SEVEN PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA
THE POWER OF PRAYER
AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN ELDREDGE
MEN / GOD / LIFE
A HUNGER FOR THINGS THAT ARE DEEPER . . .
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promisekeepers.ca/greater 2 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
CONTENTS
16
COLUMNS 6 // PK Podium Thankless Hours 8 // Lives Worth Leading Go Deep 30 // Sports Scene The Final Column
FEATURES 16 POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE For many men, prayer is a struggle. Finding the time, and more importantly, the desire to pray can often seem next to impossible. John Eldredge (author of Wild at Heart) has been there. Check out our exclusive interview on why prayer is so important to a healthy relationship with God.
32 // The Single Life Disciplined Hearts 33 // Out of My Depth Making Time?
DEPARTMENTS 20 SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES: THE BACKBONE OF FREEDOM
20
While “discipline” and “freedom” might seem like conflicting ideas, singer-songwriter Steve Bell thinks otherwise. While it’s certainly not easy, a disciplined spirituality is very often a vibrant spirituality, where we desire to draw closer to the One who calls us to follow Him.
10 // The Pulse Bits. Blips. Beats. Blurbs. 12 // Music Reviews A Revolution. A Surrender. A Breath of Life. 34 // Power Play Toys. Tools. Technology.
25 RHYTHM OF LIFE
25
We’re given a finite amount of time, and if you’re like most, chances are your schedule fills up fast. But in the midst of busyness, it’s important to carve out moments for drawing close with God. Read some of the ways these various professionals have done just that.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 3
ON THE COVER
SEVEN is a Christian magazine for Canadian men that exists to help men lead more fulfilling lives and leave enduring legacies.
A LIFE OF DISCIPLINE
Being a disciple isn’t easy. And the truth is, it never has been. Discipleship takes work and requires an actual relationship with Christ for it to be meaningful. This month, we explore the spiritual disciplines and seek to remind ourselves that following Jesus isn’t just about warm fuzzy feelings or finding a new cause—it’s also about growing in who we are in Christ.
The name reflects the seven promises that form the basis of the Promise Keepers organization, which works with churches to minister to men across Canada. 1 // A promise keeper is committed to honouring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Spirit. 2 // A promise keeper is committed to pursuing Christ-centred friendships with a few other men, connecting regularly, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises. 3 // A promise keeper is committed to practicing biblical integrity: spiritually, morally, ethically and sexually. 4 // A promise keeper is committed to strengthening families and marriages through love, honour, protection, and biblical values. 5 // A promise keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honouring and praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time and resources. 6 // A promise keeper is committed to reaching beyond racial, social, economic, generational, and denominational barriers to demonstrate that power of biblical unity. 7 // A promise keeper is committed to influencing the world by his fervent love for God while loving his neighbour, seeking justice for the poor and oppressed, and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Publisher PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
EDITORIAL
PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA
Editorial Director JEFF STEARNS
KIRK GILES
Questions and comments
Box 20099 RPO Brant Hills
Managing Editor ROB HORSLEY
Promise Keepers Canada
regarding editorial can be sent
Burlington, ON L7P 0A4
to rhorsley@promisekeepers.ca,
(905) 331-1830 info@promisekeepers.ca
ADVERTISING
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or mailed to Promise Keepers
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Promise Keepers Canada
Canada at the address provided.
rick@promisekeepers.ca 1-888-901-9700
MATT BREIMER
Postmaster, please send DESIGN
address changes to:
DEVON WAGENAAR
Box 20099 RPO Brant Hills,
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ISSN 1916-8403
Promise Keepers Canada
The PK Canada logo features a maple leaf, indicating our dedication to serve the men of Canada. An arrow breaks into the maple leaf symbolizing the impact we believe God wants to see Promise Keepers and men making in our nation. A special thank-you to all the pastors who continually encourage us to communicate God’s truth with grace and love.
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podcasts It’s now easier than ever to listen to the latest messages from Promise Keepers Canada! With just a few clicks, you can listen wherever you are. Get exclusive access to interviews and inspiring messages with:
Max Lucado John and Sam Eldredge Gary Thomas The Skit Guys Donald Miller and many others! promisekeepers.ca/podcasts
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 5
PK PODIUM
THANKLESS HOURS
CLOSENESS WITH GOD DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN BY KIRK GILES
I
admire Olympic athletes. Every time a Canadian stands on the podium, receives their medal, and listens to our national anthem played, I can’t help but be filled with a sense of happiness for this person and pride in our country. You will often see them have the look of victory combined with the relief of everything culminating in this moment. What is often lost in the glory of the Olympian, are the long and thankless hours of training that they put in to get themselves to this point. We celebrate the moment of victory, but fail to acknowledge the discipline required to get them to this point. The word discipline is not usually seen as a positive word. It feels negative— it feels boring. Yet, without discipline, the glory of the victory would not be possible. In the life of the Christian, there are two words that seem to either bore or scare many believers—spiritual disciplines. Yet, it is spiritual disciplines that will help us to be successful as believers. In John 15, Jesus commands us to “abide in Him” and tells us that we “can do nothing apart from Him.” Think about that: our ability to love others and make a difference in this world is impossible apart from Jesus. Our ability to do anything eternally positive is impossible apart from Jesus. So, why do we try to live without strengthening our relationship with Him? In our surveys with men, they will tell us that they believe they have a close and growing relationship with God. Yet, the same surveys tell us that men do not spend much time or energy reading their Bible or praying. How do you build a close relationship with someone, how do you “abide” if you don’t spend time with that person? Recently, the Canadian Bible Engagement Study revealed that only 14 per cent of professing Christians in Canada read the Bible at least once a week. Only 21 per cent of Christians in Canada reflect on the meaning of the Bible for their lives at least a few times a week. As men, we need to see spiritual disciplines not just as a “task” that needs to be accomplished, but rather as a relationship that needs to be cultivated. When we do our part in drawing closer to God, He does His part to help us be successful and productive as Christians. This is why we are committed to helping men build positive spiritual disciplines in their lives. The Men of Integrity devotional helps thousands of men every day to have an encounter with God’s Word. It is also our prayer that this edition of SEVEN will equip you to make sure spiritual disciplines are a core part of your life. We can do nothing apart from Jesus, but through Him, we can do all things.
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KIRK GILES is the president of Promise Keepers Canada. However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel.
