Eric E. Wright's Blog, page 8

Does Ottawa Not Like Tourists?

This blog could be called our short-lived Ottawa adventure. During a wonderful fall week at the Calabogie Lake Resort, one day we decided to go Ottawa. Admittedly, we didn’t have a clear plan defined carefully through internet research. No problem, we thought, we’ll stop at the tourist kiosk, one of those welcoming little buildings that every town and city has to welcome tourists. So, as we drove into Ottawa, we kept our eyes peeled for an information kiosk. Finally, we saw that universal question sign signaling an info-centre. We followed it into a maze of streets, most under repair. To no avail. No info-centre. We asked some workmen who sent us on a wild-goose chase. We went round and round until Phyliss found the tourist bureau on her phone, so we drove there, parked in an underground parking garage, and followed directions to the fourth-floor office. Closed. Locked. Nada. Hello, anybody home?

With no map of Ottawa and no parking anywhere, we drove past the parliament buildings, took a quick snap, and moved on past sundry other impressive buildings. We ended up wandering along a beautiful avenue along the river until we came to a parking spot. New plan. Let’s go to the National Gallery which has parking and where Canada’s art treasures are held.

So that’s what we did. Wed spent most of our time in the Indigenous and Group of Seven section. Wonderful paintings and indigenous art. We did have a tasty lunch in the bistro where a voluble manager regaled us with his story of moving to Ottawa and his cooking exploits.

Why would any city not have a tourist kiosk? Especially the nation’s capital? Of course we should have done a week’s intensive internet research and made appointments to go on one of those tour buses. But…we’re naïve enough to believe every city loves tourists.

Rural Ramble to the Calabogie-Madawaska Watershed

Phyliss and I spent a honeymoon week in a cozy Calabogie Resort an hour or so from Ottawa, Ontario. It was a gorgeous fall week with the colours deepening every day. We found some interesting history about the area.

Apparently, the name Calabogie is derived from the Indian name for Sturgeon. The Sturgeon came up the river to spawn. They were not able to go above the high falls, about a mile from the lake, and so they congregated in the lake.

The lake empties down the Madawaska River a natural waterway to get the abundant timber of the area to market. Without it their whole area would have been settled much later. Some of the earliest commercial lumbering in Ontario took place along the Madawaska between 1860 and 1890. In addition to the demand for lumber by a growing population in Upper Canada, many of the tall white pine of the area became ship’s masts in the British navy. The Madawaska River was one of the important water routes to the remotely located stands of timber and a water highway for shipping the felled trees to market down the Ottawa River.

As early as the 1840s, the government was providing assistance to lumber companies by building slides and booms to facilitate log drives on the river. Dams were also constructed at Highland Chute, Mountain Chute, Calabogie and Arnprior to assist operations. It was the damming of the Madawaska around Calabogie that created Calabogie Lake. The lake became a place where logs from the various drives were separated and stored before being floated down to the Ottawa River.

 One of the first sawmills in Calabogie was built by a man named McFarlane. To quote Alfred Clarke from his history: “It was a water mill and had an upright saw that ran up and down. It was seven feet long, about eight inches wide and one-quarter inch thick. It had a spring pole attachment to help pull it up after the down stroke. Reports said that Mr. McFarlane would start the saw into a log and then harness his horses and plough for a couple of hours then go back and move the log for another board.”

[image error]

In the earliest days, the village developed around the timber men from the sorting camps around the lake. Hotels were opened and a general store. According to Alfred Clarke, the first store was opened by Sam Dempsey and was located at Grassey Bay since all the supplies came up from Perth on a road that probably paralleled the current Highway 511.…

A little footnote here concerning the Scully’s who lived in a house, which also contained the local store. Moe (Glen) Mathews, who recently passed away, was just a young lad back then and he told us this story.

Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Scully did not get along well for some years and finally agreed to separate. However, times being what they were, money was scarce, and Mrs. Scully had no other place to live, so she lived in part of the house, her husband in another part. Mr. Scully had never learned to cook and when mealtime came, he would hear a little bell from his wife’s part of the house and his dinner would be slid under the door separating them. Sounds rather unique, but we doubt if it would work today.  (thanks to notes at https://www.greatermadawaska.com/en/play-and-discover/calabogie.aspx) 

Scattered up and down the area roads are log barns and cabins, some still used, as evidence of the pioneer nature of the area. In some places we find old churches, most abandoned.

