(considering) 8:28

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
(James 3)

So for the next few days I’m representing my local congregation at the Atlantic Baptist Convention in Sackville, New Brunswick. For those of you who remember the roadtrips from Fredericton to Nexus in Halifax, I had a burger at the Wendy’s for memories’ sake. It’s not the same without the rest of y’all.

In the meantime, the convention is named “Oasis: Refreshment for the Journey”. Yeah, sounds kinda new-agey touchy-feely to me too. That was in keeping with the raft of emergent books available at the book room. They have everything by Rob Bell, including Velvet Elvis (which I review here). That said, there are also some worthwhile resources there too, and I’m eyeing a short small group video series on engaging culture that has Tim Keller and Brenda Salter-McNeill. 

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Half the fun today was in the travel. To save money, instead of flying into Moncton and taking a cab, I flew into Halifax and rented a car. Originally I was going to take a bus, but the airport at Halifax is a chaotic mess right now, and I was going to go insane if I spent another 10 minutes there. This would’ve been a bad thing, as I have work on Monday morning and I don’t know anybody who can prescribe me psych medication.

After a rather beautiful drive (I was able to plug in my ipod, and listen to a John Piper sermon on the way… Podcasts are a gift of God, and a great way to redeem long road trips), I arrived in Sackville, and promptly got lost. Yes, I know Sackville is a tiny community, and I’ve been here before, but never underestimate a man’s ability to mess up directions and not ask anybody. 

Anyway, after a bunch of false starts, I figured where I was, and managed to get the car parked and find my room. Along the way I managed to meet many people that I had connections with, from Jon Allen, who is an IV Staff Worker here at Mount A, to Blake Bartlett who now has a Church on the mainland, to fellow delegates from our sister congregation of West End, and even Frank Guinta, our extremely supportive area minister.

Among the new people I’ve met are a few of the pastors at Brunswick Street Baptist (where I sometimes attended when I lived in Fredericton), a few of the other younger pastors in the Convention, who seem as fired up to spread a passion for Jesus Christ as any I have met (and thus fired me up a little more), and a pastor/missions leader who sends pastors to India for short terms to teach preaching and the like to indigenous pastors there.

While there are no doubt differences of opinion, in some cases serious ones, with these fellow Baptists, it was good for the first day just to meet a few of them and share how God is working in the Atlantic provinces among Baptists.

Tonight’s worship was amazing too. The Penny Merchants led us in a series of songs and hymns that focussed our hearts on Jesus and His glory, to prepare us to hear the word delivered by Dr. Gary Nelson of Canadian Baptist Ministries. In a simple, heartfelt exposition of portions of Phillipians 3, He admonished us representatives of our local congregations to strive forward for the goal of Jesus Christ in our local ministries, not centred on the many things we need to do, but doing those things focussed on Jesus Christ. It was a very passionate message, but I fear that after sitting under Gary’s careful exposition of scripture for 2 years now, that I may be spoiled for many other preachers. I find myself expecting a more systematic exploration of the actual text as opposed to motivations based on the text.

After another short session of worship (which included the singing of my favourite hymn, bar none), Greg Jones (who was in Newfoundland earlier this year talking about the incorporation of convention) gave an explanation of the many ministries that Baptists support through United in Mission and other convention-wide initiatives (announcing even a new one, a program for planned giving for the convention called “Legacy for Ministry”). It was inspiring to hear a few “snapshots” of ministry in convention, including the pastoral support given through regional ministers, and the prayer given for Church plants throughout convention.

The evening ended with a short prayer and a meeting for a “kitchen party” at the dining hall. Unfortunately, I skipped that as I’m tired.

And so, goodnight dear readers!