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More than 50 chapters across Canada. Find them at www.ccbf.org MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 7
LIVES WORTH LEADING
GO DEEP
GROUND YOURSELF IN THAT WHICH GIVES LIFE BY COLIN MCCARTNEY
G
od can speak to us in very strange places. A while ago I was meeting a friend at Starbucks. I arrived fifteen minutes early and stopped into the bathroom knowing I was about to digest a few cups of “Grande.” While in the washroom I came across a quote that mesmerized me. It was a picture of a tree and beneath the tree was this quote; “The deeper the roots, the higher the reach.” What a great description of a leader, and there it was in the bathroom at Starbucks! If we are to lead well we must first take care of our roots— hidden practices that lie beneath the surface of our lives. These are spiritual disciplines that provide us strength to lead well from the inside out. We have seen this principle at work recently. Rob Ford came to power as a leader seeking to change the political landscape of Toronto only to end up being disgraced. Sadly, Rob Ford became a laughing stock and embarrassment to the city of Toronto on a global scale! Even while vacationing in Florida I had a waiter asked me where I was from. When I told him Toronto he actually sat down in my booth to talk to me about Rob Ford. Regrettably, he never got to hear what I heard a few months ago while listening to an interview with a humbled Rob Ford. He actually stated that his current struggle with cancer might have been a blessing in disguise, as it forced him to reevaluate his priorities. I admired his remorseful heart and I continue to
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pray for Mr. Ford and hope he can focus on his roots. No leader is perfect, hence the need to lay down deep roots. We must not judge one another based solely on our failures, but we can learn from our own shortcomings. The life of Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated every January in the United States as one who was a leader with a very “high reach.” A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of bringing a few young men from a tough innercity community on a road trip to Atlanta. It was a long fifteen-hour drive, but worth every kilometer. The highlight of our trip was visiting “Ebenezer Baptist Church”—the home church of Dr. King. We wandered through his church and visited Dr. King’s gravesite and museum. Dr. King had a lasting global impact not because of his oratory skill, organizational abilities or dogged pursuit for human dignity. All of these were great strengths. However, what made Dr. King a great leader was that he had “deep roots”. This rootedness was found in his spiritual life and was reinforced by Dr. King’s mentor—the Rev. Howard Thurman. Thurman was a godly man whose vision of leadership development is seen in this quote: “He (Thurman) asked me a question at lunch. He was a very, very intimate and very caring person. And at a very private moment, he asked me what I was going to do with my life. I later discovered this was what he asked everyone. I said, ‘Well, I’m thinking about
seminary. Beyond seminary, I’m thinking about ordained ministry. I’m thinking about maybe getting a Ph.D.’ I went on and on and on. And he said, ‘But what do you really want to do?’ I said, ‘I’d like to see the church really engaged in society, finding ways in which you change the world.’ He looked at me for a long time very, very intimately (his voice was so soft and reassuring; I hate to romanticize, but it was just so soothing), and he said, ‘Young man, all social issues are temporary and brief. Go deep.’ I hadn’t the slightest idea what he meant. All I knew was that the ground shifted for me.” — Walter Fluker, director of the Howard Thurman Papers Project, Morehouse College The deeper the roots, the higher the reach. May we all, in the words of Walter Fluker, be a generation of leaders who are spiritually disciplined, intellectually astute, and morally wise, because there is so much at stake in the years to come.
/ COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained minister, speaker, and a bestselling author. He is also the founder of UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, his wife Judith, and their two children reside. To learn more about Colin, go to www.connectministries.org.
THE PULSE
TAKE TWO ON
Starting Fresh
FROM THE EDITOR
BY ROB HORSLEY
EDITOR’S DESK / As I’m sure I’ve mentioned a time or two in the past, I happen to be a bit of a cynic. Try as I might to be optimistic about things like people, politics, and (oftentimes) church, it never ceases to Perhaps we amaze me just how far the reality can be from our best ought to be looking upward expectations sometimes. Still, I try to keep a good and outward, sense of humour about it all. at the God In our last issue, we talked who loves, about the comedic extent to which we sometimes fall lived, died and short of the goals of personal rose again for improvement we set for us—and how ourselves, with specific we can serve reference to New Year’s Him, here, now, resolutions. And with Easter coming early this year, we’ll until He comes be well into the Church season again. of Lent by the time you read this. While in years past Lent was perhaps seen as more of a mainline practice, in recent times evangelicals have jumped on the wagon too, pledging themselves to give something up in an effort to draw closer to God, often through sacrificing something commonplace within their lives. Before I get to the point I’m trying to make, let me be clear: I don’t doubt for a second that Lent can definitely be a time of significant growth and reflection for the individuals that choose to participate in it. You’ll find no argument from me to the contrary that for a good many people, this is indeed the case. But here’s where my cynicism rears its ugly head again; I sometimes wonder if one of the
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reasons Lent has seemingly seen such a resurgence among the evangelical types is because we’ve already fallen off the wagon of our New Year’s resolutions, and need a patchwork fix to get back on track to making ourselves feel better about ourselves. For example, how often has some version of the following statement been true for you? Those Christmas cookies not working themselves off as quickly as you thought they would? No worries, just give up chocolate for Lent. This is a trivial example, for sure. But I think if we’re being really honest with ourselves here, it’s far more commonplace than it ought to be. Let’s be real here: we as Christians are masters of co-opting the beauty of spiritual disciplines like Lent and making it into a cheap knockoff of what it’s supposed to be. Instead of focusing on God for support in times of suffering (a word I use extremely loosely when I consider some of the things people choose to give up), there’s a danger to make it all about us—giving up something for the sake of bettering ourselves. And with that, the focus on the season or the Christ that inspires it being a sometimes distant afterthought. Or worse yet, instead of a remembrance of the love and sacrifice of the God who suffered and died for us in very real ways, we make the ordeal into a self-help exercise that doesn’t really focus all that much on God as it does the personal goals for making ourselves happier. We rationalize it because know we could probably stand to drop a few pounds, or give up smoking, and we know we’re supposed to be giving something up
anyway…so why not kill two birds with one stone? Look, I’m not saying we need to mope around the whole time, although I think the season of Lent perhaps does carry a degree of solemnity by its very nature. But while the process of coming to grips with the Good News of the gospel is indeed a joyous and life-changing thing, the new life we receive through Christ is not just about what happens inside of us. It’s not all about the warm fuzzies we feel and the reality that we are better for knowing Him. That can and does happen, but it’s only half the picture. I would argue that practices of spiritual discipline, while indeed containing some beneficial by-products for its participants, are more about understanding the servant nature of how we’re meant to live as disciples. Instead of looking downward and inward at how far we’ve come in our own aspirations and self-betterment, perhaps we ought to be looking upward and outward, at the God who loves, lived, died and rose again for us—and how we can serve Him, here, now, until He comes again. Maybe we’re not supposed to give up something for us. Maybe, just maybe…we’re meant to giving up something in a humble attempt to grasp all that’s been given to us. And sometimes…it’s not fun. There’s often no gold sticker, no pat on the back, no kudos on a job well done. I think that’s what makes it an act of discipline—we carry on with it, even when the glamour isn’t there. So I guess all of that is to say…I hope, that as we dig a little deeper into what it means to be men of solid spiritual discipline, to give of our time, energy, and effort…I hope that we’ve chosen to think a little more seriously than how much we want that Kit Kat bar. As always, thanks for reading, fellas. / RH
