live magazine September/October 2018

live A Baptist resource for women on a mission September - October 2018 · $3.50

A CALL TO HOLINESS Watch what God does, then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Ephesians 5:1 (The Message) #GIVING TUESDAY 2018

Fight trafficking by funding a rescue (p3)

MISSION ON OUR DOORSTEP Toronto’s Dixon Ministry (p6)

AVAILABLE AND VULNERABLE

Holiness is simply a call to come into God’s presence and be transformed (p13)

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cONNECTING

in this issue columns Connect to Mission 3 » #Giving Tuesday 6 » Mission on Our Doorstep 9 » One Woman’s Call to Overseas Mission: Melanie Waddell 12 » Baptist World Alliance Women— World Day of Prayer BIBLE STUDY 20 Bible Study: A Call to Holiness Connect with Others 11 » Baptist Women Conference 2019 23 » A History Moment 23 » We Remember

features Connect with gOD 13 Available and Vulnerable . . . to the Word The call to holiness is simply a call to come into the presence of the Lord and be transformed 16 Through a Glass Darkly Holiness’s Public Relation Problem 18 Imperfect . . . and Invited Can we catch the holy in the ordinary?

Cover photo: Unsplash.com:

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As I prepared this issue with its angled focus on holiness, Jesus’ words about trust, humility and the kingdom of God emerged. In three Gospels He holds children close and, in the context of discussions about authority, access and power, reminds His disciples that anyone’s entry into God’s kingdom depended on them being like children: Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4 (NLT) Holiness is as simple as allowing ourselves to be held, in all the ways that matter, by Jesus. He holds us with hands that bear the scars of sacrifice and soothes us with words that acknowledge the troubles of our lives and the fragrant triumph over those troubles that is ours because of what He did on the cross.

Read through all of Jesus’ sayings—in one sitting—and you’ll grasp that we cannot be holy apart from trusting Him and the finished work of the cross. Holiness demands from us the humility of a child who chooses to believe that their caregiver can be trusted with all that’s precious to them.

When you begin to approach triune God in this way, how will you not choose to turn away from all that weighs you down and besets you?

And having turned to God, how will you not then obey His call to go out and share the good news that the Kingdom of God is near?

RJ 

VOLUME 91, NUMBER 5

live (formerly The Link & Visitor) began as The Canadian Missionary Link (1878) and Baptist Visitor (1890). Published bi-monthly by Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec 5 International Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 416-620-2954 Fax 416-622-2308 bwoq@baptist.ca www.baptistwomen.com Executive director Diane McBeth Editor and communications director Renée James 416-651-8967 rsejames@gmail.com Art director Donna Lee Pancorvo of GEPM Group Inc. (www.gepmgroup.com) Contributors Linda Ellsworth, Sandi Smoker, Morgan Wolf Circulation and subscriptions Subscriptions 416-620-2954 live@baptist.ca Subscriptions Individual: $20* (direct or through promoters) US & overseas: $39 All currency in $C unless otherwise noted.

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for our publishing activities. *includes HST

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#Giving Tuesday Baptist Women aids in the rescue of victims of sex trafficking p At a beach in the Dominican Republic Photo courtesy IJM Canada

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 join Baptist Women and raise funds for International Justice Mission Canada’s (IJM) rescue operations in the Dominican Republic.

It takes an average of $8,200 CDN to fund a rescue, which includes investigations, day-of support and logistics, and immediate shortterm aftercare for survivors.

This year, an anonymous donor has offered up to $4,000 to match your donations.

In October, you’ll find resources and a video on our website at baptistwomen.com/causes.

In our November/December 2018 issue we’ll feature the story of one woman from the Dominican Republic who was rescued and supported by IJM. “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners . . . to set the oppressed free.” Luke 4:18 (NIV) live • September - October 2018

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Why this particular project for #GivingTuesday?

1. We saw trafficking while on short-term mission On the last Saturday of Baptist Women’s mission trip to Haiti last year, our hosts took us to Port Salut, a popular destination for local Haitians as well as tourists, due to its beaches. As we ate lunch, we saw two young Haitian women—girls really—having lunch with two older white men, possibly from Quebec.

One woman barely looked up as she hunched over her plate, disengaged from the conversation of the men and nodding when spoken to. When she tried to get up, another Haitian woman standing nearby reminded her to stay sitting . . . and eating.

We looked on . . . uncomfortable, caught between wanting to confront the men and not wanting to provoke a beating later for the girl. We had a whispered conversation about what we might do. There was no on-the-ground support . . . funds, food. With heavy hearts we climbed into the truck, leaving her there defenseless.

That girl remains on our minds. One of the lessons we learned that day was to travel with the international hotline number for victims of human trafficking. After we returned to Canada, we searched to find a ministry doing rescue work in Haiti that would help women like those at the beach. Although we found that Haiti does not yet have infrastructure to rescue and protect victims of violence like that teen, its neighbour, the Dominican Republic does. In 2013, International Justice Mission Canada opened an office in the Dominican Republic to support and enhance that infrastructure.

