Dreams Unlocked

Worship band playing before the service. Redeemer Presbyterian Church This is a continuation of the last post. Redeemer Presbyterian Church purchased a parking garage on the Upper West SIde of Manhattan. Over a number of years they renovated it into a worship and office space. Knowing the price of commercial real estate in NYC, this was quite a coup for the church. The resulting building is a narrow sleek building that blends in nicely to the chic surroundings. When we went, I was quite surprised at how slim the building is. Instead of building out as most churches would, they had to build up - 5 stories up. The entry level is actually the balcony of the sanctuary. You go down some stairs to get to the main level. the sanctuary is quite small - I imagine that my church here in Ithaca would actually seat more people. The design is quite minimalistic and sleek. It looks more like a contemporary concert hall than a church. The kids programs were on the third floor, so I

Entry to Redeemer Presbyterian Church  West 83rd in New York City. This past Sunday we had the opportunity of attending a worship service at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Redeemer is a fairly well known church throughout American Christianity (and likely on farther shores, now). Their fame is due to their growth to 7000 people attending one of multiple services at 3 different sites across Manhattan. Somehow they have managed to plant and sustain a vibrant growing dynamic congregation in a very complex and challenging city. Along with their growth is the remarkable gifts of their lead pastor, Timothy Keller. I first heard of Keller in the early 00's when we were attempting to church plant in downtown Vancouver. I read one of the earliest drafts of his church planting manual - which is still one of the best resources for church planters or anyone wanting to minister in a global city. Soon, I discovered his sermons - there are several

Waiting for our train in the subway station. We are in New York City this weekend - soaking in the Christmas lights and decorations. We are staying right in the heart of things - a few blocks off Times Square. This afternoon we skated in the famed Rockefeller Center skating rink. It's quite an iconic rink - right in front of 30 Rockefeller - where 30 Rock, SNL and many other shows are taped. The cast of Saturday Night Live always skate there after the Christmas show - which might be this Saturday! NYC is quite a shock to the system. We only had to drive a couple of blocks after emerging out of the Lincoln Tunnel - but I couldn't figure out why everyone was honking so much - it wasn't much different than driving in Delhi! We walked about 20 minutes to get to the rink - it is amazingly disorienting seeing the mad riot of people and vehicles all rushing back and forth - a crazed kaleidoscope of color and noise … and smells - whoa, there is some rank smelling spot

In 1983 I saw a photograph that deeply moved me. Two men sitting in a stark cell. One man wearing sneakers, jeans and a blue sweatshirt. The other man dressed all in white, belying his angelic presence Pope John Paul visited the man who had earlier attempted to assassinate him He held the hand that had previously held a gun aimed at him. Stunning, moving, heart-breaking. The power of love and forgiveness. And now 30 years later, I come across another picture that draws out similar feelings of pathos. It again includes a pope and a man also exiled by society. Pope Francis is embracing a severely disfigured man suffering from neurofibromatosis. This ailment leaves the patient covered in large disfiguring tumors. The result is a grotesque distortion of normal human facial features. Most of us would avert our gaze away from such a man, and then perhaps steal furtive glances to satisfy our curiosity. Instead the Pope see, moves, embraces and blesses. See the man. He i

I am preaching tomorrow on 2 Cor. 6. In this chapter Paul tells the Corinthian church that he has opened up his heart to them, and he want them to "open wide their hearts" also. He is wanting to forge stronger relational ties with this church but their shielded hearts are preventing this. So, part of my sermon will be on authentic community - something every church says they want, but very few achieve. Today I read this excellent article today in Leadership magazine: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2013/fall/going-to-church-alone.html The writer bemoans the isolation of most congregants in churches in America. He tells an interesting story of he and his wife being ignored 4 weeks in a row in a new church they were trying to get involved with. When we lived in Port Moody, we also attended a couple of mid-sized churches. These were churches in size of between 300-400 worshippers each. All the indications of church health were there: good worship decent pre

