Feasting in the midst of fasting...and Furious Pusuit

My unintentional blog fast has come to an end. What with all the power outages caused by relentless wave after wave of winter storms, renovations going on in the house and then my wife Colleen heading home on the 20th to spend Christmas with her folks...the fast became inevitable. Colleen's Dad was diagnosed with cancer in November. And her parents in their 80's living in a small town on the prairies north of Regina, were suddenly challenged with traveling to the big city every couple of weeks for chemotherapy and radiation. So, Colleen went home to help out, and spend time with her Dad.

For our family, it is the first time in 30 years that we have not all spent Christmas together. It was certainly not the same...but at the same time it did have it's moments of beauty...moments of divine light and eternal warmth. My relationship with my parents for the last 12 years has been broken. Ever since the tragic death of my youngest brother, the relationship has been held together by threads and bandaids that have lost there adhesiveness. We have talked maybe a couple of times a year, conversation has been strained, more like strangers. I have prayed, I have cried and wept from the depths of my soul for something beyond us...for someone that could really see what needed fixing. Twelve years of praying, and not seeing any tangible results leaves one wondering whether God has left the room, or in his old age has grown hard of hearing. But His timing is perfect, as if each of us has a story captured in a hour glass, each grain of sand that makes up ourlives is poured out in perfect timing...His time.

So, I invited my parents for Christmas dinner, it would be the first in twelve years...I was not hopeful. I went through the motions, the words came out like a weary worn pre-recording. As in the past, I expected...well we're busy, we've made other plans...maybe another time. But completely off guard, the answer was yes. I was filled with joy, excitement, happiness...fear and anxiety all at the same time. At the same time, I invited my youngest sister who is a single mom with two young kids to join us.

I can only say it was one of the best Christmas's we've had. There was beautiful fellowship, there was no doubt a Love beyond anyone us had permeated our presence that night. There was hugs, kisses, tears and healing. There was stories from days gone by. Suddenly my daughters were reunited, lives and relationships weaved miraculously back together...Grace floed from the fount of every blessing. I have to be honest, after praying for twelve years I was doubtful...but we really, really do have a God whose name is Love...who's greatest concern is to weave that Love through the very fabric of our lives.

So all though the fast has come to an end...I have feasted, and have had such a revelation of Christmas...of the heart beat of God, a Love so Divine, so incredible being birthed into the midst of humanity...into the messy stables of our lives.

In the days to come, I will be writing about, " Furious Pusuit: Why God Will Never Let You Go " by Tim King and Frank Martin." Tim sent me an e-mail with the gracious offer of the book to read, and asked if I would write some posts on the book. I have glanced at the book, and I am excited...in the midst of burdensome religion, of trying to get our ducks all in a row, of programs, of struggling to figure it all out...this is the breath of fresh air we've been looking for.

Mark Buchanan, who I had the pleasure of being in a writing workshop he led a few years ago says this about the book...

“These days, I’m more inclined to think God’s anthropology–what God thinks about us–packs more heft and punch than our theology–what we think about God. Tim King and Frank Martin seem to think so too, and have written a book that draws us into the wideness and deepness of God’s heart, showing us His fierce and tender affection even for sinners like me. King and Martin remind us that the good news has nothing to do with how good we are, only how loved.”
– Mark Buchanan, author of The Rest of God and The Holy Wild

Professor, New Testament Theologian and author Scot Mcknight; and Pastor, Author, Emerging Church Speaker Brian Mclaren say this...

“The message of this book can’t be stated often enough: God loves us. Oh yes, he does. Furious Pursuit shows us that God’s love is active and vibrant and on the chase for you and me. Others have said this before, but Furious Pursuit takes us one step further.”
–Scot McKnight, author of The Jesus Creed and Embracing Grace

“If you’re sick and tired of spiritual to-do lists, religious shoulds and oughts, and the self-hatred that comes from feeling unacceptable, you’ll find in Furious Pursuit better news of a better story. Tim King and Frank Martin have given us powerful truth, well-told."
–Brian McLaren, pastor, author of A New Kind of Christian and The Secret Message of Jesus

So in the days to come...more on " Furious Pusuit."

Comments

[chris]

Wow Ron. Glory to God for His patiently gracious timing. I'm so glad to hear of the wonders of reconciliation that occured with your family this Christmas.

[Kathryn]

That makes wonderful reading on this bleak January day. I'm so glad for you.
New Year blessings

[Annie]

O Joy! Why, I wonder, is it that through loss we lose even each other when we need each other all the more? The Lord has smiled on you and has answered your prayers.

I struggled with how to say that my prayers are with your wife and her parents as they struggle through this difficult time. May God give them the strength to endure and to know that he is with them every moment.

And, again, I have missed you!

Annie

[John Smulo]

Ron,

I'm thrilled to hear of how well your Christmas went. Thanks for sharing this.

[franklin]

good to have you back...

[Rick Meigs (blind beggar)]

Great to have you back, but I know how important it is to have a break.

Ron,
I liked reading about your parents- it gives me hope for mine, and yes it's definitely about his timing isn't it?

Paige