2. We will build on our history of effective work in the area of ending human trafficking Baptist Women has effectively supported anti-human trafficking efforts globally and in Canada for decades.

Since 2011, we’ve done awareness and advocacy/abolitionist campaigns including letter writing to MPs, hosting events and forums, and taking part in silent stand-ins during the Pan Am Games in 2015. We’ve published award-winning series on pornography and 4

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abuse in live magazine. We joined to efforts to bring Bill C-36 to fruition and mobilized our churches to begin the conversation about ending the demand for paid sex.

3. This project allows us to move to the next steps: rescue and structural change Our funds will pay for IJM staff to work with local police to uncover sex trafficking cases and fund one rescue and bring survivors to a safe place (the number of victims rescued in one operation varies).

It will work toward a stronger justice system Our funds will also support the Dominican IJM staff as they work to improve the overall justice system— police, courts and social service providers—so that it protects all victims of trafficking, not just those who are helped through individual cases.

This approach has proven effective. For example: • After just four years of IJM work in Cebu, Philippines, there has been a 79 percent drop in the number of minors available for commercial sex.

• After 12 years of work in Cambodia, the prevalence of children under 15 in the sex trade dropped from a range of 15-30 percent to less than one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) It will help restore survivors IJM works with each survivor to create a holistic treatment plan for physical health, trauma-focused counselling, personal security, economic self-sufficiency, and ultimately, reintegration back into a community where they can thrive.

It will bring criminals to justice Crimes are reported to the Public Ministry fiscales (public prosecutors) and Dominican police. IJM lawyers help collect evidence to build a strong case. They also help prepare survivors who choose to share the truth in court.

4. This project is immersed in prayer Petra Kooman, director of marketing and public

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relations for IJM Canada says, “It is possible to change the world.

We’ve seen amazing transformation in countries where no one believed it was possible. But sometimes it can take a really long time. That’s why prayer is so crucial to the rhythm of our day. We start every day with 30 minutes of stillness, where our staff take time to pray and seek God about what He wants to do through them that day. Then, two hours later, we meet as an entire team to pray for the work around the world. If we believe that God can move, we have to ask Him and so we take time out of our day to do just that. I truly believe that we have seen miraculous breakthroughs because we have committed our work to prayer.” 

u Deisy is a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation. She was exploited for approximately eight months before she was rescued. live • September - October 2018

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Mission on Our Doorstep Baptist Women’s Mission Team to Toronto’s Dixon Ministry From July 22-27, a short-term mission team from Baptist Women experienced cross cultural ministry without flying overseas. Led by Diane McBeth and Laura Matthews, the team of seven women gathered in Toronto and drove to the Dixon Road corridor, home to hundreds of immigrant families from Asia and Africa.

They led morning sewing classes for moms and camps for their children. In the afternoons they made home visits with two families (one Algerian and the other Somali), tutoring children, practising English and becoming friends. The team coordinated closely with Dixon Ministry staff and volunteers Jeff McCarrell, Maria Jeung and Jemma Sanderson.

Several team members shared their experiences with live magazine.

What surprised you on this trip? Why? Sandra Pong: No surprises because God, through Jeff and Diane, prepared us well for both spiritual and logistic parts. I was not sure how much I could help one particular child with English in such a short time but it was really good. I hope down the road, once the family moves to Mississauga, that I will be able to continue tutoring this child.

Doris Mok: Honestly, I went into that trip with no specific expectations, except fear of the unknown and a nervous feeling of inadequacy.

Tammy Tang: The pace of the trip was slower than I expected, more like a spiritual retreat in some ways.

I was surprised by the friendliness and openness of the families we met, even though Jeff had told us this many times before.

Jenya Bakai: How wonderfully and thoughtfully God put our team together. We complimented each other with our gifts which made our ministry more effective.

Tell us about one highlight of the trip and why it was a highlight for you.

Sandra: The ESL tutoring. I didn’t know how but every day I was so looking forward to it. Perhaps it is because I prefer small groups or one-on-one; I guess it is because I am quite an introvert. The tutoring sessions fit me well and I saw that I could actually help with the families’ daily needs.

Doris: The change I saw on our last visit to a Muslim family of five children and mother.

The first visit was a bit uncomfortable but as the week went by, each family member started to open

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p From L to R: Home made pizza; Fruit tray (Philippine lunch rolls on right are filled with plantain and Jack Fruit); Mahalabia (Algerian rice pudding with orange blossom water); Baghrir (Algerian pancake). Bottom row: Algerian mint tea and Swiss cake; up a little more each day and by the end of the week they all seemed sad to see us leave; they even asked if we would come back the next week or next year. It was such a sweet and warm feeling that at that moment I was really encouraged to go back as soon as possible to help them. I also learned that the father, whom we had never met because he was working during the day, took the time to call one of our team members after the trip to make sure we knew of his gratitude for the visits to his family.

