought back from time to time to face reality: we are not well or we are not doing right. It hurts to be stuck in a hole of sin, self will, selfishness or whatever state we've stumbled into. But it will also hurt to be pulled out of it, even by God's grace.

Our decision is required for our deliverance. We can dig deeper into our misery, because we know what it is and have learned to cope with it, at least to some degree. Or, we can reach out and let the process begin of getting out of where we're at. God does still heal our bodies, souls and spirits. But it might mean some temporary pain, that for the moment is actually worse than the discomfort of staying sick. The choice to change is placing ultimate health above immediate comfort. It's better to endure the hurt of being healed, because eventually, the comfort of health is better. The Shepherd's rod and staff may comfort us, but not always upon application. Hold on to the assurance that the Shepherd only hurts us in love, as he heals our hearts. After the healing, the hurt will stop. Without being healed, the hurt will never stop.

David C. Slauenwhite

Stay Small

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:30:20 EDT

Basically, he said that his job was to get big. It made sense, given what his job was. Retired from the Secret Service, he described his training upon entering that elite and world renown security force. Their main task was to protect the President of the United States. With months of practice, they learned to respond to the sound of gunshots by becoming big.

Instinctively, when something flies at us, we duck. Built in defense and survival reactions cause us to hide, shrink in size, seek cover, lie flat on the ground. . . anything that takes us out of danger, away from attack, removed from peril. If shooting breaks us, we run and hide so as not to be seen. But Secret Service men are meant to preserve the President. When an assassin attempts to kill, the Secret Service stand to sacrifice themselves. They must become big. They surround the target, they stand up to die, they face the enemy, they take the bullet. As the President is piled into the get-a-way car, they jump on top of him. On the podium, their bodies pack around him and over him. They die; he lives! When he's safe, they go after the shooter.

I'm not applying for the job.

During a church conflict, I remember the protagonist pronouncing to me that she was fighting for God. She felt that most people had missed the point in what was wrong with everything; it was her assignment to tell everyone that. She assumed she had the answers to it all; she was informing everyone what they had to do. She assessed the situation as needing a messiah; she assumed the role. As the place turned into a volcano of verbal violence, she turned up the heat. As I appealed for calm, she approached everybody with confrontation. But what made it super hot was her contention that she was "fighting for God."

Do we need to get big? Is God so fragile that we have to protect him? Are his interests so exposed that we must cover them? Is God to be shrunk while we stand tall? Who made us his body guard?

Stay small! The Lord says that we should be still, thereby we shall know that he is God. His Word states that the battle is his. The enemy can't hurt him, so it attacks us. It is God who gets big and covers us. Our place is to hide in him while the battle rages. Staying small keeps us out of the way while God gets big and clears the way.

Being small does not diminish our significance. Actually, being covered by a big God declares just how much he loves and cares for us. We matter to him. Sometimes, the best thing to do in a tight spot, is stay small. God will cover us with his hand. The only thing big we should do in that moment, is declare his greatness.

David C . Slauenwhite

Letting Go To Take Hold of What Matters

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:11:10 EDT

Finding what we truly want in life often happens by getting what we don't want. When the roll of the dice always brings us plenty and pleasure, we become fooled into thinking that winning is what it is all about. Soon the drive for success or fun or happiness or whatever our culture extols, settles into our soul as the core of our being. Anything that threatens that thrill of being on top or ahead of it all is seen as an almost ultimate devastation. We can't live without our addictions, ambitions and achievements.

Yet when we get alone and quiet, the inner emptiness seems as a black hole out of which we cannot escape. Life without external stuff or situations of self satisfaction drowns us in despair. Suddenly the big questions loom out of the darkness to hurl us into a hell of hopelessness. Why are we really here? Who are we really? What are we meant to be, truly? Where are we finally going? How does it all tie together? By getting only what we wanted, we arrive at a place where all we have is just ourselves, alone.

Reality, when embraced, reveals that we're just not big enough, important enough or sufficient enough, to be the meaning of life in ourselves. There is something more than ourselves for which we must live. Otherwise, life is too small and we shrink ultimately into oblivion.

God in his mercy, thrusts us at times into trouble. When it all falls apart, we see that only the Lord holds anything together. When our world crumbles, then we see that another world is better. As we get what we don't want: illness, opposition, disaster, rejection, hurts, loss. . . we find what we really need.

Without God, we have no true identity; we're just animals existing. Unless the Creator directs our lives, we merely past through time into nothing. When we get it all as we want, we lose all that we need. Without the "I Am" as our life, we end life with a whimper of "I once was." But Christ says that when we are in him, we live even if we die. He is our life, for now and forever.

Whatever it takes to give us a true perspective and understanding of what we're all about, may it be given to us. May this happen, even if it means that what we have, has to be taken from us.

David C. Slauenwhite

Beyond Time

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:17:49 EDT

God is so slow! You'd think he had all eternity to work things out. As I hear clocks ticking out the seconds, my appointment calendar calling out the hours, the trains passing my office on schedule, my checking off weekly duties, attending monthly meetings and doing annual reviews, it all just declares that "time and tide wait for no man."

So spiritual things get time allotments. Daily devotions and weekly church services need to be kept on schedule. And oh yes, church needs to be out by 12 noon even if most arrived ten minutes late. Monthly retreats for solitude and reflection need to be planned. Bible readings are marked by chapters; did you know that if you read three chapters a day and five on Sundays you can get through the Bible in a year? Just schedule and track it and there you are. After several years you can claim you've read it more than most. Just make time for eternity and you'll get it.

Getting prayer figured out to fit the clock is something I'm still working on. Is heaven more responsive in the early hours or later? Should we do it in blocks of time spread over a day or would it be more impacting to do in larger time periods? When is enough really enough? How much of timeless eternity can one squeeze into a moment of prayer? Is there a ratio between prayer time and spiritual maturity? Will having more people pray about one thing produce quicker results? Does God answer if more ask? Could we get revival if we just had more people praying longer? How many more and how much longer?

Or is this all just ridicules religiosity where we're forcing cultural obsessions with time and results onto spiritual realities and growth? Are we trying to make God fit into our place and time instead of adjusting ourselves to his infinitude and timelessness? Which brings me back to my thought, God is so slow.

Of course he is. My life is compressed into less than one hundred years. God always was, is and shall be. He doesn't do time. Nor does he fit into one hundred, or even one thousand for that matter. He just is. And what he does will be because it always was decreed. Worship services, prayer times, Bible readings, retreats. . . these all are plotted by us into our little time fragments. Eternity breezes through them; it cannot be held by them.

So meeting with God or experiencing his work cannot be clocked, timed or measured. God and what he does is just what you have and know or it isn't anything to you because you aren't there. (Ponder that complex composition of words and if you can figure out what I meant, explain it to me.) My conclusion: God is actually not slow at all. That would to impose time on the Eternal. It's more that I am locked in time and need to break free into eternal realities where all is and was and evermore shall be, for the I Am is.

David C. Slauenwhite

The Weird Ways Life Happens

Tue, 17 May 2011 15:04:51 EDT

Sometimes I just don't know what to think. Things happen by apparent coincidence. Yet the sequence or context or timing is such that it has to be intentional. I can't connect the dots, yet the lines all converge on the dots. I feel that everything is tied together, but I can't always find the connections. At times fate seems in control. Occasionally, I'm sure God is calling the shots. In some storms, I wonder if Satan isn't orchestrating it all. What's happening? I'm not always sure.

At times I've experienced several people running into me at random moments and locations and, without knowing what I'm dealing with, have shared something about a situation that has given me insight and information critical to resolving it. Was that God or chance?

Recently, several young adults connected to us over the years, have experienced major troubles. One faces major surgery for cancer, another was rushed to emergency surgery revealing a brain tumor, one was severely injured, another was deeply disappointed over a life ambition lost, and another young woman's husband was killed. We know them all, care about each, are connected to each in some way.

Last night I received a phone call which unloaded matters of concern that enlightened and burdened me relative to attempts to help some others spiritually. The call wasn't meant to do this, but it just spilled out from the caller without my prompting and gave me very helpful understanding about some things.

Why does so much happen to so many is such a short time, with all of them connected to us? How does it happen that they are all within a certain age group yet unknown one to the other? What causes random meetings and interactions to provide helpful if not critical information to me as a pastor, regarding others?

If there is no spiritual reality beyond the physical and mental realms, then it's pure and random fate, incredibly linked to realities occurring. If there is only cause and effect within a meaningless universe, impersonal and uncontrollable, then it's simple determinism. If we are under the influence of an evil force with personal maliciousness, then life is a trial and fearsome journey ending in tragedy and terror. If there is a personal and good God, then we call it providential care and divine wisdom. And maybe, it is a combination of all this, with each reality bringing its powers to bear upon us at various times in various ways. And swirling through it all is personal choice made from emotional, mental and spiritual states into which we've developed.

I believe that God takes us through life along paths He chooses, by powers He grants, with wisdom He provides, for purposes He designs, to destinies He prepares. However it all comes together, and by whatever means it blends and unfolds, the Lord is making all things work together for good, to those He has called in love and with purpose.

David C. Slauenwhite

Making Changes or Being Changed?

Wed, 11 May 2011 09:46:37 EDT

Nothing ever changes, much. One thing that clearly stays the same is the craving we each have for control. After you strip away the smiles, remove the appearance of humility, forget the winsome words spun to win your confidence. . . the bottom line is that people, all of us, are manipulating our way into getting our way. Sounds pessimistic I know, but it's true and you know it.

I'm reading a book about the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the mid 1600's. It was founded by religious dissidents who fled England, or more precisely, they fled the power of the king and the church. In their homeland, it was punishable to the point of imprisonment to differ with political and/or ecclesiastical authority. Most of the leaders of this immigration to a "New" England had served time, suffered forced removals from office or paid fines for their acts of defiance. As they saw it, their conscience was their guide. So in their differences with the powers that be, they said their mind and were convicted of crime for so doing.

In America it would be different. So they established a colony far from London where they could practice religion in accordance to the dictates of their conscience and run a government where their freedoms would be recognized. They were quite successful. Anyone who opposed them or criticized them or differed from them or expressed contrary opinions were promptly banished, fined or imprisoned. At last, they were free to do as they chose because they had the power to remove anyone who chose differently. Ironic!

The book I'm working through is about the trial of Anne Hutchinson, who dared to express divergent views from the governor and pastors, for which she was called to account in court. The issue wasn't so much that her views were different (let alone wrong), but that her actions were a threat to the unquestionable powers of those in power. She was acting as an individual in freedom from the constraints of the corporate body. That was unacceptable.

We see the irony from our vantage point. What they opposed in England, they did in New England. What they fled from they brought with them. Tyranny was in the heart of the king they despised and in the hearts of the people who despised. The only change in conditions was location.

You will see this type of thing repeatedly in human experience, and by that I mean by the way each of us act. We really do want our own way. And once we get it, we will impose it on others even as they imposed their way on us.

So what's the cure? I only know of one. Submission to the Lordship of Christ who will change us from the inside out. Once the Holy Spirit begins to work within us, there will come over time a transformation into Christ-likeness. But remember, it will take time. Inside we will resist and struggle. But Jesus can make a difference. Only an outside "power" can alter the inside lust for power.

David C. Slauenwhite

Coyote

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:15:32 EDT

The death of Osama bin Laden and the reactions it has generated around the world has given me much to think about. As Pastor David is away this week and not blogging, I thought I would take the chance to use this space to process my thoughts.

Eric

Do you remember the Bugs Bunny cartoons when you were a kid where the Coyote tried every means imaginable to capture and catch that silly little Road Runner? Do you remember watching as the Road Runner would run out over the edge of a cliff and because he/she/it was a bird, the Road Runner would speed across thin air to the safety of the other side? If so, do you remember how the Coyote would be so focused on catching the Road Runner that he too would run out over the edge of the cliff in pursuit? That poor Coyote would be fine for a moment, running straight across thin air until the moment of realization hit and he plummeted to the bottom of the canyon in a little puff of dirt.

I was reminded of this scene while watching a TED talk by Kathryn Scott from March of this year. Kathryn Scott calls herself a 'wrongologist' and has dedicated herself to the study of being wrong. I can only imagine what her business card looks like. But in her Ted talk Kathryn made an excellent point. She asked the audience what it felt like to be wrong. The audience responded with words like 'dreadful' and 'embarrassing'. One person gave her the 'thumbs down' sign. Of course Kathryn, being a wrongologist, told them they were wrong. The feelings they were describing were not the feelings of being wrong, those were the feelings of realizing that you are wrong.

That moment of embarrassment when we realize we are wrong is the real life equivalent of the look in the Coyote's eyes when he realizes that his feet are no longer touching solid ground. The strange thing is that the Coyote's feet actually haven?t been touching the ground for a long time, he just hasn't noticed it. Kathryn says that actually being wrong is just like that. It is the belief that your feet are on firm ground when they are actually not but you don't notice it. You see, the funny thing about being wrong, Kathryn says, is that up until the moment we realize we are actually wrong, being wrong doesn't feel any different then being right. In fact, being wrong feels exactly like being right.

Of course, all of us will admit that we are wrong about lots of things. We can point back to our history and, if we're honest, point to all of things that we have been wrong about. But have you ever asked someone to name one thing that they know they are wrong about right now? Or put it this way; what is one thing that you are wrong about right now?

Isn't that a terribly difficult question to answer? Because if you knew that you were truly wrong about something wouldn't you already believe something else? So we're all happy to admit that we're wrong, we?re just not aware of anything specific that we're wrong about right now.

Which is hard because we live our lives right now. All of the decisions we make, all of the things we say to people, all of the ways we live our lives, all of the ways we view the world happen in the present tense. In the moment, I believe that every decision I make is the right one. It is only after the fact that I look back and realize what a mistake I made. If I'd known at the time it was a mistake, I would never have made that decision.

Which is why I wondered if we might be getting it wrong in our response to the death of Osama bin Laden. The celebration, the general sense of satisfaction, the belief that what had just transpired was a good thing. I don't mean to belittle the horrific things that bin Laden has done or the tremendous pain and suffering that his actions have put people through. Those things are tragic and bin Laden deserved to face justice. What I mean is that as baseball stadiums erupted into chants of 'USA! USA! USA!' on national TV, Washington and New York hit the streets to celebrate and Facebook and Twitter exploded with variations on 'it's about time we got the scumbag' I had to ask myself if we were really 'winning' like all of the TV people seemed to keep saying we are.

Because I don't know if any of us are winning when the lines between justice and revenge are so blurred. I don't know if any of us are winning our world is split into 'us' and 'them'. I don't know if any of us are winning when both sides claim to fight for God. I don't know if any of us are winning when we justify all of our actions because we fight for the cause of 'right'.

This past Sunday Pastor David talked about how King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan with a parable about a man who took something from his neighbor. King David quickly condemned the man and demanded he be punished until Nathan revealed to King David that his affair with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah were no different. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to picture King David making the same sort of face that the Coyote makes when he realizes he's run out too far.

We can convince ourselves that we fight for justice when we seek our revenge. We can convince ourselves that God is with us as we live for ourselves. We can convince ourselves that the ends justify the means. We can convince ourselves that we are on the side of right. The problem is that only God, who is the only source of 'good' and 'right' truly sees the world as it is. The rest of us just bring our distorted, personal perspectives to the world and those perspectives are almost always wrong. The problem is that being wrong feels exactly like being right, until it's too late.

"The heart is deceitful above all things"

Jeremiah 17

My Fuzzy Television

Tue, 03 May 2011 17:04:02 EDT

Eric

I remember sitting in a dimly lit high-school classroom, watching people dancing, shouting and embracing one another on the fuzzy television set at the front of the room. They laughed and chanted and started a party that would last long into the night. They were happy but I was upset and confused. After all, it was only a few moments earlier that we had watched in horror as the second plane crashed into the walls of concrete and glass and the towers slowly started to crumble. As I sat there in stunned silence I wondered how could those people rejoice in the destruction of human life? How could they hate other people so much that they would be happy see another human beings life cut short? I wondered to myself what was so deeply wrong with these people that they would celebrate the tragedy of the death of another human being?

I remember sitting in a dimly lit living room, watching people dancing, shouting and embracing one another on the fuzzy television set at the front of the room. They laughed and chanted and started a party that would last long into the night. Their happiness was infectious and I caught myself smiling with them. After all, it was only a few moments earlier that we had watched as the President of the United States had announced that Osama bin Laden was dead and that justice had been served. So for the next few hours I watched on, reveling in the victory of democracy, freedom and 'the American way'. That evil, despicable man was dead and this would be a night for celebration. The light of the fuzzy television washed over my face and I smiled as the people gathered and shouted and danced into the darkness.

Awakening to the harsh light of day I have thought about these two, intertwined events and I have wondered if perhaps it is not our televisions that are fuzzy? Perhaps it is our vision that is impaired?

'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?'

Matthew 7

AUTHORS NOTE: The original version of this post was slightly different. On reading it back the next day I realized that as the central character in this parable I was putting too nice a light upon myself which made me sound self righteous and judgmental. The rewrite more clearly demonstrates my own personal capacity for self deception and demonizing others which is, at root, the point of this post.

Where We're At is Where We Are

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:05:24 EDT

I like playing with words. So this title is meant first to perplex and grab attention. It seems simply stupid: of course, where we're at is exactly where we are. Where else could we be? But now I hope the title makes you think a bit deeper, if you're still thinking it's worth while to read further.

What I mean by what I said, is that where each of us is at internally, determines where we're at externally. Or to elaborate, our inner state of mind and being has a profound impact on our outer conditions and circumstances of life. It stands out clearly by considering a couple of examples.

An addict endures a miserable life situation. Don't believe for a moment that they truly enjoy the consumption of alcohol, the injection of drugs, the indulgence of food, the extremes of gambling. They hate their life as it exists. But they can't stop, not now. But where they're at, this moment, is a result of where they are as a person, because of previous moments. A series of choices over time, poor and wrong decisions, has landed them in these lowlands. What they now do comes out of what they've become. Now the power of choice seems gone, the possibility of change appears impossible and the hope of moving on seems stuck in this mess.

The Bible warns that what we sow, that is what we reap. It describes life as composed of choices and consequences. And it clearly depicts that what we become inside will be revealed by how we act on the outside. So the words coming out of our mouths expose the thoughts of our hearts. What we get from others is simply what they really are.

God declares that what needs to change is our hearts, before our actions. We need to become new people inside so that we can enjoy a new life on the outside. Our focus should be internal, not external. So simple behavioral modification won't work. Educating the apathetic and lecturing the lazy and imprisoning the defiant won't fix anyone. Bringing them into a new state of being will alter their choice of actions.

Hope comes from the Gospel where the Lord declares he will make us into a new creation. Life comes from the Holy Spirit who leads us into change and growth. The past is forgiven by Jesus and the future is glorious in God. But it only happens when something happens inside us. When Jesus is taken into our lives, then God's power can transform us. Everything will look different, because we're looking at it differently.

In whatever way you now see and experience life, it is because of what you now are and do. Don't try to get a better life by making better choices or seeking better options. You'll only get a new life when you become a new person. And that's where God has a gift for you: a brand new life when you take Christ in as Lord.

