http://www.kingstreet.org/index.php/blog en dave@kingstreet.org Copyright 2008 2008-04-28T22:17:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/why_doesnt_god_heal_everyone_who_asks/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/why_doesnt_god_heal_everyone_who_asks/#When:22:17:00Z Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone Who Asks? Healing is a tricky thing sometimes. Not only does it cause immense amounts of joy for those who experience and witness the healing, but it also produces great amounts of pain and sadness for those who go without being healed. It is one topic which causes both believers and non-believers, alike, to question God’s sovereignty and power. One often finds themselves wondering why God would choose to heal some but then leave others to suffer in their pain.  Does God just reach down His hand to the earth and pick out some people to heal and leave others to continue in their equal amount of discomfort and suffering? Is it something we have done to warrant God’s seeming ignorance to our heart-ache and pain; a certain sin that only some are guilty of? The book of Job, found in the Old Testament, provides great insight into pain and how and why God allows some to suffer so greatly. Job was the most faithful and righteous man of his day and yet God allowed, at Satan’s request, him to endure a wretched, unfair series of calamities—his crops and livestock were ruined and his family, minus his wife, were all tragically killed. Job’s friends offer him advice, suggesting that perhaps he has angered God or committed a great sin so that now he is receiving his due punishment; however, Job refuses to believe that God is punishing him and instead tries to understand what God is teaching him through this great amount of suffering. Job, although he questions God’s reasoning, chooses to remain faithful and to trust God throughout his trails. Job chose to seek the Giver (God) not because of His gifts and blessings; for when the gifts and blessing were taken away, he still chose to seek the Giver. In return for Job’s faithfulness, God rewarded him with an even greater livestock and crop and blessed him with more children. Faith is not reserved for trusting God for miraculous healings and immediate intervention in our lives. Faith is about depending on God, even when the results don’t always correspond with our request. A painful experience can bring about two reactions; we can choose to hate God for allowing us to go through such misery. Or, we can choose to turn to him with our pain and our inability to understand. We can choose to believe Him when he promises that he has prepared a much better place for us- a perfect place without any pain; a place opposite of such a pain-wracked earth. In his book, The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis wisely observes, “God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. Of all people, Lewis truly understood what it was to be shouted at by God, having lost both his mother and his wife to cancer. Yet, he is able to see that God only desires to have His beloved creation, his children, listen to Him and know that He is a faithful and caring Father. Maybe God uses pain to tell us to trust Him, as a child trusts their father. Maybe God is not trying to tell us anything specific each time we hurt. Pain and suffering are part of our planet. What else could God use to speak loudly enough we would pay attention? What else would convince us that this world is not running the way God’s creation is supposed to run? Without feeling pain and suffering from time to time, we would neglect to notice and thank God for His presence, His faithfulness and His intervention in our lives. 2008-04-28T22:17:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/what_happens_when_we_pray/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/what_happens_when_we_pray/#When:19:35:00Z Why did Jesus have to die? “I had often heard my religious friends say, ‘Jesus died for our sins’ or ‘Jesus died to save the world.’ I could see how the good example of Jesus’ actions might possibly influence some men and women to live better lives, but ... I certainly couldn’t see how Jesus’ death no matter how noble or unselfish, could possibly make up for all the evil in the world. In my opinion, if God existed, He would either have a loving and forgiving nature or He would not. If He wasn’t inclined to forgive men’s shortcomings, I didn’t see how Jesus’ death could change His mind, and if God was a forgiving sort, I couldn’t see why He would need a human sacrifice to prove it.” – Alan Scholes Did Jesus really have to die? Couldn’t God, in His infinite grace just have wiped the slate clean and said, “Don’t worry humanity – we’re good now. I know you’ve done some things you’re not proud of, so I’ll give you a fresh start. No questions asked.” I know that if God said that directly to me I’d take him up on His offer in a second. There are fumbled moments in my own life that I definitely wouldn’t mind having erased – probably something we can all relate to. