Relate 8/11/25 Relate 8/11/25

A Kingdom Imagination

The parables that Jesus taught aren’t just moral fables. He taught with simple word pictures that invite us to reimagine everything, to develop a Kingdom imagination.

The parables that Jesus taught aren’t just moral fables. He taught with simple word pictures that invite us to reimagine everything, to develop a Kingdom imagination.

Here are some resources we’ve found helpful and would recommend to you:

RECOMMENDED WATCHING:

How to Read the Bible: The Parables of Jesus Video

https://bibleproject.com/videos/how-to-read-the-bible-the-parables-of-jesus/

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:

The Bible Project on Parables:

The team at The Bible Project do an incredible job of exploring Jesus’ teaching style in parables. They cover the purpose of parables, how to read and decode them, and how to find meaning in them.

Parables Podcast

https://bibleproject.com/podcast/series/parables-podcast-series

Relate 8/8/24 Relate 8/8/24

The Sabbath Practice

In this era of chronic exhaustion, emotional turbulence, and spiritual stagnation, the ancient practice of Sabbath provides a life-giving rhythm of rest and restoration. Sabbath is more than a weekly practice - it’s a way of life. As a church community we are learning what sabbath is, why it matters, and how we can practice it in the context of our current relationships and schedules.

THE SABBATH PRACTICE:

Recommended Resources

If you want to go deeper and discover more, you’ll find a few resources to help you learn and practice.

Practicing the Way

This ministry provides solid resources and has an expansive collection of teachings, podcasts and guides to help direct you in your apprenticeship to Jesus. We are borrowing heavily from Practicing the Way to provide the content that is taught each week through this series, and recommend them highly.

PRACTICINGTHEWAY.ORG/SABBATH

One resource that aligns with our weekly teaching is the Companion Guide produced by Practicing the Way. You’ll find this a helpful way to revisit the points covered each week.

There is also a beautiful collection of Sabbath Meditations to dive into as part of your weekly practice.

RECOMMENDED WATCHING

The Bible Project gives a comprehensive and really helpful biblical history and framework to help you and/or your family grasp the ideas behind why Sabbath matters:

THE BIBLE PROJECT Sabbath Teaching

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

Each of these podcasts has several episodes discussing the gifts of sabbath and how to practice, starting with the linked episodes.

RULE OF LIFE Podcast by Practicing the Way

STRENGTHENING THE SOUL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP Podcast on God’s Gift of Sabbath with Ruth Haley Barton

Marv McGee 3/13/24 Marv McGee 3/13/24

Sermon on The Mount and Radios That Don’t Work

“The sermon on the mount series we’ve been in as a Church has challenged some of my “final answers”. Some of the answers that I have never taken the time to investigate further. There has been a clash of my two worlds. I still desire to know more, but also must let go of that need for a resolve that is comfortable.”

I’m someone who likes to know, and for someone who didn’t particularly enjoy the learning part of school, I’ve always had an insatiable curiosity. Whether it’s researching the most random things on Google, looking at the Hebrew or Greek origin of words, or binge-watching documentaries, I just simply want to know. I can remember as a kid how I would dismantle things and look at the inner workings just to indulge my inquiring mind. There may have been more than one radio in our home that fell victim to my small set of tools that resulted in it never working again.

Along with this appetite to know, I recognize there is also a part of me that likes resolution. I like a final answer. The problem with this is I’ve sometimes hung on to some “final answers” simply because they’ve resolved things in my mind.

The sermon on the mount series we’ve been in as a Church has challenged some of my “final answers”. Some of the answers that I have never taken the time to investigate further. There has been a clash of my two worlds. I still desire to know more, but also must let go of that need for a resolve that is comfortable.

I now realize that my thinking wasn’t going to change my eternity, but was it going to change someone else’s eternity? The more I listen and learn, the more Holy Spirit is doing what He wants to do…what He needs to do.

In the past, I viewed the sermon on the mount solely from a vertical perspective. That this message was something that I was to attain or receive, and it was between me and God. And although that is partially true, it doesn’t end there. This relationship with God does not end with me. It’s not only a vertical relationship, but also tied to my horizontal relationships. It’s tied to those around me. And not just the easy ones, not just other believers, not just the ones that don’t challenge me.

I’m not talking about salvation by works but rather a transformation in me to live and walk as Jesus did. If I’m honest, there might have been some people Jesus related to that I may have at one time called into question.

The thing is that I have not totally deconstructed my radio or my faith to where it can never work again. I just needed someone that can reassemble it the right way. To remove any excess parts that I’ve mixed in or any wires that have been crossed along the way, and I’m willing to go on that journey. I’ve been challenged to the core with some of my beliefs and or responses to those around me. However, I have such peace in a place of not knowing everything, not knowing all the answers, and just allowing Holy Spirit to make the repairs and connect the wires that need to be connected to The Source.

About The Author:

Marv is the Executive Pastor here at Relate.

Relate 2/14/24 Relate 2/14/24

Selfless Love

It’s February when we often celebrate all things related to love and relationships. Card shops, flower markets, restaurants and chocolatiers are anticipating records sales as people spend copious amounts of money to express their affection for each other. I am a huge fan of showing our expressions of our love but not so much a fan of the pressure to do so just on certain days.

I am so grateful that our church is delving into the Sermon on the Mount as we sit together at the feet of Jesus and learn how to live together as His family and in this world as we are called to shine His light. It has been personally confronting and challenging while being comforting at the same time.

These words on how to love like Jesus loves mess with my heart every time I read them:

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matthew 5:43-48 (Message)

My husband, John often says, ‘Love that doesn’t cost you is just a feeling’. True love is extremely costly – Jesus demonstrated that as He gave His life for us as He hung on a cross. It is impossible for me to even remotely love in the way these scriptures instruct me to without first having my heart transformed and filled with His love. But the miracle is that I can! I can love the unlovable, I can pray for my enemies, I can love and live out of a God-created identity and live generously and graciously toward others.

On May 12th John and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage. At our wedding ceremony our pastor read the following verses from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which sounded so beautifully poetic and easy to do at the time, but we were to discover that this love was costly, and we had to continually choose God’s way of love, not ours.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Thankfully we discovered that Gods love will truly never fail though ours would have. Our love was inadequate, and there were days that we didn’t think our marriage would survive, but as we drew deeply from the well of Gods perfect love it carried us and has continued to sustain us. Today we walk together in a love that we could never have imagined – it is deeper and more beautiful that our hearts could have dreamed of. It is a gift from God borne from the bounty and beauty of His everlasting love.

Who is God asking us to love selflessly today? Perhaps it’s our spouse, a difficult neighbour or co-worker? Let’s choose to bless them as we pray for them. Our words and our prayers can accomplish miracles not only in their lives, but in our lives as well.

Helen Burns

Relate 12/22/22 Relate 12/22/22

Holding Space For Grief and Joy

“It struck me that God makes space for joy and grief. He is with us, in every moment. He is with us in our joy. He delights in us. And He is with us in our grief and anguish. I felt Him there with me. I pictured him sitting beside me, weeping too. His heart broken for me, and His heart delighting in me. We are not alone, ever. There is nothing that can stop God from being Emmanuel: God with us.”

I sat last night, at our Longest Night Service, in reflection. I looked at the empty chair on the stage, the chair that holds everything I’ve lost. And I saw both of my parents looking at me. I felt like I could see a new depth of their sorrow. I felt like I was looking at a mirror, and I realized that their suffering has become my own. I’ve been burdened by such similar griefs. A terribly dysfunctional father relationship, the chains of self hatred, bitterness, broken family relationships, and the fear of being unlovable, to name a few.