I read a news article about a pastor who is building a house valued at $1.6 million. The articles covering the story go to great lengths to figure out where the money came from. The pastor wrote a couple of books that sold a lot and he might charge a lot to speak at other conferences - so he has an income stream separate from his ministries as pastor of the church. In this way, a spokesperson from the church insisted that the church did not pay for the house. I don't really care what size or cost a pastor's house is - its really an individual thing how people manage their money - the only clear command is to tithe and be aware that our money is a gift from God and we are called to steward it well. But, this story raises an interesting point -  the secular news media covering this story for some reason think it is problematic and perhaps even wrong for this pastor to be building such a large house. Now - where do they get this idea from? Why would they equate ostentati

I am writing this in a house buzzing with 6 children ranging in age from 2 to 9. 6 - double the usual number who run through this house. We are taking care of 3 kids of friends of ours who are struggling to come to terms with a loss. Their fourth child died in utero 2 weeks before his projected delivery date. 9 months of hopeful anticipation and excitement collided with the silence of a stilled heartbeat  amplified through medical machinery. Our friend had to go through a compounded misery of forced labor, only to birth a son who was not to be. Felicia and I visited them a few hours after their son was "born". It was unnerving to have our friend flash her beautiful smile in the sun-filled room that housed the still body of their son. We hugged and offered up what seemed useless words of comfort. Felicia held the baby and had to stop herself from rocking the child to calm it. I shared about how we had announced it in the church service that morning. I had to pray

Last Friday - the beginning of the Battle. I had knee surgery last Friday to correct an injury sustained while trail running 2 years ago. I tore the meniscus in my left knee. For the past 2 years I did physiotherapy to try to manage the pain and discomfort. (I need to write another post about the difference between American and Canadian health care - let me just say - you get what you pay for). But, this post is focused on this past week - a week of forced indolence. I was in a lot of pain and discomfort. And I was always tired. I'm tired right now. I had to postpone several meetings that I had scheduled. I did go to a staff lunch meeting and a Bible Study with our small group. - But was exhausted at the end of that day. It looks like this week might be a repeat of last week - although I will be at church tomorrow, speaking briefly in the Adult Ed. Class and then attending worship. I also am speaking 4 times next weekend - I'll be speaking at a Cornell InterVar

Dear God, Teach me silence that I might learn to hear. Teach me to love you from my inmost being.                  to wait on You.                  to never ask anything that is outside of Your will.                  to let you act within my soul, forming within it true prayer. When you start to work within me, you release inner power that I might be faithful every hour, in focusing on You. Your presence in my life is a precious gift. Teach me to guard it and steward all that you have gifted me with. Amen. (adapted from Jean-Nicholas Grou).

Leslie Newbign was a missionary to India from Scotland. He joined the Church of South India and eventually rose to the rank of bishop. When he came back to the West, he saw that the Western's Christian moorings had been jettisoned. He began to make the case that the Church now has to approach ministry as a missionary in a foreign culture. We no longer spoke the same vernacular as everyone else. Newbign challenged us to abandon the myth of the modern world. This myth is that a person can jettison faith in God and rest in science and naturalism and still enjoy the following things: meaning in life a basis for human dignity moral consensus hope character shared values strong community Newbign argued that all of the above were facades in a culture that had set off on her journey without God. Humans left to their own are not strong enough to formulate the things needed to secure healthy community and meaning in life. We struggle and stumble - but it remai

Today at church a friend of mine, Doug Weber spoke. Doug works on Capitol Hill in Washington DC in a ministry there. It sounds pretty important, and it probably is. Doug spoke on doubting Thomas, who he thinks we should rename "Honest Thomas", because he was honest. One thing I picked up on today that I hadn't noticed before was that the other disciples had seen Jesus, but Thomas hadn't. They tell Thomas they saw him. Thomas retorts with, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”  In other words - sorry guys, your testimony isn't good enough. YOu aren't credible witnesses to me. How would you feel if someone questioned your experience? They had ALL seen Jesus - they all told Thomas the same thing. But, Thomas doesn't believe them - and in fact demands experiential proof of Jesus' existence by actually seeing and touching the pierced body of J

