Whole Christmas

  The season of Advent draws together many strands of the Christian story.  We look back at the Old Testament prophecies surrounding Jesus' birth and how they were fulfilled with precision.  We anticipate the second coming of Jesus, an important hope without which our faith would not be whole or complete.  

   Perhaps less common in some traditions, we also look ahead to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Even the old man Simeon hints at Jesus' painful destiny before the infant is even two months old, when he says to Mary: "And a sword will pierce your own soul too."  Christians are reminded of this reality of suffering when they take communion during Advent.  Christmas truly is a time of joy, but it cannot be completely isolated from what comes before, after, and that which we still await.

   Two pieces of music that are commonly performed during the Christmas season embody this "Whole Christmas" idea within them.  Incidentally, they were written twenty-two years apart in 18th century England.  

   The first is the familiar anthem "Joy to the World" by Isaac Watts.  Originally this hymn was not written for Christmas, but as a version of Psalm 98.  It does not refer to specific events from the Matthew or Luke versions of the first Christmas. And yet some of its phrases, such as "Let earth receive her king" and "Let every heart prepare him room," do fit nicely with the idea that Jesus came as king and that his coming requires a response.  Alyssa Poblete even suggests that the song is more about Jesus' second coming than his first:

"So why do we sing this song at Christmas? It is clearly a song about Christ’s second coming—when the full expression of his glory will be revealed. It doesn’t really have anything to do with the Christmas story. Or does it? After all, there is no second coming without a first coming." [1]

So, we cannot properly celebrate Jesus' birth without also keeping in mind what things will be like when his Kingdom comes in all its fullness, when the effects of sin will all be eliminated, as symbolized by thorns no longer infesting the ground.

   The other piece of music that helps Christians celebrate Whole Christmas is George F. Handel's Oratorio Messiah.  While he originally wrote it to coincide with Lent/Easter, this rich vocal and instrumental work is not out of place at Christmas.  Beginning with Isaiah 40's "Comfort Ye My People" and ending with the heavenly vision of Revelation "Worthy is the Lamb", Messiah gives us the sweeping biblical story of God's good intentions for humanity.  
   When we see the Christmas story in its whole context, as the songs I just mentioned help us to experience, it also becomes more real.  It is more than just a time to pretend everything in the world is perfect or a season to over-indulge.  Christmas by itself does not work magic.  In the midst of the mess we find ourselves in as humans, we can be assured that God has a rescue plan.  It is a work in progress, and the final ending will be beyond our imaginations!

[1] Alyssa Poblete wrote this on December 22, 2014 in a blog post entitled "Joy to the World: A Classic Christmas Hymn Reconsidered". It is no longer accessible on the Gospel Coalition website.

Not a Waste: The Short Life of Joseph Merrick

 In 2014-2015, I wrote a series of nine posts about ten individuals who had short life spans but who ought to be remembered for more than the fact that they died young. Each life has a purpose, and with that, I will bring another person to our remembrance. Joseph Carey Merrick lived 27 years, from 1862 to 1890, in Europe.

We have much to learn from the life of Joseph Merrick, though you may never have heard his name. He is better known for an epithet that compared him to an animal, but I will not mention it in this short biography [1]. Joseph had a physical disability that manifested during his days as a five year old boy; it changed the appearance of his skin and affected the structure of his bones, breathing and speech. After his mother died, none of his relatives was invested in his well being. As a result, Joseph ended up in a workhouse. Later, people exploited him and placed him on exhibit at carnivals in Europe. He was mistreated by his handlers to the point that Joseph lost self-esteem and his health became severely compromised. He thought this degraded life was all he could hope for.

According to the records left by Dr. Frederick Treves, Joseph began to receive treatment at the London Hospital in 1886. At this time, by talking with Joseph, the doctor discovered that he could speak and read. Furthermore, he could recite Psalm 23 from memory, having read it from the Book of Common Prayer. He was polite and loved to learn. A remarkable part of Joseph's story is that his mother (who gave him the middle name Carey after the pioneering missionary to India named William Carey) gave him a foundation of faith and taught him to love Jesus. Joseph continued to practice his faith once he was out of the clutches of hawkers.

After years of misery experienced by Joseph due to the cruelty of humans, some people of goodwill ensured that his remaining years would be comfortable. They also made it possible for Joseph to have a safe apartment within the hospital, to experience social interactions and outings, and to have opportunities for craftsmanship (basket weaving and making paper models of buildings). 

Joseph Merrick was created in the image of God, but those who only looked on the outward appearence made him out to be a monster. The Victorian era is associated with church going and traditional beliefs, but examples of the dehumanization of people who did not fit the categories of "normal" span the British Empire. Such "others" were given degrading names and were treated as subhuman. 