David C. Slauenwhite

Get into It

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:11:23 EDT

By nature, I'm not the adventurous type. Give me a coffee, a book with classical music in the background, plus a lovely sunset before me on a sheltered patio and I'm happy. The only risk is that I might doze off and miss it all.

So when I was challenged to descend into the gorge at Victoria Falls, dropping down the cliff over vines and rocks, trudging through a tropical rain forest on the bottom, to emerge on the edge of the falls without yet having been bitten by a snake or attacked by a baboon or shot by the border guards in the look-out above, I wasn't interested. Hours later, fellow missionary Ken MacGowen and I did it. I have the pictures to prove it. And I have a story from an event.

If you don't get into it, you won't have it. Sitting life out may be safe, but taking it on is exhilarating. So I didn't just observe those famous falls, I experienced them. As we go through the years, we will grow older merely by being here. But to grow wiser, to mature deeper, to live better, requires that we walk into the years with intent and hope and determination. You have to get into it to get anything out of it.

I wonder if most people don't spend much of life trying to avoid it. Commitments are few, involvement is measured, challenges are evaded and enjoyment is limited. When things become difficult, we seek quick solutions to escape struggles that could grow us. If situations stress us, we crawl to counselors for soothing sedatives. As hard questions of doubt and perplexity hit us, we hunt for answers that are easy and simple. But when we finish life, we find we've come through it with nothing lost nor gained. We just were; we didn't become!

Trying to avoid the night by prolonging the day leaves one without balance. Refusing to climb mountains of difficulty, to enter valleys of suffering, to cross rivers of change, to encounter places of loneliness, to endure moments of pain. . . will make life safe, but empty. God wants to fill our lives with growth and glory. This is gained by embracing what happens to us, not by evading what comes at us.

So the book of James tells us to encounter troubles and trials with joy, knowing that such testing produces a maturity that can only come from endurance. The promise is, if you ask, God will help you through it, not out of it. Wisdom will be abundantly provided to those who simply request it. You will not only live through what you face, you will live by what you learn. You will climb back to the top from the bottom, you will get out of what you went into, you will survive what you endured, and you will be better for it. In order to have a full life, you have to fill it with things that matter and are worth keeping. Such treasures have to be mined, not just found. So get into it, whatever it is you're facing. Later, you can tell us what you saw there.

David C. Slauenwhite

What I Wanna Be

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:10:50 EDT

Remember lying on the ground under a tree with your school friends on a lazy summer day, and day dreaming with each other about what you want to be when you grow up? Usually, it was about a career or occupation and probably never about character. Then came those years of trying to become what you decided would be your future. Hopefully, you got there.

God puts before us other prospects besides careers or affluence or fame. He calls us to become something real, spiritual and beautiful, as persons. His great goal is that we become transformed into the image of Christ. How that plays out individually is unique and different. But the arrival point is the image of God renewed in us. We spend most of our life either fighting or ignoring this. Sometime in our disappointments, failures and frustrations, we wake up to realize that life doesn't matter much if we don't make a life. And what we make of our life needs to have some eternal value to it, or it won't count.

The development of our spiritual life has to be addressed seriously, if we want a life of an eternal nature. Somewhere, sometime, we need a moment of enlightenment. Jesus called it a new birth. Paul the apostle defined it as becoming a new creation. And it's not a moment of arrival, it's a point of beginning. We have to go on and live in a new way. That means we'll be constantly changing, since things that live are not stagnant, but dynamic.

What we need to be is what God created us to be. He is not our enemy in this life dream, but its originator. Our destiny can only be reached when we let him take us there. And that means becoming a new person. We need to enter a cocoon where he'll transform or take us through a metamorphous process to emerge like a butterfly. Spiritual progress is not just something God does for us, but through and with us. The real change we need is not one of circumstances but of character. Advancement in life's path is to be measured not by length of time or number of experiences or accruement of wealth or achievement of position. Rather it is entry into eternal life, depth of change, enlargement of soul and enjoyment of state. It is to know God and take on his divine nature. This changes everything about us. What we should be doing in life needs to flow out of what we are to become.

Our tendency is to aspire and then labor to what we want to do. We wish to have a well paying job, become powerful in something important, earn applause and recognition, arrive to a place of fame and title and authority, have more stuff or substance, get wealth. . . But eventually this will be lost because it's not us and therefore can't go with us into the next life.

By becoming what we should be in God, we can then do what really matters to what we are. What we do then springs out of our spirit and becomes an expression of our soul. God is stamped not only on our character, but upon our conduct. Now what we do has eternal significance and actually makes a difference forever. It becomes an expression of worship because it is an offering of our life in all aspects to a God who indwells us.

David C. Slauenwhite

Filled with Emptiness

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:10:12 EDT

Life today is so ironic. We're too busy to have time to do what we'd like. Our lives are so full of stuff we've no room for what we want. Our bills are so many and so much that we've no money to buy what we'd enjoy. We're running around so much we've no place that's really home anymore. Sound fills our ears so loudly that silence can't be heard. We're filled to an overwhelming oppression with things and stuff and schedules and busyness. Yet we're empty and lonely and frustrated and lost. Someday, we hope to find some time and some way to sort it all out so that we can enjoy life again. Meantime, we've got to keep going and even faster, so that we can squeeze in all the stuff that makes up the 'good' life today.

Then we hear the call to simplify. That's our answer! If we can just dump the extras, we'll have room for more of what we really want. Except, it's hard to let go of anything, because we want everything. Merely replacing the junk in a crowded garage or life with more junk is hardly creating room for what matters. Our problem is, we don't know what matters anymore. When we can't choose or discern things of value, we have to keep everything so that we don't miss out on anything. Unfortunately, when you try to keep everything, you end up with nothing of value instead of something that counts.

Jesus told us we have to lose our life to find it. The apostle Paul said he was focusing on gaining that which God had chosen for him to attain. The Bible reveals that we have to die in order to live. Letting go of what you have is necessary if you want to grasp what you want. It's not only choice, but action that determines what you've really got.

Our society says you must live by the moment for things that only last a moment. It's all about right now. So we spend all we've got and then some, to have stuff that we throw away while paying debts we can't afford. We run around taking in all kinds of events and activities leaving no time to talk and grow and love and enjoy what's in our homes: family. Churches are missing the young adults who grew up in them, because they've grown too close to the culture to have time or place for spiritual cultivation. We crowd the world into our lives, leaving no room for God.

We can only take into eternity what we've taken into our souls while here. The Lord won't let us take there what only matters here. So if we haven't anything inside that fits what he allows into the Kingdom of heaven, then we're just not going to get in there. A good spiritual housecleaning is in order. God wants only things of value in His Kingdom. It'd be a great shame if all we lug into death is stuff that doesn't make up anything worth living for, both now and then.

David C. Slauewhite

What We See is What We Are

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:38:01 EDT

Every news report of another disaster, is soon followed by revelations of corruption or callousness. So often, the physical suffering is caused by, surrounded by or increased by the failures of those in power to act responsibly. So the earthquake in Haiti devastated people, but the government disappointed them in providing neither preventive nor curative aid. The hurricane ripped the southern states apart, but the federal agencies didn?t show up with timely help. The danger of nuclear fall out from crippled reactors in the Japan quake is denied or disguised or downplayed by the company's hesitant and evasive reports.

We know that we can't believe or trust naively. No longer do we accept reports of government leaders about how things are. No more will we go into war just because our side says that side is a threat. No way will we dismiss accusations against educational, business or religious leaders as false until proven true; we think they're probably true and just need more proof.

Even if our society rejects the Bible as true or God's Word, it does believe its statement that the 'heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things.' We suspect advertisements are exaggerations, reports are propaganda, denials are lies, praise is flattery, promises are false, persuasion is manipulation. So, convince me if you can!

But think a bit harder. Why do we question others? Why do we withhold acceptance until we're sure? Why are we so strong in suspicion?

Marianne Williamson said it well, 'we've learned the hard way that the darkness of the world is a reflection of the darkness inside us.' Ouch! It's because we are given to lying, deception, cheating, dishonesty, corruption, laziness. . . that we're so sure that others are like that. Our hearts are as deceptive as anyone's. Our distrust towards others springs from our own untrustworthiness. So, what we see in the world is truly only a reflection of what we are.

And there lies the clue as to what we should do about the world. We need to drop all our ranting against others, our charges against corruption in high places, our angry demonstrations against everyone else. . . and clean up our own act. Change begins with us, as individuals. Hope for society starts with each citizen. The world can only be improved one life at a time. Fixing systems will never work, repenting will.

That's why God doesn't have a political agenda, nor is the church called to lobby governments. This is why I'm not interested in joining organizations to fight organizations. The gospel is about personal change. It promises regeneration: a new birth resulting in becoming a changed person! When what we are is different, we'll soon see that what we do is different. It's the heart that motivates and controls what everyone does. Change the heart and you've changed the world. And that's what the church is all about: proclaiming a message of truth and hope. We have good news. God will change the world, one life at a time.

David C. Slauenwhite

As Before, So Now and Then Some

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:36:01 EDT

There's something about being old that is very much like being young. It's a circle; you arrive at where you started. Diapers at the beginning and depends at the ending: not a nice thought at all. A rather empty mind at birth and sometimes not a fully filled mind at death: again, something I'd rather not think about. You act child-like as a toddler and may be childish as a senior. You begin life with nothing and end by giving it all away. Enough!

So let's get to some kind of point here. The question is: does life take you anywhere? Or is it nothing but a meandering without meaning? The poet T. S. Eliot speaks of life concluding as a period of exploration only to arrive where we started, but knowing that place for the first time. It suggests that what counts is not where you've been, but recognizing where you're at. The depth, not the extent, of life is what matters. For some people, it's just a mindless muddle of years with empty experiences. What should happen however, is that you march through the years, as repetitive as life's routines can be, growing in understanding and wisdom. Maybe you haven't gone far, but you've become much.

Our personalities are somewhat set. Our DNA can't be changed. Our circumstances will limit our chances of gaining wealth or power or fame. But, you can become more of what you are. Each person has opportunities to learn from what is experienced. Whatever you start off like, is not what you must be like at the end. Maybe you are still you, but you can be a better you!

I've noticed that often a person in old age is still very much what they were like in young adulthood, only more so. Sweetness and graciousness isn't a trait of final maturity; it's a result of maturing well. Those who are simply "old grouches" were once "young grouches."

If that is so, then what you and I are now is something to note, evaluate and take seriously. Attitudes and behavioral traits are going to be well set in stone as our characteristics when they place our tomb stone over us. Any hope for improvement needs to start now, because it won't happen then.

There comes a point in life where it?s less about what you're becoming, and more about what you've become. By then, people will have learned to relate to us accordingly. If no one wants to visit you in your old age, it might be because you weren't all that pleasant when younger, and you're certainly no different when older. Now is the time to become what we will be, because we will become what we are, only more so.

David C. Slauenwhite

Live Out Your Time

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:18:26 EDT

Marianne Williamson makes a statement in one of her books that every generation comes bearing its own gifts. The Bible in Acts states that David served his own generation, then he died. Of course, all this is obvious. We are born, live in our times and then move on while the next generation moves in. But two tensions often rise as the transition occurs.

One is an unwillingness of the generation in front to accept the generation coming behind. The older group just won't let go. They want or demand that things remain as they were. It's understandable; no one likes change, regardless of their age. And no one likes letting go of power. I'm convinced that half the reason why the older generation dislike the music and styles and energy and ways of the younger group, is a simple matter of politics, not preference. It's just hard to make room for someone else to do it instead of me. Even if they do it my way, I still want to be the one doing it. We do like power, even if we don't have the means to use it.

The other problem sits on the younger generation. Too often they just don't step up to the plate. When your time comes to move into position, and start to lead and act and do the task, then do it! Some complaints from the older crowd are quite justified. When the next generation has to take charge, if for no other reason than there's no one left but them, then they must do it. Reluctance to accept responsibility or hesitation to be responsible, forces the older generation to hang on longer to keep things going.

Generational tensions have always existed, but the church is facing severe stress these days because we all live longer. So the older group want to be involved and in charge longer while the younger group crave to get into their time and place in history. Whatever issues have to be worked out along the way to make the transitions easier, let's at least come with the right attitude for the life stage we're in.

That is, if you are in the older generation: accept the fact that you have to transition out. There comes a time when you need to move over. You have brought your gifts to the times and hopefully have served your time well. Now let go with grace and pour blessing upon those who will take up your torch.

And if you are in the younger generation: accept the reality that you have to transition in. The time comes when you need to move onto the stage. You have your unique gifts for these new times and hopefully you will serve your time responsibly. So lead with grace and give blessing upon those who went before you. Keep your torch burning and get ready to do your thing in your time. Live out your days well, knowing that you too will one day have to step aside. God wants generation after generation to walk in his ways with holiness and humility, knowing that we all serve the eternal One in the time we have.

David C. Slauenwhite

The Miracle Zone

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:02:44 EST

Miracles are not common, nor should they be. If they were that easily found and experienced and that readily at hand and encountered, they would become the new norm. A miracle by definition is rare, different, not usual, unexplainable, beyond our ability to produce and always somewhat mysterious and awesome.

TV evangelists who promise and apparently produce them by the week or program, are hucksters. Sorry, but ask me someday what I really think and I'll drop the politeness. Sending someone some money and getting in return some magic potion or water or soap or hanky or key chain or whatever the cheap chain store sells in bulk to the "miracle worker" just doesn't cut it. Only naivety believes this nonsense.

So the reaction is often a dismissal and distancing from anything miraculous. Even as Christians, we evade the embarrassment of the extreme by virtually ignoring the possible. Miracles are possible. They do happen. More could be experienced. But you can't command or simply concoct them by faith formulas, prayer rituals or use of so called "anointed aids." For sure, sending money in the name of God to someone using God's name to send you a personal miracle, usually defined as more money coming back to you, doesn't work. God doesn't do bargains.

A simple and small blog article limits what I can say, but let me hit one point. Miracles happen in place where our limitations meet God's limitless abilities. They come in the moment where we come to the end of ourselves but the beginning of God. They appear where our absolute and desperate need is met by the Lord's abundant grace and provision. They are found where we stop trying to get from God and start trusting in a God who gives. Faith is how we live in that zone. We believe in God above ourselves. We obey and trust him with our lives to the point of no return. We wait on him to lead us out of our impossibility and take us into his sovereignty.

Miracles are not a result of religious rite nor are they a product of spiritual manipulation. They are the overflow of a Divine encounter where God shows us himself. They make a difference in how we see God and how we approach him. They result in a manifestation of his power through a revelation of his grace.

The zone where miracles will be found is where you step out beyond yourself with all that this entails, and trust in God with all that this implies. Somewhere in between your helplessness and his omnipotence, he speaks and acts. That is the miracle! That God is there, in all his glory and power. And you are there too, enjoying his grace and love.

David C. Slauenwhite

Don't Judge This Title (Now You're Thinking About Whether You Like This Title or Not Aren't You?)

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:31:53 EST

I'm filling in for Pastor David again this week which means that the blog is once again twice as long as usual. Enjoy!

In Malcolm Gladwell's chapter 'The New-Boy Network' from his most recent book What The Dog Saw, we find an intriguing discussion about first impressions and the judgements we make about people. Gladwell cites a couple of studies that indicate that there is very little variation between the impression that we form about people within the first few seconds of meeting them and the judgements we make about them after getting to know them for an extended period of time.

If someone walks in the room and they strike us as friendly, intelligent, capable and mature, there is an extremely high probability that after knowing them for months, we will still view them as friendly, intelligent, capable and mature. Of course, the opposite is true too. If our first impression of someone is that they are awkward or quirky or incompetent or annoying, we're likely to still hold to those conclusions months and years later.

Gladwell offers two possible explanations for this. The first explanation is that there is a 'powerful form of human intuition' that allows us to pick up the basic essence of the character of another human being within the first few moments of meeting them. We'd call this having a 'gut instinct' about someone. Now this is an entirely possible explanation, that subconciously we immediately gather a whole range of information about a person and are able to make an accurate assessment of who they are and what they are like.

But there is another more disturbing possibility. Maybe it's not that our first impression about someone is right. Maybe the truth is that our first impression ends up coloring every interaction we have with that person for all time. If we judge someone to be smart and competent, we will then interpret all of their actions through that grid. As Gladwell writes, 'The first impression becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, we hear what we expect to hear'.

There's been a bit of a hubbub in online Christian circles lately about Rob Bell?s new book Love Wins. If you don?t know who Rob Bell is, he's the pastor of Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, the author of such books as Velvet Elvis and Jesus Wants to Save Christians and the face of the Nooma video teaching series For much of Saturday Bell was a trending topic on Twitter and all sorts of blogs (including this one) are weighing in on his book.

So what's the issue? Well, it all started when Justin Taylor, a blogger and publisher, posted a blog about Bell's new book. According to Taylor, in his book, Bell denies the existence of hell and ends up taking a 'universalist' position on the afterlife. In other words, Taylor claims that Bell believes that no one is going to hell. Taylor's conclusion is that 'It is unspeakably sad when those called to be ministers of the Word distort the gospel and deceive the people of God with false doctrine.'

Shortly thereafter, one of the most influential people in Christian circles, John Piper, tweeted 'Farewell Rob Bell' with a link to Taylor's blogpost. Famed Christian author Joshua Harris tweeted that he was 'Praying for Rob Bell'.

Now, I have no problem with taking issue with poor theology or debating the merits of an idea or the content of a book. I do it all the time.

The problem with all this reaction, criticism and outright rejection of Rob Bell is this: none of these people have actually read Rob Bell's book. You see, Love Wins doesn't actually hit bookshelves until March 29. Taylor even admits as much, acknowledging that his argument is based on the publishers description of the book, a 3 minute promotional video and a handful of sample pages that he managed to see in advance instead of, you know, the actual book itself.

On the other hand, I know a whole group of other people who have only seen the promo materials that think Bell is simply using a provocative and brilliant method to get people to examine what they believe about the afterlife and why. They see the whole thing as a sort of "set-up"; a means to get you to question why you believe what you believe about heaven and hell and that in the end, Bell's book is going to land on a relatively orthodox position regarding what happens when we die.

But only the handful of people who have actually read the book really know for sure. The rest of us, Justin Taylor, Joshua Harris, John Piper, bloggers, myself, are all literally judging a book by it's cover. What's intriguing is that we are all reaching different sets of conclusions.

As far as I can tell, the conclusion you reach about what you think Love Wins is going to say, is almost invariably tied to the existing perceptions you already had of Rob Bell, his theology and his ministry. If you already thought Rob Bell was unorthodox, theologically unsound and dangerous teacher then the promotion for this book only confirms that. If you already thought that Rob Bell was a visionary, relevant, out of the box thinker the the promotion for this book only confirms it.

I think this is why the Bible tells us to 'judge not', because our judgement is inherently untrustworthy. John Ortberg says that the most common reason we will like someone else is not how good a person they are, how compatible we might be, or how interesting we might find them. No, the reason we like someone else is usually because they like us first.

Each of us carry around a distorted vision of ourselves, our world and the people around us. Most of the time we see what we want to see and find what we expect to find. Because the truth is, if you plopped a picture of Rob Bell and a picture of John Piper on my desk and asked me who's church I'd rather attend, without knowing anything about them, I'd choose Rob Bell everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.

I think this is why Jesus talks about people who walk around with planks in their eyes because we all carry around a certain set of pre-conceived notions about what is right, who is good and how we should live that invariably shape our perception of the world.