The story of Naaman is found in the Bible in 2 Kings ch. 5. Naaman had it all: success, power, wealth and a good reputation. At the end of 2 Kings 5:1 we read: He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. BUT HE HAD LEPROSY With the hanging physical descriptor, virtually all his other success are moot and void. Naaman had external success, but was internally dying. His life was being slowly destroyed by a malignant, persistent and tiny bacteria that will not stop until his life has fallen apart. America is Naaman. America worships external cosmetics, while her internal strength is being destroyed by a lack of moral fortitude and character. Naaman's story shows us the reality of pain and trauma in our lives. We might achieve a lot of external success - but, we have leprosy - we have some lingering inner pain. Something that keeps us from joy. The first step is accept the reality of our pain. The primal source of all pain of all of humanity is sin. Si

Last night after the conference Me and leaders from Bethel Grove. Back in Ithaca after 2 days at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit in Syracuse. Unbelievable time of teaching and inspiration. I hope to be able to bring our entire leadership team to this event next year. It was so challenging to me as a leader and is forcing me to ask some serious questions about myself and my ministry - and how I am doing things. I hope to carve out some time early next week to get away and process, pray and journal out some things - especially in relation to the upcoming season of ministry. Today, there was again an incredible variety of speakers who hit on some important themes related to leadership: influence, innovation, vulnerability. It is hard to pinpoint a highlight - but it has become clear to me that leadership development has to become a priority at our church. One of the areas, I'd like to see us develop is in the college students that attend our church - the brig

Me and one of my favorite leaders. I am in Syracuse New York. A group of leaders from the church and I are attending the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit. This is an incredibly large event that makes the United Nations look like a city council of a small town. 170 000 attendees in 101 countries in 42 languages! The main event is in suburban Chicago - but the leveraging of technology sends it out all over the world - including central New York, where I am. The folks from our church are a music prof. from Ithaca College and a couple who work for InterVarsity at Cornell. I have never attended the Leadership Summit, but have always wanted to. My only regret now is not attending sooner! What an amazing day. Today's speakers included: Bill Hybels Colin Powell Mark Burnett - the guy who has produced Survivor, Apprentice, The Voice and Shark Tank. Patrick Lencioni - most likely the best consultant to corporations alive today. All in all it was quite a stunn

Kids enjoying birthday cake in the new house. 4 months into this adventure of social adjustment to life in Ithaca New York. So far, so good. The first week was hard because we didn't have any of our stuff and felt destitute, despite having a house to live in and clothes to wear, and food to eat - we just didn't have OUR STUFF. 2 months in, both Felicia and I went through a sharp Vancouver withdrawal as we reminisced about our favorite restaurants, the natural beauty, the myriad of activities available to kids and the general buzz of living in a big city. That withdrawal lasted about 2 weeks, and then it passed and Ithaca began to feel more and more like home. And now, we have moved into a newly purchased house - on my birthday! And it is a nice house, a comfortable house in a nice neighborhood. Some days when I am driving home and the sky is blue and the lawns appear extra green and I spot my patriotic neighbors American flag waving proudly, I feel like I am

Saturday nights before I preach on a Sunday AM, I look over my sermon, do some last minute edits and will preach it out loud to see how it sounds. (Words sound very differently when they are spoke versus lying dormant on the page). Then I pray. I pray for me and the congregation. In any congregation there will be specific men and women for whom the sermon will penetrate deep. I pray for those people especially. Tomorrow I preach on Esther - the beautiful woman chosen by a king to be a wife, and then chosen by another King to save the Jewish nation. The sermon reminds me of the providential care of God for His creation and his absolute sovereign rule over all. It is a sermon of comfort - because no matter what a train wreck our lives look like, there is Someone in control, guiding and directing towards His ultimate purpose. Nothing is wasted in His economy. Esther's story doesn't start out so great. For some reason, she thinks its ok to enter a competition to win

