I didn't think it possible, but one of my children (now 11) has an even greater passion for skiing that I have. Unreal! Yes, we had a 7 month ski season this year. I took my protege on a season ending overnight ski winter camping trip at the end of May. We had a blast.
I've been to a few Olympics now and World Championships for XC skiing. While there, I get a kick out of my friend Dale Swanson, attending to cheer on his daughter, who dresses up in every conceivable Canadian paraphpanalia possible. He's literally head to toe in all things "Canuck". I've thought, "That could be my future." While I don't think I could be as zany as Dale, I think my daughter is up to the task. She's got the unique blend of natural ability, passion for the sport, love of training and committment to personal goals (yes, I did say she was 11....we're trying to nurture her without burning out).
I think I can imagine the pride I'd feel as a parent if she made a team like that....or wow, even a medal? But a different thought encompassed me this morning. I watched a video of a missionary that gave his life to Veitnam. He told many stories of complete sacrifice so that these people, who's government was at war with his country, could hear the gospel. He also told stories about how when forced to leave temporarily because of the Veitnam war, the church he began to build continued and even flurished in his absence. When he returned he did so to a hero's welcome.
If any of my children choose a life like this I'd feel more pride than any gold medal parent could ever feel. Yes, I realize it could cost her her life. It could mean that we'd only see her every few years. We wouldn't watch our grandchildren grow up, if she was even able to find a spouse (many missionary ladies never do). To spend and expend your life for the sake of the gospel is the greatest way to spend your life. I pray almost daily that my children will impact God's kingdom in far greater ways than my life.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A GOOD GOD AND AVALANCHES
It’s so true that those who want to believe in God find reasons to do so (and there are many); while on the other hand those that don’t want to believe also find reasons not to do so. Ravi Zacharious calls it "a will in search of a reason." Probably the most common excuse for not believing and following God is the age old, "How can a good, all powerful God allow suffering?" Somehow people think they’ve got us believers stuck on this one and for them a way out. Kind of their own personal loophole.
But it’s not as if no one has ever thought about this faith-philosophical dilemma before. It’s a curious fact that professional philosophers, the guys getting paid to think logically, have no problem with evil and suffering and a good, all-powerful God.....even those that don’t believe He exists! They simply reason that this good, all powerful God, that could stop evil from happening, allows it because He has a good reason to. Interesting that those not sure of this God’s existence clearly see this, how much more those of us that kinda know Him. Know a bit about His ways, His character, His omnipotence...shouldn’t be a problem with us either.
This winter I had an experience that brings some of this home. While backcountry skiing at Roger’s Pass we had some close calls with avalanches. With some Nat’l and Int’l xc and biathlon skiers and two locals and teammates of mine from the Canadian Nat’l Ski Mountaineering team (brought them along to show us the good powder stashes) we embarked on a mission to ski the newly fallen 30+ cm’s of Kootenay pow. While ascending a soon to be steepening slope we heard a couple of whumps, the tell-tale sign you’re about to see a snow pack failure, which we did on the second of those whumps. The snow started sliding and we high tailed it out of there barely avoiding getting caught in the not too extreme avalanche.
With this experience we decided to change our plans and go over to Cheeops mountain. As we ascended the backside, we noticed a party heading up ahead of us and preparing to drop into a very steep, long couloir. With the new snow and high avi rating, perhaps a precarious move. Our line down the mountain was steep, but not crazy. A couple of us mentioned to our hosts that we’d noticed the overhanging cornices that were the size of several large homes just above us. We dropped in and experienced some of the most wonderful powder skiing ever.
Just as we finished our descent the unthinkable happened. I’ll never forget the sound as the steeper couloir that the other skiers were skiing suddenly slid. It was huge. A massive powder cloud signalled that it was time to spring into action and switch our avalanche beacons into "find" mode. It turned out only one of their party was caught in the slide and he ended up on top of the snow, but man, he went for a 2000' ride. One of his skis was totally lost. One elbow was really scraped open by some rocks he hit. Fortunately his un-helmeted head didn’t hit those rocks. Back in the parking lot he was so shaken. He commented how his season was over (I guess he didn’t want to have to ski on 1 ski).