There's a reason why two people can sit in the same church service and have completely different experiences. There's a reason why a parent is often the last one to believe that their child actually did something wrong. There's a reason why we never give certain people the benefit of the doubt. There's a reason why we're so quick to claim that we're right and they're wrong. There's a reason why we are bewildered that other people could possibly be friends with 'those people'.

There's also a reason why Paul says 'Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.'

1 Corinthians 4:5.

Eric Versluis

How You Handle It is the Issue

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:01:19 EST

So life hit you hard. You're stressed out. You can't stand it anymore. You want out, but there is no exit sign. You'd give up, but that won't fix it. It's not fair, but then, who cares? Sometimes you are just stuck with it.

The fact is, many circumstances you face are unavoidable. You can't even prepare for them. The sheer variety of possibilities is scary. It could be a bad report from a doctor, a phone call from the police about an accident, a pink slip from your boss, an unexpected bill beyond your budget. Whatever may come whenever. And there you are, wedged into a wall of worry with no way out.

Sometimes the first reaction is denial. This can't be happening to me. So you ignore it. But tomorrow comes and yesterda's problems become, again, today's despair. You are stuck with it.

Next can be an attempt to diminish the difficulty. It's not that bad! Maybe I overreacted. If only that could lessen the load. But what is, is what you face. It can't be changed.

So, how about blaming someone else. That is a nice distraction for a day. It feels good to vent, accuse, get angry, get it all out. Yet, nothing has been resolved nor removed, so here you are again.

Whatever bad thing has come your way, the first response needs to be facing reality. This thing is not what you like, not what you chose, and maybe not what you can handle. There it is and there you are. It has to be taken as it is and from there you must work it out.

So what can you control and change? Only yourself. How you experience a circumstance is the one thing you can control, fully. While things may unravel, you don't have to. Because we tend to tie our hopes and happiness to what is happening to us instead of what is held to by us, we fall apart too easily. So life just went sour. . . but you can stay sweet.

Faith is a heart attachment to God. It is established on relationship. Knowing God overrides the feelings of despair and desolation. Of course, problems push us into near panic, but trusting God points us to peace. Faith needs to be developed before disasters hit. If you don't know where you're at before a storm, you certainly won't figure it out during a dark night.

Spiritual strength is secured in daily disciplines along the way. Then when you find your progress challenged with circumstances that are beyond your resources to resolve, your heart will know where God is. There you not only find rest for your soul, but a Deliverer who will lead you through it all. How you handle it matters. If doing it alone, good luck. If doing it with God, grace be with you.

David C. Slauenwhite

Ranting Against Religion

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:42:51 EST

I just finished reading Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. As so many other such attacks on religion in general and against Christianity in particular, it lacks credibility due to its absence of substance as well as its lack of respect for those he assaults. It is a rant driven by emotional fear rather than a critique presented with logic. He acknowledges up front that religion is strong and thriving in the world and especially in America, much to his regret.

To be fair, he says this is a letter. It is not a book of argumentation nor a debate engaging in the issues seeking to persuade the mind as to what is truth. He simply assumes he is right and reasonable while Christians are wrong and unreasonable. From there, he presses his point that Christianity is dangerous to civilization, insulting to persons of intellect, offensive to people of morals, stupid to those with education, etc. I think his appeal is in his method. It requires no wrestling with issues to read him, just an enjoyment of watching someone throw insults at something he doesn't like.

My guess. . . and it's only an impression I have that comes from what I know of others who speak and write this way, is that he has had a bad experience with Christians and the church at some point in his life, causing his rejection of God. But he can't get over it. So he spends much time ranting against religion to convince himself that he has done the right thing in reaction to the wrong thing(s) someone or the church did against him. This may not be the case. . . but the tone of the writing certainly in consistent with those who have this background.

That makes me sympathetic to him, though not to his style or beliefs. As surely as he despises those who hold religious beliefs, he is as entrapped in his atheistic beliefs (which he insists are facts) as any fanatic on whatever side. What frustrated me most was that he didn't present anything to think about or to argue against. As with most of the so called New Atheists, all he had were old ideas argued with new fevor. Unfortunately, many Christians react to him with the same kind of disrespect that he exhibits. Really, he is not a bad man, just a mistaken one. And he needs our grace, not our rejection.

The big danger is that believers with little biblical knowledge and less doctrinal grounding will tend to be overwhelmed with the rhetoric into believing he is making points and telling arguments against faith. Our problem is not our opponents. It is ourselves. We don't teach our faith well, if at all, and we don't fortify ourselves properly against empty but emotionally charged attacks. There is really nothing in this book that should worry anyone about Christianity or religion as being reasonably discredited. He deceives himself well but can only do so to others who haven't learned the facts to know the difference.

Anyway, if you would like to have a coffee with me to talk about this book (but only if you've read it and only if you'll pay for the coffee) and such assaults on Christianity, call me. I enjoy engaging in honest debate with intellectual content. But we'll probably have to move beyond this book to get into that kind of discussion.

David C. Slauenwhite

Somebody Ought To Do Something

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:24:42 EST

She meant well but her words aggravated me. It was one of those appointments made with the pastor that started with those dreaded words, " Now don't take this personal, but . . . " From that point on it was personal, as well as pointed. She gave a detailed description of all that was wrong with the church followed by a directive of what I was to do about it. The personal part was that I was the "somebody who ought to do something." Her diagnosis of the congregation's problem was quite accurate. Her prescription for a cure was somewhat on and quite a bit off. But her opinion as to who should fix it was both unworkable and unfair. If the problem is ours then the responsibility isn't just mine.

Now, don't take this personal, but. . . If you can see the problem clearly enough to know what needs to be done, then you probably are one of those who should start doing it. I confronted the lady in my story with a challenge, "Since you have so accurately analyzed the difficulty, and since you have so clearly determined what needs to be done about it, why don't you help me in working on it?"

Her response, "God has given me the gift of seeing what's wrong with others and the church and of telling them what they ought to do, but he has not made me responsible to do anything about it." From that point on, she had no influence or credibility with me. God doesn't give any such "gift" nor does he deal with his people through such arms length critics.

In both Jewish and church history, God has sent prophets to reveal the sins and shortcomings of his people. They speak with power, conviction and authority. But what makes prophets different from critics and cranks is that they love the people they rebuke. And they make themselves one with the people. Their message is not vague but clear. It is not generalized but specific. The reason such a painful proclamation is redemptive is that the prophets identify themselves as one of the people: it is we who have sinned, not you! And it is we who must seek the Lord, not just you!

If the boat is filling up with water, we all need to help bail it out. Jumping out with your lifesaver on may save you, but certainly doesn't save the ship. Watching others work on rescuing while critiquing their labors is, frankly, offensive. It's easy to look on while muttering about what somebody ought to do, but I'd rather have someone helping me do it. Those who make a difference are the ones who risk their safety and comfort to make it happen, not those who wait to see it things get different before they join in on what's happening.

David C. Slauenwhite

Living Longer Without Aging

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:30:49 EST

I only caught the last quarter of the television program, but it hooked me. Some scientists and medical researchers were talking about tension, aging and physical health. Apparently, living under stress damages your DNA or some such things. (I'm not a doctor, so I don't have to understand or remember exactly what this was, so just bear with me.) Particularly, they studied young mothers and in a very particular way, those with handicapped or disabled children.

Analyzing body cells or DNA or whatever, revealed physical changes occurred from the stress, resulting in premature aging. So, raising children ages you, literally! Other kinds of stress do it too. More interesting to me was how we might prevent or reverse this deterioration. Not having kids was not mentioned, though I imagine it could help. But that's not the point.

Now hear this: they interviewed this naturalist who spent thirty years studying baboons. At times I believe I've seen parallels too, but that's another line of thought. Anyway, raiding a village dump with polluted food killed all the aggressive males who wouldn't share the food. Now the continual tension they produced was gone. Females now enjoyed life without the hassles of. . . well, anyway. This pack or whatever a bunch of baboons are called, now became peaceful, healthier, shared food, took better care of one another, lived longer. Outsider, aggressive males joining the group actually became socialized into passivity by the now peace loving baboons. Aggressiveness just wasn't cool, so those joining learned to fit in and within six months became just as nice and neat as the others, instead of nasty and nit picking as before.

There are definitely lessons here for a congregation, but lets move on. Remember the point: living longer without aging. The research with baboons and humans showed that DNA or whatever, experiences physical change that is positive when individuals learn to laugh at life, get rest and recreation, share time and attention with others, extend compassion and care to others. In particular, giving ourselves to care for others by showing compassion was one of the most beneficial things that relieved stress and positively healed or maintained body healthy. So, if we could imitate these baboons, we might live longer as humans. We can live longer without aging.

As much as all this digging into baboon/ human culture revealed amazing secrets about living longer and happier and healthier, I actually already knew this. But my knowledge did not come from observing humans and baboons or distinguishing which are which. I have to admit, that I've not managed to figure all that out yet.

But I have read the Bible. And it has been saying this very thing for centuries. Check Proverbs about being cheerful and healthy. Read Philippians about rejoicing and having peace. Listen to Jesus about showing love and forgiveness. Study Paul's writings about caring for one another and being compassionate. Scripture shows that attitudes and actions affect life and health. If baboons can change, maybe we can too. So be nice to someone today and live a little longer.

David C. Slauenwhite

My Messy Desk and Spiritual Growth

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:33:27 EST

Pastor David had a busy week this week so he asked if I wanted to make a contribution to the blog and of course, I agreed. I love writing and I'm narcissistic enough to believe that people may have an interest in what I have to say. So here we are.

As I sit here trying to think about what I'm going to say, however, I feel a strange sort of pressure because this is Pastor David's blog and I am not Pastor David. Now, David and I do have a lot in common. We are both the son's of PAOC pastors, raised in the church, called to ministry from our mid-teens on. We both share a love of reading and music and we both love a good debate. We have so much in common that someone recently mentioned that when it comes to PSPT, they now have a hard time telling what is an 'Eric' idea and what is a 'David' idea. I'm not sure they meant it as a compliment but that's how I took it.

But despite what we have in common, we also have a lot of key differences, especially in the area of work methods. In order to understand these differences, you just need to look around our offices. At the end of each work day, Pastor David's desk is meticulously clean. Papers are filed, books are piled neatly. Everything is right angles and straight lines. On the other hand, calling my desk 'messy' would be a compliment. Alexa's high-chair after meal time is neater then my desk any day of the week. Where David's drawers are full of neatly labeled files, mine feature stacks of random papers, piles on top of piles. David has a filing system for his books based on topic and title and author. Mine are organized according to colour and convenience. David carries a calendar in his front pocket where he meticulously makes notes of every upcoming event and task. I have a scrap of paper on my desk where I scribble down reminders in handwriting a three year old would be ashamed of.

So now that I have to write a blog, the thought keeps popping into my head, 'what would David do?'. You see, David's work methods influence his blog writing too. David is organized and likes a set schedule, so he posts a new blog on the website, every Wednesday, like clockwork. My blog is going to get posted whenever I get to it, because you can't schedule art. David likes to work within a set of parameters. If you look back through the history of this blog, you'll notice most of Pastor David's posts are roughly the same length. That's because David has a system where every blog must be no shorter then 3/4's of a page but no longer then one full page, single spaced, size 12 font. This blog post will be longer because rules are made to be broken.

So as I'm writing this blog the temptation is to feel like I'm going about this the wrong way, to worry that I'm not doing things right. After all, Pastor David does things so differently then me and the pressure is always there to clean my desk, get a pocket calendar, schedule the blog for Wednesday and set a word count. Those are all wonderful things and I'm sure my wife and the church janitor would both be very happy if I cleaned my desk. But as of this moment, my desk is still messy, I wouldn't dream of owning a pocket calendar and I'm over my word limit. So I'm faced with two choices.

The first option is this: throw up my hands in despair and get depressed that I seem incapable (and unwilling) to write a blog like Pastor David does. I could beat myself up, view myself as a failure and begin to believe that I don't have what it takes to write a blog. After wallowing in my inability to keep a tidy desk for long enough, my guess is that I would eventually succumb to the despair and stop trying to write a blog at all. Either that or I'll tell myself that I have to try harder and promise that 'next time' I won't screw it up again. Of course, if I ever slip up and go over my word count again, I'm going to feel like even more of a failure.

The second option is this: embrace the fact that I am not Pastor David and that I never will be. I am Eric Versluis and I have been made with all sorts of unique and God given qualities that nobody else has. I may never be as organized as Pastor David but it's entirely possibility that his desire for order and rigidity will keep him from being as creative as I know I can be. If I embrace the fact that I have been designed by God in a certain way, with certain tendencies, characteristics and desires, then I can embrace the fact that I will never write a blog like Pastor David does.

We did a staff personality assessment a while back that showed us that we are all very different. In fact, the assessment said that if I were forced to work using the same methods as Pastor David, I would get frustrated and want to quit. Same thing if David was forced to work like I do. What we learned is that it's far more important that we share the same vision then if we share the same work methods. What matters is that we are working towards the same goals.

I say all of this to make this point. When it comes to Spiritual Growth, our tendency is to feel like whatever we are doing isn't right. We hear about Sister So & So, who spends 6 hours a day praying in her closet and we think that's what we should be doing. We hear about Brother So & So who wakes up at 4am every day so he can spend a couple hours doing devotions, go for a 10k jog and cure cancer before we even get out of bed and we feel guilty. We tell ourselves that we're going to do one of those 'read the Bible in a year' things and as soon as we miss a couple days we give up because we feel like we failed. I know there are people who think like this because that's how I think.

I have a short attention span so praying for longer then 5 minutes at a time is a real stretch. Reading 20 or 30 chapters of Bible at a time causes my mind to drift so that I may read the words but I no longer take anything in. I do not believe we were created to get out of bed before 7:30am, so if God wants to meet with me at 6 in the morning, He needs to speak to me in a dream. I used to feel guilty about this but I'm getting over it.

You see, sometimes I'll be doing something and I'll turn on some music and as the sound begins to swell and it all comes together, my eyes will tear up, my voice will crack and I know God is in the room, speaking something very deep to me.

Sometimes I'll be watching a movie or TV show and as I place myself in the shoes of the lives I am watching, I begin to see the world through new eyes, feel empathy for people in that situation in my real life and I know God is in the room, speaking something very deep to me.

Sometimes I will stand outside and look up at the stars and I know that God is there speaking something very deep to me.

Sometimes when I'm trying to read my Bible my kids will come and pull on my arm and ask me to come play with them. For a moment I consider saying no, because they are intruding on my time with God, but I am weak and their eyes are so big that I can't refuse their demands. As we are playing and singing and laughing together, they will reach up with their arms and ask me to give them a hug. They will plant their head on my shoulders, wrap their arms around me and squeeze me as hard as they can. And I know God is in the room, speaking something very deep to me.

I could get angry at myself for failing to get to know God in the same way that other people know Him. I could tell myself to try harder and make myself be like them. Except I'm not like them, I'm like me and just like it would be next to impossible for me to write a blog like Pastor David, it's next to impossible for me to grow spiritually like Sister and Brother So & So (who I'm pretty sure are urban legends to begin with).

The question is, am I open to growing closer to Jesus? Because if that's our goal, if that's our vision, then our methods may be different but our destination is the same. So basically what I'm saying is, I'm pretty sure God's OK with my messy desk and I'm pretty sure he's ok with my brief prayer, my sporadic bible reading and my sleep habits too as long as I am open to Him speaking to me in the way He designed me to listen. If you're sincere in your pursuit of Him, I'm sure He's totally OK with your messy desk too.

Eric Versluis

Books I've Read: Why Christian Kids Rebel

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:05:17 EST

Kimmel, Tim - Why Christian Kids Rebel; Nashville: W. Publishing Group,2004.

Along with his wife, Tim Kimmel operates Family Matters, a ministry that seeks to help parents. He has sold almost a million books. Judging by this one, his sales will continue.

The title tips you off as to the topic. We know that just being raised in a church or Christian home does not guarantee that children will serve the Lord or experience lives of happiness. We always hope it won't happen to us, but it can. One day you could wake up to the reality of a rebellion that was long brewing in your own home. Watching your children walk out of church, out the door of your home and out of your life is one of the most painful life experiences imaginable.

So Kimmel talks about such realities. He explores the pain felt by parents. He suggests possibilities for the rebellion. He offers hope, but within a context of reality that is not necessarily easy to accept.

Eventually he gets to his real intention for the book. He wants to help you prevent rebellion. The cure is just too difficult to wait until the disease hits. Dealing with issues that could foster a walk out is much better. So he says some rather hard hitting truths. About half way through the book, it's true value starts to emerge.

Now, if you're legalistically inclined, traditionally entrenched, ultra conservatively minded and know exactly how everything should be done, how best to raise children, how much the church is to blame for the mess families are in, and just how terrible the world is to seduce our children away from God, then. . . . don't read this book. You've probably got enough anger already steaming underneath your saintliness; you don't need to add a few degrees of heat to it. This book says some things that we all need to hear, even if we don't always want to listen.

Rebellion is often created by the very way we raise our children in a hot house religious ritualism. It can be breed by our fear of the world, from our insistence on enforcing religious practices, through our spiritual hypocrisy and apathy. Things often start wrong in how right we insist on being. The causes of revolt as he portrays them will probably shock many parents. But Kimmel has writen a book every Christian parent should read. It could save your kids for Christ, by changing how you bring Christ to your children. Highly recommended.!

David C. Slauenwhite

Too Right to Understand

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:29:21 EST

Sometimes being right makes us wrong. It is possible to know what the right thing is, yet be unable to understand how the right thing is to be done. Knowledge and wisdom are not identical, though they are related. Knowing the right thing isn?t the same as doing the wise thing.

I had a seminary professor who excelled in knowing his field. His doctorate was from a very prestigious institution. If you quizzed him in his area of expertise, you couldn't stump him. But he couldn't teach what he knew. To be kind, let's just say he was boring, unconnected and didn't have a clue how to communicate. On the other hand, I took a course where the lecturer was on the bottom rung of the academic ladder. It was an introductory level so they pushed the class off to the least qualified on staff. Maybe he didn't have his doctorate yet, but seldom have I enjoyed a teacher who better understood how to connect and communicate with his class.

Life has a lot of tangles, tensions and troubles. Often I know the answers but lack the ability to act or the wisdom to apply the solution. I can know the right thing but not understand the issues. If I proceed simply on being right, I may process the situation in a wrong way.

For example: it is very easy to demand that justice be done. It's actually quite simple to judge if all you do is examine the principles and laws concerning a behavior. But when you take the time to know the persons involved, their stories and backgrounds, the interacting circumstances and complexities. . . then forcefully applying the rules just because they are right may result in terrible damage done to helpless people who did wrong because of inability to do right.

I read a story this week about a man who riding on a subway had his quiet journey interrupted by a man with two young boys who joined at the next stop. While the father gazed in a daze at the wall, the two sons ran through the car, yelling and laughing, climbing over chairs and people, sprawling on the floor, bumping seniors and causing chaos. The teller of the story couldn't take any more of the commotion, and spoke to the father to control his children. After all, it was only right that he take responsibility and reign in the terrible two. Apologizing, the man corrected his children, while explaining that they had just left the hospital where his wife had just died. He was too overwhelmed to take it all in, was worried about what to do with his children, was lost in his thoughts, was grieving his loss. Understanding his situation explains why he didn't do the right thing in handling his children. It changes our reaction.