Good-bye. James Gandolfini 1961-2013 James Gandolfini died recently. The heavy set actor will forever be married in our minds to the character of Tony Soprano, the New Jersey crime boss who struggled with panic attacks while trying to manage his place in his mafia family, along with his own family. The Sopranos marked a shift in American television. Episodes were very carefully written. Characters took entire seasons to fully flesh out. Hints of greatness that had been previously seen on shows like Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue had now come to full fruition. It marked the beginning of many similar series: Deadwood, Dexter, Breaking Bad, the Shield, The Wire, Mad Men. These all became very well produced, directed and written tv shows. This new wave brought with it a new level of darkness in subject matter, previously reserved for R rated films. And it also high-lighted a male character I call "The Flawed Man". Tony Soprano made his living by breaking the la

Things start to be coming together as our morphing away from Canadian West Coast people to upstate New York college town people. I bought a car, got approved for a mortgage and got my NY drivers license, all in 3 days. Driving around with NY license plates makes me feel more like a local. Working Its been a long time since I've worked in an office that wasn't attached to where I lived. The last time was 7 years ago, when I worked at First Baptist in Vancouver. And even then, I walked 8 blocks from our apt. to work. Now, I commute! Granted, its a 5-7 minute scenic drive through leafy country roads with virtually no other cars in site. So, I drive to work and I work in an office. At the age of 42, I am beginning to feel more grown up - should have happened 12 years ago. At work, I am trying to balance out behind the scenes program development with actual real inter-personal ministry. So far, so good. I don't want to get fossilized in my office, writing serm

Enjoying the 150 year picnic celebration (minus Adam) 30 days ago today, I started my position at Bethel Grove Bible Church. The first 2 weeks were quite disjointed, as none of our possessions had arrived from Port Moody, yet. Once the stuff arrived, it was much easier to settle in. I moved 25 boxes of books into my office, which made it feel much nicer. I've managed to participate on Sunday mornings by doing the pastoral prayer, helping with communion and a few other things. The next 2 Sundays, I teach an adult sunday school AND preach in teh 2nd service as well - so that will be quite busy. The position and the church are pretty great. I am REALLY enjoying both. The transition to Ithaca and the U.S. is still happening. It is challenging trying to do all the little things that need to be done - requires a lot of patience and time. The children have adjusted extremely well - both Adam and Sophia love their new school. Adam is also playing baseball on a local littl

Smiling kids, empty house. We arrived in Ithaca on April 2. Before leaving Ithaca, we signed an agreement with the moving company that our stuff would arrive anytime between April 1-10. A few days ago we were told to expect our items to arrive April 11 - 1 day late. We thought no big deal. Today the company called us to tell us that last night our driver fell off a ladder and broke his arm. They did not clarify why he was on a ladder and not behind the wheel. He underwent surgery today. His need for recovery means that all our stuff is sitting in the back of a moving van in Chicago Illinois, while his arm mends. So, the moving company requires another driver. The driver they found is in Florida - he must be very special, because Florida is neither close to either Ithaca or Chicago. We can now expect our stuff sometime between April 15-17. By then, we will have spent 2 weeks in this sparsely furnished house. We have a round church table, a few fold out church chairs and a c

Heading to school this AM. We live on a hill with clear views of  Cauyga Lake and Cornell University. We pulled into our rental house 1 week ago today. I haven't been able to blog due to no internet hookup in our home. After several frustrating attempts with Time Warner, we finally have internet and cable (but no tv, as our stuff will not arrive until Thursday). It is hard to feel settled without any of our familiar belongings. We are living in a house quite a bit smaller from the large comfortable townhouse we had in Port Moody. But, we all seem to have adapted to the change. Our church was kind enough to furnish us with a table and some metal fold out chairs. We also have air mattresses so we don't need to sleep on the floor. Our kitchen was also FILLED with food. People have been dropping off food and other stuff since we've been here. Someone even dropped off a bunch of brand new toys for the kids. For the first week we have had to survive deprived of int

