It Never Snows In Victoria, Except When It Does, Every Year

From today's Times Colonist.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

By Jack Knox, Times ColonistDecember 15, 2009


Two o'clock yesterday afternoon. I approach the editor, clear my throat: "After much soul-searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional newspapering. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father and person."

"Pardon?" she says.

"Like Tiger Woods, I am leaving work to save my family. I apologize for my indiscretions."

"You?"

I nodded my head vigorously. "Got 'em stacked up like cordwood. One affair she might have forgiven. Two, three, four, I'm still good. But once you hit double digits, some women get testy. I better go."

"So what you're saying," says the boss, "is you're going home early to beat the snow."

Well, yes, now that you mention it, it would be nice to get off the roads before the flakes start falling faster than Tiger's reputation.

This is how Victorians react to even the slightest threat of snow: Bolt for home in time for Oprah/the early game on TSN. Just a hint of white in the sky, and the entire city goes to voicemail. By 4 p.m. the Malahat looks like France in 1940, the highway choked with ox carts and refugees fleeing the advancing horror. The Q dumps classic rock, just plays the theme music to Exodus, over and over.

Thankfully, it never snows in Victoria, except when it does, every single winter, much to the amusement of the rest of the country. The rest of Canada enjoys a West Coast snowfall the way the Brits enjoy watching Princess Anne fall off a horse.

Chaplaincy Cutbacks in Fraser Health Authority

I received an email today regarding the chaplain and social worker cutbacks in the FHA today.  According to the article that I read in the AbbyNews , 12 hospital based chaplains and 15 social worker positions will be cut.  I'd like to address the cuts to chaplaincy services. 


I am a believer in the value of pastoral/chaplaincy ministry in hospital situations.  There's no doubt that good spiritual/emotional support in this setting contributes to the health and recovery of patients who are open to receive it.  I am also a realist and recognize that given the choice between a chaplain's position or an ER or Surgical nurse, the vast majority of the population will choose nurses.  We live in challenging economic times and while I would prefer something different, in this case I understand why this decision has to be made.

Some of the most creative and successful approaches have arisen during some of the most difficult seasons.  I see an opportunity for faith based groups and individuals who are concerned about these particular cuts to become proactive and provide a creative solution to the situation.  Several years ago, the IHA made similar cuts to chaplaincy positions in Kamloops.  In that particular situation, a local MLA took leadership and raised the necessary resources to provide for chaplaincy services at RIH. 


The region served by the FHA is home to BC's largest churches and because of population alone, has more church groups than anywhere else in the province.  While it's not fair to look at the largest churches alone and expect them to shoulder the financial burden, it is realistic to look to the church community as a whole to consider finding a way to creatively fund this important area of ministry.  We, more than anyone else should be committed to seeing these positions continue and if necessary, find the ways and means to properly resource them through our own efforts.  I realize this a departure from expecting government and health authorities to fund this through tax dollars, but perhaps this is also a way for the church to provide leadership within our communities and to be a blessing to caregivers and patients alike.

I'm calling on denominational leaders, pastors and churches to give serious consideration to finding a creative way to serve the people of the FHA through ensuring the continuation of these services.  It's time to put our faith to work and ensure that chaplaincy services continue within the FHA.

Ordinary People. Extraordinary God

I love what God does in the midst of our ordinary moments!



I can’t help but think about how God invades the ordinary in the lives of the key characters in the Christmas story. Mary was just a young woman in love with a carpenter named Joseph. She was busy making wedding plans when her ordinary routine was interrupted by an angel. Joseph’s ordinary sleep was interrupted by what he thought was a dream. The magi’s study of the stars was interrupted by strange sign. Zechariah’s priestly routine was interrupted by an appearance by Gabriel, Simeon and Anna were faithful saints who were interrupted by the appearance of the Messiah.


God is the perfect Interrupter. He is a master at interrupting our ordinary so that we can be a part of the extraordinary thing that He is doing.


I’ve come to believe two things.


1. God is constantly working on fulfilling His perfect plan.


We know that He is constantly working out everything for our highest good. It’s what He promises He will do. He’s also doing the same thing for everyone else who loves him and is called according to his purpose.


2. He wants you and me to be a part of that plan.


I heard someone pray something like this today. ‘God we know we can do nothing without you and that You do nothing without us.’ I think that’s a profound spiritual truth. Christmas would not have happened unless ordinary people said yes to an extraordinary God and His outrageous plan.

I’m convinced that God interrupts our lives more often than we realize. They key for you and me is to shift our thinking from expecting angelic announcements and to simply learn to read the signals. His interruptions come in spontaneous thoughts, in unusual circumstances and through ‘God moments’ when He puts people in our path who are ready to receive His love and grace. Watch for them and enjoy the interruptions!

Clutter Busting....

I've been helping a church where I served as Youth Pastor 20 years ago.  Their pastor has resigned and they needed someone to help them through this transitional period and I was both interested and available so we are going on a journey together.  It's been an interesting experience.  A lot has changed over 20 years for everyone.  The church is smaller and older than it was 20 years ago.  I am larger than I was 20 years ago... but like everyone else, I'm also 20 years older which puts me in a very different place than the last time I was there.

We did something today that I think was very symbolic.  We threw away 20 years of accumulated 'stuff'.  Some would say 'junk'....  5 or 6 truckloads left the building today.   It was exciting.  20 people spent the morning working, laughing and just chucking stuff out.  Never have so many been so happy to throw away so many things!

