Kid Rock - Born Free (American Music Awards 2010)

1st Sunday of Advent coming up - which means I am preaching on hope. Last week we heard an awesome message on hope, delivered by chaplain Case Vink. So hope upon hope. Where would you like to see this go? what is your angle on hope?

Kid Rock has good perspective on hardship in his song 'times like these' which he performed last night at the American Music Awards.

Creation and Evolution - a good article

This article is found on "Calvin Institute for Worship" website.

In it Scott Hoezee, who is the Director of Calvin Seminary's "Centre for Excellence in Preaching", cautions: "that preachers who ignore or disrespect scientific findings often alienate Christian scientists and educated young people. The more we set science and faith against each other, the more God looks capricious. You end up worshiping a God who seems quite content to trick you with stars or dinosaur bones that only look old."

There are some great resources and audio clips at the end of this article.

Creation and Evolution RESOURCES

Just came across a great resource. This is extremely helpful!!! http://www.faithaliveonline.org/origins/. This is a website that gives further resources behind each chapter of the book entitled "Origins: A Reformed Look at Creation, Design, and Evolution." Debra Haarsma co-authored, is a prof. at Calvin College. And Faith Alive publishes this book. This gives us an indication of how much Creation by Evolution is gaining acceptance in the CRC. The last part of the website is questions Christians ask: "but what about....?" Here's an example:

Would humans be less significant if God created us through common ancestry with animals rather than through special miracles?

"The idea of human evolution raises concerns about human significance. If we evolved from animals, are we nothing more than animals? Even if humans share a common ancestry with apes and other animals, our line of descent diverged from other animals at some point. Something differ- ent happened in our line of descent that did not happen to apes or other animals, something that makes us unique among life forms on earth.

Our significance, however, does not primarily lie in our biological uniqueness but in how God chooses to relate to us. In Genesis 1-2 God...."

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 2

To listen to the message "I believe God Created the World, part 2", click here.

If people are interested in diving deeper, I recommend the book "Creation or Evolution: Do we have to Choose?", written by Denis Alexander. FYI: this book is endorsed by the likes of: J.I. Packer (says that this is the clearest and best informed, and fairest treatment on this topic that you can find), and Francis Collins (says its brilliant and highly readable).

Also a website, of which you can just poke around and find books, DVDs, podcasts on various topics - www.testoffaith.com. On this website you find a book that is meant for small groups who want to study this in further detail, and a DVD film that is meant to introduce you to the book - interviews with people who write chapters in the book.

Both the book and the website come at this from the same angle that I am endorsing: in the end, the bible does not rule out either option (young earth nor old earth) - the bible doesn't even rule out that humans (who are created in the image of God) had evolutionary forebears. Therefore, we should have no fear of examining - with respect - the best Science brings forward.

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 2

If you listened to part 1 of God created the world, what in your opinion should be addressed in part 2? I want the starting point this week to be Colossians 1:15ff. and John 1. Jesus is the creative agent of creation, he is the designer, the way things work in this world is the actualization of his imagination.

What do you think of Intelligent Design? I am tending to agree with some who say that Intelligent Design is another version of "god of the gaps" - in that we take whatever Scientists can't explain (irreducible complexity) and we use this as proof of God. Seems to me to be a dangerous idea (as soon as the good work of science explains what you've been pointing to, you God is gone). Delighting in unexplainable phenomena as proof of God seems non-sensical. Because in the end, don't we delight in everything as created by God, even what Scientists have been able to explain? And if Scientists can't presently explain something, does that change anything? Doesn't it just mean they haven't yet been able to describe the details of the actualization of Jesus' imagination.

dan

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 1

to listen to "I believe God created the Word, part 1", click here.

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 1

Moving on to new topic - preaching two sermons on Creation, starting next Sunday. This being part of our "Faith Roots in the Public Square" series, it's only appropriate that we take seriously Evolution and Science. So....any thoughts on this? What do you think should be addressed? Right now I'm looking at a few different Scriptural starting points: the Genesis creation story, and Jesus declaration in Revelation that he is the "Alpha and the Omega" - the beginning and the end. Another passage would be John 1 - "in him nothing was made that was made". Any other Scriptures come to mind? What do you think must be addressed by somebody who is going to preach on Creation in today?

"I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, part 2"

To listen to "I believe in One God, part 2", click here.

I BELIEVE IN GOD, part 1

To listen to the sermon "I believe in One God, part 1", click here.

God's Truth

If God's truth can be found in the movies we watch, the song's we listen to, and the books we read....than why wouldn't we also affirm the truth we find in other religions?

Is God not everywhere? Can we really compartmentalize God out of certain spheres of existence?

"It would seem strange if the Spirit excused himself from the very arena of culture where people search for meaning" - Clark Pinnock

"All truth is God's truth" - Augustine

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, part 2

Preached part 1 to the 'Believing One God' message yesterday. This week preaching part 2, and I want to two things. I want to focus on how Christianity is unique narrative in light of the other religious narratives held by our neighbours (how and why would we feel okay with trying to convince someone to switch their allegiances?)

