Accidents

Some of you may have heard about the tragic accident involving a young Vancouver Canucks hockey player. Luc Bourdon was killed while riding his motorcycle near his home in New Brunswick. He was a brand new rider. I have no idea what kind of bike he was on and whether it was an appropriate bike for a person of his limited skill or not.

But what does bother me is how some people are turning this accident into a “this could have been prevented” rant. I’m a big fan of Scott Morrison, a sports writer for the Sun Media chain. However, his article today is unnecessary and rather pointless. 

In the article, he suggests that Bourdon should never have taken the risk of riding a motorcycle. Often athletes have clauses in their contracts that forbid them from doing things like sky diving, etc. and perhaps motorcycling should be included in that list. 

Is motorcycling dangerous? Perhaps. But should forbidding athletes from riding motorcycles be the answer to a tragic death? Of course not. How many other athletes ride motorcycles all the time without incident? Morrison even acknowledges that Bourdon could have died crossing the street. It was an accident. And no matter how much we try to protect ourselves, accidents will happen. It’s a fact of life.

Removing all risk from one’s life only does one thing: makes life rather boring.

Could this accident have been prevented? Perhaps. Some would argue that any accident could be prevented … that there really are no accidents. I don’t know if Bourdon took a rider’s safety course. I don’t know if he was riding a machine way beyond his experience. I don’t know if he was even at fault. But accidents happen. They are part of life.

Is Bourdon’s death a tragedy? Absolutely. Just as every accidental death is tragic to those who knew the individual. Should every other hockey player who rides a motorcycle give up their license as a result? It’s ridiculous to even suggest it.

Family

Every once in awhile something happens at Bikers’ Church that reminds me again of the kind of family this group truly is. This time is was how so many came together to support one of our own. The mother of one of our members passed away late last week after a long battle with cancer. Her death was not a surprise – the family was expecting her to go within weeks. 

Still, yesterday I watched as so many of our members showed up at the gathering that was held in her honour. Most had never met this woman, and yet they were there – many taking time off work to do so. They came because one of their own – a brother – was grieving the loss of his mom. And that’s what family does.

I always feel bad for churches that are messed up, divided, battling with each other. I feel sorry for the people who are caught up in such silliness. I’ve been a part of churches like that, and the last word you would use to describe them is “family.” 

Perhaps it’s because I’ve been a part of churches that are full of the nonsense that I find myself truly appreciating what we have at Bikers’ Church. It is a family. There is a genuine love for each other.

Last week, another of our members was in an accident. He was fine – walked away with just some damage to his bike. And even in that case, the number of people who responded with well-wishes and prayers was truly amazing.

It’s just so cool. I love these people. My family.

More on Pastoring

Okay, I realize that this blog is becoming a bit of a broken record with all my “insights” into pastoring. I promise to move on to other subjects over the next few days.

However, I have to comment on an email I received today from a friend in ministry. He has been pastoring longer than I have been alive. He has served faithfully in many different church situations. He is a good man with a passion to touch the lives of people.

Today, his church announced that he, along with the other paid staff, have had their positions terminated. The church simply cannot afford to pay them any longer. Their debt, over a mortgage that is out of control, is too big. It eats up all their finances, leaving them with nothing left for salaries. As a result, this man, who has served in churches for more than 40 years, is now unemployed at age 64. 

My heart breaks for him. As it does for another pastor friend of mine who has been “forced” to retire after over 50 years of ministry. He has nothing to fall back on – all he’s ever known is being a pastor. 

As I read my friends email, I said to Heather, “If I fear anything, it would be retiring on a negative note. I hope I am able to retire from whatever church (hopefully Bikers’ Church) on a high. The thought of knowing that the church I am retiring from is about to close, or fail, or whatever, is such a sad thought.” 

I know of ministers who retired from pastoring only to become apartment building superintendents or greeters at WalMart. Now, there’s nothing wrong with those jobs, but if you’ve spent 40+ years preaching, teaching, ministering, motivating, caring, etc. for people, only to have to do those other things simply to survive in your old age, well … that’s sad. And yet, it is the sacrifice made by so many in ministry.