Just knowing that the right thing is to discipline children until they properly behave is fine. But understanding where they're at in the context of life experience, immediate circumstances and emotional maturity needs to inform our response to their misbehaving.

This principle applies to many aspects of life and relationships. Like Jesus, we may on occasion encounter someone "at a well." His handling of the Samaritan woman didn?t follow all the "right" rules, but the impact he had upon her life made her "right" with God. He understood her. Because of that approach, in the end, she understood who he was as well.

David C. Slauenwhite

Too Uptight To Care

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:15:47 EST

Those who work in what are labeled "caring professions" face a high burn out rate. In light of this, chaplains in federal prisons are mandated to relocate after a set number of years of service in any one institution. Social workers, police officers, nurses, school teachers, clergy and such face similar stresses. Unless proactive steps are taken, they may become overwhelmed with caring until they don't care anymore. Signs can predict a crash: irritability, angry reactions, depression, sloppiness in work habits, withdrawal.

Such dangers lurk in all our lives. Often each of us gets just too busy and too hassled and too stressed out. We reach the end of our patience, our ability to cope, our willingness to give. Then we blow up, walk out, give up and quit it. On the way out, we usually create so much damage that nobody wants us back and everybody gets hurt somewhat. Most of all, we suffer the after effects of embarrassment, humiliation and self loathing. To alleviate that, we may seek to cast blame on "them," you know, the ones who didn't understand us, who kept pushing us, who demanded just too much.

Nobody is going to take care of our emotional and spiritual health except ourselves. We need to recognize our responsibility to draw some lines, establish some boundaries and take some time off. Of course, the work won't get done, others will think we're slack and we'll feel bad. But if we don't take care of ourselves, nobody else will.

Jesus did not run himself ragged trying to please everybody or do everything. While he gave himself out in sacrificial ministry, he also made retreats into the wilderness just to pray and rest. The crowds sought him out, the disciples talked about him and I'm sure the devil hassled him. But he refused to let himself be dragged out until he was too uptight to care anymore. He took his relationship with God the Father seriously, letting nothing interfere with it.

You know where you're at today. If you are getting so stressed and so burnt and so tired that you can't take too much more without saying or doing something you'll regret, take a break. Get the rest you need, take the vacation you deserve, enjoy the hobby you like and say the prayers that will revive you. If others don't understand and criticize, so be it. At least you'll be good for the long haul and stable in how you handle it.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is nothing. And remember, one hundred years or maybe only next year, nobody will remember what you did anyway. So do God's will and have a life while doing it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read: Gilead

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:28:03 EST

Robinson, Marilynne - Gilead; NY: Harper, 2005. (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)

Novels are not just recreational reading; they are portraits of culture and life. Through them one can subtly say truths that otherwise may not be well received. The Bible uses narrative extensively to teach us principles and the ways of God. Often Christians either avoid novels as merely entertaining or limit themselves to so called "Christian" books which may be rather fluffy and preachy. But good literature goes beyond entertaining to enlightening.

Marilynne Robinson has been described as one of the superb writers in America today. Her output has been scarce, but high in quality. Gilead reads well and easily, but within the story lies much insight into life. As a pastor, I found her chief character most fascinating. He is an elderly clergyman, facing death. Having married a very young woman, his son is but a child climbing about his knees. To that son he addresses these, his last thoughts and story and guidance. The book is written in the first person; the man speaks directly to you. From him come thoughtful comments that could only spring from someone who knows what it is to serve a church. But he also ponders about life in general with a philosophical wisdom that rings so true to so much.

The book describes life as it so often is: a mix of good and bad, triumph and tension, misunderstandings and affection. The characters interact with hope and hurts, vulnerability and hesitations. Somewhere along the way, you find points of identification.

Such novels as this serve well to remind us that life is full of surprises and shocks, ups and downs, aspirations and failures. Gilead is a small place tucked away nowhere with not much ever happening. Yet even in a backwoods village, life contains all the reality and depth and spiritual- relational drama and trauma to be found anywhere else. As we walk with the preacher towards his day of death, we gradually review what life has brought and taught. Hope lies in the small child playing before him. The next generation will pick up and carry on that which we leave them. We need to tell a good story that is marked by humility concerning ourselves, love towards others and openness to God. Who we are is what we were made and what we are is what we are making in the next generation. Wherever you are, in your Gilead you leave a mark.

David C. Slauenwhite

Too Busy To Be

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:13:46 EST

Can you imagine working just long enough each day to earn just enough to pay the costs of living for just that day, then going home to relax and enjoy life? It sounds good, but I don't think we could handle it. Even if we were content to earn only enough to live on, comfortably but not affluently, we'd probably worry ourselves back to work to ensure we have enough for the future.

Yet I read once that in a mid-eastern country that style of life was quite common. A merchant or tradesman or laborer would put in just enough hours to earn what was needed to buy food, pay bills and get through that particular day. After that, he or she would just walk off to enjoy the day. That's a pretty simple life style with a very profound philosophy of life. In contrast, we are driven to work hard and long, but not in order to survive or even to live well. We work to find meaning in life. We labor to secure security. We do more than enough to earn prestige and fame and power. We work ourselves to death so we'll be remembered for all we did. We strive to make more money so we can have more than others. Yet we are not content with anything as we reach out for everything.

Quite often, we end our days having done much while actually accomplishing little. We finish our days on earth, having only arrived at a place where nothing matters anymore. We die with regrets but not in rest. It's as if we drove with our eyes on the mirror instead of the road in front. All we ever saw was where we were or what we did, but we hardly gave a glance at where we were going or what we were doing. When life finally ends, sometimes with a crash, we're shocked at discovering we've no idea what's ahead for us. Eternity wasn't in our sights. All we know is what we spent our time doing. With no time left, we can't imagine what's yet to come. The grave is the best destiny we can imagine, so we buy the best lot and erect the best monument to mark where we ended.

Life is more than work. What we are counts more than what we do. We all know it, but we don't live by it. Culturally, we wouldn't fit in if we lived for something that's real. This is an age of superficiality. We watch reality shows, experience virtual reality in games and sit staring at television or movies to feel like we've got a life. But we don't live much, if at all. We're addicted to things that substitute for real living. Whether it's our job, alcohol, drugs, sex or pornography, religion, movies, relationships. . . many of these things are just the junk food of our life filling our empty souls which are starving for something of substance.

What are you? Just a prodigal eating with pigs? Or have you come to your senses yet and started on the journey for home? The Father waits to welcome you. He has a feast planned. And at his table you will find something good to eat, someone who cares for you and peace for your soul. But you've only got today to go to him. If you're too busy, then all you're ever be is what you are now.

David C. Slauenwhite

Christmas Break !!!!!

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:24:00 EST

Just to let you know: it's Christmas time!

So, there won't be a blog published until the New Year comes... I'm taking a holiday break and letting my mind go into neutral or something like that.

Check back about January 5th and we'll start up again.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Pastor David

Books I've Read: For Men Only and For Women Only

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:21:19 EST

This is a set: get both! Shaunti Feldhahn is the primary author. She has a graduate degree from Harvard, and has been a journalist, author, public speaker and newspaper columnist. Her husband, Jeff, helped write the book for men. He is a lawyer.

The books are short and small. They are practical, straight forward and don't pull punches. If you're kind of old school and don't like frank talk about marriage issues, sex and how you need to live to make a marriage work, you'd best not bother with these volumes. But if you're serious about trying to understand your mate, they're worth reading.

I think each marriage partner should read both. This will result in some good and maybe realistic understanding of where each of husband and wife are coming from. The advice is realistic, the information is accurate and the principles are workable. I like the sub-titles added to the chapter headings. In For Men Only, you have topics like: "The Deal Is Never Closed: Why her 'I do' will always mean 'Do you?' and what to do about it." Then hear this one (I think she is insulting us males... maybe?): "Windows...Open: What you should know about the fabulous female brain (a guide for lower life forms)."?

Just to equalize our glimpse at the tempting chapter titles, here is one from For Women Only: "Keeper of the Visual Rolodex: Why it's so natural for him to look and so hard to forget what he's seen." Her depiction of the sex nature of the 'lower life forms' is something every wife should read and remember. It may help you to not murder him.

Pre-marital counseling is highly recommended by most marriage counselors. So I do it. And frankly, I don't think it has made much of a difference or helped that much. . . in whatever is going to come down the tube later. Maybe I'm just not that good at it, but I explain it as a matter of reality, that a couple heading for marriage are somewhat brain dead until after the honeymoon.

So I just try to be a friendly pastoral adviser, making sure that they know they can come to me after reality arrives, and then we can talk seriously. But what I've started to do, is give the star- struck couple a set of these books. I hope they read them, sometime within a year after the honeymoon. That's when it matters to know what you've gotten into. These little books might be just the means to keep the magic working, or at least help to get you real about what you've married, be it a high or low life form.

David C. Slauenwhite

Feldhahn, Shaunti (and Jeff) - For Men Only/ For Women Only; Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2006.

Church Revival

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:45:19 EST

Local congregations have their ups and downs spiritually. For many reasons, we go through times of triumph and trial. There are things God teaches us in both periods. But, in the big picture, God doesn't mean for us to have an ongoing spiritual life that is dreary and weary. We're called to victory and blessing with effectiveness in Christian service. When that isn't our usual and common reality, then we need revival. This used to be our rallying cry when we got into spiritual apathy. Now it seems that we just sit and stare through services, or quit church.

Instead of seeking revival, we prefer to reminisce about it. Remember when: the church was full; people were getting saved; we saw bodies healed; lives were changed; services were filled with anticipation of what God might do right now. Ah. . . precious memories! And then savor the sweet blessings we got out of it all: church growth, high attendance, new families coming, generous giving to spread the gospel, a community shaken by God acting in our presence. Now we've got big church buildings, exciting programs, abundant resources, high tech equipment. Unfortunately, it seems that we're also quite bored and church has become a drag.

So if revival is our answer and in our past it was our desired and realized experience, why don't we seek and have it now? Well, we don't really want it. Why? Now here's where it gets tacky. Revival is demanding and messy. We have to pray, very seriously and long before it happens. We're too busy for that. We have to repent of personal and corporate sins. That's embarrassing, requiring a lot of humility. True revival always calls for confessing sin and making things right with others. That's hard. Revival turns worship into unpredictable happenings, kills our complaining, focuses our attention on others instead of ourselves, turns sermons into hard hitting messages from God, pushes people into emotional responses to God's manifest presence, brings people into salvation and to our church whom we may not like. Services get longer, preaching gets personal, prayer gets real, people get broken. . . and if we're not careful, we end up changing in our habits, values, commitment, involvement. Revival only comes when we open our hearts to God, letting him change us.

So revival is mostly dreamed about but not really a dream we want to come real. We prefer to plod through our religious routines with dreariness, hoping our leaders will come up with some new and novel programs that can keep us entertained without conviction. We hope God will bless and heal and protect us, without our having to give him too much of our time. And we expect church to be worthwhile while we don't do much worthwhile in it. Sad!

God has so much more for us. If we could just get a little taste of the sweetness of his presence, a small touch of his power, a glimpse of his glory. . .it would reveal to us just how dead we are. Jesus didn't die to form a religious enterprise. Rather he came to make us into new people, filled with his Spirit, and living with passion in unspeakable joy, everlasting peace, eternal hope, amazing power, overwhelming glory, with purpose and delight. Revival is worth going through because these kind of revival blessings make church life spiritually real and powerful. But, there's the problem again: to enjoy revival blessings, we have to endure revival pain, first!

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read: Leadership Reconsidered

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:59:07 EST

Ruth Tucker has taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Calvin Theological Seminary. She has authored at least sixteen books. So she knows how to write, has something to say and has gained recognition and fans. But of her books I've read, this one has hit me the hardest.

Its context is a class she taught on leadership. She admits that she is unqualified academically, professionally and experientially on this topic. She has not been trained to lead nor has she ever held a recognized leadership position. But her interest in the theme led her to teaching a course on it, with this book as a result.

Leadership gurus will not be impressed. I doubt that she'll ever be requested to work for the many church consultant firms who offer courses in leadership development. And I wouldn't be surprised if she never teaches this subject again. So, she's that bad in her knowledge and this book is that terrible on the subject?

To the contrary! Everyone who has taken a leadership specialization, taught the subject or holds a position of leadership, should read it. She has something to say. Her approach begins by asking the right questions and not letting you get away with easy answers. Her critique of the leadership manuals, courses, philosophies, tapes and talks and training offerings on the subject leaves you amazed. It's like David taking on Goliath. She wouldn't have a hope if the stone she slings didn' hit the mark. But she makes you think, or actually, question!

Traditional and time honored assumptions are dissected and exposed. She knows her subject and has obviously researched well and thoroughly the books and experts. Being without background, expertise, experience or a position to defend in the area of leadership, she simply wades in and asks and probes and examines. And you are left pondering, wondering and evaluating.

I won't forsake all the things I've studied on leadership, nor will I discount all the courses I've taken, but I have reviewed all that in the light of all this. And she needs to be heard. . .or read. This is one of those books I wish had been available when I started my ministry, or more importantly, when I entered a key leadership role.

There are two sections: one critiques leadership and the other encourages leaving a legacy. It's the second section that makes the critique even more heart searching. Really, what is it we are trying to do? Take people somewhere or leave people with something? If you're a leader, you need to know what you're doing and why. This book just might make you reconsider the purpose of your calling.

If you're a leader, you need to get it and read it, or later you might regret it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Tucker, Ruth A. - Leadership Reconsidered; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.

Church Seasons

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:37:37 EST

Things weren't going well at my church, or so I thought. Going to a pastors' conference, I felt depressed, wondering why I couldn't make things better. The key speaker drew a picture of church life that saved my sanity and enabled me to hang in there for the long haul.

He outlined four seasons that every church passes through, repeatedly or as a cycle. Even our individual lives have this parallel pattern, so this can be comforting to remember when things don't seem to be going right.

The first season is planting. Our lives and every church have periods when not much may appear to be happening, but in reality, we're preparing for our future. There are truths to be learned, habits to be developed, attitudes to be changed, behaviors to be corrected. We are planting seeds. The church is forming relationships in the community. It is establishing programs, developing systems, giving witness to people, living out the gospel from day to day. Just keep plowing!

The next season is nurturing. This involves doing things that grow the seed. We need to have water and rain and sunshine for crops. Our lives need blessings, encouragement, moments of praise and glory. Churches need to experience good things while watching the seeds sprout. So we do our events and perform our good deeds and we pray and wait. It takes time, but plod on!

The comes the hard season. It's called weeding. During this season, things get rough. We don't expect it, don't want it and sometimes won't take it. Pastors often resign for better places during this process, or the church may even ask a pastor to leave. There is not much patience in us for enduring this. No one likes having stuff cut out of their life. But God prunes our lives with discipline, suffering and difficulties. The church goes through divisions, controversies, criticisms and failures. People leave. Unrest rolls around the ranks. Everyone wants to know what's wrong and who is to blame. Unless we endure and accept the weeding, the crop to come won't be good. A church needs to lose those who are not committed, who won't grow spiritually, who cause friction among others and hurt the name of church and Christ by sinful living and attitudes. We need to prune out what needs to go!

After these three seasons, comes the harvest. Some lives never see the beauty of this, because they won't stick through the other seasons. Some churches seldom have good times because they won't stay steady during the bad times. Harvest doesn't come without the previous three seasons. And the harvest is better when the planting was abundant, the nurturing was regular and the weeding was brutal. Be ready in harvest to pluck the fruit that is now ripe and ready!

Our attitude needs to be hopeful, while we push on through the seasons. . .again and again.

David C. Slauenwhite

Books I've Read: Second Calling

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:04:46 EST

Increasingly, people are asking me about books to read. It's risky recommending a particular book, because we all are at various places in our life journeys with diverse needs and interests. A book I may find very helpful or interesting could be boring to another. I've also found that over the years, my interests have changed as well as my ability to appreciate or enjoy different authors and types of books. But, since I'm being asked about what I'm reading... I think I'll do some blogs along that line. But be aware, reader: pick your books by browsing, not by glances at the cover.

Dale Hanson Bourke has served in prestigious roles, with significant responsibilities, gaining recognition. . . and by what she writes here, also gaining good wisdom. This is a book aimed at women. Frankly, I usually don't even pick up such volumes to crack the covers. I'm a man!

But if you will put aside her obvious, but not overly done, references and context of a woman's world, she has something to say to all of us. While easy to read, it has some hard hitting truths. The title warns you about the theme: she has lived hard and well in her first half of life, but now faces mid-age and a completely different perspective on life. It's obvious why I'm attracted to her book; I'm in my second half and wondering how long the "halfs" last.

My reading is broad and varied. But I like to read regularly books that minister to me with challenge and confrontation. Bourke does that in a nice and gentle way. She makes you ponder what your life is really all about, without making your feel like you totally wasted the first half. There is a spiritual tone that carries through her pages, with practical suggestions for enhancement of your life style and choices. I'd suggest that those in the first half of life take a reading through her story too. It might just help clarify where you're going, and raise a few questions as to why you're possibly driving with your eyes closed at this moment.

And for any preachers wondering if the book has any sermon ideas. . .yes! But only an idea, not an outline. She uses the book of Ruth as her backdrop, but focuses on Naomi with insight and thoughtful analysis. You'll find excellent observations here that suggest good devotional talks.

David C. Slauenwhite

Bourke, Dale Hanson - Second Calling; Brentwood, TN: Integrity Publishers, 2006.

Church Focus

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:54:45 EST

Every church develops its own unique traits. Eventually, each local assembly becomes known for a particular focus. Self identification then defines what a congregation expects, desires and supports. Any attempt to change that self understanding (the DNA of a local church) meets with strong resistance, being interpreted as an attack against the very essence of that group. Occasionally, there should be a self examination with maybe a refocusing and major internal change, but it will need to be done slowly, wisely, carefully and very intentionally.

On the other hand, changing a church 'focus' (its DNA) should rarely occur. The history, cultural setting, experiences and relationships within a local church determine what it becomes. If these have been spiritually good and well directed, then it is better to improve, strengthen, intensify and flow with what a church is, as contrasted to changing it just to suit a new leader or recent new attenders. God makes us into what we are, with an intent that we be his witness in our particular ways to an aspect of his grace as we have experienced it.

But change can be justified when a church has lost passion for its focus. Should the culture of its setting change, so should the church. Over time, a church may need to refocus its approach in order to meet changing needs within its own membership. As well, the spiritual state of an assembly at any point in time should inform its leadership of where the focus needs to be directed. If apathy has set in, then revival is needed. If lack of involvement is seen, then challenges need to be made. If biblical ignorance is prevalent, then a focus on Bible study may be required.

Church leadership, particularly that of the pastor, cannot settle in to doing just what has always been done, because that's just the way it is. The first priority is to know God's Word and will, and then move towards fulfilling that in what we are and do as a local body of believers. What a local church focus is, needs to be aligned with how God defines the church in general. Pastoral attempts to change a church should be towards bringing it into line with what God has said the church at large is and does. Change is not about becoming something different or successful. It's about becoming what the Lord says we are to be.

