Christ

The following is a copy of the Thomas Question email devotional. You can subscribe to the email edition from our website and tune into our podcast.

Our mind centers on what’s loud or what’s new. It’s the means by which it survives in a world which is simply too big to take it all in. It’s a filter. We’d be overloaded without it. Right now you’re surrounded by more sounds than just what your mind is focusing on. It moves some things to the front of the line (“Hey – what’s that? Could it be a threat? Something new?”) and other things far to the back (“Heard it before. Never mind.”). The problem is, not everything loud or new is worth focusing on. And some of what’s older and quieter is worth drilling deeper and deeper.

Consider Christ. Many of us are so familiar with the sound of that name that we immediately check it off a list at the back of our minds. “Heard that. Check. Move along.” Then we downgrade the intensity of our listening, not because we think He’s unimportant, but because we’ve reached a feeling of saturation. “Heard that. Check. Move along.” As though there could be nothing new or revolutionary, or something we’ve heard before but need to hear again at a much deeper level.

There’s a puzzling verse in Isaiah and again in Matthew 13 which effectively says this: our hearts can grow dull so that we are ever hearing but not understanding, ever seeing but not really perceiving. It means we can be looking right at a thing, but never really process what it means. It’s what happens when our mind rushes to familiarity too soon. “Heard that. Check. Move along.”

But have we really? Are we hearing without really understanding? Are we seeing without really perceiving? Should we override our mind’s aversion to familiarity and force it to re-center on Christ and consider Him all over again, as though for the first time? Consider Him, His legend, His story, His sayings. Consider all over again what it might mean as you go about your daily this-and-that.

Jesus appeared to two disciples walking on the Emmaus road and simply talked with them as they walked along. Later, after He’d left them, they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us… while He was talking to us…?” Could your heart burn, too?

Just a thought.

This Sunday we’ll be looking at the question, “Where have all the miracles gone?” Haven’t you ever wondered why it doesn’t feel like God does as much in our world as He did in Bible times? Is there an explanation? You can visit our website for directions or catch up by tuning into the podcast.

I hope to see you there and I hope you bring someone with you.

Chris

CONNECT
I’m getting asked how we connect more often with those in our “digital congregation”. Well, it may be crazy to publish an address on the web, but I guess I’m like that. Please don’t think you’re wasting my time or that it’s “special” to connect with a pastor. It isn’t. A pastor is a person with a job at a church. That’s all. I’m not hidden behind two secretaries and three layers of privilege (and never will be). Use the “contact us” page on our website or connect with me through MSN Messenger (cswiersma@hotmail.com). Let’s do it.

SICK OF IT (IN A GOOD WAY)
Like a kid at the end of a diving board for the first time, I’ve been thinking about it, moving towards it and almost done it a few times. Now I’m going to take the plunge. I’ve been aching over a new approach to teaching. And every Sunday, I almost try it but then lose my nerve. But I had a purpose in mind when we started this church and I’d like to see it through. “Pee or get off the pot” as my dad used to say. So this Sunday I’m going to pee. Or maybe I’ll get off the pot. Maybe you won’t be able to tell which I did (that’ll be worth a laugh).

WHERE DOES IT GO?
We’re also getting asked about funds as in “What do we do with them?” The short answer is operating expenditures. We run at a small surplus only because we receive a monthly subsidy. I’d love to move past that so the subsidy could go to start another church plant in Western Ontario. What makes a difference? Even an extra 20 bucks a month would help. If everyone in our local congregation did that, we’d have almost $20,000 more by the end of the year.

THIS SUNDAY
See devotional above. Hope to see you there. You can visit our website for directions or tune into our podcast through the week.