Christmas Memory

This year Mom and Dad changed the location of the Christmas tree.  During the late-fall they had some construction done on the south side of the house where sliding doors were replaced by a bay-window and sliding door combo.  It looks really good.  They also got rid of the nest of wasps living in the wall of the room right below where the construction happened where I always sleep when I come home for any occasion.  The tree is nice where it is because we can now walk across the family room without tripping over the mountain of presents spilling out from the base of the tree.

I remember when the tree used to sit at the other end of the family room - almost right in the middle of it.  I have a lot of great memories from when the tree was there.  Like the year that I went to bed in my Super Mario pajamas and dreamt late into the night that my mother was yelling at me, "Adam, Adam, wake up there's a fire!"  I awoke to my mother throwing her hands up in frustration and leaving the room saying, "You'll have to drag him out of bed Earle, he's not waking up."  Then I realized that what had been happening in my dream was stuff that I was actually hearing.  I got out of bed, with the rest of my siblings - it must've been 3 in the morning - and we sat outside in our propane-fuelled twelve passenger van - it would later become known as "The Beast" - and we sat there for what seemed hours, and finally all of us younger kids went over to have hot chocolate with the Sterlings.  That year we knew what the Sterlings got for Christmas before they came over to show us; and we let them know it.  All of the older kids had gone next door to the Wrights' house..

I don't know how long it was until we got home.  But the firetrucks and police had all been there with their ridiculous flashing lights, and they came out with a pile of smoldering ashes.  We learned later that there never was a fire, just billowing smoke in the basement.  One of my brothers had accidently placed his Tae Kwon Do uniform in his closet on a shelf right against a light bulb.  He had forgotten to turn off the light.  He fell asleep reading an Archie comic and my oldest sister, when she noticed all the smoke billowing out of his room, pulled him outta there and alerted the rest of the house.  When we saw the Sterling's stockings, and noticed oranges in them, we knew what we did not want to find in our stockings.  We all thought it was going to be the worst Christmas ever, but it turned out to be pretty good.  Everybody was alive and the Christmas tree and all the gifts were in place.  Our oldest sister Heather made sure to sleep in the family room so that we couldn't sneak into the room and begin opening presents like maniacs before Mom and Dad woke up.

Every Christmas Eve growing up we had a routine.  We would gather for supper - which was tortiere pie - which I hated (but now that I'm getting old, I enjoy) and then we would go to church for the Christmas Eve service.  After that we would come home and everybody would bring friends and spouses and we would have a party for the rest of the evening.  We used to have a giant Christmas colouring book that most people would attempt to colour in, and then as it got close to the time for kids to go to bed we would read the popular Clement Clarke Moore poem originally entitled "A Visit from St. Nicholas" but commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas" and then we would gather at my mother's really old nativity set and one of the kids would get to place the baby Jesus into the stable, where the angels, the shepherds, and the magi had gathered around Mary and Joseph.  Then we would go to bed.  Some years we would even get a Christmas Eve visit from a Santa Claus driving a rickety jalopy-of-a-car.

There are many, many memories of Christmas' I have, and I'm sure that you have your own Christmas memories.  As you remember your past Christmases, also look forward to this and the many future Christmases you will have.  Christmas is the time our hearts are reshaped by the hand of God to be directed toward hope.  Many of us have suffered great losses during this time of year, and often feel that there is no reason to believe that the gentle hand of God might lift us up beyond inspiration and into the majestic heights of impossible daring and dreaming.  But that is what Christmas is all about; that the invisible God might appear in flesh, in material object to you and all the world this Christmas.  As the Scripture says, "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Matt. 4:16),  and it is Christ the Lord!

This Christmas may you remember the good and the bad of all your past Christmases, and may God show up in your memories lighting a way for your feet along the path toward the future that leads to "tidings of comfort and joy."

Dr. Mackenzie

I have to thank my good friend Daniel Anthony "the Kosmo" Leaver for passing me on the news article of the death of Dr. James "Jim" Mackenzie, a descendant of Canada's 2nd Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie.

On this day, Thursday, November 19, 2009 at approximately 5am Jim, who I came to know as Dr. Mackenzie, died at age 79.  Nobody will ever know the depth of gratitude I have for that man and his wonderfully loving family, which includes Liz Mackenzie who is a United Church of Canada minister and gold star student from Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto.

