A little bit of extra reading and thought can reveal a few of the evils of Christmas. Here are several that top my list:
1. The Christian Christmas tradition finds its roots in pagan practice and has at times been misappropriated by Christians to oppress other people, especially those in the Jewish community.
2. Christmas is becoming increasingly secular and even a public nativity scene can now be defended in the American courts as a non-religious display because of the intended economic implications of the holiday.
3. Christmas is hard on the environment with all the tree-chopping, gift wrapping, extra-large-plastic-and-Styrofoam packaging, lights, and general garbage that is generated by the festivities.
4. Christmas accentuates the feeling of loneliness and depression by highlighting the difference between the have and have-nots of society.
5. Christmas adds clutter and unnecessary complexity to our lives through all the useless gifts that people give us that then require storage or eventual disposal.
6. Christmas is an excuse for gluttonous behaviour in a world that is hungry.

So, why do you celebrate Christmas?

Are Christians supposed to be different? How? From what?

A 2001 Barna poll in the United States found that amongst 'born-again' Christians, 33% of marriages ended in divorce. Non 'born-again' people - 34%. Not much difference.

Since 1993, 2.4 million teens have signed a pledge through the 'True Love Waits' campaign promising to wait until marriage for sexual intercourse. A 2004 study tracked 12,000 of those teens and found that 88% of them didn't wait. It also found that the rate of STD's in the group that pledged was about the same as the general population.

We could talk about giving, racism and spousal abuse (higher in marriages that emphasize traditional roles). Research shows that Christians are not living very differently from those who do not claim to be Christian.

The Christian faith claims that in Christ we are a new creation, the old has passed the new has come. We claim that the Holy Spirit of God lives in us and gives us everything we need for life and godliness. We are to be holy because God is holy.

So, what's the difference?

Just call me Gladys.

I've been more & more aware lately of how ugly the words "status quo" can be. I hate the idea of existing - as opposed to living - I want to happen to life rather than let it happen to me. So, hey, I'm trying to be not so comfortable. All of a sudden, I feel a bit like Mrs Kravitz (from Bewitched - I know - I'm dating myself!) We moved to a new neighborhood, and I'm out there talking to people I've never met before, inviting people in for a drink, planning a BBQ/nosh party so all who live here & care to participate can make some new friends. Being shy (really) this is so not my deal. But I've been there - and not just in a new neighborhood. I've started fresh - from ground zero - friends, church, job....nothing left but to look ahead, cuz what I've left is a black hole. I've sorta freaked myself out with all this, but I don't want to back out. So when you see me, you'll know what the white knuckles are all about. Be kind.

As September has arrived and our first Sunday back at the school looms mere days away, I have a question, or perhaps a bunch of questions for everyone and anyone to answer. In particular, I'm hoping for feedback from those of you who attend Southpoint, but I'm open and interested in hearing from any people who may browse by this page in their daily perusal of the Internet!


The question on my mind is what to do with music at Southpoint? Over the past many months, leading the music has been a challenge for me. I feel like I've gotten myself stuck somehow in a rut - a few songs at the beginning, one during communion and one at the end. I'm also tired of singing the same old songs, but have difficulty knowing even where to start finding other music (except within my own head - but I don't feel I have the mental capacity to write a whole slough of new songs at the moment). Sometimes I feel that God has had a say in what songs He's had me choose, but more often than not I am left with no fresh ideas, excitement, or drive to do something really meaningful.



I'm continually inspired by Scott's fresh ideas that he brings forth. The services are continually changing in format, he's got great tangible illustrations in his head, and he seems to have a continual feed of creativity going on in there. It leaves me utterly baffled and impressed as I sit and try to think of how I could do things differently with the music.

So, what could be changed? What would be meaningful for you as someone who comes? What inspires you? Do you feel that music is necessary? Do you enjoy the music, even if you don't sing along? What experiences have you had in relation to this topic that might provide some interesting discussion or inspiration? I'm eager to hear any of your thoughts!

Recently I've been involved (online) in some heated debates centred around musical worship and there were some strong, negative opinions expressed again and again. (I myself wasn't excluded from those who expressed frustration with the way things can be sometimes) I'm not, however, looking for debate here. Just some feedback. Just some ideas. Just some inspiration!!!

