My friend Phil Laeger is always a good read, but his post from yesterday is a well-written and well thought out opinion not only on tradition, heroes and identity gained from the past, but also on the pursuit of the Saviour.

Brilliant - thanks, Phil.

PS - Hey, Phil - did you know that if I type your name too fast and spell it wrong it comes out "Phil Larger"? Ha ha ha ha - that made me laugh. [Sigh] I'm so amusing to myself.....

I was thinking today about intercession - or rather intercessory prayer. Growing up in the church, the word 'intercession' has always meant prayer. It is the kind of prayer where you are stand between someone or some group and God, petitioning Him on their behalf. I feel that I have known this concept for a long time, and yet today, I was struck more than ever at the actual meaning of the word: intercession. It is literally a 'standing in between' - in between the wrath of God and the creation of God, often. I did a quick search for 'intercession' in Bible Gateway, and it immediately popped up Isaiah 53:12 (NIV) -


The passage is talking about Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross - he made intercession. He literally physically stepped in between us and the wrath of God, which we justly deserved. The NAS puts it this way:


Interceded. Like when we pray. But the NIV saying that He made intercession also really struck me. It's completed. It's done. I always think of intercession as this ongoing thing. Don't get me wrong, I believe in the power of prayer and the necessity of intercession. I know that when I pray, God hears me. But I have never been struck so much by the finality and completion of Jesus' intercession. For me. For us. For everyone. It's done. Completed. The intercession is made. He stepped in between and actually completed what I was absolutely unable to do. It is ..... glorious and humbling and awe-inspiring all at the same time.

It's good to have fresh revelation of salvation. Words that have been used our whole lives can get stale. Fresh revelation even of well-known facts, promises and concepts continue to spark worship from deeper and fresher places in our hearts. Hallelujah.

I went to a free concert last night - Mozart's Requiem performed by the Vancouver Bach Choir. It was held at St. James' Anglican Church in the downtown eastside, and was very well done. As I was listening to it again today on CD and looking up the English translation (it's sung in Latin), I was struck by how full the church was, and how most of these people probably didn't know they were hearing prayers and praises to the One True God. Many of them would be music lovers, like myself, so would probably have read a translation at some point, but likely don't remember much of it (even I didn't, and I've not only sung it but studied it). Disguised by the Latin and presented with the excellence of Mozart's talent, they were not only content to hear it, but actually yearning for it.

Yearning to hear the gospel of Christ. Sadly, my heart doesn't confirm that - I think they were yearning to hear the music of Mozart. But perhaps someone will wonder when they go home what all that Latin mumbo-jumbo actually meant. And they'll look it up on the internet like I did, and read all about the coming judgment and the salvation and mercy of God.

And perhaps since they went to a church to hear the concert, they'll be less resistant to visiting a church again in search of God in a personal way. May it be so, and may they find faithful saints to continue the true testimony of Jesus.


(A requiem mass was written to be sung at a funeral - that may help explain much of the text....)

I. Introit: Requiem

Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. You are praised, God, in Zion, and homage will be paid to You in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer, to You all flesh will come. Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.

II. Kyrie

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

III. Sequence

1. Dies irae

Day of wrath, day of anger will dissolve the world in ashes, as foretold by David and the Sibyl. Great trembling there will be when the Judge descends from heaven to examine all things closely.

2. Tuba mirum

Death and nature will be astounded, when all creation rises again, to answer the judgement. A book will be brought forth, in which all will be written, by which the world will be judged.
When the judge takes his place, what is hidden will be revealed, nothing will remain unavenged.
What shall a wretch like me say? Who shall intercede for me, when the just ones need mercy?

3. Rex tremendae

King of tremendous majesty, who freely saves those worthy ones, save me, source of mercy.

4. Recordare

Remember, kind Jesus, my salvation caused your suffering; do not forsake me on that day.
Faint and weary you have sought me, redeemed me, suffering on the cross; may such great effort not be in vain. Righteous judge of vengeance, grant me the gift of absolution before the day of retribution. I moan as one who is guilty: owning my shame with a red face; suppliant before you, Lord. You, who absolved Mary, and listened to the thief, give me hope also.
My prayers are unworthy, but, good Lord, have mercy, and rescue me from eternal fire. Provide me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, guiding me to Your right hand.

5. Confutatis

When the accused are confounded, and doomed to flames of woe, call me among the blessed.
I kneel with submissive heart, my contrition is like ashes, help me in my final condition.

6. Lacrimosa

That day of tears and mourning, when from the ashes shall arise, all humanity to be judged. Spare us by your mercy, Lord, gentle Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest. Amen.

