The Sounds of Silence

As my students read quietly in class, (for that I have Andrew Peterson's Wingfather Saga to thank, they actually want to read it), it occurs to me that our world today rarely has any peace and quiet.  From the moment we wake up, until our day ends, most of us are surrounded by noise.  The proliferation of ipods and mp3 players has only made this trend more complete.  If we want to, we can avoid silence altogether.  This need for noise has advanced enough that some people cannot sleep when it is quiet, nor can they concentrate without background noise.  (Some of my students listen to their ipod while reading, "I can't read, it's too quiet" has been said often enough). 
How does this impact our ability to "listen" to what God has to say in our lives?  If we don't take the time to stop and think, to ponder our lives, won't we miss out on that "still small voice" with which the Holy Spirit prods us?  One of the reasons that I prefer to run in the wood is because the solitude and quiet are invigorating.  In those moments, my mind is open, much more so than it can be when the TV is on, or simply the sounds of an industrialized world surround me. 
Do yourself a favor, make the time in your busy schedule to get outside and enjoy God's Creation, or curl up with a good book and shut out life's distraction.  You'll be amazed at what it does for your mood.  Remeber, even God needed a rest on the 7th day.

Faith or Science: Choose Both

I saw that statement on a billboard this week.  (It was an advertisement for Calvin College, a Christian Reformed college in Grand Rapids)  The question is, are faith and science at war with each other, indifferent, cooperative, or something else?  There are some who believe that science and faith occupty different spheres so that neither of them has much to say about the other.  Another thought is that faith and science are in a perpetual war with each other, when one gains, the other loses.  The idea that the billboard was striving to promote is that faith and science, when both are functioning properly, are actually partners.  Which is it?

To the Christian, the only real answer is the last one.  If faith and science have nothing to do with each other, both would  be diminished.  Faith wouldn't offer any help in many areas of life, and science would be left hollow and purposeless.  If they are at war with each other, we are doomed to either a faith that is not based in reality or a science that has no knowledge of God.  Neither of these choices is acceptable.

Because God created the world, including us, the study of science is ultimately the study of the handiwork of the Creator.  As such, it is not a threat to faith.  Likewise, faith enables science to answer the "why?" questions that would otherwise elude it.  In the end, both faith and science are enriched when viewed together.  Why then do we have such constant tension between the two?  The answer is simple, there are plenty of people on both sides working to keep it that way.  There are people of faith who shun knowledge, and people of science who belittle belief in anything beyond our senses.  Will it be easy to create harmony between faith and science?  No, but it is necessary.  Christians have nothing to fear from science, our world is God's creation, the laws that govern it are his own.

Sermon Video: "walk in the light" I John 1:5-7

How do we know the Truth?  What is our guide in the darkness to find our way to the light?  John writes that God IS light.  He has no darkness at all in his essence.  If we're going to fellowship with God, we're going to need a remedy for the sinfulness (darkness) of humanity.  That remedy is the blood of Jesus which enables us to begin walking in the light.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: "the peace of Christ" Colossians 3:15

Mankind has never known real peace.  We are always at war with each other, at war with our God, and at war within ourselves.  Jesus Christ offers a solution: Peace with God through his shed blood.  Peace within through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and peace among men through the shared purpose and calling of his Church.  The world seeks contentment through hedonism and immorality, but only finds despair.  Jesus offers to use peace, freely.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Let them laugh

When the Top Ten for this year's Artprize contest were announced (Artprize is a massive public art showing in downtown Grand Rapids MI that last 3 weeks, has public voting, and sizable prizes) there was considerable criticism from art critics about the peoples' choices.  That ordinary people and art critics differ on what they like should be no surprise, we're used to seeing movies, TV shows, and songs win awards that have nothing to do with popularity.
One of the critics working for the Grand Rapids Press wrote about one piece in particular, Mia Tavonatti's "Crucifixion" (a large glass mosaic of Christ on the Cross), that if this particular piece were to win the top prize, that Grand Rapids would become a "laughingstock" in the art world.  Evidently, religious art isn't meant to be taken seriously.
When the final results were revealed, "Crucifixion" won the top prize, and I can't help but wonder how many additional votes were cast for Mia's piece precisely because plenty of those neophytes who don't know anything about art didn't really appreciate being told that their Christianity should be publicly scorned.  We all remember how loudly critics came to the defense of "art" funded by the NEA that depicted the cross in a jar of urine.  It seems a bit odd that mocking Christianity in America gets you critical applause, but creating a beautiful piece of art that celebrates Western Civilization's most iconic image is somehow to be laughed at.
My wife and I were at the announcement of the winners in downtown GR and I certainly know that I cheered and clapped louder when "Crucifixion" won the contest.  In the end, the world is going to mock Jesus.  They always have, they rejected him when he came to this world to offer salvation, it is no surprise that those who have not found his grace continue to mock him still.  Are we a "laughingstock" now?  Let them laugh, one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Sermon Video: "clothe yourselves with compassion" Colossians 3:12-14

How does a Christian become Christ-like?  What do we need to do to imitate our Savior and set our minds on 'things above"?  Paul offers us the strategy of developing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  As we work on building these character traits, we also need to learn to forgive each other as God forgave us.  In addition, the glue that holds this process together is love.  Love binds us together and love makes our transformation into a holy people possible.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

“In death, my love, I loved you best.”

This is a profound line from one of the characters in Andrew Peterson's "The Monster in the Hollows" (book three of the Wingfeather Saga, book four is yet to come).  The trilogy is full of Biblical allusions and metaphors, but this one captures the Christ-like willingness to suffer and die for others in a powerful way.  It is not in his life here on Earth that Jesus proved his love, although he certainly loved the many that he healed and he wept at the tomb of Lazarus.  Rather, it was in his death on the cross that Jesus proved once and for all the limitless love of God for his children.  A love that would no accept defeat, a love that would bear the ultimate burden in order to redeem us and bring us home.  Most parents will understand this type of love; they would choose in an instant to trade their life for the life of their child.  We can understand this type of love.  What God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit chose to do goes beyond parental instinct.  Even before this world was made, God knew that making mankind in his own image would result in our rebellion and doom.  To make us without it would be to make us lesser beings; beings not capable of freely choosing to love our Creator.  Knowing all this, God chose to create us and planned from the beginning to send his Son, Jesus, to save us.  You see, it was in death that Jesus best showed how much he loved us.
In case you're wondering, I whole heartedly recommend the Wingfeather Saga; Peterson's books are entertaining and powerful with a Biblical morality woven into the framework and a redemption story at its heart.

Sermon Video: "your earthly nature" - Colossians 3:5-10

What is the Christian to do with all of the bad habits and vices that plagued us before we accepted Jesus?  Paul explains that the only solution to our former sin addiction is to put those very sinful tendancies to "death".  They cannot be managed, they must not be kept around for later, they need to be removed.  We have been given a clean slate by Christ, it's time we put the past in the past and begin to walk in the light.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video