Southpoint Unplugged

This summer, the Church at Southpoint will gather for worship at the Hardy home every Sunday at 10:00 am.

What should you expect?

Expect a worship time that is inclusive of our children and centred around the Lord’s Prayer. We plan to give all our parents resources to help them teach their children the Lord’s Prayer this summer, even if they can’t attend every gathering. We have decided to use the traditional version of the prayer so that our kids can learn it in the language of the larger Christian community. Our hope is that our children will have greater and increasing access to our corporate worship through familiarity with this prayer and other elements of worship. We will even have a ‘dance’ (they’re just movements, don’t get freaked out!) that we will learn with our kids so that even those who can’t say the words can still participate.

In addition, we will sing, read scripture, share the Lord’s Table, pray and reflect together in a slightly more liturgical and simple worship format that should last 45 to 60 minutes. And yes, coffee will be served as you enter!

And keep your calendar clear after the worship time to make spontaneous lunch plans at the beach, in homes, at BP or wherever. Enjoy each other! Eat together! Go to the beach!

Often, church attendees get attached to a particular program, or building, or personality or style of music. When something goes wrong with their attachment, they tend to jettison the whole church.

I believe that when people honestly get to know and love each other outside of the program and institution of church life, then it is easier to deal with changes and ‘deficiencies’ in the structure of the church.

Southpoint Unplugged is an opportunity to hold some of those attachments lightly so that we may be attached to one another and ultimately, become attached to Jesus Christ who is the head of the church, his body.

Lord, Teach me to Pray!
Scott

Here is another post from our worship student from TWU:

In his book Engaging with God –a Biblical theology of worship, David Peterson presents the thesis that "the worship of the living and true God is essentially an engagement with Him on the terms that he proposes and in the way that he alone makes possible."

Worship, then, is relational. It's an 'engagement' and this is a beautiful word to describe worship because worship is a form of communication with our Heavenly Father who is always aware of where we are and so he delights to see us focusing our attention and praise on Him and to give Him time. One of the best things we can do for a friend or a spouse is to spend time with them, how much more our Creator delights to see us going into His presence -a presence that not only glorifies Him, but also transforms us into His image.

The Father's heart is delighted when we worship Him for who He is. A friend once used a great analogy, according to my friend, when two are engaged they look forward to seeing each other because of who the other person is and not so much because the other person might be carrying a gift or flowers. In the same terms, our Father in Heaven delights to see us praise Him and not so much wait to praise Him if and only if He answers our prayers and requests the way we want Him to. Worship is an individual engagement as well as a corporate one. Aside from bringing our request to God, it's essential that we lift up His name on a regular basis and declare His goodness and who He is.

There are a lot of 'mysterious' things in the spiritual world that may surpass our understanding while we are on earth, but the truth that we ought to hold on to is that worship is essential, it serves to enrich our relationship with God, and worshipping changes us also. How wonderful it must be when the eyes of our merciful Father look down upon us from Heaven and see that we're in His presence lifting up His name…expressing things like: "Heavenly Father I praise you for who You are. I praise you that you never change and your will is good for us. Lord I praise you that you are the Healer, the Saviour, the one who has so much mercy and grace upon us. I praise you that you protect us and you provide for our needs. Thank you that your Word is alive and at work in this world." Throughout the Scriptures there are numerous occasions where God's names and characters are mentioned. How helpful it is to search for these and use them in our praise and worship.

When we draw near to God, He draws near to us also (James 4:8) and it is in times of being in His Holy presence that He reveals Himself, His love, and His plans to us. When we draw near to God, worship Him, and express our love to Him, He blesses us beyond our understanding. What an incredible opportunity we have to be able to communicate with God! You know how surprised the rest of the world will be if they heard from you that God speaks to you personally? What a great honour to have been chosen as His children, may we all continue worshiping His Holy name on a regular basis and may our Sunday corporate worship be an overflow of all the blessings we receive during our week's individual worship time. To God be all the honour an glory for He is Worthy.

Arezoo

If you were to miss the first part of a Sunday's Church service, what would you say you have missed? The Worship?

Are worship and Church music the same thing? Is worship just the first part of a typical Sunday service or does it encompass a much larger area of our time with God?

