No News is Good News

Penn of Denn

I think one of my New Year's resolutions this year will be: less news. I really don't think the world is getting worse, I think the news services are simply getting better at telling us how bad things are.

I came to that conclusion this past week, as the cable news described in detail a fatal domestic shooting...in California. A tragedy no doubt, compounded by the fact that the shooter was dressed as Santa, but it had happened on the other side of the continent. But because the carnage is delivered fresh to our living room, it makes us fearful that our world is not as safe or as ordered as it once was.

The old news adage, "If it bleeds, it leads", apparently is still true, but on a much larger scale. Twenty years ago the same things happened in far off places, but they were irrelevant to our everyday lives, because we didn't hear about them.

So this year I am going to watch less of the lurid news from afar and try to focus on those things that are close to home; things that are true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

Doing Your Best!

Penn of Denn

Where does the time go? Christmas is a memory and we can almost reach out and touch 2009. 2009! Wow! It seems like only yesterday that people were hoarding water in anticipation of Y2K, what a letdown that was.

James was right when he wrote in the Bible: "Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone." Life is short, no matter how long we live and while we may not have control over how many years we will have in our life each one of us will determine how much life we will put into our years.

2008 is almost gone you can't undo or redo what has already happened, but as you look ahead toward 2009 you can determine in your heart that as much as depends on you that you will do your best. Your best as a Christ Follower, your best as a friend, your best as a parent and your best as a spouse. And if you do that, you will have given an incredible gift to those you love the most. And you will have helped to make their year the best ever. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

Celebrate the Reason

Penn of Denn

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and if you aren't ready, then you had better hustle.

If you are like most people, you decided last Christmas, that this Christmas would be different. You vowed that you were going to slow down, that you weren't going to get caught up in all the commercialization of the season and you were going to spend more time reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas. So, how are you doing with that?

Christmas has come to mean so much more than simply celebrating the birth of Jesus. He may be "a" reason for the season, but in 2008, He's not the only reason. Today, it's about giving and getting. It's about spending time with our families and friends. And it's a time, to at least give lip service to peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind.

And those things aren't bad things.

But amidst the sacrificed trees and turkeys, let's remember that Christmas is about God stepping into our world and into our lives. And I trust that you will find Him a little time this Christmas, to welcome Him into your world and your life.

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

The Quest for Stuff!

Penn of Denn

Quite the story from the States last week, about the Wal-Mart worker killed in the shopping frenzy that followed Thanksgiving Day. The Friday following Thanksgiving south of the border, has traditionally been known as Black Friday and I'm sure that name has a different meaning for at least one family this holiday season.

One news story reported that police are reviewing security video, to see if they can pinpoint who was responsible for the man's death. I'm thinking that even if the pictures are crystal clear, showing perfectly those who trampled the hapless worker, I'm not sure they will have discovered those responsible.

Are those who were three or four feet to either side any less guilty, simply because of their location? Seriously though, would they have reacted any differently had they been closer?

When someone dies at the hand of someone else, it is usually the result of base emotions like anger or jealousy. In this case it was greed and people's quest for more "stuff" cost a man his life.

We need to be careful that our quest for more "stuff", doesn't cost us our eternity. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

I’m Going to Live Forever

Penn of Denn

I came upon an article the other day, about a research venture called "The Methuselah Project." Those of you with a grasp of the Old Testament, have probably made the leap already. The Methuselah Project is looking into ways that we can stop or maybe even reverse, the aging process.
As I read about medical advances and genomes, the benefit of a healthy diet and of regular exercise, they spoke about the possibility of people living to be hundreds of years old. And so I wondered, what happens if you get hit by a truck or eaten by a bear? You might not be health food, but you'd certainly be healthy food.
The quest to live forever, goes back to the Garden of Eden and we are no closer to living forever on earth now, than the first couple was then. Think about it; if we did discover an answer, we'd soon have to start feeding people to bears or we'd run out of space on spaceship earth.

Looking at the big picture though, as Christ Followers, we already have the answer to finding eternal life, it's given to us in 1John 5:13.Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

Shooting for the Stars

Penn of Denn

A couple of news stories have caught my eye the past few weeks. The first had to do with India's fledgling space program and the second had to do with said space program successfully landing a probe on the moon. Is it just me or is that a blatant case of spending money you don't have, on stuff you don't need, to impress people you don't like? Now maybe I'm wrong, I've been wrong before, but isn't India a third world country that struggles with providing adequate food and housing for their people? And if that is the case, that there are starving people living in squalor, than I think the Indian Government might have it's priorities a little mixed up.

