Own your own church today!!!

Do you hate being part of a church where you have to interact with other people?  Do you cringe at the thought of having share your life with other people?  Have you amassed bucket loads of wealth?  Then here’s a way for you to go to church on your own terms:

The recent demise of the Golden Gate Lutheran Church is your opportunity to have church your way.  Recently converted into a MASSIVE home, this church can truly be YOUR castle!  Forget about the Kingdom of God, here’s your chance to build YOUR kingdom TODAY!!!!

Castle on the Park (check out the gallery, who wouldn’t love the beautiful marble kitchen – and no potlucks to worry about.  The bell tower is your own yoga haven)*

And who would not want to have their own sanctuary-living-room; free of all those pesky worshipers…

All this can be yours for 9,950,000 US!  Now you too can profit from the slow collapse of Lutheran churches in the US!

*Idea: Let’s renew the Lutheran church, not sell it out.

Ecumenism gone wild

I came across this potent little article from the National Post by Nancy Gall.  Check it out here.

She explores the strange and disturbing trends in the Anglican church today.  From Muslim/Buddhuit Anglican priests to extreme pro-abortion teachings, “gone wild” might be the best way to describe what I’m reading today.  Consider this line, “Liberal Anglicans in America are among the most fervent supporters of abortion in the world, outstripping even atheists in their enthusiasm for this grisly procedure.”

The Church today is in need of a clear re-focus on the living, active person of Jesus Christ.  We need to become people who reach out with the Good News in word and action.

Holocaust Survivor – Sid Cyngiser

On Wednesday, April 29th, we’re hosting a city-wide Holocaust Memorial Service.  I’ve gotten to know our guest speaker, Sid Cyngiser and, frankly, his stories are amazing!  You’ll want to attend this service, for sure.

A story about the service made it into the Calgary Herald this weekend, you can read the story (sans photo) here.

I was so impressed by Sid’s story, that I recently painted a portrait of this gracious friend:

Anglican Easter Bouncer

Easter - it’s a time of new life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Hope abounds as we turn from death to life.  Well, that’s what we experienced at most churches this past Sunday morning.  At St. Hilda’s, one visitor reported being shoved right out of the church by a “greeter.”  You can read the story here. 

We need to take the Gospel seriously.  There are too many stories in the church of people hurting each other in order to protect their turf.  We need to remember Christ and turn our affections towards him.  Perhaps there is a silver lining to these stories.  Churches that foster these turf wars are seldom healthy enough to stick it out over the long haul.  St. Hilda’s is down to less than a dozen people, for example.  We need to prepare for an eternity with Christ and with one another – isn’t it time that we find-our-feet again and pick up the cross of Christ?  I will refrain from posting a rant. 

Let me know what you think.

From New President of Episcopal Divinity School: ‘Abortion is a Blessing’

I was angered when I read portions of a sermon by The Rev. Dr. Katherine Ragsdale.  She’s the pro-abortion president of the Episcopal Divinity School.  This is where pastors are shaped for service, and where future leaders of the church are formed.  I ache when I think of the future of the church in North America.  Kyrie Elison. 

Here’s part of the sermon:

“And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.  These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”

Ending the life of a baby for lifestyle reasons is not a blessing, but the Curse.  Since when is the phrase, “abortion is a blessing and our work is not done” to be chanted by the church of Christ.  We are a people broken by sin; we need Jesus.  My heart aches.  Kyrie Elison.

You can read more here.

Kiva in Paraguay

I’ve been supporting Kiva, a micro-loan organization, for over a year now.  It’s exciting to see how my small loan, along with the small loans of others, is adding up in a big way.  I’ve recently supported a group of entrepreneurs in Paraguay, and this video was made to journal their journey towards self-sufficiency as business people.

Click here for my lender page.  Kiva is making a real difference!

Kings

NBC just aired a new series called “Kings.”  It is based on the book of First Samuel and the story of David and Saul.  It will be interesting to see how this is received – we all know that the story of David has its share of intrigue.  Here is the official site.

Intuitive Leadership

I’m starting into an exciting reading list as part of my DMin at Tyndale.  Right now I’m reading a book by Tim Keel called Intuitive Leadership.  Keel is very open about his journey through ministry and the book reads like a spiritual autobiography and seemlessly weaves into a thoughtful lesson on history, theology, and sociology.  Good stuff!

Lead the Way

This April I’ll be facilitating “Lead the Way” Youth Retreat at camp Kuriakos. For more information, visit the Kuriakos site here.

Passing the Baton

I created this stylized cartoon to highlight a point in an upcoming sermon.  If you’d like to use it yourself, you’re welcome to it – Just send me a note to let me know – equip @ oursaviourchurch.ca

Tyndale Studies

This May I’ll start working on a DMin program at Tyndale.  I’m excited about getting my mind in gear to think more clearly about ministry in my context.  I was sent a list of some of our first lecturers, and it’s a great line-up: Earl Crepps, Dr. Larry Crabb, Dr. Jeanine Peek, Rev. Dr. David Sherbino, Dr. David Overholt.  It will be a lot of fun!

The 12 – James

Here is the latest from Douglas Driediger’s portrait series on the 12 Disciples.  This one is called “James” and here is what Doug wrote:

James is described as one of the first men to join Jesus. I’ve always wondered at that: here’s James, patching up the nets in the fishing boat on shore with his dad and brother, and Jesus walks by them working and says, ‘follow me’. James left everything he knew, and followed. We’re later told that James was one of the few present at some of Jesus’ most profound moments, obviously one of his trusted friends.

 

You may find some of Doug Driediger’s other work here, it’s a series called 52×8.5×11; 52 Self Portraits in 2007