You see, in separate ways and in separate seasons of life, I’ve lost both of my parents. Our relationships are broken. There are no words to fully encapsulate the pain of this loss. To know that they both still live life, but separate from me. To recall the sweetest memories, specifically of Christmas time, and know that they were finite. Every year my dad would take me Christmas shopping and we bought gifts for all my family. How deep the joy I felt every year we carried out that tradition. How my mom would work endlessly to make Christmas the most extravagantly, special time. And that my childhood would only be marked by a joyful Christmas time. Family around the table, the anticipation of Christmas morning, laughter, and love. Though the normal seasons would carry their weight, Christmas felt like an exhale. When I remember how good and how loving they were to me, grief is so potent. I hold both joy and sadness at the exact same time. I don’t even know how it’s possible, but it is.

The joy I’ve experienced in my past is what makes my grief so, BIG. And yet, because of the depths of my grief, I truly know joy. I can’t have one without the other.

We sang a song last night too. I sat and listened and cried. And some of the words stuck out to me as tears fell. Jesus weeps with us. It struck me that God makes space for joy and grief. He is with us, in every moment. He is with us in our joy. He delights in us. And He is with us in our grief and anguish. I felt Him there with me. I pictured him sitting beside me, weeping too. His heart breaking for me, and His heart delighting in me.

We are not alone, ever. There is nothing that can stop God from being Emmanuel: God with us.

Honestly, I am not sure how to feel about all this layered sadness. As I hold my own grief, and make space for compassion for my parents, I simply just trust that though I can’t be there to sit with them, or to fix everything, or to make it all ok, He is there. And He is moving in ways I’ve yet to see.

I see Him next to each and every one of my family members and His presence feels like an exhale and a tangible sense of peace rises in me.

“He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.”

Isaiah 53: 3-4 NLT

Lillie Doell

Alexandra Fuller 11/29/22 Alexandra Fuller 11/29/22

Heavy Over The Holidays

A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

This isn’t a particularly attractive descriptor of a person, and yet I can’t help but find such comfort in these words spoken about Jesus in Isaiah 53:3. They make me feel safe, like I could almost climb into the person of Jesus, wrap myself in his robe, and know that he understands the indescribable ache of grief my heart sometimes holds.

A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

This is our Jesus: hope personified, and yet acquainted with grief.

Many of us, too, find ourselves acquainted with grief over the holidays. The absence of those we have lost feels bigger somehow, more prevalent, more fresh. Relational brokenness is exacerbated, small cracks grown into an impossibly wide chasm. Memories resurface, longings remind us of what we lack, and the ache of grief weighs.

When I think of this, I think of Jesus’ entry into this world. A dark night. A stable. A labour. Painful contractions and rapid breath, cold sweat and warm tears. A body writhing in the effort of birth and, in an instant, hope bursts forth. The king is born, and he cries out. God in the form of a baby.

Christmas is a season of joy and cheer, and for good reason. Our saviour is born, and we have every reason to rejoice. The temptation to deny pain and hardship is high as we consider the goodness of the birth of our Christ. However, we would be remiss to remove grief as we prepare him room in this advent season, for it is our grief that reminds us of why Christ was born. The world needs a saviour, and we are desperately needy for him.

It is a good and right thing to honour our losses, and if you are feeling the ache this holiday season please know that you are not alone. We are with you, and we are praying for you. More than that though, Jesus, who knows sorrow and has felt grief, is with you.

Because grief can be a tricky, heavy thing, here are some ways you might honour it in this season:

Grief rituals are activities that help externalize the feelings of grief. They can be simple, like lighting a candle in honour of your loss, or they can be more elaborate, like partaking in an activity that reminds you of a person you miss. Googling “grief rituals” might give you some ideas.
Speaking of grief rituals, we plan to gather for The Longest Night, a reflective Christmas service specifically tailored for grief and loss, on December 20th in Abbotsford and December 21st in Surrey. It will be a time of contemplation and worship, and we will partake in a communal grief ritual together. (Find more information and registration at relatechurch.ca/events)
If your grief is centred around the loss of a loved one, make plans to honour old traditions this season that remind you of them.
Similarly, create new traditions and put them on the calendar. It’ll be something to look forward to, and it can help create new meaning in the holiday season.
Volunteering at a shelter or non-profit organization, or doing something meaningful for someone else, can foster a sense of purpose. (If you’re looking for ideas, check out relatechurch.ca/communityreach)
Plan ahead for events that may bring up difficult emotions. A family dinner, or workplace gathering, or the yearly tree-trimming could trigger grief for different reasons, depending on your loss. Being aware that grief may surface can help you ride the waves of it.

Alexandra Fuller 8/10/22 Alexandra Fuller 8/10/22

The Joy That Carries: Alexandra Fuller

“Joy is what carries us through. It is not what we are meant to feel instead. It is something that we find as we journey, as we are refined through the fire. Joy is the knowledge that no matter what we go through, God is there.”

It is one of the great mysteries of life that the breeding ground for blessing is often found in the depths of grave pain.

It is nonsensical and unclear how this happens, and yet I cannot look at the beauty in my life and not acknowledge the broken soil from which it came.

Because the soil of my heart has been downtrodden, burdened, and overwhelmed with sorrow at the brokenness of this world, at the brokenness within myself, and yet it is where beauty has grown. A flourishing depth of heart that would not have developed had my life been easier, different, better.

And how, in those painful moments, had I longed for my life to be easier, different, better.

I am human, after all. Capricious at worst, fickle at best. My desires change as my emotions and circumstances ebb and flow, and this could be cause for great shame. I am supposed to consider it all joy (James 1:2) when faced with trials, am I not?

But perhaps we’ve had this pain thing wrong, all along.

Scripture tells us in numerous instances to consider trials as joyful opportunities to grow our faith and produce strong, enduring character. And though this is good, I think we have, in our limited human minds, used this to bypass pain rather than let it carry us through the miry clay. We’ve considered joy and sorrow as incompatible constructs, when perhaps they are two sides to the same coin.

The writer of Hebrews says Jesus was able to face the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2). I would argue that the garden of gethsemane was not a joyful place for him. Carrying the cross to the hill, so exhausted that someone else had to carry it for him, was not a joyful place. Bleeding from his hands and his feet while he was mocked and shamed was not a joyful place.

Scripture does not tell us that Jesus laughed it off, filled with exuberant joy because he knew what was coming.

No, he felt every ounce of pain, bloody and battered pain. And yet it was joy that carried him through. Joy did not remove the pain, but it gave him the strength to endure it.

And this is what I think these scriptures, the ones we have sometimes used to bypass pain, are telling us. The blessing is not in the removal of pain, but in the carrying through. The blessing is found when our wounds are held by another, when the tears fall and water the soil of dry ground. The joy is found as we grieve the mystery of a good God and a broken world, and allow him to comfort us in our confusion. The blessing is found as the isolation of shame is undone in the loving presence of another. The joy is found as we see God’s redemptive work, piece by piece and not always as fast as we want it to be, as he turns what the enemy meant for harm into good, glorious good.

Joy is what carries us through. It is not what we are meant to feel instead. It is something that we find as we journey, as we are refined through the fire. Joy is the knowledge that no matter what we go through, God is there.

And that doesn’t always make sense. How can God have been there when we were abandoned? How can God have been there when we were abused? How can God have been there when it all fell apart?

But the mystery of life is this: God was there. He is there. And he is still good.

When I say that blessing is found in pain, I’m not saying that pain itself is the blessing. Pain is symptomatic of living in a broken world, one that has fallen from glory. But God’s presence in pain? His redemptive power? The intimacy found as we draw close to our Comforter? The meaning he provides as we journey through suffering? The way our suffering allows us to journey alongside another?

That, my friends, is the blessing.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

Alexandra is a registered clinical counsellor and the Director of Relate Church Counselling. She enjoys reading, practicing martial arts, and embracing slow mornings with coffee. She shares writing and other creative pursuits on Instagram at @alexandrajfuller.

