Unconditional Love

Marguerite and I recently invited a bunch of our new neighbors and some other friends to our Christmas carol party. The plan was to go and carol in the neighborhood and walk over to the extended care near our house and bless the residents with song. As it turned out, only 1 neighbor and his son came. We didn't even hear from the others that we had personally invited.

In spite of the lack of neighbours responding, the evening was wonderful; an amazing time of laughter, song, worship and joy. I can't remember a time when the carols have been so meaningful to me as when the group of us were singing of the hope of the Christmas story to those living out lives that, because of the ravages of age, are far from hopeful.

Despite this incredible experience, the next day I began to think about my "inconsiderate neighbors. " I allowed resentment and bitterness to settle in and simmer. "That's just rude" I thought. "The least they could have done was to call and say they weren't coming." " That's the last time I invite them to anything," I finished off with.

While perversely enjoying marinating in my bitterness and self pity, there was a vague sense that perhaps my attitude wasn't quite right. I allowed myself to take that vague thought out and examine it. I had recently learnt that our sins (unrighteousness thoughts and actions) had their basis in not believing something about God - about his glory, his greatness, his grace, his goodness. Remembering this caused me to ponder God's grace - his pursuit of us when we were far from him and in rebellion against him. I thought about the fact that God kept pursuing (despite multiple rejections ) even to the point of sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In the face of this unceasing gracious pursuit he was still rejected yet never gave up in going after us. In Romans 10 he says "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people." Nothing says this with more of an exclamation mark than a baby in a manger entering our world on a rescue mission. "The word became flesh and dwelt among us. "

As I prayerfully pondered this in light of my own resentment the words "how do you think I feel?" came to mind. Indeed. How did he carry on putting himself in a place of rejection. How did he feel? The only answer that explains his action is that he, in his essence, is love. He inexplicably loves you and me.

When reflecting on the unparalleled love of the Father I had two thoughts - firstly I had a new appreciation for his grace. What an amazing God we have, so unlike me in my petty bitterness. The rejection he suffered was many levels of magnitude greater (embarrassingly so) than mine - the creator of the universe not only indifferently ignored by his creatures but actively rebelled against and ultimately beaten and killed, yet he kept on loving and pursuing. Secondly it made me think that maybe, in light of this amazing truth, I could give it another go - that maybe I could be more gracious and forgiving and persistent in my reaching out to others. Maybe I would take my cues from my heavenly Father in not giving up after one rejection.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

("Where Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo)
Cheers Lyrics

The other day I had a cool experience when entering my local coffee shop to meet a friend for coffee. Being a fan of the tv show “Cheers” in my early days, I thought their “community” there at the Cheers Bar was admirable on many levels. For the hapless Norm to have everyone shout out “Hi Norm” as he entered the bar and flopped onto his usual bar stool must have been his daily highlight.

Anyhow, when I walked into our neighbourhood coffee shop that morning the place was packed. I immediately saw Denise and her husband Mark in the centre of the shop and was approaching them to greet them when I heard my name called from the 4 o'clock position and had to turn to my right to greet Bob with a wave and a wink before turning back to utter a few words of greeting to my initial targets. Just then, as I was approaching the counter, my friend Ken who I was meeting for coffee, approached me and we had a few preliminary words. Meanwhile, simultaneously the owner of the shop behind the counter called out my name asking me if I wanted “the usual”. All this occurred in the course of about 60 seconds. It was quite a display! It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Certainly all the social moons were in alignment for that particular moment in time.

By this point in time I was feeling a bit self conscious. I was sure that others in the shop were wondering who this popular fellow was. Not only did he have acquaintances in all quadrants of the coffee shop but he was one who had “a regular”. It was at that moment, as I listened to my dark grande coffee being dispensed, I realized that I had finally arrived..... I was known.

Kids say the darndest things

I was having breakfast this am at Starbucks with my little princess Paige. As we usually do, we talked about the joys and challenges of the world of an 11 year old and a 52 year old. I was giving sage advice about how to deal with her problem of blushing when giving a presentation in class (an 11 year old challenge but one that I have much experience with). I was quite pleased with some profound analogies, advice and sayings that I was slowly weaving into the life of my young daughter – feeling quite impressed with the father that I had turned out to be. At one point, appearing to process the latest morsel of advice she said “did you do that?” Well... no, I had to admit, I did exactly what she had done (been anxious and self conscious about the problem) but I sure wish someone wise had given these tidbits to me!

As we moved on in the conversation I asked what God was teaching her these days (a question as it turned out that should have preceded all of the above). She said that a verse had been given to her both by her teacher at the end of the year and by her friend at camp this summer and that she had been thinking about what it meant for her in her life. The verse was from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.”

Well, her simple innocent statement and recitation of this verse was like a simultaneous light going on and gentle slap in the face from the Lord. I could just hear Him saying (with an affectionate chuckle) “you think you’re so smart with all your “understanding” in this situation and here your young daughter has demonstrated deeper understanding than you”. With a more humble demeanour I said to Paige “maybe we should have started our discussion there”.

