Spring Calving

Yesterday I witnessed the later stages of a calf being born. Having been raised on a cattle operation, I guess I took for granted all the signs of new life I grew up seeing in the spring time. Viewing cattle mothering their new-born babies is a remarkable thing. Drenched in amniotic fluid, the calves will stretch out their necks and shake their heads intensely, clapping their ears as they agitate and snort out the mucous from their mouths.

Many farmers and ranchers alike are in the thick of calving as April approaches. With late night checks, tagging, backwards calves, sick calves, and other calving problems, cattlemen of all kinds seem to be strengthened by the wonder of new birth. In the midst of the challenges of first-calf-heifers, and cantankerous cows, I trust that all those who are currently in the thick of calving will take the time to reflect upon the wonder of new birth. It truly is a miracle!

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

When speaking about God's management of the world, the term "providence" is often inserted. Providence is a term associated with God's involvement in all things. More specifically, his maintaining of creation, his cooperation with every action, his orchestration of every event, all in fulfilment of his purpose. In a nutshell, God's providence refers to his ongoing relationship to creation. Upon recent reflections on God's providence I was reminded of the words of 18th century English hymn writer named William Cowper (pronounced Cooper).

Throughout the stormy trials of life, Cowper displayed a Job-like commitment to the Lord in the midst of suffering. The tough times of Cowper's life led to suicide attempts, and insanity. Entering into an Insane Asylum, the distressed wanderer hooked up with a Christian Doctor by the name of Dr. Nathaniel Cotton. Cowper was miraculously converted by God's grace while institutionalized at St. Albans Insane Asylum and left in June of 1756. Interestingly enough, Cowper met with the former slave ship captain, John Newton (writer of Amazing Grace). Together, Newton and Cowper wrote a collaboration of 348 hymns called the "Olney Hymns" named after the town Cowper settled in. After a post-conversion attempt at suicide, and yet another season of despair, Cowper would fight with depression right up till the point of his death.

One of the puzzling realities of Cowper's life is his perseverance of faith in the midst of mental illness. Sometimes Christians are guilty of romanticising saving faith in Christ to the exclusion of personal struggles like: sorrow, despair, desperation, and depression. Whats more, is that Christians often try to humanize God into thinking he owes people all the answers to all of life's questions. William Cowper was a man that held tightly to God's sovereignty as a comfort in sorrow, and strength in weakness. Just listen to the heart of the hymn writer exposed in one of his most well known hymns, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way."

God moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
of never-failing skill
He treasures up his bright designs,
and works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
he hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flow'r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
and scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
and he will make it plain.

William Cowper, 1774

Rumspringa

As a teenager, one of the most influential books I read was the Joshua Harris bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Last night, I began to read another book by Joshua Harris that just might be as influential as the first book I read of his. The book is called Dug Down Deep. Harris's opening chapter serves as a real attention grabber, especially with its unusual title, "My Rumspringa." As strange as it might sound, rumspringa is a word in the Pennsylvania Dutch language that means "running around." In Amish culture, the church believes that a young person should have liberty to explore the forbidden delights of the outside world before committing to a life of simplicity. At age sixteen, Amish teens enter into a season of zero rules. Rumspringa ranges from simply wearing make-up, playing video games, and using cell phones, to drug use, having sex, and binge drinking. Apparently 80-90% of Amish teens choose to return to the Amish church after their season of taste tasting the pleasures of the world. I suppose the reasoning behind rumspringa is that the young people will see the unpleasantness behind hangovers, and hooligan activity, and return to the laid back life of Amish living. I wonder along with Harris whether the Amish youth are choosing God by going back or just choosing a safer and simpler way of life.

After reading about what Harris called "My Rumspinga" I began to recall my experiences as a teen. Looking back, my season of sowing wild oats, was not as wild as some; yet was altogether bad all the same. I generally respected my parents, and did all I could to please them. My outward performance however did not last long, especially concerning matters of faith. From ages 13-15 I generally went along with the "church thing." I enjoyed the social aspects of youth group, put on a good front around the leaders of the church, and tried my best to outwardly conform to what I had come to envision as Christianity. By the time I was 16, I had lost allot of my ability to perform as one who was deceived into thinking I spiritually O.K. My craving for worldly pleasure overpowered my willpower to obey what I knew was right. I'll never forget the words I heard from one of my peers, it was at a Rodeo, and the individual said, "You sure have a potty mouth." I had never thought of myself as being that carnal, a chameleon yes; but not a potty mouth. At this time in my life everything connected with faith meant duty, and everything connected with the world meant fun. I was as the old country western song writer sang, "looking for love in all the wrong places." At this time in life Toby Keith had come out with a popular song, called, "I wonna talk about me." This was the theme song in my fantasy land. The business of religion became nothing more than a Sunday morning thing.