Meditations on How Thanksgiving leads to Joy, Part 4

This past weekend, families in Canada gathered for thanksgiving. Our family tradition has been to go around our thanksgiving table from person to person and each share something for which they are thankful before we eat.

Someone has written “He who forgets the language of thanksgiving will never be on speaking terms with happiness.” John Henry Jowet comments, “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” Did he mean a vaccine against despair, an antitoxin to counter discouragement, an antiseptic to banish gloom? If so, thanksgiving paves the way for happiness. In a Christian, who acknowledges that every good gift comes from above, thanksgiving is the first cousin to joy.

So many of the Christian virtues are connected. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we read; “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Rejoicing is connected to praying and giving thanks. Anxiety dissipates as we give thanks and joy takes over. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7). Joy can’t exist in hearts filled with turmoil.

Joy bubbles up from deep within one’s “inmost being,” where thanksgiving rules. As we rehearse all God’s benefits, joyful praise ascends. “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps. 103:1-5).

Paul reminds us to be “overflowing with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7). Isaiah urges us to joyfully “draw water from the wells of salvation…give thanks to the LORD…shout aloud and sing for joy” (Isaiah 12:3-5).

My wife, Phyliss, likes to close each day by asking “what are three things you are thankful for today?” Sometimes that stumps my melancholy personality. Some days seem gloomy, difficult, a burden but switching gears to focus on the good things God did, lifts the gloom and the Son appears from behind the clouds. 

No wonder Henry Van Dyke wrote:

Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

Who is our Best Friend, Our True Brother, Our Perfect Spouse?

We love politicians who have, what is called, “the common touch.” They seem to be like us instead of pretending to be above us to lord it over us. We feel the same about famous athletes who love their fans, who go into the stands to sign autographs. And wealthy men who don’t parade their wealth but love to act like “one of the guys.” We love those royals in England who mingle with the crowds, who stop to ask about children and inquire about wounded soldiers.

There is one who has demonstrated the “common touch” to an infinite degree. Jesus left heaven’s glory; “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness…became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8)!

Jesus came as a man, a man who loved children. When people were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them,” the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus “was indignant. He said to them. ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them’…And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-16).

Although Lord of all, Jesus Christ delights to call us his friends. In John 15:14, friendship with Jesus is conditional. “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” But in the next verse he goes further. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” He shares with us the deep matters of his redemptive plan because we are his friends.

But he goes further. Jesus identifies so closely with us that he deigns to call us members of his family; his mother, sisters and brothers. When someone came to tell him that his earthly mother and brothers had arrived to see him, he looked around at his disciples and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:34). He calls all who are made holy through his sacrifice, part of the heavenly family, “the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. I will declare your name to my brothers” (Hebrews 2:11,12). He is the “firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).

Wait, there is a further intimacy that he shares with us. Paul explains, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). This marriage imagery is consistent with Old Testament teaching. “For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:5-15). It is used in Ephesian six to illustrate a godly marriage, “a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” We who receive Christ as Saviour, become his bride. (See Eph. 6:22-32). Beyond the most intimate of human relationships, mystery of mysteries, deep into our heart of hearts, Christ espouses himself to us as his bride! He is the eternal lover of our souls.

Jesus is the Son of God who loved us so much that he came down to mingle among us, to take children in his arms, to call us friends, to welcome us as sisters and brothers, to prepare a wedding banquet for us, his bride, the church. No, you and I are not alone. We are not orphans. We are encircled in his arms. Feel his love today! Essential Beliefs, #44

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Join us here in limbo-land!

Join us in limbo-land, otherwise known as Canada. But first the warning. Don’t fall in love with someone from another country. And don’t marry them. But wait, don’t they say love is blind? And who can stymie the path of true love? And aren’t there hundreds of thousands of cross border love affairs?

Yeah, I know what you’re saying. Aren’t you a senior? Aren’t seniors supposed to have gained wisdom to know all this stuff. Didn’t we tell you so? Well, not really. A few might have mumbled it under their breath. Of course, isn’t the path of love rocky? Well, this one is complete with rocks and quicksand and earthquakes and tornadoes and….