Chicago's John Hancock building at night. Cleveland rocks. Actually - Cleveland freezes. It is soooo freaking cold here!!!! We rolled in quite late, and as has now become our norm, all jumped in the pool. We spent the morning shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I told Sophia that I would buy her a doll at American Girl, because I had heard that American Girl was popular - and since Sophia was soon to become a real American Girl, I thought it would be a good way to get her enculturated. Oh my - I didn't know what I was walking into. For those of you who are unaware, American Girl is a company that sells dolls - these dolls have names and life stories. There are other dolls that are supossed to be made to look like different types of girls - so no matter what you look like, there will be a doll that kind of looks like you - although it appears they have missed the mixed race Indo-Chinese market. I walked into the place with Sophia and felt like we had enter

Adam reads his kindle with Lake Michigan and the John Hancock building behind him. Yesterday we strolled down Michigan Ave. - really the heart of downtown Chicago. All the shopping is here. In the afternoon we visited Willis tower (formerly Sears Tower). It is a tall tower that has unique glass floors in one part that allow you to look directly down and feel like you're walking on air. The kids loved it. We decided to take the subway there which made us appear like we were like the amish in the city, as I couldn't figure out how to buy a ticket. A homeless guy who somehow had a wad of cash on him, helpfully gave me change for a 20 so I could buy the tickets from the machine (you needed exact change). He was muttering incoherently, and the kids just stood there frozen staring at him. After that we headed home and ordered in some famous Chicago deep dish pizza. It was pretty good, but both Felicia and I felt that it wasn't amazing or anything. This morning, Eas

South Dakota. Minnesota. Wisconsin. Illinois. We drove from SD, through MI and WI and ended up in Illinois in 11 hours. 4 states, 3 kids, 1 minivan, 1 day. To say I am tired is an understatement. The landscape and traffic changed dramatically. Prairie, rolling hills, urban sprawl and finally urban congestion. The funniest part of today was watching the kids play in the snow in an area that resembles an abandoned industrial park, somewhere in Wisconsin. Despite the sparse surroundings the kids had a lot of fun. After a lengthy day, make that DAYS of travel - our hotel in Chicago feels like a welcome oasis. The hotel staff had special treats prepared for the kids in our room.  Adam had popcorn and a coke. James and Sophia both had cookies and milk. They prepared a fruit tray for Felicia and I. It made us feel welcomed once again. Chicago looks like an interesting city.  We're looking forward to exploring the city tomorrow.

The day began with a visit to the national monument of Mt. Rushmore. The amazing sculpture of American Presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Adam and Sophia have virtually no knowledge of American history. So, it was fun for us to go over each of these Presidents - although my own knowledge of this country's history is limited as well. I'm going to try to read some good history books to get caught up to speed with our new home country. After a couple of hours there, we had to change the oil in the van because the service light was coming on. We found a locally owned garage where the staff was so friendly and helpful, it reminded me of 1950's era service stations where you would pull up for gas and 4 guys would jump out and go over your whole car. After that it was back on the road. South Dakota looks remarkably similar to Saskatchewan. One big difference is in the large number of billboards advertising everything

Enjoying the snow in Wyoming! We trekked on through Montana, Wyoming and finally South Dakota today. Yesterday we stayed in Bozeman Montana. We ordered coffees in a drive thru Starbucks. When we were picking up our order, the employee started chatting us up about the bright sun and warm weather. She was extremely excited to hear about our trip and wished us well. We encountered her after our eager friend in McDonalds the day before. And then again, in Sheridan Wyoming today, the manager of the sandwich shop we were in asked where we came from and where we were going. She cheerfully wished us happy travels. Within a very brief period of time 3 complete strangers expressed real interest in who we were and where we were headed. Each one also wished us safe travels. Are these expressions of interest and warmth endemic of the citizens that make up these rural enclaves in the American West? What are the chances of 3 strangers in 3 different towns within a very brief period of