Mt rumspringa ended when my "me-ology" was transformed through the renewing of my mind and affections to "theology." In sum, my pursuit of pleasure took a turn from lapping up what was left over in a broken cisterns to falling face first into the fountain of living water, where God replenished what was lacking in my pursuits, namely himself. It was through a radically transformed preacher that preached a radically transformational message of pursuing delight in God that my ramspinga ended. I'll never forget the first sermon I heard from this former body builder/hockey player that previously played the position of "enforcer". His first sermon preached at my home church was from Jeremiah 2:12,13 which says, "Be appalled. O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." I knew that I had forsaken God in my quest for fame, lasting joy, and relationship. I was running around (rumspinga) after things that could not fully satisfy.

There are a few young men in my circle of influence that are either in rumspringa or gradually coming out of it. As one who has been there myself, I have special interest in such guys. I really appreciated Joshua Harris's chapter on "My rumspringa" because it caused me to go back in time and reflect upon my conversion experience. I find myself coming to a similar place as Harris did at the end of the chapter in which he writes,

"The irony of my story-and I suppose it often works this way- is that the very
things I needed, even longed for in my relationship with God, were wrapped up in
the very things I was so sure could do me no good. I didn't understand that such seemingly worn-out words as theology, doctrine, and orthodoxy were the pathway to the mysterious, awe-filled experience of truly knowing the living Jesus Christ."

A New Ministry Pardner

On Monday, I made a 18 mile trek with a new ministry pardner. Unlike most travelling companions, the one I made the journey with is measured by hands, and not feet. Furthermore, he is covered with blackish-brown hair, leaves hoof prints and road apples on the trail, and has a hearty appetite for hay. My new ministry pardner is not much of a talker; yet it has been known for animals of a similar kind to speak if you read through the book of Numbers. If I have totally baffled you, my new ministry pardner is a 5-year-old, bay, quarter horse gelding. For any city slickers out there, this is not the same type of quarter horse you see at the Mall that only moves when there are coins in the slot! He is there real deal!



Fittingly, as a travelling companion in gospel ministry, I call him "Silas" (the shorter form of Silvanus). Although it is highly unlikely for Silas to join in church leadership any time soon, or travel to modern day Antioch (Acts 15:22-35), he is the pardner of a man who has deep aspirations to spread the gospel far and wide and use a horse in the process. Inasmuch as I would see myself as more of a Timothy than a Paul, I intend to have many travels with Silas (Acts 15:40,41) as I tell people God's best news revealed in Jesus Christ. I don't intend for Silas to be treated as an outlaw of sorts, or be jailed, (as in Acts 16:25-40); but there will no doubt be risk ahead of us as we anticipate adventures together. Perhaps Silas will be a steed that receives honorable mention in letters (2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; I Peter 5:12), or maybe he will be just another horse. Whatever may be the case, I am sure blessed to have a new prospect that I trust will enable me to do further kingdom work in Delia and abroad.

Changing Hearts, Changing Lives

Our Sunday evening fellowship group just began a profitable study from Paul David Tripp and David Powlison entitled Changing Hearts, Changing Lives. In the first session, Paul David Tripp, made two profound statements that prove to be necessary Christian character qualities.

1. "The loving courage of honesty"

What Paul Tripp further explained as "trimming the truth vs. speaking the truth in love." I found the section stressing the importance of speaking the truth in love quite convicting. I was made aware of an important reality expressed by the following quote: "Truth not spoken in love ceases to be the truth because it has been twisted by another human agenda."

2. "The humility of approachability"

Humility is a necessary ingredient for personal ministry. I need more than a little humbling as I seek to counsel people in a way that influences them in a God-honoring, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered and Biblical way.

The lesson at hand was the start of what I hope to be a life changing study for me, along with many others who I trust will faithfully attend.

Shepherd's Conference

I am currently digesting from a great feast in southern California. Along with two other brothers from Younstown, AB, I had the great privilege of sitting under the ministry of John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Rick Holland, Phil Johnson, Tom Pennington, and Steven Lawson. The conference from my perspective was: equipping, encouraging, refreshing, and convicting. There was a spirit of excellence behind all that was done in the name of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. The times of singing were a foretaste of heaven, and the times of learning served as a great preparation for further gospel ministry in Delia. A big thanks to all those who prayerfully supported me. It would seem more appropriate to reflect further on the conference after spending some much needed time in preparation for a new sermon series I will be preaching from the book of Romans. This is a book I approach with a certain level of fear and trepidation for its depth and detail concerning the gospel. May God help me as I sit under his Word.