The Christmas Coronary

You polished off three helpings of turkey and stuffing, drank entirely too much eggnog, yelled at your kids and squabbled with your in-laws. And now there's a painful feeling in your chest: a feeling like you can’t take a deep breath. And really, come to think of it, you’re not feeling well at all.  Maybe it's stress. Maybe it's heartburn. But is it possible it could be a heart attack?    

The Christmas Coronary is a serious concern.  Of equal importance is keeping the Christmas heart, the one that rejoiced at the birth of our Saviour, healthy all year long. Two days after Christmas we'll gather to worship the Christ of Christmas who is also the Christ of Dec 27, and new year's eve and 2016 and... eternity.  Sunday, Dec 27, 10 a.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:00 a.m.

Join us on Christmas morning for a beautiful service of scripture and song. "Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (I Corinthians 13:13).

All I want for Christmas....

Kids - they always want their own way.  And if they don't get it, they get mad.  Unfortunately, kids aren't the only ones to use that approach.  Our Christmas wish list is all about "me" and about getting my way.  The Way of Love doesn't look like that at all. When we begin to understand, even in a limited way, what God did for us in sending Jesus to this earth, we will put "childish ways" (1 Corinthians 13:11) behind us.  We will be able to revise our Christmas wish list to include what we can do for others, as an expression of our love. Sunday, December 20, at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Madison's baptism

This is Madison Boer, with her big sister Emma.  Madison was baptized a few weeks ago by her Grandpa, Pastor Jacob Boer. Congratulations, Madison!  With your parents, Jacob and Andrea, we thank God for welcoming you into His family.

From chaos to completeness

Those annoying puzzles!  Just when you have the last little ball ready to drop in place, someone bumps you and you have to start all over again.  The Christmas season can feel like that - so many little balls rattling around and nothing in the right place.  It's chaos! When Jesus came to earth as a baby, he knew chaos.  And Jesus understands the chaos in which we live.  But we are on a journey. It's the Way of Love, and it leads to completeness (I Corinthians 13:10). Completion and perfection will be ours through Jesus.  And already now, we can enjoy a foretaste of that completeness.   Sunday, Dec 13, 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Ryan Douglas Voorberg

Last Sunday we celebrated the baptism of Ryan Douglas Voorberg.  He's the son of Mark and Leeanne and a brother to Matthew.  We thank God for his gift of grace by which Ryan is welcomed into God's family!

Love changes how you live

We say that love changes everything.  When we discover that we are loved by God, love changes how we live and how we die.  But what does that look like?  The best picture of the changes that we experience is that of open hands. Love makes it possible for us to release our grip - on our money and possessions, on our opinions and convictions, and on our hurts and our anger.  We can release our grip because we know we are held safely in the arms of our heavenly Father.  And he will never let us go.  On this, the second Sunday of Advent, we continue along the Way of Love that brings us to Bethlehem.  Sunday, Dec 6, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Emerson James Boonstra

On Sunday, November 29, we celebrated the baptism of Emerson James Boonstra, baby boy of Josh & Hilary.  In the presence of lots of family and friends, we were reminded again that God's gift of grace is freely and undeservedly given.  Congratulations Josh & Hilary!

First Light begins this Sunday, Nov 29, 8:30 a.m.

Advent Begins

This Sunday we begin our Advent series, The Way of Love.  We are on our way to Bethlehem where we will encounter that silent, holy night, where God silenced our noisy lives with his love.  We will be using I Corinthians 13 as our text through these beautiful weeks leading up to Christmas.  We hope you can join us.  Nov 29, 10 a.m.

Book #4

Preaching at the Crossroads; How the World—and our Preaching—is Changing, by David Lose, is another book being read by my preaching group.  For many of us who were raised and trained in the waning era of modernity, the skepticism of postmodernity sounds like we have lost our biblical and scholarly moorings. Lose repositions us to recognize that “our task as Christian theologians and preachers is not to prove the faith claims we make but instead to witness to the truth we perceive” (p 21). He writes of a shift from “proof to confession, witness, and testimony” (p 22).  To postmodernist ears this sounds credible; to those espousing modernity and the scientific method, it sounds like heresy.

Lose names two other cultural movements (in addition to postmodernity) that define our time:  secularism and its loss of the transcendence and subsequent loss of hope, and pluralism and the inability to name the distinctiveness of Christianity.

Preaching at this crossroads demands a return to confessional language, an invigorating message of hopefulness, and a clear story about what it means to be a Christian, both communally and individually. Writes Lose, “whether we succeed or fail, however, it is the Word that both commissions us and seals our hope” (p 112).   