IV. Offertory

I. Domine Jesu

Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, liberate the souls of the faithful, departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit. Deliver them from the lion's mouth, lest hell swallow them up, lest they fall into darkness. Let the standard-bearer, holy Michael, bring them into holy light. Which was promised to Abraham and his descendants.

2. Hostias

Sacrifices and prayers of praise, Lord, we offer to You. Receive them in behalf of those souls we commemorate today. And let them, Lord, pass from death to life, which was promised to Abraham and his descendants.

V. Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,grant them eternal rest. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Grant them eternal rest. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest forever.

VI. Communion

Lux aeterna

Let eternal light shine on them, Lord, as with Your saints in eternity, because You are merciful. Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them, as with Your saints in eternity, because You are merciful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requiem_(Mozart)

I spent most of the day today frequenting pawn shops all over Vancouver.
I was looking for a violin that belongs to a friend of mine.
Hoping fervently to find it.
Wanting so desperately to redeem it that the money was carried with me.
Anticipating the tears of joy upon its return to her.
Experiencing instead tears of grief and pain, as if it was stolen all over again just today.
My heart is heavy.

God has spent most of time as we know it frequenting every corner of the universe.
He has been looking for the son and daughter that belongs to Him.
Hoping fervently to find them.
Wanting so desperately to redeem them that the way to do so was carried with Him.
Anticipating tears of joy upon their return to Him.
Experiencing instead tears of grief and pain, as if they were torn away from Him all over again just today.
His heart must be so heavy.

The parallel is weighty with me today, and very real. And yet I cannot begin to pretend that the heaviness in my heart for a violin that does not even belong to me (nor did I make) is anything close to the divine grief He must experience as any one of His precious sons or daughters turns their faces away from Him and instead chooses death.

Please pray for the redemption and restoration of the violin to its owner.
Please pray for the redemption and restoration of every soul on earth to its Creator and Father.

I have a friend that's getting married soon. I've been interested to watch the fact that my dear friend is not concerned about the details of her wedding, particularly. I know that it's part of her personality, but as I think about it more, I think it's also a good reflection on the fact that she gets that some of these "details of the day" are irrelevant compared to the fact that she is entering a marriage, not just a wedding. Invitations are just informational cards that let everyone know where they need to be and when. Bridesmaids' dresses are just to make sure that the attendants aren't cold from lack of clothing. Dinner is not to impress, but rather to fill stomachs and provide a place for people to be together and enjoy each other and celebrate.

Now personally, I've been to approximately a bazillion weddings (approximately). They are beautiful and they celebrate the day and I'm not slamming them in any way (I have a feeling that my own wedding will be much more like them than like my friend's). But somehow I think that this beautiful friend of mine is on to something. While the short-term (the wedding) is fun and exciting and in its own way important, it's actually about the long-term (the marriage - the life together).

It seems a pretty blatant parallel to our walk with Christ, don't you think? The short-term - the salvation - is important and exciting. But though it is important - in fact I'll go one step further and say that it is a necessary beginning (as is the wedding) - it remains still a starting point to the life together.

It's kind of a neat thought. Not original - the scriptures are full of our relationship with God being paralleled to a wedding and marriage - but it's still a neat thought. Not just a bride for a day, but also a wife for a life-time. Nice.

'Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."' (Revelation 21:9)

(I had to add this little addendum: After I posted this blog, I noticed that it comes right after the one where I decided to hint to all the men out there what many women are looking for! It's a good definition of irony. And it was entirely unintentional!) :)

THE WARNING: This blog is going to be on the long side of things, but WELL worth the read!

THE INVITATION: To all the men out there, especially single men, you're invited to read this. Gents, if you have ever wanted to know what women are really looking for in men, this is an EXCELLENT start! I don't tend to like generalizations, but let's just say that I've met many women in my day (besides being one! hello!) and I have never met ONE who hasn't said that this is exactly what she wants in a husband. I'll take that one step further and say that we're all totally good with you practicing this on us as sisters, too! I just thought I'd give you the heads up.

Ladies, read to the end, there's a paragraph there to encourage us to move forward in the same concept. And if you agree, by the way, with what this passage says about what we're looking for in our men, a little "amen" in the comments section to spur on our brothers, husbands, boyfriends and potentials would be great! (Because I really can't believe that this book was written for just me!)

(By the way, I'm not saying that the traits talked about below are completely absent from all the men I have met. I am not man-bashing nor saying that no man does these things. Nor am I saying that woman are not partly to blame for the times that these character traits are not existent. Broken women don't always allow men to exude this kind of strength for them; broken men often don't try. We all have work to do and healing to receive.)