Maybe before immediately moving to my understanding and wisdom in trying situations I need to stop, take a breath, acknowledge Him, and begin to lean into Him and His trustworthiness. Thanks to my Paige for having ears to hear from the Lord.

Blackberries!

I had a wonderful hour of blackberry picking with my youngest daughter Paige today. It is so amazing that God has graced us with such an abundant crop without a bit of our own planting, cultivating or maintaining. The "icing on the cake" was spending time with Paige (another of God's wonderful graces to me) marveling in the caches of succulent purple berries and creating a blackberry crumble together to boot. The coup de grace will be sampling the finished product. What a great day! God is good!

Famous

There is something exciting about seeing your letter to the editor printed in the paper. My 5 seconds of fame!

By Dan MacIntosh, Vancouver Sun August 27, 2011 The only thing more maddening than the B.C. Liberal party's handling of the HST fiasco from start to finish is Finance Minister Kevin Falcon's characterization of the $3-billion price tag for the HST reversal as a "manageable bump on the road." I'm not sure what parallel universe of roadways he travels on, but in my world $3 billion is more than a bump.

It is more than a little disconcerting that he would treat taxpayers' hard-earned cash so casually and callously. The idea of spending that much of British Columbians' money to fix a problem that the Liberals created rubs me the wrong way. Maybe if one deals daily in numbers with that many zeros the amounts seem insignificant, but this small bump looks like a rather large mountain from my vantage point.

I hope that going forward, before encountering any more "manageable" bumps, Falcon and his crew will choose their road more carefully.

Dan Macintosh


Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Despite+being+triumph+democracy+anti+vote+financial+pain/5317084/story.html#ixzz1WFGEKjEu

Things I learned in Mexico

Things I learned in Mexico:

1. Missionaries like Juan and Alicia, George and Stacey are inspirations to me – their “sold-out-edness” to the will and mission of Jesus. I have a lot to learn!
2. Material riches do not = happiness. I know this is cliché but it is so reinforced each time I go out on foreign missions
3. It is a joy to serve and be part of a big vision. The vision of orphan babies in loving care made each Ikea drawer assembled and each trim piece painted a joy.
4. Jesus loves me. When I meet him face to face, there will be no need for hope and faith (faith = “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” – Hebrews 11:1) but love will persist (1 Cor 13:8-13). He loves me deeply and forever. My perception/understanding of that is partial and there is a deep longing for more.
5. I have a great extended family with which God has encircled me. The Hanschkes, Joslynn, my wife and kids are great! It was so great to get to know each of them better.
6. It’s a dirty desolate place – makes me wonder if a little irrigation / gardening / garbage cleanup would infuse more hope, self-respect and richness to their lives. I longed to get out of the dust and onto a patch of cool lush grass.
7. Safety is beyond my control. When all else is stripped away my fundamental dependency is on God and his sovereignty, love and grace. Even if I die (stray bullet? How often do I think of that reality in Langley?) I win.
8. It is hard to create a spiritual conversation. The best I can do is try to create space and opportunity and pray into it. I don't do this well.

Resurrection

It has been a couple of years since my last post so I thought I would resurrect my blog. I'm unsure why but over the last couple of years, I have written/journaled significant moments in my life - I seem driven to the written word - to documenting life's lessons. Just as unclear to me is why I haven't posted them or why I am chosing to begin again at this particular moment.

I won't psychoanalyze this moment too deeply but will simply "blog on". I don't think it's as important whether anyone actually reads this as it is for me to go through the process of processing. I find this is best done through writing.

Perhaps the resurrection of my blogging interest has to do as well with standing once again on the cusp of a mission trip (certainly that was the catalyst for the creation of this blog). Marguerite and I with our two youngest kids are going to the Tijuana area to do a one week mission trip at an orphanage with an organization called Jugo ministries. For me, mission trips seem to be one of the crucibles that God uses to refine me. Mission trips tend to burn away some of the "stuff" of life and help me to look beyond the immediate to see the important.

In this particular instance, because we have inundated with multiple news reports of the dangers of going to border towns in Mexico, it has caused me to question the wisdom of such a trip. The values of service, caring for orphans, going where God calls are all stacked head-to-head against the value of personal safety and protection of the ones that are in my care.

The fundamental issue for me could perhaps be framed in the question "is God really calling me to this mission?" Because if the answer to that question is "yes" then we truly have nothing to fear. God is in control and is a loving God who will not allow anything to come my way except that it will work together for good for me! The ultimate goal being the conforming of myself more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus.

The reality is that there is nowhere that is completely safe (even my home in Langley). While we do not go seeking dangerous situations, we do step boldly into areas where God leads trusting that we are in his loving hands. The reality is that we are completely victorious as Christians. Nothing can separate us from his love - "neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation". Even the worst-case scenario (imagine random bullets, injury or death - believe me I have!) is not a defeat. Even in death we win! As Paul states, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Death no longer has any sting - it is "swallowed up in victory".

This is the fundamental reality that we move forward in. He is sovereign. He loves me (Jesus loves me this I know). He takes care of me.