Jenya: Two things. First, the love and dedication of the mothers to their kids and families. They were there every morning to learn how to sew and they finished some projects. They achieved what they came for. Second: How much the children loved books. In our digital world it pleases me to see how appreciative of the printed papers

and books these kids were; how eager they were to LEARN through playing, reading, writing, talking, etc.

What can we celebrate? Where is God at work?

Doris: God worked in my own heart first, showing me how little I knew. I had the wrong perception that the families like those we met would never allow Christians into their homes, but we were able to visit a Muslim family from Somalia.

Heather Skeates: I can’t imagine how hard it must be for families who have to flee their homes and overcome so many obstacles, to start all over in a land with different languages and customs.

Our main focus wasn’t to win these families to Christ, but rather to share His love and make them feel welcome in Canada. Seeing Muslims walk into a Christian church to learn sewing was

wonderful to witness.

Tammy: God has been doing deep work through the Dixon Ministry.

That is the reason why the women received us with gladness and were open to our message.

How has this trip changed you?

Sandra: To continue to completely trust; to be humble and thankful for what God has in store for me, even though I don’t think I am good enough. This trip also made me think about taking early retirement so I could focus on doing something like this.

Tammy: The generosity and hospitality of the women are an example to me. They give out of live • September - October 2018

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their scarcity while we don’t always give, even in abundance. Since the trip, I am finding ways to be generous to the people around me.

Heather: The women on the team all felt as if this was a ‘retreat’ and through learning from each other and simply offering to God the little we had, I was so amazed how He worked everything out. He truly does go ahead of us and walks alongside us if we give Him control.

We all were a little apprehensive about the ‘unknown’ of our week, but this will definitely be a ‘marker’ in our faith walk as we continually learn to TRUST Him more and more.

You are a sent woman of God. How has this trip confirmed your thoughts about this aspect of your ministry?

Doris: I feel more confident in helping beginners in a sewing class.

As an immigrant myself, I am able to relate to the challenges of new immigrants, sharing my own experience of difficult beginnings while offering some advice and encouragement.

Heather: I dreamed about doing this kind of thing after I retired.

When God aligned everything to happen for me—that my love of sewing and my social personality could be used and that the trip was affordable—I was beyond thrilled.

I often don’t feel overly qualified for many things, but He confirmed that even I could be used.  8

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MISSION IDEAS YOU CAN USE Perhaps you would like to host a local mission. Here is a bit of our process in case some of these ideas might help you too.

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We approached an organization that was already working in this area. We visited Dixon Ministry and asked where they could use help; talked about what we could offer; and found the match.

With input from Dixon Ministry, we planned activities and estimated expenses. We recruited volunteers for the mission and they raised funds to cover the costs.

We paid attention to safety. Each team member read and signed our child protection policy. Dixon Ministry carefully explained their protection practices. Each team member signed a waiver releasing us from liability. We paid attention to allergies.

Training. We had four web conferences plus a number of group emails.

We had training in working cross culturally and got cultural background on the groups we would be working with. We learned a little about ESL and tutoring.

Volunteers used their gifts. We discovered that one team member had excellent sewing skills and that Dixon Ministry had been given a number of sewing machines last year—morning sewing classes were born. Meanwhile, we discovered we had several teachers and child care workers on the team.

They led a kids’ program during the sewing classes.

Each team member took a turn leading morning devotions. Each member tutored in the afternoons.

If you would like help to organize your own mission, please let us know. We can help with cross cultural training. You’ll find links to short-term mission checklists, child protection policy, waiver forms and more on our website at baptistwomen. com/causes.

t Team at breakfast in the hotel

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One Woman’s Call to Overseas Mission Melanie Waddell - In The Centre Of His Will

Melanie Waddell and her family are global field staff with Canadian Baptist Ministries, based in the Philippines. In 2016 Baptist Women gave significant financial support to the Waddells as they began their field assignment.

Describe your call to overseas mission It started in my early 20s when I went to Guatemala with Impact Ministries. Months following that trip, Michael and I were married and the idea of going into the field didn’t seem possible at the time. Then in 2009, Michael had the opportunity to go on a Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) trip to Africa. This is where the Lord opened his eyes to the idea of living cross-culturally. In January 2013, Michael and I visited our dear friends, the Kennys, who are CBM global field staff in Kenya. It was then that the Lord reignited the passion in my heart for missions and confirmed Michael’s desire.

Photo courtesy CBM

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We began to prepare our hearts for His plan and we decided to assess our lives to see what this plan would mean for our young family.

At first, it felt like we were on cloud nine after our trip to Kenya and we grieved the fact that we had left a piece of ourselves in that beautiful country. We decided to take some caring and wise advice from a former field staff family and give it at least six months before we began to look into the opportunity. The idea and the calling never went away. In fact, it got even stronger.