Again, how that works out locally, will be individualized by each church. Some will become known as missions or cross culturally oriented, others grow into strong relational groups. There will be churches famous for their strong Bible preaching and teaching, while some will evolve into passionate doers of good deeds or become known for effective evangelistic outreach.

The challenge lies in keeping everyone on board with the focus. It will mean saying 'no' to many good things, to say 'yes' to this one thing we pursue. It will also mean accepting that some people will prefer to leave for other churches, while some will be drawn into what we are and do locally. If we accept this in a mature manner, we can then become a church focused and committed, unified around one common purpose, working harmoniously. So, let's know our focus and stick with it. At the end of the day, we'll feel good about having been what we are.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Unity

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:57:56 EST

Once upon a time, there was a church that was just plain suicidal. Their controversy came to a head in a congregational meeting with a disturbing resolution. If passed, the church would have gone spinning through a time warp into the distant past. Among other things, they voted on forbidding the use of any translation other than the King James, forbidding anyone to attend church without suits and ties or dresses (gender specific, of course), going to the washroom during services (no kidding: if you went to the washroom you wouldn't be allowed back in the sanctuary), coming late to church, etc. A significant minority meant for their church to be run by rules with rigid application. It was legalism to the lowest level.

After the battle of words and wills, the resolution didn't pass. But what also didn't pass was a resolution of the conflict. Deep emotions endured to ensure continued controversy, criticism and complaining. Nothing could settle until a number of people actually left the church with their contentious spirit. By then the pastor was too exhausted to continue, so he too left. The next pastor had to heal the wounds and move the limping church into a reasonable and fruitful future.

My son talked with me recently about leading church councils through difficult decisions. He related how his board had worked their way through a situation to the solution that all could support. But it was how they got there that was important. He summarized it up as following the principle that " unity in the church is not about everyone agreeing on everything, but about each one submitting to each other."

He's got it right. Harmony of spirit is a personal and relational issue. It's not about getting right answers, reaching complete agreement, finding full solutions. It's about our hearts being blended into one spirit. Paul wrote the Ephesians about preserving the unity of the Spirit, as something we start with, not conclude with. And he also told them, as Spirit-filled believers, to be in subjection to one another. Keeping the bond of peace in a local congregation is not done by forcing conformity, but through finding transformation. It's as Christ reigns within us, that we are able to live and work together in the power of spiritual life.

Someone once said that church unity could only come when we learned not to talk about the things we differ on. But if we don't talk, we'll soon get tense. That leads to blow ups. It's how we talk that is the issue. Learning to love my brother/ sister in Christ, to value their background and viewpoint, and to respect their personal understanding and opinions, is the way to build bridges. When done mutually, we have the beginnings of commonality. Never will we all see everything in the same way, nor should we. But always we must submit ourselves to one another, work for the common good, obey the Lord together in what is clearly his will and then follow our spiritual leadership under the Spirit into where Christ is leading.

Unity is a matter of the heart, not the head. We'll always have different understandings and preferences, but we should never have disagreeable hearts and attitudes. And the secret to this unity truly does lie in our willingness to submit one to the other.

David C. Slauenwhite

Marriage: 5. And Now You May Kiss. . .

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:18:10 EST

The active part of the wedding ceremony ends with the traditional kiss. The parade in, the opening remarks, the exchanging of vows, the pledging of love, the declaration by the officiating clergy that you are now married. . . all concludes with the romantic kiss watched by all. Of course, we 'll now go and sign papers or light some candles or hear a song before racing off for pictures and a reception. But essentially, the ceremony is consummated by the physical kiss. From now on, they are married and they can do "married" things without restraint, shame or secrecy.

If you haven't caught on yet, I'm charging straight into the topic of marital love or sexual intercourse, from the viewpoint of the wedding ceremony and what it means. The kiss at the end of the ceremony is not just a cute romantic conclusion. The whole ceremony is a serious statement of what marriage is all about. The kiss at the end is symbolic about a physical and emotional reality. Sex is part of marriage, but meant only for marriage. It comes after the public declaration of mutual love. It fits after God and people recognize these two as married. It is safely enclosed within the borders of commitment that is stated to be for life, in every kind of circumstance life may bring. Now !. . .that you have pledged your love, made your commitment, been blessed by family, and declared married by God?s representative: you may kiss!

No, I'm not suggesting that a couple not kiss until the wedding. That kind of holding back hardly happens anymore. But these days neither do people maintain chastity. (In fact, it's so rare that I had to look up the word to spell it correctly.) I'm not unaware that most couples, including Christians, have engaged in sexual acts prior to marriage. Nor am I so lofty in legalistic piety that I'm unsympathetic or lacking in understanding of the pressures regarding sex felt from one's natural and God-given drives or from the peer and cultural norms of our day. It's tough not to!

Reasons for waiting until marriage are many. A single blog can't list them. But God hasn't said to hold off without good cause. He created sex for enjoyment, so he's not a kill joy. The boundary of marriage is for your protection, now and throughout marriage. Sex outside marriage means at least the diminishing if not the elimination of commitment, fidelity, true love, openness in marital relationship, ability to completely trust, safety for emotional disclosure of self. Whether prior to or within the marriage relationship, sex is highly charged to cement or explode the bond that holds two together. It is more than a physical act to be entered into for entertainment, recreation or even release of tension. It has emotional and spiritual aspects that are powerful and lasting. You never are the same after sex with someone outside marriage.

But on the other hand, do note this. Sex is not just expected and acceptable within marriage. The Bible in no uncertain terms calls for it. In fact, the New Testament says that to withhold sex from a marriage mate is to defraud them. Cheating has two sides: both doing it with someone you shouldn't and not doing it with someone you should. So, you may now kiss. . .and do it often!

David C. Slauenwhite

Marriage: 4. Who Gives This Woman? . . .what did you say??

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:07:44 EST

If this phrase doesn't offend our modern sensibilities, then we're not listening to what is being asked. Think about it: the father of the bride (and sometimes with the mother) is bestowing his permission for her to get married. He is handing off his daughter to another man. He gives her, which suggests that he could refuse. Did the groom ask the father for his daughter, you know, like the way it used to be done? Are we perpetuating a patriarchal status here? Is this diminishing the woman into mere chattel?

Most modern wedding guides, particularly non-religious ones, omit this question. Yes, it is old fashion and comes from a medieval context where the father cared for his daughter and then passed her on to the care of a husband, to whom he gave permission to have her. Often marriages were arranged, so she literally had no say in any of this. Understandably, the question can cause offence today. At times it is replaced with something like, who supports this marriage? And then everyone can join in with a loud, 'we do.'

But let me act as advocate for an alternative understanding, in whatever form or rewording we may make this question. While honoring the autonomy and freedom of the bride, we do need to recognize that no one marries only a person. The family comes along too. Even if we move a couple to the other side of the world, both have married into the family of the other, who will be present in one form or another, forever. Even elopement won't evade this.

Each of us are the product of the home in which we were raised. However good or bad our past, it forms our present. We are made by what we experience. And although we leave our childhood home to cleave in the making of a new home, the influence and life formation of our past carries into our present. Bride and groom need to look hard at the home of the 'child' they are marrying. There is baggage here to be carried into the future.

This is the challenge of marriage. God uses it to change us into something better. Or we can struggle within it to become something worse. Past hurts, battles, losses and failures impact us in the relationship we build as a couple. How our home was as a child starts to surface in the new home we seek to construct. How each was raised comes out in raising your own offspring. One day each spouse looks across the room to see the father/mother of their spouse sitting there. The habits, attitudes and even physical looks eventually come seeping out. Sometimes it is good stuff, and sometimes it's not so nice (to say it nicely).

So it is wise to remember, that what is being passed over to you, both groom and bride, (however much you like or dislike that one gender question) is more than a person. It's the whole family! They are giving you more than you bargained for. And this is true of both spouses and families. You're getting a package deal. Maybe we should still ask the question but do so to both bride and groom, with a slight revision: 'who is giving you this person to marry?' Remember, what you're getting has also got some nice things you haven't discovered yet. But you might find them hidden in their family.

David C. Slauenwhite

Marriage: 3. If Anyone Has An Objection. . .Speak Now!

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:01:58 EDT

Early in the marriage ceremony, a question used to be posed to the people gathered: if anyone had an objection to the finalization of this wedding parade, they were to speak up or shut up. Well, it wasn't that bluntly put, but neither was it that seriously taken. Having performed these ceremonies, I do recall times when the bride would nervously hold her breath, wondering what clown related to her intended husband would play the ultimate prank and shout out, "I object." Today, most ceremonies don?t even ask the question. But I'd like to lodge some objections!

I object to being forced into officiating at weddings that won't remain marriages. Several times I've officiated under compulsion. Sometimes, in my opinion, the couple just weren't ready or well suited. But when I suggested we pause or even not proceed, well. . .I felt I needed a good witness protection program. At times I've even had the parents of the couple agree that the marriage had no hopes of success, yet insist I do the ceremony anyway. The consequences of refusal by a minister are severe. If a pastor is not willing to do the wedding, then he needs to start packing. Of course, he can say 'no'; but he will also soon hear 'go!'

I object to weddings that lack sufficient dating time. Doing dates may sound old fashion, but getting married to someone you really don't know is folly. I use pre-marital counseling to achieve a couple of goals, one being to check if the starry eyed couple have ever really taken a good look at what they're getting. The refund for returning a spouse doesn't equal the cost.

I object to couples marrying without the means to maintain a home. Now if you wait until you're loaded with money, your funeral will come first. But there should be an ability to pay common household bills, put food on the table and provide clothing. If you require significant parental financial support, post pone the wedding, or have them move in with you and be done with it.

I object to wedding extravagances that almost bankrupt the family. Such ceremonies distract from the beauty of love, the joy of marriage and the presence of God. They become symbols of status, displays of pride and revelations of foolishness. Do I sound a bit peeved?

I object to self written ceremonies that defy the traditions of the church, the solemnity of the event and seriousness of marriage. I will let the couple write their own vows, but I want to edit them. This is not some show to put on where God only gets a nod. Go get a judge to officiate if this is less than an exchange of vows before Almighty God and a seeking of his blessing!

I object to a wedding so up tight that no one enjoys it. This is a wonderful day where God comes to embrace and move in with a new family: being created by vows, celebrated with friends and consummated in love. Let the bells ring, the laughter resound, and the fireworks go off.

So now, by the authority of God and state: I pronounce you husband and wife! Any objections? Too late!

David C. Slauenwhite

Marriage: 2. In the Sight of God!. . . or does it really matter?

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:52:55 EDT

The wedding ceremony starts with a solemn reminder: "we are gathered together in the sight of God and of these witnesses, to join together." Whether this really means anything anymore is highly questionable. After getting mentioned in the first sentence, it seems to me that God often gets left out of just about everything after that.

In spite of our society's disregard and defiance towards God, he determines what a marriage is, who can be justly married and whether it is blessed or cursed. Our current laws are wrong. But my big concern isn't our nation and its blatant blasphemy against God and godly morals. It's about the ignoring of God and His Word by believers. On the whole, Christian marriages aren't much different from those of the world. Yet they should be markedly better, because of God.

Christian spouses should fight spiritually. Conflict will occur in any relationship, sooner or later. The Christian ideal is not a marriage totally free of disagreement. Rather, it is one where the way we do our arguments is different. We begin by deciding that leaving and divorcing are not on the table. Our commitment is for life and so we are determined to work things out, period! So, we will talk and debate and even fight, with God in the room. We will resolve issues, reconcile as lovers, speak carefully with grace, grant forgiveness freely, apologize frequently, and grow in maturity. . .because we do all this "in the sight of God."

Believers should live faithfully. The Bible warns that God will deal with infidelity, both now and in eternity. Of course, everyone has temptations. You can hardly drive a mile, turn on the TV or pick up a magazine, without being lured into a lustful look. But Christians resist sin, flee temptation and commit to their mate. We recognize that flirtations, pornography, emotional attachments and lustful fantasizing are entry points to affairs that are sin against God and our spouse and family. Consciously living "in the sight of God" is the practical foundation for building a life of godliness that runs from even the appearance of evil.

Followers of Jesus should care lovingly. The secret of a great marriage is not good sex, although that will be the natural result of it. What makes the difference is building a relationship of honor, respect and love. As those who walk with God, we are enabled to develop and enjoy a life marked by the fruit of the Spirit. Living with someone who shows those traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and other such qualities, can't help but bring heaven into a home and love between spouses. "In the sight of God" is not a threat, but a promise. God is there to help us be what our mate needs. And in giving, we gain far more than we ever gave.

If your marriage is getting a little rough on the edges, or downright volcanic in the center, take a walk together back to an altar. There, "in the sight of God" repeat your vows and renew your commitment. Start to live as a better believer. And as you change, individually, watch what changes happen to your relationship. The fact is, God married you (not a minister) and only he can make a marriage work the way he meant it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Marriage: You Only Will I Love. . .or, at least for now!

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:45:31 EDT

At every marriage ceremony I've conducted, the blissfully beaming couple have pledged that they would love only each other, until death. Nice words, really- sweet and precious! It's really fun to stand before the pair. . . leading them through vows, watching tears well up, observing clutched hands, seeing lips quiver, feeling sparks spiraling up in them that will burst into passionate flame that night. Officiating at weddings can be quite inspiring. Until later!

Vows don't seem to mean much anymore. Words don't carry much weight. Fires go out rather quickly. One wedding erupted into open war just as we were heading into the sanctuary. Telling the guests to sit tight, I took groom, bride and her very irate mother into my office for some last minute pre-marital counseling. When I got the mother under control, the bride paused in her wailing, and the groom pinned to the wall, I unleashed my anger. They had lied to each other and together to me, and I had the mother there to prove it. One wedding ended after the honeymoon when the groom discovered his bride pregnant, compliments of the best man. Please- if you want to break your vows, at least wait until you've made them.

Two things I've experienced about weddings: thirty one per cent that I've performed have ended in divorce (that I know of); and I've counseled more couples as they've left marriage than the number going into marriage. So, the words "you only will I love," leave me somewhat skeptical.

How do we make this vow meaningful and lasting?

1. I've found that no marriage break up happens quickly. If you want to save your marriage, don't wait until the end. Work on it every day to make it work!

2. It's the little things that end up becoming big issues. So keep small accounts. Have fights, but bring them to conclusion on the same day. And neither spouse should ever lose a fight; both should win, together.

3. Communicate much and about everything, all the time. Listen twice as much as you talk. And I mean listen! Try to hear, understand and care about each other.

4. Keep your marriage concerns in your house. Stop telling others about each other. Get help from a counselor but don't destroy one another by telling everything to everybody who listens.

5. Keep the romance going, by intent. If you don't know how (guys), then come see me and I'll send you to my wife (cuz I'm still learning)! And gals, keep the sex sizzling, even if you don't feel like it. A marriage stays warm through the man keeping the relationship glowing and the woman keeping the sex hot. They go together; lack of either kills the other.

More could be said, but here's enough that if done, can hold any couple close till death does part them.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 10. The Funnel View

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:44:17 EDT

Some things require a broad perspective. Without knowing your horizons you may go in circles. And keeping the periphery in your perspective prevents being broadsided or bumped by things unknown and unexpected. So church leaders need to watch everything all the time. They should be aware of needs, hear criticisms, see trends, understand where things are at, feel the heart of the people and know what God is doing.

But some things are best done with focus. This is not tunnel vision, where we block out the sides and only see a faint light somewhere ahead. Rather, this is funneling yourself into a clear and narrow path, which you will walk without deviation. It is pulling everything else into serving that one objective or goal you have set. As the poet said, "he who keeps one end in view, makes all things serve."

The church needs a funnel view of its mission. We are not here to do all things for all people in all ways. God has created the church with purpose. The Great Commission can only be ignored at great peril. Yet how often, churches will putter along doing all kinds of programs and activities that, well to put it frankly, are all about keeping us happy. Both personnel and financial resources are often drained to exhaustion putting on entertainments that really have nothing to do with the Kingdom of God.

Vision necessitates a funnel view. What are we trying to do and how? Does everything fit into our vision or are we doing things just because. . . you know, because we always did it this way; or because people expect it; or because it meets a need; or just because! Church is not about meeting needs; it's about obeying God's will. No one church can move into all opportunities, fill all needs, help everybody, answer every call. Rather, each church must determine its particular course and then use its limited resources to fulfill its unique role in its place and time.

With this perspective, resources need to be funneled into specific projects that fit the vision. Leaders should be free to say "no" to anything that is outside the narrow path of their particular role. Money should be spent on the particular things that church is about, and not just spread around to run anything that somebody demands we do. Time should be used, not wasted.

Smart leaders take good churches into limited paths, not broad ways. They do less than what they can so that they can do more with what they have. They cut programs that aren't in the vision. They stop spending on what doesn't count. They refuse to do all that is demanded to focus on what is effective. They restrict themselves to the mission. They go only with the vision, but do it with passion. In the end, they know what the end is all about.

It's better to arrive somewhere you meant to go, then to have wandered everywhere on the way to no place. Yes, once you see your destiny, it's wise to funnel everything into reaching it. We can be aware of all that is around us, but when it comes to our direction. . . we're set on it, and that's it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 9. In Church. . . or Into Church?

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:52:55 EDT

In every organization or group, there are certain sociological realities. Though the church is primarily a spiritual organism and to be viewed essentially as such, it also has natural traits that characterize any social body. Leaders have to be aware of this and approach church life with both spiritual and sociological aspects in mind.

That said, we consider now a grim social and spiritual reality. In any group, not everyone is on the same level of commitment and involvement. Jesus experienced this in those who followed him. There was John, who was viewed as closest to him. Then the records clearly reveal that three apostles formed an inner core: Peter, James, John. They alone were with him at special miracles, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and were taken further into Gethsemane with him than the others. Of course, we have the Twelve. Then he organized Seventy for an evangelism trip. The crowds were big at one time, but eventually started to decrease in numbers. On the edges were curiosity seekers, complainers and critics.

So goes the church! There is usually a core group. These are the people who attend most services, are seriously involved in ministries, give the most regularly and sacrificially, and are too busy serving God together to complain much about anything. Of those who call a church their spiritual home, about 30% are in the core. If everything blows up or a crisis hits, you can probably count on these people still being there next week and helping out. That's it!

Statistical records show that attendance on any given Sunday will be about 60% of those connected to a local church. When you remember the above core percentage number, it is somewhat disturbing to calculate that only about half of the rest of the adherents attend on any given Sunday.

Then we hit the real heart stopper. In a medium to large size church, about 15% leave every year, when things are going well. Have a hassle or troubling event, and that number soars. So to stay even, you must grow a lot. This reality is not necessarily an historical fact or sociological norm. But it does describe the current climate of western, or in particular, North American church life. We're just not into church. Many still claim to be Christians, but just aren't into going or being involved in a local church, at least not seriously.