Relate 7/26/22 Relate 7/26/22

The Daily Practice of Resurrection

“Our mission as a church is to live as ‘God’s growing family practicing kingdom life for the renewal of our city.’ To live as family is complicated and costly, disappointing and messy. To practice the ways of Jesus, the things that keep us close to him and deeply rooted in community, is to sacrifice things we like for things we value more.”

Most days I slip out the back door of our home in the very early morning to walk, usually at the first glow of dawn, before the house is awake. I leave the domestic hum of our fridge and espresso machine to be immersed instead by a buzzy chorus of birdsong, the rhythm of my feet on the pavement, my neighbours’ automatic sprinklers. I usually have to push myself to get out there, honestly. I love the paths around our neighbourhood but I also really like the comfort of my couch and another cup of coffee. Walking isn’t the most efficient form of exercise, and it’s always tempting to just burn a few calories quickly with a more intense indoor workout later in the day. Walking is a long-form kind of discipline.

The thing that gets me out there, over and over, is God. The beauty of his creation, yes - His ever-changing art on display moves me. Thomas Merton said, “No writing on the solitary, meditative dimensions of life can say anything that has not already been said better by the wind in the pine trees.” I know this to be true. But beyond the beauty, and the experience, it’s God himself. I go to meet with Him. I’m in it for His presence. I pray, question, or just move in silence hoping he’ll speak. Most of our walks aren’t wildly transcendent, but sometimes they truly are - so I continue to show up.

This morning I’m thinking about how every sunrise is a daily resurrection. Every morning, I watch light overtake the dark. Life overpowers death. And the skies this summer haven’t been subtle about it. They shout that his mercies are new, the whole earth full of glory. Last week in our services we all read Jesus’ words in John 11; “I am the resurrection and the life.” I need that daily reminder, almost embarrassingly, that the truest thing about me is that Jesus is my life. Jesus is resurrecting me, and us. Right here in suburban Langley, and wherever you are. Not just one day, but today. I’ll keep cultivating this morning habit because it’s a daily practice of resurrection.

Our mission as a church is to live as ‘God’s growing family practicing kingdom life for the renewal of our city.’ To live as family is complicated and costly, disappointing and messy. To practice the ways of Jesus, the things that keep us close to him and deeply rooted in community, is to sacrifice things we like for things we value more. We’re making decisions about how we spend our days and energy and stuff all the time. If I get overwhelmed with the decisions and the pressures, I’ll assume you do too. I want to remind you that every day is a fresh resurrection. Today’s a new day. While we live in the shadow of death, he is our life.

So - What are you doing these days to stay close to him, close to life-giving community? Your practices and habits might look different than mine, but summer is a great time to consider what they actually are. What are you holding on to, letting go of? How are you practicing resurrection and choosing life? (Hot tip: Ask him to help you out with it - he’s the best at that.)

We love you, and we are praying for you!

Cheering you on,

Angela

Relate 7/14/22 Relate 7/14/22

In The Midst Of Pain: Sarah Roberts

“What do we do, when every corner we turn is another symptom, challenge, or annoyance that feels too helpless to overcome? We turn to the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of us and sit with Jesus. The answer to our pain isn’t something of this world but a continual communion with someone who gives us an eternal life to look forward to. The answer may not always be getting rid of the pain, but sitting with the one who loves us the most; face to face, and lather in that moment.”

Pain is like an eye mask, covering your vision so that you scramble to find answers from every other possible way without seeing what’s in front of you.

However, in the midst of pain Jesus wants to meet you face to face.

What do we do, when every corner we turn is another symptom, challenge, or annoyance that feels too helpless to overcome? We turn to the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of us and sit with Jesus. The answer to our pain isn’t something of this world but a continual communion with someone who gives us an eternal life to look forward to. The answer may not always be getting rid of the pain, but sitting with the one who loves us the most; face to face, and lather in that moment.

So, the answer to my suffering may not to be relieved of the pain that is so present every moment, but to surrender it, by sitting with Jesus in the midst. Jesus has healed us of our pain,. He went to the cross to free us of any pain and suffering. We need to look to Jesus to be reminded that the things we are experiencing in this world are temporary. We need to turn to Jesus and spend time getting to know how to live a life with an eternal perspective. We need to put down what is present and turn to who has overcome. We need to turn to Jesus, who is even more powerful, beautiful, and fulfilling than what is present in our earthly circumstance. Jesus, and the relationship He offers to us is so much more than what we experience here on earth. It is nothing compared to what we see in the present moment. It surpasses our knowledge of what we think is ‘real’. It brings us to an overflow and abundance of the living spring of water that Jesus offers. We will never thirst again.

Yes, maybe I can’t breathe every now and then, but in the midst of that Jesus is real. Jesus is with me. Jesus has healed me. I may be in pain but there’s nothing stopping me from spending time with Jesus. While I sit with my pain, and there’s nothing else I can do, I can look to Jesus.

Jesus is the answer to my pain.

While I’m in pain I will use every opportunity I get to commune with Jesus.

About The Contributor:

Sarah works in the accounting department here at Relate. She is passionate about serving in the house of God. On Sundays you can find her at the fronts doors, full of joy with a smile on her face, or on stage playing keys during worship.

Lillie Doell 5/26/22 Lillie Doell 5/26/22

The Strength Found In Weakness: Lillie Bunnett

“If you walk with Jesus, if He is your peace and comfort; your strength and shield, then you live in tension. The One who has no rival, has made his home in your heart, and yet your everyday is challenged and crushed by the enemy. You live with the promise and hope of Heaven, in a dying and broken world. You live in-between. And what a hard place to be.”

A few years ago, Dan preached a message at our Surrey campus. He said something I will never forget: “It’s easier to squash a seed, than it is to tear down a tree”. It’s easy to visualize. The tree is much bigger and stronger, and more established than the seed. And the seed, as light as ever, lays in the dirt, vulnerable to the wind and rain. There is something much deeper displayed here, and when this image is compared to our faith journeys, I think it ignites a deep sense of hope.

I don’t know everything about you, but I can certainly predict that life has not been easy. Dare I say, life has been quite the opposite of easy. Perhaps, you struggle with your mental health, or care for someone who does. Maybe you’ve been walking through deep sadness and grief. Maybe you’re not seeing promises come to pass, or prayers answered. You might be struggling with all-encompassing anxiety and fear, especially in such an unknown and scary world. Or maybe life is just not at all what you hoped and dreamed.

If you walk with Jesus, if He is your peace and comfort; your strength and shield, then you live in tension. The One who has no rival, has made his home in your heart, and yet your everyday is challenged and crushed by the enemy. You live with the promise and hope of Heaven, in a dying and broken world. You live in-between. And what a hard place to be.

Looking at scripture we know that the enemy comes “only to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10a). I think it’s important to acknowledge that the enemy only steals, kills and destroys, if it’s something worth stealing, killing and destroying. When you experience an attack, it is because you are a target worth the time and effort it takes to eradicate. It is because Satan knows exactly who you are: a beloved child of God. And he is relentless with his lies.

One must first know the truth in order to lie. The enemy knows the truth, and it scares him. He knows what the Bible says, he knows that God has no rival and no equal. He knows that we are sons and daughters of God most high. And he will stop at nothing to distract us from the truth. The enemy can never change what the truth is, all he can do is distract us from it. Knowing this, we can cling to hope whenever we are met with his lies, because they will not hold up against the truth that prevails.

I say all this because, over the course of 3 years, I’ve experienced what feels like a lifetime of sorrow and suffering. I’ve felt as though every part of me has been ripped to the bone. I’ve felt abandoned in a barren land. I have felt utterly hopeless. Every source of comfort was stripped away from me. I have undergone so much pain that I can’t ignore it. Every step, choice, word or thought I have is laced with grief and sorrow. My everyday life is a life of tension. It’s a life where I feel like a mere seed. No roots, in a barren, dry land.

