Wednesday 26 September 2012

October 2012 - There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch


Well, I’m glad you’re still reading.  My title for this month’s pondering has the possibility of stopping a reader, but since you’re still reading, I believe you to be someone who is willing to be both encouraged and challenged.  You embrace being a disciple of Christ.

The core value we covered on September 23rd was, “Truth that Transforms: we share the truth unashamedly and courageously, not simply to inform but to see change in thought and action.”  I’m trusting that, since you’re reading this, you can “handle the truth.” (Cue Jack Nicholson voice; for those who saw A Few Good Men.)  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. 27:6)  Taking this verse in balance, then the truth can hurt but we can be deceived or deceive ourselves into comfort.

The comfort the church, especially in North America, can deceive itself into is in the idea that everything in Christ is free.  Salvation is free.  Grace is free.  Fellowship is free.  “Now, whoa pastor!, all those things are free!” some of you might be thinking or saying.  And, you would be right ... up to a point.  Salvation is free, but Jesus paid the price for it. (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23)  Grace is free, but its often called upon in a place where little or none exists. (Acts 11:23; 2 Cor. 12:9)  Fellowship is free between believers but often we have to lay down our lives for our friends in small and big ways. (John 15:13)

I bring this all up because as we grow in numbers and maturity it will cost us.  Growing in numbers is great but it may cost you your favourite seat on a Sunday morning; some of your time to help in our burgeoning children’s ministry; showing up early on Sunday to help greet or usher; or numerous other things.  Growing in maturity can cost you time and money in looking after our facility together; time and emotional energy in accountability and discipleship; prayer time in seeking and asking and then seeing His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven; or many other ways.

Most people celebrate and are inspired by what they consider heroic risk or sacrifice that they see or hear about.  I believe we can see those examples here and even more so.  I believe we can be a people who count the cost and willingly lay down everything for the sake of being Jesus’ disciple. (Luke 14:25-33)  I believe there are heroes in our church who know there is no such thing as a free lunch.

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Heb. 10:23-25, MSG)

Journeying together with you,

Pastor Merril

Thursday 13 September 2012

September 2012 - Back to School

It’s hard to believe September has arrived again--back to school.  Just when the unroutine of summer is becoming the pattern of life, the routine of back-to-school hits you in the face.  While the routine may be very similar to last year, there are significant differences.  There are still the same classes: Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies, to name a few.  The content of those classes, however, has changed.  There is a building upon the lessons of the past.  There is also the new.  Natasha is joining the high school choir and this will demand more from her and from her parents as she needs to be at the school an hour and a half before classes begin.

I believe that as a church we are also entering into both the familiar and the completely new but we must recognize and embrace the step up.  We have taken the Core Values class before but now we need to embrace it at a new level that builds upon the lessons of the past and draws out a greater response in us.  Maturing means learning new things and embracing those lessons.  There are also new “optional” classes that arise which can enhance your experience and enrich your life.  I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the Engage services we will be having one Sunday evening per month.

My heart for us is that we not treat what we see or feel is familiar as being the same.  We are not simply taking one more trip around the mountain.  As it is God’s heart to bring increase, we must also be prepared to handle that increase.  Many people dream of winning a lottery worth millions of dollars but the majority of those who do win are unable to handle the increase: many are broke within three years.  Jesus said that when much is given, much is then required.  I’m not referring to a fleshly or natural demand; rather I want you to be aware of the spiritual reality that goes with increase.  You have probably experienced the influence of a tractor-trailer unit driving in the opposite direction on a highway.  It is larger than your car and the increased momentum creates a larger push in front and pull behind.  There are spiritual laws similar to our physical ones.

I’m excited for our future.  Jesus said in Matthew 13:52, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.”  Summer has been fun, but now its time to have a different kind of fun as we go back to school.

Journeying together with you,

Pastor Merril

August 2012 - Blank Slate

Hey, have you noticed something?  Did you see what happened in our building?  You may have missed it.  I know, now you’re going to go looking around to try to see what has been added.  Let me help you a little, it’s not what’s been added but what’s been removed.

A blank slate has been created.  Some signage remains to help with the function and flow of the building, but all of the pictures and banners have been removed from the entrance to the hallway to the Common Room to the foyer to the stage.  Now, this is not the pondering about nothing.  Rather, it’s the pondering that’s really about something.

It can be difficult to write a message on a mage that is already full of words.  It is impossible to paint a scenic picture on a canvas that is already filled with a portrait.  It is hard to speak while someone else is already filling the air with their voice.  You cannot give something to someone who already has full hands.  The building is being prepared to say something new.

You should understand, however, that while we will be saying something “new” it doesn’t mean that it’s completely new.  You may paint different things on a canvas, but the frame and the canvas must remain for each painting.  The building itself says many things about the “canvas” that is being painted on.  We are still situated in the same place.  We are still reaching out to the same region of Edmonton.  We are still serving God to the best of our abilities--following after His purpose and call on us as a church.

Shifts happen.  We are not the same church that was birthed over 50 years ago.  We are not singing songs from over 100 years ago and I am not preaching to you in Ukrainian.  While we currently call ourselves Freedom Centre Church, we were previously Clareview Pentecostal Assembly and began as Beverly Pentecostal Tabernacle--a Ukrainian Church in the Slavic Branch in the PAOC.

Back to our blank slate.  There are some new things to be said, but we are not quite ready to say them.  I would encourage you to make yourself ready to hear them next month.  God has already been painting these things on the canvas of our lives.  Having some good anticipation to hear these things can prepare the soil of our souls to receive them from Him.

Journeying with you,

Pastor Merril