DEFINING MATURITY

In our housing complex, Christine and I observe numerous gradations of maturity among adults. Some understand what it means to live responsibly in community and some don't care. For the latter group, individualistic interests control personal decisions and that is immaturity. In contrast, a vacationing fourth floor apartment individualist has been at ground level for two weeks voluntarily hand watering community plants for everyone's benefit. That is maturity at its altruistic finest. I understand that in churches we mean more than biological and psychological maturity but spiritual maturity as well. Within the context of Christian development, maturity is expressed as setting aside personal rights and ambitions as Jesus did for us, and prioritizing other people in our investment of time, energy, and everything else. This strength of maturity lends itself to being a nonconformist, a rebel and a maverick for Christ. Christlike individuals, mature in their relationship with a triune God, self-effacing and compliant to the will of the Father who authorizes them to be pioneers, innovators, forerunners, pacesetters, visionaries.

Addendum: This week the occupants of two units have moved and our unanimous corporation exclamation is 'good riddance.' They didn't respect the other residents of the community and created disturbances. I am certain there have been a few churches who after seeking peace and enduring conflicts have also been happy to see some members leave. Maturity is that important. It’s not a matter of age but of choice.

OUR 48TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Christine and I sat at White Rock Beach this morning, with muffins and coffee to reminisce while we enjoyed an early summer morning. We looked back 48 years to another August 12th when we dressed as finely as we could and together with our families we met friends assembled at Calvary Church in St. Catharines, Ontario. There Rev. James Vold officiated for us a ceremony that permitted us to say to each other, “I will love you for a lifetime.” That day was a happy day for us, memorable, pretty for so many reasons, supported by well wishers, blessed by the LORD.   

Even at my age, it feels like an impossible fact to tell someone that my wife and I are celebrating our 48th Anniversary.  Forty-eight years can be a great deal of history. As we chatted today, we thought about how our culture and societal moralities have changed. We thought about the pressing national and international issues of the Sixties, and we compared them to the pressures of today. We spoke to each other about the struggles, the adjustments, the determination that were required for two people to make it to the 48th anniversary of a mutual commitment. We are thankful that we are here together. We are grateful to have children and grandchildren. We are content that we were able to say loving and respectful goodbyes to both sets of our parents. We are content to have served congregations together with complimentary gifts. We wonder how to make use of the years yet ahead in a responsible and fulfilling way. Always at the beginning and though out our lives, God has factored significantly into plans, choices and actions, and we believe he will again, but we are uncertain how that will play out.

The photos were taken in Montebello Park in St. Catharines. The Wedding Party was comprised of ( L to R) David Langlois, Robert Langlois, Jim Langlois, May Langlois, Ron Unruh, Christine Langlois, Tina Unruh, Edward Unruh, Neale Unruh, Murray Unruh. Both brothers on both sides were as yet unmarried. Both parents on both sides have passed away in recent years. The Church building in which we were married was sold and a new church building constructed elsewhere. The London College of Bible and Missions later merged with Toronto Bible College to become Ontario Bible College (OBC), and much later Tyndale Bible College. I later graduated with a Master of Divinity from Ontario Theological Seminary, the graduate school of OBC, and much later with a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Chicago). Christine’s gifting and service was always in music and worship and together we worked in Calvary Bible Church, Smiths Falls; Ferndale Bible Church, Peterborough; Wishing Well Acres Baptist Church, Toronto; Cloverdale Baptist Church, Cloverdale BC. We closed off our formal service life when I was President of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada, a denomination of 150 churches. Christine found a worthwhile ministry to pastors’ wives. We’ve done well. Happy Anniversary to us.

ONE MAN'S REFLECTION ON A HISTORY OF CLOVERDALE BAPTIST CHURCH

CBC’s first service held in new sanctuary - photo from church website

A memorial service for a friend was my reason for entering the brand new facility that now contains the congregation of the Cloverdale Baptist Church. It is commendably well designed, spacious and sensible. Christine and I were there along with friends from numerous activity and interest groups to honour Ted Hewlett and reflect on our memories of him. Ted and Mary have been members of CBC for many years, dating to the ten-year span during which I served as lead pastor there.