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis explains the penalty of regrettable offenses. The character, Edmund, has committed a bitterly selfish act that demands the penalty of his life. Incredibly, in a grace-full and self-sacrificial act, the Lion Aslan voluntarily dies in the boy’s place. But, why would Aslan agree to die for a treachery he did not commit? And why would Jesus do the same for all of humanity? Jesus, the Son of God, acts as a god who defines himself as Love – He lays down his life for his friends. Maybe you’re saying, “But that’s not right!” And it’s true – Jesus did nothing wrong and yet he chose to die in our place for the wrong we did, and do, and will do. But that is not the end of the story. As Lewis explained, “when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, ... Death itself would start working backward.” Lewis’ fiction is a reflection of the very real actions of Jesus Christ who, in his perfection, was a sacrifice that death could not hold. Perfection is not a claim that any other human can make, which makes Jesus the only one to ever walk the face of this earth that could pull this off. He came to seek out and save what was lost, and He is the only one who could ever qualify. Why did Jesus have to die? Because without his intervention, our shortcomings would separate us from God forever, even after death. In His perfection, Jesus is the only one capable of shattering the rules altogether. And He’s on our side! Thank God for that. 2008-03-03T19:35:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/fresh_start/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/fresh_start/#When:14:00:00Z This is the time of year where many make new commitments for the upcoming year. New commitments can range from living a healthier lifestyle to advancing in their careers. The calendar provides the opportunity for a fresh start, so why not take advantage of it! As I began to reflect on the upcoming year I decided to narrow down my focus as to what I want to accomplish as I embark on my fresh start. There is a powerful biblical reference that has always impacted my thinking and in turn impacted my lifestyle. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 says, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” In essence the Apostle Paul is emphatically pointing out that his resume is not on paper with a long list of education and experience, but rather his resume is found in the hearts of those he has invested in. Paul is emphasizing that the true test of one’s life is the legacy he or she leaves behind in the people he or she invests in. For the Apostle Paul, pouring into the people around him was his greatest commitment. I think this thought given to us by the Apostle Paul is a great new year’s challenge to undertake for our own lives. When it comes down to it, we can gain all the wealth in the world, and reach the pinnacle of success in our workplace, but all of this means nothing if the people in our lives are left without any positive evidence of us being involved in their lives. With this fresh start of a new year I am making a renewed personal commitment to intentionally invest in people. After all, it’s the human soul that lasts forever, as opposed to material things that will eventually rot, rust and be destroyed. My hope is that you would travel this same journey - invest in people, so you can leave a legacy that lasts. Pastor Joel 2008-01-01T14:00:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/worshipping_the_messiah_at_christmas/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/worshipping_the_messiah_at_christmas/#When:06:00:00Z This is the time of year where many make new commitments for the upcoming year. New commitments can range from living a healthier lifestyle to advancing in their careers. The calendar provides the opportunity for a fresh start, so why not take advantage of it! As I began to reflect on the upcoming year I decided to narrow down my focus as to what I want to accomplish as I embark on my fresh start. There is a powerful biblical reference that has always impacted my thinking and in turn impacted my lifestyle. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 says, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” In essence the Apostle Paul is emphatically pointing out that his resume is not on paper with a long list of education and experience, but rather his resume is found in the hearts of those he has invested in. Paul is emphasizing that the true test of one’s life is the legacy he or she leaves behind in the people he or she invests in. For the Apostle Paul, pouring into the people around him was his greatest commitment. I think this thought given to us by the Apostle Paul is a great new year’s challenge to undertake for our own lives. When it comes down to it, we can gain all the wealth in the world, and reach the pinnacle of success in our workplace, but all of this means nothing if the people in our lives are left without any positive evidence of us being involved in their lives. With this fresh start of a new year I am making a renewed personal commitment to intentionally invest in people. After all, it’s the human soul that lasts forever, as opposed to material things that will eventually rot, rust and be destroyed. My hope is that you would travel this same journey - invest in people, so you can leave a legacy that lasts. 