In fact, how should we distinguish between such words as 'worship', 'praise', 'thanksgiving', or even 'prayer'? Although these words are used often, there is much depth into each one of them and each have a unique meaning and practical aspect.

Let's stay with the term 'worship' for now. Is worship something to be done merely corporately or is it as equally personal, to be done in the privacy of our own lives and times of 'devotion'?

Let me conclude for now with another challenging question: is worship something that the Body of Christ does unto the Lord or does God, Himself, play a big role in it and somehow initiate it?

Please share any thought/comments and we will continue on with this fantastic and important topic…

Arezoo

My grandfather slipped on a curb at the age of 27, cut his head and bled to death. Of course, the blood flows a little easier when you're drunk. My cousin put herself and her two kids in the back of a car and attached a hose to the exhaust. A girl friend of mine in high school got into a car with a drunk driver, he rolled the car and she was thrown and crushed. A girl connected to our church youth group is struck down on the crosswalk in front of her school by a fellow student and a boy infatuated with her commits suicide as a result of the tragic loss. A friend of ours gets married and within the week her new husband is dead. My seminary professors lived an extraordinarily healthy lifestyle and yet was taken suddenly one night by a brain aneurysm while he slept by his wife's side.

We all have death stories. I've attended more funerals than I can recall. Sickness, accident, suicide, murder. Death has many weapons; few are very creative.

I find it easy at times to become almost paralyzed by the seeming randomness of it all. I find it even more perplexing when I'm told that all these events are ordered by God as part of some mysterious master plan.

How do we live our lives fully and freely with this stench of death all around? How do we even take the most basic of risks? How do we invest ourselves in the lives of others?

This week, while watching TV, I heard this line: 'death will take care of itself; it's living that requires our attention.' (100 points if you can name the show . . .)

What do you think?

On Monday, April 23rd, we will present the film The Imam and the Pastor at the SFU Surrey campus. This event is a partnership with Initiatives of Change and the BC Muslim Association.

That last part has raised a few eyebrows and questions.

Why would you partner with a Muslim group? Aren't they the competition? What value is there in doing this together if you're not trying to get them into your church?

Well, a couple of things . . .

Peace is a fragile thing. We should never assume that because we are not killing each other that we have peace now and forever. As the film shows, a facade of peace can exist in a framework of tolerance for generations and then an economic, political or other external change can set loose all the ugliness of fear, anger and resentment that festers beneath.

Peace takes work, risk and blood, sweat and tears. If you doubt this, just look at Jesus.

Tolerance is cheap imitation of peace. Tolerance says, 'you stay in your corner and I'll stay in mine and we will put up with each other's differences in order to keep the peace'. God does not love us from a distance. In Jesus, he comes to our corner. And he comes to make peace.

Peace is not the eradication of our differences. I don't believe that it comes from stripping our belief or cultural systems down to the lowest common denominator until no distinction can be found between us. There are some distinctions that are irreversible, but they don't need to be a barrier to peace.

I also don't think that peace is achieved through the creation of some superordinate identity in which the similarities of different groups are emphasised to the subversion, or denying, of any differences.

Instead, peace may come as we develop a genuine interest in the other. It starts with honest curiosity that leads to affection and engagement and possibly even to enthusiasm for the other.

In presenting this film, we hope that the door of honest curiosity will be opened by those who see it.

If my neighbour drives me crazy by playing the drums, I have several choices to deal with the problem. I could lodge a complaint with the authorities. I could confront him directly and demand that he change his habit. Or I could take my guitar over and ask if I can join him. It may not be quieter, but we will be at peace with one another.

I know that is a simple illustration, but the point is that there are other ways to work together toward peace besides demanding our rights and defending our privacy.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbour. Not simply the ones who will love us back. We can't fulfill this calling unless we are in contact with our neighbours. Our partnerships for this film will cause us to touch our neighbours so that we may learn to love them.

If we have grown up in Protestant, Evangelical churches, chances are we are not very comfortable with mystery. We have been nurtured by bible answer men preaching evidence that demands a verdict. Any 'apparent contradiction' in scripture or any biblical event that doesn't jive with science or archeology is quickly explained. We have books on the universal flood, theories on dinosaurs and current real life stories about men surviving for days in the belly of a whale.

