Love Is Moving Issue 29 - SEPT/OCT 2018

ISSUE 29

CANADA’S CHRISTIAN YOUTH MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/NOVEMBER 2018

SEARCH FOR SATISFACTION Layton MacCabe

LIVING FOREVER

Sarah Evangeline

THE DATING PROJECT

THE DATING PROJECT Grace Young

GLORY IN YOUR GRIEF Heather Mitton

CONTENT 4

Satisfaction

9 Invitation

15 Grief

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The Dating Project

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Self-Bettering

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR The signs of the times seem to be more clear than ever.

As I chat about spiritual matters with baby boomers and above, I hear insinuations that we’re teetering at the brink of the end of the world. The way things are going culturally seems to be a clear indication of the speed and direction that the majority of humankind is heading—think of the title of a famous AC/DC song as a clue for where that might be. I hear despair in the exclamations, “Look at American politics! Look at the agenda of Justin Trudeau! Listen to the music on the radio!”

On the other end of the spectrum, when I have conversations with teens in highschool or early adulthood, I often hear a very different conception of reality. Out of the mouth of adolescents comes, “Yeah, things are bad, but we’re making them better. Racism! Sexism! Poverty! We’re on it.” The young adults have realized their potential, they plan on leaving the world better off than the way they inherited it.

Guess what? Both ways of seeing the world have value and truth.

God does not want us to be a friend to the world. The political, entertainment and education industries are the voices that reveal the dark heart of our generation—or humans in general—since Eve and Adam first tasted the bitterness of sin. Yet, despite the very real darkness that makes us want to head for the hills and stick it out until heaven, Jesus seemed to have a pretty involved mission for us based on His infamous Sermon on the Mount.

These two competing visions of purpose and life here on earth get down to the most philosophical question you’ll read in this magazine: Why do we exist?

Out of this most fundamental question, we are led to wonder what God wants us to do with this strange existence.

In Love Is Moving issue 29, we’re getting back to the basics of what our beloved Saviour, Jesus Christ, has to say about how He’d like to see us live in the world. He has some interesting points that we might need to be reminded of in these weird times.

This issue is packed full with ideas and stories of how to live out those timeless words of Jesus in a very unique cultural moment. What does the Sermon on the Mount have to say about the world of today?

I’m going to harken back to the cliche but life-altering words of Mother Teresa that drip with the truth of Jesus: “We can’t do any great things, only small things with great love.” Sometimes I think we need to take a step outside our echo chambers, shrink our vision down to size, and realize that God doesn’t want us to change the world, He wants us to live with a light burden and focus on loving Him and the people right in front of us.

Warren Wong Cover Justin Stuart

Sincerly, Conor Sweetman

Contact info@loveismoving.ca including submissions and subscriptions Editorial Consultant Bill Fledderus

joinlovemovement

@loveismoving www.loveismoving.ca

ART DIRECTOR MARK STEWART

TheEFC.ca ISSN 2561-5262 (Print) ISSN 2561-5270 (Online)

EDITOR CONOR SWEETMAN

Publisher

CO-FOUNDER JOEL GORDON

Circulation and Distribution Anita Kwan

CO-FOUNDER BENJAMIN PORTER

Marketing Director Gina Waugh

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THE HUMAN HUMAN THE SEARCH FOR FOR SEARCH SATISFACTION, SATISFACTION, ANDYOU YOU AND

Words by Layton MacCabe

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lessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” declared a man named Jesus on a mountain 2,000 years ago. Since then, those words have been treasured, recorded, translated, re-read, and highlighted over and over again. But one might rightly ask to what end this teaching has been preserved: What sort of words can remain true across barriers of language, time, and culture?

The amazing thing about Scripture is that it is not merely a passive set of writings. God speaks specifically to each generation, each culture, even each individual through each passage. So what exactly is God sharing with us, the rising generations of the 21st century, through this promise of blessing?

An interesting place to focus our contemplation in this passage is hidden specifically in the words “hunger and thirst.”

Jesus pronounces this blessing over those who have an appetite for the things of God, those who value the understanding of His word like they value the consumption of their daily bread.

If you were asked to come up with similar terms that we use these days, you’d probably come up with some phrases like “consumption of media” or “money hungry,” and also highlight how “hungry and thirsty” have evolved to have a decidedly sexual connotation. It’s evident our society seeks

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“A little over a year ago, I realized I was living in my own book of Ecclesiastes.”

to sate our appetite for purpose and fulfilment through pornography, wealth, success, and entertainment, among other pursuits. It never crosses our minds that righteousness might be the only place we’ll finally quench our thirst for something more and fill our lives with meaning.

A little over a year ago, I realized I was living in my own book of Ecclesiastes. Much like that book’s author, Solomon, who tried to find satisfaction in relationships, wealth, and power, I had been trying to find fulfilment in worldly endeavours.

These things might not seem bad or negative (my particular struggle was my hunger for success and recognition through various pursuits, like school or my music career), but they distracted me from what Jesus promises those who seek after him.

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life,” Jesus reminds us in John 4:13.

For me, this realization led me to discover that thirsting and hungering for righteousness would require me

to adjust my media intake. Rather than indulging in the digital gluttony I had become addicted to, I would have to plug into my Bible app or a sermon series on YouTube more and more if I really wanted to learn to seek earnestly after righteousness.

It turns out righteousness is an acquired taste—the beginning of that path is a hard one.

But after enduring the seemingly bland world for a while, I made a wild discovery: with prayer and practice, you can learn to hunger and thirst for righteousness. It IS possible to grow to love reading your Bible just as much as you love watching your favourite show on Netflix, contrary to what many Christians will tell you! The honour and thrill of being in the presence of the Lord in worship is something we can be drawn towards!

The devil wants nothing more than for us to view our relationship with Jesus as a chore or a mere discipline. To a great extent, he has succeeded in our church culture in North America. The amazing truth is this: Jesus is alive, He’s our best friend, and He calls us to a life of action in this world.

In your pocket right now, a device exists that has more access to the Word of God, music that is glorifying to God, and opportunities to encourage other believers than anything known before in the history of the world. The great tragedy of this

generation is that we’ve used it to try to satisfy our flesh, whether that’s through brainless entertainment, social popularity, or porn.

We have to break this cycle, using our socials to God’s glory rather than our own, modifying our streaming habits to reflect our faith, and engaging with God’s Word. I’m not saying we need to cut all non-Christian entertainment from our lives, but I am saying most of us need a redistribution. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. Why starve ourselves spiritually when we have a source of the bread of life within our grasp?

Pray for a hunger, a thirst, an appetite for things of God. Even though it might seem a chore to nibble on the Word of God now, it can be something you long to feast on in the future. And best of all Jesus has spoken a blessing over you as you pursue it.

Layton MacCabe Moncton, NB Christian Fregnan

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WHY DOESN’T GOD STOP MY PAIN? Words by Sawyer Bullock

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he Bible speaks at length about suffering. It’s strange that we don’t.

Whether it’s cancer, a car crash, heartbreak—take your pick—we all experience pain and loss in this life. For those in the Body of Christ, this can make us wonder why God allows us to remain in certain seasons far longer than we would think necessary. “I know that God can change this, so why doesn’t He?” We know from His Word that God doesn’t desire His children to suffer, nor does He cause it, but He certainly allows it. Even further, Jesus calls us blessed! We can find at least two reasons for this in Scripture: 1) so God may be glorified, and 2) so we may be sanctified.

thorn in his side which God purposefully allowed to remain: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

“God is not absent or passive. He is active and present in our suffering.”

An immediate example of this is the death of Lazarus in John 11:4, where Jesus says “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Additionally, Paul speaks of a

God will allow our pain to achieve His ends. Suffering can be where excess is cleared (or burned) away. It can be a way of securing goods and removing hinderances. You don’t know what God is bringing you to or protecting you from. We can become numbed into complacency through comfort and contentment. Perhaps God allows suffering to bring us back to Him?

Don’t waste your suffering. Use it to show God’s greatness, the sufficiency of His provision in your time of need, and

the surpassing value of his glory. May we proclaim to the world that “[m]y flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

Can we think of a greater evil than the murder of a perfect person, namely Jesus?

God used the most evil moment in history for His greatest glorification and our greatest good. If He can do that with the greatest of all evils, why don’t you think He can handle yours?

How do we respond to our pain? We respond with faith. We know God’s character, we know His purposes, and we know His promises. Even more, He has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people.

We know God will end all suffering, but it is according to His schedule, not ours. God is not absent or passive. He is active and present in our suffering. “[He] who does great things beyond searching out, and marvellous things beyond number. Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not” (Job 9:10-11).

May we rest in God’s patient plan.

Sawyer Bullock Toronto, ON Hermes Rivera

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Words by Sarah Evangeline

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ave you ever stopped to think about heaven or eternity? I mean really think about it? Eternity is forever.

Heaven is forever.

I used to be a person who wanted to create a legacy here on earth. I think we can all be guilty of that. Who can blame us? Our society tells us to believe in the here-andnow. Our culture teaches us to always put ourselves first. Our world is seriously blind to the truth that God made us to last forever.