We began a very open conversation with CBM during the summer of 2013 and discovered that we had three barriers that seemed to be preventing us from going into the field. We began to pray about the barriers and the following summer all of them were dissolved. God was on the move.

Michael and I decided then to put in our applications to CBM. What do you do?

The Philippines consists of 7,100 islands. Currently, we live on the island of Luzon, so it’s been difficult for me to get directly involved in ministry because most of what we do is on the island of Panay, a neighbouring island about a onehour flight away. I have been to Panay a few times and I have got involved in some ministry there, but it’s difficult to fly there because of my important role as a mother of four. As a result, this past fall I decided to volunteer and use my professional skills at the 10 live • September - October 2018

international school that our children attend here on Luzon. I work two days a week in the Family Counselling Centre and I have enjoyed that experience very much because I get to listen, empathize, guide, normalize, love and encourage students and families that are part of the Faith Academy community.

In saying all of that, God has been moving in our lives. Several months ago we opened the door to the possibility of moving to Panay. He has clearly led us with the support of CBM to move following our summer home assignment. This will allow us to get more actively involved in the ministry with our partners, Kabuganaan Philippines Ministries (KPM). We’ll be more involved while living on Panay Island as a couple, and we’re very excited for what the Lord has in store for us as we begin to work together and continue to follow God’s leading.

How did God equip and prepare you?

The Lord prepared me through my educational studies, life experiences and my inner desire and yearning to be in the centre of His will. It’s been a wild and exciting journey. God has been so very faithful and I feel so blessed to take part in what He has in store for our family. There’s a wonderful feeling of peace even in the midst of chaos that comes knowing you’re honouring God by being in His will.

In 2012, I decided to go back to school to receive my masters of education in counselling. I wasn’t sure why the Lord was leading me to do that except for the simple fact that I had always desired to become trained. Also, while I was completing my practicum, the Lord made me keenly aware that He was planning to use my training to minister to others through some kind of ministry. I knew I wasn’t going to become rich as a trained counsellor and He gave me an enormous sense of peace about that truth. It’s been so cool to see how He’s used my skills here in the Philippines!

When I look back on my life I can see how situations have led me to this experience. God has used difficult and wonderful circumstances to teach me so much about His perfect will. I am so thankful for His amazing grace. He’s never left me alone in any of the difficult seasons that my soul has journeyed through; instead He’s been my Good Shepherd guiding me every step of the way. Honestly, I have not always listened and I have messed up, but He’s always there to lift up my head as I choose to refocus on Him and His goodness.

In my weakness, He is the strength that rises from within because He is my rock and I am so very thankful to live my life trusting Him for His provision, faithfulness and love. 

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SAVE THE DATE

BAPTIST WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FRIDAY MAY 3 - SATURDAY MAY 4 MISSISSAUGA CHINESE BAPTIST CHURCH Speakers: Rev. Cheryle Hanna and Rev. Julia Bowering registration: $60 | Lunch: $15 • registration opens in November

CHOSEN | HOLY | CALLED declaring the goodness of God But you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation. God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (NLT) live • September - October 2018

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Baptist World Alliance Women—World Day of Prayer Monday November 5, 2018

You’re invited to rise and shine on November 5, 2018 and join Baptist women around the world in this Day of Prayer.

Baptist World Alliance Women connects Baptist women globally—in person, virtually and through prayer.

As we unite with our Baptist sisters across the world, we are committing to uphold and support one another in prayer, for we know that great and mighty things come into being because of it.

We belong together, and this is one way we can stand together in solidarity.

The 2018 Day of Prayer program was prepared by the Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific.

Amelia Gavidi is the president of the Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific. Her message and Bible study in this year’s program will inspire us to think about justice in a fresh way.

Here’s an extract.

“We witness injustice and chaos around us. What is our response?

We cannot just turn a blind eye to it. As believers, we have a vital role to play. (Psalm 82:3-4)

When we rise up, God shines through unity and justice I’m reminded of the story of the five daughters of Zelophehad, from the clan of Manasseh, son of Joseph. (Numbers 27:1–11) They faced injustice when their father died in the desert before they 12 live • September - October 2018

reached the Promised Land. A census of men took place, preparing for the division of the land in Canaan. The five daughters were not entitled to a share because they were female.

These women teach us how we can offer justice to those around us and to the world.

1. They stood up in faith and unity.

They believed in God’s promises of a promised land and God’s promise of an inheritance for each family. Together they had the faith to claim their father’s inheritance and they did this in God’s presence.

2. They stood up because of their problem.

3. They stood up with courage.

They assisted in the formulating of a new law that women, who do not have a brother, were to

areof invited haveYou a share land. God’stojustice gave them courage to take a step of faith. In doing so, they accomNovember 5, 2018 plished the impossible.