Learning of the story of Joseph Merrick has led to my own soul searching. I leave you with this question: How do we (people who say we love Jesus) still dehumanize certain individuals and groups of people today because we don't take the time to talk to them or understand them? 

[1] Through a simple internet search, you can find the name of a film about Joseph Merrick's experiences and the book by Frederick Treves, on which it was based.

Rivers of Babylon

Lately, I’ve been listening to the song “By the Rivers of Babylon” by Boney M (1978) with new ears.  Some of the lyrics, based on Psalm 137, go like this:

By the rivers of Babylon, when we sat down

Yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion

…

There the wicked carried us away to captivity and required of us a song.

Now how can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

 

Colonialism and Babylon

   This year, I've begun to hear the voice of mistreated peoples in the lament of the exiled people of Israel.  I'm learning that actions of my forebears must be reckoned with and acknowledged as wicked even if some of these people claimed to be serving God.

   For Africans forcibly brought from thriving societies and cultures, North America was Babylon, a place of captivity. They wept, but their tears were ignored.  Instead, their captors ruthlessly “required” that they sing and dance to entertain them.[1]  Such requirements are documented in Alex Haley's book Roots (1976), as they happened to the author's ancestors on slave ships and on plantations.  It is a form of cruelty to force those under your authority to suppress their valid emotions simply to soothe your own conscience.

   For Indigenous North Americans, colonialism showed a different face of wickedness.  The songs and dances with a history much older than those of the European colonists were fully dismissed. It even became a criminal offense under the Indian Act (1876) for dances and ceremonies to be performed. In residential schools and foster homes, the wicked carried children away to institutions of captivity and forbade them to sing or even speak in their native tongues. Likewise, they wept, but their tears were ignored. Survivors of such mistreatment have spoken, and it's time to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth.

Pandemic and Babylon

   In addition to the applications to North American history, the pandemic represents a type of Babylon. That is, Babylon as an experience of exile from our usual ways of being.  It truly is a strange land, where an invisible but potent virus has made us take shelter in personal homes and disengage from typical social behaviours.  One of the places affected by the pandemic exile is the church.  People participating in online worship may have legitimately asked, "How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Singing along with livestreamed praise songs in one's living room is almost as odd as singing along with the national anthem when watching a televised sports broadcast. And yet, leaning in and doing the opposite of what one might naturally want to do can be therapeutic.  When we don't feel like singing, choosing to sing anyways can have a positive effect on one's mood. By choosing “opposite action”, some of us have learned to sing the Lord's songs in a strange land.

   Some have also realized that the canon of the Lord's songs is broader than just praise choruses with a feel-good beat.  Of 150 psalms in the Bible, nearly one-third are laments.  Becoming acquainted with other songs that help us express longing and distress are what is needed for people used to privileges. Singing the Lord's songs that echo the sadness, disappointment and even anger which our Christian brothers and sisters have faced through the ages can draw us together.  Psalm 137 is one of those laments, which can help get us through tough situations we face.

 

Meditations of our Hearts

   The musicians of Boney M chose to insert words that come from the end of Psalm 19, into their song about exile.  They also make them communal instead of individual:

                May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts                                                                  Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight

 When we face the broken places of our collective history, we can bring all the words and feelings of distress to the Lord. In 2021, this song (and psalm) has given me a fresh experience of empathy toward others and new permission to embrace the complicated emotions of exilic realities.

 

---

[1]I am grateful to Esau McCauley’s book Reading While Black (2020) , which helps me read this psalm and other Bible passages from a new perspective.

Things I learned at church, Part 2: Worship is a two-way conversation

I sometimes think that a person coming to a church service for the first time must find it confusing. When do you sit and when do you stand? Are you supposed to kneel? What do some of those words mean? Will someone show me where to find the next song or passage that everyone else is looking up?

Although the church I grew up in did not have a complex liturgy, there were still different elements: prayers, songs, readings, an offering, a sermon and sometimes a baptism or communion. Because I was immersed in this style of worship from a young age, I did not really question it.  At about age 10 or 12, a church school teacher explained to our class that there was a purposeful structure to a worship service.  

When the pastor or an elder spoke from the Bible, it represented God speaking to the people.  That was because what this leader said was not just a personal opinion or something original that he wanted to talk about.  There was a "greeting" that was a direct quote from the Bible, usually from a Psalm.  A reading of the 10 commandments or a summary of the law would come a bit later.  The reading of another Scripture would be followed by a sermon. An announcement of what the offering would be used for would also come from the pulpit.

But coming to church was not just listening to the leader speak.  Each time, like a back and forth pattern, the people would have something to contribute too: a prayer saying sorry after the law was read, a song of response, giving the offering, the word "amen," another prayer asking God to bless the word as we read it, another song responding to the content of the message, another prayer that was more personal, sharing the needs of people we knew, and so on.