THE BLOG: Taken from chapter eight of Captivating, a book about the woman's heart by John and Stasi Eldredge (Stasi is the speaker in this passage). Yes, it's written to women, but just so that intro doesn't turn the guys off, it IS intended to be a book read by both men and women (just think of it as being a fly on the wall, guys!). (John Eldredge is also the fellow who wrote Wild At Heart, a book for men that probably every woman should read.)


The essence of a man in Strength. A man is meant to be the incarnation - our experience in human form - of our Warrior God. A God who comes through for us.

Who is this who comes from Edom,
from Bozrah, with His garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of His strength?
"It is I, speaking in righteousness,
mighty to save." (Isaiah 63:1)

Isn't this what makes our hearts beat more quickly, our knees weak when we watch Daniel Day Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans, William Wallace in Braveheart, Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, or Harrison Ford in nearly any of his movies? Isn't that what we, as women, long to experience from our man, and from the men in our lives?

To experience the strength of a man is to have him speak on our behalf. For when men abuse with words, we are pierced. Their strength has wounded us. When they are silent, we are starved. They have offered no strength; they have abandoned us. But when they speak with us, hear us, offer their words to us and on our behalf, something in our hearts is able to rest. "How are you?" is one of the simplest and most loving questions John ever asks me.

We long for the protection masculine strength offers. To have them shield us from physical harm, yes. But also to have them shield us from emotional harm and spiritual attack. To intercede for us in a relationship which has become hurtful. A friend was being verbally abused and manipulated by her mother over the phone, repeatedly. Finally, one night her husband took the phone and spoke to her mother. "You cannot talk to my wife this way. I will not allow it. You may not call again until you are ready to be kind." He did for her what she was, at that time, unable to do for herself. And she was so grateful.

As women we long for someone strong to stand between us and the vicious assaults of our Enemy. One weary night I had gone to bed early, overcome with a sense of despair and hopelessness. I felt pounded down, beyond saving, and worthy of condemnation. I lay still, engulfed in grief. Suddenly, John was at my bedside. He was angry, but not at me. John recognized the hand of our Enemy. He began to take his authority over me as my husband and forcefully commanded the minions of Satan to release me; he commanded them to be silent, and he sent them to the throne of Jesus for judgment. When he began to pray for me, I was embarrassed. When he continued, I began to feel lighter. When he finished, tears were streaming down my face and my hands were raised to God in holy gratitude and joyful worship. I had gone to bed filled with unrelenting sorrow. I ended the night belting out heartfelt songs of praise.

Strength is what the world longs to experience from a man.

Now - isn't it obvious that we don't mean big muscles?

Of course. A man might like to work out at the gym, but if he is only physically strong, he is a hollow man. Are we satisfied as a woman with that kind of man? On the other hand, our man might prefer to read or play an instrument. Does that in any way diminish the strength of his soul? Not at all. The strength of a man is first a soulish strength - a strength of heart. And yes, as he lives is out, owns it, inhabits his strength, he does become more handsome. More attractive. As the fruit of an inner reality.

So then you can see that when we speak about the essence of a woman - her beauty - we don't mean "the perfect figure." The beauty of a woman is first a soulish beauty. We know - it's a harder jump to make. We've lived so long under the pressure to be beautiful. But stay with the thought for a moment, because it will really help. The beauty of a woman is first a soulful beauty. And yes, as we live it out, own it, inhabit our beauty, we do become more lovely. More alluring. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, "Self flashes of frame and face." Our true self becomes reflected in our appearance. But it flows from the inside out.

I've been pondering the word and concept "community" this morning. It's definitely one of the buzz-words in the church these days. Not to say that buzz-words are wrong - they often flow out of what God is teaching us as His church.

But I sometimes wonder if we don't take the concept of community too far - or perhaps not far enough.

Not long ago I blogged about the Vancouver War College students going on summer placements, and just as a tag line to that blog, I wrote the words, "Community is not bound by the borders of our corps." (In the Salvation Army, local congregations are called corps.) I really believe that this is true. Or rather, I really believe that this should be true.

I'm not sure that it is.

As a follow-up to the call to be counter-culture, I want to throw it out there that we are ONE church. ONE body. Does it get even messier to try and execute community in this way? Yup. (Of course!) Is it worth it? A better question is: Isn't it what we are supposed to be?

