What is the truth?

My uncle sends me a devotional everyday, and today's struck me hard because I've visited with and know people (and sometimes churches) who follow this line of reasoning.  Going down this road is the definition of "being lost".  Please read, and feel free to respond too either on FB or here in the blog itself.
Thanks
Rob

 Psalm 119:2-3 (New Living Translation)

² Joyful are those who obey his laws
    and search for him with all their hearts.
³ They do not compromise with evil,
    and they walk only in his paths.

2 Timothy 4:1-3 (New Living Translation)

¹ I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: ² Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

Aug28 Psa119:2-3 2Tim4:1-3 In a culture where individualism runs rampant and the world revolves around “me”, there’s a very real temptation to start applying that thinking to our faith. All over the place we see and hear people who are hacking out parts of the Bible that they think are outdated, not relevant and uncomfortable. Or they’re writing off a pastor’s sermon because it has challenged their “me first” thinking and resulting life priorities. Or maybe they’ve simply come to the conclusion that their faith is indeed “their faith.” That if it feels good to them, it’s inherently comfortable and supports their chosen lifestyle, all is good.

Those kinds of thinking are well beyond dangerous. Akin to walking out on the very thin ice; oblivious to danger, ignoring the truth about the lack of safety because after all...”No problem I’m not worried because I’ve decided that the ice will support me.” Question. Just because I believe the ice is okay, does that mean I won’t fall through and drown? Ridiculous! And just as foolish is the notion that alignment with God where it suits me is fine and I’ll ignore the rest. Or better yet that God should really align His will with mine because I know better.

We will only find the path of abundant life, deep joy and that “peace that passes understanding” when we seek after God with all of our heart. Seeking and searching with the life goal of following Him obediently and in all of life. Is this against the proverbial flow? Absolutely but the benefits and rewards are beyond comprehension.

  

LISTENING FOR HIS VOICE: “God, if I have slipped into a pattern of “me first” thinking in my faith and how I live, please point that out to me.”  

Biggie Fun Club!

So, I'm super excited about the opportunity I have now walked into at Big Island Lake!
For the last 5 years, I have had the privilege to work at Chief Napew Memorial School - mostly as a music teacher.  This last year, the government of Canada introduced legislation titled the First Nations in charge of First Nations education act.  In this proposed Act (which did not pass because Chief Shawn Atleo resigned and their was no agreement with First Nations leadership) it was going to be mandatory for all teachers to be provincially certified in order to teach in any First Nations school.  This would disqualify me as a teacher, so I pursued the possibility of going to school somewhere to get my Education degree.
This last year, the BILCN Board of Education graciously agreed to allow me to have time off from school to work toward this degree between April and July.  I then worked with my gracious parents and E.I. to obtain funding to go to school (please note, I have and will not receive any funding from Big Island Lake in regards to schooling).  This made the schooling option affordable and do-able.
So, I left in my camper and went to Brandon University to get started.  The only problem was, I still had rent to pay as my family continued to live at the band owned house at Beacon Hill.  So, an agreement was made that when I returned from school, I would spend the weeks left in the summer before school started investing in the community.
When I met with the leadership, we discussed a few options of what I could do (maintenance, etc).  I also could've given the band cash to pay for my rent.  However, when we came to the discussion of 'the youth', there was a heart on both my part and the leadership here at Big Island Lake that someone should spend some time working with the youth - so an agreement was made!
I think this agreement is beneficial to all parties involved, and I look forward to this partnership.  I am so thankful to BILCN Chief and Council, and BILCN Education in working with my family to achieve these mutually beneficial goals.  I am hopeful that I can return those blessings with an investment of my life into the young people here at Big Island Lake as well!  Thanks!
  

Walking through the water

Some of us Have to walk through the water

follow the light mashup from Robert Kroeker on Vimeo.

Spread of Religion

With my soul

Watch this =)



 I was very encouraged by this song this morning!  I don't know why the effect was so profound today, but nonetheless it was.  I think perhaps it had to do with the sudden realization that "my sin - not in part - but in Whole - as in ALL OF IT - was nailed to the cross so many years ago =)
It's so frustrating that I keep on sinning.  I get so discouraged and annoyed as I battle through habits that won't die or actions towards others that I'm so ashamed of.  Why?  Why can't I just be a Christian robot, and stop sinning??