Many churches today have simplified their liturgy even more.  They start with a welcome, 3 or 4 songs in a row, time to read the Bible and hear a talk about it, a prayer, maybe one more song and then the service is over.  But even here, the gathered people are active in both listening and responding.  Going to church is never passive, even if it's done online. By singing along, praying along and deeply listening, we are taking part in a conversation with the God of the universe, who knows us better than we know ourselves.

The Gift of Sky

The heavens declare the glory of God;
            the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

   I have been pondering this verse for many days, weeks and months. I have wanted to write about it, and finally the opportunity has come.
   The writer has much to say in Psalm 19; however, it is actually something other than the author that declares and proclaims.  The skies remind us of just how small we are compared to the vastness our eyes can see. The skies are the original "screen" on which people may observe bits of reality:

• sunrises
• constellations
• meteor showers
• hot air balloons
• rain showers
• faces in the clouds
• sunbeams
• blue skies
• the International Space Station
• clouds that warn us of inclement weather
• fog
• sunsets
• phases of the moon
• the morning star (Venus)
• jet streams
• birds and insects in flight
• snowflakes falling
• rainbows

   By having visual access to the sky, we open ourselves up to the glory of God, but many things in our modern lives block that sky from view.  We cut ourselves off from this manifestation of the glory of God in many ways we may scarcely realize:

• Spending much of our days indoors, at work or school
• Walking outside with our heads down, looking at smart phones
• Asking "Alexa" or "Google" what the weather is instead of looking out the window
• Cityscapes that block the horizon in all directions
• Light pollution at night
• The appeal of video games, which keeps children inside
• Basements and garages that become places of repose
• A narrowed range of vision when driving in a car or truck, unless it is a convertible
• Smog

  Prison inmates are a group of human beings often cut off from the sky, yet most Western jurisdictions mandate at least one hour of fresh air and sunlight, the chance to be outside and see the sky.  Although this policy is based on the human need for exercise and movement and the desire to avoid the pitfalls of idleness, I would argue that giving prisoners a chance to see the sky each day is restorative to the spirit. 

   How much time have you spent outside today, where you could have direct access to the glory of God revealed by the sky?  Don't underestimate its value.

Faith and Insurance

   To be honest, I have a love-hate relationship with insurance.  On the one hand, I purchased a life insurance policy when I was 21 years old, long before I had any dependents.  My cousin was the sales rep, who pointed out the benefits of purchasing early in life, and he convinced me.  On the other hand, I question some forms of insurance because they seem improper for me as a Christian believer, who claims to trust in God to protect and provide.
   The Psalmist in Psalm 20 (NIV) shares a counter-cultural adage:

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Time after time, the Old Testament people of God were rescued by divine intervention that defied the wisdom of military generals.  Consider the taking of Jericho by marching around it, blowing trumpets and shouting or the defeat of the Midianites in Judges 7 by an army reduced to 300 men carrying trumpets and water pitchers.
   Insurance can be one manifestation of a lack of trust, but the phenomena of trusting in "back-up plans" is really nothing new. King David faced the intense wrath of God for counting his fighting men because it demonstrated publicly that he did not trust in God for victory over enemies (2 Samuel 24). Certain forms of insurance, such as automobile insurance and employment insurance, are required by law.  At which point is purchasing insurance an act of prudence?  When does it become an idol that soothes our fear of the unknown?  I don't claim to know the answer, but it's something I wrestle with from time to time.  
   Most recently, I purchased airline tickets and somehow missed the prompt to buy cancellation insurance.  By the time I realized my mistake, the 72 hour window had closed.  If the passengers, due to health or some other crisis, would not be able to take their trip, there would be no refund.  At this point I had no choice but to rely on God concerning this situation.  My prayers leading up to the trip were regular and asking for the plans to be allowed to come to fruition--that nothing would stand in the way of my mother and son going overseas to spend time with relatives, one of whom has terminal cancer.

Free range stock photo

   Five days before the airplane trip, family devotions came to a parallel event in the book of Ezra 8:21-23. Here the leader of a convoy of Jews returning to Jerusalem from exile called for a fast to pray to God for a safe journey.  Ezra had made a conscious decision not to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen because he would be ashamed after testifying to the king that "The gracious hand of God is on everyone who looks to him."  I wonder if we are ever ashamed of creating elaborate back-up plans to give us security that ought to reside in God alone.
   The day before the airplane trip, I had a personal bread-and-water fast during which I asked the LORD to allow this voyage to come to pass.  And God answered this prayer.

Conspiracy Uncovered

   Three years ago at this time, the first arrest was made in horrific murder case in Ontario, Canada. As the trial now heads into its fourth month in a Hamilton court room, I looked back in my journal entry of May 18, 2013 to see that I made a connection to Psalm 64 amid these events.

