Tracking Moose & Experiencing God
I remember well the very first time I, well let’s use the politically correct term, “harvested” a moose. It was a clear crisp autumn morning; the leaves were just beginning to turn a brilliant yellow and orange. Between my friend the veteran moose hunter and myself we had a cow and a calf tag. We […]
KELLER’S CENTER CHURCH: A Helpful Approach For A Divergent Alliance Denominational Family
Last week I taught a course at Briercrest Seminary called “Ministry Issues in the Contemporary Context”, with the task of navigating through various ministry models as we serve in the twenty-first century. The previous teacher of this course, in keeping with the thinking of the Seminary at the time, focused on the emergent church as […]
Fort Mac: Still In Awe One Year Later!
Hard to believe it’s been a year since I first made my way to this bustling city in the sub-arctic of northern Alberta! It’s -20 and sunny as I write, and I must have acclimatized because it feels downright balmy! And hey, each day is getting brighter and soon the amazing summer sun will give […]
Ambushed By Fort Mac — Totally Unexpected!
Thursday January 26th, 2012. I flew into Fort McMurray for the very first time. It was supposed to be a “consulting weekend” at the Fort McMurray Alliance Church, an opportunity to tell my story of what God had done at Redwood Park Church in Thunder Bay. The idea was to encourage the church folks here. […]
Fresh Winds Blowing In the Canadian Alliance!!
I sense some fresh winds blowing in the Canadian Christian & Missionary Alliance, fresh winds that are stirring up what it has always meant to be “Alliance”, with just a few new twists, that in some cases are pretty old! A few fresh winds stirring up our historic roots, reigniting an old fire. It was […]
Dishing Out More Than Food!
Some of you wonder what my wife Jane does with her summers at Ontario Pioneer Camps. Well here’s a “sweet” article from the September edition of InterVaristy’s “The Insider,” a newsletter designed to connect InterVarsity staff from across the country that gives a bit of insight … In the 1992 movie, Under Siege, Steven Seagal […]
Values That Propel Mission and Community
A clearly articulated set of values create a foundation for any church or organization for the development of a more focused mission and provide tracks on which ministries and programs can operate. At Fort McMurray Alliance we’re having some good discussion on values at a leadership level, and have asked the church family as a […]
Do We Focus On McMurray Mike?
Yeah I know, you hardly ever hear of WillowCreek or other churches using the old “unchurched Harry” target when talking about their approach to ministry. That belongs to what some believe are the bygone days of “attractional churches,” based on crass marketing. I understand the concern, but it strikes me as throwing the baby out […]
Overcoming Evangelical Cringe: The Writing of Roger E. Olson
Recently I’ve been reading two books by Roger E. Olsen that have jazzed that side of me that has struggled a bit with elements of this wonderful movement called evangelicalism – well for the most part wonderful. Hey, I am very much a product of this movement and owe a great debt of gratitude to […]
The Alliance in Canada: Navigating Change & Diversity with Courage
What an exhilarating but bumpy week we had at the Alliance in Canada’s General Assembly held just over a week ago in Winnipeg. Sure I could get all uptight about the tense debate over the issue of ordaining women and the potential fallout that could come from that historic decision. But when I put that […]
