The Hibernation is Over

As spring arrives and the bulbs begin to bloom, and the buds begin to blossom and the days begin to get longer and warmer, a strange phenomenon can be witnessed in our small but growing Canadian town. Doors begin to crack open and children’s faces begin to peak. Garage doors begin to lift and bicycles, scooters, motorcycles and convertibles break forth and finally life begins to emerge. The long winter hibernation is over and the parks, streets and front lawns, that seemed like desolate ghost towns just days before are rife with life and activity. As I watch everyone who had spent the winter hidden away within the depths of their family dwellings, begin to emerge, come to life, come into the light of the spring sun and enjoy the rebirth that is spring, I could not help but think of Ephesians 5:14. In this verse Paul quotes these words: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” I pray that as we emerge from the Canadian hibernation and come into the warmth of the sunlight, that a similar event might take place in our spiritual lives as well. I pray that people would be encouraged to wake up from their darkness and experience the transformation that only the risen Christ can bring.

The Robertson Screw

I was visiting my parents cottage last weekend for a spring inspection before we open it for the summer season. While we were there we decided to also check and see how my grandparents cottage had fared though a long snowy winter. Well, we discovered that an oil tank at my grandparents had developed a small leak. We scrambled to try to find a temporary solution at which point a neighbour suggested that we try to put a self tapping screw into the hole and see if it plugs it up. To be quite specific, he suggested a “Robertson” self tapping screw. While my dad searched for keys to open sheds to find keys to other sheds to find containers of bolts and screws in which to search for a “Robertson” screw, I was laughing about how when Disaster Relief teams go from our church to New Orleans the Americans never quite know what to make of our “Robertson” screws. Our neighbour laughed and shared a story of how he was once sent to Russia to work on a large industrial installation. While they were there, some of their supplies were stolen, including large containers of “Robertson” screws. He told his crew that they better not loose, or leave behind any screwdrivers because thieves may have stolen the screws, but the last laugh would be on them...they wouldn’t have any “Robertson” bits to use them! “Robertson” screws and screwdrivers, which use a square hole and bit, are a Canadian invention, developed right here in my home town of Milton. It is not an odd expression of patriotism that leads us to use these screws, or just a sense of hometown pride that would have us carry them with us around the world. We use them, because they are the best. They don’t slip, thy self centre and are faster. They really are better than anything else out there. In some ways I see my choice to live for the kingdom of God in a similar fashion. Although there are many different ideas, world views, messages and lifestyles out there I truly believe that to choose Christ is to choose what is best. It may not always be easiest, I may not always get it right, and it may not always be the most convenient but it is what’s best. We live in a fallen, imperfect world. When sin entered the world, it affected humanity and human nature as well as all of creation. The world, at present, is not what it is meant to be and to accept what the world has to offer really is to settle for less. At best the world has to offer mere shadows of what is best, at worst it offers a tainted and evil reality. In Jesus, however, I see one who loves us enough to have suffered the cross, proving that he really does love us and has our best interest at heart. In Jesus we also have the creator of the universe who knows his creation, which includes each of us, intimately. When our designer and creator demonstrates his love in such a profound way, I trust that he both knows and will lead us to what is best. His resurrection also demonstrates to me that he is victorious over sin and evil and serves as a clear promise that one day we too may experience such a resurrection and enjoy everlasting life in the New Heaven and Earth that will be established after Jesus’ return. It will be a world with no more pain, suffering, death or decay in which we might live in the love and light of our Lord forever. That truly is a picture of what is best. And by the way, we stopped the leak!

