One of the most difficult aspects of living is watching close friends die, some much too early. Those moments also cause us to pause and consider the impact they may have had in our lives. In this blog I want to honor those that have helped me become the person I am today and also to scold those that for many years told me I "shouldn't live in my past". My past is the reason I am who I am. I don't live there but neither do I diminish the importance of it. The religious response to honoring these folks is always the same: "we should never put our trust in men but only God".
Let me explain the fallacy in the above statement that ignores one important element. When an individual has for years demonstrated their faithfulness in loving the Lord and serving Him with all their heart, they are people I can trust. When these people have my back and when they have prayed for me and shared the heart of God with me, I will honor them. Unfortunately there are those that have plenty of charisma and even God-given talent that I wouldn't trust with my pet cat.
I looked at the Royal wedding yesterday and was reminded again of the men and women that have gone before us. History surrounded the events of the day, including the venue called Westminster Abbey. I have walked in that church and just touched the white walls inside, imagining the things those walls would tell me if they could talk. As I write this blog I also wonder what will be said of me 100 years from now. Will I have made a difference in anyone's life? Will I be remembered as a good man or one that used others to get what he wanted? Will people have seen Jesus in me or will they have seen my flesh so many times that Jesus was just a faint memory?
Kaljo Raid (KR) was my pastor for the first 16 years of my Christian walk. He was a talented musician and a pastor that taught me what it means to be a peacemaker.
Fred Peipman was my mentor in those early years. He was a missionary in Papua New Guinea that quickly realized that Baptist doctrine and theology wouldn't be enough to deal with witch doctors and demon-possessed people. He taught me how to hear the Spirit of God.
Allan Laur was my mom's pastor, my dentist and my friend. He more than anyone else encouraged me to prepare for ministry when no ministry was in sight. He was an example of someone that laid aside his own comfort to make a difference in Estonia. He became the voice of the evangelicals in Estonia and he died much too early.
Robert Mearns was a prophetic voice in my life when I most needed it. He has ministered with and to some of the most influential Christians of our time and yet most have never heard of him. And God brought him into my life and the life of our church when nobody else would. He remains a good friend and a real role model to me when it comes to Marketplace Christianity.
There are a few that lived what they preached and because of it, impacted my life with their friendship. Hennie Keyter, who has led thousands to the Lord in the most remote areas of Africa, often putting his own life on the line. Ian McKellar, who is one of the most intelligent Christians I know and someone that makes scripture come to life. He also lives what he preaches, now in Singapore. Then there are my peers that I love and trust, not because they are perfect but because they are sold out to the Lord. Ken Kaasik, who has led a church in Estonia since 1990 after arriving from Canada. Paul Westerink, my Dutch friend that has led a church in Germany, planted churches in various nations and run businesses with his Type AAA personality. Then there is the other Type AAA personality, Tom Rudmik. He has taught me that being a visionary is not always easy but never boring. And finally my wife of 35 years. Anne is one of the strongest believers I have known in my 39 years as a Christian. That she loves me is incredible!
Needless to say there are many that I would include as good friends. Some are in full-time ministry and others are not and probably never will be. There is also Erika, Luule, Kaarin and Maire, who have prayed for Anne and me for the past 20 years. They are precious.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Christian Ethics
Some of you reading this blog might automatically think that these two words go hand in hand. Perhaps it is just my cynical side but as I enter my 39th year as a born-again believer I find the two words do not always fit. They should but sadly they do not.
As I become increasingly involved with those that have no real faith community, I fully appreciate the privilege of walking in the Christian communities I have been involved with. Some as a member and some as a leader. So this is not an indictment against a majority or even many but it is sad none the less. I think most of us would agree that we expect more from our Christian brothers and sisters and rightfully give non-believers much more room to blow it. For me the issue of honesty is a big one. If our words are empty then we lose credibility and eventually friendships.
Many of you know that I helped facilitate Ethics and Anti-Corruption training for the Estonian Police. As my friends from Scotland Yard taught about leadership and what it meant to be a cop, it was interesting to see how these senior officers responded. They were surprised that cops should be honest, humble and men and women of integrity. Having lived and worked for years in an atheist country it was only mildly surprising to hear their take on things. Basic human behaviour, let alone that of a police officer, was something they had never really thought about.
As Christians we have something called the Fruits of the Spirit. I have talked about this before and how such things as kindness, honesty and self-control grow in us as we mature as Christians. I recently saw a Christian leader take advantage of someone I love and to be honest it angered me. It was a business matter and hopefully it had to do more with ignorance than anything else but it showed a total lack of caring and consideration for the other person. If this is the way we do business in the world the world will never want what we supposedly have.
I want to encourage all of us to consider for a moment where we have perhaps been selfish in our dealings with other believers. Have we actually thought through how our actions or words might affect someone else? Do we even care? Are we bringing any of this attitude into the marketplace and if so, are we willing to change?
As I become increasingly involved with those that have no real faith community, I fully appreciate the privilege of walking in the Christian communities I have been involved with. Some as a member and some as a leader. So this is not an indictment against a majority or even many but it is sad none the less. I think most of us would agree that we expect more from our Christian brothers and sisters and rightfully give non-believers much more room to blow it. For me the issue of honesty is a big one. If our words are empty then we lose credibility and eventually friendships.