ON POINT BIBLE GATEWAY REVEALS MOST-COMMONLY SEARCHED PASSAGES OF 2015 THE INTERNET / In a recent report from BibleGateway.com, and aggregated through Christianity Today, the aforementioned, popular Bible-reading website recently revealed their most-searched passages of last year—and the results may intrigue you. While verses like John 3:16, Jeremiah 29:11, and Psalm 23 were perhaps predictably among the most widely read, the report also reveals that verses with specific keywords experienced a spike after particular events and happenings. For instance, verses containing the terms “Sodom and Gomorrah,” and “homosexuality” saw a vast increase in searches after the United States Supreme Court passed its decision to legalize samesex marriage in June. (Oddly, so did the word “rainbow,” CT reports.) This past September saw an increase in searches for “blood moon” in anticipation of the total lunar eclipse, as another example. But perhaps most interestingly, and flying in the face of popular cynicism (including that of at least one men’s magazine editor),
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 11
the website also revealed that a “strong core” of online Bible readers managed to make it all the way through their ‘Bible-in-ayear’ reading plans. Another interesting trend is that of the nature of verses searched in 2015. Data reveals that a strong trend of inspirationaltype verses being searched by users. And while that’s neither a bad thing, nor a surprising one, it leads author Andy Rau (the author of the article, and content manager at BibleGateway.com) to at least one personal conclusion. “…Reading through them, I can’t help but notice that while these verses certainly reflect what most of us want to get out of God’s Word, they’re not thematically representative of the entirety of the Bible.” He adds, “We don’t necessarily want to convince you to switch your favourite Bible quote from John 3:16 to a downbeat verse from Lamentations. But there is value— and theological significance—in venturing outside those familiar, comfortable verses and into the less popular corners of Scripture. In 2016, try searching out the justice-obsessed sermons of those neglected Old Testament prophets.” (BibleGateway.com, Christianity Today)
NORTH KOREA NAMED TOUGHEST PLACE TO BE A CHRISTIAN THE INTERNET / Many have complained about secular culture making it tough to be a Christian in the western world. College campuses and city hall holiday sites are often listed as key examples. Some have gone as far as to label their discomfort as persecution. But if you think that’s the case… buckle up. Open Doors International recently released its World Watch List of the Top 50 countries where Christians face severe persecution. Not surprisingly, western representation on the list was sparse, to say the least.
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Of the 50 nations included, only two were located in the western hemisphere: Mexico (40) and Columbia (46), though it’s worth noting that in those two countries, Christians are still among the vast majority of the total populace. North Korea tops the list as the country with the most severe persecution of Christians, for the 14th consecutive year, according to Open Doors’ website. Christianity is looked down upon as “opium for the people” (a sentiment the website describes as “normal for all communist states”), but also “deeply Western and despicable.” Open Doors estimates that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are currently suffering from torture in labour camps across the country. Iraq, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and Syria rounded out the top five, respectively. The list also indicates that while African nations now outnumber Middle Eastern nations in terms of numbers, Middle Eastern persecution of Christians is still, on average, more severe. Open Doors notes several factors in how it determines the severity of a particular country’s Christian persecution: • Proportion of the types of Christianity persecuted • Proportion of the inhabited area affected • Intensity of persecution • Frequency of persecution It is important to remember that there is no one reason for persecution across the board—each country has a different set of circumstances, and in cases like the aforementioned Mexico and Columbia, the situation may be more complex. Open Doors lists background prayer points for each country, if readers would like to learn more. (OpenDoorsUSA.org)
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MARCH MARCH / APRIL / APRIL 2015 2016 SEVEN 13
MUSIC REVIEWS
BY STEVEN SUKKAU
SURRENDER
BREATHE AGAIN
ONE LOVE REVOLUTION
KUTLESS (BEC Recordings)
SPOKEN (Artery Recordings)
PILL AR (Digitally Sound Records)
FOR THE past decade Kutless has bounced between genres, from alternative rock to contemporary worship music to soft rock. Longtime fans may be pleased, however, to hear their new album, Surrender, harken back to Kutless’ earlier work in the post-grunge sound that rocketed them into the spotlight in the early 2000s. Stand-out track “Tear It Up” would be just as at home on 2004 album Sea of Faces as it is on Surrender thanks to its heavily distorted guitars and lead singer Jon Sumrall’s ferocious vocals that alternate between subdued whispered verses and a roaring chorus. The new album also reflects the journey the band has taken since its debut in 2002, featuring a sampling of their different flavours, including the band’s foray into worship music. Surrender includes a cover of popular worship staple, “One Thing Remains.” Despite their rock roots, the band’s jump into worship songs fits well with their passionate lyrics, words that have never shied away from speaking of their faith and love for Christ. Kutless is one of those few bands that can tackle almost any genre, and whether it’s with distorted guitars or gentle piano, you know it’s a heartfelt offering of praise.
IT’S NOT often a group of musicians will keep producing records for 20 years, but hard rock band Spoken has shown they have the longevity and the desire to breathe new life into their work. Following a six-year hiatus after parting ways with Tooth and Nail Records in 2007, Spoken turned to Kickstarter for 2013’s Illusion. Now, for their eighth studio album Spoken has turned to fans once again to bring Breathe Again to life. “We still have a lot of gas left in the tank,” the band explained during the campaign. Their energetic, heavy guitars, bleeding fast drums and soaring, and sometimes melodically screaming vocals prove that to be true. Thematically, the new album also reflects a desire for spiritual renewal. On “Nothing Without You” Matt Baird sings, “I’m begging you to hear me screaming out to you, So here I am, Tired and alone I can’t fight this on my own, I’m nothing without you.” While not every song is overtly Christian, the band says their mission has remained the same for the past two decades: to use music as a way to share the love and grace of Jesus with the world, and with Breathe Again, it’s easy to see how they have achieved that goal.
PILLAR’S SEVENTH album One Love Revolution is everything fans will remember loving about Pillar when first introduced to the band with 2003’s Fireproof. The finger shredding riffs, the heavy thrumming guitars, the hopeful and defiant message…you can’t help but listen and feel the fire of revolution. “Nails” hits it on the head, conveying the gritty necessity of Christ’s call to die to oneself, “everyday I put another nail… in my coffin, cause I’m the one swinging.” Likewise, “We Ride” will get the blood rising as it brings together imagery of Christ’s return and our coreign with Him. “When it all goes down and the mayhem’s all around, we will fight together, together we will ride.” One Love Revolution, once again, reframes Christian truths with the intensity they deserve, blowing off the dust that can sometimes settle on Biblical imagery that has settled after years of sitting in a pew, and reminding us all of the epic nature of the life we’re called to live. It’s perfectly summed up in “Lion Leads The Way,” “You’ve given me life, you’ve given me strength for all the enemies I face. I’m not backing down, I’m standing my ground, the Lion leads the way.”