Easter and the Garbage Man

I remember a time when Easter Weekend used to consist of a statutory holiday on Good Friday, and another vacation day on Monday. Over time, though the statutory holiday remained on Friday, the Monday holiday seemed to be just a vacation for schools, banks and government workers. Well this year, when the garbage trucks arrived Monday Morning to pick up the trash I realized we have drifted one step farther from the intention of this weekend when it was first established. When the government workers have to work you know that the holiday holds little place in the consciousness of our community! Now I don’ t really expect that those who are not followers of Jesus to make much effort to celebrate Him, nor do I hold it against them. I have however, been thinking about the church and about myself. Do I give Easter, and the amazing fact of Jesus’ resurrection enough reflection and enough celebration? Jesus never asked us to commemorate his birth and yet we can make it a huge deal. With services, extended holidays, parties, family reunions and gift buying and giving it can take months of preparation. Of course, our culture has been successful in making Christmas a huge industry and thus encourages us along in this direction. And maybe this is a key question, form where are we taking our lead? Despite Easter Bunnies and chocolate eggs, the world may not see Easter as economically that important, as Christmas but scripture shows us that Jesus intended that His death and resurrection be the central event to be commemorated and celebrated. When it comes to Easter, the celebration of Jesus’ being raised to life, the apostle Paul states that without it our faith would be futile. It is in the resurrection that we find our hope, the hope that we too will experience resurrection, that the world will be redeemed in a New Heaven and Earth and all will be as it should be. We also find our purpose in the here and now as we represent the Kingdom, being its ambassadors, representing God’s heart and intentions and providing a sign of what is to come, encouraging and inviting others to be a part of God’s Kingdom. If this is what Easter represents, if this is what we celebrate, then maybe, despite the fact that the world around us is not making a big deal of it, we can lead the way. Maybe we can aim to make it even bigger and more precious than Christmas. Maybe we can find some ways to demonstrate just how special, important, and central it is to our year and our lives.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. - 1 Corinthians 15:17

Multiculturalism

Canada is certainly becoming more multicultural, a mosaic of different peoples coming together to become Canada. The difference between a Mosaic, as opposed to a Melting Pot (as is the US) is that each part retains its unique identity. It means that we are encouraged to recognize and celebrate that which makes us different and unique. It can be enriching, exciting and fun. We can, however, spend so much energy focussing on what makes us different and unique from one another to the exclusion of recognizing and celebrating that which brings us together and that which we have in common. It is often said that Canada struggles with its own identity. It is hard to pin point what it actually means to “be Canadian.”
When I think about the kingdom of God, I find myself excited and celebrating the diversity. We are told that it includes all different kinds of people with different skills, talents and gifts, as well as representing every different culture, nation and language. As I write this today, it is the week leading up to Easter and I am strongly reminded that, along with the diversity, there can be no doubt as to what we have in common, what holds us together. It is Jesus. What brings all Christians together, and what we celebrate is a saving faith in Jesus Christ. This is what holds together the great diversity, and creates such a powerful sense of unity.

4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Ephesians 4:4-6

Canadian Food???

Last weeks look at maple syrup got me thinking about other typical Canadian foods. Aside from maple sugar, which was taught to European settlers by first nations peoples, there are very few truly “Canadian” foods. This is partly because Canada is so big that there are more regional foods as opposed to “Canadian”, but also because Canada really is a country of immigrants. There are very few foods that are specifically Canadian. There have been many foods that we have perfected (take the donut for example!) but few dishes that have started here. Our food tends to reflect the fact hat we are a multicultural community, especially here in the Toronto area. There has been the French and English from early on, followed by people from all across Europe and now from all over the world. I cannot think of any people group that is not represented here in the Toronto area. If I look at the food in my town alone I see this fact. There have been pubs and fish and chip shops for years, and many North American franchises. In the past few years, however, we have added Indian, West Indian, Jerk, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Greek, Thai, Latino and Philipino restaurants and markets. It truly continues to be a growing community of immigrants and our food continues to be a favourite way to explore this reality. We don’t always get this multi-cultural thing perfect. It is not always easy, there is sometimes tension, and we certainly make mistakes as we all try to figure out what this extremely diverse community should look like, but it is also very exciting. I am not sure what kind of food will be served at the banquet that Jesus talks about in the kingdom, but I am reminded about the kind of people that will make up the kingdom of God. Revelation 5:9 speaks of a song that is sung to the Lamb on the throne which states:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with you blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation...”

And again in Revelation 7:9 we are told of a “multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” It is a pretty amazing picture to consider!