So, why do they (we) do it? Well, perhaps it’s partly because of what I said to my friend in reply to his email today. “How great it is to know that our rewards are eternal and we have no fear of moth or rust (or debt) destroying them … God sees your heart, your service, your compassion. Those things he never forgets. He will be by your side.” 

Thank God that this life is not all there is. Thank you, God.

Openness

Okay, I know … my blog has sucked lately! I’m inconsistent in my postings … I plan on changing that in the next few weeks, since this is one of the things that I am really enjoying. So, bear with me and thank you to those who have emailed asking when I am going to post again – it’s feels good to know that you miss these thoughts.

One of the blogs that inspires me is Carrie’s blog. The reason I enjoy it so much is her raw openness. Sometimes, the posts are very funny. Sometimes, they make me cry. But no matter what, they allow me to feel a little of her heart. And for some reason, that’s the kind of writing I enjoy the most: open, honest, no-holds-barred feelings. Some of what she writes could come back to haunt her, but she doesn’t care. She says what she’s feeling and leaves it at that.

I’m not good at doing that. Oh, I can share personal experiences in a sermon. That’s easy. Even if there are hundreds of people listening. To me, even though I may be sharing something very personal, that environment makes it impersonal. Not sure if you know what I mean by that, but it’s how I see it.

I’m a very private person. Very private. It is rare that someone will see me upset about something. I hide those emotions and do what is necessary to bring peace to every situation. When people are upset with me, I can be firm, but I also try to be understanding.

Being a pastor is full of amazing blessings. It is one of the most fulfilling experiences one can have. I know that in so many ways, I have the wonderful opportunity to touch people’s lives for the better. I help them grow, discover more about themselves, and learn to love others. I walk people through forgiveness and comfort them during painful times. Most amazing, I help people discover their own purpose – nothing is more fulfilling than that.

However, like most things, there is another side to being a pastor. It can be tough. You are “on duty” 24/7. You live in a glass house, where every move you make is monitored and questioned and challenged. Sometimes, when you try to do good, it backfires and people get upset with you. Choices in dress, friends, vehicles, music, movies, and pretty well every other area of life are open to criticism by some who feel they know better than you how you should behave. It comes with the territory. Some pastors handle it quite well. Others end up leaving ministry over it. I know more than a few friends who have become completely bitter towards everything to do with church because of these expectations. 

Personally, I’ve come to just accept it. I don’t lose too much sleep over the negativity. I make my choices and simply accept that some wont like those choices. As far as I’m concerned, it’s their problem, not mine.

I guess I’m just trying to be open here. Carrie has inspired me to do so. I have the best job in the world, and I thank God often for it. 

My Date With A Blonde

Yes, I know what you’re thinking … “A Blonde?” Doesn’t Heather have dark hair? Did she dye it? Is she now a blonde?

Nope, she’s not. And yes, I had an awesome date with a blonde last night. We went for dinner and hung out together. She picked the restaurant – The Lone Star – and I let her order first. As we waited for our food to arrive, we munched on the chips and salsa, and she told me all about her day, her dreams, and the boy who clearly has a crush on her. 

After supper we went for a

 little drive and stopped at a store. 

It was a wonderful night. I think I need to date her more often. 

There is something very wonderful about our kids (at least my kids). As I’ve mentioned here already, my oldest daughter, Brittany, is heading to Costa Rica for a year. I am still processing that.

Christina is staying put. At 10 years old, she’s not ready to go anywhere, except maybe a few more dates with her dad.

Have you ever tried to see the world through the eyes of a ten year old? Trust me, it is a much different world than the one you and I see. Their world is so less complicated, so full of wonder, and overwhelming with possibilities. It’s an abundant, full-of-life type of world.

Perhaps that’s exactly why Jesus said that our faith needs to be like that of a child. So that the world we experience may be just a little closer to the one they live in.

Why Some Churches Are Cool

I found the following video on another blog I read. It is the story of an mom and her son and the battle they are facing. But the story doesn’t end there. You see, it’s also the story of a pretty amazing church that clearly understands what it means to care for one of their own. I hope it inspires you as much as it does me.

Why Macs Rock!