2007-12-01T06:00:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/following_jesus_in_the_21st_century/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/following_jesus_in_the_21st_century/#When:03:11:00Z The 21st century has brought many trials and struggles to the Christian faith. People following Jesus have been faced with new difficulties and new mindsets that question and doubt their beliefs. The North American culture has produced an influential number of post moderns who believe that truth is relative and that Christianity can be shaped and molded according to a person’s specific needs. It seems like Christianity has been turned into a customized product where any consumer can add and eliminate features that they don’t like, almost like a new customized computer. As a result, a consumerism mindset has formed where people clash and argue over different issues, nothing much to do with following Jesus or fulfilling his mission, but simply a debate over what features should stay and be added to feed our consumption our religious product. Recently, the hot debate in Christian circles is people’s preferences between Traditional and Contemporary. Whether this refers to traditional hymn music versus contemporary loud music, or the traditional black suit versus the contemporary jeans and a t-shirt, or even a traditional looking church building versus a contemporary multipurpose building, there seems to be an ongoing debate of which one is right and the other wrong and which one the church should adapt. But are we wasting our time debating and asking which is better? Have we been focusing on the wrong issues? Has consumerism crept through the back door? Is there something more worthwhile talking about then traditional versus contemporary? Ed Stetzer, author of Comeback Churches says this in his book, “The wrong question is whether your church is ‘traditional’ or ‘contemporary’ and which is better. The real issue is whether your church is biblically faithful, acting as the presence of Christ in the community at large, able to relate Christ to people in culture, and is on mission. In short, is your church missional?” Is our church missional? Better yet, are you missional? What does being missional look like? In the simplest terms, “being missional” means “being a missionary” So the questions arises, are you being a missionary? Are you engaging the culture around you and bringing them a message of grace or are you content with a me-focused consumer-driven religion? Following Jesus in the 21st century means getting back to the basics, getting back to the mission, and intentionally reaching out to those that don’t know Jesus and extending grace to them. It means putting others’ needs before our own needs. It means loving and accepting people before they choose to follow Jesus. It means entering the mission field of Durham with a heart full of grace ready to live life with others.  At King Street Church we are striving to be a missional church that’s creating missional followers of Jesus who will engage the culture around them and bring a message of grace to people who may not otherwise hear such an impactful message. We are striving to be a church that is known for extending grace and loving people that no else might love. We are striving to be a church where life-change happens in people that we influence. Following Jesus in the 21st century is simply participating and believing in Jesus’ mission and watching the world change one person at a time. So be a missional person… Pastor Josh 2007-11-02T03:11:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/thanksgiving/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/thanksgiving/#When:10:00:00Z There are a whole host of demands in life!  There are demands on our time, finances, relationships, and on us personally.  Life and demands go together.  We most definitely live in a demanding culture.  The argument of nature vs. nurture has raged on as long as there has been human beings.  Do we have intrinsic reasons for who we are and how we behave or are we shaped by our environment and influenced more acutely by outside forces?  Well, most of us can be demanding!  Maybe it’s because we’ve been nurtured by a culture that has taught us that in order to get what we want, we need to ‘demand it!’ Or, maybe it’s because by nature human beings have a ‘lower nature’ that calls us to demand their own way? I love October for lots of reasons:  Being with family over a nice hot Turkey Dinner, playing some football with a bunch of other middle-aged men who for just a moment pretend were 16 again.  