Phyliss is an American and I am a Canadian. After our wedding we moved to Ontario. That’s when the problems began in earnest. Mind you before and after the wedding there were problems; Covid for Phyliss, tornadoes, laryngitis for Phyliss, Covid for Eric. Of course, they were accompanied with lots of love.

Still, we’re settled in the charming town of Port Hope. What could dampen our enthusiasm for an autumn enjoyed in Northumberland? Just complete her application for Landed Immigrant status. Complete? How about just start the process. We both stared with glassy eyes at the Internet instructions on beginning the process. Pages and pages of small type. A series of linked Internet forms. Police Checks. Photos. Travel history. A certified copy of our marriage certificate from the Ohio court not sent—which is an essential first step in the process. We’ve been warned that this application period can go on for months and months and months.

Well then let’s tackle her health insurance. “No. Sorry,” her US company said, “your policy lapses as soon as you have a Canadian address. After a series of horrifically expensive quotes later, one company offered a relatively reasonable price only to demand an address from a third country. What? Clearly a scam. Fortunately, my travel insurance company stepped into the breach and wrote a policy only to call Phyliss, Ruth. Ruth Wright? I don’t know anyone by that name.

Next let’s extend the American insurance for her Spark with its Ohio plates. After all, she has six months to continue as a visitor. But no, her insurance company told her that her policy can not be renewed with a Canadian address. We’re told it lapses upon entry to Canada. What about all those American visitors? What about those with Canadian Muskoka cottages? Sigh. Okay, try another way. I’ll just add her to my Canadian car insurance. Whoa baby, that would be too easy. After lengthy consultation, my insurance company informed me that she could not be added as an American with an American driver’s license. Moreover, her car has to be registered with Canadian plates!

Here in limbo-land this is getting complicated. I could move back with her to Ohio. But then I would have the same problems with my car, my car insurance, my health insurance, and my status—and even more expense.

I must say that the clerk at the Ontario Service Centre was extremely friendly and quite helpful. She explained that Phyliss’s car had to be imported to Canada first in order to change to Ontario plates. That form is available at the border. Hadn’t we got one? Well, no, who among us knew this stuff as we, Americans and Canadians, blithely crossed back and forth over the world’s longest and most friendly border? She suggested that our first step was for Phyliss to take an Ontario driver’s test to get an Ontario license, then import the car.

And so, here we live in limbo-land. Happily in love but quite confused and a little insecure. Wondering if we should immigrate to Belize. Fortunately, we have a Heavenly Father who knows about all this and promises to take care of his children. And hasn’t he done this for years and years in Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Ohio, and Ontario? Borders do not stymie the King of the Universe. We look to him and bask in His love—and our love for each other.

Passwords are a health hazard

Passwords. They are the bane of my existence. Everyone wants a password. Why? To make me frustrated? To raise my ire? To make me tear out what is left of my hair? To make me a marketing target? I thought the customer was supposed to be the king. Or maybe it’s just a knee-jerk reaction to what everyone else is doing.

I can understand why banks and credit cards require them. But stores where we go to buy stuff? Why do I need a password to buy some printing paper, or a pizza, or a new shirt? Don’t they want to make the purchase as easy as possible? And why do charities want a password? Don’t they want my money? Who is going to use my name to give money to a church or charity? Do they not want money tainted by givers with weak memory?

Maybe it’s a flu-like disease that is spreading to prepare for the end of the world when a giant magnetic meteorite will erase our memories and shut us out of businesses and banks.

It came to a head the other day when we tried to order some return labels from an online store. To complete the order, we had to give our email address and a password. Password? Why? Anyway, the password that I had carefully written down several years ago didn’t work. When I tried to reset my password, it denied the request saying someone else had our email address. [Yeah, me!] I think I lost ten to twenty hairs on that one.

I took the request to a real store, but again the password didn’t work. I requested a new one but the server was slow and when it came the email from the business was incomplete. More hair loss. Try again. No response. I went off to do some more shopping. When I returned it still hadn’t come through. My server’s problem this time. The clerk took pity on me and agreed to do the necessary and charge me later. Real customer service!