After our first run, just before this all happened we had decided to do another lap. Perhaps we were pushing the envelope, after all, the avi rating was high and we’d had a really good run, it should have been time to go home. However, when the avalanche happened we were all so shaken up we decided to call it a day. We skied out and down the valley with our legs still quaking from the event.
Three days later I thought I’d check the online avalanche report for the Roger’s Pass area and see if this incident was reported. It was, but as I read on the hair started standing up on my neck. The report also described the next chute over-the one we were on. It described how very large cornices gave way and set off a sizable avalanche over very fresh recently laid down ski tracks (ours). The cornice broke off into several smaller sections, but still the size of cars and they rolled all the way down to the valley floor.
Whoa! As I mentioned, our plans were to do another lap. We could have easily been in that steep slope when it all came crashing down. It seems that our new shaken up single skied friend might have saved our lives by taking that ride. Because of that we changed our plans and stayed off the mountain.
Now, if you were to ask him-actually he may have been asking himself, "how could a good God allow his suffering?" After all, he lost a ski (and some skin). Perhaps God had a much greater purpose in that lone skier’s suffering...to save the lives of 6 other skiers.
The funny thing is, if I hadn’t gone back several days later and checked the avi report none of us in our party would have had any clue how close we came to disaster. We would have been totally oblivious to what could have happened.
I sure am glad that our good, all-knowing, all-powerful God isn’t oblivious to the goings on in His Creation and with His children. Most of the time we’ll never see or know the reason why God allows some of the things He does. I guess that’s where faith comes in.
But it’s not as if no one has ever thought about this faith-philosophical dilemma before. It’s a curious fact that professional philosophers, the guys getting paid to think logically, have no problem with evil and suffering and a good, all-powerful God.....even those that don’t believe He exists! They simply reason that this good, all powerful God, that could stop evil from happening, allows it because He has a good reason to. Interesting that those not sure of this God’s existence clearly see this, how much more those of us that kinda know Him. Know a bit about His ways, His character, His omnipotence...shouldn’t be a problem with us either.
This winter I had an experience that brings some of this home. While backcountry skiing at Roger’s Pass we had some close calls with avalanches. With some Nat’l and Int’l xc and biathlon skiers and two locals and teammates of mine from the Canadian Nat’l Ski Mountaineering team (brought them along to show us the good powder stashes) we embarked on a mission to ski the newly fallen 30+ cm’s of Kootenay pow. While ascending a soon to be steepening slope we heard a couple of whumps, the tell-tale sign you’re about to see a snow pack failure, which we did on the second of those whumps. The snow started sliding and we high tailed it out of there barely avoiding getting caught in the not too extreme avalanche.
With this experience we decided to change our plans and go over to Cheeops mountain. As we ascended the backside, we noticed a party heading up ahead of us and preparing to drop into a very steep, long couloir. With the new snow and high avi rating, perhaps a precarious move. Our line down the mountain was steep, but not crazy. A couple of us mentioned to our hosts that we’d noticed the overhanging cornices that were the size of several large homes just above us. We dropped in and experienced some of the most wonderful powder skiing ever.
Just as we finished our descent the unthinkable happened. I’ll never forget the sound as the steeper couloir that the other skiers were skiing suddenly slid. It was huge. A massive powder cloud signalled that it was time to spring into action and switch our avalanche beacons into "find" mode. It turned out only one of their party was caught in the slide and he ended up on top of the snow, but man, he went for a 2000' ride. One of his skis was totally lost. One elbow was really scraped open by some rocks he hit. Fortunately his un-helmeted head didn’t hit those rocks. Back in the parking lot he was so shaken. He commented how his season was over (I guess he didn’t want to have to ski on 1 ski).