Putting aside the unbiblical basis of that attitude and the spiritual folly of such an action, it suggests to us that the church in our society is not much different than the world in commitment, belief and life style. We might be in church when we find it convenient, but we're definitely casual about it. And I'm convinced we'll also be very casual about Jesus too. But when people are in a living and life changing relationship with Christ, they will always get into church in a big way. After all, the church is his body, indwelt by his Spirit. And it's the only thing on earth that's going to heaven, as well as the only people through whom God is revealing his love to this earth. Like it or not, one of the practical thermometers that indicates our spiritual health is our connection and relationship to God's people, his church.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 8. What Really Creates Church Growth

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:24:11 EDT

Cultural pressures often prevail upon us to form the church along current social lines. Western society is built on the business model: production resulting in continual growth due to hard work. We look for profit. We define success by increases in production, profit, popularity and power. We're never content; we must get more. We're seldom satisfied; we must move on. Without growth or increase or advancement, we consider ourselves as failures.

This philosophy impacts the church. Too easily we have bought into the values of our age. And that is somewhat understandable. Within the context of our educational background, our media presentations, our career tracks and normal socialization processes, it can be expected that we'll approach church life much the same as we do everything else in our world. We crave success, defined as increase in church attendance, finances, resources and programs.

But here we hit hard walls. Though the church has a sociological aspect, it differs from every other social grouping on earth. It is a living body, not just an organization. It is being built by Christ, not man. It is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and not to be controlled by the spirit of the age. It is God's creation, not an historical development. It is a colony of heaven, an invasion of the Kingdom of God, a called people who are constituted a new creation. The church is unique.

Learning and living by this truth is one of the greatest challenges facing the people of God today. It is just second nature to try and do church by the methods and manners of what we know: the world. The problem is, we can actually succeed in doing this. That is, we can experience success, as defined by the world. Yet God will call it a failure.

Spiritual values and methods are required to fulfil divine goals and objectives. The bottom line is not growth, even though a healthy church will grow. The purpose is not to get bigger, though increase is part of what God will give. And this must consciously be kept in mind. Otherwise, we pressure church leadership into a worldly model of professionalism. We demand that pastors produce. We evaluate them on performance. We expect things to be happening, or else. When worldly expectations drive a congregation, pastors know that time is against them. If our goal is success defined as increases in attendance, programs, finances and events, then business models and methods will eventually drive the church. People might get happy, but spirituality will die.

As the Body of Christ, the church is successful, not by its size but by its maturity. The focus must be on health and reproduction as a body, not efficiency and production as an organization. The outcome of spiritual life and maturity will be fruitfulness, which takes time. Bottom line: only the Holy Spirit can create such church growth which is spiritually valid.

Every church will frequently face these choices: are we living by God`s expectations or ours? Are we working through the Spirit?s enablement or by our strengths and skills? Are we the church or just doing church? Are we really growing and seeing fruit, or just getting bigger and producing results? The difference matters much when we meet our Master at the Judgement.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 7. The Delay Factor

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:34:36 EDT

I wonder how well Jesus would do today. Back then, I picture him leisurely strolling along with the disciples conversing about this and that. Occasionally they stop to stare at the scenery. At times, a smiling Jesus pauses to place a hand on someone for healing. Everyone claps and hugs.

But if Jesus came now, he'd really have to speed things up. He'd need a secretary to schedule appointments, a press agent to advertise meetings, an advance man to book halls and hills, and security to handle crowds, with organizers to set up public toilets, hot dog stands and first aid booths. Liability insurance would be purchased, ushers picked, music team prepared, posters up.

He'd do press conferences before and after the meetings. A follow up team would place converts into new churches immediately. He'd have to curtail just wandering along wherever, chatting to whomever, doing whatever. We'd expect visible results quickly if we're to continue support. Really, he'd need time management training with productivity skill sets that he obviously lacked then. His lesson plans would require revision. We don't go for those stories about farmers sowing seed, waiting for a harvest and only getting a twenty five percent gain.

This is a production world. Time is money. Investors demand quick and big returns. Events require organizing with detailed planning. There must be quarterly profit increases. Performance reviews would pressure Jesus into charting numerical gains, financial surpluses, program innovations and building expansions. He'd need to report regular and consistent progress.

No, I don't think he'd cut it. His TV ratings would dramatically decrease with appeals to give to the poor, yet no promises of ten fold financial returns. And hard preaching that drives people out with demands to follow him through dying to self, giving up ambitions and leaving possessions is just not acceptable. He was wise to come two thousand years ago; he'd be a failure today. Well, sort of like he was then, come to think of it. He only had a handful of followers stick with him, didn't he? What in the world was he trying to do, anyway?

The Kingdom of God isn't a business enterprise. Changing lives isn't a counseling service. Church is not a social agency. God does things his way, without hurry. Doing what is meant for eternity takes time. So the Lord just comes and goes, speaks and acts, challenges and encourages, takes and gives, plants and reaps. . . as he wishes. He's growing people, not running projects. And as we all know, there is a delay factor in farming. You have to sow seed, pull out weeds, water the ground, let the sun shine, and just wait until it's harvest time.

Maybe we should slow down the church long enough for God to catch up to us. Maybe he'd close down much of what we're doing. Maybe he'd just sit with us, love us, heal us, forgive us, help us. Maybe we'd feel better, live richer, love deeper. Maybe the delay would keep us with Jesus instead of running off on our own. Maybe, when we've got a minute, we should think about it.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 6. When Stuck on a Plateau

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:31:58 EDT

Sometimes things just seem stuck. Nothing bad may be happening, but neither is anything great occurring. Day follows day while all stays the same. Authors call it "writer?s block." For preachers, it's a terrible time when you can't think of a thing worth saying. Sunday keeps coming but the sermons don't.

Churches sometimes plateau. It may be in attendance, finances, gaining new converts, or even in a sense of God's presence and activity. Programs aren't exciting, nobody gets involved, services are predictable, everyone seems to sleep through church including the pastor. Questions start: what's happening? Concerns turn to anxiety that maybe our church is in trouble, followed by growing panic and demands that somebody do something. If calm heads don't soothe fearful souls, a cry can come up that we've got to make changes here, and fast. Soon the pastor is being rushed into resignation, deacons are being dismissed, leaders are quitting and people are leaving.

For individuals, this kind of thing has been labeled "the dark night of the soul." It's actually a very common experience. Regardless of Bible knowledge, spiritual attainments, past encounters with God. . . anyone may go through this fearsome time. After Mother Theresa's death, her journal revealed most of her life spent in this state. It happens to groups or congregations too.

God actually leads us into these times. Abraham went years between divine encounters. David expressed frequent frustrations in the Psalms with his sense of God's abandonment. Elijah hid in his cave and wanted to die. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, the Bible saying that until the end, he only met wild animals and the devil. Yet Scripture states clearly, it was the Spirit who led him into that desert experience.

We need plateaus. Certain spiritual attainments and growth can only occur in the hard places. If a church only had upbeat experiences, continual increases, exciting activities and constant wins, it would lose its soul. Suffering, states of wandering and wondering, series of losses, spiritual struggles and setbacks. . . all are part of the spiritual life of both the saint individually and the saints collectively. So how shall we handle these plateaus?

Very simply: just keep doing what is the right thing. Practice the spiritual disciplines persistently, continue your commitment regardless, stay on course and just do what needs to be done. In particular, prayer must be engaged in with steadfastness and consistency. Trees don't grow overnight; it takes years of just standing there. But they do grow, and so will we.

The Christian and/or Church that walks through its plateaus and dark days, will emerge strong, solid and spiritual. Those who jump off will fall into canyons of disaster. One good thing about plateaus, at least you can see long distances better. So set your sights on the horizon and keep moving in the right direction. Eventually, you'll not only arrive, but will have put some stamina into your soul as well.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 5. Honeymoons Don't Last Forever

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:51:37 EDT

Let me share an inside secret of pastors. When they first arrive in a new pastorate, they talk about having a "honeymoon." It's a period of time when nearly everybody loves you. They see you as the ideal pastor they've been dreaming about and wanting for some time. You get the benefit of doubt; you get invited out for meals; you get all kinds of praise; you're wonderful. If you're not careful, you can begin to believe you're an exceptional pastor, the best they ever had.

Until. . . one day the honeymoon ends. And it's always about who is in charge around here? Who really is the leader? The quick answer is: the pastor. But that has to be qualified. The issue is over whether the pastor runs the church the way certain people expect and demand. And everyone knows who those certain people are. Frankly, they want things to go the way they think is best. Often this person or group are very sincere. Most times, they lead the way in affirming, supporting and praising a new pastor when he first comes. And this continues until, one day he does something they don't like.

The honeymoon usually lasts about three to six months. Then a fuss breaks out over some issue, usually fairly small. The pastor decides or acts contrary to what "the church boss" likes or wants. Most in the congregation know that this is going to happen; there is history here. They nervously wait for the pastor to exert leadership that creates conflict. If the pastor never steps up to the plate or backs down under pressure, he will actually lose their respect. But when he insists on being the leader, he will face a battle, and he has to win it alone. It must be settled who's in charge. Everyone wants it to be the pastor, well, most everyone. If he acts the part, he can now lead. Otherwise, he's finished, even if he stays. Either way, the honeymoon is over.

But there is something more. After honeymoons, you have to learn how to live together. Now the church watches to see if the pastor will stay to lead under tension. For awhile, after this skirmish, things are tough for the pastor. He faces an angry countenance in the pew each week, hears continual criticisms and has to prove that he will lead not only with firmness, but love.

Now he has to win a battle within himself. He must maintain a good attitude and sweet spirit. He must not let things get to him. He has to love his critics, honor his people, serve everyone equally, accept that not everyone will love or even like him. Furthermore, he must win the confidence of most that he is worthy to be their leader. There will arise another situation, almost inevitably, where the pastor must demonstrate he is planning to stay on and lead, even if opposed and criticized. This second occasion determines how long the pastor will stay. Sometimes a pastor wins the first struggle and takes the helm, but quits at the second stage out of frustration. But if he will hang in there, after a few years calmness returns and everyone moves on, relieved.

So there you have it: the secrets of pastoral perseverance. The things pastors don't tell but we all suspect. Honeymoons are nice, but they're not meant to last. Life is not just about walking hand in hand sentimentally down a pretty path. It's also about using our hands together to serve God and each other, in love.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 4. Focusing on Whatever

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:32:09 EDT

A challenge to church leadership is knowing what to do. I mean, just what should the church be doing? Or to get more precise, what should my church be doing just now, right here? The theological answer sounds like how our mission/ vision statement: worshiping God, loving one another and serving our world.

But once you get past this rhetoric, you hit the hard road of just how are you going to do all that. Is the church to meet every need that comes its way? Are we suppose to be responsive to every request that arrives? Must we have a program for every age group, all the time? Should we be supporting every missionary who calls? How dare we not have a recovery group for every addiction, a cell group for every spiritual focus, a study group for every topic, a program for every age level, a ministry outreach for every opportunity, and an answer for every question?

Of course, we know this to be impossible. No church ever has enough money, enough personnel, enough resources, enough volunteers, enough staff, enough time. . . sufficiency of anything to do everything. None of us are expecting our church to meet every need surrounding it in the community. We might hope that it could at least attempt to have something for everyone in its pews, although realistically we recognize this as impractical. But we do expect that our church will have what we need! And there's the challenge. Not in trying to do everything, but in attempting to focus on something. The conflicts surface over the choices. We know that no church can do it all, but we do insist that our church do our thing. Leaders have to hold it all together while we tear it all apart. Simply put: my church must please me, or else.

Usually we resolve options by simple power of influence. The people with the most money, the highest positions or the loudest voices get their way. Sometimes it gets settled through what is afterwards called dialogue and discussion, but in reality was an all out fight with the best debater winning. Many call for a vote so that democracy can reign. And of course, the pastor would like to do it his way too. But all these approaches leave out something quite significant. God!

When we realize that the church is the creation of God, the body of Christ and the dwelling of the Spirit, it makes a difference. What we are to do must be determined by all of us learning to listen to God. Then, without a vote we can reach consensus and without struggle we can become unified. The Holy Spirit is here to lead us. And what every local church will discover is that He has a purpose and plan for it. The direction we take is not to be determined by surrounding needs, prevailing opportunities, personal or powerful influences, or majority votes. God will equip us to do what He wants us to do. And if we can't become spiritual enough to discern his leading, then we'll never be spiritual enough to do his will, once known. So God often leaves his church in confusion and conflict until it learns that its spiritual life must be built before its spiritual impact can be both known and accomplished. If we're still trying to figure things out, or doing just whatever. . . then we should wrap it all up for awhile and start to pray again. That might just produce another Pentecost that turns our world upside down and us inside out.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 3. Is that Super-sized or just Regular?

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:51:29 EDT

Today's consumer world makes today's church life extremely difficult. When I select a hamburger, I get to choose type of bun, degree of burning the meat, kinds and amounts of toppings, to eat here or to go. . . and then I start on the drink: large, medium, small. . . oh yes, diet or regular. Did I forget to tell you what kind? Forget it, let's just go for water. What? With or without a lemon, with or without ice? Oh yes, back to that size thing again, extra large please.

Now off to church I go. What are my options? Does this church do pre-prayer time or mid-service pastoral ministry or post-sermon altar calls? What class of people attend? Please describe the educational background of the pastor. Is the building of modern or ancient architectural style? Is the layout functional or traditional? And can I park next to the door or shall I look for another church?

Of course, I assume you have a children's ministry program for my age level offspring. Regardless of how many volunteer workers you can't get, you'd better have a full service ministry for each of babies, toddlers, pre-school, kinder garden age, elementary, junior level. . . . and naturally a special program for each of disadvantaged and disabled and disturbed and just plain demanding children. A legally sound and insurance accepted liability/ screening and training of all children's workers is necessary. Now I'd also like children present for some of the service, or at least until I'm tired of having them with me. Does this church just dismiss at pre-sermon moment or is there a children's time or kids story/ sermon first? And I need something in my children's hands to occupy them until dismissal as well.

Since my interest is primarily classical, I expect, even demand, that the worship will be a suitably dignified presentation that liturgically appeals to my rather sophisticated tastes. Neither guitars of the present nor accordions of the past cut it with me. Drums fit if they are of the type and play as appropriate in an orchestra, not a band. Naturally, I do like variety, so occasionally you should not be surprised that I'm missing as I roam to another store in the mall. . . oops, I meant another church in the town. . . to check out their offerings.

Let's do a preacher checklist next. Does he favor doing oratorical sermons, chatty conversational style, academic lecture approach, or a dramatic presentation with skits and clips? Is he into Bible study or life need issues? And of course, how long does he take? I do like very thorough and thoughtful discourses that exhibit hours of research covering the topic biblically, theologically, historically and applying it psychologically as it relates to our current sociological condition culturally and politically. . . but done in fifteen minutes.

So, my choice of church is super-sized, but I'd really like for it to feel like a regular. God bless us all, and me in particular. See you Sunday, in some church somewhere in this town.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 2. Christ as the Center

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:06:05 EDT

What is the church best known for? What is church really all about? Why do you come to church anyway? We all know that there are two sets of answers. One is the idealistic and theologically sound, biblically proper answer. It would go along the lines of worshiping God, loving one another and serving others. (Which incidently is found weekly in our church bulletin in our vision statement and values) But let's get honest for a minute and answer truthfully.

Often the church is known for bickering, small mindedness, power plays, religiosity. . . to name a few criticisms. And it appears to be all about us. We come to get, grumble, gripe and groan. So why do we attend? Well, it's a bit complicated. We feel we should so we do. Maybe we were brought up in the church and now we just can't leave it for sentimentality's sake. Or perhaps we're just too scared of the sacred to risk walking out. Often, it's simply habit and since it doesn't hurt to come, at least occasionally, we do the religion thing and hope it eventually pays off with a nice eternity in heaven.

Jesus said he would build his church. It's one of his most famous and popular statements, at least to pastors. We take comfort from it, that in spite of our failures and frustrations and against all the odds of opposition and criticism, God will do something with it all somehow. So, we tend to tie together the church as we know it with the church as God describes it, hoping that the two are actually one.

But they probably are not. Just because a group of people get together regularly, sing sacred songs, pray pretty petitions, shake hands all around and then listen to a long lecture (quaintly called a sermon), doesn't mean it's really church. Doing Christian things doesn't make one actually a Christian. This might be the biggest revelation of reality that most pew warmers don't want to hear.

If Jesus is building his church, then is it really his church if he's not that prominent in it? What about if the church is known for just about everything else except it's Christ-likeness? And suppose the church is really busy with a lot of religious things but just doesn't seem to have much room or time for Jesus? And if it's really all about us, then can it be even a little about him?

Church life would dramatically change for the good if Jesus was given center stage. What if we sang to him instead of about him? And how about praying together to him for his will to be done instead of praying individually about our needs. What would happen if we heard his voice instead of critiquing his servant's message? If Jesus were truly the center of church life and worship and service, maybe that would change all the other stuff we get so worked up about.

But he won't get to be the center of the church until each of us gets out of the center first.

David C. Slauenwhite

Church Life: 1. Surprises of the Spirit

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:43:23 EDT

A young ministry intern asked me, "What are your set days and hours for counseling appointments?" It was a fair question, if learning the routine of a professional. But it just doesn't work that way for a pastor. I informed him that it happens as it happens.

People don't like to come to a pastor for counseling. That feels too much like admitting a problem. Rather, they just want to drop by for a chat, to ask a question, or to tell you what's happening in their lives. It may be at anytime, anywhere. In fact, it is likely to occur more often anywhere else than in your pastoral study during your regular hours.

And that's alright. To be a pastor is to interact with people as they live, where they're at and when it happens. It may not fit the professional or business model very well, but it is quite effective. So pastors sort of meander along in their duties with an openness to anyone at anytime, responding to the needs that may be expressed in any setting.

This results in some very interesting encounters. At the weirdest times and in the most unlikely places you often get to do the greatest things. Just this week, on three occasions in various locations outside my office, I had unexpected chats (counseling sessions) with people who just happened to run into me. Within minutes we dealt with troubling scenarios in their lives.

Not one of them would have wanted to trouble me with an office call or set up a counseling interview. They'd rather work it out somehow. Yet we happened to meet at an opportune moment, in which pastoral counseling happened, whether or not they realized it. This is just how the Holy Spirit works: where we're at and in what we're doing, whenever and however.

As an aside: for pastors this can be awkward. Parishioners who chance to see their minister standing around talking with someone, often assume he's just avoiding work at his office. What an easy job! A pastor has to face criticism sometimes for appearing to be doing nothing when in fact he's doing something very important that is his call and work.

The spiritual life is not a neat and arranged affair. It is a journey during which God may step in at any time and do something very different and unexpected, usually unplanned. The Spirit will surprise us often with moments of eternal significance. Our readiness to engage in spiritual interaction with God and his people will determine our blessing and benefit received.

We should live life and come to church with an anticipation that the Lord has something fresh and different and special for us, possibly just around the corner of our lives. A blessing could come with the next encounter. An opportunity to bless could be heading our way right now.

I encourage you to be open for the Spirit to surprise you soon. Why not look for it to happen? Be ready to respond. That unwanted interruption about to occur in your neat schedule could be God's call for you to give a blessing. Expect surprises!

David C. Slauenwhite

Find Your Wings

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:58:16 EDT

* This is the pastoral address given on July 10/10 at the wedding of Ashley Rosewell and Jason Hutchins.

Ironically, we often shed tears as we experience both the happiest. . . and saddest. . . moments of our lives. Tears express both joy and grief. It is the nature of the event that lets us know whether the tears are joyous or grievous. Except, that sometimes we cry while feeling both happy and sad, over the very same thing. Today is one of those times.

