The Joy of the Season

I realize I’m a little late in wishing everyone the Joy of the Season.  But life’s been a little hectic!

I’ve had many reasons to be joyful in the last two months (for it is about 2 months since I blogged about anything).

The big trip home...

So, my memory is a little hazy now – note to self: must blog more frequently – my itinerary was as follows:

Leave Canada Thursday evening.

Land at Gatwick Friday morning. Be re-united with gorgeous Gamble girls after 5 long weeks away. They were running towards the big Christmas tree in the arrivals hall, and nearly passed me by.

Drive to Swindon – final clear up of old house, phone all utility and financial companies advising them of new address (it takes longer than you think)

Final tea (dinner) with Howarths.

Sleep Friday night at the Firths.

Saturday morning – English Cooked Breakfast at the Hodges, with the Pollocks in attendance. Many treasured photos taken, on Facebook for all to see.

Saturday lunch / evening with Durrants, Martins and Clarks at Pizza Hut followed by bowling.

Saturday evening drive to London to stay with Durrants in New Malden.

Sunday morning fly back to Canada.

Sunday evening all arrive at our new house in Canada – all together at last. Phew! No wonder we’re all so tired!

Since then, it’s been a lot of adjustment, A LOT of shopping. A lot of generosity received from other people. A lot of getting to know people. A lot of late nights and early mornings. A lot of snow! A lot of getting used to new and different things. A lot of talking on Skype. A lot of tantrums. A lot of ‘it’s too early to be up, Jocelyn’ mornings. A lot of cartoons.

A lot of normal life actually.

And so the build up to this year’s Christmas celebrations has somewhat passed us by. Yes, we got a Christmas tree – but that in itself was its own challenge as we only have a small car now and buying a tree from a store is kinda difficult (unless we left the kids at the shop, which did cross my mind).

Without the usual people being around, and without the usual songs on the radio or in the shops (I don’t think I’ve heard Slade once this year!). It’s actually given me the opportunity to re-evaluate what all the fuss is about.

Jesus possibly wasn’t born on December 25^th. (At least, Wikipedia can’t seem to make its mind up.)

But people were generally partying around the time of the Winter Solstice. So it made sense for the earlier Christians to join in with a little party of their own.

At least, that’s how it all started.

And then, over time, somehow the meaning has all but gone. Some guy called Saint Nick started doing some good work. And then we all started remembering him, rather than remembering why Nicky was giving out gifts.

And so now everyone has to get everyone else a gift at this time of year.

And so a whole industry sprung up to cope with the demand. And  now 70% of retailers profits are made in this one Season, as we all try to satisfy the expectation that we should get something for each other.

How is this Joyful?

Where, or where, is the joy to be found in this supposedly most joyful of seasons?        

What is Joy anyways? A few years ago, everyone was raving about the Wii and how it’s great for kids. How much joy it brought them. Today, the Wii is gathering dust as the new joy is found in the Kinect – you don’t need a controller with this one…

I’m not saying video games are bad. Or that it’s bad to buy video games as gifts. But is there really any lasting joy to be found in the pursuit of things that ultimately are destined for some back street in an Indian slum, where children are paid $1 / day to strip them of their rare earth metals?

To wish someone 'the Joy of the Season' seems a little strange. Surely it’s better to say ‘hope they like what you’ve bought them’ or ‘hope the credit card bill’s not too high this year!’ ?

Doesn’t that better sum up what we’re all doing?

The thing I love about Jesus, perhaps more than anything else, is that in a world where even a D-list celebrity on Big Brother pulls up in a Limousine. Jesus, the King of the Universe, chooses to arrive in a stable. Not to the sound of flash guns popping and people clammering for Him to stop at their camera and give a comment.  But to the sound of waters breaking and mother screaming (probably).

That Jesus chose to arrive this way shows just how highly God rates what culture and society perceive to be important. Rank and standing are entirely defused by such self-denial from someone of crucial importance to human history.

Jesus’ birth is God’s most significant act since creation. It’s the pinnacle of his interaction with his wayward creation. The fulfillment stage of his great rescue plan.

Everyone would agree that joy is found in knowing you’ve been rescued.  In seeing your rescuer come.              

But for us in the West the challenge is actually to become aware of our own need for rescue.

I believe we are the most pampered society in all of human history.  We have built for ourselves an empire of selfishness that sees us wrapped up warm and cozy while infants starve to death.

Our ability to deny even this harsh reality demonstrates our ability to deny the facts of our own slow descent into Spiritual, and yet very real, oblivion.

Oblivion. Not a joyful thought! But we will all face it one day…

And yet. God supremely intervenes in our headlong rush towards it.

It all got underway, 2,000 (or so) years ago in a filthy barn in the Middle East. Your rescuer has come. Jesus is born.

Now that doesn’t mean that life will be a bowl of roses. In fact, often it more resembles the brown stuff doubtless on the floor of the stable.