Let us ARISE and SHINE in Baptist Women’s World in JUSTICE and UNITY, believing the God of Justice who is on our side. (Psalm 37:28) Baptist World Alliance Women As part of your World Day of connects Baptist women globally.

Prayer remember We arecelebration, made up of 7do Continental Unions representing 193 victims of abuse andnational violence Baptist women’s organizations around the world. Visit victims, from 156 countries. The 2018 talk with has them, stand up for them program been prepared by the Baptist Women’s Union of the and pray with them.” 

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Connecting Women Globally You’ll findBaptist the Day of Prayer proIn person, virtually and gram, prayer guides, order forms through prayer

and more at bwawd.org. Please Women’s Department giveBWA generously.

This Day of Prayer 405 N. Washington Street is the only fundraiser for Baptist Falls Church, VA 22046 USA World Alliance Women and for Tel: +1 (703) 790-8980, Ext. 148 global being done by Email: projects womenbwa@bwawd.org Baptist women like you. Our doWeb: www.bwawd.org nations make a huge difference to our sisters.

For more ideas, visit bwawd. org. Consider taking part in the 24-hour prayer vigil that will happen on the Facebook page for Baptist World Alliance Women.

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Available and Vulnerable . . . to the Word The call to holiness is simply a call to come into the presence of the Lord and be transformed

by Renée James Unsplash.com/BenWhite

My spiritual heritage includes an aunt who pitched crusade tents in the middle of the countryside and planted churches; uncles who pastored and preached part time and a grandfather who preached to the preachers and taught the teachers how to dissect the Word and share it with integrity. Bible was big in my house.

Even so, I grew up wondering why all the Bible reading, preaching and teaching surrounding me couldn’t change the core attitudes and behaviours in the ones “doing” the Bible teaching and preaching circuit. “What difference did memorizing, studying, knowing the Bible really make?” I’d ask myself after yet another round of crusades, conferences and Bible studies. It didn’t really change what mattered.

I’d been taught the Scriptures from childhood and they had given me the wisdom to receive salvation. But being sure about those family members from whom I’d learned? Not so much. (2 Timothy 3:14-15) And so my fundamental distrust in them subtly twisted my relationship with Scripture.

I still read, studied and memorized the Bible but with less consistency. The Bible became a book I felt pressured to know; a task I crossed off a daily to-do list when I’d actually had time to do it. Quiet times sputtered, reviving only around Advent and Lent or when I decided to follow the latest formula for spiritual growth.

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The Bible isn’t a book to be done. It’s a story to be lived.

Christian classics. I read the best commentaries on the Old Testament prophets and Paul’s letters that I could find, but not the source text—the books themselves. Some years I’d pick and choose the books of the Bible I wanted to read. At other times I’d go for days, sometimes weeks, without opening my Bible.

I knew a lot about what others knew. I knew about God and about the Bible—good knowledge, enough knowledge to get me by in ministry.

To a large extent I’d become what I’d despised growing up— an articulate fraud who knew enough to minister but whose core remained unchanged.

All that changed during several years of painful transition at work and in my immediate family. During that season I recognized that God’s desire for me was for my deep and true spiritual transformation, no matter the cost. If I truly desired that transformation, I would have to lay down my history of distrust in the power of the Word to effect lasting change in the lives of ministry professionals. I would need to be available and vulnerable . . . to God. Could I be available to God in my heart? Could I embrace the vulnerability of being teachable, expressed in my exposure to Scripture?

Be holy Through that season of transition, the Bible moved off my to-do list and into my daily life. It wasn’t easy.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires,” writes the author of Hebrews (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). Who wants to be deliberately vulnerable to a sword with two edges that cuts deep and judges the thoughts and purposes of your hearts? We blunt the impact of that sword with the layered cushion of guilt, legalism and perfectionism 14 live • September - October 2018

most of us hold up like a shield when we approach the Bible. Some of us avoid engagement altogether: I need a seminary degree and familiarity with Hebrew and Greek to really get it right; I don’t have time; I don’t know which Bible translation to use; I don’t need to read the Bible to experience God; I’m not sure the Bible’s all that relevant for me or the people I’m leading.

The work of spiritual transformation—the Spirit’s work—demands nothing less of us than a willingness to lay down the cushion, simply come to the Bible, and be open to the words of a wounded lover who holds nothing back in His desire to have a relationship with us and who woos us with words that comfort, heal and gift us with our true selves: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 NLT) We simply come . . .with an open heart and the faith to believe that if we just come, God will meet us.

One way to start For a year or so, I stopped twice a day to be silent before the Lord and to read a portion of Scripture. In Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2014), author and pastor Peter Scazzero calls this habit, the daily office. The daily office is “not so much a turning to God to get something; it is about being with God—about communion with him,” Scazerro writes in his introduction. We approach God and the Bible knowing that our silence and our Scripture reading happen before the Lord Himself.

