Living in Wiarton has taught me much about winter in Ontario-I will never complain about winter in Toronto after living here. One thing I really struggled with was the lack of sunshine after 4PM...
Monday, June 20, 2011
January Ice
Living in Wiarton has taught me much about winter in Ontario-I will never complain about winter in Toronto after living here. One thing I really struggled with was the lack of sunshine after 4PM...
NOVEMBER a new job
It seems like I have waited my whole life for this moment and although I have been a Pastor for a very long time, here I am now in my first church-Thanks Be To God
We Moved to Wiarton
October 18, 2010 had us land in our new home and town. Here we are in WIARTON WOO HOO
Thursday, September 9, 2010
When Friendships Hurt
Sometimes we hurt each other. It's horrible when we do. Sometimes friendships end and that can be very sad or maybe very good. Friendships can be very safe places, but sometimes we fail to love the way we should.
This week I failed a friend, someone I care very much for. I also spent a few days wondering what happened to our friendship, where the car veered off the road so to speak. I tried emails and then a general chat to see what went wrong. They had decided to ignore me, they were hurt and now I was too. Today, I saw my friend many times and my heart was aching as to why we weren't communicating in a loving Christian way. Finally, after a miserable day I went to my friend and said, "Please talk to me, sort this out with me, what's happened? I feel horrible and I am worried". My friend felt horrible too and we talked about the way we both hurt. After much tender discussion we are okay-not great, but we both have promised not to give up on our friendship. For my friends grace and forgiveness I am very thankful.
In thinking about this difficult time with my friend, my mind has kept wandering back to Judas and Jesus. Judas Iscariot of course is one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, who we are told in the Gospel of John, carried the disciples' money bag. He was their treasurer. He was trusted, he was part of an unique inner circle. He had his feet washed by Jesus, saw the miracles of Jesus and probably believed Jesus was Israel's Messiah. He played with Jesus, worshiped with Jesus, ate with Jesus, etc.. Judas was one, with the most popular man of his time. However, something happened in their friendship that led Judas down a road where he ended up making choices that betrayed his friend.
I often wonder what would have happened had Judas not killed himself? What would reconciliation have looked liked in their friendship? What kind and how deep could the forgiveness and grace been? Judas it seemed lost a very important opportunity to be reconciled to Jesus and the others,the way Saint Peter had.
When we hurt each other, say unkind words, be impatient or curt, betray or even disrespect one another we are in turn doing these things to Jesus and to the whole body of Christ. Scripture tells us that "when one suffers we all suffer and when one rejoices we all rejoice (1Cor.12). Judas betrayed Jesus deeply and in turn hurt the other disciples.
When my friend and I were having trouble this week I knew it had to be sorted out and I am glad I went to them and that we talked. I am hoping for further reconciliation, but I will not push this matter. We both need some time to think on how we could have better treated one another. Though, I am thankful through God's grace, that we have begun to listen and share where the friendship had veered of the road. Too bad Judas could not have done that, can you imagine what kind of apostle he would have been? And that is the lesson in all of this, that when we hurt each other we must acknowledge our mistake, ask for forgiveness and offer grace. We need to listen more to one another and bear each others burdens. And when someone has hurt us, we too must offer forgiveness for when we do we are restored to one another. When we don't do this we lose sight and reject what Jesus has done for us.
Through Jesus' life and sacrifice we are all made friends of God and it is this paradigm where Christian friendships find their life.
I am deeply sorry I hurt my friend. I will seek to serve them better in the future, in the name of Jesus.
In Christian Friendship,
Pamela
This week I failed a friend, someone I care very much for. I also spent a few days wondering what happened to our friendship, where the car veered off the road so to speak. I tried emails and then a general chat to see what went wrong. They had decided to ignore me, they were hurt and now I was too. Today, I saw my friend many times and my heart was aching as to why we weren't communicating in a loving Christian way. Finally, after a miserable day I went to my friend and said, "Please talk to me, sort this out with me, what's happened? I feel horrible and I am worried". My friend felt horrible too and we talked about the way we both hurt. After much tender discussion we are okay-not great, but we both have promised not to give up on our friendship. For my friends grace and forgiveness I am very thankful.
In thinking about this difficult time with my friend, my mind has kept wandering back to Judas and Jesus. Judas Iscariot of course is one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, who we are told in the Gospel of John, carried the disciples' money bag. He was their treasurer. He was trusted, he was part of an unique inner circle. He had his feet washed by Jesus, saw the miracles of Jesus and probably believed Jesus was Israel's Messiah. He played with Jesus, worshiped with Jesus, ate with Jesus, etc.. Judas was one, with the most popular man of his time. However, something happened in their friendship that led Judas down a road where he ended up making choices that betrayed his friend.
I often wonder what would have happened had Judas not killed himself? What would reconciliation have looked liked in their friendship? What kind and how deep could the forgiveness and grace been? Judas it seemed lost a very important opportunity to be reconciled to Jesus and the others,the way Saint Peter had.
