Remember the parent meeting at the beginning of your child's sport season? The meeting where you were required to sign the contract? The contract in which you promised to not coach your child from the sidelines?

That's the scenario I got thinking about while preparing last week's message. (You can hear the entire message under the 'resources' secion on this site)

The issue is this: The coach has a strategy; a plan. He knows the big picture and has shown the plan to the players. The players know what part they have to play.

The parents on the sidelines are not only unaware of the details of the plan, but they often don't even know there is a plan! Yet, in the heat of the moment, at the top of their lungs, they 'share' their incredible expertise from the sidelines, interfering with the coach's plan. And in doing so they cause a crisis of allegiance in their children. The child knows they ought to stick to the coach's plan, but they have also been taught to obey their parents. Who to listen to... maybe a compromise?

In some ways our spiritual lives are the same... We know the plan our Father has, and to a large extend we know what He expects of us. Yet we are surrounded with people who are blind to this plan or who just do not know the details. But in the 'heat of the moment' (life's circumstances) many well-meaning people are ready to share their 'expertise', causing us a crisis of allegiance. We know we ought to stick to the Father's plan, but our 'old self' has been conditioned to follow the ways of this world. What to do? Maybe a little compromise?

Now, I don't think we can ask those on the sidelines to sign a contract. (Not that those contracts ever stopped us from 'sharing our expertise' anyway!) That then leaves us with the following challenge: we need to be discerning as to the calls from the sidelines! And, if what we hear does not line up with the Father's plan, we better just ignore it!

Well, the New Year is here! In fact, it has been here for a while already and our little family is thrilled with the Nova Scotia version of 'winter'. Sure, from time to time there is some snow, but then one day you look out of the window and it is all gone again! Winter here is certainly not as extreme as what we're used to.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas season. It helped, of course, to have our oldest daughter Amy and her fiance Jeff with us. They got engaged just before Christmas and are planning an August wedding.

Thought Christmas Day itself was a little chilly, we did spent some of it at the Bay of Fundy - we just had to take a picture at the Port George lighthouse. Waterfalls at the beach had partly frozen over, making for a wonderful landscape.

The Christmas Pageant at church was a great success. Hey, when else does one get to play Gabriel?! I was given a wonderful opportunity to provide the audience with a 'big-picture' overview of the Good News Jesus came to bring.

On Christmas Day we focussed on the theme of love. The message ended with us watching the video "The Father's Love Letter". (You can view this video by going to resourses => video) We closed our time together by celebrating the Lord's Supper.

The early part of January has seen the launch of our small groups, including a youth group! Meanwhile work continues on the church property. Clay was hauled in to fill our 'lake' beside the church, and planning continues for the kitchen renovation.

The 'Big Thing' at church right now, though, is our New Year's Resolution: To read Scripture daily, and to think, pray, and talk about it. O, did I mention the need to apply it? It is so encouraging to hear people talk about the insights they are gaining through this challenge.

I'm encouraged and curiously anticipating what God will do in us and through us this coming year. May He be praised!

Sweis

What would Christmas be without gifts? That's the question I plan on asking children during our Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve. And... I know the answer!

Growing up in Holland, gifts were exchanged around December 5th through "Sinterklaas" festivities. The result was that there were no gifts at Christmas! None! There was a Christmas tree, and candles, and church services, and food, and family, but no gifts!

Now, before you start feeling sorry for me let me tell you this: Christmas was just fine without gifts! I have great memories of especially Christmas Eve services late in the evening in a 700 year old cathedral-like church building. What seemed like hundreds of candles would be lit, and at the end of the service the congregation would gather in the town square to sing 'Silent Night'.
O, Christmas was just fine...

A few years ago our little family tried 'doing Christmas' without gifts, and we were amazed how much more relaxed the Advent season became. Not having the distraction of gift-giving actually allowed us to really focus on the greatest gift of all time - God's gift of Jesus to a us broken people in need of a Saviour! He came - that's what we remember at Christmas; He died - that's what we remember on Good Friday; and He rose from the grave - that's what we remember at Easter. And now, all those who believe will not perish but have eternal life. What a gift!

Hmmm, I guess I never did have a Christmas without a gift...

Sweis

Well, on Sunday, December 11 at 7 pm it all became official... What started with an inquiry via email in February culminated with an induction service during which I officially became a pastor with the Congregational Christian Churches of Canada!

The service included a short presentation from a couple of seach committee members, the National Pastor of the 4C's, the previous pastor who serves as chairman for the 4C's board, and the elders of the Emmanuel congregation.

What surprised us more than anything about this service was how emotional many of us were. For me personally, the most powerful moment was during the prayer and annointing with oil. It was just such a special time during which the presence of God was clearly felt! In addition, it was great to see so many people come out, including some of the local pastors. And then there were the letters of welcome/congratulations from other Atlantic 4C's pastors. How incredibly blessed we were...

A big thank-you to all who have been part of our journey to this point in our ministry. May God be praised, and may He accomplish His will in each of our lives.

Sweis