These days, my office is short—perhaps five minutes in total and almost all in silence. Other days, I spend 10 minutes in silence before opening my Bible.

Coming out of the silence, I read aloud the words of David, Paul, Peter, the disciples and the Old Testament prophets. But now I read their words as words written

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by people who had authentic experience of God and were transformed.

What holiness looks like Yes—Paul wrote letters to the churches about how to live together as communities of people that had found the Way. But he also wrote those letters when he was weary, in prison, aware of the limits his pedigree and history had brought to his ministry. He wrote them in the crucible of a deep ongoing spiritual transformation that had started on the road to Damascus, continued through shipwrecks, floggings, betrayals and imprisonment and would never stop.

Read Romans, Ephesians, Galatians and Colossians as personal letters about one man’s willingness to be available and vulnerable to God and you’ll never again read or study them as the rules about Christian living that decades of preaching and teaching in our churches have made them. Available and vulnerable.

Paul experienced the words he wrote. So did Moses, Hosea, Jesus and John. They lived them.

“And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory,” Paul writes in Colossians 1:27 (NLT). When I simply come to the Bible, silent and vulnerable, I begin to grasp the enormity of that statement. Jesus Christ—the Word, the Bible, made flesh—lives in me and in you. The Bible isn’t a book to be “done.” It’s the story you and I live.

Today and every day.

So come. 

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Through a Glass Darkly Holiness’s Public Relation Problem

Unsplash.com/BudHelisson

“The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind—” (Emily Dickinson)

by Morgan Wolf Morgan is a writer from Calgary, AB. She blogs about her faith and writing at www.anothergratuitousmdash. blogspot.ca.

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Ruminate on the word, “holy” and pretty soon it brings up notions of halos, white robes and pillowy clouds with an ethereal choir crooning melodic “oohs” and “aahs” somewhere offstage. Holiness is hushed tones and white light and it’s also being good, so good that there is no stain of vice or personality or anything that might dim the brightness of the atmosphere. By this definition, holiness is boring because it’s a perfect state and there are no obstacles to overcome. There’s no adventure to this kind of holiness. It seems like a destination you arrive at after all the interesting things have happened.

Why does the call to holiness feel like a drag? God is described as holy (“holy, holy, holy,” actually—maybe once for each member of the Trinity).

Jesus tells us to be holy as He is holy, and He’s pretty exciting and endlessly fulfilling. And yet, the call to holiness feels like a let down. It feels like missing out.

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Holiness is the metric of heaven

Holiness doesn’t sound like something that I want to do or become, especially since I typically only think about my lack of holiness when I’ve already failed; when I’ve thrown myself headlong into some temptation, rather than fleeing from it as instructed. I only think of holiness in terms of my personal failure and that sort of approach tends to leave a bad taste in one’s mouth.

Poor holiness. It has a big public relations problem.

We’ve defined it by what it is not, rather than by its own attributes.

And maybe the reason for this is that we don’t actually know what it is.

We’ve crafted clichéd placeholders to conceal our ignorance. Like many of the challenges that plague Christian life—our problem is that we don’t see things as they are.

Holiness is itself the veil of light which blinds us. Unless we are holy as He is holy, our fallen, tainted by deception, through-a-mirror-darkly sight cannot perceive much amidst the gleam of the One never defiled by sin.

We are called to pursue God by faith, stretching ourselves dangerously far before finding purchase upon something solid. The call to holiness must also require a reaching out in faith. Instead of groping around in the dark though, we will be fumbling around in the light, waiting for our spiritual eyes to adjust. And, as the scales fall away and our vision begins to clear, we will see, by holiness, that this pursuit to be like Him isn’t a drag at all but the fullness of true existence. Only as we begin to pursue it will we begin to see everything as it actually is—that all things are yes and amen in Christ. Holiness is the metric of heaven. If we let it form our desires and ambitions, we will find that everything else that has gone before is merely a dim and colourless prologue to the true adventure that is just beginning.

Our culture encourages us to nurse and follow after lesser desires; urging us to listen to our hearts, chase our dreams, shoot for the stars, but it never teaches us how to estimate the true value of our desires. It is only in beholding; dwelling upon something greater; that we begin to see the frailty and brokenness of the thing upon which we have set our hearts.

And it’s then we begin to realize that our calling, our blessed pursuit to be like Him will return to us, proving its worth over and over.  live • September - October 2018

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Imperfect . . . and Invited Can we catch the holy in the ordinary?

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“Having resolved to make the love of God the end of all his actions . . . he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of God, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts.”

(Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life, being Conversations and Letters of Brother Lawrence. London: Epworth Press, 4)

As a rough-and-tumble new convert, I remember my first Sunday dinner at the invitation of a woman who befriended me at church. Little did I know what lay in store. The aromas of her home enveloped me as I entered into a process well underway. I peeled and cut carrots, set ambrosia next to silver candlesticks on the well-laid table and filled crystal glassware with ruby-red cranberry juice. We gathered, held hands and bowed in silence while she gave thanks to our Giver.

