It’s a different world out there....

Last weekend we spent out of town, visiting friends in Niagara Region where we entered ministry 14 years ago.  Seeing kids grown up, becoming young adults, is both interesting and challenging.  We want to see the next generation walk with Christ, and the question that is on my mind are we prepared to mentor this next generation?  They live in a totally different world.  A book I recently read by Leonard Sweet, ‘Viral: how social networking is poised to ignite revival,’made me consider new realities.  A few metaphors I would use are borrowed from his book.

Consider this, cell phones have replaced the automobile as the major way young people create their own identity separate from parents and outside the control of adult dictation.  Digital culture does not think “drive first”; it thinks TGIF (and if you did not recognize acronym – you are an ‘immigrant’ to the digital culture!  à TGIF stands for Twitter, Google, iPhone/Pad, Facebook J).  When we, older folks, grew up, we were eager to get a driver’s license.  One parent was pressuring a teen recently to take a driving test, and the objection was “But Dad, you get fined or arrested for texting while driving!”

Consider two terms used “Gutenbergers” (people of the book era) vs “Googlers” (people of the internet).  Where do you fit in?  Internet was invented in 1994.  My four boys have grown up with internet browsing.  I had to learn that language in my 20s.  So I am an immigrant in the Googler world. Youth under 20 are ‘natives’ to the internet and digital era. If you need to get diagnosed where you fit in, just consider these few questions:

Have you written a cheque to pay a bill in the past two month, or do it online?

Have you mastered enough acronyms for quick and efficient texting?

Have you used a postage stamp in the past two month?

Are you still listed in the phone book in the past 3 years?

Have you looked up a number, an address in Yellow Pages in the past year?

The world has changed.  In 2011 ford revealed their new models first on the Facebook, not the autoshow! If Facebook were be a nation, it would be 3^rd in the world Today 80% of world population has a cell-phone! the handheld device we call “smart-phone’ can double as your wallet, credit card, keys, bank, remote control, airline ticket, video-conferencing centre, photo-camera, office, Bible, library...

How can we, adults, connect and disciple juniors, who live in a different world?  Can we find points of contact to share wisdom, to give guidance and direction? If Jesus would be here today, would he tweet, facebook, send a text?

This new proliferation of social media and technology is connecting the world like never before.  The knowledge is increasing.  Access to the sermons, worship services is at the fingertips of anyone who cares to search.  Could it be that God is orchestrating final movements to communicate the Gospel?  The current generation is driven by a god-given desire to know others and to be known by others.  Can revival be far behind?

150th anniversary of the Adventist Church

Most think of the Great Disappointment of the Millerite movement in October of 1844 as the beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist church.  The historic birthday of our church came much later.  At the time of the Great Disappointment of 1844, the leaders whose names became associated with our church development were mostly young, in their late teens.  John N. Andrews was 15,  Ellen White and Annie Smith were 16; Minerva Loughborough not quite 15. Uriah Smith and John N. Loughborough (brothers of Annie and Minerva) were only 13, and George I. Butler was just 10, James White was 23.

These young men and women, aided by elder statesmen like Joseph Bates, who in 1844 was 52, took the lead in the Bible conferences of the late 1840s and the 1850s.  During this time they met, discussed, debated, published a series of pamphlets, as well as a magazine, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (today's Adventist Review), which connected all the widely scattered believers together.  Their work persuasively communicated six key beliefs:

1.   Literal imminent Second Coming of Christ
2. ‚  Seventh-day is God’s Sabbath and a sign of obedience to God
3. ƒ “Sleep” as a state of the dead until resurrection, and no eternal torment but annihilation of the wicked after Judgment
4. „  Sanctuary on earth was a revelation of God’s Plan of Salvation pointing to the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary
5. …  God’s remnant church of last days will communicate the Three Angels Message of Revelation 14:6-12
6. †  The remnant are identified by the spirit of Prophecy, a prophetic guidance.

These beliefs led early pioneers to mission.  They transform a network of small groups into an organization that would unite all Seventh-day Adventists for mission. It October of 1860 the name “Seventh-day Adventist” was suggested by David Hewitt of Battle Creek.  On May 20 and 21, 1863, at a special meeting, delegates from all those American states with Seventh-day Adventist congregations formed the "General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists" — an organized church focused on the Mission to the whole world.  The founding pioneers did not think that the church would still be on this earth 150 years later.  Believers through generations expected Jesus to return and make the earth anew.  This ‘anniversary’ is a time to reflect, repent, give thanks for God’s mercy and renew our personal commitment to the purpose for which we are called – mission to all the world.

This Sabbath, May 18, 2013 is designated worldwide as a day of prayer, remembrance, and recommitment to mission. We must consider how God has led us here in London as a congregation, consider where we must go from here as the work to which we are called is not finished.  We must pledge ourselves anew to preaching "the everlasting gospel … to every nation, tribe, tongue and people" (Rev. 14:6).