/ STEVEN SUKKAU works for Golden West Radio and resides in Winkler, Manitoba.
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There’s more. You know that must be true, especially if you follow Jesus Christ. More than the ‘same old, same old.’ More than Sunday sermons. More than truck payments. Even more than sports! There’s more to this world and this life than the media will ever tell you, secondhand. Maybe you need to man up and find out for yourself—find out the truth of God’s mission, your place in it and, in doing so, find yourself. But where to begin?
Talk with us to find your fit in mission. We’re over 3,000 who demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel in more than 110 countries. We know there’s more.
Contact us @ 1 877 487 7777 info.ca@om.org www.om.org
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 15
FEATURE
DISCOVERING A WHOLE NEW WORLD IN PRAYER Q & A WITH JOHN ELDREDGE Prayer is foundational to the Christian faith, but it’s also something many believers struggle to understand. Beyond a shopping list of wants and needs, prayer becomes a mystical communion between God and man; Creator and creation interacting together. Scripture is full of stories where God responded to prayer in miraculous ways. Yet Christians often hold their prayers in reserve until a crisis hits. Most Christians agree they need to spend more time in prayer, but like New Year’s resolutions, the resolve is quickly forgotten. Prayer is an art form and it takes time to learn. But it doesn’t have to be a hard slog. With the right context, prayer can actually be fun and life transforming. This issue, SEVEN sat down with John Eldredge, author of the popular book Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul, for an interview on what prayer is, why we struggle with it, and how we can take practical steps towards improving its placement in our lives.
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SEVEN: A LOT OF STUDIES THESE DAYS SHOW THAT MORE WOMEN ARE ENGAGED IN CHURCH LIFE THAN MEN. DO YOU BELIEVE THE SAME IS TRUE ABOUT PRAYER? John Eldredge: I think it’s true. If there’s one thing a man hates more than anything else, it’s feeling powerless. If you make a man feel powerless, he’s gone. Honestly, I think that’s part of the enemy’s ploy, to make us feel that our prayers don’t work so we give up. I run into so many really good folks who have given up on prayer. Most people don’t say, “Prayer doesn’t work.” They say, “My prayers don’t work.” They gave it a go and it didn’t seem to do much so they don’t pray with hope, if they pray at all. The surprising thing is that prayer is something you learn. I don’t think people often look at it like that. They think prayer either works or it doesn’t, but the disciples said to Jesus, “teach us to pray.” Most men haven’t had anyone teach them how to pray, so they feel like idiots.
You need a mentor in this like you do with a sport or an instrument. It’s something we grow into and get better at. Prayer is such a beautiful gift from God. James tells us the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Think of how differently you would pray if you went into it thinking, “I’m powerful at this.” WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU’VE FACED WITH PRAYER AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM? My wife was injured two months ago at the gym. She was in so much pain she could barely walk. It’s really discouraging, because I’ve been praying about it every day, but it doesn’t seem to help. All that stuff starts rushing in and I feel like, “why bother?” Guys aren’t going to stay at something they feel like they are bad at. So here is a really practical help in prayer: What are you looking at? Typically we look at the crisis, but
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THAT’S BEEN MY STRUGGLE THROUGH THESE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. I’VE FELT DISCOURAGED. BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP REALIZING IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE CRISIS.
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that’s the last place you should look when you pray. It’s very discouraging and it doesn’t build your faith. When you turn your attention to what is true about God, that He cares and He does answer prayer, you’d be surprised how quickly your faith comes back. That’s been my struggle through these last couple months. I’ve felt discouraged. But you have to keep realizing it’s because you’re looking at the crisis. I love the ocean because it reminds me how vast and powerful God is. So this morning, I thought about the ocean and let it remind me that God is powerful and He is good. It builds me up, so I’m not quitting. THERE ARE A LOT OF IDEAS IN THE CHURCH ABOUT WHY AND HOW WE SHOULD PRAY. SOMETIMES THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT PRAYER IS ABOUT. SO WHAT IS PRAYER SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE? Scripture shows us two different kinds of prayer. There are prayers of intimacy, like the psalms. Those are the cry of your heart, so you don’t need someone to teach you how to do that. Those are prayers about drawing close to God or pouring your heart out to Him. The other kind of prayer Scripture illustrates is the prayer of intervention. These prayers change the outcome of events. It’s like Elijah ending a threeyear drought or like in Acts 12, where the praying Church basically gets Peter out of prison. When you confuse the two kinds of prayer, it seems gross to talk about results. That’s true of the prayer of intimacy, but Scripture says prayer is supposed to change things. With prayers of intervention, results are important. I pray very differently in those circumstances. The prayer of intimacy is affection and giving your heart to God. That’s very precious and beautiful, but it’s very different to intervene in prayer for a marriage or a prodigal or for the things going on in the world.
HOW DO YOU PRAY PRAYERS OF INTERVENTION? I love the story where Elijah prays to end the drought because he sticks at it for longer than most of us would. I think most of us shoot up a few quick prayers and when we don’t see anything happen we give up. When Elijah prays on the mountain, he sticks at it. He sends his servant to look and his servant comes back and says there’s nothing happening. Elijah goes right back at it and doesn’t give up. There’s a tenacity to it. When you look at Acts 12, where the Church was praying to free Peter, it says the Church was praying very earnestly. The Greek word is “strenuously.” This is passionate prayer. It’s fervent prayer. It’s not a quick little, “Jesus, change this,” and then you quit. They were literally praying for him all night. So, when I’m praying to intervene in a situation, I settle myself into the idea that this may take a while. You have to calibrate your expectations. Another really cool part of this is in the story with Elijah. God told Elijah He was going to end the drought before he prayed. So Elijah was praying in partnership with God. Prayer is not just asking God to do something and then waiting to see if He will do it. You’re invoking the Kingdom, believing that you and God are partners, bringing redemption into the situation. Praying scriptures into it, sticking with it, persevering—that’s what the prayer of intervention looks like. PRAYER IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT MOST CHRISTIANS FEEL THEY SHOULD BE DOING MORE, BUT IT’S EASILY SIDELINED WITH BUSY SCHEDULES. WHAT PRACTICAL TIPS CAN YOU OFFER TO HELP MEN CULTIVATE LIFESTYLES OF PRAYER? First, you have to get duty out of it. If prayer is a duty, that will kill it in a couple days. You have to have your heart in it. The second thing is you have to find some space. I realized that listening to
talk radio I was burning up so much time, so I decided to take back my car time. I know I have a 20 minute commute, so I use it and it’s a great prayer time. There are always reasons not to pray. You’re tired. You’re busy. You’re distracted. Pray anyway. If you get a couple experiences of seeing your prayers change things, you aren’t going to have problems finding time to pray. Motivation really becomes a non-issue when you enjoy the benefits. Here’s another thing I do. The single, most common prayer I pray is, “Jesus, come into this.” If I’m walking into a meeting, “come into this conversation,” or “come into this phone call.” You are welcoming Christ into the moment. That one simple invitation changes a lot. HOW DO YOU RESPOND WHEN PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED? This is so important that it’s the last chapter in my new book on prayer. You need to be very careful in how you interpret unanswered prayer. That’s where you run into a lot of feelings like, “I suck at this,” or “God doesn’t care.” Those feelings are damaging and they’re not true. It’s so easy to get discouraged and go into cynicism and resignation. Then you look for comfort, so you go to your addictions. Unanswered prayer can be heartbreaking, so the very first thing I do with unanswered prayer is pray, “Jesus catch my heart.” HOW HAS PRAYER IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? One of the practices of prayer that has become really precious to me is listening prayer; learning to hear the voice of God. Four times in John 10 it says, “My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me.” Scripture is filled with stories of God’s people listening to His voice. Learning to hear the voice of God is very normal to the Christian life, throughout the ages. I realize it has been lost to the Church in our age, but it’s something that’s worth recovering.
