Love is Moving Issue 24 - NOV/DEC 2017

ISSUE 24

CANADA’S CHRISTIAN YOUTH MAGAZINE

NOV/DEC 2017

A LOVE THAT WINS Andrea Nwabuike p. 4

CODE TO JOY

Felicia Elasih p. 8

SEE THE CRACKS

Katrina Martin p. 14

DANCE IN THE RAIN Sarah Evangeline p. 27

CHAPEL MOVEMENT

AN INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN MITCHELL

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Contents

6

7

Fruit in a Slum

I, The Train

9 Montreal and The Arts

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22

29

16

Box of Chocolates

God and Eight Strings

Cover Jonathan Mitchell & Chapel

WORDS FROM THE FOUNDERS The autumn of 2010 ushered in a new decade and a new God-inspired dream.

Amid the falling leaves, an idea was formed that would eventually blossom into what you have in your hands now: Love Is Moving, a leading media outlet for the youth and young adults of the Canadian Church.

The founders — Ben Porter and Joel Gordon — met through a common love for the Church and desire to serve the youth of Canada. With an interest in what “love” really means, Ben Porter put his fingers to the pulse of culture from the perspectives of media, psychology and church culture. He realized that this concept, which lies central to the heart of the gospel, was something that needed to be broadcasted, discussed and carried out. Joel, who had a background in the film and television industry, expertly harnessed this media to carry the message God had put on their willing hearts.

After holding a launch event in Toronto at Church on the Queensway, where Josh McDowell shared an inspiring vision, they saw God open a variety of doors and form partnerships that have had a lasting impact. Love Is Moving took the next steps and developed a youth video series sponsored by a number of national evangelical organizations and distributed through the Canadian Youth Workers Convention.

Lorna Dueck, CEO of Crossroads Christian Communications and host of Context — a Christian television program with a wide audience across North America — was interviewed as part of the video series. After her interview she was so moved by what God was doing through Love Is Moving that she offered to coordinate a television program of their own to unveil the movement that was beginning to rumble in youth across Canada. The required $5,000 came from a donor the following week, confirming to Ben and Joel that God was indeed moving in their midst.

The TV show was high energy, exciting and inspiring, featuring the way that youth groups across Canada were living out God’s love. Having been filmed at CBC headquarters in downtown Toronto, it was then aired on a number of major networks include Global TV. As the show neared its launch date, Ben and Joel approached The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, asking if they could have an ad in Faith Today magazine to promote the TV series. As God pressed further upon the hearts of those involved, the EFC replied by offering the opportunity to develop a youth magazine. Thus, Love Is Moving magazine was born.

Fast forward to 2017 — Ben Porter looks back in amazement at God’s faithfulness, saying, “We have seen God do so many amazing things to bring this ministry forward. It has been such an honour to see Him moving.”

Love Is Moving is in the midst of more exciting developments this year, including involvement in another television show called Outside the Box broadcast weekly on YES TV (outsidetheboxnow.ca). In addition, Love Is Moving is expanding its efforts on all digital platforms (loveismoving.ca), social media and of course on the ground, working with pastors, students and youth to expand this ministry for God’s sake. Big changes are also afoot with the print magazine.

We invite you to come along for the next step of the journey and help shape it by contributing your ideas, articles and works of art (see p.21).

Publisher The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada - TheEFC.ca

ART DIRECTOR MARK STEWART

Contact (including submissions and subscriptions): info@loveismoving.ca

SENIOR EDITOR CONOR SWEETMAN

Web loveismoving.ca

EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER BENJAMIN PORTER

Instagram @loveismoving

EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER JOEL GORDON

Facebook /joinlovemovement

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A Love That Wins Words by Andrea Nwabuike

spaces of life. It is a love that announces itself in the aftermath of tragedy but refuses News had just broken that another black to be moved in to action to bear the pain man had been killed in an incident with of the victim. It is a love that lives in words the police. Every news station was quick and dies in deeds, that looks pretty on social to line up pundits to argue about who was media but has little power in society. at fault. Social media was polarized, both sides rife with anger and The love frustration. I was scrolling The love that is at the the world through Instagram, struck by embraces core of God’s nature the many images declaring runs from that “love wins.” Usually drove Him to sacrifice offence and I quickly like these posts, hides from His Son on a cross, so trying to convince myself the controversy. that rebellious men world isn’t as scary or dark as It demonizes it seems. others to and women could be protect its But on this occasion, as my called beloved sons fragile sense finger hovered over the like of righteousand daughters of the button, I couldn’t help but ness. This think, No, it doesn’t. Love Most High. love doesn’t doesn’t win. overcome If love wins why has animoshatred or darkness. This love can’t and ity and division become part of the fabric of won’t win. our culture? If love wins, why do we find it But there is a love that has the power to fitting to argue about who deserves to live overcome all that brings us pain and divides and who deserves to die? If love wins why us. This love, the love of God, is selfless and we do walk away from the table when race, merciful. This love embraces the enemy religion, or politics enters our discourse? and initiates reconciliation. This love is The love the world clings to is fickle and willing to suffer with the broken, to bear the self-serving. It is the type of love that burdens that are not its own. embraces the like-minded and rejects the The love that is at the core of God’s nature “other.” The love of the world seeks its own drove Him to sacrifice His Son on a cross, comfort, refusing to walk in the difficult

so that rebellious men and women could be called beloved sons and daughters of the Most High.

Why would I trade the love of God for the love of this world? How can I know the power of the cross but be content to love from the comfort of my couch – artificially and conveniently?

If we really want the world to change, we need to adopt the radical love of Christ.

That means extending compassion and forgiveness to my enemy. That means listening to thoughts and feelings that offend me.

The love of God compels me to serve others, even when it is difficult or inconvenient.

This love wins even when all else fails.

Andrea Nwabuike Brampton, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith?

Joy is the serious business of heaven. — CS Lewis Greg Ortega

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The Gift of Longsuffering

Words by Sam Aragones I’ll be honest: I’ve never been a fan of the King James Version.

The translation confused me as a child, and as a Bible College student, I was disillusioned by it. I preferred the ESV, which was closer to the original Greek, or the NIV (if I was feeling liberal and saucy). But there is one thing that I appreciate about the KJV. Last year, while searching for a reference to the Fruit of the Spirit, I had no Bible other than the KJV at my disposal. When I read the passage, I was astonished at the differences in wording: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering…”

floodgates.” It wasn’t until that moment that God revealed to me His plan in our “long suffering”; to teach us how to be better at being patient.

Since then, many of my experiences have revealed that patience is often synonymous with suffering: my mother’s chronic illness, for example, or the haunting paranoia of depression and anxiety. Although these experiences gave me insight into the heart of God, it was this past year where God truly showed me his righteousness and His plan through my waiting and longsuffering.

I had been in the same ministry position for the past two years, and although I I found the replacement for “patience” loved the work, my overseeing pastor was intriguing: “longsuffering”? From that less than encouraging. moment, I gained After several months of an appreciation for being belittled and berated what that simple “Okay, God. I’ve had just (seemingly for no reason), difference did for enough of this waiting I began searching for other my understanding positions. I was sure that thing; time to open up of patience. To me, God wouldn’t want me in those floodgates.” patience simply such a toxic environment. I meant waiting on had a list of reasons why a God, being content new job with a new senior in my circumstances. Although that is true, pastor would be invaluable to a young I’d never truly acknowledged that there is a pastor such as myself.

Yet, despite this, I great deal of suffering in patience. Usually, found God prompting me to pray, “let your my patience ends where my suffering will be done”, every time I came to Him begins. “Okay, God. I’ve had just enough of with my list.

I did not know what purpose this waiting thing; time to open up those

He was fulfilling in keeping me there, but I surrendered my will to God and stayed until He prompted.