And in our desperation to avoid the dark chasm of mystery, we often miss the opportunity to encounter the Spirit of God in and through the text.

The cross of Jesus is one of the greatest mysteries. How can one man's death set right the wrongs of all humanity? Why would God do such a thing and how could he treat his own son this way?

But the greatest mystery is why would he do this for me?

"We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him."

Romans 5 - The Message

Does God risk?

If our view of God includes an understanding that he predetermines all things that will ever happen, that he not only has all power but that he chooses to excercise that power to control every event, then God does not risk.

If we understand that the future exists as reallity to God and that his knowledge of things includes that which does not yet exist and that he is never surprised, then God does not risk.

Yet, the narrative of scripture reveals God in relation to humanity in situations that seem to imply risk.

He trust humanity with a free will in the garden, giving them the power of choice. There was a risk that they would choose poorly and in opposition to his expressed will. And they did.

He entrusts the care of his own people to the hands of deeply flawed leaders (Moses and David et al) with the risk that they will fail. And they often do.

He sent his Son to be born in a stable. Enough said.

Jesus also calls his followers to risk their very lives and there seems to be a principle that God in Jesus will not call us to go where he has not already been.

Above all, the greatest risk is to love. There is always the risk that we will not get the 'I-love-you-return'. God is love. And God so loved the world . . . and that love is often not returned.

It all seems very risky to me. Does God risk?

So you call yourself a Baptist, do you?

I am an ordained minister of the Baptist Union of Western Canada - there, now my identity has been revealed - and I secretly helped to plant The Church at Southpoint in order to make more Baptists converts!

No, not really.

To me, the Baptist Union of Western Canada is more like a family of churches than a denomination. We have certain family traits in common, but each church is very unique and we get along like good siblings - the odd scrap included.

These are some of the family traits that we share with about 90 million Baptist throughout the world and many other groups of Christians who have come to embrace these principles. We believe: that the Bible is our authority in all matters of faith and practice; that each local church is autonomous (self-governing); that all followers of Jesus act as priests having equal access to God through Jesus; that believers baptism and the Lord's Table are the two prescribed faith events that Jesus committed to his church; that each individual stands accountable to God alone for the choices they make, including religious affiliation; and that there should be an intentional separation of church and state (but we do like our tax breaks, thank-you very much!).

Though the BUWC is made up specifically of churches throughout the Western Provinces and two of our Territories, we are also part of a larger family of Canadian Baptists that stretches from coast to coast to coast. We freely associate with each other so that we can accomplish together things that we could not do alone. This includes: theological education; missions; camping ministries; accountability and support systems for our pastors and staff; disaster response; relief and development work; and much more.

On February 28th, the Leadership of The Church at Southpoint will invite the church to affirm a decision to become an official member church of the BUWC. If the response is positive, and if the BUWC allow us to join with them, then we will send a group to Banff on April 27-29 to respresent Southpoint at the general assembly meetings of the BUWC where we can start to flex our new-found muscle!

To explore more about this family of churches, click on the BUWC link on the right.

What is good news to us Starbucks sipping, SUV driving, suburbanites living in the wealthiest area of Surrey?

In order to answer that question, I believe that we have to ask another. What drives us? What grips our lives? What captures our imaginations? What is the dream we are pursuing?

I realize that's four questions . . .

I think that we are gripped with a need to succeed, to be secure, to be well thought of, to have a sense of significance and feel deeply fulfilled in what we do. The desire to live full and important lives motivates us to live the way we do.

Our quest for fulfillment can take us in some unhealthy directions. We are prone to greed. To selfish ambition. To anxious workaholism. We are willing to do whatever it takes to realize our dream of a successful, important, secure life.

Good news, then, starts with the message that we are already significant. As those who are made in God's image, we have dignity beyond our means. As those loved by God, we have the status of children with the promise of a full inheritance.

But it goes on from there. In Christ, our cycles of greed can be broken by acts of generosity. Our selfish ambition is rejected in favour of hospitality. And our anxious work is replaced by the principle of Sabbath rest.

As the Church at Southpoint, we are called to live generously, to offer hospitality and to practice restful living. These are the gifts we are receiving from God in Jesus. These are the gifts that we offer to the community. This is the good news.

Generosity. Hospitality. Rest. Does this sound good to you?