Beautiful Montana Skies Our trek continued from Eastern Washington, over the tip of Idaho and into Montana. The scenery was completely stunning and awe inspiring. The vast lands running up against low lying mountain ranges. And the huge inky blue sky. I can see why artists and writers retreat to Montana. The surroundings provide inspiration for a lot of artistic output. This was quite a lengthy day of travel. We left Ellensburg at about 9 AM and rolled into Bozeman at about 9 PM. We made only 2 stops. Lunch at a McDonalds somewhere near Spokane, and later in Missoula Montana. At the McDonalds, a man approached me as I was filling up my Diet Dr. Pepper. He asked how long we were traveling. My normal big city defenses went sky high as I warily eyed him up and down. I determined he was just being friendly, and not out to do me harm. So, I said we're headed to Bozeman. Then he volunteered that we should go to some park an hour away in Idaho. I said, "Uh, huh." Thi

Parting shot from 1 Aspenwood. It's happening. After 10 months, we are finally on the road towards Ithaca New York. Today was a frantic tsunami of activity, miscommunication and even more good-byes. The day began with the arrival of 2 vans to our door. The first van only carried equipment to help the movers move. The second van was the shuttle van ,meaning the movers would move everything onto this van. It would go to the warehouse, and then some unlucky people would have to unload and reload  all our stuff into a 53 foot trailer truck that will take it cross country toward Ithaca. After this frenzy of last minute packing and dropping items that we were shedding, we faced an eerily empty house. We had pawned Sophia and James off on our beloved babysitter/honorary eldest daughter  - Lindsay, for the day. We were waiting for them to arrive. I walked over to chat with my neighbor about something and then all of a sudden an entourage of minvans started driving towards our

Yet another farewell dinner. With another pastor. I've had lunch with a dozen pastors in the past month, saying goodbye. With each farewell, the hugs have been warmer, tighter and longer. A mysterious lump forms in my throat. And an odd salty discharge escapes my eyes. Sadness stalks me during these goodbyes. We have lived in Vancouver for 12 years. All of our kids have been born here. And my friends. My friends who have been there for me in the good and the bad. And it is in the bad, that true friendships are discovered. When the ground beneath your feet is unsteady, your friends hold you steady. And I have so many who held me. Held us - two years ago when our ground shook. A fissure in a small church developed into an uncrossable crevice.  Forced to walk away from a church into an unknown future. Unknown, but not unknowable. It becomes knowable over time. And now, we step into the future. More accurately we drive towards a future in the East. A horizon

In 5 days our family will embark on a journey. A journey that a couple of years ago we would never have imagined. We will be driving(!) from Port Moody British Columbia to Ithaca New York. We will pass through 11 states, bedding down in 6 different cities in 6 states. The guiding hand of sovereignty has directed us to travel during Holy Week. Jesus journeyed to his cross - fortunately, we head off to a far less fatal destination. We will drive and drive and drive, stopping for food and gas. Stopping to look at wonders both natural and man-made. A high-light of the journey will be Mt. Rushmore, a rock sculpture of 4 US presidents. A good introduction to American life, to see entombed in rock the visages of these great men who helped shape the country which has opened up its doors to us. Another highlight will be spending Easter weekend in Chicago. I've been to Chicago a couple of times and I think it will be fun exploring the big city with the kids. We will go up the Sears

No mountains - but still beautiful. View from an art gallery at Cornell University in Ithaca New York. In a matter of weeks, the Ninans will be on the move. We will pack up our stuff and some big men will come and pack them into a moving van. Our stuff and us will take separate journeys and reunite again in Ithaca New York I have taken a position with Bethel Grove Bible Church. After a lengthy Visa application process, I have been accepted by the US government to live and work there. And so, we move. This will be quite a change for us. Felicia and I have lived in Vancouver for 12 years - our entire married lives. All 3 of our kids were born here. We are a part of Vancouver and Vancouver will always be a part of us. Deeper than that is the fact that we are all Canadian citizens - soon we will live as immigrants in a nation that is not our own. Big changes ahead. Another change is that both Felicia and I will be living in the smallest town that we have ever li