When you realize you and I could live forever, everything will change. Your values change, your priorities change and even your general outlook on life changes.

Instead of chasing after a legacy on earth, you will start running toward the gates of heaven.

Everything on this earth will soon pass away. Our titles, money, and possessions will all fade, but God remains forever. The Bible says, God’s plans endure forever; His purposes last eternally. And guess what? You and I are a part of that marvellous plan!

When you and I start to live beyond the here and now, we start living in the light of eternity. Eternity is defined as a deep and abiding awareness of something beyond our borders. God has planted eternity inside each one of us. I want to start living in light of eternity. Like Rick Warren says in his book The Purpose Driven Life: When we get closer to God everything else will become small.

1 John 2:17 says, “This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.”

Just the other day I was having a conversation with a friend about how faith impacts our lives. We were talking about health and how to prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer. She told me what precautions she uses, but she also said something else that was critical. She said, “Yes, I may get cancer, and if I do, so be it. I will work hard to prevent it now, but I am not afraid of it.

I know that after this life, I go to heaven to be with my God, so I have nothing to fear.”

I knew this truth, but once it was said out loud I finally understood it.

Have you ever thought about life this way?

This life is also a preparation for heaven—we must not waste it. When we meet God, He will ask us two questions.

One of them is, “What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?” You and I are called to live a life that pleases God. By the way we live, we must show others we love God. I also believe God will ask us, “What did you do with the gifts and talents I gave

you?” God wants us to use our gifts and what He has given us for His glory and to help build the Kingdom. I hope this does not scare you, but excites you.

The way you live today impacts eternity!

Life is beautiful.

So, have some fun!

This life is to be taken seriously, but I know God is creative and imaginative and takes delight when we enjoy His creation. Scripture says, “There is more in store for us than we can even imagine right now!” Enjoy and love the life God has given you.

Embrace every part of it.

I cannot promise you a life of perfect peace, but I can promise you that— with God—you will have the most abundant joy. It is a joy born deep in your soul when you rise above this world and choose God instead. Being joy-filled means you will still have to work hard and endure tough times, but you will also find that your worth and reason to live come through Christ alone.

The truth is simple: This life is not our home. We are simply passing through. With Christ, you and I are citizens of heaven. And heaven just gets closer and closer each day.

Jesus, our King, will be coming back again.

In a moment, everyone will fall silent. In a moment, Jesus will claim His citizens of heaven.

In a moment, every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord of Lords. Oh, what a glorious day that will be!

“God has planted eternity inside each one of us.

I want to start living in light of eternity.”

I want to put my trust and hope in the God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Can you imagine what it will be like to meet Jesus face to face?

Will you live in light of eternity?

Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel that? That’s life. Your life. What are you going to do with it?

Time seems to be the one thing we will never control. I am only 22, and already I feel time just goes faster and faster.

Sometimes I wish I could freeze time to seize the moment and reflect on what is truly happening. But you and I both know that’s not possible.

By living knowing heaven is getting closer each day, I have decided to make the most of every opportunity. I will live with the vision of eternity in my mind and heart.

I will not waste this life.

I don’t know about you, but I plan on living forever.

Sarah Evangeline Chatham, ON Dino Reichmuth

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Prayer and the Weight of Loneliness Word by Morgan Clark

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tories are faith builders—a source of encouragement which help us recognize what God has done in our lives and in the lives of others. For this reason, I want to tell you a story about how I have experienced the truth of God’s Word in my life. The truth is that God knows my need even before I pray.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches His disciples on how they should pray.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8, ESV).

I think we identify with the Gentiles more than we would care to admit. We hesitate to pray because we have this misconception we have to use the right terminology and express our prayers using eloquent speech; we fear that we will say something wrong.

However, we know God desires us to draw near to Him (Matthew 11:28), that He invites us to make our requests known (Philippians 4:6), and that He tells us to

“pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

As Jesus highlights beautifully, an abundance of well-crafted words is not going to increase the effectiveness of our prayers.

This does not give us an excuse not to pray, but rather offers us assurance that God fully knows our needs in both the said and the unsaid.

My story is from a few years ago, when I was in a season of loneliness. Sometimes when we think of loneliness, we think of it as the result of an absence of meaningful relationships.

But during this time I was not lacking good friends or a supportive family. In fact by the world’s standards it appeared that I should be thriving. I connected with my family on a regular basis, I was living in an awesome community, and I had a handful of close friends; yet I still felt this deep sadness in my heart.

library, and continue to drag this weight along with me hoping it would get easier.

Around two weeks after this journal entry, I was sitting in class when my professor walked in and said that while she was driving to the school God had put someone in our class on her heart. She did not know who the student was, but God told her there was someone dealing with an unbearable loneliness.

As you can imagine my ears perked up as she was speaking, and tears started to well up in my eyes because I knew that person was me.

As she stood before us and prayed for this individual, I could feel the heaviness starting to dissipate. Though if I am honest I doubted that this sense of release could actually be real and wondered if it was just the result of a placebo effect. However in the week that followed, the loneliness did not return.

God did not change my circumstances, but that day He did something in my heart.

When I concluded it would just take a couple of weeks, God said, “No, today.”

At that time I wrote, “I’m hurting. I feel this Though I did not have the words to pray, constant heaviness weighing down on me; God gave them to an unshakable somebody else. He loneliness.” I knew what I needed could identify “I’m hurting. I feel this constant before I asked and what I was feeling He revealed Himself and the cause, heaviness weighing down on me; in a powerful way. but due to the circumstances I an unshakable loneliness.” could not see how these feelings might change, except that overtime the loneliness would become less painful.

For the next week I would continue to wake up each morning, go to class, the gym, the

Morgan Clark Newmarket, ON Freestocks

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Words by Josiah Piett

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ince the beginning of creation, God has revealed His love to humanity through His vulnerability. The Father of all things has allowed His creation to have the choice whether or not they will be in relationship with Him. We see this through the whole Bible, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with the call of the Spirit to all who hear and come into relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Revelation 22:17).

The love of the Father to humanity from beginning until the end has always been in the form of invitation. This invitation is not forced, nor is it a beggar’s plea—it is simply offered to all who will hear.

Even the most devoted follower of Jesus cannot comprehend the full weight of all the implications surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet God allows this incomprehensible action to be explained in such a way that even a child can share this invitation with someone in a few sentences.

God went to unimaginable lengths to express His love for humanity. In spite of knowing the inevitable rejection and misunderstanding that would come from this action, God allowed Himself to be put in a place of vulnerability for the sake of this invitation that has been made available in and through Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

An Invitation from Jesus from the direction you were heading. We can respond by receiving this love and relationship by simply saying yes to God’s invitation.

God’s love for us is revealed through It sounds insane when you think about invitation and accomplished because of the how God acts in comparison to how God sacrifice of Jesus. By inviting us and not could, in light of His power, strength, and forcing us, God has opened Himself up to authority. There is no reason for God to being rejected by His own creation. God submit Himself to humanity through an knows all things which means He died for invitation. Who are we that the Creator of people that He knew all things would would reject him. invite us into a Even on the cross, relationship with “He will not force His love upon Jesus died for both Him? It’s crazy that of the criminals God would even us. Instead He will invite us into being crucified allow us to make him. Yet, this choice. receiving this love and relationship beside as far as the text We don’t deserve shows us, only one with Him.” this choice, we responded to His didn’t earn this invitation. That is choice, yet He freely radical love that offers it to all who will hear. His love for us goes beyond what is comfortable and safe. is bigger than we can even imagine. He has That is a love that is truly being described in made up His mind when it comes to you, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: me, and every human on this earth. He Love is patient, love is kind. It does loves us. But He will not force His love upon not envy, it does not boast, it is us. Instead He will invite us into receiving not proud. It does not dishonour this love and relationship with Him. others, it is not self-seeking, it is not Our responsibility in this invitation is easily angered, it keeps no record of simply to respond through repentance and wrongs. Love does not delight in evil receiving that which God has desired to but rejoices with the truth. It always freely give us. The word “repent” simply protects, always trusts, always hopes, means changing your thinking, or to turn always perseveres.

I think deep down, all of us ask this question of whether we have any significance in this world or not. It’s in that moment when you look up at the stars at night and you realize how small you are.

Or when you are in a busy city and you see the magnitude of people that surround you. Let’s be honest, it can even happen when you see or learn about someone who has accomplished something great in your mind. In that moment, there comes a deep, almost unconscious thought that I think we all ask: “Do I even matter?”

The God who reigns over everything we are able to see, and even the things we cannot see, has an answer for you. Yes, you matter to him—so much so that He would humble Himself to not only live as a human but to be killed by the very creatures He created.

With one purpose in mind Jesus lived, died, and resurrected. That purpose was you, me and everyone on this earth to be able to have this unbelievable invitation to enter into a relationship with God. God saw the relationship He could have with you and said, “I am willing to die for the sake of this relationship.” You are significant, you matter, you are worth it to Him. The Father over all things loves you and is inviting you to have relationship with Him. Josiah Piett Newmarket, ON Joanna Kosinska

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THE STRESS TEST

HOW CAN YOU HAVE PEACE? Words by Josee Foster

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thought I was an expert at defining peace. After all, I did grow up singing cheesy “fruit of the Spirit” songs! Little did I know how little I knew. I didn’t realize peace is a gift, and like any good gift the Father wants to give His children, the enemy wants to steal it.

