Dr. Brian Toews’ Blog

I have been reading on focal living for my Worldview Conference seminar. One of the interesting ideas I came across was how risk is an important part of our engagement with the creation. Think about the risk involved in playing sports virtually. There is none. But playing sports on a field or court involves all kinds of risk for bodily injury. How much does the technological world bar us from the risks that come with living? How does this impact the development of important virtues like courage and faith? Serving Christ is not safe nor is it intended to be safe. We do not know what awaits us - love or hatred, life or death, mourning or dancing. In Ecclesiastes the Preacher tells us that anything can lie before us as we walk in this world. The most frequent exhortation in Scripture is "Do not fear." Don't try to escape a world full of risk; live in it. Fear not and take refuge in the Lord.

Posted by Brian Toews at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In chapel on Monday we sang a hymn titled, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go." One of the lines that remained with me is from the third verse, "O Joy that seekest me through pain." I have thought a lot about how David in the book of Psalms presents his life of suffering and pain. Yet within the psalm he will go on and declare the praise of the Lord or rejoice in his goodness. The words of this hymn helped me to think about these psalms. It seems that in the midst of our suffering and pain God seeks us, wanting to show his power and goodness through the pain. Christians, walking in faith, hope, and love, can live in the joy of the Lord. Paul's letter to the Philippians is a New Testament letter with this message. Paul, while suffering in prison and perhaps expecting to die, repeatedly calls for the church to rejoice in the Lord. Look for the joy of the Lord seeking you in the difficult times of life.

Posted by Brian Toews at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)