What holds us back? Fear of losing numbers in our congregations? No problem - counter-culture tells us that numbers don't matter - obedience to the call of God matters. Fear that all our leaders will go elsewhere? No problem - we believe in the priesthood of all believers and our High King is our ultimate leader. Fear that we won't be able to tell "who's from where" anymore? AMEN - SO BE IT.

Here's the common factor - FEAR. But we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of adoption as sons (and daughters). With ONE Father - ONE Lord, over all and in all and through all. This does not negate the different parts we are all to play, but even in those parts, we are still called to be ONE BODY.

May we not be able to be defined as coming from this congregation or that one, from this denomination or that one. May we simply be "those crazy Christians" who call everywhere home and everyone community.


'For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"' (Romans 8:15)

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

I heard a preach last night on being counter-culture. I LOVED IT. I agree with it whole-heartedly. We are Believers - our very scriptures call us to be counter-culture. But I am often afraid that we are not only not counter-culture, but that we are indeed following culture so closely that we are indiscernible from the world. And just so there's no confusion, I too, sadly, fall into that category all too often.

Maybe we should start examining our own church culture and weigh it against the scriptures. Where we are lacking - faith, truth, or the execution of commands - then may we find the strength to change, by the grace of God.

To be clear - I don't want to be counter-culture just for the sake of being different. I want to be counter-culture because I believe that what we are called to be as children of God and believers of Jesus IS counter to what our world practices and believes. I want to be radically obedient to the Word of God and radically opposed to the norms of the world where they differ from that Word.

Difficult?
Yes.

Painful?
Potentially.

Worth it?
Undoubtedly.

Necessary?
Unarguably.

Romans 12:2 says this: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Be transformed. Not CONFORMED (made the same as) but TRANSFORMED (completely changed).

Be completely changed by the renewing of our minds. Soaking our minds in the Word of God, the beauty of God, the will of God. Finding the truth about what God sees as success, failure and love. Exposing the lies of our culture (by the way - that culture is run by the enemy) about who we are, what power we have and how urgent our calling is.

Being counter-culture is not just what we do either - I think at its very core it is WHO WE ARE. What we do will naturally flow out of that.

Be transformed. Changed. And here is a good word - do not fear. We have no need to fear this culture or what it will do when we completely change and throw our dependencee on it out the window.

Never forget: "... greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend's trip to Kelowna. I was obviously feeling rather artsy-fartsy (go figure, eh?).




A view of the pier outside our camp (Green Bay Bible Camp) building.
















This is a picture of the pier on the property beside the camp, with the lights of Kelowna in the background.


I obviously have a thing about water. But why not? It's beautiful, it's fun, and in the scriptures it has much significance. The book of Ezekiel describes a river coming from the throne, and the water feeds fruit trees that bear fruit all year round. (Ezekiel 47:1-12 is well worth spending some time on.)

"Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing." (Ezekiel 47:12)

If we think if ourselves as the fruit trees, designed to continually bear good fruit all year long, we must recognize that our nourishment comes only from the throne of God.

If we recognize that our nourishment - spiritual, physical, emotional and mental - comes only from the throne of God, what affect will that have on the way we seek our sustainance or how often and how deeply we hunger?

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

Well, I did get a bottom bunk at this past weekend's youth retreat. Though considering the top part of the bunk was so low that I couldn't sit up in my bottom bunk, I'm not sure I fared a whole lot better (but I didn't fall out - woohoo). Added to that, I set my alarm for PM instead of AM (don't you hate that?) and didn't figure it out until after I was up on the last morning. Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit alarm - I'm pretty sure it's the only reason I didn't sleep until noon every day.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. I didn't intentionally put the comments back on - just forgot to disable them - but was so glad to hear from you all. Heather Dolby - you make me laugh! Hope you're healing well from your servant experience at camp.....


Not much to say tonight - just feeling the need to update. Here are a couple of tidbits:

Currently reading: Captivating (by John and Stasi Eldredge) - I'm not far in, but so far a FANTASTIC book and one that every woman should read to help her to be validated and to understand her role in life and the Kingdom by God's design. It's also a book that every man should read who wants to understand women. (Seriously!)

"The king is enthralled by your beauty...." (Psalm 45:11a)

Thankful today for: Beautiful friends (even though one of my friends was kind (?) enough last night to say I could do better than them. For the record - I highly doubt I could, not for any deficiency in myself but rather for the quality of people that they already are.....).

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)

Today I was reminded: That God is committed to complete and total healing - He is not a God who heals in parts.

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:13-16)

Tonight I'm praying for: A deeper revelation of truth, a more passionate heart of worship, and a better understanding of how to be a Mary while still doing the work of Martha.

"...and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)