cyrkam airtos

The name of the game is Cyrkam Airtos. Your buddy tosses you a wadded up peice of paper (also known as an Origami Boulder), which you must then deposit in the waste basket. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Post your high score as a comment!

Click here to play Cyrkam Airtoss

perkin’ with da pastor

Pastor Daniel Cormier has been inviting me to get together with him to chew the theological fat for over a year now, and I’ve deftly avoided actually getting together with him for just as long. Don’t get me wrong, I love Daniel. No, no, you don’t understand… I really love Daniel. No, not that kind of love! Daniel has been an amazing blessing to me in letting me know I’m not insane. That is to say, he’s a pastor in the Atlantic Baptist Convention who also happens to believe in the doctrines of Grace. That’s not just a rarity – it’s almost unheard of! When you couple that with the fact that he’s a pastor with the largest evangelical congregation in the Annapolis Valley, you’ve almost got a priceless artifact on the shelves at Sobey’s - a Ming vase wedged in between the Cheez Whiz and Ragu pasta sauce.

He also happens to be a positively inspired and passionate preacher, as well as a loving care-giver to his congregation. When I arrive bright and early at the church on Sunday mornings, my face cannot help but stretch into a smile when I see his old maroon Toyota van parked in the far corner of the lot. He’s like a cup of coffee, perking me up and getting me revved to teach. However, he also suffers from the unfortunate handicap of being a pastor. It’s not entirely his fault, mind you, but there it is.

I don’t like hanging out with pastors for two key reasons. Firstly, they feel the overwhelming need to be a pastor. They incessantly ask nosey questions like “How are you doing?” “How’s work?” “How’s your family?” Oh, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Pastors aren’t the only people who ask those questions. Jumpins, you don’t even have to be Christian to ask those sorts of questions!” You people are also the same people who believe that it’s okay to eat crunchy peanut-butter on toast. You fool! Don’t you see?! That’s too much crunchiness!!

Anyway, I guess it’s kind of like sitting down and having a coffee with a psychologist. I’d always have this nagging feeling that he’s psychoanalyzing me. That’s Ye Ol’ Self-Esteem Monster rearing his ugly head, of course. I would not at all attempt to actually justify the emotional reaction, but simply recognize that it exists. Ripping it out and laying it on the table often allows us the opportunity to roll it around in our hands for a while, looking at it from different angles, and potentially reshaping it before stuffing it back in the mix.

The second reason I don’t really enjoy hanging out with pastors is because I don’t want to be one. It’s been my greatest fear for the past few years that God might lead me down that road. He has graciously given me the opportunity to be a teacher to His people, but has also placed me a numerous ‘pastoral situations’ that scare the ever luvin’ out of me. That’s probably the biggest reason why I haven’t gone back to school yet – the simple fear of where that path may lead. I don’t want to be a pastor! <shakes fist at sky> Oh, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Who knows where the Lord will lead you, but if there’s one thing you should know, it’s that arguing with God about the road you don’t want to walk is futile. He will lead you as He will. Look at Jonah! Look at Paul!” Yeah, yeah… and you’re also the people who scoff at my attempts to find an English word that rhymes with “orange!”

But, regardless, I got together for coffee with my dear Daniel last night. Though it took some time to get going, we actually did have very good discussions about a number of things. As it turns out, my pastor and I have quite a bit in common. For one thing, we’re both human beings! Who knew?! There’s other, less important, commonalities as well but needless to say, the evening was thoroughly enjoyable, and I regret not doing it sooner. I look forward to future coffee consumption, and fellowship with this, my brother in Christ Jesus.

sbemail #127

There’s a new Strong Bad email up at Homestarrunner.net (It’s Dot Com!). Hrm… where can I get me a pair of them Daisy Dukes? I can imagine it now…

Prayer Update III and reflections

Praise God that He answers prayer. Wesley has started getting better, and while there is a long road of recovery ahead of him, he’s well on his way.

Earlier today a friend was expressing to me that they hadn’t talked to a Christian brother about something, because they were afraid of that that person would say. It sounded like they feared a degree of condemnation. Now, my friend is nobody’s fool – they know that’s the wrong attitude to have. The thought weighed heavy on my heart at this evening’s service, as we commemorated the sacrefice of Christ, and partook of His supper.

How often do we (myself above all) play the coward and hide ourself from God? How often do we not bring something to Him in prayer, or seek counsel in His Word because we’re afraid we won’t like the answer. Children generally know of the old adage, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.” How often do I do that? How often do I just go ahead and do what I want, and then beg His forgiveness. Am I not twice the fool for doing so? Why does he bother with me?!