Protocol dictated a clockwise rotation of dish after dish of divine provision. Roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, my carrots made holy by butter, brown sugar and parsley, homemade sweet buns with meltin-your-mouth centres, all of it mingled with laughter, offering me a taste of something quite other-worldly.

William Blake famously says, “Everything that lives is holy.” There was holiness in that meal and its quality lives on in my memory.

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Too often we see the holy as something outside of our ordinary experience. We rightly envision the holy as praise-worthy after Revelation’s images: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come. We hear God say, “Be ye holy, even as I am holy.” The Holy is Other, Someone set apart and quite distinct from humans and the human condition. But if Blake is onto something, then training our eye to catch the holy in the ordinary may deepen our understanding and experience of God Himself.

Holiness, as the “ness” suggests, designates a quality. People who keep company with the Holy should look out-of-the-ordinary, shouldn’t they? Shouldn’t they possess superpowers of perfection? We may be tempted to dismiss holiness as a quality for others and not for ourselves and make assumptions about the physical side of life, succumbing to a hyper-spiritualized understanding of holiness. We forget the

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Incarnate Jesus and the humus of our origins. “God is always at the heart . . . all created things have their cause and source, not in themselves, but in him,” says Kallistos Ware. Gentle miracles of holiness are the stuff of ordinary life because Jesus is present.

Our regular encounters with food afford opportunity to attend to the holy in the everydayness of our lives. Eating in a holy spirit is an important spiritual practice. Hear Psalm 23, “I will prepare a table before you, in the presence of your enemies.” The Good Shepherd anoints us and overflows our cup with goodness and mercy at every meal, in front of all who intend our malnourishment and withering. Every time we sit down to a meal, we are invited to remember our identity as free people, holy people nourished and beloved. I

wonder if that’s how the publicans and sinners felt as they sat down to eat with Jesus. Imperfect . . . and invited.

At the meal of meals, Jesus offers Himself, the Bread of Life, to all who believe. Communion with Christ extends holiness to the nations when the Holy Spirit invites us to bring the reality of our lives to the table. “Eucharistic practices,” says N.T. Wright, “speak powerfully . . . as we find new energy in food and drink [in] Jesus himself and his death and resurrection. In and through this, we are becoming people who gather up the praises of the world and the needs of the world and present them before the God we know in Jesus. In and through all of this we are being formed into a people who will find that they then discern, in fresh and often surprising ways, the tasks

that they can perform within their own communities.” (Wright, After You Believe, 280)

As we gather with friends and family around abundant tables this Thanksgiving season, let us find new energy in the food and drink of the Incarnate Christ who fills us full with fresh visions of God’s love for the flourishing of all peoples and nations. It was in Him that the full nature of God chose to live and it was through Him that everything was made—through Him and for Him. 

by Sandi Smoker Sandi is the former president of Women in Focus (the women’s ministry arm of Canadian Baptists of Western Canada). She volunteers as a counsellor and course facilitator at South Island Centre for Counselling and Training in Victoria, BC.

ROOM TO PRAY - A fast from criticism Monday, October 1 - Sunday, October 7 Don’t forget to join Baptist Women in a fast from saying anything critical about anybody during these days.

May the Lord do such a deep work in our hearts that our words would be acceptable to Him. (Psalm 19:4) Find full resources including a guide and prayer prompts in the July/August issue of live magazine or at baptistwomen.com/resources where you’ll also find blogs and Bible studies on fasting.

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BIBLE STUDY

A Call to Holiness

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“…but as He who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am Holy…’” I Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)

Holiness: a quality long discussed, debated and sought after by devout followers of many faiths.

But what about you as a Christian woman struggling to live by biblical principles in today’s society?

How does the challenge to holiness, as stated in I Peter 1 affect YOU in your day-to-day life?

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Let’s start with what it means to “be holy.”

READ Romans 6: 17, 18, 22 Here Paul tells us that by God’s grace, we have been freed from _________________________ _________________________ and have become slaves to

_________________________ _________________________ The Greek noun used here for “holiness” is hagiasmos, meaning “sanctification.”

As we continue studying I Peter 1, we will understand that “sanctification” means “setting apart” from one thing and being “set

apart” to something new.

READ I Peter 1 Peter’s greeting in his first letter, is stunning! Why does he call these people pilgrims (sojourners/temporary residents)? _________________________ _________________________ Peter immediately earmarks these dear Christians as being sanctified.

How? _________________________ _________________________ Why? _________________________ _________________________ As dearly beloved of the Father, we, like Peter, can never reflect enough on His great gift of grace.

READ I Peter 1:3-5 What God has done Describe the incredible things God the Father has done for us, as listed in these verses: (at least 8) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ This summer a little boy in my VBS class defined resurrection as “relife.” Is there a similar phrase in vs. 3? _________________________ _________________________ In vs. 6, what causes us to rejoice, even when facing the “stuff” of life?