Book #3

Do/Story/How to tell your story so the world listens, by Bobette Buster, is one of the books my preaching group has decided to read.  It’s a quick read, reminding us of one of the 10 basic principles of story telling:  less is more.  Jesus was the ultimate story teller.  Much of the scriptures consists of stories.  I don’t consider myself to be a particularly good story teller – the lessons of this book can only help!

Book #2

Ordinary Grace, a novel by William Kent Krueger, begins with these words:  “All the dying that summer began with the death of a child, a boy with golden hair and thick glasses, killed on the railroad tracks outside New Bremen, Minnesota…”(p 1). As the summer unfolds, further tragedy threatens to strangle the faith of Frank, his brother, and his parents.  The book is narrated by Frank, who, with the perspective of 40 years, concedes that “in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God” (p 1).  Frank’s father is the pastor of several small churches.  He navigates the deep struggles of maintaining his faith in God despite the tragic events in his own family. 

This is a book of not just survival, but of victory and triumph, discovering God’s miracles and grace in the ordinary, in the day to day search for meaning and purpose.  This is a story of forgiveness and acceptance and finally, of finding peace.  This is the story each of us must discover if we are to live as hopeful people in a broken and hurting world.

It's reading break: book #1

Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, wasn’t on my reading list.  But someone lent me the book just before I began my reading break.  In the wake of our country’s debate about the niqab, this book was a must-read. Ayaan writes from within Islam; she lived it, and suffered under it.  I quote from Ayaan’s book (p 349):  When people say that the values of Islam are compassion, tolerance, and freedom, I look at reality, at real cultures and governments, and I see that is simple isn’t so… The rigid interpretation of the Quran in Islam today causes intolerable misery for women.  Through globalization, more and more people who hold these ideas have traveled to Europe with the women they own and brutalize, and it is no longer possible for Europeans and other Westerners to pretend that severe violations of human rights occur only far away.”

We have heard the arguments that women who choose to wear the niqab or the hijab do so by their own free will; that this is their choice. Ayaan would respond to this assertion with this analogy:  the caged bird, when the door to its cage is opened, does not immediately dare to leave. 

No religion offers the good news of Christianity; no other religion places such a high value on all image bearers of God; no other religion offers the free grace that comes from the hand of a loving God.

Read the letter

In the movie, Remember, Christopher Plummer stars as a man suffering from dementia. He is reminded by his close friend, another resident of the nursing home, that the two of them have devised a plan, a plan which is carefully detailed in a handwritten letter.  As he sets out to accomplish the mission, Zev frequently becomes confused about whom he is and what his purpose is.  He writes three words on his wrist:  Read the letter.  
That same message can apply to us when we forget whom we are and what our purpose is in life:  Read the letter.  Read God's letter to us- the Bible.  In this way we can "remember those earlier days" (Hebrews 10:32) and discover that we can "persevere" and "receive what [God] has promised" (v 36).   

WilsonHub - Coming Soon!

WilsonHub will be the new office and ministry centre of Ancaster Christian Reformed Church.  Located in a storefront space at 33 Willson St W in the heart of Ancaster, WilsonHub will bring our church's presence into our community.

From Phobias to Faith

Too many of us are fearful people.  We fear the dark, spiders, heights, flying.  We fear loss, failure, pain, death.  Fear can be a strong motivator for action.  But Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; just believe" (Mark 5:36).  Join us to discover a better way of moving forward.  Sunday, Oct 25, 10 a.m.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7LYzm7pvi4&feature=youtu.be

Love always protects. Always.

Tucked within that wonderful list of words describing "love," as found in I Corinthians 13, is this:  Love always protects. This may be the most important aspect of love in this entire chapter.  When God gave his Son Jesus, to stand in our place of judgement, it was an act of protection.  God protects us from punishment, from harm, from the evil one.  As followers of Jesus, we can demonstrate love in the same way- protecting those whom God has placed in our care.  This Sunday we will be focusing on this aspect of love as we recognize Safe Church Sunday.  Oct 18, 10 a.m.  (ps that's me with my youngest grandson)
https://youtu.be/QetgRaY10-M

A shout out to Rob & Brad!

Rob and Brad dropped by the church to clean up the tree that was damaged in the recent wind storm.  Thanks, guy!  (Note - don't try this at home...!)

10,000 reasons to give thanks

On Thanksgiving Day we gather for a service of thanks.  An article in Macleans (August 24, 2015) says that "growing research boosts health, school grades, even brain function."  But that's not the reason we praise him.  We "give thanks to the Lord for he is good!" (I Chronicles 16:34)  Join us, Thanksgiving Monday, 10 a.m.

I can do all things...