You see, a marriage marks a major change in your life. Together, you are embarking on a new experience. It's so exciting, it makes us cry. Yet, ceremoniously, you are individually leaving the family in which you were raised. It's so full of nostalgia, it makes us cry. Few experiences carry so much emotional weight as the moment of marriage.

The past is gone; the future has come. Your parents sense loss; their baby is really leaving the nest. Memories flood them as they cry sadly , with happiness for you. For you, being married means you're starting your own nest. Anticipation flows through you as you cry happily, with sadness for them.

In the midst of all this, stands God. In the beginning, he said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.' With wonderful purpose and design, he planned the first wedding. He stated that a change would occur in both your lives this day. 'A man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.'

Something old and familiar is now forever finished. You no longer will fly in the family of your birth. Something new and different has just begun. From now on, you will fly together as a new family. You two are now one. And we have all gathered here today, with you, to witness and to participate in this momentous occasion.

In leaving your family nest to build your own, in learning to fly together and not alone, in finding your wings. . . there come challenges. Remember, challenges are not problems; they are opportunities. So, anticipate and embrace them. Grow from them and flourish in them. Let me encourage you to.. . .

Find your wings together. A wedding does not make a marriage. Learning to live in unity of heart and action is where you'll develop and deepen your oneness. Never take each other for granted. Don't presume upon each other's love. Show respect to each other as you come to trust and lean on one another. Some things must always be kept only between you, never to be shared outside your nest.

You will face challenges in living together. . . from big issues of agreeing on financial management to the urgent matters of sharing chores, right on to small but sensitive choices of whether you sleep with the window open or closed. You'll probably do some flapping over your nesting options, but try not to flap your wings at each other.

Talk with each other much; about each other little. Look at life with hope, at each other with love and at God with expectation. He will be there to guide you, teach you, help you.

I also encourage you to fly closely together. Don't let someone else ever fly between you. Make your own flight path and stay on it. When you hurt, go to each other for healing and rest. Share not just your things, but your very heart to each other. Defend your nest and your mate. Be blind to each other's faults but open your eyes to your own. Attempt to change only yourself, never your mate. Be there for each other.

Sometimes storms will come upon you. Life can be tough, unfair and even cruel. Remember to put your wings over each other. If you face failure by supporting and believing in your spouse, you will make them a success as a person, even if what they attempted did not succeed. God has designed that you will be a suitable helper for each other. You are made to be exactly what your spouse most needs. Now you may have to do some hard flying through tough times to grow your wings and figure out how to fly in formation, but keep at it and you will succeed.

And finally, be sure to fly sometimes just for fun. You will have your share of difficulties, hardship and just plain hard work. Sometimes you'll get tired. Often you'll feel like the wind is against you. And frankly, life can wear you down. Your feathers won't always fluff back as quickly as they once did. You might even lose a few along the way. You will be tempted to fold your wings and just huddle down in hurts.

Get up and stretch your wings. Do some flapping and raise some dust. Occasionally soar high, just because you can. Fly fast once in a while to feel the thrill. Play as well as work. Enjoy the life God has given you. Build your nest. Open your wings to the wind and fly up on the currents of possibilities.

Remember, you're meant to fly. So go find your wings. Take off together, today, and fly high and hard. Enjoy the flight. Search out the wind and soar where God takes you. And let the wonder of God's love and presence encourage you. Chart your course together. . . then fly it with joy.

We'll be here to cheer you on, to support you on the way and to rejoice in your progress. We know you can do it. With pride we'll watch you and with joy we'll fly beside you. Till some day, God calls us all home to be forever with Him.

God be with you. Amen.

David C. Slauenwhite

How to Listen To a Sermon: Part 5 - Attend Regularly

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:15:57 EDT

Most pastors like to preach sermon series. The personal advantage is that you know where you're going each week without having to search the whole Bible through to find something to say. It's a better discipline: you fix on a theme and get to work.

It's also better for the people. They come expecting something instead of just anything. The preacher can dig deeper, explain clearer and apply more pointedly when dealing with the same truth repeatedly. The Word gets more personal when it gets more exposure. A series enables the pastor to deal with something until it gets heard and maybe even practiced.

Once upon a time, this really worked well. Forty years ago, I could count on almost all of my congregation being present at least twice a week. Everyone went both Sunday morning and night. If you missed even one service on a day, let alone a day, it was cause for concern to the whole church. You'd get calls wanting to know what was wrong. Then to make it even more. . . whatever, at least all the seriously spiritual people attended the weekly Bible study.

Thus the pastor had three strikes at the plate every week. You could deal with a lot of Bible topics and apply a lot of 'thus saith the Lord' in three weekly meetings to the same people. Frankly, I'm not certain anymore that we accomplished all we thought. But today, it's different.

Now, in the average evangelical church, only about sixty per cent of its members/ adherents attend any particular Sunday morning service. There is some kind of rotation system people use, I'm sure, to ensure that no more than that number show up while enabling everyone to get out about once a month at least. And, that's it. Sunday night is dead, even if there is a service. And the only ones coming to a mid week service are the ones who least need it.

My point: if you're going to do this Christian thing, it will help you a lot to show up for the one time of the week where you worship corporately, serve collectively, and hear congregationally the Word of God. You really need it. If you only get one or two sermons in during a month, you?ll never grow spiritually beyond a sapling, so to speak. To grow in the Word, you have to get into it. Yes, I know. . . church isn't important anymore and some are all into new ways where the organized church is being discarded for the latest group or cell or cave ministry. I've heard it all before, in church history. And in time, with their new thing, they'll develop into an organized church just like us or just die off to nothing.

Spiritual growth has to be intentional, habitual and communal. Church is where you start, not end. And the sermon will never be absent from churches that count, even if the latest guru thinks otherwise. So you best hear when you listen. And. . . listening to taped sermons doesn't really cut it. You need to be with God's people where God is being worshiped together, to really get with what is happening, live and not just on line. See you next Sunday ?

David C. Slauenwhite

How To Listen To a Sermon: Part 4 - Find The Point

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:45:17 EDT

Homiletics is the science of creating sermons. Ministerial training requires at least a basic course in it usually followed by a more intensive one just before graduation. For those who find preaching to be their particular calling and gift, more specialized courses are usually desired. Of the half dozen homiletical courses taken over the years, the one I most enjoyed was an inter-disciplinary subject of New Testament Greek exegesis of Galatians with an Expository Preaching focus. The integrating of a strong academic study with a very practical workshop established what regular sermon preparation should be like.

But, after all the digging into historical dust is done and the construction of oratorical finery is completed, the whole exercise concludes with one intent. That is, every sermon should be about one point, only. And that is about the toughest thing to do in homiletics. When you've found so many rich nuggets of truth, multiple facets of application, diverse interpretations to explore, fascinating tidbits of history and cultural customs of the age, and absolutely mind blowing depths of theological theory, it's so hard to boil it all down to one simple point.

Yet this is what counts. Preachers are taught that they'll know their sermon is ready for preaching when they can state its proposition or its purpose, in one simple sentence. Everything else said should relate to that sentence, to that one point. It must elaborate it, explain it, explore it and extend it into practical living. But it is still only one single point. Even if you outline it into ten major points each with ten minor points, there should be only one point to make. Otherwise, a preacher should start over.

Nothing has challenged me more in sermon preparation than this. My hearers will readily agree: they know I have much to say and that it seldom seems to be only about one thing. But I try.

So, in listening, try to find it. Boil the sermon down along the way and find what it really is all about. Get the message behind and in the message. That is what you need to take away with you. The rest is just the dressing on the plate to make it look interesting, hold your attention and give substance to the simple truth.

Now, if you want to distress the preacher, on the way out tell him what you thought the single point was. If you hit it right on, he?ll feel good. But if he didn?t have a single point to make, he'll know that you got something out of it anyway, regardless of his failure. . . and he'll feel relieved. What will keep him up all night is when your point isn't anyway near his point. He'll work harder next time to be simpler.

David C. Slauenwhite

How to Listen To a Sermon: Part 3 - Take it Personal

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:58:55 EDT

The cartoon made me chuckle. People were leaving the sanctuary, looking more than disturbed, and as they passed by the preacher with scowls. He was saying to each, "nothing personal." Once I faced a very upset couple who accused me of listening to only one side of the argument. That week, they had a fight with their neighbors, who also attended our church. Because my sermon was so pointed and personal to what had occurred, they assumed that the other couple had spoken to me and I took it to the pulpit. With relief, I was able to respond, "nothing personal." I knew nothing when I said everything. Thankfully, both couples believed me.

Sermons are meant to be personal. If you never get hit "between the eyes" then you're not listening well or the preacher isn't saying enough. The main thing about a sermon is the application. After all the story telling, the explaining of the text, the elaborating about what it has to say, the key thing is: what does it have to say to you?

Sometimes it should be comforting. When life has fallen apart, God has a word for you. He still cares and will be with you. Other times, the message needs to wake you up. Maybe you've just been drifting along and at this moment need to get back on board with what life is all about. Some sermons are meant to instruct you more deeply about truth. They build a stage for further exploration into what God wants for you. But the bottom line still is, God has a word for you personally. This is one thing that really is all about you.

So, there will be times when it gets uncomfortable. Running away or rejecting what is heard doesn't help. God will just have to ambush you another day and probably in a harder way. So listen up. God wants to dig into your life, expose your soul and renew your mind. He intends to change you from the inside out. And his chief method is the Word of God. It directs your steps, cleanses your mind, renews your spirit, heals your heart.

Therefore, take it personal. Since the pastor can't actually call out your name and pointedly say that this particular part is for you, look for it and listen to it. Be open to the Spirit of God with a readiness to hear. Somewhere, in every message, there is likely something very particular that you need to heard and heed. Once you develop the habit of really listening, you'll find it.

And it helps to remember, in defense of the poor preacher, that he isn't actually thinking of you when he says it. Really, he seldom knows just what he said that you heard. Often, he's trying to skirt the issues that might offend you, unfortunately. But God has a way of still saying something through him that gets to you. But he doesn't know that. Usually what he does know is how God dealt with his own heart during preparation. If the word said by him becomes the word heard in you, in all likelihood it already happened to him before it did to you. And he's had to deal with himself, which is why he can now preach it so effectively.

Join him before God and hear the Word. Then together, pulpit and pew can leave saying, surely we heard from God today.

David C. Slauenwhite

How to Listen to a Sermon: Part 2 - Bring your Bible

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:42:59 EDT

Lugging a Bible to church isn't cool anymore. Nobody does it. Nor does it seem necessary. Many churches provide them in the pew rack, and if not, preachers spend little time referring to scripture anyway. And it's even impractical. They can put the verses up on the screen if you need them. Further, who knows which one to bring anyway? Multiple translations have diversified us into divisions and to distractions. Even preachers can't seem to make up their mind which one to use from week to week. So why bother?

As a pastor, let me say we're guilty as charged. I admit it, in visiting other churches I've found all these statements to be true. Alright, they're true about my church too. But let me add something more, that I suspect is valid also. We just don't read our Bibles much anyway, so finding it on Sunday morning might be a bit of unnecessary stress.

But I'd like to go back to tradition on this one. As much as I think I'm progressive and contemporary and 'with it', this is one old fashion practice that should be revived. And yes, it needs to begin with the preacher. He needs to actually use the Bible in the pulpit, to the point where not having one with you leaves you at a disadvantage.

By using the Bible, I mean more than just referring or reading some verses. Rather, preaching needs to slow down by speaking less and saying more. Again, I'm guilty! But I really need to just pull back on the race against the clock, and dig into truth in deeper ways with less verbiage. In the good old days (groan), the preacher would actually stop while we looked up references. Then we'd be walked through the verses and the phrases and the words. At the end, we knew we'd been somewhere. Now sermons are like journalistic commentaries, long on opinion and short on knowledge. In fact, it has now become common to think of the preacher as having given an address or talk or expression of his ideas on Sunday morning as opposed to declaring, explaining and applying the Word of God.

Bringing your Bible, however, is not just about having the book there to follow along. It's more about learning your way around it, imprinting it on your mind, making notes and underlining key phrases for recall, adding visual to verbal reception, and taking time to actually look at what's it all about. Imagine learning a language without looking at the words. It's possible: we all start that way as a child. But just speaking it is hardly the way to produce a learned person. And without being able to read and write, you'll never be able to climb or enjoy scholastic heights or literary treasures.

We're people of the Word! Probably it might help to look at it when we're supposedly studying it. And just to be either practical or ridicules, should the preacher really get terribly boring, you won?t totally waste your time there. You can read what he should be talking about and leave knowing more than he said.

David C. Slauenwhite

How To Listen To A Sermon: Part 1 - Know Why You Listen

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:54:03 EDT

It amazes me that people will sit and listen to me talk for nearly an hour at a time, repeatedly. I hate listening to myself preach. It?s been years since I last turned on a tape or CD to hear what I said. Preacher Campbell Morgan of British fame once commented that he was amazed in his younger years that more didn?t come to hear him, and then likewise surprised in his latter years that any came to listen. I know what he means.

But each week they come to hear me say something and each week I try to have something to say. It?s been church tradition for centuries and I think it works. As much as just listening is an ineffective means of communication, preaching does succeed and is the best means for its intended end. The key is to know what a sermon is all about.

Essayist Boreham wrote of three things a good sermon should do: educate, edify and entertain. I agree that if any of these are missing, the preacher has neither prepared nor performed well. We should leave our pew having learned something, grown somewhat spiritually and also had our interest held while it happened. But none of these is the purpose of preaching.

The late Lloyd-Jones of Westminster Chapel got it right. Preaching is about bringing people to an encounter with God. The path to that covers content, touches the soul and is pleasant to walk, but the destination is a meeting with God. The encounter is not to be defined in mental, mystical or emotional terms. It is a spiritual event that is highly personal and individually experienced, while corporately and unitedly processed.

We meet in church with each other. That matters. Worship is a group activity essentially, though not exclusively. And so is the sermon. The message needs to be heard together. Every preacher knows that it is from the believers as a body that the message comes. Not in being determined or dictated by them, but their spiritual needs at that moment directs his heart towards what God?s heart has to say. The pastor addresses what he sees in them and hears from God.

But as we listen together, God speaks to each alone. It?s amusing to a preacher how each hearer often claims something different he got from the message, in contrast to others. Sometimes none of it is near what the pastor meant to convey. But the process worked. God spoke in and through and even apart, from the speech that came from the pulpit.

A sermon is all about our hearing God. After all the information is processed, and the soul feels good while the mind found it interesting, the point is that God said something to me! There is a word of meaning, of application, of life that I must hear. If I leave without having met with God at some point over some thing, then either the preacher delivered nothing or I received nothing. It was basically, as far as eternity is concerned, a waste of time.

So when you come to church next time, as the preacher opens his Bible, open your heart. Make a quick prayer: God, speak to me now, and help me to listen until I hear it. Amen.

David C. Slauenwhite

Little Things That Meant A Lot: A Chat going to China

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:50:02 EDT

It always puzzles me how total strangers on a plane flight can share the most personal and even intimate things of their life with each other. I know it happens because during several years of very frequent flying, I've sat in adjacent seats where I couldn't help over hearing what I didn't want to know. Then I did it.

The flight was to Hong Kong. We lifted from Anchorage to do the Pacific run overnight. For a couple of hours I read an absolutely fascinating book that did an academic analysis of C. S. Lewis from a particular philosophical angle. Finished, I put my book down. There were only two seats, with the other occupied with a Chinese man who appeared to be in his late thirties. He had been working on financial records and business papers, but now was reading a book, which though in Chinese, I recognized as a Bible. Then he closed his eyes and prayed, not slept.

Now we both were finished reading, but neither ready to sleep. So from about 2 am until the sun rose during our landing, we talked. He was a resident of China, engaged in a high level business enterprise. But he was also a Christian who knew more about living out your faith under fire than I would ever know. Over the hours, we each said more as trust grew from revealing our individual walks with God.

Boarding the flight, I had an intent on this trip to do some serious spiritual business with the Lord. My wife was home; I had hours of flying time alone and even days before me of isolated location and time. God and I were in an ongoing conversation. So far it was one sided, with my doing most of the talking; I was sure He wasn;t even bothering to listen. I find that when I determine the agenda, God usually doesn't join in until the end.

So I had prayed for some hours, until we got to Alaska. Since God hadn't said anything yet, at least what I was willing to hear, I read the first two hours and then intended to sleep my way into Hong Kong. But the conversation with this Chinese Christian changed everything. What was said remains my secret. But how it impacted me came out in many ways over the last several years.

I have no idea who he was. We parted on disembarkment. But God continued with me on the next leg of my journey, and to this point, has continued the conversation within me. Only, he changed the agenda, which also changed my spiritual life.

Be careful whom you sit beside and what you say. Sometimes God ambushes us with strangers from the other side.

David C. Slauenwhite

A History of Protest

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:32:20 EDT

I opened up my internet browser and there they were. Thousands and thousands of them marching the streets, holding their signs, chanting their chants, giving voice to their concerns. These people were unhappy with the state of the planet and they took to the streets to show the world their displeasure.

Most demonstrators were peaceful, passionate and painfully aware that there was never any real chance that someone with political power was ever going to hear them from inside their fortress of chain link fencing, concrete walls and riot police. With their cries falling on deaf ears, the extremists began to take their frustrations out on storefronts and police cars. That the violence and destruction of a few ended up stealing the attention from the peaceful, legitimate demonstrations of the many was unfortunate because most protestors were angry about some very important things.

They were angry that their world is sitting on the brink of total disaster. They were angry that about half the world lives on less then two dollars a day. They were angry that more people are in slavery today then when the slave trade was legal. They were angry about an oil spill larger then Prince Edward Island off the coast of Louisiana. They were angry that more money is spent trying to cure baldness then malaria. They were angry that 5,000 children die every day from a lack of clean drinking water. They were angry about the unjust business practices of major corporations and the illegal banking practices of the worlds largest financial players. They were angry about Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Israel, Darfur, Iran, North Korea and China, to name a few.

That same weekend I sat in a church service and watched as people worshiped and learned about God. The people in those pews and the people on those streets share a lot of the same concerns. They are both bothered by global hunger, by violence, by injustice, by the inequality of our world. On some level, they both believe that the world is broken and needs to be fixed.

The earliest Christians got into a lot of trouble with the Roman government because they would regularly state that 'Jesus is Lord'. This was a clever and intentional twist on the common Roman phrase that 'Caesar is Lord'. Essentially, it was an open revolt, a protest, against the government of their day. It was a claim that their allegiance belonged to another a kingdom, with another king. Of course, their courageous dissent placed them in directly in the crosshairs of their government authorities. The riot police were dispatched to arrest, to detain and defuse these radicals who aligned themselves to a different kind of kingdom.

History tells us that the entire military might of the Roman empire was unable to shut down these dissidents. The harder the authorities tried to put a stop to the revolution, the faster the message of a heavenly kingdom, with a loving and just king ended up spreading. Eventually, the empire decided that if they could not stop these Christian radicals, they would co-opt them. Instead of being attacked and harassed by those in authority, the Christians were given a seat at the table, a place in the club of authority.

This must have seemed like the ultimate success to the early believers. They were consulted about matters of government, Rome granted them money to construct buildings and the government funded salaries for religious workers. Caesar even declared that every Roman citizen must become a Christian, or else.