During this time, things did not get easier; but through the difficult relationship with my pastor, God taught me humility, submission to authorities that I didn’t agree with; essentially, the art of longsuffering.

I knew that God was redeeming this time by refining my integrity, so that he may be glorified in my character.

Last month, I felt God’s prompting; it was time to exit. On my final preaching engagement there, I walked off stage to an email from a church that I hadn’t applied to offering me a job.

Longsuffering is truly for God’s glory, and our good.

Sam Aragones Rexdale, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.

Aaron Burden

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Fruit in a Slum Words by Kati Sherman

At the front of the simple classroom was a single white board, the only teaching tool for me to use. More than 35 teenagers sat on a tiled floor with notebooks in their laps and knees touching one another. They were familiar with this weekly two-hour English lesson, but I was just a visitor. I was The Native English Speaker from Canada – and with that introduction some got giddy, others stared blankly, and a few whispered to one another.

I was visiting friends in Indonesia, and they had recommended I check out a ministry in North Jakarta where over 500 kids came through weekly for school. This ministry was said to be sustained by miracles, so I was excited to spend two days in their midst.

On that whiteboard, I wrote the word “character” and then below, I listed: love joy peace patient kind good faithful gentle self-control In their notebooks, the students copied the words down, and using dictionaries, they found the translation in Bahasa Indonesian.

But more than translation, I wanted to talk about the meaning.

“Who do other people say that you are?”

I asked them rhetorically. “God wants our character to be described by these words.”

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peace patient kind good faithful gentle self-control

I talked about each characteristic, provided synonyms, scenarios and even impromptu skits, but afterwards I felt like I had shorthanded them.

Talking about fruit doesn’t benefit ones’ health, one must eat of it to truly benefit.

Who was I to tell these teenagers about peace when I had little understanding of the threats they faced living in a slum.

Jesus, you came to live among us so we could understand the Kingdom of God. Who would live in these slums to pray for the Kingdom of God to come here?

I was blessed to have been raised and surrounded by fruit-bearing people. I had admired these fruit-bearers and wanted to produce the same crop. I realized, here and now, I could produce good fruits because I had the Spirit living in me.

A worker from the miracle-sustained ministry offered to walk me through a slum where some of the students lived. Many families here spend their days collecting garbage and then sorting it to find recyclables to resell.

Amid the poverty, I could see a decent structure being built up in the distance. As I got closer, I realized that the building was a mosque. It was likely that money had been sent from Saudi Arabia to cover the building costs. Helpless as I was at the sight of this mosque in this wasteland slum, I prayed to God: Raise up people with your Spirit to live here, that this community may eat the fruit and know that your Kingdom has come.

love joy

Kati Sherman Scarborough, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “Think of the things you would do if you had no fears and go do those things”

Joanna Kosiniska

Words by Thomas Hill There’s a line from the popular TV show The Office in which Michael Scott, the lead character, says, “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence, and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way. Like an improv conversation. An improversation.”

In this one line, Michael unknowingly sums up our generation’s tendencies to ignore patience, gentleness, and self-control.

I tend to plow when talking to people.

Picture this: My mouth is a train that isn’t on a track. Instead, it has some form of off-road tires and a plow attachment on the front. The train careens through open plains with nothing in its way, paving its own path. I don’t think before I talk. I just talk.

I say what I am thinking at any particular moment. I surprise myself.

For some reason I enjoy the mystery of not knowing what I’ll say next. I may be toodling along, conversing normally with people, when all of a sudden I sense one person pull back. I stop talking, wondering what went wrong. I retrace my words and realize I have plowed right into a thick wooded area and been sharply halted by layers upon layers of hurt shaped into jagged granite. My words have cut deep, even though I didn’t even notice at first.

I, the Train I, the Train I, the Train I, the Train I, the Train I, the Train

In Matthew 18, Jesus calls us to “become like children.” One of the attributes I’ve observed while conversing with children is the seemingly We are all, in our own immense length ways, trains careening of time it takes for “Jesus slows our trains, puts through wide open plains. them to spit out a some tracks in front of us, and However, there comes few words strung a time where our words into a coherent sees us for who we truly are: lost collide with someone we sentence. Their care about. Our lack of children.” stammering and patience, gentleness, and stuttering can be self-control starts to hurt adorable, but it can those around us. also be maddening when all you want is an answer to a simple question.

Read through Jesus’ interactions with people (especially with Peter). Jesus slows our trains, puts some tracks in front of us, and sees us for who we truly are: lost children. Jesus steps into our lives and forces us to carefully process our words, our motives, and, ultimately, our hurt.

What if, when Jesus calls us to “become like children,” He’s really calling us to slow down our trains, take off the off-road tires, and start thinking about what we say? What if he’s calling us to learn how to talk slowly?

I believe God is shaping a generation of people with minds like trains who desire to move slowly on His “tracks” – His desires and purposes.

As Proverbs says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your tracks straight.”

Thomas Hill St. Thomas, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it is because pieces will feed a multitude, while a load will satisfy only a little lad - Ruth Stull Sawyer Bengston

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Code to Joy Words by Felicia Elasih

Picture yourself in the middle of a busy city, surrounded by lights and noises, sights and sounds that are foreign to you. Your stomach is growling and your feet are soreyou just want to get back to your hotel.

The map says that there should be a train station here. You’re sure of it. “Well,” you think. “I guess I better ask someone.”

So you look around, searching for someone who isn’t walking too fast, talking on the phone, or with music blasting in their ears with fear of being a nuisance. Your choices are limited. You scope out your options some more, seeking out the friendliest looking person that you think would be able to help you. Look! There’s a girl with a backpack coming your way, about your age, looking like she just came from school.

You take a deep breath and ask her in broken English, “Excuse me? Where is the train station?” She smiles and points to the sign across the street. You feel silly for not having seen it earlier but nevertheless relieved that you found it. Thanking her, you head your way over to the station.

I’m sure we’ve all had this kind of experience before. In these scenarios, we tend to be calculative.

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We don’t want to be an inconvenience to someone, but we really need help. My parents often say, “he/she has the face of a nice person” and I can’t understand how niceness is a feature that can be apparent on someone’s face. That said, I think I know what they mean.

I wonder- what makes a person look kind?

How can I have that on my face too?

I think the key is joy. When you are filled with joy, there is a glow about you that people might not be able to describe, but can see. I don’t mean that you have to always be laughing. I believe that in having Christ as our Lord and saviour, we are able to rely on Him fully, which gives us joy like no other. And we are called to share that joy.

“So many people you encounter will wonder about the outlook you have about life.”

Just like how people approach you for help when they are lost, we are also to help the lost sheep in this world. So many people you encounter will

wonder about the outlook you have about life. “How come she isn’t upset, she was just treated unfairly by her coworkers?” or “Why is he not complaining when his school workload is so heavy?”. They’ll ask — you can use that opportunity to share the gospel, about your salvation and how the best thing is that anyone can get it. Not only will joy be visible, but through being with Christ, so will love and peace, kindness, gentleness, and all the other fruits of the spirit.

Felicia Elasih North York, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Romans 8:26 Julia Haupt

HOW THE ARTS ARE IMPACTING MONTREAL From Black And White to Colour Words by Lisa Hanash God is a God of movement, and He is moving in Montreal in new and powerful ways. Montreal is a multicultural hub for art and arts collectives. Art is embedded in the DNA of the city and draws individuals to come together and create. As a result, art has been a leading platform for nations to gather, collaborate and foster bold hybrids of artistic creations.

God’s heartbeat for Montreal and for the world is to see the love of God transform individuals and lead them back to their identity as His children. The gospel message is simply receiving from the Father and pouring out the blessings He intended for His children to have in the first place. God is good and He wants His children back, running to meet them with so much grace.