In my seed season, the enemy's lies are so loud I can barely think. And yet I feel inexplicable peace, because I know that I am God’s beloved. Nothing, not one thing, that God has sewn into the very depths of my soul can be stolen from me. Sure, the enemy can come at me with his lies, but his words all end in vain.

It’s a battle- the enemy has to come at full strength to combat with our God, and that is still not enough. In the chaos of lies, distractions, and heartbreak we face everyday, it’s easy to forget that our enemy has a very clear capacity and limit: our God has NO RIVAL. Sure, Satan is stronger than us, but he is not stronger than the One who lives in us.

When I first heard Dan preach that message. I reflected on it for a while. I brought it to God. And I got a picture (bear with me because it’s kind of a funny picture): I saw a seed being stomped on by a heavy boot, and then I saw a tree. A strong and tall tree. So tall I couldn’t even see the top of it. I saw that same boot again, this time there was a leg reaching for the top, trying to stomp it down. Yet, in comparison to the tree, the boot looked like a tiny seed.

You see, on our own, we are mere seeds; vulnerable and weak–easily crushed. But, with God and His grace, we are tall and strong trees that can not be torn down. We’ve got our roots in a solid foundation.

Take a moment today, wherever you’re at, to meditate on this scripture from Ephesians:

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

About The Contributor:

Lillie is the Communications Director here at Relate. She also assists Pastor Kiersha with all things Children’s ministry. She has a heart for people and a passion to serve God’s Kingdom; it is one of her greatest joys to serve alongside the RKids Team on Sundays. In her spare time you can find her cooking, reading or working on her art.

Relate 5/18/22 Relate 5/18/22

The Gift Of Friendship: Helen Burns

“I believe a rich and beautiful life will never be measured what we have accumulated, but by what we have sown and invested into the lives of people. Everything that leaves our hands and lives will enter our future. I believe there is no greater place to invest our lives than into relationships with a God-centered purpose attached to them.”

This past weekend I taught a message in our HOLY, WOW series on Heaven and as I prepared the message, the prep was also doing a deep work in me, causing me to be so very mindful of the brevity of life and the foreverness of eternity. What I do every single moment of every single day is so vitally important. Psalm 90:12 instructs us to ask God to ‘teach us to number our days that we would live with a heart of wisdom’.

The only thing we can take to eternity with us is relationships – our money, homes, and cars, etc. will all be left behind. I believe that it is wise to regularly take stock of our lives and honestly wrestle with answering the question ‘Who or what gets the best and the most of our time – are we focused on being heavenly minded or earthly minded.?’

I believe a rich and beautiful life will never be measured what we have accumulated, but by what we have sown and invested into the lives of people. Everything that leaves our hands and lives will enter our future. I believe there is no greater place to invest our lives than into relationships with a God-centered purpose attached to them.

I heard a great pastor teach that 90% of your destiny is in others and only 10% is in you. Based on my personal experience, I believe this is so true, so I want to encourage you to pay close attention to the divine God-encounters coming your way. They may look very ordinary, but they have supernatural potential to change your world, their world, and the world.

This morning I read through the book of Ruth and I marvelled once again at the handprint of God all over this story. She was an ‘outsider’ and had suffered such loss after the death of her husband and found herself in a truly difficult place with an unknown future looming before her. Rather than go back to her home country of Moab, she chose to follow her mother-in-law and her God, and found herself written into the most beautiful story of redemption, love, and provision through relationships. God hadn’t forgotten Ruth, but had a beautiful plan to write her story into the lineage of Jesus.

Pay close attention to the story that God is writing over your life.

Here’s a few ways that God ordained friendships and relationships have been brought into my life and have helped shape my future and who I have become.

Open your eyes – Live your life with a sense of expectancy. Often, we can’t see the opportunities for new relationships because our heads are down, so focused on the immediate stuff in front of us that we disregard the God-invitations that He is presenting to us to engage in.

Open your heart. It’s hard to hug someone who lives their life with their ‘arms crossed’. Many of us have been hurt in relationships so we are unapproachable – we are closed off and standoffish and so many God-opportunities can be lost or delayed. We have been hurt in relationships, but we are also healed in relationships, so let’s open our hearts.

Open your mouth. Speak words that invite and engage others into your life. Go first and start the conversation.

“No one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.” (Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten)

Most importantly - PRAY. Prayer opens our hearts to engage God’s heart toward others. Prayer heightens our spirits to be in tune and engaged to hear God’s voice speaking and His Spirit nudging us to action.

Life is to be fully lived and enjoyed, not simply endured. True joy comes from knowing our days are filled with living for God’s higher purpose and fulfilling God’s dreams for our lives and relationships.

Who has come into your life recently or many years ago that is clearly a God connection?
Which friends and relationships are you truly thankful for today? Be sure to let them know.

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” Anais Nin.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

Helen is one of our founding and teaching pastors here at Relate. She is warm, generous and incredibly passionate about the local, and global Church. She and her husband, John, travel and minister globally, mentoring pastors and sharing their life message with churches and organizations. She is full of wisdom and joy, and the love she sews into everyone she encounters is such a gift!

Relate 3/28/22 Relate 3/28/22

On Slow Miracles: Alexandra Fuller

“Sometime it’s an instant miracle. God parting the red sea. A one-shot testimony, beginning and middle and end all wrapped up in one powerful, redemptive, and faith-filled story.

Sometimes it’s a slow one. Forty years in the wilderness. A meandering story of trials and triumphs over time, chapters started but unfinished.

But here’s the thing: it’s a miracle all the same.”

ON SLOW MIRACLES

Sometime it’s an instant miracle. God parting the red sea. A one-shot testimony, beginning and middle and end all wrapped up in one powerful, redemptive, and faith-filled story.

Sometimes it’s a slow one. Forty years in the wilderness. A meandering story of trials and triumphs over time, chapters started but unfinished.

But here’s the thing: it’s a miracle all the same.

And I don’t think we realize it.

I mean, of course we don’t. A slow miracle doesn’t fit into our cultural definition of miracle. A miracle is an extraordinary event, a surprising and unexpected saving through divine intervention. It is sight restored, relationships instantly healed, angels encountered. It is not, according to definition, feeling, for the first time, the hidden grief you locked away over your childhood abuse. It is not, according to definition, brushing your teeth every day for a week when depression has you in a chokehold. It is most certainly not, according to definition, the daily fight against the temptation to self-harm. It is not, according to definition, the faithful showing up when you want to throw it all away.

And maybe it’s the therapist in me, my training that allows me to see just how big these moments are, but these are miracles. I want to shout it from the rooftop: that thing, that thing that feels so small? It’s a miracle! I want to zoom in on your choice to show up and say: Do you see it? It’s a miracle! I want to buy you flowers when you choose to eat on a day your eating disorder acts up because it’s a miracle. I want to grab your hands when you choose to pray instead of shut down because it’s a miracle.

We like the neat and tidy story of the miraculous. We like the fireworks, the stunning, the surprising. We like the roar of the ocean parting, the sound of the Israelites’ feet marching over the sandy ground to safety.

It’s funny how easy it is to forget that the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for a few hundred years before this miracle. It’s easy to forget that they wandered for forty years in the wilderness after that, angsty and bored of manna (another miracle) before reaching the promised land and watching the walls of Jericho fall down (yeah, miracle).

It’s our human nature to brush over the painful in between. In our pain we forget that our God is the God of all things, not just big things, and so we lose sight of the slow miracles happening all around us. It doesn’t feel miraculous, to show up to a therapy appointment or to receive prayer from a friend. But I can’t shake that it is, that it is miraculous to partner with God when we’re in the mysterious in between.