Cloverdale Baptist Church being dismantled 

Well, not truly there, but rather in the structure that has been disassembled to make way for the new building and its required parking. In recent months, having intermittent glimpses of the vanishing older facility, my nostalgic memories gave way to thoughtful thanksgiving for all that happened in 85 years.

Cloverdale Baptist Church was a dream that became realized. It began simply enough, as a home Bible study for interested people whose increasing numbers birthed the notion of starting a Bible-believing church with a building in Cloverdale. These pioneers were convinced this was God's idea which he invested into their willing hearts. First, in 1929 several families rented the Liberal Hall in Cloverdale to hold worship services led by area pastors. The Home Missions Committee of an association known as Regular Baptists had been considering starting a church work in the area, and suggested that this fledgling fellowship affiliate with them. The group was formally recognized as a Baptist work on March 10, 1931.

Church leaders and members rose to the challenge with an eager desire to reach their community, so they visited homes and made contacts and extended invitations to attend and over a period of time, people responded to warmth and friendship, believed the good news that was preached, were baptized as new believers and became active members. Church membership grew throughout the 1940's so one acre of land was purchased at 17400-60th Avenue, where the congregation built a new facility and dedicated it to the Lord on October 11, 1962. That building was a catalyst to further growth which included various ministries for special groups, missionaries commissioned overseas, and daughtering other churches. 

Cloverdale Baptist Church, 1981-2015

Then in August 1981 the congregation moved to the present site which then was comprised of 12.8 acres, and there a new 22,500 sq. ft. building with a five acre footprint that included an auditorium seating 550-600 people, ample parking, a gymnasium, Christian education classroom facilities, a smaller chapel/fellowship room and a kitchen. Christine and I came in autumn 1991 to a church of 200 in a building surrounded by bush and farmland. On March 15, 1992 at an Anniversary Service charter members Helmut and Emily Seiler represented the congregation as they put a match to the mortgage certificate for the building as a symbolic gesture indicated the full payment of that debt, and everyone then praised God for his faithfulness in helping this congregation see accomplish this. The following years became filled with a Daycare program, a School of Music, a Skate Church to reach youth, a highly effective youth program, High Power Soccer camps in the community, a Seniors program and growing Sunday attendance. Bush and fields gave way around us to almost overnight housing communities and shopping plazas. 

A full auditorium and visionary people birthed two initiatives. First, in 1995 the launch of a congregation in Murrayville comprised of 50 adults plus their children who volunteered to go with a pastor and $100,000 to begin a brand new work. 

Southridge Fellowship Baptist

Today Southridge Baptist Church occupies a functional new building in Murrayville. Second, because this was a burgeoning area, blueprints were drawn for a new sanctuary seating 1200 people to be added to the existing building using the courtyard as a large glass-topped lobby. Concurrent with that, plans for the seven remaining acres of grasses, included three three-story saleable multi-unit condominium buildings and one similar size subsidized or affordable housing complex. All four buildings would be centred with a vast park area with walkway making it accessible to the surrounding community.

Cloverdale Baptist Church 2015

Some plans belong to God and some are set aside. The latter one was not realized. I concluded my service in 2001. In recent years, new leadership opted to sell seven acres to a developer, and to meet the demands of today with the construction of this new facility. Many new memories will be made in the years to come, yet for many of us, it is appropriate to be thankful for lives that were changed and challenged, and relationships that were deepened and healed because of God's presence and the faithfulness of his people in all of those earlier years.

CELL PHONES IN CARS? BUT WHAT ABOUT ……..?

Cell phones in cars make life more convenient but they can be a distraction. Driver distraction is a factor in about 4 million motor vehicle crashes in North America each year. Remarkably, we have prioritized cell phone use. 