My vision is to release childlike exploration that overcomes fears and limitations that hinder our ability to move forward in creative ways. When we remember how to play again, we can lead from a place of freedom and not from compulsion or

performance. Through different artistic expressions such as finger painting, art games, crafts, improvisation, creative writing and countless other ways, we can create with the Father and work together to see His children set free.

While there is only one gospel mission, there are many mission fields. Within this, it is important to know who you are, because this will propel you into your given destiny. In my case, God has helped me discover what my purpose and identity is through art and that this is the way that I can be a catalyst for His kingdom.

One thing I’ve noticed in my journey with God through artistic self-discovery is that young people carry a freedom that older generations often lack. Instead of easily disregarding young people, we need to value and foster this freedom in a godly way. We all carry different pieces of the fullness of God, and together it forms a whole. Therefore, our young people need the wisdom of our elders and they, in turn, need the energy and revitalization that young adults bring.

1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

God wants to use our lives to tell a story full of adventure, unexpected turns and surely a victorious ending. If you know how Jesus’ story finishes, then you surely know He is victorious and we should have nothing to fear. God wants to launch His children into their destiny, and if we can’t explore, we won’t know where to start.

Lisa Hanash Montreal, QC A phrase that has encouraged your faith? Be still and take courage, my heart Stephen Di Donato

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RELEARNING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS Word by Julia Bracewell One year ago I found myself in a place I hoped never to be.

I was standing in front of my community, guitar in hand, leading them in worship and in prayer. Yet, internally, I was completely absent of belief in God. I sang and led with words that professed faith of depth and eloquence, but mine was in ruins. I played dearly loved hymns of joy and delight while fighting back tears behind the mic.

What led me to that place is unclear. Maybe it was hearing the angry cries of a dear atheist friend, directed at a God he didn’t believe in. Maybe it was the irreconcilable reality of gospel-preaching sitting side by side with injustice at a ministry job I had just left — I don’t know. Nonetheless, for the first time in my 20 years, I found myself unable to believe in God. Thus, worship leading, one of my life’s greatest delights, became a task I feared.

I had always prided myself in my faithfulness to God. I judged those who doubted or wandered, and I lacked empathy when friends came to me to share their struggles.

I thought I had been responsible for my faithfulness, and because of this I fell deep into a prideful cycle — you know, the one where we think we’re too good to struggle with pride? No wonder God hates it so much. I am thankful to Him for my rude awakening.

Over the following few months I felt like I was walking in the dark. The light I had always looked to for guidance had gone out.

I constantly felt weak, guilty, and afraid, and I hid my struggle from many people I had always been open with.

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“I sang and led with words that professed faith of depth and eloquence, but mine was in ruins.”

is supposed to be covenantal. Covenants are special because they are never meant to be broken. There is no condition or fine print or special exception to opt-out. The love covenant between God and man is meant to be a forever thing.

But when your brain can no longer justify belief in God, it seems ludicrous to remain committed to a covenant with Him. But something really beautiful happens when we decide to take steps of faith forward into the unknown and walk deeper into the love covenant.

We live in a culture that doesn’t value covenants at all. The minute we no longer can make sense of something or don’t feel like sticking with it, we are told to let go and find something better, whether it be clothing, friendships, marriages, or worldviews.

There are essentially no covenants celebrated by culture today — except for maybe our covenant with our own comfort.

We pretend we’re free, able to choose what we want, never having to suppress or deny any feeling, but we aren’t free at all. We’re faithful slaves to our desires, we’re trapped in a broken covenant.

On the other hand, relearning faithfulness to God frees us up. Spirit-filled faithfulness is a tool that keeps us in a love covenant with our good Father, the one who knows what’s best for us. Though our feelings and circumstances may change, faithful

commitment to the covenant comes with the promise God’s good will is being done and that we are no longer slaves to our fickle feelings. We are free now! When we fail, as I so often do, we can rest in the covenantal comfort that our good Father is faithful, His Spirit enabling us to be so as well.

Choosing to stay faithful to the covenant was one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever done. It was painful and scary to say “Yes, Lord, I’ll keep following you” when my brain was unable to see any reason He could be real.

covenant all along by being faithful to me when I wasn’t. And He loved me enough to make life hard for a while so that I could shake off some more of my ugliness, and delight in our covenant more abundantly.

The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us about a new kind of faithfulness, one that is enabled by the Spirit, modelled by Jesus and delighted in by God. It’s a faithfulness that sticks it out forever, even if it means death.

“There are essentially no covenants celebrated by culture today — except for maybe our covenant with our own comfort.”

But, little by little, belief returned and the covenant grew stronger.

And now that I look back, I can see that my faithfulness to our covenant had nothing to do with me at all. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. It only comes to fruition because the Holy Spirit lives inside of me. I can only be faithful because Jesus was faithful first, and Jesus chose to be faithful because God’s mercy is all-encompassing.

I am so glad God loved me through the ugliness of my pride when I thought I knew a thing or two about faithfulness. The truth is, He had been honouring our love

I want to keep learning about this faithfulness, because Jesus showed it to me first, and through it everything was changed.

Julia Bracewell Windsor, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “I know now Lord why you utter no answer, you yourself are the answer.

Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words and words to be led out to battle against other words…” C.S. Lewis Ryan Searle (left) Neonbrand

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This series is about youth who strive to develop this generation into one of compassion. They are responding to the brokenness in the world by taking action with Compassion Canada.

We hope these stories inspire and encourage you.

We all have things that shape and form us throughout our lives, especially as youth.

Luciano Latouche was profoundly shaped by the Compassion program at his local church. “Without Compassion, I don’t know if I would still be a Christian. I really stuck to the Church because of Compassion,” he says.

Luciano grew up in a single-parent home in Leogane, Haiti, and entered the Compassion program when he was just three years old.

“Compassion gave me a sense of purpose,” he says. He specifically remembers a moment that significantly shaped him as a child. It was the first time he heard about the possibility of going to university through Compassion’s Leadership Development Program. “I was about 10 or 11 and I was very excited… it [became] one of my greatest dreams to get accepted into that program.”

He eventually did get accepted, and studied Christian education at Christianville College in Haiti. After that, Luciano worked with Compassion Haiti for two years as a program assistant before he encountered another life-changing opportunity at a youth workers’ conference: a scholarship to study at Kingswood University in New Brunswick. Luciano applied and was awarded the scholarship. He is now living in New Brunswick, studying youth ministry and spending his summers serving at a camp for children and youth.

Having lived in both Canada and Haiti, Luciano says the biggest difference is the amount of choice Canadians have. He explains, “[Canadians] can go to any school they want to. They can get any food they

want to eat.

But it’s not like that in Haiti”.

Yet despite the differences, Luciano says, “No matter how they are living, you can see some aspect in people, and you’ll [think], ‘That’s extraordinary, how God can move through someone.’”

Luciano remains grateful for the many ways his experience of the Compassion program as a child continues to impact his life today. Leadership development has been a common thread: “Growing up in the Compassion program, I was part of the student council, and right now, I’m still doing leadership on campus and at camp.”

It seems as though that theme will continue into the future. Luciano aims to return to Haiti to help develop other youth pastors and young leaders. To him, his studies at Kingswood are about being equipped to “bring as much healing as [he] can” in the midst of brokenness. “It is important to me to go back to Haiti,” he explains, “because I am convinced that it’s time for me to give back the blessings I’ve been granted, and to be part of God’s plan of restoration for the kids in Haiti.”

Alyssa Esparaz Pickering, ON Influential book or album? “Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis Greg Raines

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I am a Child of God. Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting a lot on the love of God. I’ve realized that being rooted in His love is the only thing that can set us free.