So, this is for you if you’re living a slow miracle, if you’re camping out in the space between pain and healing, wondering when God is going to just do the darn thing. He’s doing it right as you read this. And maybe the journey doesn’t look like how you’d expect, or you’re worried he’s forgotten you. The journey never looks like we’d expect (I wish it would), and he hasn’t (he never leaves you). Keep being faithful to the slow miracle. It matters just as much as the big ones.

Questions to explore:

What slow miracles are happening in my life right now?
Where am I longing for God to miraculously intervene? Has he intervened in small ways I haven’t taken the time to notice?
What slow miracles have I experienced in the past?

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

Relate 3/8/22 Relate 3/8/22

RELATE READS: Book Recommendations from the Relate Church Staff

“With social media, streaming platforms, and endless options for entertainment, it would seem that the days of the book are over, right?

Wrong.”

RELATE READS

With social media, streaming platforms, and endless options for entertainment, it would seem that the days of the book are over, right?

Wrong.

According to BookNet, book sales in Canada increased throughout the first half of 2021. The year prior, the famed 2020, broke records with the number of books that were purchased. It seems the humble book isn’t gone, and bookworms everywhere are rejoicing.

This begs the question: What book should you add to your reading list? We talked to some of our staff to find out what books have impacted them. Read on to find out!

ANGELA DOELL, Lead Pastor, recommends The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves and The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty and Community by Curt Thompson. She says:

I recently read both of these books, one soon after the other. They gave me language for some of my own complexities and helped me better understand some of the beautiful and complicated people I love and serve. There were lots of aha moments over here! Dr Curt Thompson, the author, is a psychiatrist who explains our neurobiology in light of theology. I finished these books with an intense sense of awe for God and His creation. Our lives aren't problems to be fixed but full of potential to create truth, beauty and goodness.

BRANDON DONNERY, Youth and Young Adults Director, recommends Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He says:

This is the best book I have read on the value of community. While this book was written in 1939, the wisdom here is still so applicable to our lives together. His thoughts on burden-bearing community and the death of real community due to our over-sized expectations are stand out!

LILLIE BUNNETT, Reception and Administration Assistant, recommends Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. She says:

This is an ouch hallelujah read. It’s a Christian allegory that describes the bumpy road of life as we walk with Jesus--it’s messy, it’s trying and in many ways unsafe, yet the most beautiful and fulfilling journey. I felt so encouraged by this story that I’ve given this book to as many people I can!

SARAH ROBERTS, Accounting, recommends Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices by Julie Clawson. She says:

One book that I really enjoyed reading is called ‘Everyday Justice’ by Julie Clawson. This book talks about our everyday choices and how they can have a big impact even globally. Many different ethical issues are discussed and the best part is, Julie talks about how being informed about social justice in our society is also a way of loving God and our neighbours. Although there are big issues all around the world that seem too big for us to handle, our little decisions to make better choices and be informed can have a global impact.

DAN COMRIE, Valley Campus Pastor, recommends A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie. He says:

Learning to pray effectively and consistently is maybe the single most powerful thing we can do in this world, and this devotional book by theologian Dr. John Baillie is a great resource. The book offers a 31 days worth of daily prayers for the morning and the evening. If you’re looking to grow in the area of prayer, this one’s for you!

ALEXANDRA FULLER, Director of Counselling, recommends Suffering and the Heart of God by Diane Langberg. She says:

This is probably the best book I’ve read on suffering. It’s geared towards counsellors, pastors, and those in the helping profession, but I imagine most could get something profound out of it. Langberg, a trauma therapist, blends great theological insight and trauma theory with practical tools for caring. She’s real about sin and suffering, but hopeful too. It’s an incredible read.

MARV MCGEE, Executive Pastor, recommends Paul: A Biography by N.T. Wright and Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor. He says:

If you want a “deep read” about the Apostle Paul and the start of the early church, then this book is for you. Reading this book gave me insight into the historical context of the church starting in parts of the world that were fully “secular” and how Paul had such an impact on the ancient world but also on the world of today. What was personally encouraging to me about this book is that although Paul faced great opposition, the power of the Gospel is always greater.

This has got to be the best creative writing I’ve ever experienced from a Christian author! The pictures that she paints with her words drew me into this book quickly. She points out that when we go through difficult or “dark” times, we often question where God is. This book helped reinforce that God walks with me in the dark times and to reflect on the things I’ve learnt during those times, that strengthen who I am as a Christ follower.

ROD DOELL, Pastor, recommends A Burning In My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene Peterson by Winn Collier, The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas, and Until Unity by Francis Chan. He says:

I have read more books over the last two years than the rest of all my years combined. Well, I actually love to listen to them while I am working in my garage. Don’t judge me. Audible has been a gift. Here are a few that have helped turn a bunch of my questions into footsteps on this crazy journey we are all in.

PS. We’re not judging you, Rod! We believe audiobooks count!

Alright, now it’s your turn! What books should we add to our reading list? Comment below. Happy reading, Relate fam!

Relate 4/29/21 Relate 4/29/21

The Life and Times of Jesus Christ: Recommended Resources

As a church family we are on a journey to know Jesus more, and with that goal in mind we’re adventuring through the Gospel of John together. Line by line. This is the good stuff. It’s so rich! Regardless of what your relationship with Jesus looks like - There is much to discover. The author Madeline L’engle said that it takes a lifetime to learn a person, as she was writing about marriage. How much more to learn God?

Because there is an endless depth to Jesus, we have a few recommendations on resources that you may find helpful. We plan to release updates as we go, but here are some excellent books, videos and Bible reading plans that we have enjoyed to get you started!

RECOMMENDED WATCHING:

GOD by The Bible Project - Learn and understand the complex identity of God (8 minutes)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN by The Bible Project (9 minutes)

THE CHOSEN - A multi-season series about the life of Jesus. Excellent for families, and for anyone really.

WORD STUDIES: MARTUS / WITNESS by The Bible Project (5 minutes)

WORD STUDIES: CHARACTER OF GOD by The Bible Project (6 short episodes)

Letters to Myself: Lillie Bunnett

We asked some of our staff and Dream Team to write a letter to their “March 1st Selves”. There’s something healing about taking time to acknowledge both the pain and the joys of this season, and constructing them into a meaningful narrative. This has been a hopeful exercise, and we hope you enjoy reading them as we post them over the next little while. If you’re up for it, grab a pen and paper and try writing one to yourself! What comes up may surprise you. - Relate

Dear Lillie,

I know you cling to routine. You find comfort in knowing that what you planned to happen, happens. You look forward to the days during the week that you get to see all of your friends and talk and laugh and hug and just be, without limitations. Remember when God spoke a word over your year? Depend. Yeah, you are about to understand that on a deeper level. Remember when He reminded you that you are called to a life of dependence on Him alone? I know you crave independence; you crave to create the path before you-- to be the pioneer that plows the ground on which you will walk. But to live a life of dependence is to cling to God, even when life is uncomfortable. And even when the path in front of you is not your preferred route. The path will change significantly. It will be dug up and redirected.

The entire world will have their lives put on pause because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The old normal will be gone and a new one will begin to form. It will hurt and make you sick with anxiety.

You already feel as though you have no idea where to plant your feet. You already feel that your life hasn’t met your expectations. And I know that you are already scared about what the future holds. So, I am sorry that soon, those feelings will be magnified. You will feel immense grief for the loss of your old routine and an overwhelming sense of frustration that you don’t have control. You will see it as chains at first. But God will reveal to you a deeper revelation of what He is doing in this season. This time of slowing down will not be stagnant.

Before the pandemic, you had begun to push your hurt down and ignore it. You knew that it would come back up eventually and erupt with an overflow of emotion. But you didn’t think it would be so soon and under these circumstances. In a season of pause, you will be forced to press play on the feelings of hurt and shame again. You will feel like sand, slipping through cracks in crumbled pieces. You would normally flee when these feelings rise up, but you won’t be able to go anywhere.