Life’s tragedies, injustices, sicknesses, and chaos begged the question: What is peace? Some define it as “freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.” But that doesn’t mean it’s limited to forests away from the city, streams of rushing water or even silence. Peace isn’t passive. It’s a fruit (of the Spirit) which means it’s living, and growing. It is alive and active!

In Matthew 5 Jesus talks about blessing.

The central message is that God gives! His very nature is generous. Jesus says that “God blesses those who work for peace.”

The word “work” can be misleading. If you’ve heard the gospel, it might raise some flags. I grew up in Christian environments and still never clearly heard the actual gospel. So, just to be very clear, the gospel (good news) is that we don’t actually need to work for the radical salvation God gives us. He does it all through Jesus, only by grace (He extends love where we would logically deserve punishment) and through faith (when we choose to believe that He truly is that good). The gospel crushes any belief that says we must earn our salvation by “working.”

But the Christian life is one of work. And work simply means “requiring effort.” It’s true that God fights for us, but we do have responsibilities. He split the sea for the Israelites, but they still had to walk through it. Walking is work. Walking is active. In the

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same way, once we receive the free gift of peace, we must use effort to unwrap it. True peace is not dependent on material security or status. God loves showering us in good things regardless of our circumstances.

Some weeks I can be so busy that I hardly sit down. My schedule can be stressful. I can be expected to do the impossible. But I can rest inside because of the peace that rules my heart (Colossians 3:16). Other times I have nothing going on, I could be laying down, and the storm inside hits when I choose to leave the gift on the shelf.

God loves us so much that He intervenes to show us the value of this gift. He doesn’t

“It’s true that God fights for us, but we do have responsibilities.

He split the sea for the Israelites, but they still had to walk through it.” want us to live life without it. He makes us want to unwrap it, and helps us take good care of it. Think of a time you got a new phone, or even a new sweater—you would keep it clean and take good care of it. If it was stolen or broken, you’d be especially upset. A precious gift of such value causes us to go the extra mile to keep it in tiptop shape.

It’s worth going the extra mile to ditch any idea that steals the peace of Christ from inside of you. When I go against this peace, I

always regret it. To maintain peace, you may have to say NO to things you want to say yes to, and YES to things you want to say no to. It may mean cancelling travel plans or saying no to an amazing job offer. It may mean driving somewhere you don’t want to go or saying something difficult.

The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “Blessed (spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will (express His character and) be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

I’ve learned also to be a peacemaker. You may have to verbally disagree with people to create a pathway out of anxiety. You’ll have to actively “walk through the sea.” Speaking truth may cost you a reputation or opportunities—but it’s worth it, because it doesn’t end there. Peace is a gift that keeps on giving. The Lord has given me peace, and through it He has blessed me with freedom to be me. When there’s peace, I know whose I am, and when I know whose I am, I have peace. I am called a daughter of the Living God! He has strengthened me to speak truth in heated conversations, because He is holding my little hand. He walks with me into saying “yes” to things that feel impossible, to go to sleep even when I have a full to-do list. When we do the hard thing, giving Him our YES and the world our NO, we access that “freedom from disturbance” the dictionary talks about. No matter what we see or hear, we feel our insides resting. Our souls are quiet and our spirits tranquil.

But we must first unwrap the gift. Let the Father bless you with peace today.

Josee Foster Lethbridge, AB Xavier Sotomayor

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How did you learn about the FSJ program in Germany, and why did you decide to do it?

My church back in America was planning a missions trip to Germany. As I was considering participating, I also learned about doing an internship there. During the mission trip where we worked on a construction site, I got to know a German pastor who seemed like someone I could look up to and learn a lot from. By the end of the two-week trip, he offered me an FSJ internship. After he laid out the assignments I would be responsible for, I began earnestly praying and seeking God’s wisdom over this, as it is a challenge to leave your country for a whole year.

What are some of the challenges that you have overcome so far during your FSJ? I would say the biggest challenge is the language. Most younger Germans speak good English although they claim the contrary. However, it is not easy to speak English with people out of their 20’s or 30’s. A lot of hard work and patience is required to overcome the language barrier, including receiving constant help from Germans around you in order to learn their demanding but interesting language.

Another obvious challenge is the culture— Germans are somewhat reserved. Although they are very welcoming and very nice people, it takes longer to build relationships in Germany. But once you’re in a friendship, they become your best friend and will do anything for you.

But the ultimate challenge is being out of your comfort zone—leaving a country where you know how things work, and overcoming the daily things that are different than in your home culture and that may even surprise you. You’ll start noticing this increasingly after 6 months.

What are the main cultural differences between Germany and your home country?

Germans love their bread—so much so that they have it for every single meal.

The European culture is a melting pot of different cultures, languages, and people.

It’s tough to put this into words. If you come here, you will meet people from all different countries who think so differently than what you are accustomed to.

What do you like more about your home country and what do you like more about Germany?

Germans are friendly, but it is much easier to connect and build relationships with people from the Midwest where I’m from. I miss this. On the other hand, Germany has the most beautiful cities and landscapes. In our church we have people from 16 different countries. What a multicultural experience to pray and worship the same God together!

What have been your favourite experiences so far?

Everyone who does an FSJ participates in seminars composed of foreigners like myself. You swap experiences and enjoy fellowship with people from different countries—last time we counted 16 different countries in our group. We try to communicate in the mixture of languages at hand which is always really fun: English, French, and some of languages from Africa and the Philippines. A special bond links people who are undergoing similar challenges like learning the language and understanding the culture. This is

something you won’t experience really anywhere else and was one of my favourite experiences. I wish that these seminars were a little bit longer.

Who would you recommend an FSJ to?

This is really a great question. I honestly think every single person would benefit from doing an FSJ in order to grow as a person and in your faith, while also stepping out of your comfort zone into a place where you begin to learn more about other people and about God. In my own country, I know what is going on and feel independent—that changed when I arrived in Germany. I required assistance to buy things at the store, to understand some of the messages on my cell phone, etc. I suddenly realized how much I was dependent on other people. It reminded me how of my relationship with God; I cannot rely on my own understanding, I need to lean on Him so that He can help me.

I definitely recommend an FSJ to anyone who wishes to grow and experience a new level of relationship with other people and with God. What kind of tips can you pass along?

Firstly, start working on the language as soon as possible. The more you learn at the outset, the faster you’ll be able to carry a decent conversation. If you are lazy, you may never achieve the desired level by the end of your term. Secondly, don´t treat your time here as just being limited to a year, as this mindset may hold you back from building long-lasting relationships or to get to know the language and the culture deeply enough that it can become a stepping stone for a longer stay, a place to serve or to study.

Build relationships of a lifetime!

Scan this with the LIM app for more details LOVEISMOVING.CA | 11

THE DATING PROJECT An Inside Look at How Today’s Dating Culture Effects You

When Love Is Moving heard about this American documentary, we thought we should find out more about it for our readers. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Conor Sweetman: Hello, Catherine, tell us a bit about your film and what led you to want to make it.

Catherine Fowler: I was at a party with about a dozen young women who were beautiful inside and out; they had impressive professional careers and had no reason not to be in a relationship.

In this moment, I saw what I now call a “dating deficit,” where there’s a lack of committed dating for no apparent reason. As a filmmaker in Los Angeles, I thought, “What better way to explore the courtship and dating culture than through a documentary?”

CS Who is this movie for?

CF It is for anyone living the single life who is interested in today’s dating culture and what it means for them. It’s even been a helpful tool for parents to walk through with their teens and learn about the issues that young people are facing and what exactly hook-up culture is.

CS What have you discovered through making this documentary?

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CF People aren’t really growing out of the relational contexts or phases that parents expect their kids to grow out of—instead, they are establishing habits that eventually becomes a cycle and lifestyle. We’ve constantly encountered people who are in the thick of the dating culture and want an alternative option to the hook-up norms that are presented to them.

CS What were some things that you found that allow this cycle of hook-up culture to begin? If you’re proposing a solution to the current state of dating, where do you think that we went wrong?

CF What’s happened is that hook-up culture—which can be anything from casual kissing to actually having sex—has replaced

the concept of casual dating. The New York Times tracks the use of this term through the 90’s into the early 2000’s when it came into public consciousness. The mentality began to seep into the shared mindset, creating expectations of low-commitment levels, and sex being treated as something casual. It’s not to say nobody ever dates anymore, but it’s much less common. People can hook-up and get emotional and physical benefits without putting in the hard work of maintaining a relationship—so that’s where it went wrong, when we started having a replacement of the social script.

The social script is never actually written down per se, but it dictates normal expectations of how to behave, and because

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the hook-up culture is the dominant form of romantic interaction, we’re forgetting how to act and abide by the social script in a dating setting. We’re hoping to restore that social script so that people can once again be on the same page and have healthy expectations when it comes to meeting and interacting in a dating setting.

...people have a desire to really connect, but so often the hook-up ideals actually thwart our ability to make that real connection.