And secondly, I want to talk about how God can use people from different faiths to bring truth to Christians - truth that we might not have received if we had no interaction with people from a different faith. Last Sunday (yesterday) the main point was that Christian can affirm truth as they see it in other religions (just like Paul affirmed truth about God, as he saw in other religions...Acts 17); this Sunday, rather than stopping at Christians blessing truth where they see it, we want to appreciate that other faiths can bring truth to us where we don't see it.

Some passages to consider in particular. In light of Christianity as unique - Amos 9:7 and Acts 10:34-35. In light of God using people from different faiths to bring us into deeper truth - Genesis 14:18-19 and Exodus 18 and Numbers 22.

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD

"A new generation of believers wants to find a God who dwells outside the boundaries of their own religious tradition, a God that would be worth worshiping. They are torn. They have discovered that God's presence or involvement with humanity is so obviously greater than their own religion. At the same time, they have discovered that the more they cling to their respective traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam... they have to accept their traditions...as God management systems" - Samir Selmanovic

What do you think????

How about this one? - from the same guy

"I used to think that God's choice of depositing the ultimate truth in my religion was a wonderful mystery. How glorious, I thought, that God would actually put together a religion to carry the ultimate truth to the world! Yes, others would have truth too, but no the ultimate one, I thought, thrilled that it was we Christians who were chosen for the top task. We were the ambassadors of God on earth.

Whoever has not tried this drink, I think, has never been properly drunk. What can possibly compare to being in charge of God? Of course, we never said, "Listen everyone, we are in charge of God." Like drunks, we would deny even thinking such a thing, to both others and to ourselves."

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD

"We can either stay within the Christianity we have mastered with the Jesus we have domesticated, or we can leave Christianity as a destination, embrace Christianity as a way of life, and then journey to reality, where God is present and living in every person, every human community, and all creation." - Samir Selmanovic

Preaching a sermon in a couple weeks, "I believe in one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob". Looking for some conversation. We all know that we work and live with people of many differing faiths - how does one live committed to Christ and dialogue in this context? How does one talk enthuisiastically about what one is committed to, without being the superior condesending (don't judge me because I spelled that wrong) one? How can you be certain that you are right, and millions of others are wrong? Should you be certain? Does it matter if others are wrong? Is there truth in other religions? Do Muslims commune with the same God we commune with? And if they do, do they just commune with less knowledge of who he really is? Is this arrogant to think? Should you ever say that to a Muslim? Shouldn't we be visiting Mosques from time to time? If we shut out other religions, shouldn't we expect them to shut us out too?

"When the Church is Judgemental: a call to be good-judgers" (Series: "A Church Called Broken"

Click here to listen to the sermon, "When the Church is Judmental"

"When the Church is Not who they say they are: a call to obedience (Series: "A Church Called Broken")

Click here to listen to the sermon entitled, "When the Church is Not who they say they are"

Judge Not

This photo was taken by Stephanie Jager - it represents the series we're doing at Emmanuel, "A Church Called Broken".

I am preaching this week on Matthew 7:1-6, where Jesus tells people to "not judge". He uses the eye imagery, 'take the plank out of your eye so that you can see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers' eye'. So what are your thoughts about this text? What has your experience told you about 'judging others' or 'being judged'. How is the church doing in this regard?

The church has quite the reputation in the world for "being judgemental". Christians can be reminded by the world, or by fellow Christians, that we should not be so judgmental and even be reminded to "take the plank out of your own eye", or in other words, "you aren't allowed to judge me, look at your own crap instead". I am pretty sure that is not what this text is saying: I think Jesus is telling us to take the log out of own eye, so that we can be better at judging. The call here is not to be 'non-judgers', but to be 'good- judgers'. Being 'judgmental' would be a label given to someone who is bad at judging. Thoughts? Reactions?

If Jesus is saying that there is a good kind of judging that must take place, what would be the purpose or benefit, in your opinion, of this judging of others?

"When the Church is Arrogant - the call to point to God" (series: A Church Called Broken)

This photo was taken by Stephanie Jager - she came across it in Gautemala. The photo represents the series we're walking through at Emmanuel: A Church Called Broken.

Click here to listen to this sermon entitled, "When the Church is Arrogant - the call to point to God". It's about honouring and respecting people from other religions even while standing strongly within the convictions of your own. God is doing amazing things throughout this world - not just through the church!

Enough

Believing Jesus died for your sins is not enough. Does this statement make you go into cardiac arrest? Is it fair for me to say that if a Christian goes into shock over this statement, it's because their vision is too small? Let's ask the question - enough for what? If the answer is: to go to heaven to be with God after we die - then perhaps believing in Jesus is enough. But God's vision for the church is so much bigger.