   Psalm 64 documents the conspiracy of wicked people against the psalm writer.  These wicked are callous and cavalier.  They presume that neither human authority nor deity will hold them accountable for what they are doing.  However, the psalm writer also notes that God will have the final word.  He will not let them get away with evil, and points out that "their own tongues will ruin them."

   The following is what I wrote three years ago:

This week we saw the painful result of a wicked conspiracy.  Three or more people plotting the downfall of an innocent man.  One has been caught; the others remain at large and as yet unidentified.  Lord, give the police all the tools they need to catch up with these evil doers.  You know where they live; please let them be brought to justice before another victim is involved.

Lord, "turn their own tongues against them" and bring them to ruin:

• what they said on the phone

• how they boast to others about what they've done

• how they have maligned You and those made in your image.

Let people seek You out in this unspeakable tragedy.

As the trial has unfolded, I have seen these prayers begin to be answered.

Ways to Pray

   War Room, the latest faith-based film by the Kendrick brothers, highlights the importance of prayer.  Audiences across North America were shown how a family is transformed by humble prayer, done in one's closet.  The idea of praying in a secret place (an inner room or closet) is introduced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  This was a strong contrast to the prayer-as-public-performance that the Pharisees had popularized at that time.
   The movie War Room gives some guidance around how to pray.  Using prayers in Scripture and making them our own is helpful.  Specific requests that we record on paper can help us remain focused and we also feel encouraged when God acts in response to those prayers.  I wanted to share a few other ideas not shown in the movie which I know have been helpful to some people:

• Pray when folding laundry.  As you pick up an item, pray for the person it belongs to.  This can be a good way to pray for one's immediate family.
• Pray when doing sewing, knitting or crocheting.  These arts seem to be making a come back. The process of stitching can make us focus our thoughts in a way that sitting to watch TV never could.  If the item being crafted is intended for a particular recipient, prayers can be offered for that person. 
• Pray while colouring in an adult colouring book.  When you switch colours, you could pray for a new person.  I recently wrote names into the designs of some of the pages of my book.  As I add hues to each section, I lift a prayer for the person named there.
• Pray while falling asleep or when you wake up in the middle of the night.  Ask God to bring people to your mind who need His special care at that moment.
• Pray by writing in a journal.  Writing prayers to God works well for some people, but it is not for everyone.  If our prayers are about very personal things, we may be uncomfortable with the thought that they might be found and read by others some time in the future.  
• Read and speak the Psalms.  Become aware of the types of situations and needs fit with each Psalm and then use these to voice your praises, sorrows and requests for justice.

Please leave a comment if you know of another way to pray that is not mentioned here.

Words of Support and Prayer for Your Pastor

   In my faith tradition we are very intentional about saying that every lay person has a vocation in which he or she can serve God.  Being a pastor or missionary is not stated as being the highest calling to which one can aspire.  
   Nevertheless, holding this leadership office does carry special weight and responsibility that should not be taken lightly.  Psalm 20 gives us words we can use to support and pray for our pastor(s).  The parts I have adjusted or paraphrased will be found in italics.  This translation of Psalm 20 comes from the New International Version of the Bible.


May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you when you are overwhelmed by your office.  

May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.  May he remember all your acts of service and accept your prayers offered in faith.

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans for the well-being of your flock succeed.

We will shout for joy when you rally us against injustice and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the LORD grant all your requests.

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed, those he has called to special work; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in wealth and some in their good reputation, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Idols and their worshipers are brought to their knees and fall, but in Christ we rise up and stand firm.

O LORD, sustain and uphold our pastor!  Answer us when we call in Jesus' name!  Amen.

Spreading Papers before the LORD

   This is a devotion I shared with my staff colleagues on the morning of the first day of school, but I think it can be applied to many contexts.


   There is an interesting story in the book of 1 Kings about what a king does when he receives a threatening letter. After reading the message from his enemy King Sennacherib, King Hezekiah of Judah goes to the temple and spreads the letter out before the LORD.  He begins his prayer like this:

“Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim,you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God." (2 Kings 19:15-16)

   I love this image of the king physically spreading out this parchment before the LORD.  Of course, God knows what the message is and does not need to read it.  It was a way for the king to surrender the situation to God and to ask Him to deal with it.
   Spreading out papers before the LORD does not have to be limited to those which are sent to us and cause us distress.  Certainly, an unexpected bill or a note sharing bad news would also be appropriate to spread before the LORD and ask him for help. 
   This summer, I literally did the same thing with the class lists as I was preparing them.  I spread these pages out on my desk and asked God to bless the arrangements and the students in each class.  
    Other papers we might spread out before God are our daily and yearly plans, our communications with parents or our marking rubrics.  It's a good practice we can do as a way of surrendering our work and efforts to God's service.