In my years as a troubled teen, trying to figure out why I hated the world, I spent my Saturdays working for Dr. Mackenzie doing all sorts of things from mowing his lake-front property lawn to tearing down his old shed and spending 10 years to build a combined workshop and summer house/loft for his grandchildren to sleep in.  We'd work in the heat and in the rain and even into the cold of winter trying to teach ourselves how to become Canada's version of Bob Vila.

Though Jim was a surgeon, he and I were probably the world's worst carpenters.  You should have seen us attempt to build a level base for the new workshop - we later found out when we were trying to build the second level that the beams we had cemented into the ground weren't as straight as we had thought when they had first gone in the week or two before.  But we continued to tinker away at things.  I think Jim enjoyed my company because I just blabbered on and on trying to figure out the world.  He was the one trying to loosen me up; helping me to figure out that you should take the world seriously - but not too seriously - because everything isn't as black and white as it appears.

In the summer we would try to work every single day for 8 or more hours and we'd come in at lunch and Jim's Icelandic wife Alda would have just the most wonderfully made ham sandwiches made for us along with a refreshing glass of lemonade.  We would continue to chat as we ate lunch together and sometime before dinner time I would go home and I'd come back the next day and we'd do it over again.

Over the years I would become part of the household and share in different anniversaries of Jim and Alda and share dinner with them when their own children and grandchildren came to visit.  The hospitality was as generous as I'd ever seen.

I think the best part about Jim and Alda was their house on the lake.  At some point in the past the house had been the Watford train station - you know, when the train stopped at every little junction between Sarnia and London - and it was eventually sold and moved to Jim and Alda's property with a basement added on.  So the house actually was funny because it sat right next door to a monster house on the east side.  You know those little old train stations - they weren't that big.

The biggest project Jim and I were involved in was the tear-down of his old shed - it meant de-shingling the roof and systematically tearing the wooden frame apart and cleaning up the property around that and then attempting to build a workshop and loft in its place.  We began all of that in the summer of 1999 and last time I checked, the electrical was just getting put in - so it only took 10 years to get us to that point.  I was really involved from 1999 until my second or third year of undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo and then the teenage boys who lived next-door to Jim began helping out and when I would arrive back in Sarnia and visit him he would take me through everything that they had done since the last time I had been there.

I don't really know how to express my deep, deep sorrow for Dr. Mackenzie's death and that's why I write.  I called his house today to hear the news firsthand and realized that I had no words to describe the depth of love I have for Dr. Mackenzie.  There are no words that could describe how troubled my soul is on this day.  All I can do now is look back on the day and say, "Thank God it rained" for there exist not enough tears in my body to weep for this blessed man who is now counted with the Communion of Saints.

Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ

In the unity of the Holy Spirit

And by the vision of the Master

Who was, who is, and who is to come

I commend this witness into the world

Just beyond the grasp of finitude...Amen

Thoughts

This is a poem I wrote somewhere between 1995-1997 - between grade six and grade 8.  I had transferred it onto my first Dell Desktop when I went off to university with one of those old floppy disks from our family's first PC - an IBM PS/1.  And yes, the poem is entitled "Thoughts".  Hopefully it doesn't disappoint you too much - maybe just a litte ;).

Sometimes I often sit and think of why we're here today

I sit here and I think of every word I'm 'bout to say

I don't know if I understand why Jesus died for me

Except the fact He died and set the Holy Spirit free

Because the Lord has died for me I guess I will be sad

I know He rose again some day and that's why I'll be glad

I know that Jesus loves my life some old songs tell me so

If you get a chance, I'd prefer some rock and roll

Now worship and community are things I understand

So let me get a group of folks to raise their gentle hands

I know the Spirit is really true because He talks to me

I am so alive and filled with immortality

And if you touch the living God please tell me how to reach

Because I want to let Him know, of Him I want to preach

Well anyway, I've got to go because it's late at night

But I hope your search for God is very touching, tonight

Pentecostalism

The Asuza Street revival is, perhaps, the most important religious event in modern North American history.  I say this because the revival was led by an African American; gave Jim Crow America a glimpse of what the kingdom of God looks like; was, perhaps, the first form of organized Christianity in North America to ordain and/or credential women for religious leadership (this could mean that they were allowed to become members of the clergy and/or that women could apply for ministry positions such as bishop and/or senior pastor); and finally this revival became the catalyst for what is known today as the Pentecostal  movement, which the BBC suggests consists of around 250 million adherents (source) and the Pew Foundation says, with closely-related charismatics included, this family of faith represents "at least a quarter of the world's 2 billion Christians" (source) - which means roughly 500 million people around the world can be identified with the Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Holiness traditions.