And then it was with national pride that the people of India celebrated the accomplishment. Kind of like applauding the dance band on the Titanic.

But really, aren't we sometimes guilty of the same thing as Christians and churches? You know, we are more interested in making sure people are impressed, than making sure they are saved. And if that's the case, then we have our priorities mixed up. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

 

Who’s to Blame?

Penn of Denn

Perhaps I was a little idealistic, but I was really looking forward to November 5th and not having to hear any more American election rhetoric. But alas, it was not to be, because for the last week I've been listening to the post-mortem reports about what went wrong or didn't. What surprised me was how quickly the republicans turned on Sarah Palin, blaming her for the loss of the election. If she was as much of a liability as they are now claiming, it's hard to believe it is the same group of people who wanted her one heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

But really, isn't that simply indicative of human nature to say, "It's somebody else's fault." We have been shifting blame since Adam said, "The woman you gave me", which when you think about it, is what some republicans are saying to McCain, "The woman you gave us."

I guess we never learn that each of us are responsible for our own actions and the choices we make and blaming other people or circumstances might make us feel better, but in the long run it doesn't make us any better. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

Disturbing

Penn of Denn

A friend of mine related a disturbing conversation he had with a co-worker last week. It seems his co-worker is a hindu who immigrated from India a couple of years ago and he told my friend that there was hardly a day went by in India that some didn't try to convert him to Christianity. Interesting, but the disturbing part of the conversation was that during his two years in Canada nobody had spoken to him about his soul, nobody. And India isn't exacty open and receptive toward evangelism. But maybe that is why Christianity is growing in places like India and in decline in North America.

And I wonder if it's because Christians in Canada are apathetic about people's salvation?(apathetic is a nice way of saying: just not caring) And if we believe what we say we believe about heaven and hell then that would make us monsters.

Or maybe we are just trying to be sensitive about respecting new Canadian's cultural identity. If that is the case I think Jesus would want to know: What will it profit a man if he retains his culture but loses his soul? Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

 

Watching Sheep

Penn of Denn

I ran into a lady recently, who I haven't seen in church for almost a year. And she asked why I hadn't called to see if she was all right. And I really didn't have a good answer. I'm never sure if people will view that type of call, as an expression of concern or as an attempt to guilt them into returning to church. And to be brutally honest, when I make those calls, there are times that there is a little of both motives behind my call. But if I am trying to guilt you, it's because I care and think you should be in church.

In this lady's instance, I just hadn't made the call at all and in my mind, I went over my reasons (excuses) for not calling her: she was sporadic in her attendance, she is out of the country a lot, I was busy. But bottom line is that she was right, I should have called. That's what shepherds are supposed to do, check up on their sheep.

So, if you've been away from Cornerstone for awhile and I call or email you, it's because I care and I think you should be in church.

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

What are they afraid of?

Penn of Denn

She was just 34 years old, when she became a martyr. It didn't happen in the books of Acts 2000 years ago, it happened this week. Gayle Williams had been working in Afghanistan for the past three years, with a humanitarian group focused on educating Afghan nationals with handicaps, when she was gunned down in the streets of Kabul. Her crime? A Taliban spokesman stated, "This woman came to Afghanistan to teach Christianity to the people of Afghanistan. Our (leaders) issued a decree to kill this woman." The aid organization that Williams worked for, "Serve Afghanistan", denied the proselyting charges and issued their own statement saying, "She was a person who always loved the Afghans and was dedicated to serving those who are disabled."

And so you have to wonder, what it is about the message of Christ that scares the Taliban so much, that they had to send two men on a motorcycle to gun down a defenceless woman, whose only crime was showing the love of Christ to a hurting people.

And then my politically incorrect side wonders, if the lack of Muslim humanitarian organizations, says as much about Islam as the gunmen do.

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

Giving thanks in a iffy Market

Penn of Denn

It seems these days, people are either talking about the election or about the markets. Sometimes they talk about both, wondering how the elections will affect the markets or conversely, how the markets will affect the elections.

Now the closest I come to the markets, is that's where my RRSP contributions end up and seeing I'm on the freedom 85 plan, there's probably time for a market recovery.

But, I'm reminded by both the election rhetoric and the market tumble, about how lucky we are and how much we have to be thankful for this weekend.