_________________________ _________________________ How are you doing in the rejoicing department? Anything you need to work on, based on your knowledge of, and faith in the Father? _________________________ _________________________ READ I Peter 1:6-9 Holiness born out of faith…

What We Must Expect Peter is writing his letter to the diaspora—the large number of Christians that literally ran for their lives into various parts of the thenknown world to escape persecution and death.

Are you going through tough times today? Describe the “claimables” listed in these verses that apply to your situation. _________________________ _________________________ The outcome is given in vs. 9: _________________________ _________________________ READ verses 10-12 Holiness born before time…

How He Has Revealed It Imagine what it would be like to have someone describe to you the exact manner in which you would be saved from a burning house fire 10 years before it happened.

From these verses, describe the inspiration and knowledge of the prophets. _________________________ _________________________ The amazing part of this section?

Read the end of verse 12…astounding implications!

Thoughts? _________________________ _________________________ READ verses 13-25 Holiness born out of obedience…

How Then Must We Live?

When your mind wanders, what unwanted paths does it take? _________________________ _________________________ The first part of verse 13 charges us to “get a grip” on our minds.

State three practical ways in which you can do this today. (Don’t give in to the typical spiritual answers.)

1________________________ _________________________ 2________________________ _________________________ 3________________________ _________________________ And then, here it is… THE CHARGE, in verses 14-16.

First, we must become as (vs. 14) _________________________ _________________________ Second, we must consciously set ourselves apart from (vs. 14) _________________________ _________________________ Third, we must then be set apart to BE HOLY in our (vs. 15) Because (vs. 15a, 16) _________________________ _________________________ Take note: BE HOLY is not a suggestion. It is a command. God

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BIBLE STUDY

“The destined end of man is not happiness nor health, but holiness… God is not an eternal blessing-machine for men; He did not come to save man out of pity: He came to save men because He had created them to be holy…Holiness means unsullied walking with the feet, unsullied talking with the tongue, unsullied thinking with the mind—every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God.” September 1.

“Sanctification is not something Jesus Christ puts into me: it is HIMSELF IN ME.” (I Corinthians 1:30) July 23.

So, woman of God, How in the world will YOU be holy? _________________________ _________________________

Pg. 29; 1998

what things do I need to lay aside? ( I Peter 2:1) _________________________ _________________________ To live in holiness, what do I need to become as? (verse 2) _________________________ _________________________ To live in holiness, what do I require to continue to thrive? (verse 2) _________________________ _________________________ What do I need to change in my life schedule to accomplish the above? _________________________ _________________________ As I grow in Him and His holiness, what growth targets am I promised? (verse 5) _________________________ _________________________ As I grow in relationship with Him and in His holiness, what am I promised? (verses 9-10) _________________________ _________________________

READ I Peter2: 1-5; 9-10 Holiness born out of relationship To live in the holiness of rebirth,

Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost For His Highest, speaks about holiness as follows:

Linda is the member care coordinator for Christian Camping International, Canada.

CALLS us to be holy, based on the fact that HE is holy.

The grand question is asked by Dr. Erwin Lutzer in his little book, How In the World Can I Be Holy? The only reason we can assume to be set apart to holiness, is that a holy and gracious God has given us the inexplicable gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit!

READ verses 17-25 What impacts you when you read of the depths of God’s gracious acts in these verses? _________________________ _________________________ In his book, The Call, Os Guinness states it this way: “Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to His summons and service.”

The Call; Os Guinness; W Publishing Group;

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Holiness, holiness is what I long for, Holiness is what I need.

Holiness, holiness is what You want from me . 

by Linda Ellsworth

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A History Moment From Leaves of Remembrance by Ellen Priest “In looking back to those first years and the determined efforts of the enemy to discourage me, I am reminded of the question asked me on my first furlough, “Do you believe in a personal devil?” to which I replied, “Yes, indeed, and more so after being in India, for I have had some very personal dealings with him.” The first years in India are times of great testing. It would seem as though the enemy, not having been able to hinder your coming, sets himself to make you ineffective. Then one realizes the value of the assurance in one’s heart of being there because He Himself brought me there. This was the one thing that held me when the enemy would taunt me with all my limitations.”

Ellen was a Canadian Baptist missionary from St. Catharines, Ontario, who went to India in September 1893. She served for 40 years among the Telugu.

We REMEMBER

Dr. Cynthia Long Westfall author & professor at McMaster Divinity College

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In Memory of Faye Benson, Cobourg Laura Bragg, Woodstock (long time BW member and 43 years as organist and choir leader) Catherine Free, Niagara Falls Erica Schallenberger, Kirkland Lake

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Each generation has the opportunity to fuel mission for the next. Did you know that if you include CBWOQ in your Will, your estate will subtract an equal amount in tax?

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Now he . . . will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

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