Prayer based on Psalms 5 & 90
Give ear to our words, O Lord.
You have been God before creation; you have guided the formation of our school a generation ago. We are well aware of our smallness in the grand order of things.
This morning you hear my voice; this morning we lay our requests before you and wait in expectation.
Lead us O Lord in your righteousness; make straight your way before us.  Surround us with your favor as with with shield.
As we have prepared many days for this one, please bless your start to a new school year.  Please calm the anxious hearts of students and parents and staff.  We humbly ask you to establish the work of our hands for us, for without You we can do nothing.
In the name of Jesus, Amen

Reflection on Psalm 92

   There are things that get worse over time.  Some examples that come to mind are as follows:

• cars full of rust or continually breaking down
• meat and other food products that spoil when kept too long
• pencils that get shorter and shorter until they can no longer be used
• clothing that becomes threadbare
• last year's newest technology

   In contrast, some things improve over time.  We might include such things on a list:

• wine or other fermented drinks
• coins that gain value the older they are
• apple trees, which can grow more fruit as the branches extend 
• a person's skills with practice, including handwriting, musical ability, driving

   Into which grouping would we place human beings?  On the one hand, as people get past a certain age, they are likely to experience more health problems.  Aging is often associated with pain and infirmities.  But on the other hand, as people grow older, they are likely to become more knowledgeable and skilled in all kinds of things that benefit society as a whole.  Life experience is valued in most jobs and professions.  

 

Free range stock photo

When Psalm 92 speaks about "the righteous," they are compared to palm trees and cedars of Lebanon.  The metaphor continues with the statement: "They will still bear fruit in old age, they will say fresh and green" (Psalm 92:14).  Despite the trials of growing old, the Bible affirms that productivity rather than worthlessness characterizes those whose hope is in God.  Unlike the ideals of retirement promoted by financial planners that include cruises, self-indulgence and leisure, the biblical picture of old age has to do with fruitfulness and purpose.

   I know many seniors who are living out this latter lifestyle.  They sew, knit or crochet items for the disadvantaged.  They volunteer at food banks and schools.  They take the time to visit those who are too ill or weak to go out.  They are prayer warriors.  They lead teams of volunteers to repair homes damaged in floods and hurricanes. They help resettle refugees.  They provide care and love to their grandchildren. They make bookmarks and send notes of encouragement to others.  They share their wealth without keeping track.  They serve in the role of elders in their churches.  I could go on.

   They have so much to offer.  When I grow up, I want to be like them.  

Survival Psalms

   Survival stories have always fascinated me.  While it is possible to attribute the survival or an individual or a group to the "indomitable human spirit," there is often more to such stories than meets the eye.  When Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God," we may not grasp the truth of such a statement given our well-stocked pantries and fridges.  I'd like to share the stories of two modern, ordinary folk who experienced the hand of God in their remarkable survivals and the link to the psalms of David.
Rita Chretien
   I learned of Rita's story through the news program called Context.  The episode "Lost" used to be on the internet, but has since been removed.  In the early spring of 2011, Rita and her husband were traveling from the west coast of Canada to a trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, when their van became stuck in a deep muddy bog that came in the middle of a route their GPS suggested to them.  All attempts to drive out of the mud failed, and the remote place in the Nevada wilderness had no cell phone reception. Because Rita had trouble walking due to a weak ankle, her husband Albert determined to leave her and get help. He never returned.
   Meanwhile, Rita stayed with her van.  There was a small supply of trail mix (a mixture of nuts, raisins and sunflower seeds) in her van along with  a tin of candies.  For the first week she ate a tablespoon per day of trail mix and one candy.  When her water bottles ran out, she walked every other day to refill them at a stream, where she found sandy water that was palatable once the sand settled to the bottom.  After one week passed, all she consumed was one candy and one fish oil capsule per day and water.  It took 49 days before some hunters on ATV's passed by her van and rescued her.
   How is this story even possible?  In the Rule of 3, author Eric Walters points out that a person can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. Obviously, something more was going on with Rita Chretien's life.  She had a source of nourishment that went beyond food.  Rita readily admits that it was the LORD who was with her during this time of isolation.  She read the Bible and she prayed.  She asked God moment by moment, "What should I do?" and felt led to the stream of water.  At times she imagined a meal that she would love to eat. She would ask the LORD to bless it and asked him to give her the nutrition that would have come if she had actually eaten it.  Day after day she did not give into despair.  She had a confidence that things would be OK as long as her relationship with God was foremost.
   One passage she highlighted as having special meaning for her was from Psalm 86:2-7

2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
    for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust in you.

5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
    because you answer me.

   It was not until the day of her rescue that she began to realize the toll that her ordeal was taking on her bodily strength.  Coming back from her short daily exercise walk, she began to be short of breath and weakness overcame her.  She barely made it to her van and thought to herself that she might die. She lay down to rest in the van until a few hours later when she heard the engines of the ATV's coming nearby.  These hunters were not looking for her, and they had deviated from the route they had originally planned to take through the area in search of elk antlers.  They took her to civilization, and she spent time in hospital recovering.
   The remains of her husband's body were found in August of 2012, but Rita is assured that he is now fully enjoying communion with his LORD of which she had experienced just a foretaste during her time in the wilderness.

