Congolese Swahili Lesson

Hey! Want to learn some Swahili?

A Day in the Life

Check out the latest from Africa...

Safari

I went on a Safari! Check it out...

Landed

Hey everyone! I've landed in Africa! It's been a few days before I could get this post up because I haven't had quality internet access. I should be able to get a couple posts up to get you up to date on everything that's happened. This first video will fill you in on the trip over...soon I'll post a video of our awesome safari adventure.

I'm going to Africa!

I'm going to Africa!

What It Means to be Human - Part 1

I find it strange that I've been thinking so much about this question: "What does it mean to be human?" I am a human, and have been so for over 27 years (That's me on the left shortly after I first started in my present position). If I were a carpenter, or a fisherman with 27 years of experience I might be considered an expert with little left to learn of my trade. Yet there is much to learn for all of us no matter our years of human experience. I think most honest people would say that the older they get the more they learn that there's more to learn than they thought.

So...I don't pretend to be the most credible source on the mysteries of human nature. I won't presume to try to tell you all (actually it's more like "both of you" who read my blog) how to live your life. I do, however, want to stir your thoughts about some fundamental ways in which our nature as human beings, in the image of God, sets us apart as incredibly unique and extraordinary creatures.

I want to start by briefly commenting on the following well known cliche: "I'm only human". We say that phrase when we mess up. We use it to excuse ourselves, because in our minds all humans are flawed and fall short on a consistent basis. Well, of course, in our experience this is true. The apostle John told us that if we claim to be without sin we're liars. But do we really sin because we're human? Is it our humanity that causes us to fall so short? Or is it more true that we sin because we're not even human? And somewhere along the line we lost our humanity so that we're living at a level far less human than we were created to be.

I think the message of Jesus isn't that our humanity isn't good enough and we need to somehow find a way to grow beyond it; he came to show us that by his power our humanity was once again within reach. It's no wonder that he went around healing people's bodies, showing us his power to restore our humanity physically and spiritually.

I won't call what I am "only human." What I am is a new creation in Christ, and by his grace I am pursuing the full humanity that Christ died and rose again to offer me. C.S. Lewis once said "To enter heaven is to become more human that you ever succeeded in being on earth. To enter Hell, is to be banished from humanity forever." I want to be human again.

LIVE! This Tuesday

Hey Everyone! Don't miss Colwood Young Adults LIVE! This Tuesday (April 27) @ 6:30pm. Mayflower is coming to play for us and Mike Boomer is going to share about an incredible missions opportunity.

Mike is developing a project that will help the poorest (literally) people in the world (in the Gongo, Africa) find ways to make a living. You're going to be inspired by his vision and heart for this potentially nation-changing project. You'll even have an opportunity to support him as he and his wife Amy spend the next year on location. Why is he doing it? Because the gospel IS good news to the poor!

See you Tuesday night

...oh, and you hockey fans...if the Canucks are going to game 7 we'll be showing the 3rd period on the projection screen at the end of the night.

Pi's view of doubt

I've started reading the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Early in the book the main character, Pi, shares his view on doubt. Here's the quote:

“I’ll be honest about it. It is not the atheists who get stuck in my craw, but agnostics. Doubt is useful for a while. We must all pass through the garden of Gethsemane. If Christ played with doubt, so must we. If Christ spent an anguished night in prayer, if He burst out from the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” then surely we are also permitted doubt. But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.”

I'll let you know the rest of my thoughts when I'm through.

grace and peace

CPC Young Adults LIVE!

Want to know what's happening for Young Adults at Colwood Church? Here's an overview of what you can get involved in:

1. Small Groups - It's so important for Young Adults to be building relationships with each other and finding a support network. At no time in your life is it easier to lose track of your values and struggle in your faith than when you're a young adult. Small groups will be at the core of what we do with CPC Young Adults as we meet weekly for discussion, prayer, outreach and fun. Right now we have two groups going strong and we're looking to grow to five groups this year. To join one, or start one, just email me (dave@colwoodchurch.com).

2. Get Connected at CPC - Young Adults ministries are often created as a very separate group from the rest of the church community with time commitments that cause young people to have to make a choice between church and Young Adult ministry. Young Adults are full of vision, passion and talent and they will be the next generation of leaders in our churches. One of our goals is to help our Young Adults be fully integrated into the CPC community, enabling them to participate and serve in whatever way they feel called. This means that anything we do specifically for Young Adults will be a supplementary ministry adding to the overall CPC community experience. That's why we're not going to create a weekly worship gathering for young adults - we already have one on sunday mornings!

3. LIVE! Gatherings - once per month we will plan to get everyone together for a LIVE! Gathering...Live - the adjective - because we acknowledge that life happens in real time - it's always LIVE! The purpose of these gatherings will be to discuss relevant issues facing Young Adults in their every day experiences. Young Adults are in the period of life when they're discovering how to apply their core values to every day life. We want to focus on living out our faith daily instead of just adding another worship service to our Christian schedule. LIVE! Gatherings will be interactive with several elements including guest musicians, guest interviews, Bible teaching, multi-media, and obviously, coffee. Our first LIVE! Gathering is this Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:30pm in the multipurpose room at CPC (check the above graphic for more details).

So if you're a Young Adult at CPC or in the West Shore area, we want to get you connected. Come on out to LIVE! this tuesday and/or email me (dave@colwoodchurch.com) to find out more.

grace and peace

Haiti: Pray and Do

Two weeks ago we were finishing our teaching series on prayer. The final message was all about how our conversations with God need to be applied with action. There's a time to pray, and there's a time to do. In the wake of the Haiti disaster I have been reading a few blogs and articles and the comments people are making about them. Many Christians are being criticized for making the comment "I'm praying for Haiti." Why are they being criticized? Is it because prayer is not a good thing to do? No, it's because prayer is not the only thing we should do. Haiti needs more than prayer.

In Matthew 10:2 Jesus says "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Here Jesus is giving his disciples a prayer request. There was a great need and so God's people were called to pray for that need to be fulfilled. But what are Jesus' next words? v. 3 "Go! I am sending you..." Jesus gave his disciples the opportunity to be the answer to their own prayer! What does Haiti need? Prayer. Haiti also needs money, people, resources, and help of all kinds. How can we be the answer to our own prayers? There's a time to pray and a time to do. I think Jesus might say "Pray for Haiti...now open your hearts and your wallets and give."

Here's one option among many: ERDO (Emergency Relief and Development Overseas). Every dollar donated before February 12, 2010 will be matched by the Canadian government. Click this link and follow the instructions to direct your money to relief efforts in Haiti. Let's pray and do.

Apologetics 101

Below is an audio clip from the most recent session of the Apologetics course I'm teaching at Colwood Church. Apologetics is the study of how we rationally defend the things we believe in. We're two weeks into a free 7 week course so there's no reason you can't still join in Sundays at 6:30pm at the Church.

This two minute audio clip is from the session that discussed "Does God exist?"