I don't deserve this!

How many times haven't we said that? Or made that comment when we hear of someone else's woes? This Sunday we'll consider whether or not we are getting what we deserve as we answer the question, "How do you become right with God?". Sunday morning, 10 a.m. at Lucknow Community Christian Reformed Church. See you then!
~Pastor Rita

Harry Potter on vacation

I took along a stack of books to read on my week of vacation at a sunny resort. I didn’t get through them all – with so many of my siblings around the talk and laughter afforded far too many distractions for any serious reading. But I had some kids’ books with me, perfect for some light reading around the pool or on the beach.
And that’s what I got – some pleasant, light reading with just enough character development and plot depth to retain my interest.

I was reading J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. With all the talk going around about Rowling’s work, it was time that I found out for myself what lurked between the covers of these books.

My initial impression of the first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was that I was reading some sort of a blend of Nancy Drew and Caspar the Friendly Ghost. Remember Caspar? He was one of the feature characters of Saturday morning cartoons, circa 1965. I can still sing parts of the theme song: Come along with me, my name is Caspar, and I want to be a friend to you... and then something about the ghostly trio. I don’t recall my parents or the church sounding any warning bells over Caspar, or for that matter about sitcoms like Bewitched and its cast of witches and warlocks (remember Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur?). A common thread running through all of these stories, including Harry Potter, is the comedic element of botched magic – cars that fly (Chamber of Secret); tortoises incompletely transformed into teapots, with a tail for a spout; and an invisible cloak which slips to Harry’s shoulders, revealing only his head floating in the air (Prisoner of Azkaban).

Through the tutelage of some wise professors, wizards and witches at Hogwarts School, Harry and his friends learn some valuable life lessons: conquering their fears by having the thing most feared take on a shape one finds amusing (Riddikulus); discerning the “deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts” as revealed in the magical mirror of Erised; and Head Master Dumbledore’s wise words concerning loved ones who have died: “You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry,” said Dumbledore, ”and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him,” (Prisoner of Azkaban, 312).

In these first three novels of the series Harry and his friends find themselves in a variety of tight spots as they solve various mysteries and defend the underdog. Evil is frequently disguised as good and good is often mistaken for evil. I suppose that only by reading the remainder of the series will I learn whether or not good ultimately triumphs. Will Voldemort by destroyed? And who would have the power to accomplish this feat? As the series moves towards its conclusion the books become darker in character – Harry is getting older and the intensity of his battles is steadily increasing.

The antithesis is not new – it runs through every fairytale, every cartoon, every novel, every sitcom. And it winds through all of our lives. This cosmic battle between good and evil is, of course, most clearly defined in the Bible.

Parents who have concerns about these novels do a disservice by forbidding their children to read them. Rather, I encourage you to read the novels for yourself, then use this wonderful opportunity to talk to your children about what they are reading. Name the fear, identify sin and evil, and we will be able to address it.

That’s what the Bible does, names the enemy. In Ephesians 6:12 we read that our struggle is “against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” One of Dumbledore’s wisest statements is spoken to Harry: “Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name of things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself” (Philosopher’s Stone, 216).

Those of us who fear the Harry Potter series would do well to follow this advice. Name the fear, and then laugh in the face of the ridiculous, defy that which is evil, and remain confident that good ultimately does conquer evil, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
~Pastor Rita

An Angry God?

We prefer to talk about a loving, kind, generous God. We're hoping that God will wink at our indiscretions, look the other way when we lie or cheat. But God is "terribly angry" about the sins we commit, and he demands justice. So what's a sinner to do? We'll look at this dilemma on Sunday morning at 10:00 at Lucknow Community Church, 293 Place Street.
~Pastor Rita

no coincidences

This Sunday, Feb 17, Ken deBoer looks at Acts 8, Philip's encounter with an important Ethiopian official, to remind us that "there are no coincidences". [As an aside, looking at this picture, I don't think it would be a coincidence if this scene of a wife in the snow might lead to a husband in hot water!]
~Pastor Rita

"We're shopping" or "Worshiping"? The beginning of Lent is a good time to take a look at the motivation behind our acts of worship. Join us, this Sunday, Feb 10 at 10:00 a.m. as we look at Jesus' "beware of..." warnings.
~Pastor Rita

SnowFest 2008

It was a perfect day for SnowFest- lots of snow, mild weather, and the beautiful setting of Bob & Wanda's property/retreat. The toboggans, skis and snowshoes all got a good workout (to say nothing of those who used them!). And Bob's shop provided a perfect spot to thaw out. Our worship yesterday afternoon in God's creation rivaled our worship in church that morning. I'm certain God smiled on us in both places!
~Pastor Rita