incipiosermo.com

I started regularly watching The Office on NBC about a month ago and it rocks. It is creative, unique, well written and extremely funny. I have to admit, I thought my friend Mike was crazy when he told me about this show several months ago. But it has grown on me and I now admit I was wrong.

So here is my official admission and confession: "Hi my name is Bryce and I'm an Office fan."


As with many people, one of favoriteite characters (next only to Steve Carell's character) is Dwight Schrute. He is hilarious!!! You can check here to read his characters weekly Blog. Could you imagine working with this guy everyday?

Labels: misc

With our recent election in Canada I have been in several situations in which I have had to avoid talking politics. Not that I feel it isn’t an important topic, and to some degree I am more than willing to talk about my opinions on public policy, but politics I avoid.

I avoid it for several reasons:
1) As a pastor I want people to make up their own minds about who to vote for. I have my personal opinions but they are just my opinions. There is no such thing as a Christian political party and all are an important voice in the political arena of Canada where we value free speech and democracy. As well, in my opinion, we shouldn’t just be “one issue voters.” Each party has their particular views on centralization of government, taxation methods, priorities for spending, etc, which make up the greater landscape of Canadian politics. By this I mean there are so many issues facing Canada and often people zero in on one or two issues. Tunnel vision sets in and they can forget there are a lot of other issues out there that are important as well.

2) I know enough to know what I don’t know. In other words, I have had enough experience with government (sitting on a government committee and attending a national policy conference) that these issues are much bigger and more complex than most people realize. Thus for me, in a position of influence, I need to be careful that I know the issues before I make my opinion known or if I want an opinion known (the later is what I normally opt for).

3) I love my country and at the same time I want to express a positive attitude towards it. Let’s face it, we have enough negativity towards authorities and government. As a pastor, I want to be an example of a positive outlook and so I embrace the diversity of opinions, encouraging people to be informed and involved, and most of all to vote for who or what they think is best.

4) I believe strongly in the separation of Church and State for the mutual benefit of both. I don’t want the State telling me what to do, nor is it the place, in any democracy, for the Church to tell the state what to do. I believe and strongly encourage people (whether Christian or not) to be involved with politics and community action groups, to run for office and most of all to vote. But I don’t believe it is the Church’s place to endorse, support, campaign, or lobby the government.

So please don’t ask who I voted for, and please understand my silence on matters of politics, just know that I voted in my great country as a citizen, with both the right and responsibility to do so.

Labels: article

I got up early this morning to do some work on a paper for school and although I not complaining about the weather we are having in Alberta this winter, I want the sun back in the morning. It is always incredibly depressing to wake up to darkness outside, it just makes me want to go back to bed.

Anyway, enough complaining and I should back to that paper.

Labels: misc

This sign should say “Police Notice: Foot In Mouth Disease.”

I just had one of those days that I put my foot in my mouth in a major way (not sure if I need the “Jaws of Life” to get it out). I guess it is a good reminder that I am human - at least that it what my foot tastes like.

Labels: misc

How I will miss President David Palmer. He was one of my favourite characters on 24 and with his death in the first episode, I am deeply saddened by the loss. If you noticed in a previous post, I turned out to be the now late President Palmer in one of those internet quizzes.

24 is an amazing show, but to be honest I wish they would have killed Bauer’s daughter Kim instead, who is completely annoying (only surpassed by CSI Miami’s Horatio Crane).

Interestingly enough, when we began watching it Sunday Night and I saw Palmer on the screen I said to my wife: “I am so glad he is in this season, this show wouldn’t be the same without him.” Then literally seconds later he was shot in the head. Only on 24!!! Although I am not complaining too much, as that is why this show is so incredible. 24 surpasses the normal drivel and predictability of most TV dramas.

Anyways, David (we were on a first name basis) you will be missed, but your sacrifice was for the good of the never predictable 24.

Labels: misc

The picture says it all as I just finished two weeks in intensive seminary courses (Essentials of Pastoral Care & Apocalyptic Literature and Revelation). It was a good, but two weeks straight of being in class eight hours a day can be draining. And it isn't over yet with reading and course work still to do - that added with the couple classes I am taking in the semester. It will no doubt be busy for the next couple weeks.

I have a couple ideas for some posts and will probably do some procrastinating from school work and post them in the coming days/weeks.

Labels: misc

For whatever reason, the last part (20 sec. or so) of the "high quality video" file for the Derek Selinger Tribute Video was cut off. It's now been fixed. Sorry for the confusion.

Labels: video

Labels: video

Can you hear it in the distance? Like the sound of a distant drum.

There is something about the melodic rhythm of music that envelopes us, inspired us, attracts us and draws us in. As a musician I am very aware of the beauty of being in rhythm and the violence (I use that word deliberately) of being out of rhythm.

In speaking of the Kingdom of God, I wonder if a good analogy is looking at it as the rhythm of God. Inspired by Water Brueggemann’s book, Cadences of Home: Preaching among Exiles (I book I would recommend for anyone, especially preachers), I think we need to hear and be reminded of the rhythm of the Kingdom.