After our first run, just before this all happened we had decided to do another lap. Perhaps we were pushing the envelope, after all, the avi rating was high and we’d had a really good run, it should have been time to go home. However, when the avalanche happened we were all so shaken up we decided to call it a day. We skied out and down the valley with our legs still quaking from the event.
Three days later I thought I’d check the online avalanche report for the Roger’s Pass area and see if this incident was reported. It was, but as I read on the hair started standing up on my neck. The report also described the next chute over-the one we were on. It described how very large cornices gave way and set off a sizable avalanche over very fresh recently laid down ski tracks (ours). The cornice broke off into several smaller sections, but still the size of cars and they rolled all the way down to the valley floor.
Whoa! As I mentioned, our plans were to do another lap. We could have easily been in that steep slope when it all came crashing down. It seems that our new shaken up single skied friend might have saved our lives by taking that ride. Because of that we changed our plans and stayed off the mountain.
Now, if you were to ask him-actually he may have been asking himself, "how could a good God allow his suffering?" After all, he lost a ski (and some skin). Perhaps God had a much greater purpose in that lone skier’s suffering...to save the lives of 6 other skiers.
The funny thing is, if I hadn’t gone back several days later and checked the avi report none of us in our party would have had any clue how close we came to disaster. We would have been totally oblivious to what could have happened.
I sure am glad that our good, all-knowing, all-powerful God isn’t oblivious to the goings on in His Creation and with His children. Most of the time we’ll never see or know the reason why God allows some of the things He does. I guess that’s where faith comes in.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Unmet Expectations?
In my previous post I mentioned the Psychology Today article on the failed American (& Canadian) Dream. The authors trace the rapidly declining satisfaction and personal meaning of Americans to unrealistic expectations. That is, expecting that achieving the standard trappings of “success” would bring meaning to life.
I’m wondering if the same could be said of evangelical spiritual life? That we have unrealistic expectations. So common it seems these days, that people leave the faith because of their personal hurts in life and the ensuing disappointment with God. “If God is good, how could he have let this happen?”
Yesterday I learned of a personal friend and long time pastor that has pretty much totally walked away from Christianity. Not shocking anymore...it’s becoming more and more common, even among Christian leaders. It wouldn’t surprise me if disappointment was at the core of his emotional reasonings. He’s had a tough go of it in his town.
What did Jesus promise to those who follow him? A worthy Bible study.
I’m wondering if the same could be said of evangelical spiritual life? That we have unrealistic expectations. So common it seems these days, that people leave the faith because of their personal hurts in life and the ensuing disappointment with God. “If God is good, how could he have let this happen?”
Yesterday I learned of a personal friend and long time pastor that has pretty much totally walked away from Christianity. Not shocking anymore...it’s becoming more and more common, even among Christian leaders. It wouldn’t surprise me if disappointment was at the core of his emotional reasonings. He’s had a tough go of it in his town.
What did Jesus promise to those who follow him? A worthy Bible study.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Finding Meaning
I'm reading the latest Ravi Zacharius book, "Dissappointment With God". In the personal interview in the back of the book he comments,
"Ultimately, meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain but from being weary of pleasure. Now if this is true, pain and suffering are not the problem. The problem is finding meaning in a world in which so much is available and yet where true meaning is still so difficult to find."
Interestingly, in the mail came my recently new subscription to Psychology Today. This month's edition has an articale on the failed American Dream. It sites a survey from the "World Values and General Social Survey on the National Opinion Research Center". They found that amidst the successful headlong pursuit of fat incomes, 2 kids, 2 car garages (occupied), 2 master bathroom, etc. equalling satisfied adulthood....in acuality, the equation doesn't add up. The survey showed that North Americans have become more miserable over the last 1/2 century.
I don't believe P.T.'s analysis of the cause and solution of this mis-fired equation are correct as they typically don't leave any room for God into the equation. Furthermore, I find Ravi's quote interesting. It was made more as a comment on the problem many religious sceptics have concerning the problem of rectifying a good God with all the obvious pain in the world.