When I first became a believer, and my life had just been turned upside down by Jesus,

time that this is not the case.

As things in my life started changing — graduating university, getting a new job, changing church communities — I became increasingly overwhelmed by the tasks of life, and the thought of being a light to the

His finished work on the cross really did remove every single barrier between Him and me, and that I actually don’t have to live defeated, discouraged, or in despair anymore. He has made me His child, and that is enough for me to live a powerful and

I was letting my experience dictate my understanding of God’s word, rather than letting God’s word dictate and explain my experience.

I spent a lot of time and effort preaching to myself my new identity in Christ. I had such a real understanding that ‘the new creation had come’ and that I was now set free to be a beloved child of God. I knew that those truths were the only things I could stand on when challenges came my way or when Satan would speak his lies into my life.

world became a terrifyingly daunting idea.

Then, something happened. As time went on, and I started getting used to being a Christian, I stopped preaching these core Gospel truths to myself. I started spending my time and energy on more ‘advanced’ theological concepts, or ministry philosophy ideas, as though I had somehow progressed from those foundational learnings into the real ‘meat’ of the Christian life.

I soon realized that this was because I was simply not rooted. It took me some time, and a whole lot of grace from Christ, but I began to realize that I had taken my eyes off of the core truths of the Gospel, and started believing less than what He has for me. The Lord showed me that I was letting my experience dictate my understanding of God’s word, rather than letting God’s word dictate and explain my experience. When I felt like I was failing in areas of my life, I responded by doubting what Jesus says over me, rather than just confessing, preaching Gospel truths to myself, and being transformed by the renewing of my mind, like I did in those early days.

Well, the Lord has clearly showed me over

I am so grateful for the love of Christ; that

meaningful life in Him. It’s time for us to stop doubting whether or not He loves us, or if He is really going to use us. Let us go back to our first love, and believe that when He said, “it is finished” — it really was. Let us live our lives in who He says we are, and not who we feel like we are. It is only when we are rooted in His love for us that we can stand firm and live a victorious life of love for the world to see.

Sylvia Hartshorn Whitby, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor death, nor anything else is all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 Ehud Neuhaus

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When I was ten, I wanted to be a basketball player. My dad had installed a net in our driveway, and after spending a week shooting hoops for maybe an hour per night, I was convinced I would be the next great female baller. Me, a tiny wisp of a ten year old with no real athletic bone in my body, not to mention any real conception of how the game actually worked. It was a short-lived dream.

Over the next few years, I had many dreams spark and quickly fizzle. I wanted

Close Enough to See the Cracks Words by Katrina Martin

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to play tennis, be a talk show host, own one hundred dogs, and once – after watching a particularly evocative documentary on endangered grizzly bears – I wanted to be a “bear person.”

To be called flighty is not a compliment, but I admit to having tendencies of this sort. I am quickly inspired and just as quickly distracted. I love change, and the word “next” is honey on my tongue. Consequently, my life brims with adventure, and I may even be described as exciting.

“The bitter truth for me comes in the word faithfulness.”

I bounce from place to place and not only seek after the unfamiliar and uncomfortable — I thrive in it. It’s awesome; I am glad I have been created this way for many reasons, but every personality has unfortunate pitfalls.

The bitter truth for me comes in the word faithfulness. Extroverted as I am, I pride myself in meeting people easily and having a network of friends that stretches around the globe. I claim to love people easily, but in truth I love only their silhouettes. I tend to choke on the fact that real love – Jesustype love – requires terrifying closeness and the bravery to stay. Faithfulness.

There is a poem by Robert Bringhurst called “These Poems” in which a woman accuses an artist of his poems not having “a strand of love in them.” If his poems have any love, she says, they only love the “wide blue sky, and the air, and the idea of elm leaves.” In other words, hazy exclamations about things which are easy to love from a distance. The poem ends with the poet interrupting the woman’s passionate rant to say, You are, he said, beautiful.

That is not love, she said rightly.

Though it may sound harsh, the woman is saying that real love sees past beauty to ugliness, and still remains.

On the cross, Jesus saw the grotesque, gut-wrenching realities of human nature and chose to stay — even in going to the fiery hell of the human heart he chose to take up residence so that love might work.

Indeed, we are not called to love shadowy outlines of souls from a distance – rather to stand and stay so close we can see the pores in their faces, the very cracks in their hands.

Katrina Martin Vancouver, BC A phrase that has encouraged your faith? It’s okay to have doubts.

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At a Christian event with a smoke machine and flashing lights illuminating the jumping crowd of exuberant youth, you might not expect to hear the strained voice of a grown man singing in broken falsetto, heavy with the weight of emotion.

But the Chapel Movement in Vancouver has a number of surprises like that mixing of mature adult and young-adult concerns. It embraces the weight of responsibility upon those gathered, a serious recognition of the burden of the gospel and the mission of the Church.

What is the Chapel Movement? You might call it a youth worship revival network. It holds once-a-month worship events across the lower mainland of British Columbia, builds relationships among youth leaders and sponsors student led Alpha programs

CHAPEL MOVEMENT AN INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN MITCHELL

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in highschools. It got started in South Vancouver in January 2012 and has since grown dramatically.

At a recent Chapel Conference I attended, the thumping bass reverberated through the sanctuary during the course of the day, lights flashed along to the dancing singers on stage and there were throngs of youth excited to encounter the Lord through worship and prayer.

And yet there was a distinct maturity evident from the outset. When the house lights rose on Jonathan Mitchell, founder of Chapel Movement, he was sitting on a humble stool with a kind smile and a heavy message: “This weekend we’re bringing on the hard teaching guys; I’m not going to pull any punches, we’re going to treat you like adults.”

“The most beautiful things in life are on the other side of hard emotions and troubling times.”

An honesty about the idolization of feelings was striking. Mitchell boldly stated, “We need to name our idols so that they lose power over us. I think that the North American church’s biggest idol is emotions — we are hell-bent on feeling good.”

He referred to a fictional situation in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, where the devil does everything he can to make sure Christians do not acknowledge the war around them — he asserts there is no war, so the Christian can relax, make do and have fun.

Yet, Mitchell interjected, “The most beautiful things in life are on the other side of hard emotions and troubling times.” He asked the students in the room, all too familiar with the alarming rise of mental health issues, “If the idol of our life is feelings, why is everyone so sad and depressed and empty? We aren’t succeeding at worshipping this god. If we inherit bigger problems than those that this idol provides — problems that the Holy Spirit cares about — we don’t have time to deal with the little problems, we’ll have to let go of feelings, because our lives are no longer our own!

itself has exemplified the growth from gatherings of excited Christian youth to a more mature, strategic mission to bring the kingdom to highschools in Vancouver.

Mitchell has been there for the whole trip as he moved from volunteer youth leader to youth pastor to part-time staff at Youth Unlimited, the ministry that oversees the movement.

Mitchell explains: “We’ve gone through a five-year journey. At the outset, we were filling up highschool gyms with 1,000 kids to worship and pray together. I figured the name of Chapel as ‘the cool thing to go to’ had about four to five years of brand

recognition, so I had a choice to make. I could ride the wave as long as possible and watch cool things happen and stories be told, or I could use that integral time to build as many relationships as possible.

“These discipleship-oriented relationships would be key to help leaders and students buy into a movement that transcended single events and the hype of conference culture — I wanted to take aim at Holy Spirit problems and fight for a cultural shift in Vancouver to the point where it might be as common for students to live out the kingdom to their friends in school as it is to attend youth group.

“Just like the warriors in Gideon’s army, it may be unclear how we will solve these problems and win, but we have a promise from the Lord that the battle is already won, we just have to fight. Maybe we’ll be the ones who don’t get the credit, are forgotten, who people learn lessons from their example of failure. Whatever happens, it doesn’t matter, because we know that we are being obedient to God and ushering in His kingdom.”

