Christmas is a time...

How would you finish that sentence? For me, I would have to say that Christmas is a time to get really sick. Traditionally, or I should say routinely, I would spend the beter part of Dec. 25th onwards extremely sick. The reason? Well I could attribute it to many factors - the change in weather; the increased number of people whom I would see and shakes hands with or some sort of physical contact; the increased workload above and beyond the normal pastoral duties (Christmas pageant, Christmas banquet, late night carolling, Board reports, annual reports, finance reports, year end reports, etc); many late nights or all nighters due to said workload; decreased in the body's immune system because of said activities; increased stress levels due to said activities; invitations to many Christmas meals near and far; and finally the body just crashing once all said activities are over.

I just watched the Christmas episode of Duck Dynasty and laughed at how Miss Kay had everyone in the family running ragged to get Christmas and all its elements just perfect (especially when she and Pa went hunting for the perfect Christmas tree). And yes I do like watching Duck Dynasty especially with Annie in spite of the scripted nature of the show. At the end of each episode, the family gathers together around the dining table for prayer, some words of wisdom, and some together time when all is forgiven and what is most important is celebrated - family and food! I must admit, that in recent years, I have not suffered my Christmas flu.

Since pastoring Simply Church, I have come to really appreciate the down time during the Christmas season because of the closure of the University and the simplicity of the season to celebrate and concentrate on what is important. I'm reminded of a song from the Maranatha Kids from the album "Psalty's Christmas Calamity" called "Christmas is a time". The lyrics, with its words of wisdom, reads as follows:

Christmas is a time Christmas is a time Christmas is a time to love. 

We often start to worry And people get upset If things don't go alright on Christmas day. What we should remember In all the push and shove Is Christmas is a time to love. 

Christmas is a time Christmas is a time Christmas is a time to love. 

Maybe things don't sound right Or look the way they should And maybe they're not perfectly in tune. It really doesn't matter Lets keep our eyes above Cos' Christmas is a time to love. 

Christmas is a time Christmas is a time Christmas is a time to love. 

From my family, and the family at Simply Church, to your family - may you have a stress-free and flu-free Christmas season. And may you focus on what is truly important - that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Have a blessed Christmas,
PT

Ingratitude Attitude I was going to title this entry after the Oscar nominated and winning film by Tarantino in 2009 but was overruled and edited out. Nevertheless I think readers can guess the gist of what I am talking about. I don't like the Thanksgiving season. It's not because i have to suffer eating all those Thanksgiving meals. It's not because it is my sister, brother in-law, and mother's birthday. It's not because I have to come up with another new twist on preaching a Thanksgiving sermon. It is because in preparing the sermon I realized what an ingratitude b@#!@#$ I have become. Every year it is the same deal. I realize that I have forgotten how to be grateful and deliberately expressive with my thanksgiving to those around me and most importantly to God. Certainly "giving thanks in all circumstances" is something that I am reminded of during this season and something that I have failed to do during the past year. In fact it seems to be a yearly pattern. Certainly as I preached on Luke 17 and the incident with Jesus and the 10 lepers, I realize that I am that 90% who don't return to Jesus to give thanks to the one who healed them. We ended our sermon with an opportunity for people to respond by writing some words of thanksgiving to one or more particular person on some thank you cards provided. I'm not sure there were enough cards for me to write to all those people whom I need to acknowledge this past Sunday so I will use my blog to simply say, "Thank you from the depths of my heart". Without many of you and your support, Simply Church would not be possible. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, labour, and sacrifice. Thank you for believing in me even when I have my doubts. Certainly I can give a detailed account of each person's contribution in my life's journey (and maybe at some time during my retirement years I may have time to recount all those experiences) and hopefully we will have all eternity for me to thank each one of you personally. Until then, I just will give one word of thanks to my wife. Thank you Chris. The End.

Doing the Happy Dance Quebec launched the country’s first provincial lottery in 1970. The 1982 roll-out of Lotto 6/49 with its “Just imagine” slogan made the lottery a national pipe dream; the 2009 arrival of the $50-million jackpot Lotto Max, which admonishes Canadians to “Live your dreams to the max!” serves to further stoke the frenzy. Not that lotteries are marketed as high-stakes gambling: they’re wholesome fun to be celebrated by a “happy dance.” – an euphoria that is expressed with people dancing wildly in joyous celebration. The happy dance isn’t a new thing. In my childhood days, it was Snoopy who first did the happy dance. Later on, Calvin and Hobbes showed their excitement in their version of the happy dance. And more recently, Mumble, a little Emperor penguin who had a horrible singing voice and couldn’t find his “Heartsong”, discovers his joy in life expressed through tap dancing. I’m not one for dancing. In fact, I am not one for expressing my emotions on my sleeve. My sister called me Mr. Spock while I was growing up. Not much excites me into a physical or emotional outburst. Roller coasters, buffets, sports cars, women, pets, money, etc. none of these things ever excites me. Do you want to know what excites me? Sunday mornings playing on the worship team, speaking the words of God, praying with one another, fellowshipping, celebrating, and mission trips to faraway places. My most exciting times are when I can celebrate the power of God at work with other people who too have been transformed by the power of God. I certainly have been blessed to hear about how God’s power has transformed the lives of people I have met, and even more, privileged to be part of God’s transformational power at work in this world. I hope that I might continue to bring more people and to share with more people a happy dance - not just at Simply Church on a Sunday morning but every day for a long long time.

