Spiritual Surprises?

Surprises aren't usually our thing, are they? Most of us like to live our lives in an ordered way. We like to know what is coming next, what might be expected of us, how we need to prepare ourselves, where we need to be. Surprises mess with the order of things, throw our plans into chaos, unsettle our digestive systems. We don't like surprises.

Illustration by Jessamyn Rubio

This Sunday we celebrate and remember a surprising day, Pentecost. The disciples had settled into a bit of a routine, a comfortable routine of prayer and just hanging out together, when suddenly, with the sound of wind and accompanied by fire, the Holy Spirit makes an appearance and nothing is ever the same again. That day, over 2000 years ago was an exciting one for the early church, a day full of surprises.

We sometimes wonder if the Holy Spirit is still active in the same surprising way, or was that power reserved for the first century church?

Join us this Sunday as we struggle with this question and wonder if the Holy Spirit might still have surprises for us as well.

Are You Ready to be Surprised?

Surprises aren't usually our thing, are they? Most of us like to live our lives in an ordered way. We like to know what is coming next, what might be expected of us, how we need to prepare ourselves, where we need to be. Surprises mess with the order of things, throw our plans into chaos, unsettle our digestive systems. We don't like surprises.

Illustration by Jessamyn Rubio

This Sunday we celebrate and remember a surprising day, Pentecost. The disciples had settled into a bit of a routine, a comfortable routine of prayer and just hanging out together, when suddenly, with the sound of wind and accompanied by fire, the Holy Spirit makes an appearance and nothing is ever the same again. That day, over 2000 years ago was an exciting one for the early church, a day full of surprises.

We sometimes wonder if the Holy Spirit is still active in the same surprising way, or was that power reserved for the first century church?

Join us this Sunday as we struggle with this question and wonder if the Holy Spirit might still have surprises for us as well.

You Will Be My Witnesses

A number of years ago, I saw an accident happen. Someone turned left in front of an oncoming car and both cars ended up off the road, damaged. Jocelyn and I stayed at the scene of the accident until the police came so that we could tell them what we had seen. We were witnesses. We were able to tell someone who wasn't there when the accident happened, how things went, who did what. From our words, the police were able to make some decisions about the chain of events that led to the mess they were now seeing.

Witnesses are important in bringing out the truth of any situation. There is no "I think this is what happened" or "From the way things are piled up now this is what might have happened". Instead a witness can clearly say, "This is what happened, I experienced it"

Jesus ascends into heaven, but, before he does, he points at his disciples, gathered around him, and says, "You are my witnesses". They had seen what he had done, had experienced it. They had heard his words, and even though they didn't necessarily understand everything, they had heard him with their own ears. They were first hand witnesses. What they were able to tell was not hearsay.

Are we still witnesses? Join us this Sunday as we remember Jesus' ascension and also consider how it is that we continue to be his witnesses to a world so in need of some good news.

The Way

Yesterday, while visiting over coffee, in front of the fake fire at Tim Hortons, my friend and I were approached by an elderly man, wanting to know the way from there to Port Colbourne. He had been turned around by construction, stopped for a breather (and maybe the bathroom), and now didn't know how to continue on his journey. It wasn't hard to give him directions. We knew the way back to the highway, and the way to his destination. He left us, thankful.

Sometimes, finding our way with the larger questions of life is much more difficult. When Jesus is asked by his disciples, how they are supposed to get to where ever it is that he is going, his answer just seems to add to the confusion and maybe even controversy.

"I am the way....." says Jesus "No one comes to the Father except through me"

To our post-modern culture, Jesus' answer is offensive. For some Christians, his answer has been misunderstood and has become a source of arrogance and pride.

What does Jesus mean when he says he is the way? How does one come to the Father through Jesus?

Join us this Sunday we look at Jesus words to realize the promise, hope, and challenge found in them.

Abundant Life

What does it mean to live an abundant life? 

We may have many different answers to that question. For some of us having an abundant life means gathering stuff, getting the best toys, the biggest house, the fastest car, the newest gadgets. For others, an abundant life has to do with people and relationships, children, family, and friends. Others may define abundance in terms of security and safety, that sense of comfort in knowing they are out of harm's way. 

Jesus, in our scripture reading for this Sunday, promises abundance for his followers when he says that he "came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (NRSV). He prefaces those words with a picture of a shepherd and sheep and then describes himself as the gate to the sheep fold. 

Jesus uses word pictures to describe what that life is like, pictures of a shepherd, and a gate, 

Join us this Sunday, as we consider Jesus words and the abundant life he offers today, here and now.