We Are Gateway

Years ago, I took a humanitarian flight to a foreign country. I had a huge hockey bag jammed with stuff…it was oversized and overweight. They would not let it on the plane, and time was running out, so in desperation I transferred items to other bags in our group. The experience was stressful and worrisome, and made the flight feel uncertain. A few years later I had another flight to an event a few provinces away. Everything was provided – the only thing I needed was a change of clothes. There was no stress, worry or uncertainty – I just enjoyed the flight. The difference…was the baggage. We bring baggage with us into every part of our lives, and it can make a huge difference on our flight called life. This past year has increased the stress, uncertainty, worry – our baggage – whether through addictions, habits, trauma, or other realities of mental and emotional health. We are going to have an honest look at Baggage, and how we can learn to travel light!

Years ago, I took a humanitarian flight to a foreign country. I had a huge hockey bag jammed with stuff…it was oversized and overweight. They would not let it on the plane, and time was running out, so in desperation I transferred items to other bags in our group. The experience was stressful and worrisome, and made the flight feel uncertain. A few years later I had another flight to an event a few provinces away. Everything was provided – the only thing I needed was a change of clothes. There was no stress, worry or uncertainty – I just enjoyed the flight. The difference…was the baggage. We bring baggage with us into every part of our lives, and it can make a huge difference on our flight called life. This past year has increased the stress, uncertainty, worry – our baggage – whether through addictions, habits, trauma, or other realities of mental and emotional health. We are going to have an honest look at Baggage, and how we can learn to travel light!

OK so you are having a conversation with someone, going back and forth about things you agree on and some things you do not agree on. Then all of a sudden you hear the words, “the reality is…” and you know you are in for a treat. You are about to hear something that is true for sure… because after all, it is reality. And how does this person know what the reality is? Well, they believe it, and maybe they even read it on the internet… so it must be true. The reality is, I say this all the time. I think I know what reality is simply because I believe it, and my opinion must be right. And if you are honest, you do it too. You think that something is reality because you believe it, and that your opinion is right… otherwise you would change it. But what if someone who claims to know truth does things that make them less than truthful? And what if truth is something, we need to discover rather than determine?

If you read a hundred online posts or listen to a hundred podcasts or watch a hundred TV commercials, you will get a hundred different opinions. And all of them will claim to be truth. I mean, who actually believes their opinion isn’t true? Twenty centuries ago a regional governor in the Roman Empire asked, “What is truth?” We are still wondering that today. Is truth based on what I understand? Is it based on how I feel? Is it based on how many people believe it? Does someone get to decide what is true? Who should that be? Sometimes we see a lack of integrity or authenticity in people who are claiming to tell the truth. It is hard to know what that means. So…I wonder if there is a reliable source of truth. I wonder if it is possible to actually know what is true. And I wonder what role faith has in all of this.

If you read a hundred online posts or listen to a hundred podcasts or watch a hundred TV commercials, you will get a hundred different opinions. And all of them will claim to be truth. I mean, who actually believes their opinion isn’t true? Twenty centuries ago a regional governor in the Roman Empire asked, “What is truth?” We are still wondering that today. Is truth based on what I understand? Is it based on how I feel? Is it based on how many people believe it? Does someone get to decide what is true? Who should that be? Sometimes we see a lack of integrity or authenticity in people who are claiming to tell the truth. It is hard to know what that means. So…I wonder if there is a reliable source of truth. I wonder if it is possible to actually know what is true. And I wonder what role faith has in all of this.

If you read a hundred online posts or listen to a hundred podcasts or watch a hundred TV commercials, you will get a hundred different opinions. And all of them will claim to be truth. I mean, who actually believes their opinion isn’t true? Twenty centuries ago a regional governor in the Roman Empire asked, “What is truth?” We are still wondering that today. Is truth based on what I understand? Is it based on how I feel? Is it based on how many people believe it? Does someone get to decide what is true? Who should that be? Sometimes we see a lack of integrity or authenticity in people who are claiming to tell the truth. It is hard to know what that means. So…I wonder if there is a reliable source of truth. I wonder if it is possible to actually know what is true. And I wonder what role faith has in all of this.

If you read a hundred online posts or listen to a hundred podcasts or watch a hundred TV commercials, you will get a hundred different opinions. And all of them will claim to be truth. I mean, who actually believes their opinion isn’t true? Twenty centuries ago a regional governor in the Roman Empire asked, “What is truth?” We are still wondering that today. Is truth based on what I understand? Is it based on how I feel? Is it based on how many people believe it? Does someone get to decide what is true? Who should that be? Sometimes we see a lack of integrity or authenticity in people who are claiming to tell the truth. It is hard to know what that means. So…I wonder if there is a reliable source of truth. I wonder if it is possible to actually know what is true. And I wonder what role faith has in all of this.