Learning the practice of listening prayers is the single thing that changed my life more than anything else. The offer is, “Listen and I’ll lead you.” I could tell you a thousand stories of the impact. During the teenage years, we had one son who was acting out. It was very hard. I didn’t want to pray, I wanted to voice my opinion. At one point, Jesus very clearly said to me, “You need to preserve communication with your son, so don’t say those things right now.” Praying into it completely changed the relationship. Looking back, I would have done damaging things had I gone with my impulse and not prayed instead. Another area I’ve seen impacted is this. I want to ask the guys reading this, “Do you pray for your physical intimacy with your wife?” You ought to. Pray as specifically as, “Holy Spirit I invite you into our sexuality. I pray for passion and interest and love.” If one of you is not particularly interested, pray for arousal. Pray that it would be really joyful for both of you. Get really specific with it. I can tell the difference when I’m praying for our intimacy or not. The fruit is worth it, so I pray about it. That’s a really rich part of marriage and a lot of couples struggle there. As you begin to invite the love of God and the Spirit of God into your intimacy and you enjoy the fruit of that, you’re going to become a prayer warrior.
MOVING MOUNTAINS For more from John Eldredge on prayer, check out Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion, Confidence, and Authority, new from Thomas Nelson publishing.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 19
FEATURE
THE BACKBON
DON’T TR
BY STEV
20 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
NE OF FREEDOM
RY—TRAIN
VE BELL
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 21
he spiritual disciplines are not magic. They are certainly no guarantee of life unsullied by suffering, error, or outright failure. This I know from experience. Neither are the disciplines a strategy to obtain brownie points from a stern God whose only joy is to suck the life out of everything that is fun to do. IThe spiritual disciplines, in themselves, have little value I suspect. But they are, I think, related to Paul’s confidence that, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5:1). And though we don’t normally assume a corollary between discipline and freedom, I hope to make the case that the two could hardly be more closely related. And to better understand my meaning, we only have to take this out of the realm of the spiritual and look for a similitude in the physical. I love Dallas Willard’s pithy paraphrase of 1 Timothy 4:7: “Don’t try—train.” We all know that if we would like our bodies to do something, or perform something in a manner that doesn’t come naturally, that a wiselymentored and disciplined habit of
22 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
practice can often get us there. No one has ever run a four-minute mile simply because they wanted to. It has never happened. Not once. But one doesn’t accomplish this remarkable feat by a singular practice either. In other words, one doesn’t pull off a four-minute mile simply by running a lot. There is a whole suite of disciplines and practices that come to bear if the goal is to be realized. There is proper diet, sleep, core and upper body strength training along with lower body training. There is study of the body and its processes, of breath, of strategy, of mind control. There is endurance training, foot care and proper attire. And there is rest. The practice of these things is no guarantee of success, but the dismissing of them is pretty much a guarantee that the desired goal will not likely be realized. The world I’m more familiar with experientially is the realm of music. As a singer/songwriter by vocation, I often put bands together for special tours. My go-to piano guy is a fellow named Mike Janzen. And he really is a wonder, both as a player and as a person. He’s the type of player who can easily lay back and play supportively and inconspicuously,
but if there is ever a time to kick it up and take an improvisational solo…oh my goodness! One almost expects the heavens to split, a dove to descend and a voice to proudly declare, “That’s my boy!” But I’ll let you in on a secret. Often, before concerts, when the rest of us are hanging out back stage, joking around and generally making merry… Mike will slip off and find a piano somewhere to run some scales and focus his mind. I’m not being falsely modest to say I’ll never play like him, I simply don’t have the aptitude. But at the same time, I don’t have the discipline either. That doesn’t mean I can’t make meaningful music, but it does mean my joyful participation in that level of freedom is as an observer. When I was a boy, I once asked my dad how you know what you should be when you grow up. “The better question,” he said, “is whom do you want to be when you grow up?” He paused to let that subtle shift sink in. Then he continued: “Pick someone you admire for who they are, meaning the kind of qualities they display. Find out what they did to develop those qualities, and as best as circumstances permit, commit yourself to them.”
My mind immediately settled on Jean Vanier, the modern day saint who founded the L’Arche communities around the world. He stayed at our house once while on a cross-Canada
soul-craft, which made him a man of radical freedom. So, what are the spiritual disciplines? There are various lists of course. Dallas Willard identifies
What makes a soaring eagle greater than it is (for its own sake) is that others can see it soar, a sight that causes their hearts to thrill. speaking tour, and even as a boy I found him to be a compelling curiosity. He dressed simply, he walked and gestured slowly, he spoke economically, and he had a quality of attunement and gaze that made you wonder what possible wonder he could be looking at when he looked at you. When I started to learn more about him I found him to be a man committed to simplicity, deep contemplative prayer and meditation on the life of Christ. He was a man renown for loving and practical acts of startling compassion for the world’s marginalized. In other words, the wonder of his personhood was no accident. He was a man dedicated to
two categories of practice: disciplines of abstinence, and disciplines of engagement. Under abstinence he lists: solitude, silence, fasting, Sabbath, secrecy (hiding your good deeds) and submission. Under engagement he lists: Scripture reading, worship, prayer, soul friendship, personal reflection and service. I’m experientially familiar with some of these more than others, and certainly I am master of none. But these are not a bad starting point, or filter, through which to consider the direction of one’s trajectory. Who do you want to be? Is there
someone whose life and witness so moves you that you are at least curious about his or her process? Is there someone whose countenance and candor are so winsome that you find yourself coming alive in his or her presence, or, in the presence of his or her story? It may well not be true that “you can’t get there from here,” as the naysayers love to say. And why should we bother with such an arduous ascent? Why? For the sake of the world, of course. Personal freedom is a desirable thing, but far too low of a goal. What makes a soaring eagle greater than it is (for its own sake) is that others can see it soar, a sight that causes their hearts to thrill.