Shame will move in relentlessly. Your past mistakes, imperfections and weaknesses will take center stage in your thoughts. You will begin to question why you deserve God’s grace, especially when you’d been so negative and pessimistic. One night, as you sit on your front steps crying, God will speak to you. He will remind you that He is filled with mercy and that He does not look at what the world looks at (and that “world” includes you), He looks at the heart. God doesn’t have taste; He sees the broken, ugly and most shameful parts of you and is moved to compassion not disgust. Grace isn’t grace without an undeserving recipient.

There will be much to learn and press through soon, but the lover of your soul will not leave you. He will mend and rebuild what is lost. He will orchestrate all things for good. On your long walks through the neighbourhood, He will remind you that He sets the pace, directs the path and journeys with you—on your mundane strolls lost in thought and when your heart is so weak that one step requires more strength than you can muster. In the unknown you will learn to trust the One who knows all.

It won’t be easy to adjust, and you in all your stubborn ways will not take it well (this season has helped a lot with stubbornness, but we still have a long way to go). Trust me when I say that I am grateful for this change. I would not have chosen it myself but then I would not be made aware of the things in my heart that needed restoring. God would not have moved in the same ways. Your heart was becoming stiff and insensitive as you built up iron walls to protect yourself against hardship. Just know your defence system isn’t the walls you’ve built but the God who was raised from the dead for you. You won’t be let down or abandoned, now or in the battle to come. In times of stillness and silence, God will be with you. In times of anguish and worry, God will be with you. And when you choose to trust you will step into what you were created for, to be dependent on God wholeheartedly.

Watch as God moves like never before. You get a front row seat.

Love,
Lillie

(P.S. you will also laugh more than you have in a long time and learn to find joy in things that you had once taken for granted. But, mostly you will laugh, hard, until your stomach hurts and maybe make a fool of yourself on Zoom calls.)

Relate 5/11/20 Relate 5/11/20

Letters to Myself: Alleya Donnery

Dear Alleya,

I know that it’s a full-on Sunday with you setting up the Fast Track, making drinks at the coffee bar and cheering Brandon on from the front row, but I need you to take a moment to read what I’ve got to say. First of all, I’m sorry to have to tell you this as I know your world is just starting to look normal. It’s been a rollercoaster since Dad passed but you’ve been strong, and God has been so close. You should know that in the next few days, not just your world, but the whole world is going to change. It might look scary at first, but your eyes will be opened, and you’ll see God like never before. What you’ve heard in the news about China, well that’s coming here. At first you’re not going to grasp the extent of it, and then it’s going to feel a little overwhelming, but I promise you it does get better. With the changing of so many things like your job, your interactions with people and most of all your presumed idea of normal, you’re going to need to make room to grow. I’m learning this now, so it’s best to make you aware, that our brains are operating in a state of “error” in this time. You’ll experience weird dreams, trouble sleeping and hyper-sensitive emotions, and you’ll lack the ability to concentrate. All of the luxuries we assume as ordinary will be unavailable for an unknown amount of time. Honestly, I know it’s a lot to hear, but there is gold on the other side. Not that this is over, I’m still in it, but once the disillusionment of fear dissipates, you’re going to see everything from a new perspective.

Take a breath for a minute, as I know that’s a lot to take in. I want you to look around the church today and notice all the little things. Take note of the way people embrace one another, the sound of chatter in the foyer, the shaking of hands during meet and greet, the bass in your chest during worship, the communal press during the pastor’s word. All of these things we so easily mistake for normal, you’re going to grieve in the coming weeks. Sundays now might be the best and the hardest of all the days in the week. You see, we will switch all services to online gatherings. Thank the Lord for the internet and all of the ways we can connect with people but know that it’s just not the same. There is this tool we use called Zoom and it allows us to virtually meet with one another. I know you’re wondering, “what happened to Skype?” But nobody really knows. It’s so different from meeting in person, but at least it does give us the ability to see each other.

That fear I mentioned earlier, that won’t come right away. You’ll underestimate the chaos that will ensue with this pandemic. You won’t fear the virus and you won’t be afraid of getting sick, but you’ll worry for those in your world who might. You’ll be afraid of the term “indefinite,” because for some reason everyone is using that word even though there is so much negative connotation around it. Fear has a way of either pulling us away from God or pushing us towards God. I am so grateful that He is the foundation you build your life upon, and for that reason fear will point you to God. It creates almost a desperation on the inside of you to be near to God, to be with Him. Now that’s not to say things don’t get foggy with fear and it’s hard to navigate what you’re feeling, but at the end of the day, I know that I know that I know God is with me, He is for me and He is working things out for my good, and yours.

It’s been a strange time to grieve the loss of Dad as well as the loss of my sense of normalcy. I think adding to it is the lack of sleep, escalating my emotions, and I find myself crying at the most random of times. I can’t help but think that if Dad had passed during this season instead of the last, Mom wouldn’t have had the comfort that she did in that time. Her community of friends and church family wouldn’t have been allowed to come over and comfort her. Moreover, we wouldn’t have been able to have the memorial service like we did. It may seem odd, but I truly think that people received Christ at that service, and that is how they are going to make it through this season. Mom seems to think Dad would not have done well in this time, that he would be one of the extra cautious people who buy mounds of toilet paper from Costco. I can see it actually, him having the whole garage as a stockpile for cleaning supplies, canned goods and toilet paper. But knowing the generous man he was, he would have given it away to all the neighbours and people in need.

So that gold that I talked about, I’m starting to see it now. I’m 7 weeks into this pandemic and my eyes are opening to see what God is doing around me and in me. Prayer I think is one of the most evident good things that has come out of this. A passion for prayer is being stirred up on the inside of His people and it’s beautiful to see. A reverence for His creation is being recognized more so than ever before. Like, we can’t believe how beautiful the trees are, or how breathtaking the mountains are. The fact that we live in the most gorgeous part of the planet and didn’t really notice it before, but now we are seeing God’s hand on all of it. I have a new appreciation for hugs, like the good hugs that last more than two seconds. The ones where you feel as if peace is transferring from the other person into you. Man, am I excited to give people hugs one day hopefully soon.

Alleya, you are strong, you are loved, and you are going to be okay. Actually, better than okay. And on the days that you feel weak, press into God. And the days where you feel strength, press into God. Breathe in and welcome Holy Spirit into your everyday. I know that there have been ample seeds planted in this unprecedented season, and it’s our job to tend to them. So, continue to tend to the seed of prayer, the seed of awe and the seed of gratitude. God’s got you and your family and there is gold in the midst of the storm.

Love,
Alleya

Relate 4/10/20 Relate 4/10/20

This is a strange story

When I was a kid, I used to want to be a writer. A songwriter specifically. Could I play an instrument? Nope. Could I sing? Not well. But at the ripe age of 8, I was convinced that I would grow up writing hits. I remember writing a song about the Canucks. My grandparents loved it so much, they wanted to send it to the team. Who knows, they thought, maybe they would play it on TV or something? Then, as I grew up, my focus shifted to becoming an actor. I thought maybe I could act in a movie I wrote (and directed). I think since the age of 14, I have had about 5 movie scripts floating around in my head. Now obviously, I haven’t written a hit song (that you know of!), and my script never was written (writers block obviously), but I have listened to enough songs, watched enough movies and read enough books to know that we as humans love a good story. Our hearts actually crave to be immersed in a story that inspires, evokes joy, and brings us deep hope. One other thing I have learned about stories is that unless you are into obscure foreign films, you like your hope-filled stories to follow a relatively linear fashion. You want the story to begin with a protagonist, who though they may have some baggage, they are an essentially “good” person. You can root for them! You then want a conflict or opportunity to arise that forces them to face a challenge, whether that be internal or external. If the story is any good, there must be a point where you as the audience aren’t sure if they will be able to accomplish what has been placed before them. Maybe they doubt themselves, or the enemy is too great. They are struck down, but in a moment of internal strength they rise back up to conquer what lies ahead. In the end, they have discovered something about themselves deep within while also making the world a better place. Throw in a love interest of some sort and you have a story that you and I can get behind! This is Disney. This is Lord of The Rings. This is Star Wars. This is Shawshank Redemption. This is Love Story by Taylor Swift.