The fall colours are pretty amazing to watch, but whether it’s a death blow to my lower nature or whether it is a clear call to go upstream in a demanding culture - Thanksgiving invites me to be less demanding and to become more grateful. C.S Lewis once said that he feels badly for the person who does not believe in God because when they’re walking along the beach and they see a breath-taking sunset - they have no one to thank!  I recognize that there are some people who struggle to believe in God, but if you are on an honest search, why not consider spending some time looking upclose at nature and the detail and beauty that the fall season reveals.  Is it not reasonable to make the faith assumption that an intelligent and beautiful being created this world and the harmony and order that goes with it.  Every season comes in it’s time - year after year, decade after decade as this massive globe spins on an invisible axis. Who do you have to thank these days?  Is it a parent, spouse, friend, co-worker, employer ... God?  Everyone has someone to thank, in fact, living a grateful life is a sign of being well-adjusted.  Not one of us is self-sufficient, or self-caused; each of us has someone specific to acknowledge who has given us what we have today.  Our lives don’t come from our selves, they are given to us from above.  I hope you can take some time this month to reflect on how you’re doing with the demanding spirit that is often associated with our nature or with how well you are doing at resisting the cultural pull that often attempts to encourage us to remain demanding. “Thank you” - two words that liberate us from being demanding and always help us to alter our perspective - we have many people to thank and one God above whom we owe our very lives to.  A Scriptural thought to reflect on this month - “The earth is the Lords and everything in it; the world and all who live in it” - that’s you and that’s me!! Yours for being thankful ... and less demanding, Dave Larmour Lead Pastor 2007-10-01T10:00:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/back_to_school/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/back_to_school/#When:06:00:00Z September is ‘back to school’ time … and all of the parents said - Weeehooo!!  There’s something about the fall air that I love - It’s fresh, cool enough to sleep anytime during the day … but it’s what it reminds me of that’s most inspiring.  The fall season reminds me of going back to school and being with friends that I hadn’t seen in almost 10 weeks!  10 weeks was a long time for a kid!  I have to admit it … I miss school a little bit; don’t you?  I think what I loved about school the most was the friendships that I made and the memories my friends and I created together - whether we were bored in class or whether we were tying our friends shoelaces to his chair without him knowing about it.  It was always hilarious to see him try to get up and walk while he dragged his chair down the aisle. Do you remember your favorite teacher?  What was it that made them your favorite?  Was it their stern way?  Was it all of the detentions they handed out to you or the times they humiliated you in front of your class mates?  No, your favorite teacher was your favorite because you remembered them for their ability to teach and to teach creatively, lovingly and with much grace.  Some people think God is like the students worst nightmare - the teacher who loves to hand out eternal detentions.  I had a teacher in grade 6 - his name was Mr. Boast.  He was the best teacher I ever had!  He made learning fun.  He had clear boundaries, but he understood grace and rewards too.  He happened to be the coach of our volleyball team and I distinctly remember his generous way.  He would bring a bunch of donuts from Tim Horton’s every game and if we did well as a team … guess what happened?  Yeah, the donuts were dispersed!!  He knew the way to a grade 6 kids head … it was through my stomach (reverse gravity - I never quite figured that out, but it worked every time!) :-) I think the best teachers are the ones who teach kids relationally and who inspire them to learn and love!  The ones who hand out recognition and reward and constantly catch kids doing the right things!!  I can’t think of a better teacher than Jesus.  He was constantly turning everything towards love and learning.  He believed that human beings can be at their best when they are in relationship with God.  God’s into rewards.  In fact, the Bible says that at the end of our life - this side of heaven - we will be rewarded for how we’ve lived.  Just think - God is big on reward and recognition!! When I think about God and his desire to teach, he always teaches relationally.  He doesn’t give us a book and ask us to memorize it and repeat it back to him for either a passing or failing grade.  In fact, God wants us to learn from him so that we can become more like him … teaching other people what it means to live life in a productive and inspiring way.  How is your life these days?  Are you living a productive life and does it inspire others? Going back to school is possible.  