Harrison Odjegba Okene
   In May of 2013, Harrison was working as a cook aboard a tugboat, the Jascon 4 in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nigeria.  Suddenly a wave caused the boat to capsize and sink to the bottom of the ocean; however, Harrison found himself in a small air pocket submerged in salt water up to his waist.  Meanwhile, the other crew members had been locked inside their cabins due to protocols and drowned.
   He had just one can of Coke to drink for the next 70 hours.  In this dark and quiet place, Harrison cried out to God through the Psalms that his wife had sent him via text message.  He focused on Psalm 54, a prayer of deliverance, which follows from verse 1-2 and 4:

Save me, O God, by your name;
    vindicate me by your might.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
    listen to the words of my mouth...

4 Surely God is my help;
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Against hope, a salvage crew from the Dutch company DCN came along to recover bodies and whatever materials they could from the wreck.  However they found a hand waving and a living man whose air pocket had been almost depleted of oxygen.  After his rescue, Harrison testified of God's care during his ordeal.  A news article about his rescue can be found here.

For another survival story on this blog, check out:
Endurance is not enough

Last Words

   The last words in a book or film are often typed in capital letters: “THE END.”  The viewer does not expect any more action; the reader closes the book and does not anticipate hearing any more about these characters, unless a sequel exists or is hinted at.  For now, they have come to their final words.

   In different contexts “THE END” is spelled out differently.  Every prayer seems unfinished without its “Amen.”  A parting between friends or family invokes the words “Good-bye” or “Bye” for short.  We employ this metaphor when a loved one passes away—a funeral allows us to say our “Good-byes.”

   Some people put great stock in the last words spoken by famous people.  And Jesus’ final words (7 statements in all) are often a focus for sermons during the season of Lent, as occurred in my local church.  When my pastor reflected on the very last word from the cross, he pointed out that this sentence of submission: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” is taken from Psalm 31:5.  In that original context, the psalm writer was not at all hinting at death or “the end.”  Rather, he was committing himself to God by continuing to live in Him.  When Jesus speaks these words in Luke 23:46, he does so not in a resigned whisper but a loud declaration!  There is more to come.  Life will be returned to the Lord and Giver of life.

   Because Jesus’ death was part of a greater plan that involved resurrection on the third day, the other endings in our life are not final either.  When we speak a prayer to the Father, our “Amen” does not mean “that’s all done and over with.”  It is a triumphant “so be it,” an invitation for God to carry our requests forward according to his perfect timing.  When we say “Good-bye” we keep in mind the original phrase it has been shortened from: “God be with ye.”  We expect that our relationship will carry on even if distances may separate us for a time.  Even our so-called final good-byes are not final at all for those who embrace the resurrection life of the Son of God.  They are a temporary “see you later” until that time when all things are made new.

   That knowledge is reflected in the practice of remembering not the birthdays of saints and martyrs, but the day of their death.  It was actually a new beginning...

Prayer for the Falsely Accused

   During the season of Lent, we remember the suffering of Jesus.  One of the ways he suffered was by being falsely accused.  He was called a blasphemer because he forgave sins and claimed that God was his Father.  He was accused of performing miracles by the power of Satan.  His actions motivated by genuine love were interpreted as a threat to the order established by the religious leaders.
   To a lesser extent, Jesus' followers may experience some of this type of suffering as well.  A kind gesture may be taken as emotional blackmail.  When a relationship has gone sour, one party is apt to recall a skewed version of events and put words in the mouth of the other party that were never spoken.  In countries like Pakistan, a Christian believer can be accused of uttering blasphemy against Mohammed when a neighbour simply wants to do away with him.  This crime is punishable by death. How can we deal with these things?
   The Psalm-writer David knew that he should go to the Lord with these things.  Twice in Psalm 35 he calls out, "Contend with those who contend with me."  Becoming defensive with our accusers is not likely to be productive.  It is only the Lord who can change their hearts.  Jesus also could have spelled out to the High Priest exactly what his mission was, but those whose hearts are hardened cannot accept anything we might say in response.  There may be times to get the help of a lawyer to defend us, but our ultimate hope is not in crafty arguments or affidavits.
   On behalf of those falsely accused today, I pray this prayer, based on portions of Psalm 35:

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend against your people.  Take up a shield and come to their aid.  When ruthless witnesses come forward and question them about things they know nothing about, let the truth come forth.  When others make themselves the enemies of your people without cause or hate them without reason, give your people poise, the ability to stand in your grace.  LORD, you have seen all this.  You know the whole situation, not just from a limited human point of view.  Please vindicate the righteous so that those who gloat now may recognize their own confusion.  Give your people patient endurance when relief does not happen right away.  When the truth becomes known and affirmed, we will all give you thanks in the great assembly. Heart-felt worship will result when lies are no longer tolerated or accepted.  Thank you for giving us the Truth that sets us free, your Son Jesus Christ.