CS Why do you think it’s important to re-establish that social script? What do you see as the benefits of having dating as the social norm for romantic development?

with one way of thinking? Especially in the Christian world, where there may be one of two opposite views: way too intense or way too casual?

CF Dating acknowledges the other person as someone who has feelings, a past and a future; someone who deserves dignity. On the other hand, hooking-up treats people as objects and commodities to get something from. It sets up a trajectory for how we’re treating people in general in society. When we look at marriages, they are a result of how we’ve learned to treat people as we grow into adulthood, which in turn forms the children that will be raised.

CF You’re right, dating has this stigma for some people that just seems way too intense, which might scare people off, like, “Does this mean we’re gonna have to look at rings on the second date!?” Instead, the aim is to create a casual dating culture so that it’s not a big deal, you’re just going out with someone to get to know them.

Dating can be seen as a small issue, but in fact it’s a cornerstone issue, as it speaks into how our entire society ends up being socialized. The power of learning how to date is really beautiful, because people start putting their phones down and having good conversation. What we’ve found is that having good face-to-face conversation is actually a novel thing for a lot of young people. We had a story of a young man in college who went out for a burger with a girl he liked—he said it was actually one of the best experiences he’d had in a long time.

His reaction at having just a good, normal face-to-face interaction like that was almost staggering—because it’s so rare. That’s the novelty of it—we need to start making that common again as it helps us humanize one another and calls us to treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

CS So in a weird way, through hook-up culture, we almost shoot ourselves in the foot, not realizing that we actually really need that depth of experience and connection with another person, rather than trying to shortcut it; trying to get the benefits without the actual connection.

CF That’s exactly the point, Conor, it’s really a misguided way of seeking intimacy.

We’re seeking the most intimate form of connection, sex, as the precondition or initiator of a relationship now, rather than the consummation of a fully committed relationship. It’s because people have a desire to really connect, but so often the hook-up ideals actually thwart our ability to make that real connection.

Dr. Kerry Cronin set out some guidelines for her sociology students as they prepared to go out on a date, keeping it fun and not too serious. Some of these rules included asking face-to-face, limiting the physical interaction to a hug and keeping it under $10. Then, after three of these kinds of dates, Cronin says that you should know whether you want to be exclusive with them. From there, you can go through the natural progression and slow build that allows for a relationship to have a healthy trajectory that fosters commitment. By not putting so much pressure on things, it can allow it to grow in a healthier way.

CS How do make sure to not romanticize the era of, say, the 1950’s style of dating?

CF I love Jane Austen novels, and I can relate to that romanticization of the past, but we need to realize it’s never been easy to find love! Interestingly enough, through

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my research, I found that the introduction of the car actually ushered in a new era of dating that took the process of courtship from the front porch to the backseat. It went from a family, church-centric thing and became more of a transactional relationship, where a guy would show you a fun night on the town, and then there might be an expectation for physical reciprocation at the end of the night.

Knowing and understanding history definitely shatters the over-romanticization of that era. There’s never been a perfect time to find love, but we need to work within the confines of our era to do it well.

CS How does this movie connect what you see culturally to what you believe spiritually?

CF It presents the gospel in a way that everyone can understand; it’s calling us to treat one another with greater dignity. One of the highlighted stories follows a 30-yearold outspoken Christian who was led to re-commit to saving herself for marriage. At the end of the movie, she talks about how she realized that she is a true child of God and that she is enough—she doesn’t need to fulfil herself through the perfect career or relationship, but that she finds her worth in the eyes of God. I would say that is the heart of The Dating Project.

CS How would a group or church host a screening or group watching of The Dating Project?

CF The movie is available at Walmart & Amazon to watch on your own or with a group.

You can find screening opportunities and discussion questions at thedatingprojectmovie.com

With The Dating Project, we don’t want to have a condemning attitude, we just want to take a step back and recognize these realities, and then question some of our behaviour and find ways to re-establish our ability to connect in real ways.

CS What kind of steps would you offer young people who may be so acquainted

Conor Sweetman Markham, ON kyle Loftus

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 13

There Is Glory in Your Grief Words by Andrea Nwabuike

I

was sitting at work on Boxing Day, enjoying the slower pace of the day and dreaming of the glorious Christmas leftovers calling to my spirit from home.

My sister was meant to go out to lunch with family so I texted her to check if she had found the restaurant. To my surprise, she told me that they had cancelled their plans.

When I asked why, my sister hit me with news that I had never have expected and will never forget.

It is important to note that my family is not very skilled at sharing bad news. We don’t beat around the bush, believing that a blunt recognition of reality makes life easier.

Instead of deciding to call me or waiting for a more opportune time, my sister just texted, “…she died. So we thought it would be better not to go out.” Our eldest cousin died in Nigeria, a few weeks after giving birth to her first child. If the simple fact of her death was not hard enough, the details of how she died only served to broaden the depth of our loss.

Jesus demonstrated this in mourning the loss of his friend Lazarus. He knew that illness and death would not win over Lazarus, confidently stating, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). Yet, Jesus’s first response upon encountering the sadness of Lazarus’s family was to weep. The only one with the power to reverse death and bring back what is lost found it necessary to mourn with those who were mourning. His grief was not an obstacle to God’s glory but a vehicle by which it could be demonstrated for all.

In a world enslaved to sin and death there is much to mourn. Where brokenness and destruction have been woven into the very fabric of our society, there is mourning to be done. Where respect for human dignity is an ideal more than a reality, mourning is imperative. Our mourning is certainly not devoid of hope, but it is real. And through it we are comforted.

When grief hits you, one of the first thing you want is for it to go away. The discomfort and confusion of experiencing multiple emotions at one time is so overwhelming that it’s terrifying. Unlike most other problems or situations, there is nothing you can do to change the pain of an encounter with loss.

You don’t get over grief or move past it; you simply go on with it. You learn how to carry it in a way that does not rob you of all your energy. But the only way to do so is to wrestle with it and allow yourself to mourn. To sit under the weight of grief and finding an outlet for its expression.

“It is in our mourning; the moments when we truly allow ourselves to confront the realities of death and loss, that we will be comforted.”

In his most famous sermon, Jesus teaches that those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted. So often we jump to the comfort part. We highlight the promise without recognizing the condition for the promise. It is in our mourning; the moments when we truly allow ourselves to confront the realities of death and loss, that we will be comforted. Not a shallow comfort but the comfort of God, rich enough to soothe even the deepest of wounds.

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Andrea Nwabuike Hamilton, ON Annie Spratt

Words by Jessica Bayus

H

omeless. When you hear this word, what comes to mind? It’s amazing how quickly we picture a dirty man wandering through the garbage in hopes of something to eat, or a woman with a shopping cart full of her only belongings.

Homelessness can take many different forms: a teenage girl dressed in normal clothes, a man in a business suit down on his luck or a group of friends laughing together. The drastic disparity we first imagine is not always the case.

these people, when you ask them how they are, will act like they’re okay ’cause they don’t want to be rude, but the truth is that if we are here, we are not okay.”

He continued to tell me the story of why he was there. The only thing I can vividly remember is his story of how he was hoping his relatives would allow him to live with them. His eyes seemed hopeless, lifeless, dull, and pain-stricken. I asked if I could pray for him. He smiled and said yes as he removed his toque from his head—I was surprised at his reverence.

How Do You See the Homeless?

each of us is “inscribed on the palm of His hands” (Isaiah. 49:16). If Jesus died to heal the wounded, then I knew He would help this man. After praying, I looked up into the middle-aged man’s eyes and I will never forget the feeling of that moment.

“All these people, when you ask them how they are, will act like they’re okay ’cause they don’t want to be rude, but the truth is that if we are here, we are not okay.”

His eyes shone with the brightest hope and sparkled with the sweetest love as he said, “Thank-you. I love you.” And with that, he was gone. He jumped up from his seat and left at that moment. Filled with new hope, he set off to experience something amazing all because he was reminded he was cared for and loved. Love is powerful. It doesn’t have to be big, because it shows itself so much more in the small things! In that moment, it felt like angels surrounded us, and it was only the two of us in that split second where I gazed into his life-filled eyes and saw his countenance rise.

We are called to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful. Homelessness is simply this: “without a home.” In that moment together, this man was given a home in the feelings of warmth, comfort, and care. Our true home is found not in the roof above our head, but in the care and comfort of Christ, because it is what we are designed for. “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

By offering to pray, you welcome a stranger into the home of God, for He resides in the prayers of His people. Imagine letting them experience the intimate love of God! Prayer is a direct line to heaven. When we welcome others into that conversation with God, things happen, and heaven moves for those He loves.

Siloam Mission in Winnipeg opens their doors to offer a simple meal. If you ask people eating how they are or how the meal is, usually they nod their heads. But there was one man whose honest answer I will never forget. He invited me to sit down: “All

I thanked the Lord for loving him and asked Jesus to give him a roof over his head and that he would experience a welcome with loving arms. I prayed asking, not with a plea to God but with the knowledge that He cares for this child so completely because

Jessica Bayus Winnipeg, MB Jon Tyson

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 15

Sponsored Content

COMPASSION This series is about youth who strive to develop this generation into one of compassion. They are responding to the brokenness in the world by taking action with Compassion Canada. We hope these stories inspire and encourage you.

of my privilege, I had never needed to.