Mitchell challenged the individualistic idea that can seep into Christian communities, where we begin to rely on personal feelings of grandeur and success. In this mode, we live according to the sight of numbers and influence, rather than the faith God has already won.

Mitchell explained, “I think too often as a church, our problems are too small. I want to see a generation of leaders asking ‘What is the Holy Spirit worried about in our city as a whole?’”

By elaborating on the overwhelming love of the Father’s heart for the lost, Jonathan urged that God is calling us to “Come wait outside on the porch with the Father, looking into the distance for the prodigal son, ready to welcome them home.”

The overall journey of the Chapel Movement LOVEISMOVING.CA | 17

“We’re aiming to be an on-campus ministry in every one of the 92 highschools in the lower mainland of Vancouver. We want to set up youth leader liaisons in every school that will champion, support and connect the Christians in each area. I hope to one day see every teenager in the area only one invitation away from a gospel presentation.”

“Momentum naturally fades with time.

Now, we’re relying on leaders going to bat for something that is bigger than a one-time event.

Additionally, Chapel leaders are working to form hubs of youth pastors to dream up bigger problems that will require unity to solve. Here, the leaders in the area will gather to ask, “Do we have the same problems that the Holy Spirit is focused on?

Have we taken on the burden of Christ that transcends a single event?”

“We can no longer just point at the shiny thing going on downtown. If we’re looking for students to become life-long disciples of Jesus, we need to dream about the world being changed, not just staying excited. We’ve prayed for this time, and I love that it’s here, but it’s a tricky time nonetheless. The ‘cool wave’ has crashed, and a new mature, much more impactful wave is gaining traction — and now we’re living in the tension of who’s going to give this wave the momentum to hit the shore.

After several years of success and significant growth, Chapel may have reached a moment “when the hype has died,” says Mitchell.

“We can’t deceive ourselves that it will be a straight up trajectory. It doesn’t take much faith to rally around a brand… But if we’re

shooting for a culture shift, it’s going to be hard work, and walking through valleys — it’s all pushed forward by relationship.”

The mission of Chapel Movement is one marked by strategy in both the grand vision and the small details. When we focus on expanding our problems past our immediate circumstances and focus on kingdom concerns, there is freedom. When we dream with God and take real action in our communities, success is no longer an indicator of faithfulness, we can embrace the humble character of Christ, and lives are transformed through the day-by-day revelation of God’s love through us.

Conor Sweetman Toronto/Vancouver Craig Murphy @Craig.murph

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Learning to Pray From Charlotte Words by Elise Croft

I remember my first lesson on prayer clearly: I can hear her joyful laugh before I even see her. Her words are clear truth, ever illuminated against the noisiness of life. I know Charlotte began praying for me the moment I first walked through the doors of the youth group, a completely giddy and hopelessly awkward 15-year-old kid with no knowledge of church or God. Faithfully, she prayed for me as I took my first shaky steps as a follower of Jesus. She

is strangely accompanied by an overwhelming sense of assurance and all-consuming passion.

It’s been about a year since my former youth leader began to transition out of her role, and I began to transition into it — this process has awakened all of these emotions.

Sometimes I like to imagine that as Joshua mourned the loss of Moses, taking on the burden of leading the stiff-necked yet dependent Israelites into a new land, he might have been gripped by similar feelings.

I read Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6-7, reminding me not to worry about anything and instead to pray about everything.

He says it’s after the praying that I will experience the peace. I know this powerful peace. It’s the kind that only comes from God. Prayer is something God has slowly and patiently been teaching me over time, something that often feels unnatural and unfamiliar to me.

like “You’re unqualified,” “You have to be perfect,” and “You’re not prepared for this.”

They become the playlist to your life — before you know it, you’re singing along to the lyrics.

I know Charlotte’s fighting for me, through prayer, as I face these lies head-on. That thought alone gives me a huge amount of peace. But even more than praying for me, Charlotte has taught me to make my life a constant, never-ceasing cry to God that rises above the lies and insecurities, straight the heart of the Father.

Transition is not easy. The thought of someone I deeply admire stepping away from the role I’ve always known her in makes me nostalgic. I feel the burden of inadequacy as I try to stretch my feet to fill shoes that are way too big for me. But the peace I have surpasses all of this. There’s a hope and a vision for this new generation, and I can’t wait to march in and claim it with them.

Prayer is something God has slowly and patiently been teaching me over time, something that often feels unnatural and unfamiliar to me.

prayed me through some of the hardest moments in my life. For Charlotte, prayer isn’t just something she does, it’s part of who she is. Her whole life is a prayer.

The feeling of being completely inadequate yet unmistakably called is one of the most unique sensations I have ever felt. It’s a suffocating, crushing, choking feeling that

It’s now more than ever that I crave Charlotte’s prayers. It’s incredible just how much the role of leadership seems to reach into the depths of your soul and rip out your biggest insecurities, holding them up in a crumpled mess for the world to see.

The truth is, it doesn’t just reveal the real unresolved heart issues, it brings lies

Elise Croft Scarborough, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?” - G.K. Chesterton Milada Vigerova

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Surviving University as a Christian Words by Abigail Morgan

Will my relationship with Jesus survive university? This is a daunting question many of us face over the course of several months and even years.

As a second year university survivor, I have proof the enemy loves university. Young people can be very vulnerable to peer pressure, and our enemy feeds off of this.

Let’s be honest, 90% of the conversations around campus are about the party that’s going to happen on the weekend. If I’m even more honest, most of us don’t want to be known as the Jesus Freak as we try to make friends with all these new people. I sure didn’t.

I remember being so nervous going into my first year of university. Not only was I entering a completely new phase of my life, but I was also desperate to maintain my relationship with Jesus. I knew the enemy would be seeking opportunities to trip me up, and that was terrifying.

Statistics were not in my favour — the amount of young people who walk away from their faith as they transition to university is astonishing.

Often the world can look more appealing than God because the things of the flesh are popular. I am here to tell you the pattern of this world actually sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I do have lots of fun, but you can’t tell me that getting drunk, having meaningless sexual relations, and constantly worrying about your outward appearance is what God wanted for us when He created this earth.

There is only one good and perfect thing.

Remember to look for guidance from our all-knowing Father when you feel the world is pulling you. He has the aerial view of our lives, He knows what we need, and He knows what’s going on. Just seek, trust, and ask Him.

I want to put this into perspective. When you’re looking at the aerial view of the Earth from an airplane, I’m not here to only bring the bad it looks incredible, news. I’d like to encourage my God has the aerial almost fake. Everything fellow students. Christians are not seems to be in perfect that different from non-believers. view of our lives, He lines, the roads look We go through the same hardships knows what we need, and temptations, the only straight as a pin, the farmlands look perfectly and He knows what’s difference is we have Jesus. We’re cut out and the water still humans, we can still relate to going on.

Just seek, is as calm as could be. our peers. trust, and ask Him. It’s funny, because we But we have a heavenly Father know as soon as we hit who is covering us with His love. the ground, we will be He is protecting us in all our life’s entering a chaotic world with crazy people, endeavours and most importantly He is bumpy roads, blurry lines, and rough water. giving us eternal life. Our up-and-down Life is kind of like this right? There will happiness takes second place to the steady be things and people we feel envious of joy He gives. because they look prefect from afar. But So to answer the question Will my relationwhen we finally get to know that person or ship with Jesus survive university? – well, try that substance, it won’t be as perfect as that’s up to us and how we cooperate with we once thought.