God’s classroom is life and he invites each of us to put him in the proper place as ‘lead instructor’.  I think learning from God should be an adventure - one that leads to a life of reward!! Yours for going back to God’s classroom, Dave Larmour Senior Pastor 2007-09-01T06:00:00-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/rest_this_summerbut_dont_coast/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/rest_this_summerbut_dont_coast/#When:11:33:01Z The summer months provide a great opportunity to refresh, refuel and refocus on what’s most important in life.  In Canada we spend a great deal of time during the winter months ‘dreaming about the summer’ and imagining what we’ll do when we feel the sun’s heat again.  So, what are your plans this summer now that you have defrosted from our Great Canadian Winter?  The heat of summer is here ... right now! I hope you take some time to ‘refresh, refuel and refocus’ yourself.  Life is pretty crazy busy these days and taking time to ‘get centered again’ is a must.  Trips to the park, walks at night, barbecues in the backyard and maybe even some time to read that book that’s been staring at you for the past 6 months, might be just what you need!  The Bible talks about a principle that is very much part of the rhythm of life - it’s known as ‘Sabbath.’ Sabbath is that ‘pause button’ that we have been invited to hit every seven days in our lives.  It serves like a reset button intended to help us ‘refresh, refuel and refocus.’ God is pretty serious about Sabbath - he pressed the pause button himself as a model for us to follow.  If God saw the need for a ‘reset button’ then it must be a pretty good idea. He was so serious about it and understood our design and the rhythm of life that he put it in his top 10 list as a commandment to obey.  How are you doing these days with promoting Sabbath in your life? We’re better off if we withdraw daily, detach weekly and escape annually for a time in our lives that is just for us.  Reorientation is required on a regular basis if we are to stay on course.  The gravitational pull of life tends to be such that it takes us away from the center - from the things which matter most.  Good habits are easy to give up and destructive ones are hard to quit - why is that?  I can’t think of a more beneficial habit that we should cultivate then the one of integrating Sabbath into our lives.  Jesus said; ‘we were not made for the Sabbath, but Sabbath was made for us.’ It is intended to serve us so we can lead lives that are meaningful and ‘on-purpose.’ This summer, take time for Sabbath, but make sure you fill those ‘pause moments’ with thoughts about God and his design for your life.  Give yourself this summer to rest, recreation and relaxation, but may it all be done so that you can be at your best for God - leading a life that follows him closely!  Make sure you find yourself in a regular place of private and public worship - worship is good for the soul and part of our divine design! Yours for enjoying the heat of the sun and the companionship of God’s Son - Jesus.  Make sure you find yourself in a regular place of private and public worship - worship is good for the soul and part of our divine design! Dave Larmour Senior Pastor 2007-07-01T11:33:01-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/celebrating_imperfect_fathers/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/celebrating_imperfect_fathers/#When:21:00:01Z One of the most pivotal and influential relationships a person can have is a relationship with a father.  Fathers in many ways help shape the people we are as individuals today. Unfortunately, the father figure in many people’s lives is a far cry from the ideal Bill Cosby type. When I think of Fathers I obviously can’t help but think of my own father.  Personally, I can honestly say my father has been a mentor to me.  I remember many trips to McDonald’s where dad would bring me out to see Ronald McDonald and friends.  It was a highlight for me.  It became such a great tradition that I often had a particular way of laying out all the contents of my Happy Meal.  The fries needed to be placed on a certain angle with the cheeseburger in the middle, and juice on the side (of course lest I forget my toy laid secure on my lap).  It was during a particular visit to the local McDonald’s where my dad taught me a most life-changing principle.  As I sat at the table with all contents in their designated spot my dad leaned over and took one of my fries.  As I watched my dad do this with utter horror I blurted out, “Dad, those are MY fries!” It was at this point that dad gently began to explain to me that if he had not gone to the counter and bought those fries for me I would not have any to enjoy.  This lesson has followed me to this day.  All that I have and own is really not mine at all, in fact its all the Lord’s.  The Lord is gracious enough to let me manage His resources.  As influential as my relationship with my dad has been it has not always been a perfect one.  