Through this experience, I began to understand: Poor in spirit means a posture of full reliance on God, regardless of your circumstances. It’s a disposition in your spirit that says, “Everything I have comes to me by the grace of God, and all I have I will steward for His kingdom.”

It means that when we who have much materially meet with those who have less, our privilege—which so often distracts us from the Kingdom—can be put toward Kingdom purposes instead.

It means that together we can be freed from both poverty and privilege, as we experience the richness of the Kingdom and the abundance of life with Jesus—together.

Blessed are the poor in spirit What we can learn when our privilege is confronted by poverty?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) This opening line of the Beatitudes—and of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—can be really confusing.

Why would Jesus want us to be poor in anything? Especially in spirit? What does that even mean?

So many questions.

Yet, I think we can find answers in the places we least expect.

I once sat in on a girls’ small group in the Philippines during their prayer time. Much like my own small group in Toronto, they went around the circle sharing their prayer requests. One girl asked us to pray that she’d be able to pay school fees. Another wanted prayer for “At the beginning of His most famous her younger sister to do well in school, because this girl sermon, Jesus declares that in Him, had given up her everything that is broken can be tuition money to pay her sister’s.

restored when we partner with Him.

Their prayer requests were so different from my own about exams or decisions about university. These girls simply wanted the opportunity to be in school in the first place. It was a reliance on God that I had never seen nor experienced before—because

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When our privilege is confronted by poverty, we can begin to have a Kingdom perspective.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus invites us to confront the brokenness of the world head-on. He calls His followers to live differently, to buck against the pressure to climb ladders and accrue wealth and comfort that insulates us from the brokenness around us. He asks us to ask the tough questions, to experience the brokenness, to live radically and sacrificially.

And He promises that in these things we will experience the Kingdom of heaven.

In light of this, we can better understand some of the other Beatitudes. Blessed are those who mourn. Those who hunger and thirst. The persecuted.

Those places where we feel like we have nothing left—the most broken places in our world, our communities, our own lives—are the places where Jesus desires to meet us, to comfort us, to fill us, to show us the Kingdom.

At the beginning of His most famous sermon, Jesus declares that in Him, everything that is broken can be restored when we partner with Him. And that is a beautiful promise.

Learn more about what the Bible says about poverty through Compassion’s free resources for individuals and groups of all ages: compassion. ca/resources One way to confront your privilege with poverty is by becoming a Compassion sponsor: compassion.ca/sponsor-a-child

Words by By Kara Brunsting

Words

You. Us. Should. Must. Yes. No. Don’t. Do. Hate. Love.

These words on their own don’t mean much.

But what if I say, “You aren’t coming.” Or, “Yes, I lied to you.” Or even, “I hate you.”

We have all heard it: “Words hurt, be careful what you say.” And it’s true, words have extraordinary power to hurt. They can destroy someone’s self-esteem, crush a new idea, and ruin relationships. The wrong word at the wrong time can hurt so much more than someone’s pride.

Yes, words hurt. But have you ever thought about how much your words have the power to heal? What if we used those same words and said, “Yes, please come with us.” Or, “I am sorry I lied to you.” Or, “I love you.” Have you ever thought about how your words can heal a friendship, mend a hurt, or even turn someone’s entire life around? If words have the power to hurt, then surely they have the power to heal.

celebrating. But right now, wherever you are, bless them. Call upon God to see them, love them, and to bless them. And God will listen. Your words have more power then you could ever imagine.

As you go about your day, don’t think about how the wrong word could hurt someone.

Think about how the right word could heal someone. Think about how you can use your words to heal others.

It is important to watch our words. Words hurt. Words kill. But it is even more important to understand we can use our words for good. Use them as a blessing.

Use them as a prayer. You have been given words. Use them.

When Jesus walked the earth, His words carried enough power to raise the dead to life. He “called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped” (John 11:43-44).

Even the words of Jesus’ disciples had the power to cast out demons. When Paul encountered a demon, he called out, “‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her” (Acts 16:18).

We aren’t Jesus or Paul, but we still have the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us, and with it, the power of words. With words we can send down a blessing upon someone, send up a prayer for someone in need, or just give someone an encouraging word.

When we call out to God, He listens and responds.

The effects of blessings and prayer may be obvious right away; or you may never see them.

But just with a few short words, you can change someone’s life.

“With words, we can send down a blessing upon someone, or send up a prayer for someone in need, or just give someone an encouraging word.”

We are used to watching our words, being careful what we say, not hurting anyone’s feelings. We are always hearing that words hurt. We aren’t used to using our words as a source of power. But we need to use words more, not less. We need to use words of goodness, power, and love. We need to use words of blessing, prayer, and forgiveness. We need to use our words to bring glory to Jesus’ name.

Try it. Right now. Think about someone.

Maybe you like them, maybe you don’t, maybe they’re hurting, maybe they’re

Kara Brunsting Waterloo, ON LOVEISMOVING.CA | 17

A glimpse into

Diamonds

Words by Dagmar Morgan Diamonds is collection of poems that are a testimony to the healing power of Jesus. Dagmar Morgan tackles topics relevant to modern life and the dynamic journey as a woman of faith. Fiercely honest, Morgan writes as if to save her life as she shares stories and passion for growth. Her writing stretches the vast ‘in-betweens’ of life and death, abuse and betrayal and finally, love and redemption.

Here’s what she says herself about the book: “It’s a manifesto of the perseverance and trust of running toward God with all we have— even in the midst of doubt. I hope that my journey through poems can bring light, and words of description to things others struggle with but can’t always name. I wanted it show that even today, Jesus is so relevant and alive and with us on the journey.”

Excerpt:

#1 i became a closed mouth half smile. learned to wear survivor like a pullover sweater. there are no questions when you look pulled together. you don’t see the broken feet of the ballerina just the pirouette. you could say, that I’m a really good dancer. but each day my stomach a sucker punch of emotions. inside i was falling apart for days at a time. i took this as proof that I was not resilient. i did not bounce back. i was coal in a Christmas stocking. but jewels that are heavy with purpose do not bounce. they take strength to lift. not everyone will be able to hold on to something so precious. some people will walk away from things they can’t afford.

#2 a diamond is small, but it can cut through anything. they can survive impact and still not be broken. they can withstand temperature change so, turn up the heat. if each struggle is a gem in the crown I wear, then each day crown me again. how can i take these rough-cut pieces and buff them to shine back salvation?

Dagmar Morgan Toronto, ON 18 | LOVEISMOVING.CA

What Happens When Your SelfBetterment Falls Through?

Words by Marina Hanna

A

s April drew to a close, I sat in a café across the table from a dear friend of mine. Exams were finished, my dorm packed, and my mother was currently driving across the border to take me home for the summer. Between sips of coffee, my friend said, “I just wanted to catch up and make sure you’re okay before you go home. I feel like when I’ve seen you lately, I sense a kind of heaviness—like something is weighing on you.” She was right. Over several months, I noticed this bizarre buildup of panicky foreboding in my gut.

Of course this made no sense, since it took me about a year to meticulously craft a series of important goals I would achieve this summer. I would overcome a longfought, exhausting battle with my mental health issues. This would be the summer where I finally lose those last 15 pounds in order to be less massive and more attractive.

This would be the summer I’d finally budget my money carefully enough to contribute to my education. I had everything sorted out, and it would be perfect. So, this increasing bout of fear I felt towards my homecoming certainly did not jive with my plan, which only made things worse.

As I stood in my churchaway-from-home for the last time during worship, I started to cry. I pleaded, “God, I just don’t know what I’m walking into this summer. I have so much fear. Give me courage to face whatever comes next.

Stay close to me, and please don’t leave me alone.”

Between those desperate prayers, I saw a picture of myself dancing with Jesus.

We were the only ones in sight, and everything around us was white, bright, and calm. He held me firmly to His chest with His right hand and used His left hand to hold mine. I watched myself bury my head in his shoulder as we gently swayed to the worship music. It was a moment of quiet, perfect safety that I would find myself returning to over the next few months.

I realize now that I received my comfort months in advance of when I most needed it.

Bluntly put, the ominous anxiety I felt was not misguided. I did not reach any of my precious aims for this summer. My foolproof plan to conquer mental illness fell through due to circumstances beyond my control. The weight did not come off.

In fact, I gained several pounds and felt far less pretty then I did before. My airtight budget was thrown out of whack when one of my jobs fell through and I saw decreased numbers on my paycheques. For a while I was working a schedule that was hectic and stressful. My plan to become perfect and awesome simply did not come together.

“As I continued to push and pull at my goals without any success, it dawned on me that perhaps I was supposed to have my focus elsewhere.”

My heart tumbled into a gripping sadness, and I started to mourn. I would come home on my lunch breaks in tears, confused and frustrated as to why my good-hearted attempts at self-betterment were spontaneously combusting.

As I continued to push and pull at my goals without any success, it dawned on me that perhaps I was supposed to have my focus elsewhere. Almost as if someone were interrupting the pursuit of my goals on purpose.