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God. I encourage you to pray throughout your time at school. Ask God to cover you with His love, protection, and for Him to give you the words to say in your hard times. Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Remember His promise to us, and remember His love is greater than anything of this world. Don’t settle for temporary happiness, you’re a child of the one true King! Celebrate the rich joy that only comes from Him. “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Abigail Morgan Grand Bay Westfield, NB A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “Its okay to live a life that others don’t understand” Faustin Tuyambaze

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Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates Words by Candace Maxymowich “My momma always said, life was ‘like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’” This is one of the most memorable quotes from the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. It was a mother’s loving way of explaining to a child that life – like choosing a chocolate from a box – is uncertain. It has its ups and downs, and comes with its fair share of disappointments.

Life is like a box of chocolates, loaded with surprises, some delightful and some downright disagreeable. Sometimes what you pick from the box is the treat you have been wishing for – like a fudgy brownie or a chocolate ball with a sweet, gooey filling.

Other times we get something that doesn’t suit us.

The yummy ones, of course, are easy to swallow, but the yucky ones are sometimes hard to stomach.

Those yucky ones, however, determine our depth of character. It’s the bad times that test our faith and cause us to mature as we learn to rely on God through everything we endure.

Sometimes when the going gets tough, we literally open a box of chocolates looking for comfort. In fact, it’s not uncommon to turn to addictive things such as food, alcohol, drugs, shopping – anything to dull the pain we feel inside.

Sometimes we forget to rely on the Spirit of God, who is living in us, to get us through the distasteful portions of our lives.

It’s the time of year where sugary concoctions tempt us to the point of losing our self-control. Many of us see it as a green light to overindulge. Self-control is not popular. Perhaps you may never see a movie where the story focuses on a character especially concerned with self-control — it is anticlimactic and boring. the festive

“With all merriment and tempting treats, our self-control and sense of fullness tend to get thrown out the window.”

The world wants us to grab all the gusto we can, go for that brass ring regardless of the consequences or who we step on to get it. We are not encouraged to take responsibility for our actions. With all the festive merriment and tempting treats, our self-control and sense of fullness tend to get thrown out the window.

But when you’re given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down at once. Christ is calling us

by His example and Word to seek eternal things that last — not to get overly wrapped up in fleeting pleasures.

As we enjoy His earthly gifts, including food, let’s remember to thank Him and ask Him to help us put them into proper perspective for the good of our physical and spiritual health.

Candace Maxymowich Winnipeg, MB A phrase that has encouraged your faith? Just as God supplied manna each morning for the Israelites in the desert, He will supply for you.

Jennifer Pallian

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Respond in Love Words by Adam Morton

It’s easy to love.

Love isn’t supposed to make sense, really.

Well, it’s easy to love someone who’s kind and compassionate. You see the goodness in them and admire their character. They treat others with respect, so it’s natural to want to treat them the same way.

Yes, you can show love when it’s obvious to do so, but living a life of love requires exhibiting compassion and care when that is the exact opposite of how we would naturally react.

But what about people who are full of hate?

Is it easy to love them when all they do is treat you with contempt? Surely they deserve to receive the same disrespect they so recklessly throw at the kind-hearted and gentle.

Did someone shove you out of the way because they were in a rush? Was someone spreading rumours about you? Have you ever had something stolen from you?

Yet that’s not how we’re called to live as Christians. Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28, ESV). Love is not meant to be limited to people we like.

In fact, Jesus proceeds to challenge us by saying, If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount (6:32-34).

It’s nothing special to be kind to those who are kind to you. It’s nothing special to boast of how generous you were in lending money to a friend if you expect to receive every penny back. Instead, we are to “love [our] enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return” (6:35), especially when it’s difficult to do so.

Don’t return these acts of hate with a hateful heart. React in love. Be patient with those who hurt you, because they don’t know how to do deal with their own pain.

Be kind to the hurtful, that their hardened hearts may soften.

God has not called us to pick and choose those we love. He has called us to live as Jesus did, loving those who do not love us back. It won’t always be easy, but the joy we receive from the Lord will far outweigh the pain we feel at this moment.

“Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 31:23-24).

Adam Morton Toronto, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” - Luke 5:31 Jez Timms

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Rush Hour, Microwaves, and Faithfulness

Words by Jessica Bayus Patience — don’t we just love this word?

Let’s be real, it drives me crazy!

You would think that since I grew up on a farm, I would be well acquainted with the concept of patience — waiting for the crops to grow, being content with the soft sounds of the crickets instead of chasing the loud sounds of the city. You would think I learned the art of waiting.

But as this country girl hit the roads of the big city, I had to find ways to keep myself calm in the bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Believe me, many times I dream to have the superpower that lets me magically zoom through all the cars and appear at the front of the line.

If you had a superpower, what would it be? My answer this year has been teleportation. Don’t even get me started on waiting for the bus!

Cheesy or beautiful? Maybe a bit of both (I can hear the girls swooning). But this is real stuff — imagine being married to someone else against your will and having to wait seven years before you could truly be with your true love! Yes, as 1 Corinthians 13 says, “Love is patient.”

So often instead we have the “microwave mentality” which says, “I want it now. It’s time!”

But what about God’s time? Psalm 145:13 declares, “God is faithful to all his promises

Wow! Every promise God has made is going to come true. He always loves us.

When we start to feel impatient about His promises seeming incomplete or when need reassurance of His love, we can go back to those realities.

How? We get to know more about His incredible faithfulness by reading the Bible.

“Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). He’s waiting to speak with you, and we would love to listen in!

Start the discussion at: belovedtoday247. blogspot.com

“Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know”

A great story about waiting is Jacob’s story in Genesis 29. Jacob was in love with this girl named Rachel. But at that time, it was custom for the firstborn to be first-married, so Jacob was forced to marry the older sister, Leah! He had to wait seven years before he could marry Rachel!

During those seven years, he worked for his scheming father-in-law (awkward). But 24 | LOVEISMOVING.CA

look at what Genesis 29:30 says: “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”

and loving toward all He has made.” Faithful — now, that’s a word we love, but do we truly understand it?

God is a portrait of complete and absolute faithfulness and love. We can trust Him because of who He is. Revelation 19:11 reveals Him as the One whose name is Faithful and True.

Jessica Bayus Winnipeg, MB A phrase that has encouraged your faith? Here are three: 1. Don’t tell God how big Your mountains are, tell your mountains how big our God is. 2. It’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning how to dance in the rain. 3. It’s not about who you are, but about whose you are.

Gerrie Van Der Walt

A Life Unwasted Words by David Busittil

On my branch I see A loving patient piece of joyful fruit Good as God Kind as his care Its sweetness is gentle peace I tell myself how to act and am able to listen to my words This abundance does not drop before its time Nor give up in harvest Or when ground is hardest Somehow This fruit of yours is growing from my palmed out branches Making it look like this impossible perfection came from me  There are two things wine wood is good for: Growing grapes And kindling Call me kindling But you refused Used the dead wood for good Picked a piece of your fruit from me And let me taste the sweetness Of a life unwastedÂ

David Busittil Hornby, ON

Dorelys Smits

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the most courageous, most loving things you can do or be? When you love people, you give them pieces of yourself – it’s impossible not to. You have to let them close enough to really, truly see you, and that is risky, terrifying. But it’s worth it.

There’s something beautifully raw about splintering in front of someone.

Think about Jesus. Talk about being vulnerable for love’s sake. Helpless, defenseless, powerless, impotent, weak, susceptible – these are not the words that usually come to mind when I think about Jesus. And yet, when He was spread out for us on the cross, He was weak. He was dying – He did die. He didn’t just give a piece of himself – He gave us everything. He offered his heart, blood, and body. He did all this knowing some of us will never accept or choose Him.

“

To love at all is to be vulnerable.

What does that mean for us, though? How can we be vulnerable for love’s sake? I think it’s in being honest about our faults and shortcomings. It’s in coming clean about our pasts and our struggles.