What about children in the car, specially crying infants? Children are four times more distracting than adults as passengers, and infants are eight times more distracting than adults as passengers. What about unsecured pets, or use of beverages, or cosmetics application while looking at oneself in the visor mirror? What about listening to music, a talk show, the news? And what about smoking weed in a blue cloud with a crowd and then climbing into cars and zoom, zoom. 

And what are drive-throughs for if not to obtain drinks and fast food to take away in a moving vehicle and consume while moving to a destination? That requires some driver attention. We want to reduce distractions from a driver's primary task because 80% of collisions and 65% of near crashes have some form of driver inattention as a contributing factor. 

It's true that cellphone distraction has a similar effect on driving, as does alcohol impairment. Distracted drivers are 3 times more likely to be in a crash than attentive drivers. Talking while driving may not be a major distraction but it does increase the risk of crashing up to 4 times. Texting increases the risk of crashing by up to 23 times. Government has taken action. We have identified cellphone use as a principal distraction and we have legislated a ban.

So, as of January 1, 2010 the use of cellphones or any handheld portable electronic devices by drivers is restricted in B.C. Drivers are not permitted to make or receive calls, send or read text messages or e-mails; cannot hold or operate any electronic device (i.e. cellphone, MP3 player, GPS Navigation System). The fine is $167 and 3 penalty points. 

Drivers can use hands-free cell phones and devices if they can be used by voice activation or pressing a single button once only. But here's the rub. It was thought that using a hands-free device while driving is safer than hands on. Studies show that hands-free cellphones distract drivers the same as hand-held phones.  It’s the conversation that distracts the driver – not the device. Economic losses caused by traffic collision-related health care costs and lost productivity are at least $10 billion annually. That's about 1% of Canada's GDP! (Government of Canada). Will we legislate on other causes of distraction as well? How will we monitor weed smoker’s behind the wheel?

CHRISTINE’S 2015 BIRTHDAY PARTY

July 23, yesterday, was Christine’s birthday. She is looking and feeling great for her age, which will go unidentified here. She is fantastic to be hanging around with me, an older guy by eleven months and I am 72 and will be 73 in September. We are fortunate for so many reasons, for our health today, for children and grandchildren only minutes away, for a comfy downsized home, for friends.

Last night, Eugene and Elaine Bodner joined our family, Cari and Tim and their three, Kailyn, Ryan and Jayden and Jeff and Gina and their two Kale and Kadence. We gathered at Jeff’s and Gina’s home for an evening of appies and desserts and conversation and some nice wines. It was another pleasantly warm day with a lovely sunset. Children love each other and love playing with one another. This is how Christine likes to celebrate, casually, simply, and with people close.

Today, we get ready to make a trip together with Karen and Rob Stewart, leaving tomorrow morning for the Tsawassen ferry to Nanaimo, from where we will travel north on Vancouver Island to Port McNeil, meet Ben and Anna Crumbeck and have lunch, and then go by ferry to Malcolm Island. We will drive to the village of Sointula, where Ben and Anna live and pastor the Sointula Community Church. We will stay overnight, and I will preach on Sunday morning and then the church is having a community BBQ. We will leave the island at 3pm and we have a reservation on the 9PM ferry from Nanaimo back to the mainland, so we’ll be home between 11:00pm-12:00am Sunday night.

Monday, we may be at Cultus Lake with the Locken clan for the day.

A RANDOM SPOUT

A random spout

That's all, not rancorous but attentive to life

As now I live it vigorously, and why not

When already past four score and ten

I contract arduous house-painting opps

Working like a young man, to a loop

Of my choice, Divo, Rod Stewart, Bublé and Phantom

For two coats on a neighbour's walls

Adding money to my Art Fund - my fine art resource

If there's time for canvas between writing and speaking

Long after my challenging professional years

Vested with office and colleagues a seeming lifetime ago,

When in our private home we took privacy for granted,

Then downsized for profit to live in common property

Shared by hundreds whom we hardly know,

Many of whom smoke weed, my unsolicited default fragrance

On a summer evening, at parties held within earshot 

Between midnight and the 5 o'clock train,

Just in time for me to wake for coffee and the gym,

And renters moving in and out and good riddance

Since they care less than owners for our pooled space,

In time as well to see the Donald,

Announced Republican candidate for U.S. Pres

Who surprised Nasa scientists with New Horizons spacecraft photos of Pluto.