At some point God allowed me to decide that my circumstance would not have power over my countenance. I have the deep, permanent, abiding joy of Christ in me regardless of the spiritual battles I’m engaged in. I was nudged and steered into a lifestyle of dancing with Jesus. Soaking in music proclaiming confidence in God’s faithfulness, rather than soaking in my sadness. Singing aloud of His closeness on the nights I worked alone. Choosing to speak life onto others (or not speaking at all) instead of firing bitter little bullets to relieve my own stress. When I could retreat into that place of comfort (God’s parting gift to me in April) I found greater success in trying to be better than when I stared in dismay at my list of lost goals.

My friend, here is the takeaway: Never subject your joy to your situation.

Acknowledge your feelings of dismay, then make a conscious choice to praise our Father anyway. I’ve watched God’s provision come when I allow my mourning to coexist with my worship. When the two intermingle, God stoops down to draw us closer and, step by step, teaches us how to keep dancing with Him until that season of sadness is over.

Marina Hanna Warren, New Jersey Darius Bashar

TIP

Before you turn to the next page, close the magazine and flip it over to start reading at the beginning of the other side.

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 19

The Key of Meekness Words by Sam Aragones

T

he Sermon on the Mount is one of the most influential texts in the world.

Its principles are counter-cultural, effective weapons for combatting sin and self-centredness.

At one point in it Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 ). I’ve always wondered about this—surely Christ does not call His believers to live weak, docile lives? So what does Jesus mean when He calls believers to be meek, and what does it mean that they will inherit the earth?

spirits, perhaps we need to rethink our understanding of it.

Jordan Peterson, the prolific and controversial professor of psychology at University of Toronto, once stated that he believes (through study of lexicon and commentary) the correct interpretation of Matthew 5:5 to be: “those who have weapons and know how to use them, but still keep them sheathed will inherit the earth.”

In other words, those who are strong and are capable of power are instructed to control themselves.

“... those who are strong and are capable of power are instructed to control themselves.”

Meekness is defined as a state of passivity and gentleness, submissiveness, being easily imposed upon. But I have never found that Christ taught us to be abused by others or to be easily manipulated. Christ calls us to be bold and explicit in our faith and convictions, not wavering in our devotion to Him by even our closest relatives (Matthew 10:37). Yes, submission is to be shown to Christ, governing states (in most cases), parents, fellow believers and a person’s husband or wife.

So if this call to meekness seems counter to the conviction He’s instilled in our

Although I am sometimes leery of Peterson’s biblical interpretations, this seems like a sound principle and one that is more congruent with Jesus’ attitudes about retribution (“turn the other cheek”).

But does this interpretation make any sense in terms of inheriting the earth? A weapon sheathed wins no battle, right?

I can think of one example where this kind of meekness allows victory and inheritance of the earth. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I’m thinking of this verse in connection with our calling to share the

gospel with all people. Have we perhaps forgotten to don the winsome gentleness and understanding of Christ in our presentation of the truth?

So often the gospel message of sin and Saviour is rejected due to the condescending demeanour of the evangelist; there was no love, no meekness. Yet, what if we approach evangelism weaponized by the conviction of the truth and presenting it in meekness and a genuine desire for well-being?

To me this seems like an example of a meek believer who will truly inherit the earth and “reap a harvest if [they] do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Of course it is a huge challenge to speak Christian truth in an age where to offend is the greatest offence, and anything less than total agreement is deemed intolerance and hate speech. The gospel message and the tough callings of Jesus are offensive to the world because they point out sin and leave man exposed in his frailty before a holy God. But speaking the truth in love…. Now that’s got potential. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GmuzUZTJ0GA (Peterson Lecture to cite, Time: 1:45:39)

Samuel Aragones North York, ON Markus Spiske

13F | LOVEISMOVING.CA

Donkey Work Words by Michael Bonikowsky Walk the path a thousand times From the kitchen to the well.

Sweep until the dirt is gone Clean until the chaos flees.

Tear down the old corrupted things Raise up the new creations.

Repair the bent and broken things If and when it can be done.

Put the values in their places Make the numbers tell the truth Make a right accounting Of what was gained, and lost.

Cause the little things to grow And keep the great from tyranny Make a garden in the wilderness

And a city in the wastes.

Feed the humans in your care Keep their bodies clean Let them see the world and know They are the best part of it.

Cast the spells you have been given The songs into the silences The pictures on to empty space The names unto the nameless things.

And they may call it donkey-work, The body moving through the day But we do nothing on the earth That is not grace, and magic.

Michael Bonikowsky Melancthon, ON Roya Ann Miller

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 12F

DO I WANT TO SEE GOD?

Words by James Clarence

B

“

lessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” -Matthew 5:8

Have you ever found it difficult to remain pure in today’s society? Have you ever had thoughts pop up in your mind that you have no idea where they are coming from?

Have you ever struggled with the reality that media, social networking, news, and culture are constantly bombarding you with their version of what is right and socially acceptable? This verse we read can be a challenge, because if you’re reading this, I’m assuming you want to see God. You want to experience Him, you want to feel Him, you want to hear His voice.

But have you ever found it to be a quite the task? To unplug, disconnect, tune out from what you are being indoctrinated with by the world? I have. Now, oftentimes when we think of “purity,” we automatically assume it has something to do with a sexual aspect of life—which I won’t argue against, but in this short article, I’d like to take it a step further.

We need to get really honest with ourselves, evaluating every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5), taking them captive and making them submissive to God. So, get honest by asking yourself these questions: 1. What’s motivating you to get up in the morning?

2. Where do you find your affirmation from? Likes or followers on Instagram?

The compliment on your outfit at school or work?

3. Where do you find your purpose? Is it from your education, job or career?

Maybe there are thoughts in your mind that you’d be embarrassed to tell someone, that you can’t believe they popped into your head? You see, I have a lot of these. For an example, if I were honest with you, my greatest temptation is taking credit from God for the things He’s done. That I had more to do with why that youth night or service was successful versus the reality that God actually did 99.9% of the work.

I hate the reality that my mind goes there, and when it does, my spirit rebukes my mind for even thinking about taking the credit. But on that note, does it ever frustrate you that sometimes it feels like you can’t “Are we willing control your thoughts? That all of a sudden you’re in church and to recalibrate BAM a bad thought pops into head? Yep. Me too. Drives our life around your me crazy. So how do we overcome this? How do we find victory in what God our thought life so that to be pure in heart become our reality, says through so that we can see God?

the Bible and through our spirit?”

11F | LOVEISMOVING.CA

When I was a kid, my mom used to sneak into my room at night and play the Bible on tape. Yes, I

said tapes. Ya’ll probably don’t know what that is! Anyways, in the morning, I’d be annoyed because some guy who sounded a lot like Morgan Freeman woke me up at night. I’d shut it off and get mad at her in the morning. Then she would always say to me, “James, the world is going to try to control your thoughts, which will make you feel dirty and impure. So what do you do when you’re physically dirty James? You take a shower. You clean up. ‘So, this is how we clean our mind, by the washing of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).’”

Now am I saying that we will be set free from bad thoughts by just playing the Bible on tape, or on a podcast? No, but if we actually pay more attention to what God’s Word has to say to us than our culture does, we will definitely see purity of heart come.

If we waste more time on being with our Heavenly Father than we do on social media or Netflix, hearing what He thinks about us, we will most certainly see God. If we put God’s declaration of who we are above what our peers say over us, will we see God? Yes. If we daily process every thought through the filter of scripture and the life of Jesus, will we continue to be jaded and influenced by the world? Nope.

So we have a choice to make. Do we want to see God? I’m assuming your answer is yes. Then the question is, are we willing to make the sacrifice that it costs to sustain a pure heart? Are we willing to recalibrate our life around what God says through the Bible and through our spirit? It’s a tough sacrifice, because it means not being up on every trend out there. It means not being influenced by the latest Netflix show. It means not making your priority to fit in with your friends at school. It might even mean for you, deleting your social media accounts, because that is where you take your cues from.

Are you willing? ’Cause believe me when I say this—it’s worth it. It’s worth the sacrifice. It’s worth losing friends. It’s worth not being popular. Seeing God and experiencing His unconditional love for you is greater than anything we could ever experience on this earth.

Making God’s plan for your life a reality is hands down the best life you could ever live. But here’s the catch: it all starts with your thoughts and purity of heart. So, if you control your thoughts, you won’t have to be worried about your actions, and you’ll be able to live out a life pure before God, to see all his plans come to pass for your life. This is the best thing we could ever partake in—simply to be in relationship with him. To see Him, feel Him, know Him and experience Him all the days of your life.

So, will you go on the journey of developing purity of heart? I hope so. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

James Clarence Calgary, AB Drew Graham

God After Grief or Post-Accident Jesus Words by Heather Mitton

T

wo weeks ago my Dad died in an accident.

I waved to him as I stopped by the church on my way to coffee, and an hour later I came home to find two police officers standing quietly in our living room.

He was 61.

Was my faith strong because it had never been tested?

It will be fine, but it doesn’t have to be right now.

Had Jesus been enough because I had everything I needed?

