A Sad Little Story

I find it sadly ironic that three people who were not elected at all just removed a mayor who was voted into office by a considerable majority, over an issue that represents 0.00003% of the city budget (yes I did the math), when the mayor had nothing to gain (regarding the money) and gained nothing, and the city had nothing to loose and lost nothing.  

I find it even more ironic and even sadder that the people who are so adamant that the mayor pay so very dearly for this mistake say nothing about the 1.3 BILLION dollars that our current Ontario premier threw away over his last boondoggle, and then prorogued parliament to make sure no one looked too closely at the matter.  

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/11/26/rob-ford-christie-blatchford/

http://www.toronto.ca/budget2012/2012_budget_summary/pdf/operating_summary.pdf

Soon you'll be there

Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  Yesterday I had a robust discussion with a friend about the nature of that Kingdom.  Jesus taught that His kingdom was like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in a garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds nested in its branches.  He said it is like a yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large batch of flour until it worked all through the dough (see Luke 13:18-21).  He used comparison because His kingdom is best understood by comparison.

The physical kingdom of man comes with much noise and spectacle – arguments, fighting and infighting, news stories and public demonstrations.  The kingdom of heaven comes quietly and unseen, as yeast grows inside the dough and a seed takes root under the ground.  The kingdom of man is exactly what you’d expect it to be – people jostling for position, making rules that try to include all and fit no one.  The kingdom of heaven is different - as a tree is to the seed, as rising dough is to the yeast. 

The tree comes up where you thought a bush would be – nevertheless beautiful, productive and peaceful.  A place of singing birds and joy.  The kingdom of man, even after all these years of building it, is still a place of argument, strife and destruction.

There have always been people pointing out the slow degeneration of society’s values and morals.  To do that is not new, or in vogue, or even necessarily profitable from a change-management standpoint.  Realistically the most people can be expected to do at news of incremental negative change is shrug.  Compartmentalization rules.  Worse, because our media feed us a constant stream of information overload about evil people doing evil things, there is a tendency toward hyperbole.  That taints legitimate warnings of offence, and I think it is for that reason that many refuse to speak up against the gradual erosion of civilized societal norm. 

But while we hold back, lest we be branded as troublemakers or shamed by the morals and values we’ve built our society on, the trend doesn’t just continue - it accelerates.  What used to be an occasional glimpse of what I would call society’s descent is now commonplace.  More than commonplace, it has instead become the excepted norm to ridicule historic values, or to (at best) ignore past common sense.  Such is the path the world is on as it rolls toward the best mankind can do.  Mankind, you see, is defining its kingdom.

Some might think that I’m just speaking like an old man, lamenting the passing of the good old days.  Not true (hey, I’m not even 50!).  No, I will not lament society’s past, even when I perceive the immediate future bleak.  And not because I fear shame or label.  Rather, because I perceive that as society moves in the direction it is headed, there will be an ever-greater delta between what most believe and what some believe.  That polarization of worldviews (current society worldview vs Christ-follower worldview) makes comparison stark and choice clear (for those who might yet make that choice). 

Next month we will celebrate the birth of the King of the Kingdom.  At His birth the angels said, “…peace to men on whom his favor rests”.   Later, Jesus Himself said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”  Read the paper.  Look at the world.  Decide for yourself if you want more of that, or if you want the peace that Jesus gives to those who follow Him.  If it is the former, well - good luck.  If the latter, you have already entered His kingdom.    

A Modern Sunday Parable

Ah, Sunday!  The first day of the week, a day to worship in church, to enjoy each other's company and to rest.  And, to finish the day off, the next episode of the most popular show on television.   The Walking Dead (AMC, 9pm EDST).  I know I am not alone in that assessment - IMDB labels it the highest rated show this year and I have more than a few friends who eagerly anticipate the next episode.

Considering that from a Christian viewpoint, the irony is so thick you can almost poke it in the eye with a crowbar (sorry, that's an inside joke for those who watch the show).  In real life we talk to, work with and live among the walking dead every day.  For we know that all around us are people who are spiritually already dead (see Ephesians 2).

Just like the zombies on the show, they stagger through the world awaiting the day they can finally physically rest by becoming brain dead.
Just like the zombies on the show, they concern themselves only with their appetite.   Just like the zombies on the show, their appetite is unnatural and (spiritually speaking) both disgusting and horrifying.
Just like the zombies on the show, they have no possible way to be made well, apart from a miracle.
Just like the zombies on the show, they are completely unaware of their own state.

Perhaps, like us, you even have such a zombie in your home!  If not, surely one or more of them come to visit every now and again.  If so, please do NOT imitate the show in your dealings with zombies.  To do so is to become, like them, a mindless actor in a meaningless existence that will soon be forgotten.  Let me caution you against the visceral urge to rid yourself of it/them.  That doesn't mean though, that living with a zombie is fun.  No, you have to constantly be vigilant, and that takes a lot of time and effort.  But remember that we too walked among them at one time (is it ironic that tonight's episode is called 'walk with me'?).  

We walk among them no longer because miracles do happen.  Even daily, some are raised from the dead unto life.  Our struggle is not therefore with them, but against those who keep them from the same miracle we've experienced.  Read Ephesians 6.  As we then properly guard ourselves and make the sacrifice of prayer, we constantly look for the opportunity to bring the dead to life.

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient.  We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!"
-Eph 2:1-5, HCSB








http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter&title_type=tv_series