/ STEVE BELL is a Winnipeg based singer/songwriter, blogger and conference speaker. Steve is the lead author of PilgrimYear, a unique multimedia experience through the seasons of “theological time”— Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Eastertide, and Ordinarytide, available now for download on mobile, web and tablets at pilgrimyear.com. Steve’s music can be found online at stevebell.com.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 23
Heritage
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
ISGOD CALLING
YOU?
DiscoverHeritage.ca
Take the next step in pursuing God with passion.
DiscoverHeritage.ca
1-800-465-1961
Cambridge • Toronto • Ottawa
24 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL (main2016 campus)
Heritage
COLLEGE & SEMINARY
FEATURE
RHYTHM OF LIFE HOW EVERYDAY PEOPLE FIND TIME FOR GOD PROFILES BY FRANK STIRK We lead busy lives, and finding the motivation to use our time for devotional purposes can be tough. Still, it’s necessary that in the midst of our busyness, we carve out spaces to make room for that which gives Life. We asked various professionals how they find time to connect with God.
— CASEY CLELAND — I HAVE FOUND that when I make time for the Lord, He gives me time for the other things in my life. My day begins typically at 5:30 AM. I do all my work prep the night before. Right after my bio break, I head to the kitchen and down a large glass of water. This helps to kick-start my organs and hydrates me. Then, I open my Bible, usually reading portions in the Old Testament and Proverbs and then a chapter in the New Testament. This is not a Bible study, but instead a time to begin my day with the truth and goodness of God’s Word. He does promise us that His word will not return to Him void, and I can testify that there have been more than a few times that what I have read has become useful to me in the course of the day. Once I’ve completed my readings, I take time to speak with God. I have a list of important issues that I regularly pray about. But I also find that by the time I start praying, God has brought to mind other things to pray about that were not on my list. The time this takes is typically 30 to 40 minutes.
/ CASEY is a BC provincial peace officer and private entrepreneur who lives in North Vancouver.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 25
— GREG WASMUTH — IT’S A GREAT question as to how to keep a devotional element to life in a busy and secular world which gives little time or reference to spiritual matters. For myself, it is important to keep regular times. We make time to eat, to work, to sleep, to pay our bills, for entertainment, and the list goes on. I think that keeping set times for reading and prayer are essential to knowing the mind of our Lord throughout our days. So the best time for me is early in the morning, before a zillion distractions come my way. I try to read the Bible and pray before anything else in my day starts. Each year, I try to select a good devotional, which I read out loud over coffee to my wife, Wendy. This way we both have a time to focus on eternal things. What about those times we miss doing our devotions for some reason or other? Well, I don’t beat myself up. Grace is always needed, and my suggestion for myself and for others is to just pick it up again at the set times. Of course worshipping with God’s people is also very important in staying close to the One who loved us and gave His life for us.
/ GREG owns and operates Pilgrim Book and Bible, one of Metro Vancouver’s few remaining Christian bookstores.
26 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
— NEIL PARKER — I AM VERY fortunate to work in a competitive, stressful, and challenging environment that demands plenty of discernment and discretion. Eight years ago, I transferred from a calmer administrative post. The learning curve was steep, and I often felt battered, overloaded, and out of my depth. Early on I formed a habit of stepping out for a walk around the office park to clear my mind. A conversation with a colleague, who mentioned the common Abrahamic heritage shared by Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other modern religions, prodded me into further investigation and, ultimately, to joining a Christian church. Over the years, I began to add mental prayer to my daily bike commute (physical danger reinforces the habit!), as well as to my daily walks. I started making international business trips, and found that flying, dealing with foreign customs, and meeting inspiring people, provide many opportunities—and reasons— to seek God. By now, I’ve come to recognize the value of a few minutes of prayer, several times a day. A moment after a meeting, a longer period during a lunch break, intervals in airports or in transit … during otherwise stressful days these become invaluable oases of calm. Asking God for guidance, reflecting on His Word, and recognizing Him in all things, have become a daily highlight, bringing essential joy and insight. I’m particularly grateful to my Islamic colleagues: the one whose casual remarks originally nudged me toward faith, and those whose regular prayer offers a positive example.
/ NEIL works at PressReader, a global digital distributor of newspapers and magazines, in Richmond, BC.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 27
— FRANK STIRK — FACED WITH A deep personal crisis a few years ago, I knew that I needed to connect with God and His Word as never before. But I had never been much good at verbalizing my prayers. All too often my mind would drift. I had also become lazy and inconsistent in my prayer life and Scripture reading. Then I had a revelation: I would combine what I needed to do (pray) with what I love to do (write), under the guidance of daily Bible-reading. The result was a discipline—a habit—of prayer-journaling that has more than sustained me ever since. I have quite a stack now of notebooks filled with hand-written prayers and meditations on Bible verses. I realize that this is not for everyone, because it can often be quite time-consuming. I could do it because I worked from home. But I still urge you to try it. What I’ve found is that it keeps me focused (and awake!). And there have definitely been times when God has spoken to me through the words I’m writing. It has also given me a written reminder that I can go back over as needed. But the main thing prayer-journaling does is give me hope whenever I see His good outcomes in response to my written pleadings. And then that becomes one more thing to include in my journal, but this time as a prayer of thanksgiving.
/ FRANK is a retired journalist and budding author who lives in North Vancouver.
28 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
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Sacrament
Abortion
Religious Freedom
Faith Homelessness Christology Trinity Explore Faith in the 21st Century
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MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 29
SPORTS SCENE
THE FINAL COLUMN
VETERAN SPORTSWRITER SAYS, “THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.” BY SCOTT TAYLOR
I
don’t really remember when I started doing this. I know I got a call from my pal Jerrad Peters out of Winnipeg who said that SEVEN magazine needed a guy to write a sports column. That was about seven years ago. A little later, Rob Horsley took over as editor and our run to the proverbial end zone has been a good one. If nothing else, every column I’ve written has been a learning experience. My job here has been simple:
30 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
Introduce our readers to the athletes, the would-be athletes and the sportsmen who turn their personal relationship with Jesus Christ into the boat that keeps them afloat. Over the years, it has been a tremendous journey. And I have received a great deal of wisdom, often from men much younger than me. It was Pittsburgh Penguins rightwinger Eric Fehr, who said: “I think the biggest thing faith has done for me as a professional athlete is to put life in perspective. There is a lot
more to life than hockey. Your worth is not decided by how good a hockey player you are or how people judge you as a hockey player. “I also think it gives me strength to get through tough times because I believe all things happen for a reason.” Injuries have often interrupted Fehr’s NHL career, but he has always bounced back stronger and better than before. His faith has also taught him humility and that humility has allowed him to adapt to some very
<
Scott Taylor and Ken Wiebe calling Goldeyes Baseball on Shaw TV
< Scott at work
difficult situations. It’s worked in my life, too. I was once slandered, lied about publicly, by people I served and trusted. Without faith, I might not have survived. As it was, I’ve enjoyed a better life after my former employers made every effort to destroy my livelihood and my family. Christ’s blessing was always in my heart. I have always taken to heart the words of Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr: “I know God is with me because I have a peace and a joy. I can’t describe it, but I know it’s real.” Many athletes are criticized, often mercilessly, by the fans and then media. I’ve been there and I know how it feels. Nashville Predators star Mike Fisher handles it
as well as anyone I’ve met. “You’re always going to face a little bit of criticism from time to time,” he said with a smile. “But I’ve been so blessed...for so many years. I was blessed to have some good friends and family nearby, so I just focused on all those good things and how fortunate I was. “I think my ability to handle it has a lot to do with putting things in perspective and I know that God had His hand in all of that. We can doubt the Lord when we go through tough times, but you have to know that He’s always got your best interests at heart.” And that’s how I’ve learned to appreciate my relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s Him and me and if I live a
I have loved every minute of this assignment. It has been an eye-opener and a heartexpander.
