Rules??

I've been stuck on the misconceptions of Christianity...particularly the concept that many people believe (Christians included) that Christianity is about rules and regulations that make you a good or a better person. We read the Bible as a book that has rules for how to live your life, people think that Christianity is about living up to rules so that we can act "righteous".

Christianity is not about teaching people to "act" different...its to challenge people to "be" different. We can all "act" nice, good, loving, helpful etc. - especially when we feel people deserve it or even moreso when we can get something back in return - but Christianity is about "being" good, loving, helpful - especially when we know people don't deserve it...

Forgiveness

Forgiveness - is a very powerful thing...if you don't know it - good luck!

New Year

It's time for a new year...
fresh starts,
new beginnings,
new challenges,
new memories

sometimes I wish life was like a computer - reboot.

D-I-Y

We went to church yesterday - main thought afterwards -
DIY = do-it-yourself...
no the church we attended was great...but it's all the way in on the northeast side of Toronto...
if God allowed me - I would start a church for Him. All in due time He says, all in due time.

Specialists

I'm just not sure why people have such strange mentalities when it comes to church. The other day I went for an interview with a church and they are looking for a Youth Pastor. Why is it in many Chinese Christian circles people see "Youth Pastors" as a lower form of a Pastor? Seriously think about it for a minute.

When your child is under 18 - many people take them to see a Pediatrician. When my daughter broke her tooth we took her to see a Pediatric dentist. There are Pediatric Psychologist and Pediatric Counsellors. Don't you see that the world view children & youth as a Specialty?

Youth Pastors - are specialists...they specialize in a specific field. Give them the respect they deserve. Associate Pastors and Senior Pastors - are like your general family doctor. Your Youth Pastors and Children's Pastors are specialists.

To all the Youth Pastors and Children's Pastors - ROCK ON!!!! you Specialists.

Gobsmacked!!

my new favourite word:
Gobsmacked!!

my former favourite word:
Dude!!

We Just Don't Do Things Well

I remember the other day sitting with a colleague at Ikea. I was sipping on my coffee and we were discussing church. For some strange reason these words came out of my mouth: "you know we just don't do things well at church..."

In saying those words I grieved and asked why? Why don't we do things well at church? This has been the constant theme in our lives for the last few years...trying to understand the answer to this disheartening question.

Why? Is it possible to do things well? or is the church simply meant to fail? I don't believe in the 2nd - and when people hear I believe in the 1st - they call me an idealist.

Rock + Hard Place = Church!

Fools!!!

Fools!!!!
Growing up as a child I heard this word a lot...mostly from other kids...well because with a last name like Foo it's pretty easy to simply add the "L". Not to mention that my birthday is the day after April Fool's day...so that didn't help much.

I have been dwelling on this word a lot over the last week. When I think of the word "fool" I realize it can be a hurtful word (as in my childhood)...but it is a word that God and Jesus would use time and time again. Perhaps in our human way of using words we can twist it and use it to hurt a persons' feelings or put someone down...but when I think about the times God uses this word or when Jesus says these words I don't hear a put down but rather I hear an "accurate assessment as to who this person is... - a fool!"

So what is a fool? When I looked at the Biblical examples of fools, I see the same theme that runs through - a fool - someone who doesn't keep the main thing the main thing.

Then I thought about myself and how many times I don't keep the main thing the main thing. Then I thought of the church...and how we REALLY don't keep the main thing the main thing.

Maybe we need to HEAR God's assessment of us and our churches and wake up:

"Fools!!!"