Hesed

I forgot how much I enjoyed writing here. My apologies.

It's been...how long since I've been here? Too long. A good friend of mine, who I met last September, has started up his own blog recently. His having done that reminded me of my own. There really has been a lot that has shaped me over this past whole year since I last wrote. I wouldn't even know where to begin to write.

But here I am. I am still living. I can thank God for that. I think that is something that I can write about: thankfulness. The school year, up until now, has proven to show that God answers prayers and absolutely lavishes his love on his people. In my Social Justice class, I learned a Hebrew word, Hesed'. As my professor explained, it is nearly impossible to embody the meaning of Hesed in the English language. However, the best idea we can get is what we use: lovingkindness or steadfast love. God poured out his lovingkindness. He most certainly bled steadfast love. I receive this to be blessings on his people; his richest, fullest, most abundant blessings. Moreover, God still pours out his blessings on his people still today. Do we notice them? I doubt it. Maybe some people do.

I know that part of myself is very pessimistic sometimes. Maybe pessimistic isn't the right word, but I definitely get down on myself and cannot see the Happy in life. Slow down! I must slow down! We must all slow down! Do we not put ourselves into an uncomfortable pace? Then we only end up in an undesirable place. At that rate, we miss all that God has bestowed on us. I had my eyes replaced. Then I saw. I saw the wonderful riches of God and how he has worked around me, through me, for me. If what I have received is not his hesed, then I cannot wait for the day that I do receive it.

Should we not go back to the ways of the OT? Should we not remember what it might be like to have lived in complete dependence on YHWH? Perhaps it should be our obligation to understand the New Testament completely yet only having understood the Old Testament. This brings to life for us the value and importance of having to reflect on our lives and see the hesed that God showers on the world.

We're talking camp.

Goede Mensen!
Now that I know the proper way of spelling this good thing, I can use it properly. Many of the people that read this blog are good. Some of you think you're great. But I'm just thinking that I'm a sinner. No, I believe that I am a sinner. And so is everyone else, including children, sin as well. I've worked with children for a couple years, and I never get tired of it, i.e. mentally tired. Today I had my first day of YMCA camp, and it was quite the experience. At the end of my day, I'm physically tired, even as I sit here and write this blog. But it doesn't matter how tired one gets from camp.

What is more important is that we always do our best to make sure that the kids that we engage are having a good time. An obvious method for this is to keep them actively involved with the activities. Moreover, we're to be leaders of these kids. We need to be constant examples for these kids to follow because after all, for them it's "monkey see, monkey do." They will follow us around just for the sake of following you around or because they like what you are doing (and I've certainly experienced this).

The best part is that we can learn from them. Of course, we can learn what the latest gadget or video game is (if we ourselves are not in touch with that world) but also some reactions from the kids that could even teach us about ourselves. However, we need to remember something that is also of importance. We walk on everyday facing trials and temptations from one moment to the next. These give us doubts of who we are, where we come from, and what we believe. Our foundations may become shaky or just need some more support. Yet the greatest thing that children can teach us is their faith in things. Children have faith in things that they can't see, and they don't really question them. This should encourage us as adults to be strong in our faith even though our faith might be put to the test. Just as place our faith in the wind and we cannot see the wind, let us place our faith in He who gives us life.

New Year Thoughts...

I love home. I love my parents, and my siblings are hilarious. But home is no longer home in the sense that it used to be. Over the past 6 years or something I haven't lived at home during the summer because of corn detassling or working at camp. As a result, my attachment to home (not the people of home) has been gradually decreasing. I have never been outside of Canada (with the exception of going as far as Detroit) and so I have been slowly growing in the notion to 'just get out of here' - getting away from home. I want to go to many places, and at the same time, I have been desiring to find what God's will is for my life. Lately it seems like those two have been teaming up, and I feel that I am learning what God's will is for my life. Although I don't have any association with emotionalism, I feel that I need to get outside of this context and live in another context. It's true that living on campus in residence at school is a very different context than at home, and I absolutely love school. I'm even learning to actually like my classes, and am especially excited for the ones I have this semester (Greek 202, Philosophy, A Contemporary Religious Situation, Adolescent Psychology, and Reformation Theology).