Think About Such Things (with inspiration from Psalm 119)

   What we dwell on affects our mindset.  When we are dwelling on negative things, it can be hard to turn our thoughts around.  Yet, writing from a prison that lacked any comforts, Saint Paul wrote about things we ought to think about: "Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).   A couple of days ago I read Psalm 119 (yes, that's the longest psalm) in one sitting.  In the original, it is an acrostic that follows 22 letters the Hebrew alphabet. The stanzas have eight lines that start with each letter for a total of 176 lines, which we designate as verses. In the style of Hebrew poetry, the lines do not rhyme, but pairs of lines do echo each other in meaning.  I tried to write two lines for each letter of the Roman alphabet to help me focus my mind on the types of things I ought to dwell on.

Admirable is the way different instruments come together in an orchestra;
Alto, soprano, tenor, bass as a choir lifts voices in song.

Beyond our comprehension are the spiral galaxies
Bursting with the light of countless distant stars.

Character that develops over time as we face hardships
Cannot be fast-tracked.

Determination seen in the child learning to walk or ride a bike--
Dad and Mom want to help, but need to let go.

Evening's glory as the sun sets--shades of red and purple fill the sky
Echoing the beauty of the Maker.

Flowers in a spring garden--tulips, crocuses and daffodils;
Forsythia bushes bring golden life to dull branches lacking leaves.

Grace--undeserved kindness from God above--is a
Gift that we pass on and on.

Heavenly messengers surround us all the time; angels
Hasten to do as God commands them.

Ink on a page that communicates truth
Irrigates our innermost being.

Joy on the faces of those gathered for a wedding
Joining two in life-long union.

"Kindred spirits," the surprising connection between people we
Keep company with.

Loveliness that manifests itself in a smile, sparkle or glint
Lifts us up from everyday cares.

Molecules so tiny, composing what's visible and invisible to human eyes;
Microscopes strong enough to detect what can make us sick.

Noble heroes of the past whose deeds we can emulate
Neighbours who go the extra mile for others.

Order brought by laws, governments and courts
Offering stability to adults, teens, children.

Purity of launderer's soap that mirrors how we're
Purged of our misdeeds by the blood of an innocent man.

Quiet early mornings when anything seems possible;
Questions that stir us to consider what's truly important.

Rain in the spring and summer to nourish the soil,
Resulting in bountiful harvests.

Sunrise to mark a fresh new day
Sabbaths to revive our bodies and souls

Truth heard in the pages of Scripture
Telling us the story of God's compassion for a fallen world.

Uncles, aunts, grandparents who connect
Us to a wider family.

Violet, indigo, azure, green, yellow, tangerine and ruby
Vibrant colours of the rainbow.

Winter, spring, summer, fall
Waxing and waning moons that show progress and the passage of time.

X~the Greek letter, used as a short form for
Χριστός, the hope of all nations.

Yearnings for the way things ought to be
Yield hope for the Kingdom of God that will one day set things right.

Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, anticipates a future where
Zealots of falsehood will not dwell.

Publishing Doubts

   Over the past few decades a new genre of books has come to the forefront--conversion narratives. There are personal accounts of high profile atheists who have turned to faith.  The reverse are also becoming popular--accounts of high profile Christian pastors and teachers, who have rejected their previous beliefs and embraced at least a departure from the historic Christian faith or atheism.  Just a few examples of the latter are Charles Templeton's Farewell to God (1996), John W. Loftus' why i became an ATHEIST (2008) (this is how the title is actually written), and John Suk's Not Sure (2011).
   As a proponent of freedom of speech, I would defend the right of any of these people to share their thoughts and ideas with whomever wishes to read them.  However, I do wonder if our post-modern quest for authenticity and individual enlightenment has fueled something less than wise.  When a person holds a position of trust and authority, that influence is a powerful force for good or ill.  Long ago the psalm writer Asaph recognized this fact. [1]  He was an older man who experienced a period of time of doubt and oppression in which he recalled, "I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:3).  He points out that if he had given voice to these doubts and his sense that his obedience to God was a waste of time, he would have betrayed God's "children" (verse 15). The musicians in the former Christian RAP trio DC Talk, aware of their influence, asked in one of their songs, "What if I stumble, what if I fall, what if I lose my step and make fools of us all?" (1995).  They felt that responsibility to uphold the faith even when they may have had personal doubts from time to time.
   I think Asaph had it right.  He "entered the sanctuary of God" and began to look at life from a God-centred perspective.  He was able to overcame his doubts and fears.  After he escaped from the trap of faulty thinking, he could share the story with those around him and actually strengthen the faith of God's children in the process.
   While it is good to be honest with our children or those at an earlier stage in their faith walk, it would be wise to be selective in the things we share about our doubts.  Bring the doubts to someone mature in the faith who can walk through them with you, not those whose faith could be destroyed by your questions. One drawback of online interactions, I think, is that some things better kept in a private journal are shared with "the world."  That includes some of the bumps in the road we face. By patiently trusting God to work through these things, we can have a story to tell that builds up rather than tearing down.