Okay … I’m back home and almost caught up on everything!

I came across this article in a news blog today and think it’s awesome … another reason why I love my Mac computers!

A remote-desktop access feature found in some Macintoshes is being credited with leading police to two suspects in the burglary of an apartment in New York.

 

In addition to flat-screen TVs, iPods, and DVDs, the thieves made off with two laptops, one of which belonged to Kait Duplaga, an Apple store employee, according to a report in The New York Times on Saturday.

While police in White Plains, N.Y., were coming up empty with their investigation, Duplaga learned that her computer was being used on the Internet, and she turned on the Back to My Mac feature installed on her Mac from another Mac, according to the report.

The feature allowed Duplaga to see immediately how the computer was being used at the time, as well as operate it remotely. Recalling that she had a camera installed on the computer, the fast-thinking Duplaga snapped images of one of the burglary suspects before he realized what was happening, according to the Times. Duplaga showed the image to friends, who recognized the suspect as someone who attended a party at the apartment.

The photo led police to arrest two suspects on Wednesday and recover nearly all the stolen property.

“It doesn’t get much better than their bringing us a picture of the guy actually using the stolen property,” Daniel Jackson, the deputy commissioner of public safety in White Plains, told the newspaper. “It certainly made our job easier.”

The Back to My Mac feature, which runs on Leopard-based Macintoshes, requires a $99 subscription to the .Mac online service.

 

Connections

In my last post, I spoke about the human side of pastors. Like everyone, they need to work at building relationships and connections with others.

I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made. And it’s funny how some connections happen. Let me explain.

I am on a mailing list of pastors from across Canada. This list has been ongoing for about 15 years now (wow). There are some guys on there that I have really felt a connection with, but have never met face to face. Until this week. And the connection face to face is even stronger than online. It’s like I’ve known these guys for … well, years. And in a sense, I have. I’ve watched them work through church changes, personal issues, struggles and victories online. Yesterday I had the chance to hang out with four or five of these guys. And to be totally honest, it was one of the best days I’ve experienced at a conference like this. 

Today, everyone from that mailing list who attended conference will gather for lunch. I am truly looking forward to a meal that will be full of laughter and connections. People will talk about how they imagined one another to look different than they do. It will be fun.

Connections come in the strangest and most unexpected of ways. And yet, when they do, we should celebrate them and appreciate the relationships that we build.

Pastors Are People Too

It has been an interesting few days here at conference. Every time I attend something like this, I am reminded that pastors battle the same insecurities and uncertainties as anyone else. Sometimes it’s easy to hide it. After all, most pastors can be outgoing when necessary. It’s part of the job, so to speak. But stick them in a room with a whole bunch of their peers, and these same guys can find their shyness rise to the top. 

I know a lot of people at an event like this. If I want, I can generally hook up with someone for lunch or supper. But I’m always amazed at the number of guys who sit by themselves, unable to initiate conversations with others, build relationships, and establish friendships that go beyond the conference. It’s sad really. 

I look around at approximately 1000 credential holders gathered for this conference, and I see all kinds of people. And most importantly, that’s what they are: people. They have their struggles, insecurities, joys, pleasures, hopes and dreams. Some sit and look at the “successful” guys and wish they were able to do half of what they do. Some are filled with envy and wonder why “that guy” gets all the breaks. And some are genuinely happy and excited when they see others succeed and grow. 

I do wish that lay people could see this side of “ministry” from time to time. I think many would be quite surprised at what it’s really like.

Anyway, just rambling.

 

At General Confence

Okay, I know, I know … you’re wondering, “What the heck is General Conference?” (And yes, I also know you didn’t use the word “heck” …)

General Conference is a biannual gathering of all the PAOC credential holders. It happens in different cities across Canada. This year, it’s in Toronto, and so I’ve come to hang with a huge crowd of men and women from every type of background.

It’s been great meeting some friends and connecting with people in ministries similar to Bikers’ Church. (Yes, there actually are other ministries as unique as this one). Right now, I’m sitting beside Tim Schindel, who has a very powerful ministry within the political stream. Check out his blog.

Anyway, I will try to send updates and some thoughts about conference from time to time.