One bit of advice for new drivers:  keep your eyes on where you want to go.  The same advice applies in lots of other situations, including our walk with God.  The church too, needs to keep in mind her purpose.  When we keep our eyes on where we are going, we will discover that the potential for ministry is great.  And as we read in Philippians 4:13, we have the strength and power to move forward. This Sunday, Oct 11, we will celebrate the opportunities which God is placing before us.

First Light

Amazing Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYMLMj-SibU

Leaving Rome...
worth another listen!

Leaving Rome

After spending a few weeks on this visit (in the first chapter of Romans), we are leaving Rome.  We learned some things about ourselves and we learned some things about people who don't see a need for God in their lives.  What do we do now?  Do we simply forget what we saw and heard, going home to our comfortable routines?  Or do we understand how vitally important the good news about Jesus is, and are we ready to explore ways to share this good news?  Romans 1:28 - 2:11, Sunday, Oct 4, 10 a.m.

When in Rome... beware of fools

We all do foolish things (I'll tell you about one of my more recent foolish moves).  But much more dangerous is the fool who is convinced that he is right.  Paul says that people who know God but refuse to glorify him or thank him, are fools.  That covers a lot of people.  It's not enough to acknowledge God's existence.  If that is what you think, then you have exchanged the truth for a lie.
Romans 1:21-25.  Sunday, Sept 27, 10:00 a.m.

When in Rome, follow your itinerary.

When we travel, we plan our trip carefully.  It's a good idea to know where you are going and what your are going to do when you get there.  Paul has his sights set on Rome, and he has some very specific things he wants to accomplish.  Join us this Sunday, Sept 20 at 10 a.m. as we continue our series, "When in Rome..."

When in Rome... consider the evidence

This Sunday we continue our sermon series, "When in Rome..."  We're having our annual outdoor service at the Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster, so we appropriately jump ahead to Romans 1:19, 20.  It is in the created world that God's "invisible qualities" are clearly seen.  Sure hope it doesn't rain, because we need to be outdoors for this message!  I will be referring to an interview with Francis Collins.  If you would like to check it out, you can find it here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/voices/collins.html
Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday - bring a lawn chair.  Stay for lunch.  Sunday, Sept 13, 10 a.m.

When in Rome...

This Sunday, September 6, we begin a series of messages from Romans chapter 1.  In the first few verses, Paul holds out his passport for inspection.  And then the next question:  What is the purpose of your visit?  With Paul, we are called to share the Good News.  But if we want people to listen, we will have to gain the respect and confidence of our audience.  In other words, When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Lust. Yes, you.

This brings us to the end of our sermon series on the 7 deadly sins.  We have held up the mirror, which is God’s law, and I expect that at least some where along the way, you felt convicted.  You.  Me.  Can't get no satisfaction?  We have looked for satisfaction in all the wrong places. Sunday, 10 a.m. Matthew 5:17-20, 27-30.

Vice #6: Gluttony

Gluttony.  Uh oh.  This could get personal… This is our sixth message in the series on the Seven Deadly Sins.

And yet, I think that deep down, you don't need me to tell me when you are using food to satisfy, to fill a void, to substitute for the real source of comfort.  

This Sunday, Aug 23, 10 a.m.  Philippians 3:10-4:1.

Lots of praying

That's my husband, Gerald, "smiling" as he's going into surgery.  On Wednesday he had by-pass surgery.  We discovered his heart blockages when we took some preemptive moves to have him checked out; Gerald's family has a terrible track record when it comes to heart issues.  Surgery day was a long day, but neither of us were particularly stressed or worried.  We believe that this was the case because so many people were praying for both of us.  We are blessed by a huge family - the family of God, who walk this journey with us.

Anger - vice or virtue?

Thomas Aquinas goes so far to say that the lack of anger can be a sin.  Jesus got angry when he threw the money changers out of the temple. So, virtue or vice?  Is it ok, even good, to get angry?  Or is anger dangerous, is it SINFUL? Anger is the 5^th of the deadly sins.  We explore this tension this Sunday.  We will be sharing the communion meal during the service.  August 16, 2015.

Greg & Natalie

Such a joy, to officiate at the wedding of my nephew Greg Geerlinks and Natalie Renkema. The wedding took place on August 8, 2015. How beautiful, to see this couple begin their married life together. How beautiful to welcome God, their family, and their friends into this marriage.  Congratulations, Greg & Natalie!

Greed is good. Not.

“Greed is good.” That line was made famous in the movie, Wall Street.  But greed is not good.  It is one of the seven deadly sins, the seven capital vices. The vice of greed needs to be pried open a little bit at a time.  And once you've slipped from its jaws, you will know what it means to be free indeed.  Genesis 13.  Join us, on Sunday, August 9 at 10 a.m. as we continue our sermon series on the 7 deadly sins.