Life is anything but uninteresting, when my ears need aids,

And my car needs a soft top, and my wife needs cataract surgery,

And my nearest neighbour needs a detox centre

And my grandkids long board to our house

Where cantaloupe and conversation and water satisfy them.

In our uncommon prolonged summer heat

My raised bed garden yields zucchinis

Tomatoes flourish high on towering plants
And fragrant roses flower for all to enjoy.  

THE SHACK, A FILM, MADE NEXT DOOR.

They are making the movie right here in lower mainland B.C., and I have been just metres away from some of the filming this week. This may be a good film, if it keeps to the script. John Fusco, best known for writing 1988's Young Guns, wrote its screenplay adaptation from the book by the same name by first-time author Paul Young which sold 22 million copies worldwide. Of course many in the evangelical world took issue with the 2007 best-selling book, The Shack, in the first place, castigating it and its Canadian author Paul Young for parodying God and the Trinity, perhaps even depreciating these entities.

SAM WORTHINGTON

I treated the read years ago as the novel that it was. You would throw out much of C.S. Lewis' fiction if you took the same reactionary stance against his material.  Young was not teaching theology, but telling a story, the account of a man's pain at the loss of a daughter as a result of a kidnapping and murder by a serial killer. Sam Worthington plays the lead role of Mackenzie "Mack" Allen Phillips who is plunged into a deep emotional abyss that embraces fury at God. Four years after the horror, he receives a letter from God called Papa. 

And of course this representation in the book set people off, because portrayed Papa as a woman, a black female who will be portrayed by Octavia Spencer, who has already won an Oscar for her role in the "The Help." Radha Mitchell is in the role of Phillips' wife and Amelie Eve is their missing daughter. I saw her in the canoe scene as it was being shot last night. The Shack and Papa's cabin tucked into the woods are all on site and the filming went on for the four days that we were close by holidaying in a cottage. Very fun.

Paul Young himself says that he is excited about the movie because he has been given the rare opportunity to invest his creative input into the filmmaking process. We will see how much his voice is heard.  Young calls the book a metaphor for “the house you build out of your own pain.” 

Will non-believers be confused, led astray from God’s true persona? Might viewers who never think about God, feel compelled to seek to know him outside the context of the novel? I will look forward to the movie. I won't fashion my theology, or my concept of God based upon its expressions for deity. I may however, learn to meditate more keenly on some aspects of the character of God as expressed by the three persons whom readers may discern as the Trinitarian God image. I may  be encouraged about the compassion of God for his human creatures when they suffer. 

SPEAKING IN RICHMOND

2013 Summer Retreat of Richmond Chinese EFC (English Ministries)

Christine and I began yesterday with the first of three Sundays with our good friends at Richmond Chinese Evangelical Free Church (English Ministries). I have the opportunity to teach them during their Sunday worship hour. Currently they are studying through the book of the Acts of the Apostles, so I am providing a 3-part series on the Holy Spirit and the Church.

This opportunity comes as a result of some church multiplication. Both the pastor of EM Allen Chang and his wife Hanna and the internship pastor Daniel Wong and his wife Joyce are expecting new ‘first’ babies. Daniel and Joyce are waiting until August, but even as I write this Monday morning, Allen and Hanna may be rejoicing in their new arrival. I have not heard yet.

Yesterday following the worship service, the EM church held a BBQ outside in the great summer weather we are having. Chinese Ministries were engaged in their own worship hour concurrent with that. I am very grateful for the friendship of these people, and that of the lead pastor Anthony Yeung and Board Chair Don Lau.