Unfortunately 'Jesus is Lord' doesn't quite have the same revolutionary ring to it when Caesar is providing the funding, the power and the respectability.

The gospel of Jesus is essentially a radical, revolutionary idea. It is a threat to human power structures and authorities because Jesus claims that the only power that matters is love expressed in action and the only authority that counts is God. It is an idea that believes that those who are judged as weak and disenfranchised in our world are of the most significance in God?s realm and that no amount of power, wealth or celebrity counts for anything in the kingdom of the heavens. Jesus? ideas and methods are so radical, so different from our human ways of doing things, that at some point, those who are committed to following his ways are destined to be thrust into opposition with the human authorities and systems of their day.

So next time you are in a church service, singing 'Jesus is Lord', ask yourself what exactly that phrase means to you. Is it just a flowery, religious statement that we say before getting on with the business of life in the real world? Or do we really believe that Jesus is Lord?

For if we mean what we say, then our very presence in the pew on Sunday morning is a radical act of subversion and protest against the systems and authorities of our world. If we really mean what we say, the weekly, peaceful gatherings of millions of people in churches across North America should make governments nervous. There is a reason that the church in China is persecuted. There is a reason that the New Testament is filled with stories of people being beaten, imprisoned and killed. There is a reason why our government is so unconcerned by the church that they don't even bother to make us pay taxes. It would serve those of us in the church well to ask ourselves why.

Eric Versluis

Little Things That Meant A Lot: A Gracious Hand Over

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:57:19 EDT

Being elected to a responsible position of leadership is intimidating. At age forty I became in a moment the leader of our denominational district comprising three Canadian Maritime provinces plus a section of Quebec and the Islands of Bermuda. Along with church and pastor oversight came other significant roles which were demanding although interesting.

When the time came to transfer the keys of responsibility, I found it very awkward. My predecessor, Don Moore, had held the office for 14 years with distinction. He was popular, capable and highly esteemed. Personally, I had great admiration for him both as a person and as a leader. It just didn't feel right that I should step in his shoes, sit in his office chair, and stand in his place. I remember the first phone call dropping a church problem in my lap. Instinctively I turned to call and inform him of the situation, to seek his direction as superintendent. Suddenly I realized with a jolt that this was now my responsibility and I could no longer pass it all on to him.

It was at our church camp that the transfer took place. The day and the hour had arrived. We talked, then he gave me the keys to the office and the keys to the district car. Symbolically it hit me hard: I now held the keys. I didnt feel power; I felt scared. He spoke some last few words, then walked off to his cottage while I stood and watched him. I felt terrible. Now that I`ve done the same, I know the mix of feelings that come with relinquishing responsibility and authority.

My admiration for Don Moore reached a new high that day and even higher in the days ahead. He left graciously. He went with dignity. And he didn`t turn back. He never interfered. He only gave advice when I asked for it. He supported me privately with encouragement and understanding. He stood by me publicly with favorable compliments (even when I knew I didn`t deserve them). We became friends in a special way, related to a shared calling.

He taught me by actions how to leave. And how you leave is really more important then how you arrive. Taking office, you must create some impression of confidence and competence along with a good dose of humility and transparency. The focus is on how others will feel about you and respect your leadership. But when you leave a position, you must create within yourself an honest willingness to step aside. You need to let go. You must not long for what you had. You must become content with the new season in your life. You must go, with grace.

Fifteen years later, it was my turn. A leader from another place in Canada watched me go. He told me I left with class and grace. Thank you, Don Moore, for teaching me not only how to lead, but how to leave.

David C. Slauenwhite

Little Things That Meant A Lot: A Helpful Hand

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:29:55 EDT

Returning to Canada after four years absence can be traumatic. Bringing home our two toddlers, the maximum allowable suitcases plus paying extra for a large metal trunk, left us overwhelmed and overloaded. I wrangled with customs and airline clerks through Zambia, Kenya, Amsterdam and finally Canada. Ironically, it was in our homeland that we faced the biggest challenge.

We arrived sometime near the midnight hour in Montreal, needing to transfer ourselves and our stuff from Mirabel to Dorval. The immigration agent decided our papers were not satisfactory and for over an hour argued that we could not bring our daughter, born overseas, into Canada. What do you do with a baby when you have to enter your country but they won?t let her in? The agent couldn't care less. Finally, his superior arrived at my insistence and upon checking the documents declared I was right and the agent was wrong. We were in!

But it was now well into the morning hours. The airport was empty. Taxis were not to be found. I had a wife and two children with more luggage than I could carry. And we only had hours before departing Dorval, located somewhere across an unknown city.

Our missions department, without telling me, had arranged for someone to meet us. There sat Jim Weller with his sons, patiently waiting for a couple of hours to offer his assistance, if needed. I did not know the man, had never met him and never did see him again to this day. But he was there.

With his children helping, they carried our suitcases, dragged the trunk, loaded his van, soothed our babies, bought us something to eat and delivered us to a place of rest. He lifted my worries, took me through a place that still gets me lost when driving through, and welcomed us home.

It was an inconvenience to him; it had to be. But it was a huge help to me. He may not remember it; I have never forgotten it. Thank you sir!

So, let's all go and do likewise. Isn't that what Jesus did?

David C. Slauenwhite

Little Things That Meant A Lot: An Encouraging Word

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:19:50 EDT

Usually it's been small stuff that has made big differences in my life, for good or bad. A little pebble in a shoe can cause more concern than a toe stubbed on a stone. And a nice smile from the cashier may make the shopping more pleasant than a low price.

It's a smart businessman who knows that loyal customers are secured by small services more than by big sales talk. I found a garage once where every oil change was rewarded with a free car wash done by hand, covering both inside and outside of the car. The result: my loyalty. I always went there for service. And I bought my next car there. Further, I told everyone about it. When economic times hit bottom, his business continued to climb. I think you know why.

So once when I was still in college I was invited to speak to a youth group in a small church. Being a student, I knew more than I understood. My experience was limited: about next to none. Really, I had nothing to say but wanted to say something. So I prepared a little talk that, well frankly, wasn't worth listening to.

To my absolute horror, when I arrived to unload my ten minute address to the less than dozen young people I expected to see, the church was filled. It was a sectional youth rally and a couple of hundred youth with their pastors were there. I was no match for this event and I delivered nothing of any worth. They should have known better than to invite someone with such little skill and background as I had.

We got through the service and I got through my sermon of sorts. It was terrible. I knew it. So did they. To make matters worse, someone I knew and highly admired was sitting there. He knew my parents and therefore me, was a well known pastor and evangelist, and someone who one day would be the national leader of our Pentecostal fellowship. Jim MacKnight was a great speaker, a godly man and a natural leader. He listened to my pathetic preaching. And I felt really embarrassed.

Then he did something so small to him and so big to me. He spoke an encouraging word. He found something positive in my poor presentation and complimented me on it. He told me I'd make it and to keep at it. He lifted me up and let me know he was in my corner, believing in me.

It really wasn't much and I'm sure he never remembered it. But obviously it meant everything to me, because over forty years later, I tell the story. God sometimes thunders directly from Sinai. Been there and heard it. But most times the Lord only whispers to me. Often he uses someone else to say something. The words that win my heart are seldom earth shaking. Usually they weren't record making but they have been life changing- to me.

You can make a difference just by encouraging someone with kindness, a smile, a hug or a compliment. Stop trying to change the world and just comfort a person. Nothing could be bigger than something so small as that.

David C. Slauenwhite

Search My Heart

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:03:15 EDT

It's easy to get taken up with what's going on around you. There are some hard realities: life is tough, people are nasty, situations are impossible, problems can multiply, hope may fade. Just look at the world! Oil spills, global warming, street violence, ongoing wars, political wrangling, economic stresses. . . and add to all this that a racoon got into my garbage and spilled it all over the street, and it's easy to see that everything is going wrong.

When you take a look around, it's tempting to see nothing but what's within eyesight. If you view it critically or negatively, then you feel bad and speak discouragingly. Soon nothing seems right and you're not easy to live with, let alone listen to.

But somewhere in all this, we have to take a look inside. What is the condition of my heart? After all, the world may be getting worse, but it was always bad anyway. The question is, is my heart getting better or bitter? Have I lost my joy and my hope and my peace? If things are going bad inside, then nothing will seem right outside. On the other hand, if my heart is good, then maybe I can see something good around me, even in the midst of a mess.

It's my heart that determines what I think, feel and do. And if my heart is wrong or hard, then nothing else is going to be right or easy. Before I try to change the world, maybe I need to check my heart. Otherwise, I may just impose on others what is inside me and end up making things worse around me.

The Scripture suggests that we pray first about our own heart and its secrets and motives. After we've got it right there, then maybe we can help get it right around us.

David C. Slauenwhite

Where's Our Heart?

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:50:58 EDT

This morning I woke up somewhat disturbed. Yesterday I conducted the funeral of a woman who held credentials with my denomination for over fifty years. She was of my father's generation, who was also a pastor. So I grew up in their era. I saw their style of ministry. The family tributes honored this lady, but also hinted at their experience with which I deeply identified.

That generation didn't have all the benefits and blessings we enjoy and take for granted. They labored without much money, many people or magnificent resources. We have all this in abundance, relatively speaking. And they didn't get very good press either. They experienced persecution where we now enjoy recognition. Their education was more of skill training than theological adeptness. And for us who are their children, we remember how over-committed they were. Bluntly put, they often put the church ahead of family, worked harder for God than on their families, and gave more time to others than us. We honor our parents and that generation. We respect the price they paid to advance God's work. And we also still feel inner pain at the cost to us of their dedication. Those 'good ole days' weren't totally thrilling to live through. I'm glad I live now and not then. It's better now in so many ways.

But I still feel disturbed. While I do not want to live in the past, there are a few things from there I miss. If there is one thing I would like to see us have that they had, it's the passion for Jesus that filled their hearts. They really did love Him. And they gave their lives radically for Him. He was in their talk and actions. Maybe they had some mixed motivations as we all do, but at least at the top of their ambitions was the desire to serve the Lord. Sure, they got their priorities scrambled at times and they were legalistic in religious practices and they even got fanatical in worship. Remember, I was there even if only a youth. So I saw both the good and the bad. Whatever they failed in, what they did succeed in was a deep and enduring devotion to Jesus. Their heart was in what they did.

Today, we're filled with apathy. We build churches and run programs and spend money and enjoy blessings and have arrived. But the trip isn't supposed to be over yet. We've stop to sit and grown sluggish and stagnant. Church services aren't anticipated as the highlight of the week. They are a part of what we may do this week, should we have time. And worship isn't all about Jesus anymore, it's about our preferences which don't seem to get the priority we demand. If there isn't a program our children like, we're gone. And if the music doesn't stay in our style, we'll sit it out. And by noon we're out of here. And I'm not talking about the young people.

By now you've pegged me as an old timer who has joined the grumbling section of the church. So be it, but I really don't want to go back and be the past. I am for progressing into the future with new and fresh ways. The new styles and different methods don't bother me; in fact, I push for relevance. But it seems to me, that if our heart isn't in it, it may not matter much anymore whether we do it traditionally or as contemporary. If our hearts aren't passionate for Jesus, why bother with any of it anymore?

David C. Slauenwhite

From a Changed Heart

Mon, 31 May 2010 10:58:53 EDT

MacLean's had an interesting editorial in its May 10/10 issue titled: "Do atheists care less?" It refers to a Statistics Canada survey last summer which reveals that church attenders give far more generously to charitable causes (annual average per attender is $ 1,038 to $ 295 for non-attenders) and volunteer more by a ratio of two-thirds to 43 per cent.

What is smugly amusing to me (note: 'smugly' which is a confession that I really shouldn't take pride in this), is that the article quotes and points out how well known atheists currently attacking Christianity, see us not as neutral or false in our thinking, but bluntly bad. They not only don't like us; they want us shut down. But the writer asks the right questions: what would the world be like if Christians stopped giving? Do atheists show much care? And then the article closes with a pointed criticism of The Foundation Beyond Belief, which is an organization of atheists encouraging donations to charitable causes, but dismally failing in its generosity.

It's very pointed and provable, without Christians and the organized religion or churches established by them, this world would not have much help, compassion or relief. When difficult times roll round, believers care. When disaster hits, the church goes there. When poverty and exploitation and abuse and injustice attacks, Christians respond. We may not be liked, but we love.

The difference is not simply a matter of philosophy or values. Not all atheists are bad people nor are all Christians good acting. On some things we share the same goals and desires, even working together at times to achieve a better world. But it's what drives us that differentiates us.

Christians give from the heart. It's not the appeal of the need or the tragedy of the disaster or the plight of the poor primarily that motivates us. Those things do matter, but obviously they don't drive atheists to give, much. Nor will they sustain giving by the church.

Sorry atheists, but what makes the difference is Jesus. He has changed our heart. I know that Jesus is what is most disliked by the atheistic anti-religious attitude, but He has made us what we are. We give because he lives within us. He's real and alive, has turned our lives around and leads us into caring and giving. His cross grants us forgiveness and his grace helps us to forgive.

If you have a changed heart, it makes a difference. And who can change a heart? We rest our case.

David C. Slauenwhite

It Really is About the Heart

Sat, 29 May 2010 16:37:54 EDT

Being in the Christian ministry for the past 41 years has shown me some basic realities about people. One is that your heart is what makes all the difference. I define heart to be that integration of attitudes, will and desire that comprises the core of your being. It is what you are as a person after you strip away everything else. It is informed by experience, knowledge and choices, but becomes somewhat fixed over time and what you become in time.

The heart is not easily changed. Nor is it quickly known by others, for there is a tendency to hide the deepest realities of self. Interestingly, it is capable of self deception. Knowing what is right while choosing what is wrong, in both small and big matters, gradually darkens your discernment of yourself. Given enough bad choices coupled with stubborn persistence in having your own way, you may arrive at a place in personality that evades self knowledge. Others perceive your folly and hardness of heart, though you insist on your innocence and purity of motive.

It is the heart that determines your destiny. What you become decides where you go. How you feel about things and people and circumstances interprets your experiences of them. Soon you can only see what you look at; that is, you can't understand truly what you do and why. If you think you're right, then you become capable of rationalizing it to yourself even though others think you're wrong. No argument from the mind can reverse a heart that defends itself.

So it is the heart that God judges. It's not really the actions and choices and behaviors that bring judgment upon you. Rather, it's the heart that drove you into those paths of personality that cross the will and way of God. Nothing can soften the heart from outside. Even living with the consequences of poor choices will not take you into understanding the reasons why you end up in dead end places. When you don't open your heart to grace, you can't become gracious in your heart. So the longer you live with a closed heart to God's love and goodness and will, the deeper is the grave you dig out of which you can't crawl.

The Bible constantly appeals to the heart. It warns about turning the heart away from God. It teaches that the heart is what matters to God. And it finally reveals that one's place in eternity is a choice made from the heart.

Once your heart goes bad, then turns to stubborn hardness, there is no more hope. For it is only to the heart God appeals in the end. While the gospel speaks to the mind, the heart is where the message must be accepted. To know the truth is not enough, it must be embraced by the heart. So watch your heart. If you don't obey God from the heart, nothing else will save you.

David C. Slauenwhite

4. Peace of Mind from Fear

Thu, 20 May 2010 16:32:39 EDT

Fear is a horrible torment. It can gnaw at you until you feel ripped apart from the inside out. From fear can come other ailments both physically and emotionally. Spiritually it distracts you from God. I have seen people fall apart in an instant because a dreaded situation suddenly appeared imminent. Your mind can become obsessed, your body sick and your spirit depressed, just because you are afraid of something horrible that may happen.

Some fears are mostly emotional dread of something you cannot imagine handling. There may be roots from life experience or events in the past. So I fear high places because they bring back memories of falling as a young boy from a high hay stack hauled by a tractor. My stomach stills sickens to think of it. A near drowning incident makes my wife drawn back from swimming in deep water. These fears can be fought and overcome with determination and gradual, planned exposures.

Other fears are more deeply seated. The mind can become overwhelmed with general dread of life, possible harmful events, world conditions, anticipated possibilities of violence or loss of employment or whatever. Since these things lie beyond your control, the fear becomes harder to handle. Rational argument won't work. The issue is deeper than the mind. If in the grip of such dread, you can go through life hiding, running, evading, denying. You just don't live much.

Some fear is well founded. Ironically, you may ignore those fears. You should fear the consequences of wrong living. You need to fear the judgment of God on sin. But spiritual fear of a healthy nature is often laughed off, until too late.

The bottom line is that God wants you free of fear. We read in scripture, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." (11 Tim. 1:7 NASB). Jesus often opened conversations with troubled people by saying, don't be afraid. What is not meant in these encouragements is that there is nothing to fear. Nor does the Bible devalue or belittle your fears.

Rather, God comes with a promise and in power to help you face and overcome those things that frighten and threaten. Faith is not ignoring the real, rather it is taking in all of reality. Maybe there are legitimate and frightening situations confronting you. But in addition to whatever you fear, there is the reality of a loving God who stands beside you. God is sovereign and in control. He forgives sin and delivers from evil. Further, He is loving and merciful. In grace, he will liberate you from bondage and habit. He has a purpose and plan for your life. In his power he will lead and guide you to it. Nothing can defeat him.

So put God into your life and mind and circumstances. When fear strikes, stand up in faith. Don't run in panic, fight in power. God is for you. Through Jesus, your Savior, you have hope. An old chorus says it simply: " Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because he lives."

David C. Slauenwhite

3. Peace of Mind from Good Relationships

Sun, 16 May 2010 17:09:46 EDT

We all would like quick cures. When in pain, the fastest path to relief is what I always choose. But sometimes there are no easy fixes. Band aid repairs are usually only cover ups. The bleeding may stop and the cut may be hidden, but if infection has set in, something more has to be done.

Living with inner peace will not come where there is a break down in our relationships. God made us as social beings. We can all stand and even need times of aloneness and solitude, but being lonely is something else. Without sufficient and satisfying connections with others, we soon will find ourselves disintegrating in our souls. If that can happen just in the absence of social connections, it becomes even worse when we have negative experiences with others.

Loving God and enjoying his love is a first and essential step to peace of mind. The old phrase in evangelism was the appeal to "get right with God." It is not a bad choice of words. It implies that we are not on good terms and need to make it right. Conscience will afflict our minds until we repent and turn to the Lord. Made in his image and made to walk with God, we cannot find fulfillment or meaning in life without him.

The next obvious area to examine is our interactions with others. The Bible says we must learn to speak the truth in love. Good relationships are built on the two pillars of truthfulness and love. We must be real, honest, dependable, committed in how we live with our family and friends. This is being true to ourselves and to them. But all that must be matched with love and care and generosity towards them. If we cannot get along with those near us, we will not have calmness of soul within us.

And finally we must develop a heart that is pure and transparent. If we are not honest with ourselves, then our self-deception will lead us into an inner dissonance that disturbs our mind. The Bible says that to deny we have sin and the need to confess to God will leave us in a state of guilt and spiritual impurity. There will be no peace to those who are wicked, declares the Word of God.

If you are living in turmoil, there is a reason. Find it. Fix it. Start by looking at your relationship with God, then your family and friends, and finally by examining your own heart. When we make things right, we can then expect things to go right.

David C. Slauenwhite