It’s in asking the hard questions.

It’s in putting our pride aside when we’re in the wrong and apologizing.

It’s in confessing our sins to one another.

It’s in loving each other without expecting anything in return, without judging each other or putting one another down.

Speak, said the Lord. Tell them.

Confide in them.

Courageously Vulnerable Words by Carly Ververs When I came into the living room, she was crying – her eyes red, her cheeks wet. We hadn’t started our house “devo time” yet, so I didn’t know why she was crying. “I was everybody’s go-to person this summer,” she said, “the person they’d come to vent to, to get advice from, to get love from. But I didn’t have anybody to go to.”

She cried her way through her story, confessing some sins and sharing some hurts along the way. She splintered open on the couch, and we loved her through it, loved her for it.

After my friend splintered, I went into the bathroom, my eyes burning as I stared 26 | LOVEISMOVING.CA

at the tiled floor. I felt like I was splitting open as well, spilling anger and sadness and grief, but I tried to shove the emotions back inside, bury them deep, forget they were there.

Speak, said the Lord. Tell them. Confide in them.

No, no, no. Don’t make me do that. I splashed cold water on my face, took a deep breath, and walked back out. I didn’t say anything.

Why? Because I didn’t want to be messy, broken, weak.

C.S. Lewis says that “to love at all is to be vulnerable.” Most people (myself included) hate that word – vulnerability. It feels helpless, defenseless, weak, and who wants to be weak?

What if being vulnerable isn’t weak, though? What if being vulnerable is one of

It’s in loving freely, deeply and relentlessly.

It’s in risking our hearts. It’s in standing up for other people, for what we believe in. It’s in standing before God, recognizing that we are weak, but He is strong. It’s in going after the wandering sheep. It’s in telling people about the faith we have, the gift of eternal life we have received. It’s in obeying the Spirit. It’s in being the hands and feet of God, doing what He tells you, going where He leads you.

Maybe it’s an oxymoron – courageously vulnerable – but that’s what I want to be.

Risking my heart, seeing people’s hearts and letting them see mine, being vulnerable for love’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Carly Ververs Wasaga Beach, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? “Courage, dear heart.” - Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis) John Mark Kuznietsov

You Can Dance in the Rain Wordsy by Sarah Evangeline “Do not be anxious about anything but in prayer and petition, present your requests to God. For the peace of God will guard your heart and mind” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Reading it is easy. Living and believing that truth is the hard part.

To the girl who is ruled by doubt and worry… This one is for you.

Worry and doubt do not come from God. Instead, He wants us to be filled with HOPE, FAITH, LOVE and excitement to live life!

Yet, this world is far from perfect, and with one little touch of rain, we can slip spiralling out of control.

Maybe you are stressed about getting into the “right” university, maybe you put too much pressure on yourself to be “better”.

Maybe you are worn out from the weight of this world, or maybe you just don’t know how you are going to pay all the bills this month.

Whatever it is, you are not alone.

Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for GOOD and not for harm, to give you a future of HOPE.” Yet, it is in verse 12 and 13 where we find the underlying key: “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me… I will end your captivity and restore you.”

Allow God to break

There is a two-fold truth here. You and I must remember that there is hope for tomorrow because God holds our future.

However, we must also continue to search and look for Him wholeheartedly.

because we know God’s ways are best and true. We believe that God will calm the storm.

Our hearts are vulnerable; our hearts want to worship something — if it is not God, it is something of the world. We must dethrone the world and replace it with God’s truth and light.

You will start to see yourself through His eyes.

Instead of letting doubt and worry rule our mind, we pray, pray, pray. Instead of letting the father of lies dictate our thoughts, we fill our minds with truth from God’s Word.

Instead of surrounding ourselves with negative things, we sing songs of praise.

And we learn to dance in the rain, because you will get through the hard things. One twirl at a time.

Even through the worst of storms, you can choose joy, peace, patience, love and hope

apart the lies of doubt

Allow God to break apart the lies of doubt and worry. Allow God to steady your heart.

and worry.

Allow God to

‘Cause girl, you are a treasure. You are loved.

You are precious in His eyes.

steady your

Today, I choose to be the girl who is not ruled by worry and doubt.

heart.

I choose to walk in His light.

I choose to run wild.

I choose to love free.

I choose to dance in the rain.

Will you join me?

Sarah Evangeline Chatham, ON A phrase that has encouraged your faith? Our God can make what seems impossible to man, possible with Him. Ian Espinosa

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He is Our Peace Words by Lucas Perry

I often ponder how I could better exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit in my life. The tendency to consider my ability in the matter reflects an overarching tendency to misunderstand the nature of these nine attributes. We can easily assume that each fruit of the spirit is an accolade to be achieved when, more properly, they are products of the inner presence of Christ in our lives.

As I attempt to exhibit these characteristics, I realize they exist in strong contradiction to the tendencies and desires of the flesh. This, of course, shouldn’t come as a surprise. Scripture clearly articulates the contrasting natures of the Spirit and the flesh. And so, my constant struggle to display these virtues is most likely typical.

But is it proper?

Struggling to display the fruit of the Spirit implies a positive concern to live the way that scripture intends. But if I constantly feel the weight of such a standard; if I constantly feel unable to do what is expected of me, it would seem that I am attempting to overcome my natural tendencies by my own power. Simply put, I am trying to overcome the flesh by the power of the flesh.

Let’s consider peace as a fruit of the Spirit. I assume we all have a general understanding of what peace is, or what peace looks like.

We might say that peace is the absence of violence, or a calm, quiet atmosphere. Thus, we could likely attempt to exhibit a level of peace by our own power.

This past summer I became a Youth Pastor.

Within my first week I was called to the hospital to visit a young girl who had been battling anxiety for several months.

As I entered the hospital room, I became increasingly aware of my own inability to offer what she was looking for. As a Pastor in his first week of ministry, I was highly inexperienced, and felt highly unequipped to deal with such a situation. If it had been necessary to create an atmosphere of peace by my own power, I’m sure I would’ve failed miserably.

the familiar words: “As peace like a river attendeth my way.”

The peace she needed, and the peace we all need, is not something that we can manufacture — it’s the result of our efforts to orient ourselves towards Christ, and receive the power of His presence; the power of His Spirit.

This is the same for every fruit of the Spirit.

They are planted within the presence of Christ, and produced as we continue to seek him.

In a world where violence reigns around us, and where the need for internal peace of mind seems to be increasing exponentially, I am so glad that there is a source of peace that does not rely on my circumstance, or my own ability to create it. And that same source will provide the power necessary to live a “The peace she needed, life I have been called to.

Fortunately, the peace she was looking for was not the absence of violence. It wasn’t an external experience of calm or quietness.

What she needed most in that moment was for something, or someone, to tame the inner turmoil of her mind.

The only thing that I could provide that and the peace we all need, I am reminded of the day wasn’t rooted in is not something that we words of an old song my education, or my that simply and clearly practical ability as a can manufacture...” articulates the source of Pastor, because at this our every longing: “He is point I really had none. our peace, who has broken down every wall, What helped me in that situation wasn’t my ability exhibit a characteristic, but it was my He is our peace, HE is our peace.” freedom to express an inner reality in my life, and explain that the same inner reality can be found in hers as well.

This past Sunday I had the privilege of watching as the young girl I mentioned, walked to the altar for prayer. At the same time, the congregation had begun to sing

Lucas Perry Labrador City, NL A phrase that has encouraged your faith? You cannot do everything at once, but you can do something at once Daan Stevens

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God’s Beauty and an Eight-String Guitar An Interview with Zac Tiessen

On a street in Stoney Creek, Ont., a tree-lined boulevard separates the quiet ebb and flow of traffic. Sitting quietly back from view is a small red brick bungalow. At the side of the house, stairs lead you down to the basement studio where Zac Tiessen is changing the face of progressive music today.