When we hurt each other, say unkind words, be impatient or curt, betray or even disrespect one another we are in turn doing these things to Jesus and to the whole body of Christ. Scripture tells us that "when one suffers we all suffer and when one rejoices we all rejoice (1Cor.12). Judas betrayed Jesus deeply and in turn hurt the other disciples.
When my friend and I were having trouble this week I knew it had to be sorted out and I am glad I went to them and that we talked. I am hoping for further reconciliation, but I will not push this matter. We both need some time to think on how we could have better treated one another. Though, I am thankful through God's grace, that we have begun to listen and share where the friendship had veered of the road. Too bad Judas could not have done that, can you imagine what kind of apostle he would have been? And that is the lesson in all of this, that when we hurt each other we must acknowledge our mistake, ask for forgiveness and offer grace. We need to listen more to one another and bear each others burdens. And when someone has hurt us, we too must offer forgiveness for when we do we are restored to one another. When we don't do this we lose sight and reject what Jesus has done for us.
Through Jesus' life and sacrifice we are all made friends of God and it is this paradigm where Christian friendships find their life.
I am deeply sorry I hurt my friend. I will seek to serve them better in the future, in the name of Jesus.
In Christian Friendship,
Pamela
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Preaching Prep
One of the things that I have really enjoyed this summer is mine and Adele's weekly trip to the library to work on our sermons. I am not sure Adele is always happy with me as we prepare sermons very differently. I like to discuss what I have read or stumbled on. She is more contemplative. I like to think out loud and share with those around me. She often likes to climb into her pile of books and emerge hours later, having literally ignored the world around. I read quickly, she is more methodical. We have very different styles of preaching preparation. And I am sure there have been more than one day where she has had the thought, why did I bring Pamela?
One of the things I have discovered in this process of weekly sermon preparation is that I firmly believe sermons must be created in community. Yes, I agree that preachers must do a healthy exegesis of their congregation first, but what about actually writing the sermon with them? Some of the best times this summer have been talking with other preachers who sit by the hour at the library tables and share with me what they are preaching on and why and to whom. We have shared insights, asked hard questions of each other and occasionally prayed for one another. When we struggled with a particular text we would share that struggle. This summer, one man, every Friday asked me what I thought of his introductions to his sermons, that he would read to me. Another shared his fear of being a preacher, a fear we all shared. It has been an interesting journey with these fellow sermon writers and I have really enjoyed learning and working with them so much so that I have come to the conviction that sermons should always be written with a group of people. I know that there will be people that disagree with this. They will argue that a sermon must be prepared by way of a preacher in quiet prayer, continual commentary study and living the sermon first, themself. I do not disagree with any of that, but I have come to see something deeper in the sermon prep that required me to lift my nose out of the books and look around and listen to the others in the room with me.
All of this made me think of the many books by Henri Nouwen that I have read. Henri of course wrote much and believed much about the concept of community. In his book, Creative Ministries Beyond Professionalism In Teaching, Preaching, Counseling, Organizing And Celebrating, he states, while exploring "the relationship between professionalism and spirituality in pastoral ministry. Unlike other professions, ministry is not an eight-to-five job, but primarily a way of life for others to see and understand so that liberation can become a possibility" (Doubleday, 1971, Pp. xxiv + 123). What this all made me think about is that preaching is not a job for me, but a way of life that flows out of my faith in Jesus and my relationship with His other kids. My sermon preparation needs to then be an an act of community as well.
When this summer ends I shall miss my preaching buddies, but I am encouraged to know that community and the Good News of Jesus is still at the heart of what what we preach and how to!
One of the things I have discovered in this process of weekly sermon preparation is that I firmly believe sermons must be created in community. Yes, I agree that preachers must do a healthy exegesis of their congregation first, but what about actually writing the sermon with them? Some of the best times this summer have been talking with other preachers who sit by the hour at the library tables and share with me what they are preaching on and why and to whom. We have shared insights, asked hard questions of each other and occasionally prayed for one another. When we struggled with a particular text we would share that struggle. This summer, one man, every Friday asked me what I thought of his introductions to his sermons, that he would read to me. Another shared his fear of being a preacher, a fear we all shared. It has been an interesting journey with these fellow sermon writers and I have really enjoyed learning and working with them so much so that I have come to the conviction that sermons should always be written with a group of people. I know that there will be people that disagree with this. They will argue that a sermon must be prepared by way of a preacher in quiet prayer, continual commentary study and living the sermon first, themself. I do not disagree with any of that, but I have come to see something deeper in the sermon prep that required me to lift my nose out of the books and look around and listen to the others in the room with me.
All of this made me think of the many books by Henri Nouwen that I have read. Henri of course wrote much and believed much about the concept of community. In his book, Creative Ministries Beyond Professionalism In Teaching, Preaching, Counseling, Organizing And Celebrating, he states, while exploring "the relationship between professionalism and spirituality in pastoral ministry. Unlike other professions, ministry is not an eight-to-five job, but primarily a way of life for others to see and understand so that liberation can become a possibility" (Doubleday, 1971, Pp. xxiv + 123). What this all made me think about is that preaching is not a job for me, but a way of life that flows out of my faith in Jesus and my relationship with His other kids. My sermon preparation needs to then be an an act of community as well.