Perhaps we're looking at this issue wrongly. People in areas of the world that suffer the most tend to be the most religious. They don't seem to be blaming God for pain. Why would those in far less painful countries do so?
Maybe those in less developed countries, many of whom confront more harsh living than us westerners would, don't put their hope in the false materialistic promises of the so called North American dream. Behavioral researchers say much of the discontent in the west seems linked to the unrealistic expectations of this American Dream.
In the midst of all this, we might be wise to go back to the simple words of Jesus.
"These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full." John 15:5
"Ultimately, meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain but from being weary of pleasure. Now if this is true, pain and suffering are not the problem. The problem is finding meaning in a world in which so much is available and yet where true meaning is still so difficult to find."
Interestingly, in the mail came my recently new subscription to Psychology Today. This month's edition has an articale on the failed American Dream. It sites a survey from the "World Values and General Social Survey on the National Opinion Research Center". They found that amidst the successful headlong pursuit of fat incomes, 2 kids, 2 car garages (occupied), 2 master bathroom, etc. equalling satisfied adulthood....in acuality, the equation doesn't add up. The survey showed that North Americans have become more miserable over the last 1/2 century.
I don't believe P.T.'s analysis of the cause and solution of this mis-fired equation are correct as they typically don't leave any room for God into the equation. Furthermore, I find Ravi's quote interesting. It was made more as a comment on the problem many religious sceptics have concerning the problem of rectifying a good God with all the obvious pain in the world.
Perhaps we're looking at this issue wrongly. People in areas of the world that suffer the most tend to be the most religious. They don't seem to be blaming God for pain. Why would those in far less painful countries do so?
Maybe those in less developed countries, many of whom confront more harsh living than us westerners would, don't put their hope in the false materialistic promises of the so called North American dream. Behavioral researchers say much of the discontent in the west seems linked to the unrealistic expectations of this American Dream.
In the midst of all this, we might be wise to go back to the simple words of Jesus.
"These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full." John 15:5
Friday, February 4, 2011
I Lost in Jeopardy....Baby
(The above title is to be sung to the tune of "Our love's in Jeopardy..." If you're a classic rocker, you'll know the tune)
So I'm watching Jeopardy last night and man was I ever impressed with the contestants. They were rattling off British authors, spouses and children of movie and TV stars and all kinds of obscure trivia....until they asked to complete this Bible verse:
"Lo though I walk through the..."
If you recognize it, it's the 23rd Psalm. One of the most (formerly) well known verses in the Bible. I was amazed all 3 contestants were absolutely stumped. In many cases they at least take a stab at it. However they couldn't even get into the ballpark to make a wild guess.
Is that the state of Bible literacy these days? I wonder how many Christians can get it? I"ll bet they could've gotten the verse, "Judge not lest..."
No wonder our world seems so lost and aimless these days. In another Psalm, the same guy that wrote our 23rd "mystery" Psalm also wrote, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light onto my path". No light or lamp can lead one to stumbling around in the dark!!
So I'm watching Jeopardy last night and man was I ever impressed with the contestants. They were rattling off British authors, spouses and children of movie and TV stars and all kinds of obscure trivia....until they asked to complete this Bible verse:
"Lo though I walk through the..."
If you recognize it, it's the 23rd Psalm. One of the most (formerly) well known verses in the Bible. I was amazed all 3 contestants were absolutely stumped. In many cases they at least take a stab at it. However they couldn't even get into the ballpark to make a wild guess.
Is that the state of Bible literacy these days? I wonder how many Christians can get it? I"ll bet they could've gotten the verse, "Judge not lest..."
No wonder our world seems so lost and aimless these days. In another Psalm, the same guy that wrote our 23rd "mystery" Psalm also wrote, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light onto my path". No light or lamp can lead one to stumbling around in the dark!!
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