June 1, 2020
Hey friends! Instead of my comments re: Covid-19 and the rigours of the pandemic, how about a powerful video of praise to the Lord from some of our youth volunteers in Africa? Check us out at www.wowmission.com
May 18, 2020
No doubt our world is under adversity on an unprecedented scale. We’re all feeling it. Covid-19 has created stresses we never thought possible, not only in terms of threats to health, but also in terms of fragmenting, if not fracturing, our entitlements. Our freedom to move and interact is fraught with risk. We’re under siege.
Unfortunately some people in frustration are lashing out at the “ messenger”- the medical and governmental authorities tasked with managing the collateral damage of the virus. This, of course, is counter-productive. Covid doesn’t care what we feel or how angry we may be. It just carries on, relentless, and destructive. Scramble as we may, our ad hoc attempts to thwart it have proven ineffectual ( the news full of warnings about “a second wave” of infections on the horizon). But there is hope. Over one hundred intense efforts are underway in various labs to create a vaccine.
In the meantime we hold on, and many of us pray. As we do so our core values are being examined and refined. Our spirits are being revisited and refreshed. Our secular materialism is giving way to “seeking first the kingdom of heaven”.
We will come through this. Chastened, refined, and renewed.
May 4, 2020
Perhaps some of you have logged on to biblediscoverytv.com lately and joined a prayer time hosted by Rod Hembree. I’ve been cohosting twice a week.
The point is to pray for those suffering the direct or indirect impact of the Covid 19 pandemic.
As always, prayer meetings, whether in a church, a home, or online bring out the universal vulnerability we all share, not only in terms of health crises but also in terms of ongoing human need.
Those prayer requests range from pending death to minor aches and pains.
This, of course, is what Jesus faced in his 3 short years of ministry. He was besieged by human need. He showed tremendous patience with the petty and profound compassion for the grievously afflicted. He set no qualifying bar. He simply stated,” Come unto me all you who are weary and heavily laden, and I will give you rest”.
We do not have to be on death’s door to ask for prayer. Our sweet Lord just says,”Let me help”.
So pray freely.
April 27, 2020
As we continue to reevaluate our lives, our values under deep assessment, it’s tempting to yield to “end of the world” thoughts. Not only is the world shut down but so is life as we’ve known it. Many of us feel lost without the former parameters of social, physical, emotional, and spiritual markers that gave our lives context and meaning. Then we look outward via the internet and see Yemen about to implode, South Sudan and East Africa besieged by billions of crop destroying locusts, multilateral aid agencies warning that huge famine is closing in, and reports that the world economy may never achieve its former strength, and we wonder… are we nearing the “End”?
I think we would do ourselves a favour in this bleak hour to remember that even though calamity on a worldwide scale is new to us it’s not new to history. Just last century our world reeled from not one but two World Wars, countless regional conflicts, and yes, a pandemic-the Spanish Flu. We took the blows, suffered for a while, then got back onto our feet.
We will do so again.
In other words there is hope. And faith. Soldier on!
April 20, 2020
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is an unwelcome adventure but adventure none-the-less. The Oxford dictionary calls an adventure “a daring enterprise; a hazardous activity”, which this crisis certainly is. No doubt it’s “hazardous”, but there are also many elements of “enterprise”.
There are several burgeoning medical breakthroughs in potential vaccines, repurposing of proven anti-retrovirals; and societal revisioning involving everything from how and where we work to relearning relational skills. New horizons are being forced upon us which may be catalytic to innovations that otherwise would never have been considered.
Then there’s the spiritual renewal. Prayers, hymns, and a new soft-heartedness to faith have emerged along with a rediscovery of kindness. It would appear to be true that “every cloud has a silver lining”.
It’s a time to count our blessings and smile.
April 13, 2020
We’ve just come through the Passover/Easter week even while in the grip of Covid-19. This has been a Holy Week like none other-ever. Imagine online Easter services and Passover by Zoom! No need to imagine. It happened.
The underlying life lesson in this anomaly is how much we need each other. Whether sacred services, weddings, funerals, baptisms, they are all community celebrations. Remove community and meaning can be lost.
Luke’s record of the early Church’s beginnings says “They continued daily in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer…all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (Acts 2:42,43). The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church was inextricably tied to community.