The majority of people in the world, will never have the opportunity to vote in a free election and the market is where they go to buy a chicken and we take both of those things for granted.

I don't want to be a fear monger, nor do I want to trivialize what is happening to the stock market, but even if Canada was as bad off as we were during the great depression, we'd still have more to be thankful for than most of the world. So let's not forget that this long weekend is about giving thanks. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

But Now I’m Found

I've always been pretty good at reacting, so in response to my aimless meandering through Toronto last month, I bought a GPS. Kind of geeky, but a cool toy for $99.00. And it's really neat. You can put in where you want to go and not only will it tell you the best way to get there and not always the way we had planned, it will give you an approximation of when you will arrive, baring any unforeseen circumstances.

So I thought; neat, it does the same thing the bible does for believers. We want to go to heaven and it tells us the best way to get there, not always the way we had planned, but the best way. And it even gives us an approximation of when we will arrive (check out Hebrews 9:27). The big difference is, I think there are times that my GPS deliberately leads me astray, but I am confident that God's word won't.

Not everybody needs a GPS, not even sure Denn does, but if you are a Christ follower, you need a Bible and you need to read it. Hope you will join us for the next eight weeks as we "Discover the Word" together.

I once was lost, but now I’m found.

Penn of Denn

I once was lost, but now I'm found. Not just the words of a great hymn, but a description of my trip to Toronto a couple of weeks ago. I had flown into Toronto and was heading to Buffalo, New York for a meeting and missed the exit for the QEW. I must have zigged when I should have zagged and by the time I noticed my mistake, I was enjoying a great view of the CN Tower on my left and Lake Ontario on my right. And there I was without a map or a clue, realizing just how much of a small town boy I really am. During my 60 km sight seeing tour of Toronto, there was more than once that I thought how much simpler it would be, if I had someone with me who knew the way.
I wonder how many of our friends are lost spiritually without a map and without a clue and more than anything, they desperately need someone who knows the way to come along and point them in the right direction. I was lost for an hour, without you they might be lost for an eternity. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

Seeing Clearly

Penn of Denn

Angela and I went downtown last week and went for a walk in the Public Gardens and when I went to read a sign, I suddenly realized that everything was just a little bit fuzzy. And then I realized that I wasn't wearing my glasses. Because I wear my glasses all the time, well most of the time, well the times I don't leave them at home, I forget how fuzzy things can be without them. It's kind of like the clarity we have when we look at things through Christ's eyes. He allows us to see things the way they should be, instead of the way they are. When you look around and see friends and family who don't know Jesus personally, are you tempted to think, "It'll never happen"? Or do you see them where they could be, in a growing dynamic relationship with Christ? When you see Cornerstone, do you see it the way it is, or do you see it the way it will be? Cause you'll never know how fuzzy things are, until you see how clear they can be. And you'll never see things clear, until you look through HIS eyes. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

Horton Like

Penn of Denn

I could hardly believe my eyes. My little red car was in pieces, all over the body shop floor. I had left it behind two weeks before, to have some work done on the fenders and rocker panels, but it looked like it had progressed a little bit further than that. The owner wasn't there and when I called him later, he confirmed that they had discovered more rust and several other problems that needed to be fixed. I was mentally checking my bank account, wondering how much the "other problems" would cost, when Craig assured me that his quote was guaranteed and while it was more work then he had planned on doing, it wasn't going to cost me any extra. I was impressed; kind of reminded me of an elephant I met who said, "I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant is faithful one hundred percent."

As Christ followers, do we have that type of integrity in our daily lives? Are we faithful one hundred percent? I think that is what Jesus meant when he said, "let your yes be yes and your no be no." Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

Hello Fall

Penn of Denn

Well folks, here is the reality: Summer is over. I know it's not officially over until September 21^st, but for all intensive purposes, summer is tout fini! The kids are back in school, the nights are getting cooler and a certain normalcy is returning to our lives. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to write and let you know about some of the exciting things happening at Cornerstone this fall.

Of course, Cornerstone Double Double begins on October 5^th, with our new 9:00 a.m. worship service and we are trusting that a good number of you will make the choice to attend that particular service, in order to reach more people in our community.