Jesus himself said that in this life we will face trouble (wise guy!).

And even then, he’s given us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and remind us of His closeness.

So the Joy of the Season for me is found in knowing that my rescuer has come.  And that this life, with all its ups and downs - and yes, death with all its unknowns and uncertainties - are merely passing trials in comparison to the rescue God has afforded me, and all those who put their life in Jesus’ hands.

I pray that more of you will know this Rescuer. And will have the lasting Joy in knowing that he did come to rescue you.

May the Joy of the Season be yours, now and forever. Amen.

Love you guys!

Bruce.

Canadian Rookies

>> In Canada, no matter what the balance of your current account, there’s a limit for how much you can buy on your debit card in any one day, even if your available funds easily exceed that daily limit. And when you are new to Canada, your limit is set low. This is especially important to remember when visiting Ikea. A $400 daily limit will not secure the purchase of 3 shopping trolleys full of stuff.

>> Stop means stop (no I haven’t been caught again, but yes it is worth repeating).

>> Minus 7 is not cold.

>> Shoveling snow is good exercise. Shoveling snow is good exercise (& repeat)

>> Kijiji is good (pronounced: ka-gee-gee, look it up online!)

>> “Kitty corner” is not where cats do their business; it’s actually a colloquial phrase that describes “the diagonally opposite corner to where I am standing”. Strange but true.

>> To tell all the funny little coins apart, instead of looking at the shape (as you would in England) look at the picture on the front. Speeds up the time it takes to pay the bus fare. 

>> An hour’s drive really isn’t that far away.

>> The weather here would gladly kill you given the chance. I’m not being too melodramatic here, as a British person the weather is occasionally an inconvenience. Here if you’re not prepared, it will murder you and use your frozen body as a popsicle.

>> Open air ice skating is fun, but it’s really scary without a hand rail around the side! 

Swindonians

A letter to Gateway Church Swindon...

To the church called Gateway, in the town of Swindon. May you know the full extent of the confidence with which you can approach the Father, because of the Son’s great love and self-sacrifice for you.

I’ve been away for long enough now that this whole moving to Canada business no longer feels like just a little break from the norm. As this reality sinks into my soul it does strange things to me! Sometimes I ache in a way that is without easy definition. Although God has, in his grace, transplanted us into a new family -  I long for the sweet, easy familiarity and affection we had when we were with you.

It’s not that I’ve had a change of heart. Or that coming to Canada is wrong for us.

I simply want to see you all again. Not so that I can impress you with tales of our travels, but because I feel that God is doing so much in you that I am jealous to witness for myself your continuing journey as a people marked out by Christ.

So this ‘letter home’ is a dedication to you, the good people of Gateway Church Swindon.

It’s what I remember when I think of you. It’s what I would say to you were I there with you in person. It’s what I feel God would remind you of for this next season that you are entering. (And I’m not talking about the weather).   A prophetic reminder, if you will…

Always welcome “Amazingly” - You gave me and Susie such a great welcome, even when we were not yet part of God’s Kingdom: your unconditional love and acceptance of us so reflected the heart of the Father who abandons his honoured position and runs toward the prodigal son.

God opposes the proud, but shows favour to the humble. And God would raise you up because of your continued, humble, seeking of Him.

Maintain a teachable spirit. Revelation is God’s business. He gives us all we need – The Word and The Spirit. As Isaiah said ‘Here am I. Send me’ and so, in response to Isaiah’s teachableness (is that even a word?) God gave him special revelation for the people of his day. In the same way, God will use you as you remain open to His teaching and join with Isaiah in saying ‘here I am, send me’.  

Uphold each other in the highest regard, as Christ upheld you when he gave his life for you, so you should uphold one another - encourage one another to overcome evil by doing good.

Listen closely to the Holy Spirit. Do not become so enamoured with your own ideas for your life that you miss what God is saying. Confusing your ideas for God’s only leads to disappointment. “Do not conform 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.” (Romans 12:2) Do not force God’s hand, but instead create opportunities in your life for Him to move. Align your life to the Spirit’s will. Die to your own will.

In God’s kingdom there is no ‘hierarchy’. At the moment you became a Christian your life was hidden in Christ. Therefore there is no ‘higher’ you can go from the moment of Salvation. You are already co-heirs with Christ. What you do after that moment is nothing more than the fulfillment of the truth sealed in that moment, for in that moment your identity was forever secure and your name forever written in the book of life.

God does not use people who think they have it all together. It is in our weakness that God’s power is revealed. Jesus said – ‘You will receive power to be my witnesses’. God’s work is achieved by God’s power, not man’s. 

I say all of these things not because I know any of them any better. Nor because I fear that you are slipping away from any of these points. I say them because it’s what I recall when I think of you all and to encourage you to energetically continue your pursuit of the whole Gospel of Christ. Be bold and very courageous, for the Lord your God is with you Swindon!

Can’t wait to be with you all again some day!

Love and Peace

Bruce.