I picked up another item and took it to the cash. This time, without asking me for a password the clerk punched it in. Oh, glory. I was almost home free. But wait, the clerk’s machine wouldn’t operate without a password. So, the clerk motioned for his supervisor who came over and punched in a code—which didn’t work. “Oh,” she said, “Mindy has it. But Mindy is on break. So, try the next cash over.”

The next cash worked and with a great sigh, I was on my way. But if anyone mentions passwords, I think I’ll get hives or just collapse with a massive heart attack. I think someone needs to do a study about the health effects of juggling too many passwords. Fortunately, entrance to heaven requires no password except, “I believe in Jesus as my Saviour.”

The Farther We Drift From the Christian Faith, the Needier We Become -Essential Beliefs, #43

Our culture indoctrinates us to say, we are independent, self-reliant men and women. And if by chance we do have needs there is always a doctor or psychiatrist or philosopher or beer-buddy to point us to help—or simply commiserate.

The foundations of western civilization tell us different. They go back, back, back to the Man of Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth who came because we were needy, because the best that human wisdom affords was an abysmal attempt to satisfy our needs. I’m not talking about warmth, shelter, and food which many civilizations have done a commendable, though flawed, job in providing.

John Stott (at 88) writing about the neediest among us comments; “I sometimes hear old people, including Christian people who should know better say, ‘I don’t want to be a burden to anyone else. I’m happy to carry on living so long as I can look after myself, but as soon as I become a burden I would rather die.’ But this is wrong. We are all designed to be a burden to others. You are designed to be a burden to me, and I am designed to be a burden to you. And the life of the family, including the life of the local church family, should be one of ‘mutual burdensomeness.’ ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2)” — John Stott, The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling

As Stott points out there is something in us that resists admitting our neediness. Not only is the Christian faith designed by God to help us bear one another’s burdens, at it’s root it is a cry to enter God’s presence through the wicket gate of confession and repentance for our sins—admitting our ultimate neediness. Pride keeps us from admitting our sinfulness, which is the most fundamental of our needs. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It may not only keep us from seeking practical help, but it may keep us from embracing God’s need-meeting Saviour. Who? Jesus Christ, the Lord, who has been eternally appointed by God to be mankind’s prophet, priest, and king, fulfilling three offices that address humanity’s fundamental needs.

Jesus is the prophet we need because we are ignorant of eternal truth and the operation of God in the beginning and continuing operation of our universe. We need a divine teacher, Jesus, to dispel our ignorance. We operate as self-centered beings inventing amazing machines but blasé about ultimate questions. Indeed, we are—dare I say it—wilfully stupid. We have no idea about what is beyond the grave. We march blithely toward our hellish destiny with seldom a care. Then Jesus, the Prophet, calls us to stop, listen, and believe the gospel. “The Word [God’s communication] became flesh and made his dwelling among us…No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, [Jesus, the Son of God] who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:14,18). “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Listen and believe.

Jesus is the priest, the mediator between Heaven and earth. He shed his blood to secure our salvation. Only he can reconcile us to God through pleading his crossly sacrifice before the Father in order to blot out our guilt. Only he can render us acceptable to God. As our priest he continues to intercede for us. “Christ came as high priest…He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:11, 12). “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:24,25).

Jesus Christ is King, the only one powerful and insightful enough to rescue us from our spiritual adversaries including that arch enemy, the devil. Do we realize that, “your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)? As the 1689 confession states, “We need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, sustain, deliver and preserve us, until we finally enter his heavenly kingdom. He came proclaiming the kingdom of God. The New Testament ends declaring, “He is Lord of Lord and King of Kings” (Rev. 17:14).

As prophet he teaches us about our spiritual need of rescue. As priest he rescues us through his blood and continues to intercede for our transformation. As King he guides, sustains, and protects until he calls us home to enjoy the blessings of His kingdom.

Living The Impossible Life

It’s impossible to live the Christian life. Yet many do the impossible. How do they do it?

They live a transformed life by faith in their mystical union with Christ. What is that about? Isn’t that just theological mumbo jumbo? Well, no, it’s much more practical and real than words in a musty volume.