Jesus isn’t asking me to make a ministry of my grief.

Was I filled with hope because I never imagined anything bad happening to me?

It is not my job right now to be an example or to bear witness to His goodness.

And in the midst of all that, when my mind would race with questions that needed answers and problems that needed solutions, I continued to feel a familiar, gentle voice:

I’m not even sure he is asking me to cling to His promises, or know there’s a better place, or remember the beauty of his eternal plan.

Instead, He is quietly waiting as my mind catapults through milestones and moments that my father will miss. He is standing off to the side as I weep that the baby inside of me will never know its grandpa. He is watching nearby as I realize over and over and over, a hundred times a day, that I will never hear my father’s voice again.

Let your tears flow, let your throat tighten, let your eyes sting.

Let your future look bleak.

Let your plans be crushed.

Let your life feel hopeless.

My friends who have the hope of Jesus inside you: if you have sad people, let them be sad. Let them feel the fullness and the weight and the ache of their grief. Even when you know you have Good News.

Hope will wait forever.

Like Jesus, Good News is gentle and resilient, and obstinately patient.

And when you are ready to lift your head, and wipe your eyes, it will run to you with open arms.

And to all of my sweet friends who are walking around with broken hearts: It will be fine, but it doesn’t have to be right now.

It will be fine, but it doesn’t have to be right now.

Christianity can sometimes shoo us away from grief.

“Move along, move along to wholeness in Christ.”

“Get to the Good News quicker.”

On that day, and the days that followed, Jesus was unfamiliar to me.

Not because I felt betrayed, or abandoned, or because I needed answers, but because the Jesus I had known no longer existed.

It doesn’t work that way, of course. But it felt like it. Unlike Pre-Accident Jesus, Post-Accident Jesus required me to answer different questions.

“Give glory to God sooner.”

“Hop through that window now that the door has been closed.”

We like to jump in with the comfort of lifeafter-death. The Bible verses. The Ultimate Plan.

And I have to be honest, I’m not interested in that yet.

So let it be.

Let your tears flow, let your throat tighten, let your eyes sting.

Let your future look bleak.

Let your plans be crushed.

Let your life feel hopeless.

Hope will wait forever.

And when you are ready to lift your head, and wipe your eyes, it will run to you with open arms.

For me, this is not a crisis of faith, but a re-introduction; a cautious and awkward meeting of Post-Accident Jesus who is the same as Pre-Accident Jesus, but feels a little different.

And for that, I will need a little time.

Which I’ve heard He has a lot of.

Heather Mitton Lower Sackville, NS Annie Spratt

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 10F

The 5-5 Leadership Approach Words by Shawn Naylor

I

find it interesting that in our society, workplaces, ministries, and life we are taught that we have to be assertive so that everything will bend to us and our vision and wishes. As an A-Type personality, I tend to agree with this! I like to be in control and push through to reach the target.

But the further I go down this path of leadership, being discipled, and discipling others, the more I realize that there is something we forget to pass on to others and absorb ourselves as leaders.

I will pose it to you in a question, and hopefully you can either say “Yes, I am” or reflect and re-adjust. Just before I pose this question, I would like to share a personal story where I did not have the 5-5 approach to leadership and how it affected my life.

Sound good?

If you have ever read the Sermon on the Mount (if you haven’t, I strongly suggest that you read it) certain parts stick to each reader more than others. For me, one part that sticks out is Matthew 5:5, which says,

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Okay, now let’s get to the personal story and then move to what this verse means to me.

I had recently been put into a leadership position at my local church.

I was a young guy who had seen a lot, so I thought that I knew a lot. I pushed my weight because I was strong; I was assertive. I was seeing things that needed to be changed, and I thought that I would be the answer.

His challenge was to listen to how to deal with this situation with the Lord leading instead of being assertive and imposing my will. Let me be honest with you, it did not end well. But I’m happy to say that the process of redemption is well on its way.

This brings me back to the 5-5 approach.

After reading Matthew 5:5, I realized I had assumed the wrong interpretation of it. I thought it meant that if I was to be a leader in God’s kingdom, I needed to be weak and not assert myself. I couldn’t figure it out!

In discovering the To my surprise, what the word “meek” all I saw was a means, I discovered steady decline something interesting. in relationships The word meek does and progression. “ listen to how to deal not mean “weak” as The leadership with this situation with I thought. The word role was putting meek is the word they heavy strain on my the Lord leading instead use to describe a horse young marriage, that has been broken— and at my wit’s of being assertive and that is useable. As a end (Adventures leader, are you meek? in Odyssey imposing my will.”

Are you broken? Are reference), I called you useable? Matthew my best friend 5:5 clearly tells us that Thomas—now the being “meek” is the key CEO of Godzspeed to influencing and building (...they shall Communications—and told him everything inherit the earth). This is so far from the that had happened. leadership that many people are taught. Yes, I expected him to side with me and get be a directive, assertive, decision-maker, but all fired up, but instead, he gave me some make sure you are useable. Are you broken? words that challenged me and that I still Are you meek unto the Lord’s will? Engage use today in my 5-5 leadership approach. with the 5-5 leadership approach.

“Shawn,” he said, “you’ve learned something P.S. I’m still learning to apply this to my life and you haven’t even realized it. You know and leadership roles. that you can see things and that you are not afraid to say them. But remember everyone is not you and doesn’t digest information Shawn Naylor and criticism they way you do.”

Sherbrooke, QC Danielle Macinnes

9F | LOVEISMOVING.CA

Survival Guide for the Soul: Servanthood An Excerpt from the book by Ken Shigematsu

I

n college I majored in business economics and planned to work in the corporate world upon graduation. But in the back of my mind, I had a sense that God might call me to enter the so-called “Christian ministry,” perhaps as a pastor or missionary. So during my freshman year, when I heard that the world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham was coming to our campus, I went to hear him speak.

Afterward, I walked to the front of the auditorium to meet him, figuring the connection might help me out someday. We shook hands, exchanged a few words, and I went off to class—marvelling about the fact that I had just met Billy Graham.

After graduation, I ended up working in the corporate world for a couple of years.

But when my desire to pursue vocational ministry grew, I headed off to seminary, and after completing my theological degree, I moved to Los Angeles to help start a new church. There I began mentoring a young lawyer.

One day he asked me, “Do you want to have lunch with the VP?” “The VP of what?” I replied

“

“The Vice President of the United States, Al Gore.” (My friend had done ... over time Jesus Christ has upended my an internship values by his teaching that true greatness is under Gore at the White House.) not about our ascending to the top of the Unexpectedly, I was able to meet social hierarchy, but rather taking the place of Vice President Al Gore, who the humble, lowly servant. at the time was planning to run for president. Like so many ambitious young people with Donne called “the world’s last night,” Jesus a hungry Striving Adam, I was eager to meet gathered some of his closest students in an influential leaders who could advise me or upper room in Jerusalem to share a meal open doors for me. My early years of work with them. Jesus “knew that the hour had and ministry were driven by the premises come for him to leave this world” (John “It’s not what you know that counts, but 13:1); the following day he would be nailed who you know.” to a cross. On this last night, when death Yet over time Jesus Christ has upended my values by his teaching that true greatness is not about our ascending to the top of the social hierarchy, but rather taking the place of the humble, lowly servant. Jesus modelled his posture the night before he went to the cross. On what the poet John

“

Words by Ken Shigematsu

was imminent, Jesus revealed what he prized most: servanthood.

Ken Shigematsu Vancouver, BC Marion Michele

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 8F

What My Pastor Taught Me About Leadership in the Age of Bill Hybels Words By Preston Pouteaux

I

was in my early 20’s when I got my first job working for a church. As part of the preparation, the church invited me to the Global Leadership Summit, the go-to event for aspiring church leaders. Hundreds gathered at our local mega-church to wait for the satellite feed to snap on. We were ready to receive from the best of the best and the crowd came to a hush as screen went ‘live.’ On each side of me sat church board elders taking notes from Bill Hybels, the guru of church leadership. They handed me a Bill Hybels book as a gift, gave me a knowing nod, and I received the message loud and clear: watch from Hybels, learn from Hybels, and go-and-do-like-Hybels.

The disconnect for me was very real. Hybels and the Global Leadership Summit was never part of my seminary training. I was formed in the rhythms of prayer, slow reading, and the gentle practice of listening to others. I was shaped by the wisdom of pastors who cared well for people and places. It was the poetic language and practice of spiritual formation among God’s people that shaped me, not the five best business practices being outlined on the big screen before me. But I suppose this was the real world. The church needs Hybels and IBM CEOs not St. Francis of Assisi.

I know now that my pastor Rob Peterson also faced the pressures to perform, to lead by creating a spectacular that would attract crowds and reflect some kind of success.

Today I also know those pressures. I know the pressure to mimic the successful CEO and church leader gurus. But these voices are failing. Simply Google ‘Bill Hybels’ and you’ll see what all the fuss is about.

In January 2017 I was at our big denominational conference. The Super-Star Bill Hybels was the guest speaker and I found myself in the front row. Once again, the crowd was hushed. His success and largess filled the stage. Dream big. Lead big.