And I am excited about the new program that we have starting in October, called "Discover the Word". For eight weeks, we will travel through the gospel of John and I would encourage you to be a part of that journey.
Give us a little bit of your time for eight weeks and I promise that you will leave with a deeper knowledge of God's word and a better understanding of Jesus' life. And who could ask for more than that? Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

What a Ride

Penn of Denn

Bonza! (that's Australian for awesome²). I had to travel to New Brunswick for meetings this week and as is my custom, I was renting a car for the trip. When I got to the agency, there was a brand new convertible in the yard, so I asked if they would give me a free upgrade. And they did! Bonza! I love convertibles more than I love ice cream, and I really love ice cream.

So here I am driving to New Brunswick, it's 25 degrees out, the roof is down, I have "The Boss" blaring over the stereo and I'm thinking, "it don't get better than this." It was then that I realized that I hadn't done anything to deserve it. It truly was an issue of grace, but if I hadn't asked, it probably wouldn't have happened. And then I realized that my entrance into heaven was going to be same thing. I couldn't have done enough to earn it, but I did have to ask to make it happen. And convertibles are fun for awhile, but heaven is eternal. And to get the upgrade, all you have to do is ask. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Walking the Walk

Penn of Denn

To walk where Jesus walked; wow that has always been a dream of mine (In case there are any dream fairies out there!).  I read an article the other day, about a company that is now offering GPS tours leading you along a 64 km trail in the footsteps of Christ, which is kind of a cool idea, but in reality just provides a little more high tech guess.  I may never get to Israel, but I did come across a great promise in the Revelation, that says there will come a time that I will be clothed in white and walk with Jesus.  And you know that Heaven will have to be a pretty special place, if Denn is able to wear white without getting something on it.  But until that time, while I may not have the opportunity to walk where Jesus walked, I have been told in 1 John 2:6, "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus walked."  You catch that?  We are told to walk "as" Jesus walked, not "where" Jesus walked.  So the important thing is not the pilgrimage, but the lifestyle.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Why?

I’m confused, again or still or whatever. Last weekend, I read an interview in the paper with John Shelby Spong, who is an Anglican Bishop. What I’m confused about, is why he is an Anglican Bishop, or any kind of bishop for that matter. In the interview, it stated that Spong dismisses the Virgin Birth and denies God is a personal deity.

When he was asked about the divine nature of Jesus and God, Spong said, “Jesus represents a difference in degree, not kind, from the rest of us.” As for God, “Maybe the divine that we keep trying to describe as a parent figure in the sky, is the power of life that surges through the universe. Maybe it’s the love that enhances life. I’m trying to get us to see God outside the boundaries of human life.”

So, I’m thinking that Spong remains a bishop so he won’t have to get a real job and I guess you can’t blame him for that. But why would the Anglican Church have a bishop who denies the very essence of who they are? Or at least who they are supposed to be. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Confused Again

I’m confused, again or still or whatever. Last weekend, I read an interview in the paper with John Shelby Spong, who is an Anglican Bishop. What I’m confused about, is why he is an Anglican Bishop, or any kind of bishop for that matter. In the interview, it stated that Spong dismisses the Virgin Birth and denies God is a personal deity.

When he was asked about the divine nature of Jesus and God, Spong said, “Jesus represents a difference in degree, not kind, from the rest of us.” As for God, “Maybe the divine that we keep trying to describe as a parent figure in the sky, is the power of life that surges through the universe. Maybe it’s the love that enhances life. I’m trying to get us to see God outside the boundaries of human life.”

So, I’m thinking that Spong remains a bishop so he won’t have to get a real job and I guess you can’t blame him for that. But why would the Anglican Church have a bishop who denies the very essence of who they are? Or at least who they are supposed to be. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

We Win!

Well, another survey is out, showing that Christianity is losing ground and that church attendance is down. But, depending on your perspective, we aren’t losing, we’re winning. When you stop and think about it, every person who isn’t a Christian hasn’t been lost from Christianity, they just haven’t been won to Christianity yet.

The starting place for humanity isn’t a relationship with Christ, the starting place is being separated from God, so every person who begins that relationship is a win for our side. Does that make sense?

By default, the other side doesn’t have to do anything except try to keep us, the church, from doing it’s job; they only win when we stop doing what we’ve been called to do.

But when you stop and think about it, our job is easy, because all we’ve been called to do is be obedient. And Jesus said that if we love Him, our natural instinct will be to obey him and that has to involve introducing people to Him. Regardless of what the survey says, every day in Canada, there are people who cross the line and commit their lives to Christ and that is a win. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.