life that is as close to His teachings as I possibly can, then He will always be there for me. This job, talking to these athletes, listening to the pastors who guide them (people like brilliant Winnipeg Jets team pastor Lorne Korol), has helped me to understand that it isn’t ever about me, it’s about doing what the Lord intends. Which brings us to now. I have loved every minute of this assignment. It has been an eye-opener and a heartexpander. And while I’ve been doing it for a long time, it’s time to move on. Hopefully, Rob will find someone younger to step into this role. There are so many more stories that need to be told. God Bless.
/ SCOTT TAYLOR is a Winnipeg-based sportswriter and broadcaster.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 31
THE SINGLE LIFE
DISCIPLINED HEARTS
SEEKING TO BE SURPRISED BY THE JOY OF THE LORD BY PAUL H. BOGE
A
sk yourself this question: “What is my greatest joy in life?” We can probably agree on what the answer is supposed to be. But is Christ really the greatest joy in our life? In the book of Acts we see people who abandoned the idea of living for themselves and instead saw Christ as their true fulfillment. They practiced spiritual disciplines like fasting, praying and reading the Bible. But why? It’s easy to lay a guilt trip on ourselves and say that we don’t measure up to what they were doing so we should push ourselves to be more like them. But at some level, there has to be a conviction about why we would make a practice out of the spiritual disciplines. In Luke there is the story of two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. Jesus hid his identity as He walked with them. He explained the Scriptures to them and after He departed the disciples reflected on what they experienced. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) It’s this kind of deep connection with Christ that spurned them on to pursue Christ first and foremost. They discovered that loving Jesus was
more fulfilling than anything else this world could offer. As the song says: Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of this world will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. At face value we understand that we should pray more, but that will only make sense once we want to pray more. So how do we get to the place of wanting to pray more? Of wanting to read the Bible more? Of wanting Jesus more? That fire of wanting Jesus gets kindled the more we present ourselves to God. And that’s what spiritual disciplines do. They allow us to present our poor selves (blessed are the poor in spirit) for God to work in us and through us. The spiritual disciplines refocus our lives from asking the question, “how will this benefit me?” to asking the question, “how will this bring glory to God?” In Christ, we discover who we are, and we begin to change how we spend our time. Not because we are supposed to, but because we want to. The more we present ourselves
That fire of wanting Jesus gets kindled the more we present ourselves to God.
32 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
to God, the more we want Him. The more we want Him, the more we will want to present ourselves to Him. The quality of life we experience as singles in truly pursuing Jesus is far beyond any apparent fulfillment we may think we are getting anywhere else. Essentially, the reason we don’t pray, the reason we don’t read the Bible, the reason we don’t fast, is because we have been fooled into thinking we are benefiting more from something less. C.S. Lewis says: “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” And this is what the people of Acts understood. This is why they fasted and prayed. Not under guilt. Not under trying to live an externally pleasing life. But because they discovered the secret of communion with Jesus. As the Bible says: “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
/ PAUL H. BOGE is single and lives in Winnipeg. He is an author, filmmaker and works as an engineer. You can reach him at Paul@paulboge.com.
OUT OF MY DEPTH
MAKING TIME?
ALL WE HAVE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US BY PHIL WAGLER
H
ow does one “make time?” And, doesn’t that statement itself sound pretty presumptuous? In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo the hobbit, wearied by the hazards of ridding Middle Earth of the ring of horrendous power, laments to Gandalf the wise, “I wish it need not have happened in my time.” “So do I,” says Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” We don’t make time. We choose what to do with it. We regularly practice this principle in wooing that beautiful woman, reaching educational and vocational goals, training for a marathon, or learning how to master a craft or art. All these depend on a choice about time. We didn’t make time—we decided, as Gandalf says, what to do with the time that is given us. Jesus tells a parable in Luke 19 about servants entrusted with investment dollars. “Engage in business until I come,” their Master commands as he embarks on a foreign adventure. Upon his return it is discovered that two servants had gotten busy and seen substantial returns. The Master is pleased. “Well done, good servant!” is his commendation. A third servant, however, reports no gains. In fact, he simply laid the investment aside for safe-keeping in a handkerchief of all things. The Master’s response is condemnation. Embedded in the parable is this stark reality: the faithful servants decided to do something,
not just with the money entrusted to them, but with the undefined time between the Master’s going and returning. The wicked servant is rebuked, and not simply for his lack of business acumen. He is condemned because he misread the Master and squandered time. He chose to do something with time, but it definitely was not engaging in his Master’s work. In fact, the time of investment is not in the servant’s control at all. The money is the Master’s, and so is the time. What does this have to do with “making time” for God? Well, review the principle: we don’t make time; we choose what to do with it. What I love, value, and seek to advance in, I choose to invest time in—plain and simple. If you’re having trouble “making time” for God, then chances are you have severely misread the Master and the limits of life. Your Heavenly Father longs for time with His children. For God, time is a relational reality. God does not treat time as a commodity, but a limitation that will one day be swept away in the fulfillment of eternal life, shalom, and face-toface friendship. Timelessness for God means fellowship, wholeness, righteousness and delight. Time, rather than being made, therefore, is actually running out and we should humbly recognize we have a best-before date. So, what I choose to do with time is more than time management, it is eternal investment. When we follow Jesus, we experience redemption—freedom— that includes the liberty from the grip of sin, but also liberty from our need to
grip the life that is ticking away. We are free to live from the posture that all we are and have is the possession of the Master and entrusted to us. This is at the heart of the true meaning of worship. Discipleship is learning to hear, heed and honour God first in all things and become more like Jesus. So, as a disciple my money is His money, my relationships are His relationships, my work is His work, and my time is His time. The average 21st century Canadian male has been gifted 79 years of time. The life of faith says it’s all His. Consequently, it’s not just a devotional “time” that is His; all “my” time is actually His. I choose what to do with the time limit of my earthly existence—how to invest it, and for whom it is lived. And, since I am now a citizen of heaven, I consider carefully each day, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). In other words, as a citizen of heaven, I am freeing time from the evil uses and constraints placed upon it each day by arrogant humanity. I am never wasting or making time, I am stewarding it so that the eternal Kingdom of God is revealed in the days given to me. This is heady stuff, but it’s as simple as this: what will you choose to do with His time today?