In some mysterious, mystical way it is our connection to Christ that enables his life to flow into us in transforming power. This is a continuing theme through the New Testament.

Together with other believers we are built into a temple through Christ who is the chief cornerstone. (Eph. 2:19-22) He is the vine and we are the branches. Without this connection to him we can do nothing—nothing, meaning bear no spiritual fruit. (John 15:1-8) First Corinthians 12 tells us, “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it” (vs. 27). It is only in connection to Christ that we can use our diverse gifts to prosper the kingdom. Ephesians five goes so far as to teach that just as in marriage a husband and wife become one flesh, so we are one with him.

To make sure we don’t miss the place Christ has, not only in saving us through his blood—regeneration, justification—but in continuing to sustain, energize, and motivate us, the phrase “in Christ” is mentioned 75 times. “In him” is mentioned a further 70 times.

Louis Berkhof defines this union as that intimate, vital, and spiritual union between Christ and His people, in virtue of which He is the source of their life and strength, of their blessedness and salvation.

It is a vital union made possible by the covenant relationship between the Father and the Son, the incarnation and atonement of the Son, and the practical ongoing mediation of the Holy Spirit. Paul prays to the Father for Ephesian believers that “out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:14-19).  

We appropriate the resources of this mystical union “by faith;” “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Galatians 2:20 tells us that the life we live in the body—this body of flesh and bone—we live by faith in the Son of God. And so, as moved by the Spirit we appropriate the living bread, the water of life that Jesus offers. “And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

Calvin writes: “Therefore, that joining together of Head and members, that indwelling of Christ in our hearts—in short, that mystical union—are accorded by us the highest degree of importance, so that Christ, having been made ours, makes us sharers with him in the gifts with which he has been endowed. We do not, therefore, contemplate him outside ourselves from afar in order that his righteousness may be imputed to us but because we put on Christ and are engrafted into his body—in short, because he deigns to make us one with him. For this reason, we glory that we have fellowship of righteousness with him.”

Let us then “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…[and press on] in your struggle against sin” (Heb. 12:2,4).

—–

Post script: While contemplating this incredible provision of God, we must not misinterpret it to indicate an identification with Christ in his essence, that is, as he is united with the Father and Spirit. We do not become ‘gods” or partake of God in some pantheistic sense. Nor must we connect it to the immanence of God in all creatures. God is omnipresent but distinct from all his creation. Nor is this union to be understand in a sacramental sense as some churches teach, as if they are the depository of power which they can dispense through the communion elements.

Instead of drifting into self-centered mysticism, let us draw strength from Christ by faith—and thus live the impossible life.

Essential Beliefs of Jesus-followers, #42

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

MEDITATIONS ON CHRISTIAN JOY – Part Three

Living a joyful life is our heritage as Christians. We read, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “Joyfully draw water from the well of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). Jesus explained to his disciples that his teaching should lead to joy. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11; see also John 17:13).

But what is this joy? Roget’s Thesaurus lists as synonyms for joy: happiness, delight, euphoria, high spirits, gladness, bliss, glee, elation, cheer, jubilance, rapture, transport with antonyms as; misery, depression, desolation, and despair.

High spirits? Glee? Euphoria? In some Christian circles, we are expected to demonstrate a joyful countenance to show that we are rejoicing in the Lord. I think joy is far deeper. It is rooted in an awareness of the panoply of redemptive graces that God pours into our lives through Christ. It can, and probably should, lead to a feeling of bliss, of gladness, of elation, of rapture, or of euphoria.

However, since we are to grow in grace, the full expression of our joy may develop over time. And with our different personalities and upbringings, we may express ourselves differently. Surely, we should aim to daily draw up copious amounts of joy from the inexhaustible well of salvation. That is our heritage. But we should not force a certain kind of joyful expression on others. We cannot whip it up. Manipulation is a very hurtful tactic. Let’s draw attention to the well and pray for one another that we may know more and more “the joy of the Lord” without signally that membership in our group requires a certain outward expression.

In this series, as the Lord leads, I want to consider joy as it relates to a full-orbed understanding of salvation and being assured we are saved, joy as it relates to being part of a Christian community, joy and suffering, joy and faith in God’s sovereignty, joy and faith in God’s character, joy and contentment, joy and meaningful service, and joy and love among other subjects.