[1] Appreciation goes to Rev. B. De Jonge who eloquently spoke about Psalm 73 on the evening of September 28, 2014.

Harmony and Oil?

There’s a description of unity and harmony in Scripture that is hard for the modern mind to appreciate.  The psalmist says that when people get along it is as valuable as the following:

   “It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes” (Psalm 133:2).

   I would guess that the image of oil running down a man’s head and face, saturating his beard would lead to thoughts of disgust to most readers today.  When a person tends towards oily hair, specific shampoo is chosen to combat it.  Imagining such a quantity of oil, say a bottle of Italian dressing, being poured on someone does not have any positive association.

   Let me help you understand this image a little more.  The value of olive oil in ancient times was huge.  As the only type of oil available, it was used not only for daily cooking and baking but also as medicine, cosmetics and soap.  Add to this the Hebrew custom of saving oil of finest quality for the religious practice of anointing—setting apart a person (Aaron, and those who succeeded him) for service to God by pouring oil on his head.

Panathenic amphora,
from the British Museum website.

   While chaperoning at a field trip to the Royal Ontario Museum, the value of oil was underscored in a new way.  The guide referred to a large amphora vase from Ancient Greece that was given as a prize to the winning athletes at the ancient Panathenic Games.  With a capacity was 10 gallons (or 37.85 litres) of oil, it represented a lifetime supply of oil!

   In monetary terms pouring something this valuable on a person seems like an incredible waste.  But, in fact, it was saying that the relationship between God and his people is more precious than the most valuable commodity the culture knew.  Now, if this is the comparison for the value of unity between fellow human beings, we had better take notice.

   What are the most valuable commodities in our culture?  Let’s begin with property, net worth, pension plans, retirement dreams.  Pride, three square meals a day, standing up for your rights quickly follow.  If we really grasped the value of relationships, would we not swallow our pride and even spend time in fasting and prayer in order to restore a broken relationship?  Wouldn’t it be worth giving up some of our rights to win over a brother or sister?  In God’s economy, the most opulent thing is harmony and the love that makes it possible.

"...Heals All Your Diseases"

   These words come from my father’s favourite Psalm in the Bible, Psalm 103.  I recently asked him how it came to be his favourite.  He shared that his grandfather (who shared the same first name Marinus) had greatly loved this passage as well.  In 22 verses, this song of praise to God covers so much ground.  It is easy to identify with.

   When my dad reads the part, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit” it is very personal.  He has experienced healing from episodes of illness, both physical and mental.  Previously in pain with every step he took, his knee surgery in 2009 has made him able to walk with ease.  He is a survivor of thyroid cancer.  The  “pit” can represent depression as well as the grave.  He has been lifted up from them both.

   God’s character is highlighted: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”  The God of the Bible is not ruthless but abundantly caring towards his people.

   Regarding our past wrongdoings, we discover “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  He doesn’t hold them against us anymore!

   These ancient words show that “from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him.”

The Uttermost Parts of the Sea

In my April 14^th post, I told of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the amazing survival of his entire crew on an Antarctic expedition.  At the opposite point of the globe and about 60 years earlier, Sir John Franklin set out to find the Northwest Passage through the islands that dot North America’s polar regions.  Franklin and his team of adventurers, however, were all lost.  Although they have been credited with finding the Northwest Passage, they did not live to share this knowledge with others.

   Can there be a faith angle in a story like this?  John Franklin’s desire to explore was motivated by faith in the God of the Bible.  Where maps had previously denoted uncharted areas with words like “There be giants,” Franklin actually wrote, “There is God.”  To uncover these places that God had established and over which he ruled, Franklin set out.

   Funded mainly by John Franklin’s wife Jane, numerous expeditions were sent to find what had become of this devout man.  It is reported[1] that Psalm 139:9-10 was underlined in his Bible found on a ship.  In the King James Version, it reads, “ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

   Franklin’s expedition may have been doomed, but the God he held onto never abandoned him.  This is one of the mysteries of life.

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[1] As told in On This Day in Christian History by Robert J. Morgan on the entry dated April 16.  According to Frozen in Time by Owen Beattie and John Geiger, a boat was found on Cape Crozier, on the western extreme of King William Island.  It contained six books, "including a Bible in which most of the verses were underlined" (page 86).