Taking seriously Mothers’ Day

This week I looked over my past blogs and realized that I missed many mothers’ days.  (our church bulletin blogs are archived on our website J)

It was only in 2008 that I paid attention to the Mothers’ Day celebration.  In the years prior my focus was more on other things, evangelism, evaluating church, things to do in community.  I remember it was Don Topper talking to me that we must not ignore opportunities in the civic calendar to connect with people.   2008 blog was more an appeal for mothers to make our church more loving J. The next mother’s day blog I wrote was in 2011, sharing some history and the roots of celebrating mothers, and inviting all not to forget preparing for mother’s day.  Last year our blogs were focused on praying for the world, giving info on countries each week, so mothers’ day was skipped.  I hope today’s reflections would encourage you to invest in spending time with your mom, to give more attention to a mother in your life tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the 99^th Mothers Day, officially.   When in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the orders that made Mother's Day a national holiday, it was not something new.  In England during the 1600's, a day was called ‘Mothering Sunday.’  Even servants would go home to see their families, bringing cakes and sweets to their moms. This custom was called "going a-mothering". Each mother would receive a simnel-cake (Latin for "fine flour") and mothers would give a blessing to their children.    In France children Mother's Day is referred to as Fete des Meres. It provides children and adults to honour their mothers and give her gifts and treats. It is celebrated on the last Sunday in May, and treated more like a family birthday. Everyone in the family gathers for a special meal.  Notice the truth – “family birthday”!  It reminds me of Biblical name meaning for Eve – ‘mother of all living’ (Genesis 3:20).  In many European countries, people on Mother's Day honor their mothers as well as the church. They respect the "Mother Church"- the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Thus, the church festival got blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration.  Someone said “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers,” as if comparing the work of the omnipresent Holy Spirit of God with motherly love.

A recent survey was done “what do mothers want?” to discover that the most popular gift – roses – are 5^th spot!  The top wishes were: do household work, fix whatever you promised and needs to be fixed J; ‚ give a gift card, and let her go shopping JJ; ƒcook a meal, or take her for lunch to a nice treat; „ spend time together, let her tell stories from the past, talk!!!

This short poem (anonymous) spells the most significant word after God:

M... is for the million things she gave me,

O... means only that she's growing old,

T... is for the tears she shed to save me,

H... is for her heart of purest gold;

E... is for her eyes, with love-light shining, 

R... means right, and right she'll always be

Emergency Preparedness – Christian duty

May 5 -11 is a Canada-wide Emergency Preparedness Week.  It is an initiative to increase awareness of individuals and families.  Since 1996 this effort had been at work.  This year a special focus is on seniors and older adults.  While they have the ability to help themselves and others, they are also more vulnerable during emergencies.  How prepared are you for an emergency situation?  Are you aware of what it means to be prepared?  First level of responsibility is upon individual. Let me share just a few tips.

1.        It takes about 72 hours for rescue operations to be organized and help to be offered in cases of a disaster.  Your family has to be prepared at least for 72 hours survival.  Organize an emergency survival kit to be sufficient.

Essentials

• Food & can opener (non-perishable & easy-to-prepare items)
• Water (4 litres per person for each day)
• Flashlight & extra batteries
• Radio (crank or battery-run)
• Hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
• First-aid kit & Medication(s)
• Important papers (identification, contact lists, copies of prescriptions, etc.)
• Cash (and extra car keys)
• Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)

Special Considerations

• Medical supplies & equipment (cane, walker, hearing aid, breathing device)
• Prescription eyewear and footwear
• Dentures and supplies
• Pet food and supplies if you have a pet

Extra Supplies for Evacuation

• Clothes, shoes, Sleeping bag or blanket
• Personal items (soap, toothpaste, other toiletries)

Place all these items in an easy-to-carry bag or case on wheels, and keep your emergency survival kit in a place that is easy to reach.  Keep your cell phone or mobile device fully charged.

2.        Have a corded phone (cordless do not work when power is out of satellite communications are interrupted).  Do not discard that old phone with a cord.  And if you don’t get one from a garage sale for a buck, but make sure you have a phone with a cord to plug in.

3.        Your household needs to have an emergency plan, for every member of the family to know what to do, where to meet up if people get separated, and how to contact each other.  If you made a plan before – update it every year as things change.  What is the safe place to meet near your home?

4.        Public Safety Canada offers downloadable brochures from their website http://www.GetPrepared.ca

5.        Make copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports, licences, wills, land deeds and insurance. Take photos of family members in case a lost persons record is created. Keep them in a safe place, both inside and outside your home. You might want to put them in a safety deposit box or give them to friends and family who live out of town.

Today we will distribute brochures and guides.  Please take this seriously, so you would not be a burden to others, but be able to offer help in time of need to your neighbour.  As believers we should be more prepared, and take seriously possibilities of future disasters.