But before I leave this post, there is one aspect that we tend to neglect because we are warned that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Christian joy is far more enthralling than the tastiest steak or the most exquisite wine.

But a misreading of the balance of Scripture has led many in church history to over-emphasize asceticism and self-denial of anything that might be enjoyable. As if refusing to enjoy the gifts of the Creator somehow makes one more holy or more devoted. Yes, there is a time for prayer and fasting. But there is also a time for feasting as we see in the instituted feasts of Israel.

Our pastor, in his series on Ecclesiastes pointed out in chapter nine a recurring theme. Since life is unpredictable and will end in death, we should enjoy what God provides in the days we are given. “Go eat your food with gladness, and drink you wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. …anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun…whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10). [For an understanding of “meaningless” in the book, I’d suggest you go to a good commentary.] God did not create a world of luscious fruits, meaningful work, and marriage for these gifts to be spurned! He expects his children to enjoy his gifts, while knowing that salvation is the greatest gift of all. Yes, there is a measure of joy in these other gifts also.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Why being a fairly good, but imperfect person, is not enough to save you from Judgement. Essential Beliefs, #40, the Atonement.

To understand Christian salvation, we must understand law and guilt. Most laws are good. They were created to bring order and safety to a society. Don’t cross the street on a red light. Reduce speed to 40 kph in a school zone. List all ingredients in foods for sale. Wear seatbelts when you drive. Don’t text and drive. Report all income. Pay your taxes.

And yet we find ourselves irked by restraints on our desire to do whatever we want. Why? We are insipient law-breakers. We glance in all directions to see if there are any police observing as we glance at our phones while driving. We race across the road just too late to catch the yellow light.

Thousands of years ago, God gave Moses the ten commandments. Ten simple laws to define moral life. Ten moral fenceposts to define the circle of moral freedom within which we can live blessed and guilt-free lives. These laws became the basis of God’s covenant with the nation Israel. God’s chosen people were to obey his laws and thus demonstrate to all humanity the dimensions of a flourishing society. They failed. They repeatedly broke God’s laws.

Actually, we have all broken God’s good laws. The ten commandments merely codified and clarified what was already written on our consciences. Whether we are from a jungle tribe distant from advanced societies or live in a modern city, we instinctively know it is wrong to steal, kill, or lie.

Yet, in spite of what we know, we break God’s laws. We are all law-breakers. We expect to face justice if we are caught stealing a car. But do we realize that God, the Judge of all the earth, will hold us accountable for breaking his laws? And he is much more aware than any human judge of our duplicity, self-righteousness, and pride. He sees every secret sin. “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12). When? “Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The penalty we face for sinning against what is good and true and blessed is not a slap on the wrist. It is not a short stay in purgatory. It is not breaking rocks in some celestial quarry. “The wages [debt due] of sin is death” (Romans 9:23). The Bible explains that the punishment of death means eternal separation from God in the agonies of hell.

But out of his infinite mercy and grace, God provided a way for our infinite debt to be paid. How? Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many” (9:28).

As prophesied in the Old Testament, the Son of God had to become man to atone for human debt. As man, he did what we had not done, he perfectly kept the law. “When the time was fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Gal. 4:4,5). Jesus, born under the law, born as a man, came to redeem us from our guilt as law breakers.

Without his atonement we are without hope. We cannot pay our debt to God by trying to keep the law. Nothing we do can approximate 100% obedience. 51% obedience is not good enough to erase the guilt incurred by breaking 49% of the law. Nor 75%, nor 95%. “All who rely on observing the law [to please God and be forgiven] are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly, no one is justified before God by the law” (Gal. 3:10,11).

Fortunately, Christ paid our debt by suffering in our place. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that …by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:13,14). We are saved from hell by faith in Jesus’s death on the cross for me, faith in His resurrection, faith in the Gospel, faith in his atoning sacrifice. Faith that He alone can cancel my debt. Faith that through the Holy Spirit he gives, I can begin a new life, a God-entered life.

No wonder we sing, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” And, “Jesus keep me near the cross.”

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)