Prizes! Giveaways! Freebies!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! Now that I got your attention. I have some important information to share with you. Due to the construction delays at MacKirdy Hall, Simply Church will move (from our current temporary location at the Aboriginal Centre) to the new Lecture Hall on the ground floor of St. Paul's University College. We will continue to use the Aboriginal Centre as well on a Sunday morning. Directions will be posted once you enter St. Paul's. There are two main entrances to the Lecture Hall. You can enter by the traditional method through the main doors on Westmount Rd. North and make your way downstairs, past the cafeteria, past the chapel and into the new foyer that faces Ring Road. If you are coming from Village or the main campus, you can enter through the back entrance of St. Paul's which faces Ring Road. A couple more updates as well. 1. SCO has one bookcase filled with books to borrow in the church library now. We are looking forward to receiving more books soon. Come visit the church office for a refreshing drink and snack and come see what renovations have taken place. 2. Sunday school returns this week with a chance to win prizes. (Yes I wasn't kidding about the prizes, giveaways and freebies). Come and find out what Sunday School is all about and challenge yourself spiritual and academically. Humbly yours, PT

Summer days, drifting away, To, uh oh, those school days!

September is just around the corner. Sigh. I cannot remember where the summer days have gone to or how the last 4 months has so quickly and silently passed by. Nevertheless, we are days away from receiving a new batch of froshies and, in their wake, the many returning students as well. So many things have yet to be done. So many things that I wanted to do. So many that I have failed to do. In a way I lament over the passage of time this summer. I cannot believe how the years have just flown by. I was in a retail store just the other day when I was confronted by a man who asked me "Are you a pastor?" I couldn't deny it so I said, "Yes I am." "You married my daughter.", he replied. "Most certainly not!", I thought to myself. My wife's father died when she was a young - at least that is what I have been told - and I don't recognize you from my wedding day. And certainly polygamy is out of bounds morally and beyond my comprehension. I have one wife and that's enough thank you very much. "Peter and Julie Chang." he said with a twinkle in his eye as if he had caught me in a senior moment. "It has been 13 years since you married them." he reminded me. I am not so convinced it was so much as a senior moment as it is just one of the many people and faces I have met in 20 years of full time ministry. We probably spent only a few minutes during the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and perhaps a few minutes during the wedding day. I'm sure the wedding day of his daughter some 13 years ago was a very significant life event for him and I am thankful to be privileged to be part of that memorable event. Certainly being tributed as being a major part of someone's life has been a significant motivator for me in ministry. The joy of being a part of people's lives is beyond any earthly rewards. This summer Chris and I had a chance to reunite with some old old friends and with some newer friends. Some were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary of which Chris was a bridesmaid. Others were just celebrating their 3rd wedding anniversary while others are 10 years from graduating from University. Those bonds of friendship established during their university years continue to be strong unto this day. I attribute that to the fact that the one bond which binds us so closely together is our common love and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. As the new term is about to begin, I look forward to a whole new batch of young people to bond with, to grow with, and to spiritually grow and serve with. The returning students are always a joy to see once again. A little older and a little wiser. A little more experienced in the faith and a little stronger as well. If you are coming to Simply Church for the very first time, I invite you to consider making us your spiritual home. We welcome you to be part of this wonderful family whose bonds are deep, wide, and long.

Moving on, moving forward, moving rooms!

MOVING ON - Alas, another semester has passed and we bid adieu to many students who have graced our church scene these last few years. They are moving on with their lives. Another chapter of their lives has closed and a new and exciting chapter is about to be written. Many hope to join the ranks of the tax-paying demographic portion of society while some prefer to stay within the familiar confines of academia. "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." ~Flavia Weedn. May I say it has been a privilege to be a small part of your life and a pleasure to have you worship, serve, and grow together in Christ. I am certainly not the same because of you.
MOVING FORWARD - We reached another milestone as a church with our first baptismal service. I am certain that it will not be the one and only baptismal services here at Simply Church and look forward to many more to come. But I must say that it was the most memorable baptismal service I have ever witnessed or have been a part of. I think it was rather appropriate that the vessel used for the baptism was a water trough, since it follows in our Lord Jesus Christ as he was born and laid in a manger. There are many postings on FB and perhaps we hope to release a video of the blessed event on youtube in the very near future.
MOVING ROOMS - Very important!!! For the spring term (May - August) we will be worshiping in the Aboriginal Center at St. Paul's rather than our usual MacKirdy Hall. This is due to the renovations that will be done through the spring term. The Aboriginal Center is located in the new wing of St. Paul's just down the corridor from MacKirdy Hall. There will be signs posted to help people find their way.

 *** UPDATE *** Sunday May 6 - due to a conflict in room booking, we will be meeting in the Chapel of St. Paul's instead. Please pass on the message to everyone.

New Year New Hope New Start

The new year always brings with it a perceived sense of being able to turn over a new leaf and start afresh. Of course the truth of the matter is that those burdens, fears, and problems don't magically disappear with the turn of a page. But we just take on a fresh perspective, a new hope, and a certain enthusiasm to tackle all that the new year throws in our way.

As we have been learning through our study in Galatians, true change and freedom only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps this is where we should start off the new year. A good foundation and everything else will fall in place. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; And all these things will be added unto you." Mt.6:33

At SC this week...

We are very excited to have Elena Wang back with us after her STM with EMI. She will be sharing of her experiences this coming Sunday (Jan. 15).

A reminder that there is a new pick up location for Sunday Service. CLV Community Center at 9:55 a.m.

Keep posted for more news and announcements.

A blessed new year to one and all.

PT