The group photo is that of the second weekend retreat to which we were invited as teachers during these past several years. We love this eager, enthusiastic, teachable group of God’s servants.

I AM ON GOOGLE MAPS

I appeared on Google Maps painting our Sunset Grove Estates outdoor signs - Woo Woo … internationally known now

https://goo.gl/maps/Fa4Up

or, https://www.google.com/maps/@49.121542,-122.683314,3a,60y,239.35h,81.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIpQNDzWE2ok3CCp15tD0wQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

EDWARD RICHARD UNRUH DIED MAY 1, 2008

May 1st is the anniversary of my Dad's death. I cannot own him by myself. We are three sons of Edward Richard Unruh. Our father passed away on May 1, 2008.

Murray, Neale and I will remember him with pleasure today. Such a good man, a gentle man he was. Faithful, constant, loving in a reserved manner appropriate to his generation I suppose. Through the years, even as he aged, he seemed enduring, unchanging, always there when I visited, or Neale visited or when Murray regularly took him for a coffee at Horton's. Murray and Diane know our lasting gratitude for their years of loving care. Even during the last years when Mom's dementia required her care in a nursing facility, Dad remained in his apartment, looking after most of his own needs. And then he was gone, quietly, peacefully.

Like millions of other men, Dad distinguished himself, as son, a husband, and a father. I would like you to know him. He was born the last of four children to Cornelius K. Unruh and his wife Katherine. His childhood home was the prairie town of Hepburn, Saskatchewan, where he acquired a grade eleven education. Then he began to work at numerous jobs. Edward, fell in love with Tina Martha (Doerksen) Willems, four years younger than himself. Willems was her step family surname. Doerksen was on her birth certificate from Montana where her birth father Isaac Doerksen died when she was two years of age. Their love took them happily through 66 years until Mom passed away. In his twenties he owned and operated a 'filling' station as it was called (gas station). Together, Mom And Dad set up a coffee shop on the main street. Then WWII happened and Dad enlisted in the Canadian Air Force, which was an exceptional act in a town of Mennonite pacifists. He was an airplane mechanic. When the war was over, they looked at the future for their family, measured employment options, and the many factory jobs in Ontario seemed attractive. Dad, Mom and me at age four, moved to St. Catharines. Dad worked for Thompson Products, Ontario Paper Mill and finally Anthes Imperial, where he remained for over forty years. Anthes built furnaces and dad worked in the heat of the foundry, in the cab of an aerial crane, and then for decades on the assembly line. He often came home exhausted. He would clean up and settle down with his newspaper, sometimes draped over his face as he napped on the sofa. His work ethic was a commendable model for his three boys. Well into our own manhood, one day we asked him why he stayed at such difficult work for so long. A six-word reply revealed the man. “I did it for my boys.”

He purchased a family home before he turned forty years of age. He took his family to a rented cottage for summer vacations. He took us for Sunday afternoon car rides. He sang with us. He yodeled. He was proud of us. He loved our Mother. When we married, his love for our brides gave them a strong sense of comfort in an extended family. He trusted in God, and he supported all three of us as we took on Christian service vocations.

Dad never took a leadership position at church. If he was asked to be on committees or boards he declined. He knew his strengths and limitations. He enjoyed serving but the service had to be in the areas of comfort and competence. Smart man. Private man. Honorable man.

In November 2007, our Mom passed away. The night before the memorial service as our family stood together at her coffin, Dad said, "Goodnight sweetheart, I'll see you soon." His loss was profound, we are sure of that. Yet Dad was stoic. Mom had been ill for several years and it was time for her to go. Perhaps a man knows when it is his time as well. One evening six months later, he enjoyed a dinner at Murray and Diane's home. Beth and Eric were there, as were their daughters Selah and Karis. After the meal Murray drove him home. Before bed, a nurse arrived to dispense medication but found Dad lying on the floor. With no evident bruises, it was supposed that he felt unwell and was heading for the couch, but lay down on the rug and died there.