Many of you know that I helped facilitate Ethics and Anti-Corruption training for the Estonian Police. As my friends from Scotland Yard taught about leadership and what it meant to be a cop, it was interesting to see how these senior officers responded. They were surprised that cops should be honest, humble and men and women of integrity. Having lived and worked for years in an atheist country it was only mildly surprising to hear their take on things. Basic human behaviour, let alone that of a police officer, was something they had never really thought about.
As Christians we have something called the Fruits of the Spirit. I have talked about this before and how such things as kindness, honesty and self-control grow in us as we mature as Christians. I recently saw a Christian leader take advantage of someone I love and to be honest it angered me. It was a business matter and hopefully it had to do more with ignorance than anything else but it showed a total lack of caring and consideration for the other person. If this is the way we do business in the world the world will never want what we supposedly have.
I want to encourage all of us to consider for a moment where we have perhaps been selfish in our dealings with other believers. Have we actually thought through how our actions or words might affect someone else? Do we even care? Are we bringing any of this attitude into the marketplace and if so, are we willing to change?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Corporate Chaplain
How do you become a "pastor" to people that have very little understanding of who God is? How do you accomplish this when you can't preach to them and you can't initiate any kind of conversation with them about faith while in the workplace? This then is Corporate Chaplaincy.
There is a term that comes from football which I feel is appropriate for many Christians after this past week. The term is "piling on". After this self-proclaimed (false) prophet predicted "Doomsday", every media outlet in North America has had a field day attacking evangelical Christians. They have conveniently painted us all with one brush and openly called us a bunch of loonies. I often write comments on the Toronto Star website, mainly to give a point of view that differs with the mainly liberal-minded left-leaning editorials and articles. On this occasion the overwhelming posts by visitors to the site, labeled all Christians everything from brainwashed to murders. The fact the Star allows these comments to be posted is outrageous but unfortunately predictable. People, mostly atheists, were almost giddy in their mocking. Did you know that we are all pedophiles?
So three weeks into this new job as Corporate Chaplain, as I try to build trust with the employees, a potential obstacle is presented. Or maybe not. Something that the world often insists on, is that religion should never be discussed. What happens however when the "world" initiates that discussion?
This is how it might go down, starting with a comment by a friend:
"Can you believe this religious kook? That's why I would never go to church, they're all crazy lunatics that are brainwashed."
"Actually I'm one of those kooks"
How the conversation proceeds from there is totally up to us. Some, unfortunately would say nothing. Hope that's not you. The first question we need to ask ourselves is this: would this person have any reason at all to think I am a kook? If they don't (hopefully they don't), you have a starting point, by asking a simple question: "do you think I'm a kook"?
As a believer, do they see the fruit of the Spirit in you? Do they see kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, patience, joy? Do they see you loving your wife, children and parents? Are you honest and punctual? Are you trustworthy?
Marketplace Christianity does not require you to give your opinion on homosexuality, abortion and same-sex marriage. It doesn't give you a soapbox to preach fire and brimstone. Neither does it give you license to live and act as the world does and talk like the world talks. In fact, if the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in us what makes us think we have anything worthwhile to say? It is Christ in us that the world needs to see. Hopefully that is who is seen in this chaplain.
There is a term that comes from football which I feel is appropriate for many Christians after this past week. The term is "piling on". After this self-proclaimed (false) prophet predicted "Doomsday", every media outlet in North America has had a field day attacking evangelical Christians. They have conveniently painted us all with one brush and openly called us a bunch of loonies. I often write comments on the Toronto Star website, mainly to give a point of view that differs with the mainly liberal-minded left-leaning editorials and articles. On this occasion the overwhelming posts by visitors to the site, labeled all Christians everything from brainwashed to murders. The fact the Star allows these comments to be posted is outrageous but unfortunately predictable. People, mostly atheists, were almost giddy in their mocking. Did you know that we are all pedophiles?
So three weeks into this new job as Corporate Chaplain, as I try to build trust with the employees, a potential obstacle is presented. Or maybe not. Something that the world often insists on, is that religion should never be discussed. What happens however when the "world" initiates that discussion?
This is how it might go down, starting with a comment by a friend:
"Can you believe this religious kook? That's why I would never go to church, they're all crazy lunatics that are brainwashed."
"Actually I'm one of those kooks"
How the conversation proceeds from there is totally up to us. Some, unfortunately would say nothing. Hope that's not you. The first question we need to ask ourselves is this: would this person have any reason at all to think I am a kook? If they don't (hopefully they don't), you have a starting point, by asking a simple question: "do you think I'm a kook"?
As a believer, do they see the fruit of the Spirit in you? Do they see kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, patience, joy? Do they see you loving your wife, children and parents? Are you honest and punctual? Are you trustworthy?
Marketplace Christianity does not require you to give your opinion on homosexuality, abortion and same-sex marriage. It doesn't give you a soapbox to preach fire and brimstone. Neither does it give you license to live and act as the world does and talk like the world talks. In fact, if the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in us what makes us think we have anything worthwhile to say? It is Christ in us that the world needs to see. Hopefully that is who is seen in this chaplain.
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