When this summer ends I shall miss my preaching buddies, but I am encouraged to know that community and the Good News of Jesus is still at the heart of what what we preach and how to!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friendship Observed
I am very blessed to have great friends. I have friends that I have known all my life like Kathleen and new friends like Ben. I have friends that make me laugh hysterically and some that I can openly grieve with, without fear of rejection. I also have friends, two that I know 100% would die for me. I am very, very blessed.
If you know me at all, you know I have an enduring love for people. I am often described as engaging and friendly. I am known as being very relational, but this also comes with some risks. Not every one is willing to be vulnerable and honest the way unconditional friendships require. Some people take a great deal of time to trust others and they build walls around themselves so love cannot penetrate their walls. Some people sadly never learn how profound true friendship can be. This is sad to someone like me who easily loves and is willing to work through problems to have great friendships.
Some of my best friends are also the people who will be be most honest with me. They love me enough to tell me the truth when I make mistakes. They love me enough to say, "Pamela, you have done wrong" and love me enough to stay friends with me when I do make mistakes.
My Spiritual Sister Adele can be very angry at me in one moment and then offer me a cup of tea in the next(this is strange for some). We do not hold grudges and most days we are 100% honest and authentic in our friendship. I count on her truthfulness and love everyday and she counts on mine. I simply love her. That love is based on a mutual understanding that God has given to each of us a person who will every day die for the other. It is a friendship that is Christ centered and Christ nurtured. Therefore, it is a friendship where much time is spent working on always seeking her best, always trying to find ways to serve her in the healthiest ways. I have a very similar friendship with another who I know unconditionally loves me, for this other person I give great thanks and thanks for the way he always seeks the best for me.
My great experiences with intimate friendships makes me often ponder the types of friendships that Jesus had. Of course there was his relationship with the disciples and Nicodemus, but many times I wonder about him and Lazarus.
We all know the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but I think there was so much more to that relationship. The very fact that Jesus went back to the town where the authorities said they would stone him, to save his friend is remarkable. The Bible also tells us of two people Jesus loved. 1, was the Beloved Disciple and the other Lazarus. (Gospel of John) Jesus indeed loved Lazarus and I would like to think they were very good friends. Jesus also stays at Lazarus house on the Saturday before he is crucified (Gospel of John 12). And after the crucifixion the disciples hid in Bethany.
Bethany and Lazarus' house were often the places Jesus and the disciples visited, this does not surprise me as I too often visit the towns where my good friend are and often go to their homes when I am in need of comfort. I am glad Jesus had such good friends and more so that Jesus loves all of us and has called all of us,his followers, friends. He said, "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you Friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. "This I command you, that you love one another". (Gospel of John) I am very thankful that my friends have taken this new commandment to heart-I am very blessed indeed!
If you know me at all, you know I have an enduring love for people. I am often described as engaging and friendly. I am known as being very relational, but this also comes with some risks. Not every one is willing to be vulnerable and honest the way unconditional friendships require. Some people take a great deal of time to trust others and they build walls around themselves so love cannot penetrate their walls. Some people sadly never learn how profound true friendship can be. This is sad to someone like me who easily loves and is willing to work through problems to have great friendships.
Some of my best friends are also the people who will be be most honest with me. They love me enough to tell me the truth when I make mistakes. They love me enough to say, "Pamela, you have done wrong" and love me enough to stay friends with me when I do make mistakes.
My Spiritual Sister Adele can be very angry at me in one moment and then offer me a cup of tea in the next(this is strange for some). We do not hold grudges and most days we are 100% honest and authentic in our friendship. I count on her truthfulness and love everyday and she counts on mine. I simply love her. That love is based on a mutual understanding that God has given to each of us a person who will every day die for the other. It is a friendship that is Christ centered and Christ nurtured. Therefore, it is a friendship where much time is spent working on always seeking her best, always trying to find ways to serve her in the healthiest ways. I have a very similar friendship with another who I know unconditionally loves me, for this other person I give great thanks and thanks for the way he always seeks the best for me.
My great experiences with intimate friendships makes me often ponder the types of friendships that Jesus had. Of course there was his relationship with the disciples and Nicodemus, but many times I wonder about him and Lazarus.
We all know the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but I think there was so much more to that relationship. The very fact that Jesus went back to the town where the authorities said they would stone him, to save his friend is remarkable. The Bible also tells us of two people Jesus loved. 1, was the Beloved Disciple and the other Lazarus. (Gospel of John) Jesus indeed loved Lazarus and I would like to think they were very good friends. Jesus also stays at Lazarus house on the Saturday before he is crucified (Gospel of John 12). And after the crucifixion the disciples hid in Bethany.
Bethany and Lazarus' house were often the places Jesus and the disciples visited, this does not surprise me as I too often visit the towns where my good friend are and often go to their homes when I am in need of comfort. I am glad Jesus had such good friends and more so that Jesus loves all of us and has called all of us,his followers, friends. He said, "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you Friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. "This I command you, that you love one another". (Gospel of John) I am very thankful that my friends have taken this new commandment to heart-I am very blessed indeed!
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