If money brings happiness both the people in Mexico and those of us in Canada and the US missed the memo.  There is no connection between personal wealth and the kind of joy, love, patience, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness that is seen in some of the most impoverished areas of Mexico.  I wonder that we have switched money and the pursuit of money in the place of spiritual and relational values that Jesus demonstrates, teaches and seeks in us.

I think he is right.  I have just read 1 Corinthians 4:7 ‘For what makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not recieve?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as thoug you did not?’  and then verses 12, 13 ’We work hard with our own hands.  When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; whe we are slandered, we answer kindly.’

The idea that leaps out at me is that as leaders we should be setting an example of gratitude and servant hood.  The ideas of entitlement, rights, power, control, pride, arrogance, contempt, disdain, personal authority, lack of accountability to others are the toxic mess we spew when we lead without humble submission to Christ, His Word, and His people, including spiritual leadership of what ever group we serve.

I also was keeping my eyes open for any comments he might make regarding ordination.  I have been involved with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada working to develop a definition of ordination.  This is not as easy as it would seem.  We have not had a definition and that has lead to many ‘self’ definitions, some of which are at odds with others.  One of Bonhoeffers comments reflects his thinking (spot on  again)  ”… the ministries of the chruch-community… are ordered by the triune God… The formation of the ministries may vary… but common to all is thier appointment by the congregation and their exclusive commitment to the objectives of the gospel”  DBWE 15/429.

On the Bible:

“Do not try to make the Bible relevant.  Its relevance is axiomatic. … Do not defend God’s word but testify to it. … Trust to the Word.  It is a ship loaded to the very liimits of its capacity” p.272.  God’s word is illuminated by His Spirit to speak to those who read it and hear it.

On Success:

“In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of Him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity.  The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success.  … Success alone justifies wrongs done. … the ends justify the means. … The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.”  p. 363.  Apparently little has changed.  Sadly most churches and ministries measure effectiveness by success more than they do by Chirst-likeness or obedience to Him, his word and the leading of His Spirit.

I got a call from the family on the morning of November 30 saying that we might need to postpone the Bible Study to be held that evening at the Stocks’ home.  I asked why and soon found out that Ken was in great physical distress.  I went to seek Ken right away so we could pray together.  He had a brief moment of recognition and reached out his hand when I asked to pray with him.  We pray, I cried.

It was maybe only 30 minutes later I was called again by the family saying he had died.  Really moved neighbourhoods.  No longer present in the body but at home with the Lord.  Read 2 Corinthians 5:8.  This neighbourhood is not same without him.  For us it feels a bit lonely.  Pray for Fran.   I prayed with the family who were present around Ken’s body asking that the Lord would welcome him home as promised.

I thank the Lord for the few brief years serving Ken as pastor and learning from his joy and faithfulness.

“If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who corresponds to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature.  But if God determines where He is to be found, then it will be in a place which is not immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me.  This place is the Cross of Christ.  And whoever would find him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5-7] commands.  This is not according to our nature at all, it is entirely contrary to it.  But this is the message of the Bible, not only in the New Testament but also in the Old Testament…”

How often do we fit God into our interests or into our way of thinking or into serving our needs or wishes?

A favourite paragraph: “Adam being in God’s image, longed for equality with God and saw it as something to be snatched. Jesus Christ, equal was with God,but he did not see it as something to use for his own advantage (see Philippians 2:5-11). While Adam desired to be great and refused to be God servant, grasping instead for the likeness of God, Jesus Christ made himself nothing and took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. Whereas Adam exalted himself and became disobedient unto death. And whereas Adam was condemned and disgrace to the dishonour of God the Father, Jesus Christ was highly exalted and was given the name Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Read Romans 5:18; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.

Jesus is not only our best hope. He is our only hope!

PT