"Thanks"

What does it mean to be thankful?
Why is it we tend to complain more than being thankful?
Is it we actually don't know what it means?

I remember during my trip to Japan in the summer of 2012 being completely and utterly stunned by the people being so nice.  I mean they always said thank-you, they always welcomed me whenever I would walk into a store (mind you it got annoying by the end of the trip), and they were always more than willing to help.  One thing I did notice though was it was so ingrained in their culture; it just seemed so natural for them to be thankful.

In being from Canada and then traveling to other places I have noticed this country is a POLITE culture.  Just go for a walk in a mall on a Saturday and count the amount of times you hear "excuse me" or "sorry"; believe me you will be stunned because it will be A LOT.  Although Canada is a polite culture it seems as though, without fail, when winter comes, out come the complainers as well: "Why is it so cold?", "Why does it have to snow so much?", "When will there be more sunshine?"  This tends to be what I hear when the "dreaded winter" comes.  This year especially I have gotten quite annoyed of people saying how terrible the weather is when it is simply cold.  If it is so terrible than move to a different country!  Well my mind says that, but I simple say nothing in response.

Of course this got me thinking about what it means to be truly thankful for what we have.  Here is what I have discovered: I we have fallen into the trap of only being thankful when things go our way and we get what we want.  Case and point, Canadian winter.  Why is it most people don't like it?  It's not what they want.  I mean no one will actually admit to this, but deep down I think it's the reason.

When we get what we want it is easy to be thankful, but when we don't it seems to be so hard.  Why?  The answer to this question I don't actually know for everyone.  The answer for me is, because I take things for granted; the moment I start taking things for granted the less and less thankful I get.  I think this is how Paul the apostle was able to "be thankful in all circumstances" (1 Thess. 5:18).

So I'll ask the question: why is it so hard to be thankful at all times?

I think the answer to this simple question leads to another one: how do we become thankful at all times?  The answer to this question leads us to a more intimate relationship with Jesus.  The answer to this question leads to a discussion of the heart and helps us understand what it means to be thankful.

What do you think?

The Journey Begins

One of the greatest things we can do is journey with others as we pursue a more intimate relationship with Christ.  A great perk of being a Student Ministry Pastor is being able to journey with students as a vocation.

This year as a student ministry we are going to intentionally do this year together.  We are going to go through the joys together, through the pain together; we will laugh and cry together; we will challenge each other; we will grow together.  So here we go...

The month we are engaging in the topic of Grace.  What does grace actually mean?  Does it mean what we think it means?  In researching and studying the topic of Grace I came face to face with the late great Dietrich Boenhoeffer.  He had a lot to say about grace and categorized the topic of grace in to two different things - cheap grace, and costly grace.  The cheap grace we get and it is the grace most of us operate within.  But, costly grace takes lost of work, lots of humility, and lots of change.

Cheap grace is the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; we punch our ticket to Heaven, thank God, and keep living the way we always have.  Some may say that is not true acceptance, but nonetheless, it is cheap grace. Costly grace is something different.  It is yes acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but it changes us.  When we truly accept the grace Jesus Christ has given us we can't help BUT change.  This change costs something.  Maybe it is our pride, or reputation; maybe it is our family; maybe it is those we thought were our closest friends.  At the end of the day True Grace costs something.

So, here we are, embarking on a journey of True Grace or as Boenhoeffer says, Costly Grace.

How are we accepting grace in our lives?  Are we saying on a regular basis, "I need God" or are we simply living as if we have it together?

The journey begins.  Let's be open and honest with our lives more than ever before.  Unless we are honest with our lives, there is no room for change.

Let me know your thoughts.