Alright, maybe you have a more sophisticated palate. Maybe you don’t like your cookie cutter endings. Less Marvel, more Martin Scorsese. But I bet, at the very least, you like your stories to have a satisfying ending. Think about it, is there anything worse that being totally engrossed in a TV show and they ruin it at the very end? No matter how much you liked the lead-up, the end frames your perception of the entire thing. You may be able to say that there were certainly elements of the story that were compelling, but I would venture to say that unless you were at least somewhat satisfied with the ending, it would be tough for you say you enjoyed the story.

Now I say all of this not to vent about that last season of whatever show frustrated you, but instead to understand the scandal of the Easter story.

This past week in Youth, we have been taking a look at the “I AM” statements of Jesus. These are loaded statements that Jesus made about Himself, that make a claim both about His divinity and character. We did this mini study in order that we would better understand who Jesus was as we head into Easter. For Friday, the statement of the day is from John 14. In this passage, Jesus makes the following claim to His disciples:

“I am  the way  and the truth  and the life.  Noone comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14 and 15 recounts Jesus’ departing teaching and instructions to His disciples before His arrest, trial and eventual crucifixion. He tells them that they aren’t to let their hearts be troubled, as He is preparing a place for them. When the disciples, seemingly frustrated and confused, ask Jesus how they can know where He is going, Jesus’ makes the bold claim that He is the way, the truth and the life. If they want to come to God, they are to continue following the way to God (Jesus).

This claim of Jesus to be the one true path to God may be the most controversial claim of all. This runs counter to a world full of subjective realities, spirituality that preaches “many paths lead to one god” and alternative “gospels” that place the self at the centre. If you track the gospels, you see that the disciples spend the entire story playing catch up to Jesus. In Matthew, for example, they don’t name Jesus as the Messiah until the sixteenth chapter. And even after they begin to see who Jesus truly is, they can’t accept the story. Jesus gives them glimpses into the future, and they don’t want to hear it. They reject the idea of a messiah having to die. As you and I would too. Here is the beautiful thing about Jesus, however. He is patient with His followers. He doesn’t make them sign an agreement ensuring that they are all on the same page about the journey. He doesn’t begin by giving them the run-down on His divinity. He begins with a simple invitation: “Follow me”. And yet, we see at the seeming end of this walk with the twelve, Jesus spells out the reality plainly.

I am the one way to God.

I am the truth of God.

I am life embodied.

There is one path to God, and I am it.

Now track with me for a minute. I will get back to this claim in a moment. The story continues, and it isn’t what Peter the others want or hope for. Their rabbi is arrested. The twelve flee, and in fear of their own lives, they inevitably deny any association with Him. He is accused, tortured, ridiculed, forced to carry the instrument of His death up to Golgotha. Then, in a shocking twist, the hero doesn’t escape. He doesn’t discover any inner power to get Him out of the bind He is in. He dies. At least that is how the spectators see it.

We as 21st Century followers of Jesus have the benefit of the full scope of the story. We know that Sunday comes. We know life conquers death. And I am very glad to know this, but I think because of this, the potency of Friday maybe doesn’t hit us quite as intended. To those on the ground level, this was not a good Friday. This was disappointment and disillusionment. The climax of their three-year journey was that the other guys won. This was not the story they wanted. We wouldn’t want it either. We wouldn’t write something like this. If I stopped the reading story here, you could consider me an unsatisfied reader. In fact, I would go as far as to say that If Jesus came merely as a choice for us to choose from to help us on our life journey, there are likely better options out there. Sure, Jesus was a great teacher, but His story leads to death. More than that, He tells His disciples that in order to truly follow Him, they must too pick up their cross. There must be a better narrative that brings me what I long for at only a fraction of the cost. At first glance, with no knowledge of what’s to come, it would appear that following Jesus leads to a kind of suffering that you and I would not accept for ourselves. Even Jesus’ closest associates backed out at the last minute.

Thank God this isn’t how the story goes! First, Jesus knew the full story. He knew that He had to die. But He also knew He was going to be raised up! Second, and this might rub you the wrong way, this notion of Jesus as an option was not given to us. Jesus made sure of that. In the last moments of His life before death, He spelled it out plainly. He made it clear that He wasn’t a choice, or a perspective, or a path to truth. He was (and is) the way, the truth, and the life.

It was as if Jesus was saying “In a few hours, the single greatest event in history is about to take place. Whether you agree with me or not, everything is about to change. Your opinion will not change reality. What I am about to do will make a way for a relationship with God, which is the sole reason for your existence.”

This is a strange story. It is brutal. It is unpolished. It is unexpected. It does not fit into my boxes. Being that I value my self-preservation, I may not have chosen this story. It doesn’t jive with where I am going. Good news is that Jesus doesn’t give me the option of it being A story, but THE story above all stories. It is either true, or it is wrong. He was who He said He was, or His followers are fools. Thankfully, through the work of the Spirit, and my own experience with His love, I have come to believe that in spite of my resistance, Jesus is who He says He is.

In the west, Easter has become a cultural staple. That time of the year where, for a day, we take a moment to reflect on the story of Jesus. For many of us, we are touched by the story of Easter, so it is a special day. Or maybe you don’t even believe God is real, but you come to Church or say a prayer on Easter because it is what you have always done. And that is okay, just like the disciples, Jesus is patient. And while I do not intend for this to be overly confrontational, I am aware that it might sound a bit…. heavy. That is because the true story of Easter has a certain weight to it. Right in the middle of the story of Easter are these claims:

Jesus is one way to God.
Jesus took on all our wrongdoings on the cross. He suffered in our place.
Jesus loves you so much He DIED for you. Let me say that again: He died for you.
Jesus rose again. He defeated death.
Jesus calls His followers to give their full allegiance to them.

However, you slice it, those are big claims. Claims that beg a response.

Easter is an invitation to be a part of a story. A strange story. A beautiful story. A story that’s climax changes the entire way we frame who we are and why we are. I have come to see and believe that the best thing about life is this story. Freedom is found in surrender to a God who sacrificially loves. You may not agree, and that is okay. My hope in writing this is to simply challenge us to not skip past Easter season like it is background viewing. An old story that we go through once a year. It is as potent today as it was 2000 years ago, and it has the power to transform lives in the same way it did for those who first experienced it. In a world crying for inspiration, joy and a deep-hope, I don’t know of a better story to be engrossed in.

I would like to leave you with a quote from the 20th Century thinker C.S. Lewis. An accomplished scholar and atheist, who came to know believe in Jesus later in life.

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

Brandon Donnery

Youth Director

Relate 4/7/20 Relate 4/7/20

I'm Prepared.

After my initial intense fight response to the global pandemic, I’ve finally taken the time to settle down and acknowledge my feelings about this season: I have a lot of questions that no human can answer and I don’t feel prepared for this. These feelings have been real, overwhelming and difficult to control considering the circumstances. The combination of living on my own and working an essential service in healthcare at this time has left me fearful, anxious, and lonely. But God has been relentless in showing me the truth, that it’s not about what I think I can do or my situation, it’s about what He’s done and is still doing through it all.