Who knows. But today, through my friend’s words, He’s had me examine myself a little closer. He’s made me a little better. And tomorrow, who knows… perhaps better still.

Prayer Update II

Young Wesley has taken a turn for the worse – I know most of you have been keeping him in prayer constantly anyway, but please continue to uplift him and his family. Thanks.

Prayer Update

Thank you so much for your prayers for Wesley. We have a God who answers prayer, and in this case it was in His will to bring about healing for my nephew. He was diagnosed with influenza propper (rather than bad colds, which we wrongfully call ‘the flu’), and is responding very positively to treatment. If there’s any more developments, I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

prayer request

I am an incredibly blessed individual. I love kids. When there’s a family gathering, and the adults are all sitting around talking, it’s a pretty safe bet that I’m rolling on the floor with the kids. Perhaps it’s my immature nature – I relate to them better. Regardless, the Lord has blessed me, not only with a daughter (and two pseudo-daughters), but two nieces, and three nephews. And it is one of those beloved children I beg your prayers for today.

Wesley, the youngest of my nephews, has taken ill. The doctors originally felt it may be mono, or a particularly bad case of strep throat, but now they’re second-guessing themselves. He went to the hospital on Saturday, and his condition has not improved. They’re on their way to the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax even as I type this. I would humbly petition your prayers for both Wesley and his family. They are not Christians, and have experienced an abundance of trials over the past few years. If only they knew they need not be alone in these struggles.

Christ does not turn a deaf ear to the faith of a parent, and their love for their child. Consider Mark 5:22-24:

Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him.

So please, pray for Wesley, his parents, his older brother and younger sister. Pray as the Spirit moves you. Thanks.

the big dip

Baptism has been coming up a lot in my discussion circles for some reason lately. In my Sunday School class we started the Swiss Reformation, and I touched on the Anabaptist movement, and the reactions to it. We talked Felix Mantz receiving his “third baptism,” having suffered drowning for his rejection of infant-baptism. What makes his death so frustrating is that he was a member of a small group with Ulrich Zwingli, who fiercely clung to the concept of Sola Scriptura. Because there was no New Testament example of musical instruments in worship, he banned their use from the churches in Zurich. Had he been consistent, and not subject to political influence, he would have applied that same logic to the topic of infant baptism.

In addition to that little reminder, I am a member of a “Baptist” church. Now, I personally can’t stand that nickname for my denomination, chiefly because I’ve spoken to numerous people outside of the faith who completely misunderstand what it means. Denomination names are really designed for Christians to identify their favorites – not as welcome messages to the lost. I’d like to see the denomination names retired to small-print, or just a side-note, something like:

I am a young Christian, but I am also an “intentional Baptist.” That is to say, when I was offered church membership, I didn’t jump at the invitation. No, I wanted to be sure I was willing to stand and be counted with this particular body of believers. I had been a Christian for less than a year, and still desperately struggling with many theological and moral issues. I needed to be sure of where I stood. I can happily say now that I am a Baptist, that I am in agreement with the key distinctives of that denomination.

However, I have the ability to look at my own fellowship with a critical eye, and recognize faults there, as well. No, we’re not as charismatic as some groups, and I’m okay with that. We have one too many pictures of Viking Jesus around, especially in the children’s center. I never understood why this Palestinian Jew was always depicted as a smiling Norseman. But those, in my mind, are very tiny little things. I could care less how the seats are arranged, whether we use leavened or unleavened bread in the Supper. There is, however, on thing that I do take issue with.

Historically, the Baptist movement was about the faith of the one getting baptized. We adhere to a “believer’s baptism” – baptizing an individual who has confessed faith in Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. That baptism is a public profession of faith, and an act of obedience to Christ. It’s a way of publicly saying, “I’m broken. I cannot fix myself. But now I have been crucified with Christ Jesus, and I have faith that He’s going to fix me, and make me more like him.”

The London Baptist Confession of 1689 specifies 4 key points on the matter of baptism:

1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2;12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4)

2. Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance. (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36, 37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8)

3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38)

4. Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance. (Matthew 3:16; John 3:23)

Please note that the subject of the mode of baptism comes last, and is almost mentioned as a side-issue. You’ll have a hard time using the two scripture references to really boost a case for immersion to someone of another tradition though. Let’s look at them both. First, Matthew 3:16:

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

I suppose the argument could be made that the phrase, “went up out of the water” means that he was completely submerged, and then came up out of complete submersion. A hard row to hoe with someone who doesn’t already share your tradition in that matter, though. How about John 3:23?

Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.

It’s an even harder case to make from this passage. We’re saying that it MUST have been baptism by full immersion because the reason this particular place was chosen was because there was plenty of water. That’s it? Well, of course that’s not it. The very word “baptize” means “to dip.” In the case of a person, then, you are obviously dipping a person. So yes, correctly applied baptism should be by immersing a believer in water. The Didache (literally “The Teaching,” referring to apostolic teachings) one of the earliest texts of the church after the New Testament, speaks much on the subject of baptism, and reaffirms that the mode is to be by full immersion. But read what else it says…

And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.

Sounds to me like they’re saying, “Here’s the way you should do it. But if you can’t do it that way, find some other way, just get it done!” Of course, the Didache isn’t inspired or authoritative. Don’t get me wrong. I am not in any way attempting to say that baptism should not be performed by full immersion. It absolutely should be! However, we get into a difficult position when someone outside of the Baptist tradition comes to accept the beliefs and distinctive of that denomination. I believe that, due to traditions in the church, and the adoption of nearly sacramental habits, our denomination has placed an unbalanced focus on the mode of baptism, even above the spiritual position of the baptism subject. The primary question posed in regard to potential new members is, “Have they been baptized by immersion?” Nobody even asks, “Are they Trinitarian?” or even “Are they Christian?” Now, of course, new members always have a meeting with a couple of deacons who then make the recommendation for membership, so I don’t want to give the impression that we’re ignorant of doctrinal issues.

That being said, what about someone from another tradition who we would consider completely orthodox, and has been the recipient of a believer’s baptism, but NOT by full immersion… what then do we do? In my particular church, those individuals are asked to get baptized by full immersion. We ask them to essentially nullify their previous baptism, as though they have not yet acted in obedience to the Lord. What that does to the heart of that individual! Given the previous definition of what baptism represents, are we saying the individual who’s had, say, water poured over their head has not properly indicated their fellowship with Christ? Has not partaken of His death and resurrection. Has not taken to abiding in Him? Has not received remission of their sins? Has not given up to God, through Christ, to live and walk in newness of life? Are we seriously saying that the person who has not been fully submerged has not done and experienced these things?

I’m a full believer in the fact that heretical baptism is not a true baptism. Someone who is baptized in obedience to Michael the archangel (Jehovah’s Witness), or the spirit-brother of Satan (Mormon) has not been baptized in obedience to Jesus the Christ, God and Savior. Those are spiritual, theological matters. Those are matters of faith and orthodoxy. How much surface area of your body was covered with water is another matter entirely. Therefore, I question whether it is right to deny an individual membership on the basis of the mode of baptism they experienced. As long as that individual agrees in principle that baptism is best performed by immersion, then I don’t see a problem. Anyway, there’s my rant on that matter. Please leave comments if you would.

Now, onto non-ranting, very exciting stuff. There is so much in my life worthy of praise, but this past year has been absolutely amazing in many respects, despite my personal struggles with depression. Those who read the blog regularly know that people I thought I’d lost forever have come back into my life. You’ve read about Tieren, Katelynn and Shelby, and the joy they’ve been to my family and I. You’ve also read about their spiritual journey, how the girls attended a Christian camp this past summer. How they’ve all be deeply touched by God, and experienced amazing new life in Christ. What you haven’t read about is the countless hours spent talking with them about God, and Scripture, and the reasons for what we believe – the sharing of my personal experiences – the denial of the “blindness” of faith – the questions about moral issues. I couldn’t possibly document all that, nor would I want to. Those are treasures I keep in my heart, and will cherish for all time.

As if next weekend weren’t going to be amazing enough, being the holiest time in the Christian calendar, a time of remembering what God has accomplished through Christ. A time to contemplate the richness of God’s mercy, and the unfathomable undeserved grace he extends to us. At this time, on Easter Sunday, Tieren, Katelynn and Shelby are all being baptized in obedience to Christ. They are publicly demonstrating that they are not the same people they were before. They are saying to a watching world, “Jesus lives, and He’s changed me forever.” Praise His holy name!

Oh yeah… and they’re going all the way under.

flash files

There, I finally put all my flash files on one page. It’s also over on the navigation bar to the left under the ‘my stuff’ heading. Enjoy!

i work at burger king

And speaking of flash animations, here’s one of my favorites entitled Burger King Guy. And if you enjoy that one, check out the remix.