For those of you who don't know, I plan on going into Youth Ministry. It's incorrect to assume that I'm going to be a Youth Pastor and even go into Seminary. Obviously I'll see what God has in store, but for now I really feel the desire to be a missionary. Yes, I did say that I'm going into Youth Ministry, but I want to be a missionary somewhere around the world. It may be across a geographical border in rural Africa, it may be to somewhere in New Zealand, or it may be in Toronto, right in the middle of the city centre. I am completely aware of the Urban mission (thanks to Foundations of Missions) but also the great influx of Christianity in Africa. But most of all, I feel that wherever I do that, I need to work with Youth. Many of you know that I've worked at camp for a few years. But in that setting, I get the idea that the only people that are able to be immersed within the Christian faith are the older teens. It seems that...if the younger campers are taught about the love of Christ, you might face certain troubles that are grounds for maybe harassment or something. The truth is, there is way too much toleration that I've seen in the church as a whole...

There's a radio commercial that I've heard in my hometown, consisting of a dialogue between one fellow that advocates pluralism and toleration and another guy that completely disagrees with mr. Tolerance. The tolerant man says something about the 10 commandments...apparently they're the Seven Suggestions...I mean, come on! The "Seven Suggestions" which are is a great example of what Christians are believing. Not necessarily in those exact terms, but because of pluralism and post-modernity and all that stuff, we're seeing a lot of things happening in the Christian faith that should not be happening. Part of the epidemic is a generation of 'Yes' people - those that don't know how to say no and stand up for what they believe. This allows for things to rise up that otherwise would not rise up.

The church is caught up with the economy (and people say there has been a separation of church and state), and so decisions are often made based upon the amount of monetary funds that are available. Furthermore, the church has been inflicted with another disease: being nice. It certainly ties in with the 'Yes' epidemic, and has led to the acceptance of several waves of doctrine and especially the dismissal of necessary theology. The epidemic of being nice is basically the lamb look-alike cloak for the tolerant wolf. A similar term is 'political correctness'. The ultimate goal is to do what you want, how you want, as long as you include God in it once in a while! There was an article that I read a while ago called "Nice is Not the Point" and it talks about how Jesus loved. He wasn't nice, not nice at all. We need to stop being nice. We need to dust off the books and start studying theology. I suppose this is an initial response to Dr. Haas' Reformation Theology class. But it's also something that I've been feeling for a while.

There's another thing I want to mention. Mind you, I have no background in economics whatsoever, and you should know that. I shared with someone a few weeks ago of something that I think is going to happen. I've often heard (and likely many others have heard) that North America is in the dumps spiritually, and it craves for something bigger than it could ever be. This is the base of revolution within the Church. Obviously it's not my own idea that there is going to be a revolution, and that it's going to happen with youth (maybe I'll be lucky enough to have my hand in it!). On the subject of the economy, there have been rumours of another Great Depression (I don't know how reputable the source of where I heard this is). But doesn't it just make sense that amidst an economic depression the revolution of the Church will occur? I don't know...it's just a thought. It could be significant, but the reaction of the person that I shared this with definitely was not an enthusiastic one (to my surprise, and she was Christian. I won't mention her, since I don't want to embarrass my mom.) I also want to note that I'm not trying to be especially intelligent or special for what I've said. If anything, I have tonnes to learn and I am excited for that. Anyway, those are my thoughts for the day. Have a blessed New Year! Remember the Epiphany of Christ!!!