Sloth- it's not about being lazy

Contrary to what we typically assume, sloth is not the synonym of laziness.  Sloth involves taking the path of least resistance, avoiding change and confrontation, even when it is necessary. Too often, non-action seems like a wise course of action.  But when we fail to act, to move forward, to step out, we are failing in our ministry; we are failing God who expects so much more from us.  We need God’s divine power to beat this one.  Our sermon text is II Peter 1:3-11.  Sunday, August 2, 2015, 10 a.m.

Vainglory- Image is Everything

Everywhere we turn, we find an "excessive and disordered desire for recognition and approval from others" (Glittering Vices, by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung).  We work hard to project an image that is often little more than a mask or a charade.  Image really is everything, but only when we seek our approval in the right places.  Each of us bears the image of our Creator. That image is truly worth boasting about.
We will hear about this vice, vainglory, in our second message of our series on the Seven Deadly Sins.  Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m.

Envy is the ulcer of the soul

"Envy is the ulcer of the soul," said Socrates.  
The 7 deadly sins:  quaint relic from the pat? A ball and chain (also known as "the law") from which we post Reformation types have been liberated? An intriguing topic for filmakers?  This Sunday we begin a sermon series on the 7 deadly sins.  We begin with that green monster:  envy.  July 19, 2015, 10 a.m.

What were they thinking?

What were they thinking?  Well, here is a bit of what they were thinking:

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean living.'"

I'm whispering "I was lost,

Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success...

I'm admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

Who received God's good grace, somehow!

And...

My only comfort, both in life and in death, is that

That I am not my own,

But that I belong

To my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,

And has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.

He also watches over me in such a way

That not a hair can fall from my head

Without the will of my Father in heaven;:

In fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him,

Christ, by his Holy Spirit,

Assures me of eternal life

And makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready

From now on to live for him.

And...

That God has used so many people in my life to draw me closer to him. 

My parents raising me in a Christian home and teaching me how to pray, the importance of attending church, going to youth group, and doing personal devotions.

My grandparents, a Christian family, my friends--all have helped my faith to grow.

Those are some of the things that Derek DeGelder, Philip Zuidema, Sierra Bassie, Jacob Wonder and Summer Bassie were thinking when they made public profession of their faith yesterday.  May God  bless each of you richly, as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

What was I thinking?

The recent shark attacks may cause us to reconsider going for a swim in the ocean.  It's safer to just stay home.  Following Jesus also comes with risks; we head into dangerous territory when we commit our lives to him.  And yet, this Sunday, five young people are going to do just that: they are going to publicly profess their faith in Jesus and their desire to live for him.  In Matthew 4 we read about how Jesus called his first disciples.  They "immediately" left what they were doing to follow him.  There would have been plenty of times when they may have wondered "what was I thinking."
The call from Jesus is not to be resisted.  And he will equip us for any dangers or risks we may encounter.  Join us this Sunday, July 5, at 10 am for a service of praise.  We will also be celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Sunday away, and 2 baptisms!

Last Sunday I was away with my family, enjoying some time at Point Farms Provincial Park.  While in the area, I baptized twin boys, Charles and Case Passchier.  I had baptized Corey and Laura's daughter Molly in the Christian Reformed Church in Kincardine, their son Tayson in the CRC in Lucknow, and now the twins in the Chalmers Community Church in Kincardine.  Life takes us different places, but the same God enfolds each of these children in his covenant family.  Such a wonderful celebration!

Baptized and Professed!

Last Sunday, June 21, 2015, we celebrated the baptism of Brielle Groen, baby girl of Ian & Krista, and sister of Carlee & Emma.  Baptizing babies reminds us that it's all grace! Congratulations Ian & Krista!

And then we heard the public profession of faith of Jordan Ellens and Nick Wiersma and the reaffirmation of faith of Gerda and Harry deWitte. In doing so, they took a stand for Jesus and affirmed the promises that God had made to them in their baptism.

It was a wonderful worship service and we thank and praise God for working in the lives of all!

Take a stand

Say it, believe it.  That's all you have to do, says Paul (Romans 10:9). Then why are we so hesitant to take a stand and say what we believe?  This Sunday, June 21, 4 people will be taking a stand for Jesus as they profess their faith. During this service we will celebrate both sacraments:  Brielle Sela will be baptized and we will share the communion meal.  You don't want to miss this!  10 a.m. Ancaster Christian Reformed Church, 70 Garner Road E.