Push. Build. Fix. Drive. Do. Do. Do. It was the kind of mantra I heard years before, one that gets people excited, but fails in subtle and very real ways.

Off in a side room, was another gathering.

There, in a smaller space, was my pastor Rob Peterson, giving a short ten minute talk. In light of the fall of the Bill Hybels agenda, Rob’s words have come back to me. They are prophetic and timely, and worth revisiting.

Rob likely did not know that Bill was going to share before him, but his talk could not have better summarized the deep crevasse separating these two approaches to pastoral ministry. His talk was simply called, “Soul Care in a Culture of Performance.”

Rob Peterson shared that spiritual leaders face the temptation to perform spiritual wisdom, which is different from the actual vocation of living with holy integrity. He said,

“Spiritual leaders are called to embody, to enflesh in their heart and life and their activity, the Lord’s ministry. We don’t have a ministry, none of us do, we only reveal the one and only ministry of Jesus Christ by being ministers of the gospel. But the great challenge is to know the very subtle difference between performing our calling in the name of Jesus or being tempted to offer a performance in our own name…

Pastors can arrive at a place where Christ’s I learned all of this by watching; not Bill resources of joy and gratitude and strength Hybels, but my childhood pastor, Rob evaporate, and we can go through the Peterson. Rob listened to me when I was motions for months, we can go through young and naive. He did not speak down the motions even to me, but saw Jesus for years, and when at work in me. He we find ourselves in lived rhythms of the such arid places with spiritual life that I depleted energies We don’t have a ministry, none of found beautiful. Not the temptation flashy or showy, but us do, we only reveal the one and to go through the faithful and present to motions, what I call only ministry of Jesus Christ by the work of God. the temptation to I never did read that Hybels book, nor any others. I went another way. I walked slowly with neighbours, carried my brokenness on my sleeve, sat long with parishioners, and practiced prayer in the quiet of my office space. I read and preached and wrote with patience and attentiveness. I came to see that my soul and the souls of others in my church are not machines, but we’re more like gardens. Gardens take time and care.

being ministers of the gospel.

“

“

offer performance, it’s there for the taking.

Like Jesus facing the temptation to do something spectacular for the world to see, we can feel the pull to make something spectacular happen in the Kingdom or in our church on our own strength, it’s very hard to navigate this inner world we have…

[Many] churches and cultures with a love affair with performance, they love a good performance, they love the thrill of leaders who inspire with wisdom and vision and clarity, some congregations subversively reward over-achievers, they applaud long hours, they are infatuated with great new initiatives. This is the context in which we must attend to our souls.”

How do we attend to our souls in this driven context? Rob Peterson said that in solitude and silence, we discover Jesus again at work in us. But this was never part of the vision of the leadership gurus. For them, retreats were for leading and getting prestigious speaking gigs, not listening for the heart of Jesus themselves. But Peterson was offering a vision of pastors who go deeper in silence by simply letting Jesus interact with them, know them, and lead them beside still waters and into green pastures. He said, “It is in the crucible of solitude and silence we are brought to our knees, we are brought face to face with our own false selves and our shadows and by sheer grace if we abide with Christ in silence and solitude he will lead us to our true identities.”

I’m thankful for Rob Peterson because he modelled for me a way of living as a pastor that was about the beautiful freedom of living in Jesus. He gave me the freedom to be Preston, to be called a son. I am not a mechanical leader leading a mechanical organization. I do not hide my sin and sorrow behind the ‘I-got-it-all-together’ mask. I do not need to use and abuse others in some manipulated climb to success. I can love gently and patiently without having to point to some spectacle as the fruit of my labour.

As Rob Peterson says, “When we enter into the poor and powerless place of silence where Christ seeks our company, and not our performance, our soul has a chance to reawaken to the presence of God.” May we rediscover the joy of leading and serving in Jesus, with Jesus, and like Jesus.

It is the better way, I’ve seen it for myself.

Joerg Wacker

Pastor of Reach North York Toronto, ON Edwin Andrade

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 6F

around the world versus the church in North America, we get a clear idea of how God is blessing people. There is a spiritual drought in North America. There is a spiritual bankruptcy that takes place in our homes and our schools and our politics.

#BLESSED

Meanwhile, I hear stories of God moving in powerful ways on the mission field.

I hear stories of miracles taking place, people being rescued from danger, spiritual oppression being overthrown, sickness being healed. I hear about God delivering people all over the globe from sin and shame and bringing them to His side to serve those still caught in the mire.

Are we #Blessed? Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

“The truth is, when we’re #Blessed by the possessions in our lives, then our idea of what God desires for us becomes wrapped up in what we can obtain or possess.”

Words by Jeff Baker

W

e have a funny idea of what it means to be blessed in our society.

We walk around saying “I’m so blessed to live in this house” or “to drive this car” or “to go to this school.” And I’m not saying we shouldn’t be thankful for the things in our lives, I’m just saying we need to reevaluate what it means to be blessed.

Because when I look at what Jesus says a blessing is, it looks drastically different.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

“Blessed are those who mourn.”

“Blessed are the meek, and the merciful, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers and those who are persecuted because of righteousness.”

None of that sounds like your car, or your home, or your paycheque. The truth is, when we’re #Blessed by the possessions in our lives, then our idea of what God desires for us becomes wrapped up in what we can obtain or possess. And when our idea of God is wrapped up in possessions, the idea can vanish as easily as our possessions can.

We can lose everything in an instant, and where would our faith be then?

The reality is God doesn’t move through affluence as much as through deficits There is so much more glory in making a miracle out of nothing than doing it out of something. When you look at the church

Heaven is a right-now kind of thing. As much as it’s something we strive for one day, it’s something that is attainable now, at least in part. So, let’s forget about our “blessings” and focus our energies on being truly blessed and truly known by God, so that when we find ourselves at the end of all our #blessings, our hope and our faith are still intact.

All this will pass away, but the Kingdom is eternal. Be blessed, my friends.

Jeff Baker Brampton, ON Ajeet Mestry

5F | LOVEISMOVING.CA

My Mother & the Media’s Attention

Words by Katie Pezzutto

M

y mother has lived in a privatized care home for the past several years. In Canada, privatized health care is the colloquial term for an underfunded, overcrowded money-making machine, led by a leash at the strategic hand of greedy millionaires.

As the facility she lives in is severely understaffed, I have seen my Mom wait weeks for a bath and be spoken down to by overworked nurses. At some points, my mother has feared for her life due to neglect and malpractice by hasty handling.

Although her battle and cause deserve as much—if not more—media attention than Donald Trump’s attention-seeking Twitter feed, she has not been offered the privilege or the dignity. In 2018, she launched a complaint that almost went viral. Still, not much has changed. The ivory palace remains untouchable, guarded by icy money-mongering “higher-ups.”

Although the heartless behaviour of uncaring owners and consistent symptoms of corruption are unbelievable, my mother’s attitude is the thing that I find most shocking.

Her joyful spirit and determination are fierce, breaking down the self-pity of nurses and residents around her. Although she can barely move her arms, the gentle touch of her words and sweet presence crashes over a room with more power than a renegade tidal wave.

On countless occasions, her soft presence has calmed the nerves of families visiting their dying loved ones. Many nurses have shed their crusty exterior and confided in her with stories of domestic abuse, failing faith and crumbling marriages.

meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (ESV).

I’m not saying abuse is okay. My mother, myself and Members of Parliament are in the slippery battle for the rights of disabled and elderly people. But in the midst of it, my mother chooses to keep her eyes on eternity and the value of souls, not her temporary comfort.

She takes note of neighbours who don’t have families, takes her Bible into those rooms and reads to them for hours. Her consistency, Her choice is patience, and more precious peaceful spirit to God than a has led many wall filled with “...in the slippery battle for the rights of disabled to Christ’s awards, the embrace. and elderly people... my mother chooses to keep accolades of In the most an audience or unconventional, her eyes on eternity and the value of souls...”

Donald Trumpinconspicuous sized media way, my mother coverage. is a powerhouse Are you willing for the Kingdom. to let go of the world’s definition of success When she became sick, friends abandoned to be a life-changer right where you are? her. Her husband left her. Time magazine If the answer is yes, you will find abundant isn’t voting her in as woman of the year. peace and a life worth living in the most But the Creator of the Universe, the King unexpected places. above all and Prince of Peace sees her. He knows her name and His delight towards “Greater love has no one than this, that her stretches further than the depth and someone would lay his life down for his width of a trillion oceans. friends” John 15:13 (ESV).

She is saving souls by sacrificing her own desire to wallow in the constantly accessible trap of self-pity and defeat.

Thus is the path of the meek Jesus talked about in Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the

Katie Pezzutto Lethbridge, AB Rawpixel

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 4F

Alex Street Toronto, ON Sticker Mule

FLIPSIDE For leaders, by leaders. Flipside offers resources, articles and devotional tools for you to use personally or in your youth group or specific ministry context.

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Cover Rob Bye

LOVEISMOVING.CA | 2F

ISSUE 28

JULY/AUGUST 2018

CANADA’S CHRISTIAN YOUTH MAGAZINE

FLIPSIDE FOR LEADERS

sermon on the Mount