Blog Archives

Make "The Word" The Centre of Your Christmas

11/24/2015

This Christmas, take time to remember the real significance of the season. I know this is a common theme at many churches during the Christmas season. The message to "slow down". This message in itself can get lost in all the busyness and festivities, but I know I need this reminder. Every year.

I came across two resources that can help. The first is a scripture reading plan for the month of December. I love devotionals, but sometimes I just want the straight Word. So feel free to take a look at that. And I also found another Advent Calendar that has a short snippet of scripture, and then an activity to do that day to help you take "Christmas to the streets" :). There's a few things that don't apply to us or wouldn't be something I would have written, but overall, it's a good reminder to put others first each day. For instance on December first it says,
December 1: "A YOUNG COUPLE, MARY AND JOSEPH, GET ENGAGED."
Activity: Give up your spot in line. (They’ll be so thankful!)

Put these two resources together, and I'm sure it will help you keep the main thing, the main thing.

Merry Christmas!
-Jason

Advent Scripture Reading Plan (Starts December 1st)
File Size:	76 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Advent Activity Calendar
File Size:	1970 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

These resources have been made available for free by these two website:
www.notconsumed.com
and
121 Community Church

How Would Christ Have Us Respond? #PrayForParis

11/18/2015

The events in Paris have shaken the Western World over this past week. Many have responded with fear and even hate. My question for us is, "how would Christ have us respond?". I love how worship leader/song writer Paul Baloche has responded. I have great respect for him and his ministry. He has written songs like "Open the Eyes of My Heart" & "Above All" as well as many others. Although he lives in the United States, Paul has french heritage and has ministered in France many times...including in the theatre where one of the attacks took place. He says, "I am determined to respond to the events in Paris with a message of encouragement, peace, joy, and faith in a God who sees our pain and decides to be with us in our spirit as we journey through life."

Please click this link to see his whole response:
http://www.leadworship.com/uncategorized/le-bataclan/

*Also note, Paul has made one of his French language worship albums available for free at the above link. Please share with your friends and family who speak french. #PrayForParis

What Does Your Remembrance Lead You To?

11/10/2015

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. It’s a significant day in the life of our nation. I suppose it is because I play the trumpet, and would be asked each year to play “The Last Post” & “Reveille” on November 11th, that I’ve grown to have such a respect and admiration for the day. I suspect, like me, there have been times during those moments of silence that you’ve thought, “this is the least we could do”. Often, those thoughts turn towards the freedoms we enjoy, and how much they cost. When something costs a lot, it’s only natural to honour that cost by treating with utmost care, respect and protection the thing which was purchased…our freedom. Indeed, it honours those who fell when we continue their protection of our nation. What does your remembrance of the fallen lead you to?

Remembering leads somewhere. If all we do is remember, the purpose of the remembrance has not been served. Isaiah 64:5 says, You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?” The man who remembered God’s ways did what was right. That was the result of remembering God’s ways. It would mock God if we remember His ways, and then purposely choose to disregard them. Aren’t you thankful for God’s overflowing mercy and grace that extends to us even when we do exactly that…disregard His ways. Still, our striving to honour Him should continue because of our remembrance. What does your remembrance of His ways lead you to?

Recently we’ve been learning the song, “Remembrance” at our church. I love the lyrics of the chorus:
Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation, we remember You*

Isn’t that a beautiful truth. When we come to the table of communion, it leads us to worship. If it doesn’t, could we not ask “did we really remember?”

Remembering the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform should lead us to thanksgiving.
Remembering God’s ways should lead us to action.
Remembering Christ’s death on the cross should lead us to worship.

What does your remembrance lead you to?

*Click to listen to "Remembrance" (The Communion Song) by Matt Maher & Matt Redman

Addressing Criticisms of Operation Christmas Child

11/6/2015

Addressing Criticisms of Operation Christmas Child
Thursday, November 5, 2015
by Jason McCutcheon

Any meaningful endeavour opens itself up to criticism. I wanted to share why I believe Operation Christmas Child (OCC) by Samaritan’s Purse is an endeavour that I participate in. I also wanted to give my thoughts towards those who may be critical of certain aspects of OCC’s ministry.

Criticism #1: OCC doesn’t bring lasting help to the developing world.