The Azusa Street revival began in Los Angeles on April 14, 1906 at the African Methodist Episcopal Church and lasted till around 1915.  The meetings were led by African American preacher William J. Seymour and they could be characterized as exceedingly raucous gatherings that included speaking in tongues and the mixing of the races.  The mixing of the races is one of the most bizarre parts, particularly because of the deep, and politically sanctioned segregation of the races in the American South.  White preacher and prolific writer Frank Bartleman offered a glowing reflection on what happened at Azusa when he said:

The 'color line' was washed away in the blood

                                                           - Frank Bartleman, preacher

It can be a fascinating discovery to place Bartleman's statement next to one from the Apocalypse to John at Patmos (commonly referred to as the Book of Revelation).  In chapter 7 of this book, John finds himself in a vision in which he looks and sees the throne of "the Lamb" - which any Christian ought to know represents Jesus - and sees gathered around the Lamb a multitude of people that could not be counted "from every nation, tribe, people and language."  These people were all wearing white and were singing and shouting like hooligans and then some guy gets up and asks, "These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?"  John answers, "Sir, you know."  And then the other guy says back, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"  (v. 14).  Isn't that an interesting observation?  These people's robes become white (pure?) when washed in "the Lamb's" blood.  Blood is supposed to be red, isn't it?  So does blood mean blood?  Or does blood mean something else?

The most bizarre part of the the coming of the Pentecostal movement was that 49 years before the rise of Martin Luther King Jr. a gathering of poverty-stricken Hispanics, Blacks, and even white folks would gather to hear a word from the Lord, speak the love language of God (glossalalia) and receive faith healings.  The faith healing is of particular importance to Hispanic and Black populations unable to purchase health care in a nation where "all men are created equal" (from the United States Declaration of Independence).

An Inclusive Theology Exposed

In an interview with theotherjournal.com Stanley Hauerwas (perhaps most widely known for his co-authorship with William Willimon for the book Resident Aliens) says:

Inclusivity is a way of forgetfulness.  I often suggest that egalitarianism is the opium of the masses.  This is simply because inclusivity is often nothing other than the direct attempt to eradicate difference.  Therefore, I think that the presumption of inclusivity is exactly a way of preventing the conflicts we need to have in order to have healthy communities.  I know that sounds counterintuitive, but I just think that's the way it works.  (http://www.theotherjournal.com/article.php?id=426)

In response the interviewer says, "In a sense, it is a way of excluding the type of people who don't fit into the type of inclusivity we're looking for."  Hauerwas responds saying,

Right.  Exactly.  I mean tolerance and inclusivity are always strategies of the powerful!

In terms of Christian Scripture, it is significant to understand that the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures) are, to some extent, the story of the unfolding narrative of a weak nation - an underdog - and the God of creation exacting a favoritism for that weak nation at the crossroads of the world.  Furthermore, the context of the New Testament finds Kingdom of Israel a slave to Rome and her military might.  And so, because I would suggest that the unfolding narrative of the Bible is about weak people whose contributions to God and neighbour are beyond measure I would also suggest, in response to Hauerwas' comments on the words tolerance and inclusivity that the Bible uses the word reconciliation.

Reconciliation is a word for the weak.  It is a word that loudly reminds us that God is well aware that more of our human history has been about barrier-building than bridge-building.  Reconciliation is about being drawn back into harmony; it is also about repairing.

Thus, it should not be surprising to us that Paul interprets the meaning of Jesus Christ as such:

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  (Colossians 1:19-20)

We also shouldn't be shocked to read that Jesus passage from the Gospel of John in which Jesus says,

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.  (John 12:32)

Another way of saying that is, "When I am raised, I will reconcile all peoples to myself."

The problem with the word include is that it is not an expansive word, but rather a very closed-oriented word.  The Latin includere means "to shut in" rather than to expand.  To that end, inclusion is much rather like the American melting pot whose dream it is to have everybody speaking English and foreign culture's grip on new immigrants replaced by American culture.