When I ask Him, “Why!? Why would you let me be alone right now?” He responded with something He told me at a Heart & Soul last summer: “That’s why I brought you here, so you don’t have to be alone.” He’s prepared me with a community for a time such as this. Though we cannot meet in person, I have already been connected to faith-filled people. I am not alone.

When I ask Him, “Why?! I’m not prepared for this!” He responded by triggering my memory to the past Tuesday nights at Relate, Practicing Presence. I had been resting with the Holy Spirit and waiting on God to speak for a while, showing up as much as I could. One particular Tuesday night He told me that it wasn’t about me, that it is about showing His glory. I am ready.

When I ask Him, “Why!? Why do I have to be a leader? I don’t want to be the one to lead at work!” He responded by showing me that He’s been preparing me as a leader for months, by being a facilitator for Freedom Session. I had been working through the same steps as my group of young women for several months, but I was called to be one of the people to guide them through it with encouragement, prayer, and authenticity. I am a leader.

When I ask Him, “Why!? I’m scared!” He’s responded by reminding me of how I’ve stepped past fear in the last few months: by accepting opportunities to speak in front of others, by asking people to pray over me, by being vulnerable with others. And for all of those things, I was incredibly afraid, but it always worked out in the end. I am brave.

And even still, after He’s answered me, I respond with “But God, ARE YOU SURE?” And like the true God that He is, He has been responding to me with His written truth:

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Mark 8:34-37 MSG

Once again, He’s reminding me about what He’s told me before, that it’s not about me, it’s about Him, and it always has been. If I can take a moment to stop doubting myself and what He’s calling me to do, whether that be to pray for someone, encourage a friend, or be Jesus in my workplace, I can see that He is the one who is leading me through it. Despite fear, He is showing me how to keep going. Despite anxiety, He is showing me how to embrace suffering. Despite loneliness, He is saving me. I may not feel confident in my own choices at every moment, but I can stand firm in knowing that He is in the driver’s seat, I just have to remember that He is there. This is the truth that He’s reminding me of in this season, that I can choose to see Him over everything. He's got me right where He wants me, and He’s prepared me for such a time as this.

Here’s what I’ve learned through it all:
Don’t give up; don’t be impatient;
be entwined as one with the Lord.
Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.
Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!
Psalm 27:14 TPT

Cher Carrasco

Dream Team

Relate 1/29/20 Relate 1/29/20

Let's Talk

“At once Jesus had His followers get into the boat. He told them to go ahead of Him to the other side while He sent the people away. After He had sent them away, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone. By this time the boat was far from land and was being thrown around by the waves. The wind was strong against them.

Just before the light of day, Jesus went to them walking on the water. When the followers saw Him walking on the water, they were afraid. They said, “It is a spirit.” They cried out with fear. At once Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take hope. It is I. Do not be afraid!”

Peter said to Jesus, “If it is You, Lord, tell me to come to You on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come!” Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. He began to go down in the water. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” At once Jesus put out His hand and took hold of him. Jesus said to Peter, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”

When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. Those in the boat worshiped Jesus. They said, “For sure, You are the Son of God!” (Matthew 14:22-33 NLT)

I read this passage and think, “how could Peter doubt Jesus?” I mean he saw with his own eyes, Jesus walking on water! I proceed to think, “that would never be me.” However, if I’m honest, that is me in most difficult circumstances. When the storm comes, I look to the waves. I look to the raging sea and begin to drown in the depths of it all.

If I’m overwhelmed, I panic—I retreat, or avoid, or distract. And then I sink, weighed down by the heaviness of life.

It was when Peter began to look at the waves around him, that he started to sink. When we try to carry the weight of our hurt, our broken, we sink. There is something so beautiful here though. When Peter took his first steps on the water, he was looking at Jesus. When we look at the wind and waves we sink because they are bigger than us. But, when we look to Jesus, we walk on water because He is greater than the wind and waves.

For me, the storm that tries to steal my focus is depression. It is a struggle that has brought me much confusion, anger and shame. And, I find it quite easy to revert to shame. It feels as though I’ve created a gap between myself and God. I quickly get distracted by the wind as it whips my head downwards at the raging sea under my feet. It feels so out of my control that I sit and weep. I cry out to God, “Lord, why does it have to be this way? Look at the pain I’m in!” I beg God to take the hurt away.

I have experienced such heartbreak and disappointment, and all I want is to avoid it; I will manipulate my life to do so. Yet, the very place I’m repelled by, God is compelled to move towards.

For the longest time I didn’t understand why my battle doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. I thought it was my fault, I wasn’t close enough to God, I wasn’t praying or worshiping enough. How could I be so in love with Jesus and still struggle? I thought that if I could just get out of the valley, I would be free. The truth is, I don’t know when the storm will stop. But, when I look to Jesus, I walk on water in the midst of the raging waves. And that is the victory! The God of the universe walking with me, strengthening me. I can’t walk without Him.

One night, I was in tears. I had lost sight of my hope. All I could see was the chaos around me. I heard God say, “Heaven is real.” I needed to be reminded of this. There is a hope to cling to when life is heavy, a promise that my brokenness will be restored and a God who came down to hold my hand and pull me up.

If you are struggling with your mental health, my prayer is that you would cling to Hope. You can be surrounded by darkness, but you yourself are not dark. You are radiant with His light. There will be highs and lows, that is how the sea moves, and there is no shame in that. You are enough because HE is enough.

“The way to survive the waves is to keep the beat of your heart in rhythm with the One who walks on water.” – Ann Voskamp

Lillie Bunnett

Reception and Administrative Assistant

Relate 1/26/20 Relate 1/26/20

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting :: Day Twenty-One

“Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.” (Psalms 119:109 NIV)

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)

God wants us to live a life of dependence on Him alone.

Woah. That word dependence scares me. I like my independence. I like to be in control. I don’t want to feel restricted and it seems as though being dependent means I’ll be enslaved.

But whether we like to admit it or not, we are all dependent on something: our own strength, our head-knowledge, words of affirmation, relationships, success, the list goes on and on. We live in a world that tells us we should be independent and put ourselves first, but we’re completely dependent, on that same world, to feel secure.

What a striking thought it is that independence, striving towards freedom in our own strength, can leave us in chains and it is only when we are dependent on Jesus that we receive true freedom. That’s how God designed us--to be completely dependent on Him.

He knit you together in your mother’s womb. From the beginning of your life, you were called to dependence. You started, just a small cluster of cells whose life was completely in the hands of the Almighty God. We can get so caught up with the pressures from the world around us that we forget we’re still the same (we’re just a slightly bigger cluster of cells now). We are still completely in the hands of our Almighty God.

God is too good not to be faithful to you all your life. Every breath is dependent on him. Every morning you wake up is a direct result of His faithfulness. What a loving God we serve!

Be encouraged today, the same God who spoke the universe into existence, who raised Christ from the dead, holds you so dear.

“He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence.” (Psalms 91:2 TPT)

Lillie Bunnett

Reception and Administrative Assistant

TODAY’S PRAYER:

DAY 21 - JANUARY 26

Pray for: Vision for 2020

Ephesians 3:14-19

Pray for continued clarity of God’s vision for you personally, and for our church family. Pray for expanded territory, increased leadership, building opportunities and growth. Pray that every member of Relate Church would take ownership of the vision God has given us. Pray that we would be rooted and grounded in love, filled with the fullness of God, experiencing the above-and-beyond plans He has for us.

RECOMMENDED READING:

RECOMMENDED WATCHING:

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:

THE SABBATH PRACTICE:

Recommended Resources

Practicing the Way

RECOMMENDED READING

RECOMMENDED WATCHING

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

About The Author:

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

About The Contributor:

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

ON SLOW MIRACLES

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR:

RELATE READS

RECOMMENDED READING:

RECOMMENDED WATCHING:

RECOMMENDED READING PLANS:

TODAY’S PRAYER:

DAY 21 - JANUARY 26

Relate Church