Oct. 21/16 - Conversations of Faith

Yesterday was day one of the Global Leadership Summit. While eating lunch in the auditorium, Gillian and I sat with Carmen and Kevin. Carmen, a woman I grew up with in my home church at Crestview, began five or so years ago doing ministry with Power to Change, formally known as Campus Crusade for Christ. 

When I asked Kevin what his role with Power to Change was, I could sense the passion in his eyes as he began to explain. 

Kevin works with the leadership team with Power to Change at three different university campuses in Winnipeg. He told about a strategy he uses when sharing his faith with university students and what a typical conversation with them might look like. 

He begins by explaining what Power to Change is all about. Because the name doesn't include and direct terms related to Christianity, it opens the door for Kevin to explain. He moves to asking if their is one thing they could change in the world, what that would be. An answer might include politics or poverty, for example. From there, he asks how they think that change might come about. An answer to that question might be getting rid of selfishness, greed, etc. 

Kevin then asks them if they see any of that in their own life and how that change might come about. Once they see that these characteristics of selfishness, greed, etc. can be found in everyone, the idea of how only a higher power would be able to take care of that, sparking a contemplation about, “Is there a God?” in the mind of the student.

In the article, God Finds His Niche, Jamie Weinman says, “Stars and producers are increasingly comfortable talking about their religious beliefs in the context of the movies they make” (53). This thought reminded me of my conversation with Kevin. Though he would explain it better than I, I think this method and the ministry Kevin is a part of is really awesome. 

Links for Power to Change: 

• Main Site: http://powertochange.com
• University of Winnipeg: http://p2c.com/students/campus/university-of-winnipeg/
• University of Manitoba: http://p2c.com/students/campus/university-of-manitoba/
• Red River: http://p2c.com/students/campus/red-river-college/

1. Weinman, Jaime J. "God Finds His Niche." Macleans, August 8, 2016, 52-54.

Oct. 14/16 - "Reah Nihoah"

Lauren Winner in Wearing God brings forward a unique perspective on smell in relation to worship. Often, to connect with God, I use my sense of sight by reading the Word or looking out at creation, or hearing by listening for the voice of God or to music that is reflective and worshipful. Rarely do I use my sense of smell to commune with God.

In the Bible, aromas are offered as a sacrifice to God and seem to please God. “When the Bible describes God’s accepting one of these incense offerings, it speaks of a reah nihoah, a soothing odor. Human beings, in an effort to get God’s attention or communicate with God, burned fragrant incense, and God found the incense to be a ‘soothing smell’ and accepted the sacrifice” (Winner 939). 

Prior to reading this chapter of Lauren Winner’s book, I looked at incense as something people of pagan religions used. I viewed it almost as something sinful. At The Forks in Winnipeg, there is a booth in the market dedicated to selling incense. This booth was equipped with multiple Buddhist statues. Because this was the first establishment I had seen dedicated to incense, I was given the impression that incense was bad news and not to be used by a Christ-follower like me. 

This chapter has, in a way, changed my view on fragrances. This is not to say that I will go now to that booth at The Forks and purchase 40 sticks of incense to light in my dorm room as an offering to God. I don't think my roommates would appreciate that very much. 

Winner’s thoughts, however, have changed my view on scent-based worship. God gave me my sense of smell as a gift. So when I walk into Mom’s kitchen to the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, I will thank God for this gift of sweet smelling things. Moving forward, I don’t think I will burn incense as an offering to God. But I will look at the connection between God and my sense of smell differently.

1. Winner, Lauren F.  2015. Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God.  New York: Harper Collins. Kindle.

Oct. 7/16 - Like David

There are times in my life where I feel as though I am distant from God. Other time I feel like He is standing right beside me. I often wonder why that is. In the moments I feel distant from God I might ask Him where He is. 

In a way, I am comforted by the fact that even David, King of Israel, author of many of the Psalms we read daily, and arguably one of the most godly people we read about in the Bible, felt distant from God at times. Steve Turner highlights Psalms 6-10, noting that each one holds a different tone despite how close together they are in Scripture. He says, “The psalms that comfort are very often the ones that show that even ‘a man after God’s own heart’ like David could get mad with God and feel let down” (71). This thought reminded me that I am not the only one who has this experience.

Lately, though, I have been understanding more and more that, no matter what I feel, God is present. Jesus promises at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, “And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, ESV). This has been something of great value to me as I get older and continue to learn how live a godly life, trying to live like David, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

1. Turner, Steve. 2001. Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.