So, we may not have been fully aware of it but we were participating in an historic Holy Week. The world may never again see one like it. Maybe, when we’re finally able to meet in community for worship once more, not only will the houses of worship be full, but so will our hearts-with gratitude.
March 30, 2020
You’re reading this in self isolation and I’m writing in similar circumstances. We’re all in lockdown. Who knew?
Well, not to be trite, but the Lord knew. Indeed, he knows. Covid-19 is no surprise to him. And we know that his omniscience informs his sovereignty- he is Lord of every situation.
I think there will be a renewal of spirit all over the world as we re-examine our values and priorities. As many freedoms are currently lost to us – like freedom of movement for example- we may rediscover the freedom of spirit that emerges with reading, prayer, and lengthy talks (via social media) with loved friends and relatives. This enforced sabbatical may “recreate” us.
March 16, 2020
The world is in a full court press today fighting to contain the Corona virus. None of us has ever seen anything like it. We’re on a “war footing”.
Like you, my wife and I attended church on Sunday by logging on to a live stream service. In our case we logged on to two. Our sons, both pastors, led their congregations in worship and the word remotely. Truly we’re in a marvellous age.
Both of our sons stressed the faithfulness and nearness of the Lord in adversity. “Yea though I walk through the shadow of death Thou O Lord art with me…”. It’s always been true that faith flourishes when we face “the valley”. My prayer for you is that you will indeed find Him faithful.
March 9, 2020
I’m taking a break from researching the Gospel of John to share a bit of homemade “wisdom”.
The irony of social media is that we’ve never been as disconnected as we are today in this supposedly connected era of the internet. We’re isolated even as we publicly post another pic or motivational poster on Instagram. The point of these posts is,” I’m doing great!” Indeed, it’s all about “me”.
This need to publish our happy, satisfied selves is in itself an indicator of the opposite reality. We’re NOT doing great. Our hearts are conflicted, our relationships fraught, our nights sleepless.
But we so WANT to be happy, content, rested.
The scripture says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. Our public posts may tell another story but down deep we know the truth. What we really need is “peace that passeth understanding”. Reading and thinking through the Gospel of John is a good place to start.
February 24, 2020
Some of you (I hope!) are reading excerpts from Cantelon’s Casual Commentary here on the site. Writing it is a joy, although labour intensive. It’s also a touch revelatory. You’d think that after 50 years of pastoring I’d know a thing or two about the Bible. Yes I do, but only a little
The more I study the more I realize how limited my scope of knowledge. In some ways, as I research and write I feel like a rookie. The Bible, so vast in its historical and spiritual canvas, eclipses any and all attempts to “master” or exhaust its depth. We do truly, as the apostle Paul put it, “see through a glass darkly”.
So in every way the study of God’s word is humbling. But it’s also inspiring and liberating. The scriptures free us from self absorption and call us to the pursuit of the far horizon. They put our petty concerns in perspective. They are without doubt “the words of life”.
February 10, 2020
None of us are unaware of the rapid spread of the corona virus around the world. It’s a threat to all of us, even as the epicentre of the critical mass of affected persons is still its country of origin. The nations of the world are on high alert and proactive measures are escalating.
Blame, of course, is also escalating. As is blame-shifting.
Pointing the finger is always counterproductive. It solves nothing but tends to create polarities. The first reflex on the part of the accused is defensive. Accusations are counter-punched. Vitriol bounces back and forth like a tennis ball.
The genius of forgiveness is that it allows for a level playing field. “Our culture”-“Their culture” comparisons are neutralized by “There but for the grace of God go I”.
The milk has been spilt. Let’s clean it up together.
January 27, 2020
I was watching a TV documentary recently where there was a study on “finding happiness” through group dynamics. In other words, leaving all screens behind and simply fellowshipping face to face with flesh and blood human beings was the road to happiness. What a concept!
One of the significant benefits of this kind of intentional interaction is the resulting sense of belonging. In this social media era we have never been more connected and more isolated. We’re lonely!
One proven place of belonging is a local church. Not all are the same , of course, but most not only meet on a weekly basis but they care. When you’re cared for, loneliness is mitigated and purpose begins to rise. Why? Because in being cared for we naturally become caregivers ourselves. We suddenly have a sensitivity to the needs of others. We become active rather than passive.
Ultimately meaning, purpose, and fulfillment are inextricably tied to loving others. What’s more, if our actions are motivated by love for God, He fills the heart with joy.