Ok, so maybe Colby doesn't quite reflect what I'm trying to say, but I'm laughing pretty good right now :p

Okay, back to the first video. It has to do with that separation between the Flesh and its desires, and the battle for the Soul (or spirit - and no, I'm conveniently ignoring the Spirit/Soul theology stuff.  I suspect the author of this song is probably theologically referring to spirit/soul as being interchangeable).  Christians believe that we are more than our desires and actions.  We believe that our Soul, which now belongs to Jesus, has been made pure because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us by dying on the cross for the sins of the world.
Christians still sin though, and that's the confusing part.  However our soul doesn't want to sin anymore.  We no longer have this desire to reject God, but rather we want to embrace Him as our King.  Yes, there's always a part of us that wants to do evil, but we also desire to do good.  It's that part, that now belongs to Jesus, that will spend eternity with Him who made us all.
That brings a peace to my heart.  A security.  A sigh of relief as I consider how often I sin.  In terms of how my Soul feels though - it's at peace with God and with everyone else.  I know who I belong to, and I'm happy to declare it throughout eternity.  Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen =)

The Treasure Map

Here's a scene from the movie "National Treasure" put out by Disney a number of years back already:
Enjoy =)


The idea behind this scene is that on the back of the USA declaration of independence, there is a 'secret message' that will lead to a massive treasure that's been collected over the course of hundreds of years.  This is a treasure map - BUT - the only way to read the map is by wearing special glasses made by Benjamin Franklin...THEN the treasure can be found and they can live happily ever after, etc, etc.  It really is a fun movie to watch (Netflix has it right now).
I was thinking about this scene this morning as I was considering how I see the world, and how God sees the world.  Often, we see things so very differently.  If I'm honest with myself it is usually shortly after I've committed some type of sin that things seem to look differently.
Often when I sin, it is not obvious to everyone around me.  I generally seem to act the way I normally act, but I can tell that something is off just by the way I think about everything around me.  Sometimes emotions like Anger cloud my vision, or Bitterness has me dwelling on one grievance I have towards someone who has wronged me.
Over time these types of thoughts actually change what I perceive as normal, or correct, in my daily walk. It is funny how quickly we can (almost?) justify blatantly sinful acts when we fall into it, or a family member is consumed by it. The way I see the world often changes through this experience and my 'worldview' changes as a result.
The Apostle Paul touches on this idea when he writes his first letter to the church in the town of Corinth (modern day Turkey).  He says to them "At present we are men looking at puzzling reflections in a mirror. The time will come when we shall see reality whole and face to face! At present all I know is a little fraction of the truth, but the time will come when I shall know it as fully as God now knows me! (the Phillips translation...yeah, I've never heard of this version either, but it sounded the coolest lol)
The idea here is that because we are human and still tackle and wrestle Sin, we can never truly see God, or see the world exactly the way God sees it either.  In fact, if it wasn't for the revealing work of the Holy Spirit, we would never have any clue (or choose to have any clue) in understanding why God sees the world the way He does!
But thanks be to God we DO have the Holy Spirit to guide us (Benjamin Franklin's glasses) - and we DO have the Treasure Map to read (the Bible).  By using the Holy Spirit to filter our sin-stained vision, we can see the work of God and understand the Truth.
This revealing ability, I believe, is directly related to our "use of the special glasses".  There's really nothing to it, except by acting in faith to wear them.  Watch this next clip though, because I think it shows us something more as well:


If we spend some time honestly trying to figure out how God sees things (using the glasses, with knowledge), we can see MORE of how God works, and understand MORE of the truth.  The Bible will reveal more.  Our experiences in life will make more sense.  The desires of our flesh, will subside.  This is exciting news for all of us!  God is so awesome and powerful that there is always going to be more "clues" about the hidden treasure that is here right now, and awaits us as well for those who believe.
Unfortunately, we often just become content with using the glasses in the first video clip, and then let the distractions and stress of this world stop us from trying to seek more of the Truth.  Don't give up!  We can put those glasses on right now, and keep searching TODAY for the revealing Truth of our Creator =)

So, I made this little video for a few reasons.  I wanted to do it because I thought it would be fun!  I wanted to know how to do it so I could teach some of the kids back home how to do it too.  I think I'm going to use it as part of a school project here in Brandon as well.  Mostly though, it's Easter, and I thought this would be a good thing to plaster all over facebook as a statement of my faith in Jesus - and it honour Him.  If you haven't seen it yet, here it is - enjoy

God's Gonna Cut You Down Cover from Robert Kroeker on Vimeo.