Consider this

                  Did you know that there is a Biblical book called “Lamentations”?   To lament means “to grieve or passionately express sorrow”.     At first, a book dedicated to the sadness that God’s people are experiencing may seem odd, but it makes perfect sense.   How could God address who we are and what we go through if he did not deal with our struggles?                   Acknowledging sadness and imperfection seems strange to us simply because we do it so infrequently.   We live in a time where people say things like “Live your best life” and then post a bunch of pictures online to show how much fun they are having, even when they are not actually having any fun at all.   The temptation to present a fake impression of myself is very real.   It is also very isolating, because no one can relate to someone who seems to have no problems, doubts

                Last week started with me flying to Victoria, BC to conduct a funeral service for a former member of our congregation.   It may sound strange to say that a funeral was enjoyable, but, in many ways, this one was because it was a celebration of life and faith.   There were a few tears, but, for the most part, we remembered, laughed and were thankful for a life well lived.                 When I returned home, we met at the church building with some good friends of ours because their son had decided that he wanted to be baptized.   We engage in what is called “Believer’s baptism”.   In other words, we baptize those who are old enough to make the choice for themselves and this young man decided that “Good Friday” was the day.   Romans 6:1-4 tells us that baptism is a participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and s

                  There are many scriptures that encourage God’s followers to be different than the world around them.   Unfortunately, sometimes that instruction has been applied in a way that is not flattering to God nor his cause.   On the other hand, we have a man named Barnabas.   He was different, but in a good way.   Acts 11:24 says that, “[Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith”.                 I like he is called a good man.   Sadly, the word “good” has become sort of a bland compliment in our day.   However, in the Bible it is a great word that carries the idea of being consistent.   A good person has nothing out of place in his or her character.   They are like a piece of wood that is solid all the way through with no rot in the middle.   Barnabas is mentioned twenty-eight times in the Bible and in al