My Response: I’m not implying, and neither is Samaritan’s Purse, that just sending shoeboxes to children around the world will solve the challenges in developing countries. Even they are involved in other humanitarian projects. It is OCC that often provides the open door into these communities to do things like dig wells and provide disaster relief. Shoeboxes are meant to bring hope and a smile to children, and give an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a tangible way that children can understand. When Jesus really changes a life, that does bring about change and real hope for the future, both for that child and the communities that child touches. If you don’t believe that, then please don’t pack a shoebox. Put yourself fully into other projects and make a difference in your own way. Also, shoeboxes often come alongside NGOs and churches already doing great work in the communities where shoeboxes are handed out. OCC depends on these relationships. Again, a shoebox is not designed to replace great work that is already being done by folks like World Vision and Compassion.

Criticism #2: OCC is accused of promoting unsafe and unfair labour practices in developing nations because items are often purchased at low priced, discount retailers such as dollar stores. Therefore, it is said, it would do better to send the money instead.

My Response: The power of OCC is the connection that the giver feels to the child receiving the shoebox. For many families in the West, OCC provides a clear and tangible opportunity to help their children think of others first in the face of Christmas traditions that can be very selfish. OCC creates a connection between people. When someone places an item in a box they know that an individual child will receive that gift. That is a significant difference as opposed to just writing a cheque. Sending money is certainly more efficient, but the power of OCC is the human connection. Often, the human connection is lost when it’s just money changing hands. And it’s hard to put a shoebox “in your back pocket”. In other words, money is easier to abuse then something tangible like a shoebox.

Criticism #3: OCC (or any organization that sends things overseas) is sometimes accused of harming the local economy. Again, it would be better to just send money.

My Response: There are certainly economic issues to address in relation to shoeboxes, but I believe the issues are often over generalized. Yes, there are unsafe and unfair labour practices in developing countries that need to be addressed. These are often, although not always, related to discount retailers. But not every factory is unsafe and unfair to their workers. The need to address those that are unsafe and unfair isn’t an OCC issue as much as a “Western culture” issue. And if this is a concern, make sure and fill your shoeboxes with items that you’re comfortable in purchasing.

Criticism #4: All the gifts are thrown out within a few days.

My Response: Stories and testimonials don’t support the idea that “all items sent will end up in the trash in a few days”. That is probably true in the West, but many of these children in developing countries have never received gifts like this, ever. They often cherish them for years. Certainly there may be some effect on the local economy, but I have to wonder how much harm there is when these children would never have been able to afford these items to begin with. Many times you’re not giving these children something they would have been able to purchase. And OCC’s goal is to provide a shoebox once in a child’s life. Often only coming to a community once. It’s not as if these children depend on OCC to provide all their school supplies each year, for instance.

In Closing: Operation Christmas Child provides a tangible way to share the love of Jesus and helps spread hope. Most of all, it provides an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the point of Christmas to begin with. If you’re concerned about any charity, investigate and make your decisions on good information. But never use cynicism or negativity as an excuse to do nothing. Whatever you do to love and serve others this Christmas season, do it with all your heart. I’ll be packing my shoeboxes as a part of what I do.

Rev. Jason McCutcheon
Laurentian Wesleyan Church
North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Don't Make Life Taste Bad

11/3/2015

Several years ago, I took a “hankering” for biscuits. So I pulled out my mom’s biscuit recipe and went to work. I was all excited about having fresh biscuits that night with our meal. Chrissy took one bite and said, “They don’t taste right”. My excitement over having mom’s homemade biscuits almost made me look past the fact that even I had to admit, they were awful. It turns out the flour was spoiled and I hadn’t really checked it before I put it in the bowl. We had to throw out all those biscuits.

I’ve been reflecting on a verse we read on Sunday. Hebrews 12:15. “Let no root of bitterness get settled in your soul and therefore defile you.” That word defile can mean to spoil. When you’re bitter about something, or someone, it gets into you. It makes life taste bad. That’s not how God wants us to live. Are you bitter about something? Bitterness is what happens when we let un-forgiveness stick around. It hurts us and will keep us from living the full life Christ has for us. Thankfully, God doesn’t throw us out though when we’re “spoiled”. He can take our bitterness. If it has taken root, it might take some time. It will take prayer. It will take intentionality. But you must address it. Life is too short.