/ PHIL WAGLER serves as Training & Team Health Leader with MB Mission. He lives in Surrey, BC, is married to Jen, and grateful to share with her the joys and challenges of raising six kids.
MARCH / APRIL 2016 SEVEN 33
POWER PLAY
TOYS / TOOLS / TECHNOLOGY CRANKS AND COOKWARE FOR CLOSING OUT WINTER BY SANDY MCMURRAY
STOVETOP PIZZA OVEN
// pizzacraft.com
Great pizza is baked with high heat and hot air flow. You can’t get this at home with a normal oven or a microwave. You need something special to make great pizza at home. Pizzaria Pronto is a stovetop pizza oven designed for gas stoves. Dual pizza stones absorb the direct heat from the flame and redistribute it evenly, eliminating hot spots. It preheats and cooks much faster than a convection oven, with temperatures reaching up to 600F. The built-in thermometer lets you know when it’s ready to cook, and the vent on top releases steam to prevent your pizza from getting soggy. Pizzaria Pronto is available from pizzacraft.com for $179 (USD).
34 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
AMPWARE CASE
// getampware.com
How long can your phone go without a charge? If the power went off right now how long would it take for your phone to go from useful tool to expensive paperweight? The AMPware case was inspired by handcrank radios that work without batteries. As you turn the handle, the built-in generator provides the power needed to gradually charge your phone’s built-in battery. Two minutes of cranking will bring a dead battery back to life and provide enough power to make an emergency call. Five minutes of cranking will provide up to 1 hour of battery life. Ten minutes of cranking gives you 2 hours of battery life (or 10 hours of standby power). If you want forearms like Popeye, throw away your electric charging cord and get yourself an AMPware case. Made for iPhone 6/6s, AMPware sells for US$79.
GRASS-FED BEEF STICKS
// gochomps.com
Men crave meat. Mmmm…meat. The best meat is hot and juicy and fresh off the barbecue, but sometimes this just isn’t practical. When you’re packing a lunch, planning a hike, or just snacking at home, you need meat to go. Chomps Paleo Snacks are designed as a healthy alternative to traditional beef jerky and Slim Jim snacks. Chomps are sugar-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, and guilt-free, with no nitrites or preservatives. The most important ingredient, beef, comes from 100% grass-fed cows that are free of all antibiotics and hormones. Each Chomps meat stick contains just beef, water, salt, spices, and celery juice as a preservative. Chomps Paleo Snacks are available in original and spicy flavours and sell for about $2 each.
PET PHONE
// petchatz.com
How does your dog or cat spend its day while you’re away? Find out with PetChatz, the videophone for pet owners. If you have ever used Skype or Facetime to make a video call, you’re ready for PetChatz. This wall-mounted videophone provides a high definition video/audio link between your pet and your phone or computer. Built-in motion and sound detection tells you when your pet is near the PetChatz camera, so you know when to call. While you chat, you can even dispense tasty treats at the push of a button from inside the PetChatz phone. When your pet wants to call you, there’s PawCall, a simple pressure-sensitive button that sends you a text whenever it’s pressed. Whenever your dog or cat is ready to chat—or if they simply want another tasty treat—they can step on the PawCall button to get your attention. The starter bundle, which includes PetChatz with PawCall and a 3-month supply of treats, sells for $529 (USD). Extra treats sold separately.
Whenever your dog or cat is ready to chat—or if they simply want another tasty treat—they can step on the PawCall button to get your attention.
TWO STROKE SMOKE CANDLE
// flyingtigermoto.com
Flying Tiger is a shop for motorcycle enthusiasts who love their bikes. They welcome all kinds of two-wheel vehicles, and cater to the kind of customer who loves the smell of hot metal, smoke, and oil. If you’re that kind of man, but you prefer to have your smells delivered, you can order this “high octane” fragrance online. Two Stroke Smoke candles are made from real two-stroke oil, soy wax, and a wooden wick. Each candle sells for US$20. What could be a more manly smell than hot garage? Bacon, maybe…but that’s about it.
36 SEVEN MARCH / APRIL 2016
BLUMOO UNIVERSAL REMOTE
// blumoo.com
Blumoo is a little gadget works with software to turn your smart phone, tablet, or Apple Watch into a universal remote control. To get started, simply plug in the Blumoo HomeBase, launch the free app, then select your devices. When setup is complete you can put all your remote controls in a drawer and start using the Blumoo app instead. Blumoo currently has a database of more than 250,000 devices, and the app updates monthly to add new ones. You can also use Blumoo to stream music from your phone or tablet to your home stereo. Plug the Blumoo unit into the input jack then use the app to play iTunes or Spotify on your speakers from across the room. You can buy one Blumoo HomeBase unit for US$99 or get three for $250 (USD).
NORWEGIAN WOOD
// amazon.ca
“The wood arrives in the spring, with the thaw. It’s then that you prepare for the next winter. There is a sense of calm security that comes to a man who knows he is well prepared, he is early, he has time on his side.” Norwegian Wood is an unusual book about chopping, stacking, and burning wood. The author travelled to some of the coldest places in Norway and brought back stories of the burners and choppers of wood. “Ottar spent a month on his woodpile. One day there was nothing left but the twigs, shippings, and bark, which he gathered up for use as kindling. All his life he had chopped his own firewood. He enjoyed the feel of each log in his hand, the smell that made him feel he was at work inside a poem, the sense of security in his stack, the pleasing thought of the winter that lay ahead, with all those hours of sitting contentedly in front of his wood burning stove.” Norwegian Wood has sold more than 200,000 copies in Norway and Sweden and it’s now available in English. It’s full of useful advice but it’s also a thoughtful exploration of man’s obsession with stacking wood and stoking fires.
/ SANDY MCMURRAY writes about games, toys, and gadgets at funspot.ca.
NEXT ISSUE
What does it mean to be a man? While images of burly biceps and magnificent moustaches might still be popular in broader culture, we’re not convinced. Call us crazy, but here at SEVEN, we think there just has to be more to it than that. Next issue, we explore manhood—from vulnerability, to complacency, to understanding our identity as Sons of God. Don’t miss it.
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