I think in essence, reading scripture is like that, as we move in that same rhythm, following the music, we being to move in the rhythm of the Kingdom – the rhythm of Jesus. But the opposite is also true, when we move out of sync with the rhythm and at times against the rhythm, it begins to destroy the beauty of the kingdom.

The rhythm of the Kingdom is beating in the distance…it is a beautiful sound…a counter-cultural sound...can you hear it…is it making you move?

Labels: article

This last Sunday, I preached on Epiphany and want to continue that theme. Epiphany is part of the church calendar that many Evangelicals don’t even know exists, taking place between the church seasons of Advent and Lent.

Epiphany literarily means “manifestation” and centers primarily on the Magi narrative in Mathew 2:1-12 (but can also include the events from the Magi to Jesus’ baptism). It has been a meaningful passage in the life of the church for hundreds of years, signifying Christ as the prophesied King of the Jews and that his Kingdom (Reign) is available to all including the Gentiles.

The point I want to draw attention to and build upon, is about of the Kingdom of God and what it means for us to be subjects, ambassadors and builders of the Kingdom. Just as we have become unaware of the traditional meaning of this story in our time and culture, we have also become unaware of the concept of the Kingdom (Reign) of God. And as a result, have lost focus of the fact that we are called, as followers of Jesus, to be builders of the Kingdom.

I think part of the issue exists because our country has a great social system and social net. We have left the Kingdom values of feeding the poor, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, helping the widows, etc. up to the government and have gradually become apathetic towards them. But in doing that, we have also missed something, and as a result are missing out on part of what we are called to do. The church, you and I, as followers of Jesus are called to care for the poor, the helpless, the marginalized, the disenfranchised as a core value of the Kingdom Jesus spoke about and lived through his example. But I think for many different reasons, we remain apathetic towards it.

The problem is that our apathy has turned into atrophy. And not just any atrophy, but “epidemic atrophy.” This state of atrophy has somehow become the cultural norm. But just because it is accepted as normal, doesn’t mean that it is right.

The result of this atrophy is that we often don’t even know how to respond or care. So many of us walk by people of the street and aren’t filled with compassion and even if we are, that compassion (unlike Jesus’) doesn’t lead us to action. Or, we watch news stories of children or adults dying of starvation or AIDS and we are left unmoved. We hear of injustice and instead of being filled with righteous anger like Jesus (example of Jesus clearing the Temple), we ignore it. Our apathy can’t be the way of Jesus… can it?

I think that Epiphany is a reminder of our role in the Kingdom – to be ambassadors, subjects and builders of the Kingdom of God. This reminder to us may not be easy, and it may be difficult to once again begin moving and exercising those atrophied muscles. Like any physiotherapy, it happens through small, and sometimes painful, steps. This physiotherapy isn’t an overnight cure, but as we remain committed to the building process, God will help to bring us there, one step at a time.

I invite you to join me this year and begin the process of physiotherapy as we fight the epidemic of apathy and grow as healthy and productive subjects, ambassadors and builders of the Kingdom of God.

Labels: article

I just finished the book Body Prayer by Doug Pagitt and Kathryn Prill and was disappointed. I wasn’t disappointed so much in the book or its content but the price. Maybe it is the inevitable risk of purchasing a book online but the book I received wasn’t the book I expected. I liked it, don’t get me wrong, and I’m sure Doug and Kathryn had absolutely nothing to do with setting the price (and probably will only receive a measly $0.25 royalty per book) but it was just way too expensive. It is a good resource, one I will use, but in my opinion it is really only worth about $10 instead of the $21.00 price tag I paid at Chapters.

About the book: it is filled with great, creative and ancient ideas of using our bodies as we pray. It is completely practical and if you are looking for a historical or theological book on the subject you will be disappointed.

Like I said, I liked the book but if you are thinking of buying it, wait until it goes on sale, as it just isn’t worth the high price tag.

Labels: book review

I am in class all this week (Essentials of Pastoral Care) and next week (Book of Revelation) taking two intensive seminary classes. So far so good (the class has been great), but I am only 27.6% into it. I like school but after an eight hour day of class and homework at night it can be a bit much. It can be alarming when you start to dream about it.

Labels: misc

I just finished reading “The Sacred Way” by Tony Jones. Along with other things, it prompted me to think about doing a Spiritual Pilgrimage some time in my life. I am not sure where or when, but it definitely intrigues, excites and scares me. Previous to reading this book, I would have never really thought about doing a pilgrimage, but after hearing the history behind it and from Tony’s personal experience, I think it is something that I have real interest in.

In a paradoxical sort of way, I like/dislike books on prayer and spiritual disciplines. One of the things I really liked about this book is the personal dynamic in it. It made it real, raw and drew me into a subject that otherwise has a tendency to be dull, boring and guilt driven.

Labels: book review