Mijn Vader

There have been so many days when I wonder about my dad. He tells me simple things that I already know and I would often reply, "Yeah, thanks dad." I really don't like it when he tells me something I already know. On the other hand, these things can only be further ingrained into my "wealth" of knowledge that my parents mock me for. There are times when he tells me things that just don't make sense. He'll explain things for me, but since I learn through tactile means the best, I often don't understand what he's trying to say. Today was a different day.
I woke up to my dad telling off one of my little brothers having complained about their chores. I was so confused (as are all of us upon the opening of our eyes from a gorgeous sleep). After I got out of bed and headed upstairs, I found that dad was making one of Bill Fitz-Maurice's killer Omni 10.5 speakers. A lot of what dad tells me goes over my head, especially sound stuff which is ironic for being a guitarist that loves electronics and quality sounding 'sound makers'. Dad has been the sound tech for church, youth group, and some other things, and is always searching for a good sound. When he told me that he was going build some speakers, I was shocked. I didn't take my dad to be a builder, and to be honest, I thought the end product was going to be kind of shoddy. It turns out that I ridiculously underestimated what my dad could do. When my dad played through this new cab at church, not only was I blown away by the quality of build, but also the quality of sound. I have to say that that moment made me extremely proud of him.
Today I did relatively(!) a lot of cleaning up in the house because mom was gone and dad was working on one of his Omni 10.5's, and consequently the siblings needed some direction. After time, we ended up having supper. Randomly, Dad's cellphone rang while at the supper table. It was random because this was dad's service call cellphone from work, which implied that he had to do a service call on Christmas Eve. Immediately, and almost without thinking, I asked dad if I could tag along. As I mentioned before, I certainly learn through a hands-on perspective the best, and if I passed this opportunity up, I would again be short-sticked in the learning opportunity. So dad and I left for work.
Dad is a truck mechanic, which is not to be confused with a trucker. Dad fixes the trucks for the truckers to get back on the road and make the time slot. I found out today that he learned way more outside of his apprenticeship, which was years ago. Prior to that, I should note (although not to demean him) that he did not complete high school and receive his high school diploma. Dad sometimes comes off as not too bright. But on this night, I found out that he is an incredibly bright bulb. What seemed to be an easy problem to fix, Ron the Trucker's head light lamp needed replacement. However, the problem wasn't that the lamp needed replacement, it was the wiring from the dash inside the cab to the headlamp itself. The problem could not be found, and so dad contrived a solution. Instead of trying to re-wire the original wire, he jumped the signal from the left head lamp to the right head lamp. Some of you might not realize the importance of this. Even though this may seem like a simple solution, I stood alongside watching and realizing how smart my dad was. He knows how sound equipment works. He knows the ins and outs of a truck. Regular people have no clue as to how to fix a truck!
It's so sad that the elite of the social stratosphere are those with white collar jobs - the people that receive all that money for making their lips move and using their voice boxes. I can't stand it how often overlooked people such as truck mechanics are. My point of all this? My dad appears to be a regular joe. He's certainly not a rocket scientist. But his knowledge is incredibly important. He fixes the trucks that bring all types of gases and several other important commodities throughout North America. Without him, these trucks wouldn't get where they're supposed to get, and the recipient of these products is left without what they need in order for the economy to keep running. In essence, his knowledge literally keeps the economy moving. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating economics. I'm trying to say that his knowledge is incredibly important. I don't care what people say. These people just really don't know...their heads aren't screwed on right. They say that he's not important because he doesn't have a white collar job. But my dad is so important. In fact, my dad is a brilliant GENIUS and I love him for that. From now on I will never discredit any person that is a mechanic, an electrician, a plumber, a landscaper. My dad RULES.

Accusation Station

Have you ever been wrongly accused of something you didn't do? It's heart breaking. Especially when you've seen this person grow and if you've cared for them because of their life story. On this night I was accused of actions I wouldn't EVER committ. Of course I cannot mention these things, but they have certainly punched my heart and it has almost stopped beating. I mean, when this happens, all you want to do is try to prove the accuser wrong. And in the day where truth is relative, this could potentially screw me over and so ruin the things that I desire to become. But as I am sitting here, I remember a Biblical character. He was wrongly accused, sent to jail, and ended up as a big guy in Egypt. Joseph was able to wait out the situation and see it produce fruit. I will try to do the same.

But why do people need to make up stories and lie about things that never happened? Do the find enjoyment in doing so? Do they even REALIZE the pain they cause or the implications that could follow? I don't think so. But you know what, I keep thinking that this is about me. I should stop thinking that...and start thinking about the accuser. I should think about others more than myself. I am reminded of the acronym/definition of JOY ("Jesus, Others, and Yourself"). It can be used for the application of the order one is supposed to love, but I will use it differently; instead of an order of loving, it will echo the sense of selflessness. Mother Theresa definitely had this right. I definitely have friends that not only understands what it means to think in this order, but they also apply it to their lives. These people are great examples. If I can strive and successfully achieve this order of thinking, then I know that this situation will certainly blow over. After all, I've only ever faced Divine providence. And thankfully I can always rely on God.