Larson update!

Here's my beautifully pregnant wife Kari ... showing off our little one who is growing rapidly. Kari is feeling well in general. The worst effects of pregnancy currently are some back pain and occasionally getting kicked in the ribs and kidneys. My little kid knows where to throw the punches :).

Meanwhile, with Kari's job at Squeah winding up at the end of October, I've been fretting somewhat over getting a job. After chatting with God and putting out a couple of resumes I took a rather interesting approach to getting a job: I went to a poor Chinese restaurant in town and had a horrible cheeseburger for lunch. While attempting to digest this pathetic excuse for the North American food claim-to-fame, I was introduced to a Construction Contractor who, after a brief (maybe 1 minute) discussion, offered me a job starting 3 days later.

So now, I'm working construction. An answer to prayer, though I have to admit, I'm struggling to keep my proverbial head above water with speed and knowledge I am desperately trying to acquire for the job. I know for a fact it's not what I'd do for a living, but for now, it's bread on the table.

Our Corner of the Market on God

My wife and I had a particular good chat with friends of ours who have been struggling through a difficult marriage. Through my conversation with the husband, I learned he had for quite some time, been apart from his wife and both had sought and worked through the process of emotional healing. And continue to do so. During his time away, he also was away from most Christian culture and influence (i.e.: church, para church organizations, other Christians, ministry work, etc.). During this time, it became startlingly aparent to him how active God was in the every day life of the average human being who does not know or acknowledge the work or person of God in his/her life. In fact, the work of the grace of God, in his view (as it seemed to me listening to him) was no less significant or potent or restricted by what 'we' as Christians do or don't do. In his own words he summed it up as this: 'God's grace transcends the Christian community.'

And I think that most Christians would agree with this. His grace is beyond what we can imagine and is active in this world all over. We see it in the beauty of every created creature and in the wide and beautiful earth He's made. We acknowledge it in our own lives when describing how God works to bring us into relationship with Himself. And yet, when we've 'made it into the fold', we get this funny notion sometimes that the only good and sanctioned work of the Holy Spirit happens within our church walls and amongst our churchy friends and ministers. How religiously stifling and presumptuous we are! As though we (the church) have somehow cornered the market on mercy and forgiveness so that we are the only true conduit of God's grace to other people.

It's time for me to get out there to see God's grace being given by God Himself. And to give it anywhere and all the time.

Ignition

Kari and I were in Victoria this last weekend visiting her family and our friends that we left behind on our move to Hope. It was both enjoyable and exhausting running from person to person expousing our lives to each one in turn and hearing from them how they are doing.

On Saturday night at the Memorial Arena (I refuse to call it the Save On Foods Centre) there was organized a large youth rally for the purpose of igniting the youth of Victoria into relationship with Jesus Christ. There were people of all ages and from all over BC, as far as I could tell. Kari's brother Matthew's friend Brett got us box seats high above the action and music. Nice to have your own bathroom :). Anyway, it was a joy to see so many come and listen to the simple message of Jesus Christ come to save us and the path to freedom through Him to God. It was refreshing. Extremely so. Not only that, it is powerful. There is nothing more powerful than the truth of God's purpose to save us from our sins and to bring us abundant eternal life.

But, to be honest, I was skeptical. This was the year 2006. I had been to a few Christian concerts in the past and also have lived my childhood going to Christian camps and churches that largely preach a message of salvation that is largely humanistic in nature. That is to say, Christianity is for us and what we get out of it as opposed to God deserving our love and service and that being the end of the argument. Us falling into step with Christ because of what we get out of it as opposed to what God gets out of it. My hearts desire is to see all people know Christ not once but lifelong and on a continual deepening path of understanding, love and grace. Not just to receive some great benefits along the road and at the end of it.

So I suppose my skepticism about this large event might have been phrased like this: "Is this 'form' what we love (large flashy bands and big name speakers) or do we love Christ and that is the reason for sharing the good news to others?", "Are we more interested in just getting a few people into 'heaven' to raise our statistics and reports to make ourselves feel good or are we concerned with success as God sees it?", "Do we care what happens to those who feel called by Christ at this particular meeting (there were hundreds who flooded the lower pit to answer the call to follow Christ lifelong and wholeheartedly) after they have made this lifechanging decision?", "Are we more interested in our own objectives rather than Gods? Do we know what God's objectives are? Does God have objectives?"

And then I hear the stories. One particular fellow, a Korean student who lives in Hope with our good friends, had been drawn into relationship with Jesus that night. He feels that he is 100% Christian now. Somehow through all the lights and smoke and words and music, this young Korean grasped, in some capacity, the trueness of Jesus Christ and His reality in his own life and received the Holy Spirit forever ... to that I can only praise my Lord and King.

But the journey has only just begun. The beginning is exciting and full of joy but the path is long yet and full of bumps. My prayer is that all those who in sincerity bent the knee to Jesus as Lord and Saviour and master and God would also continue in Him, rooted and built up becoming mature and complete.

Pavillion Lake

Pavillion Lake is a 3 mile long lake situated near the end of the 99 highway just a few kilometers west of Cache Creek. An absolutely beautiful place!

Here, on August 25th - 28th, I directed a small Senior Teen camp for the Church of the Nazarene. 30 acres on the far side of the lake looking down marble canyon. Absolutely gorgeous.

And, of course, with the nature of older teenagers we chose to schedule the days with a variety of options for their enjoyment which made it almost a holiday rather than work. But a camping experience it was. We had some great open dialogue discussions about sex, relationships, self-worth and other things that seem to occupy many people's minds (not just teenagers).

The lake itself is very unique. Apparantly the only lake in the world to have a specific type of fresh water coral growing in it. There are only a few lakes in the world that boast of coral growth as it is but Pavillion lake boasts it's own species never found on any other place on the planet!

The water (as you can see) is so clear and such a beautiful colour, it makes the clay bottom appear a rich tropical azure colour. There is snorkling to be done, but we also cliff jumped, banana boated, wakeboarded, skied, hiked, played soccer (football for the Scottish lad we had with us), and general relaxed and ate a lot of great food :). What a great trip.

Form and Thought

What if ....

The pastor/priest didn't get paid to minister. What difference would make if we all served each other and there was no renumeration for any one person in community. But we all simply put our share in - out of all we had, to help everyone else. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have a pastor or preacher or teacher or encourager, etc.. I'm saying we need them all and we need more of what we all have to offer to be a healthy, vibrant community of faith.