My dad many times was tied up at work.  I honestly don’t remember one soccer game in which my dad stayed to watch.  I also remember many birthdays that went by with dad out of town.  As much as these negative experiences affected me, I do remember my dad sitting me down once I myself began to have my own kids.  My imperfect dad, now grandpa, apologized for the times he was not around and made other things a priority over me.  He admonished me not to do the same with my kids, a lesson I am internalizing.  However, the greatest lesson he taught me on this day was not so much to spend time with my kids but to apologize when as a dad I miss the mark. Let’s face it - fathers are imperfect beings.  At times I hit God’s best with the way I act and react towards my kids, but on other days, I miserably fail.  If there is one thing I have learned as a young father it is to admit my mistakes, and even at times utter the words “I’m Sorry.” Once I have uttered those words I need to move on and make sure I do it right the next time! Pastor Joel Spiridigliozzi 2007-05-27T21:00:01-05:00 http://www.kingstreet.org/main/aging_well/ http://www.kingstreet.org/main/aging_well/#When:19:36:00Z “Is not wisdom found among the aged?  Does not long life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12) Getting older is a privilege!  The aches and pains that go with it don’t make us feel too special, but a privilege it is!!  Do you remember when you were just a kid, if you were like me you always wanted to be older.  If we were 7 we wanted to be 10.  If we were 10 we wanted to be 13.  When we were 13, we desperately wanted to be 16 so we could experience the freedom of having our driver’s license and the independence that came with it (though we didn’t expect to have to pay for our own gas or car insurance, but such is life).  With independence comes responsibility...this is the part of aging that I don’t see as necessarily as a benefit.  As our independence increases we find our responsibilities increase as well.  We don’t like that part of aging!  Oh, if we could be young again and have less responsibility.  I remember when the only thing I needed to worry about was getting on my bike after school and meeting up with my friends at the corner store.  Those were the days!  Now, I watch my own kids and I realize how simple life was then and how fast we really do grow up. There was a song in the 80’s that I remember listening to by a band named Ultravox - “Forever Young” (now I’m showing my age).  Our culture isn’t big on aging.  In fact, youthfulness is celebrated and aging is resisted.  We color our hair to hide our gray whisks.  We get face lifts to deal with the wrinkles.  When asked our age, we do anything to hide the truth about how old we are.  Why do we work so hard to deny ourselves the privilege of aging?  We try to cosmeticize (sometimes for good reason) our movement towards becoming an ‘older person.’ I sometimes wonder who we’re kidding.  Life and the aging process is impossible to stop, equally impossible to slow down.  Time has a way of having an impact on us all - there is no escaping it.  To quote a well-known Soap Opera - “As time passes through the hour-glass, so does the Days of Our Lives.” Time waits for no one!  Despite our efforts, we definitely can’t stop it and we can’t even slow it down. Aging happens to the best of us!  But with aging (if we live right), so comes wisdom.  With each passing life-season comes a renewed perspective, a greater maturity and a more well-adjusted self-concept not to mention a deeper relationship with God.  The Bible describes aging as normal, as part of our journey towards God and his Heaven.  It is hard to watch the ones we love age and move towards the exit door of this world, no denying that!  But isn’t aging and dying supposed to be a celebration in the Christian community?  Then why do we resist aging so much?  Maybe it’s because we want to be valued and our culture seems to place a premium on being young.  Maybe it’s because it reminds us of our own mortality and we so desperately want to live forever!  But we can … we really can live forever!  Not this side of heaven, but on the other side Jesus promises us that we can be with him. It is a beautiful thing to watch people age with grace and with wisdom.  I meet older people all of the time who inspire me with a youthful attitude, Christian value system, child-like innocence and a vibrant faith and they model for me what it means to age with dignity and respect.  They don’t complain about life, or about the aging process, but they’re thankful for each new day and the adventure that it brings to them.  I don’t want to be ashamed of my age, but proud of it and thankful for each passing day that God permits me to have in this life.  Aging-well is more art than science!  I want to be a gifted artist that offers more value with each passing year. I agree with Job, wisdom comes with old age and understanding with long life. Yours for aging well, Pastor Dave Larmour 2007-03-31T19:36:00-05:00