Sitting in a comfortable newly painted burgundy studio, Zac is disarming and intense all at once. He sits in front of his mixing interface flanked by his framed music credentials and lamps that look like the light up tentacles of an octopus.

We start talking about how he was born in Moscow to missionary parents. Zac leans forward as he recalls the first five years of his life and how Russia still influences him today.

ZT: In Russia we went to circuses and ballets, and the interesting part is they use full symphony orchestras accompanying every single event we went to. So there was always a big art influence throughout that culture. It played quite a big role for my brother [painter, Josh Tiessen] and I, growing up there.”

LIM: Is that where music began for you, at age five?

ZT: Well, from a young age my parents nicknamed me the happy hummer, as I would always sing any song that I’d hear on the radio or background music on commercials. But it wasn’t until I was 13 that I picked it up.

LIM: What was the turning point? You just changed your mind about music?

ZT: My parents always wanted me to get into different instruments or to take voice lessons, but during homeschool, it was my least favourite subject. When I was 13, I got a concussion that changed my personality quite a bit. I used to be a more extroverted and active kid, not sticking to any one thing.

But at 13 I picked up the guitar and that became my first instrument.

LIM: Did having missionary parents influence you as a musician and a Christian?

ZT: Just to see their commitment to what they were doing over there. They are both more scholarly and were teachers. They had a real dedication to what they did, and they taught us from a young age to find your passion and to really go for what you believe. I think they gave us freedom at a young age to have that. It’s odd that my parents ended up with two sons in the arts as they are both scholars but they are very supportive.

As we continue to chat, the family dog Moe, a Boston terrier with a patchy white face, makes an entrance to chomp on his bone in the middle of the room. After Moe’s brief interjection and a laugh between us, it seems like a good time to shift deeper into our conversation.

LIM: How does God play a role in your music, as I wouldn’t classify it as typical Christian pop or worship music, it seems

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“...it’s about a beauty and complexity that is in and of itself truly a reflection of God’s intricate design of this world.” more contemporary than that. Do you agree?

ZT: To me, it’s about a beauty and complexity that is in and of itself truly a reflection of God’s intricate design of this world. For me, I get inspiration through different cultures, from different sights and sounds wherever I go. I feel that God is in that, and through my music I want to portray a positive image.

Even though some songs may be bright and cheery and others may be darker or moody, there is always a positive takeaway. It is instrumental music, but I want people to be uplifted by it.

LIM: Some of your pieces are very large, sweeping landscapes. Do you have any interest in scoring films or expanding into pieces that include composing for more diverse instrumentation?

ZT: Already in my songs, I have implanted many different types of instruments and emulations of harps, like the [Japanese] Koto harp that I used in a song called “Tsu.” And another one called “Rarefaction” that is more of an orchestral etude. I actually have had a few opportunities with film and have been working toward projects of that sort in the past couple years. Although I just play the guitar, I can compose for a lot more than that. I can use brass, strings, woodwinds and piano thanks to the advancement of technology.

LIM: What has you really excited musically right now?

ZT: For me, the next step would be releasing my new album. It will be my third. The first being Courage and the second called Traverse. My upcoming CD will probably be out in the first half of 2018, and I hope to tour with it. I’ve played shows here and there, but I now have a band of friends that I know quite well. So, the next step would be to tour.

LIM: Where will you travel?

ZT: It’ll be a North American run, and we’ll see from there where it goes. Music is international and can take you anywhere in the world. I have fans writing me weekly from places where I’d never expect them to be listening to my music. It’s really neat that way. I’m just excited to see what happens with that.

LIM: Your music does seem to have a broad appeal. Why do you think that is?

ZT: There is so much inspiration to be found everywhere, not just looking here in the West. “Tsu” was inspired by Japan, and I have another inspired by the Sub Sahara with unique polyrhythms and scales that are very different from here. Being born somewhere else really brings the whole world aspect to my music. I want to choose a lot of different places to draw from because there is a lot that is unique to those regions.

LIM: You mentioned at one point that you’ve been producing as well. Can you tell me about that?

ZT: I just started doing that this past spring after Berklee finished.

Zac is referring to the Berklee College of Music where he received a celebrity scholarship. He is humble and doesn’t readily mention these accolades or that he has also received other scholarships to study with well-respected musicians in New York and Toronto. This travel to educate only added to his international approach to composing. Tiessen exudes admiration and excitement when he talks about his experience with Berklee and the doors it opened for him to connect and help other musicians.

ZT: People contact me from all over the world using the Net to mix or master songs for them. This year I’ve lost track, but I think somewhere between four to five hundred songs so far. It [Berklee] helped to give me a stamp of approval. People from over 30 different countries have contacted me, so it’s very international in that sense which is really cool.

LIM: How do you describe your music?

ZT: My music is a cross between jazz, ambient orchestral and metal. More in the sense of being melodic and not thrashy but it all comes under one umbrella called progressive. It’s highly harmonically advanced and rhythmically influenced by jazz but also very experimental as well.

Zac leans back in his chair holding an electric guitar he helped personally design. His hands are light on the fretboard, and the hints of his love for jazz are immediately apparent.

As he riffs in and out of melodies, the piece is complex but easy to listen to and to soothing.

At this moment it is easy to see God’s intricate design and the beauty that Zac is bringing to the world.

For more of Zac’s music visit www. zactiessen.com

Dagmar Morgan Toronto, ON

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Birthday Fruit More than Watermelon Words by A.A. Adourian Dzila loves planning for her birthday. If we’re honest, we must admit that we all share this excitement with her—the guest list, the food (her favourite fruit is watermelon), the presents, the cake… the fun!

This year, Dzila’s mom suggested, “Would you like to celebrate your birthday on the day of the 5K walk?”

When I asked Dzila why she agreed, she said, “It was the best plan because I can invite however many people I want to come to the party and the walk—teachers, friends, and others we know.”

Nutella, pretzels, black icing, and M&Ms for the eyes. Each kid made their own and ate it. Every single kid likes Nutella!”

Her family went to Lebanon on a short-term mission in July, and Dzila saw first-hand the living conditions of Syrian refugee families.

She was deeply impacted.

Kindness played with kids new to Canada Self-control gave to others Love ran with friends and walked with family, walked and ran, and kept going Peace rested after the race Patience waits for the next birthday

Her parents share how thankful she is that she is in a position to shine a light on the situation of refugees and to help them. Her mom adds that those currently living at Silas Hill also participated in the walk. She was encouraged when she noticed there were about four times as many people participating this year compared to the inaugural event last year.

The 5K participants will raise funds for Silas Hill (find out more: www.silashill.ca).

Did the family reach their target? Yes. In Dzila’s words, “Silas Hill is a temporary Dzila’s favourite part was running with her home for refugees. A refugee is someone friend. She says, “There was a lot of people that flees their country because of war or and it was fun.” persecution. I have been there [Silas Hill] and When we see the played with other kids Spirit in action, we are “When we see the there, and eaten with reminded about using them.” the gifts of the Spirit Spirit in action, we are for the common good Dzila will participate with reminded about using (1 Corinthians 12:7) her parents and brother, the gifts of the Spirit for because in this case: Aren. Their fundraising target is $2,000.

the common good...”

Dzila and her family volunteer with refugees both in Toronto and abroad. In Toronto, she shares, “We spent Family Day and Easter there. And we went there when it was Christmas and made reindeer out of bread,

Joy heard the unspoken need

Faithfulness knew the God-thing to do and took action Goodness delighted in what’s right

A.A. Adourian Scarborough, ON

Gentleness respected all

A phrase that has encouraged your faith? God is in control.

COMIC

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