While that's exciting, especially if you are a 'clutter buster', what's more exciting in my mind is the very significant break from the past.  Without exaggeration, I threw away things that were saved from when I was on staff there!!  We laughed more than a few times about what we were finding as we worked our way through shelves, boxes and closets.

I don't know how it is for you, but there are times, (like now) when I look at my life and see the definite need for some serious 'clutter busting' to take place.  I don't intentionally set out for things to get complicated or to pack needless baggage along the way.  It just happens, and it happens for a lot of reasons, some of which are more valid than others. 

There are some huge temptations in clutter busting.  The biggest is to want to clear the clutter in someone else's life.  The best way to handle that just might be to remember the words of Jesus when he told us to take the beam out of our own eye before worrying about the speck in our brothers eye.  He's right (again...)  Simply put, it's not your business to be messing with someone else's clutter.  Get your own stuff in order and keep it that way.  At least that's the lesson I'll be working on over the next few weeks....

Getting the church ready for Richard Dawkins

I got an email today asking me if my church was ready for Richard Dawkins. This caught my attention, mostly because I don't pastor a church. The email really made me laugh....


Dawkins is an evolutionary fundamentalist. He is as extreme and narrow minded about evolution as some of our more 'narrow' Christian brothers. In my mind that takes a lot more faith (albeit misguided...) than what it takes to embrace a Creationist view of the beginning. (If this statement sparks the desire to debate the origins of the earth, feel free to do it with someone else, I don't have the time...)

The email said that churches should be ready to teach against the evils of evolution because Dawkins was going on a tour to mark the 150th anniversary of Darwin's death and that he would be promoting Darwin's theory of evolution. For what it's worth, my first thought is that Darwin knew the truth about evolution and Genesis within a nanosecond of his death. It's too bad we can't get his thoughts on evolution after 150 years of experiencing wherever he finds himself spending eternity. I'm confident that Richard Dawkins would be abandoning evolutionary fundamentalism in a heartbeat if he was able to hear what Darwin had to say today.

My other thought, was 'Richard Dawkins is coming to church?' Wow! That's really amazing! I hope he visits a life giving church where he can encounter God's presence, love and power.  It would be a good thing for him!

I've come to a place in my life where nothing is impossible for God. If he wants to move on the heart of an unbelieving Richard Dawkins and bring him to church on Sunday, my expectation is that Dawkins will leave a believer in the ONE who spoke creation into existence in microseconds. Now that would really shake things up wouldn't it?

I continue to be puzzled by the way we respond to people who disagree with our faith. Why would we warn people about Dawkins and his teaching when the bible tells us that our battle isn't against flesh and blood. Wouldn't it make more sense just to pray that God would do something very Sovereign and powerful that would result in something very profound happening in Dawkins life? That might prove to be far more faith based than whatever it is I'm supposed to do because 'he's coming'.

I hope Dawkins makes it to your church and that when he gets there, he encounters the power and wonder of the living God!! Sort of like Saul on the road to Damascus.... Wouldn't that be interesting???

Knock, Knock...

I had the funniest thing happen to me at the Legislature today. I was visiting with a new member. We've been talking about connecting for some time, so I was looking forward to getting together. I arrived a few minutes early, he took me too his office and we started to get to know each other. About 15 minutes into our visit, there was a knock at the door. When he opened his office door, two special constables were standing there, accompanied by two very nervous looking staff members. They announced that they had an alarm coming from the office and wanted to be let inside.  The member responded that he hadn't pushed an alarm button and wasn't in any danger.  It turns out that the 'laptop lock' that he thought he was playing with actually sent an alarm call down to the security office. So... after a quick lesson on how to use the security button, the constables left and we were able to return to our visit.

After they left we had a good laugh and then prayed together.  When I went back to the office to turn in my security pass, the constable who visited the office met my rather sheepish look with a big grin and chuckle! 

Every day at the Legislature is an adventure....

Protests, Petitions and the Need for Good Government

I'm beginning to see something very interesting in the current political climate. It's safe to say that it's a very different world at the Legislature than what it's been for the past 2 years.  The atmosphere is completely different than what I expected.  I assumed the rhetoric would die down and things would 'simmer' rather than boil.  I was very wrong....

The Government has been forced to make some difficult and extremely unpopular decisions due to the current economic situation.  The Opposition has no end of material for Question Period, the ensuing media scrums and the radio talk shows.  I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing.  In fact, if you can see past the bluster, desk thumping and heckling (all part of our political system....) this may well be the best thing that can happen in our province.

A strong and effective opposition is the key to good government.  While it's true that the Government has a majority and will likely vote according to policy and platform, the awareness of unhappy and dissatisfied voters will undoubtedly give them cause for sober reflection, especially if the Opposition is successful in providing effective resistance on key initiatives. 

 During the election, we prayed that God would give us leaders of His choosing who would provide good and effective government for us.  While the government's decisions have been somewhat surprising and unexpected, I'm starting to see that God is using a host of circumstances to provide exactly what we asked for.  We need a strong Opposition who will ensure that the effect of Government decisions and actions is in the public eye. 

In the midst of this new political atmosphere, we have a responsibility before God for those who have been elected to lead.  It would be easy to be caught up in the anger that is being directed at the government, but it is neither becoming nor fruitful. Disagree if you choose, but understand that our greatest effectiveness comes as we make petitions rather than signing them.  

The fact is that our leaders on both sides of the Legislature need someone praying for them and encouraging them NOW more than ever.  We need to rise to the occasion as never before to stand in the gap on behalf of those making the most significant decisions in our province in a generation.  Call your MLA and tell him/her that you are praying for them.  I promise you, they will be grateful!