Wednesday at Synod

Yes, we are here to do the work of synod, but the best experiences of synod have been our times of worship and our conversations with one another.  Maybe I'm just more relaxed than the last time I attended synod, but I am being blessed in being here in ways that I didn't feel in 2011.  There seems to be a genuine confidence, hope and expectation that the Holy Spirit is going to do amazing things in the CRC.

This morning we continue with the our discussions on the role of deacons within our churches and at our broader assemblies.  The report of the Task Force Reviewing Structure and Culture was to be presented this evening but it may appear on the floor already this afternoon.

Oh, and I had a great time with the under 40 crowd last night!

Synod in session

 On Saturday we experienced some Iowa hospitality with a pig roast, hosted by the president of Dordt College. No, that's not a beer I'm holding, it's a Sarsaparilla, a local favourite.  Sunday worship was great - a joy to sit in the pew for a change.  I hope all of you remember what a privilege it is to join in worship!  Sunday afternoon we gathered a second time for a service at First CRC which included Holy Communion. The singing at this service was awesome - great acoustics for sure, but also much joy in praising God together.  There is a really positive atmosphere at synod, with lots of first time delegates.

After spending our first few days of synod doing committee work, today we met in full session.  Some of the business included the interviews of two new faculty members at Calvin Theological Seminary, a listening session where we discussed pastoral situations concerning same sex case scenarios, and the appointment of the new Banner editor.  While we applauded that appointment, someone whispered in my ear, "Why do I feel like we just send a lamb to the slaughter?"  Being editor of our church magazine is not for the faint of heart!

Two of the more major items to be dealt with will be discussed during the evening sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Tomorrow we consider the role of deacon in our churches and on Wednesday we tackle the report which my committee discussed:  the report from the Task Force Reviewing Culture and Structure.

At Synod

This Sunday we have a guest pastor at Ancaster Christian Reformed Church.  I am in Sioux Centre, Iowa, attending the meetings of Synod, the CRC's broadest assembly.  We begin each day in plenary session which includes a time of worship. There was a time, not that long ago, when only men attended Synod.  When I hear voices raised in song, some singing in 4-part harmony, I am reminded that the diversity God created is a beautiful thing.
Our work at Synod, so far, has been done in committee.  The committee to which I have been assigned is dealing with a variety of matters, but the one that has taken up most of our time is a review of a report from a task force that was appointed to study the culture and structure of the denomination.  They have come with a recommendation for restructuring which is sure to generate much discussion when it comes to the floor of Synod next week.

At our plenary meeting tonight, Steve Timmermans, Executive Director of the CRC, spoke on the state of the CRC.  He reported some very positive things, including an increase in membership this past year, steady giving.  We were reminded again that this is Christ's church.  With that assurance we can anticipate God's blessings.

Tomorrow morning I will be worshiping in one of the Sioux Center churches where one of my colleagues from my seminary class is pastoring.

Welcoming skepticism

The elevator scene in the movie, God's Not Dead, is one of the most intense moments of the movie.  Student Josh has taken on his philosophy professor to argue that God is NOT dead.  Josh has been persuasive and winsome, but his professor holds the power and the authority in this competition.  Josh is waiting for the elevator and when the doors open, the only other occupant is Prof Raddison. Josh would probably have preferred to take the next elevator!  But he behaves with "gentleness and respect."  That's how we are told to answer for the hope we have: with "gentleness and respect" (I Peter 3: 15).  We can welcome skepticism, but we must remember to always address our skeptics with gentleness and respect.  Sunday, June 7, 10 a.m.
This service will also celebrate the graduation of our oldest KidzKonnect students.

Is faith blind?

There is a lot of evidence that God is real.  The creation speaks of a divine Creator, and the Bible makes God "known to us more openly" (Belgic Confession, Art 2).  That's pretty definitive proof for many of us, and yet, others fail to be convinced. There is a third way by which we come to know God:  it's the Holy Spirit.  This Sunday we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and we are reminded that "ultimately, blind faith is the only kind." Sunday, May 24, 10 a.m.

World Renew's Assembly of Global Partners

Last week I spent a good part of the week at a conference on the shores of Lake Michigan.  I am on the board of World Renew and we gathered for the 5th Assembly of Global Partners, bringing together a broad cross-section of stakeholders to share stories and do some strategic planning for the future.  World Renew engages in development and disaster relief work worldwide.  Many of our discussions were on the subject of justice and what it might look like for World Renew to expand its role to address the systemic causes of poverty and oppression.

It was a great week, celebrating what God is doing through WR.  Welcome to Jason deBoer who now joins our board.  And somewhere along the way I think I promised to visit Kenya sometime!