Reconciliation, on the other hand, is about recognizing the walls that already exist between each of us, and realizing that to get to harmony we have to talk to each other, and realize that our conversation might lead us toward conflict; but that conflict is necessary for us, in the end, to be repaired and restored to harmony; or what the Hebrew texts call shalom.

Children's Story - The Request of James and John

For the next few months our emphasis on the Scriptures will be to not only hear the Word, but to also see the Word and bring it to life by presenting it to and through children.  To that end we have decided to present the Holy Scriptures visually.  Sunday's Scripture came from the Gospel of Mark and is entitled "The Request of James and John."

Preparation:

1. Get a small, plastic wading pool - not much more than ankle-deep
2. Prepare a small glass of juice - preferably red
3. Fill a pitcher full of water
4. Invite 2 children to participate - you should make sure to have 10-20 minutes to rehearse before worship

Characters:

Jesus – played by me

James – played by an older boy

John – played by a younger boy

Here's the transcript of Sunday's worship service.

(As worship music ends I throw the EMPTY wading pool onto the centre of the stage)

I would like to invite all of the children to come forward to see and hear today's Scripture reading.  (at this point 30 children gather around the Table of God that has been prepared for Worldwide Communion...)

A reading from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 35 to 40.  (At this point I stand in the centre of the pool and my helpers - who just happen to be James and John - begin their stroll up to either side of me)

Jesus: What do you want me to do for you?

James: Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.

Jesus: You don't know what you are asking.  (Jesus raises the cup) Can you drink (Jesus raises the pitcher) or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?

James and John: We can

Jesus: You will drink the cup I drink (takes a sip from the cup) and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with (James and John dump the pitcher on Jesus - of course the congregation laughs...), but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant.  These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.

Narrator: The Word of the Lord

Congregation: Thanks be to God

Narrator: Amen!

Children's Story - Feeding a Multitude of People

I would love to extend the opportunity to you to use this idea for your next Children's Story that deals with Jesus Feeding a Multitude of People (Feeding of the Five Thousand).

Preparation Required:

1. Buy a fresh loaf of bread - preferably one that is circular (or spherical)
2. Cut a small hole in the top of the loaf of bread and use two fingers to pull out as much of the insides of the bread as possible
3. Stuff the inside of the loaf with candy through the small circular slot you first cut.
4. Replace the circular cover of the bread

The most familiar telling comes from all four Gospels - Matthew 14:31-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:5-15 but there is also a lesser known story from Mark 8:1-13 (Jesus Feeds Four Thousand) and Matthew 15:29-39.

Today our text was Mark's version of the story and so here's what I said.

I would like to invite all of our children to gather around the Table.

Today I want to tell you a story some of you are already familiar with about Jesus.  Jesus was in the middle of a crowd and he just felt that there were too many people around.  Have any of you kids ever been in the middle of a mosh pit?  (congregation laughs)

Well, Jesus was in the middle of a crowd and just wanted to get away from the thousands of people gathered around.  So they all got into a boat and began rowing to the other side of the lake.  The problem was that the crowds seemed to know where they were going.  The crowd met the disciples and Jesus on the other side of the lake.

And it was late into the day when people should've gone home for supper, but they were far from town so the disciples told Jesus to send the crowd away.  Jesus told those disciples to give them food themselves.

The disciples get upset saying, "That would take eight month's wages!  Are we going to spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"

(At this point I pull out my wallet and hand it to a child in the crowd and ask him, "How much is in there?"  The kid fumbles so I tell him, "Ah...there's not much in there...you won't find anything...This is what they do to you when you're in ministry!"  Of course the congregation laughs)

The disciples realize that among the crowds they can find bread like this (the one that has been prepared) - how many loaves do you think there were?  (The kids eventually say "5!") and they also had some fish.  How many?  ("2!")

Then Jesus takes one of the loaves and gives thanks to God for it.  That means he says grace.  And here's how he broke it...(At this point I hold up the bread so that everybody can see and I begin to break the bread, and as it tears apart candy explodes out of the loaf and the children go nuts at that point.  Let them scramble till the candy is gone and make sure that every child is able to get their hands on a few pieces)

When Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks they realized that there was enough for everybody.  And the Bible ends the story this way:

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.  The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

This is the Word of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Amen!