Well, we are saying goodbye – maybe even good riddance – to an old year and saying hello to a new one. This time around when we say, “Happy New Year” we are pretty much saying “Hope it’s better than the last one!” It seems like the biggest word of the year was restrictions… almost everything that was a normal part of life – working, learning, shopping, communicating, meeting – became restricted in some way. It is like our freedom has felt jeopardized in every area of our lives. So, what were your hopes, your dreams, your plans for 2020? Did any of them happen? Are you still hoping them, dreaming them, planning them for 2021? I wonder what it could truly look like to live free this year? Even within restrictions? A long time ago someone really famous said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We are dedicating all of 2021 to LiveFree – believing that you can experience freedom in every part of your life!

What a year it has been. So many in our communities have experienced difficulty. So many in our world have experienced darkness. And so many in forgotten places have experienced dismay. Christmas is coming. It is a time when we are reminded of giving, warmth and holiday cheer; of peace, love, and a lot of other nice things that seem farther away than usual this year. Maybe more than ever we need the messages of Christmas: “I bring you good news!” “We have seen the light!” “Do not be afraid.” We definitely need some good news, some light, and a whole lot less fear. What if we could have joy in our difficulty, light in our darkness, and hope in our dismay? Wouldn’t that be the best?

What a year it has been. So many in our communities have experienced difficulty. So many in our world have experienced darkness. And so many in forgotten places have experienced dismay. Christmas is coming. It is a time when we are reminded of giving, warmth and holiday cheer; of peace, love, and a lot of other nice things that seem farther away than usual this year. Maybe more than ever we need the messages of Christmas: “I bring you good news!” “We have seen the light!” “Do not be afraid.” We definitely need some good news, some light, and a whole lot less fear. What if we could have joy in our difficulty, light in our darkness, and hope in our dismay? Wouldn’t that be the best?

What a year it has been. So many in our communities have experienced difficulty. So many in our world have experienced darkness. And so many in forgotten places have experienced dismay. Christmas is coming. It is a time when we are reminded of giving, warmth and holiday cheer; of peace, love, and a lot of other nice things that seem farther away than usual this year. Maybe more than ever we need the messages of Christmas: “I bring you good news!” “We have seen the light!” “Do not be afraid.” We definitely need some good news, some light, and a whole lot less fear. What if we could have joy in our difficulty, light in our darkness, and hope in our dismay? Wouldn’t that be the best?

We have all experienced hurt and pain at some point in our lives. Some of us have experienced hurt by others, and some of us have caused pain for someone else. We are exploring the questions: What do I do with my hurt, pain, and shame? How can I experience the forgiveness and freedom that Christ offers me?

In this year of lockdowns, social isolation and physical distancing, we have seen more than ever how much we want connection. We desire it, we long for it, we crave it. We are wired for relationship. We are wired for love. The words “I love you“ are possibly the most powerful, life-changing words we could ever say or hear. But what do they actually mean? I feel something for you? I want you? I can’t live without you? I need you? I value you? I give myself to you? I would do anything for you? Or something even more? Could you continue to love someone who doesn’t love you back? Does your sexuality positively or negatively affect your relationships? Should we feel responsible for those we are in relationship with?

In this year of lockdowns, social isolation and physical distancing, we have seen more than ever how much we want connection. We desire it, we long for it, we crave it. We are wired for relationship. We are wired for love. The words “I love you“ are possibly the most powerful, life-changing words we could ever say or hear. But what do they actually mean? I feel something for you? I want you? I can’t live without you? I need you? I value you? I give myself to you? I would do anything for you? Or something even more? Could you continue to love someone who doesn’t love you back? Does your sexuality positively or negatively affect your relationships? Should we feel responsible for those we are in relationship with?

In this year of lockdowns, social isolation and physical distancing, we have seen more than ever how much we want connection. We desire it, we long for it, we crave it. We are wired for relationship. We are wired for love. The words “I love you“ are possibly the most powerful, life-changing words we could ever say or hear. But what do they actually mean? I feel something for you? I want you? I can’t live without you? I need you? I value you? I give myself to you? I would do anything for you? Or something even more? Could you continue to love someone who doesn’t love you back? Does your sexuality positively or negatively affect your relationships? Should we feel responsible for those we are in relationship with?

Over the past year, we have heard a lot about how Gateway Cares for its community, but did you know that Gateway also cares for world missions? This Sunday we are sharing about Gateway's heart for those in need around the world. Come and hear from three of our missionaries and the difference Gateway is making in the lives of people we have never met.

It would be easy to say, “I care about you.” But those would only be words until I actually cared enough to do something about it. It would be easy to say, “I believe in generosity.” But it’s another thing entirely to actually be generous. Money is a big deal for all of us. We all need it, we all have some of it, we all could use some more of it, and we could all use some help with it! We believe that God doesn’t want something from you, He wants something for you.

It would be easy to say, “I care about you.” But those would only be words until I actually cared enough to do something about it. It would be easy to say, “I believe in generosity.” But it’s another thing entirely to actually be generous. Money is a big deal for all of us. We all need it, we all have some of it, we all could use some more of it, and we could all use some help with it! We believe that God doesn’t want something from you, He wants something for you.

It would be easy to say, “I care about you.” But those would only be words until I actually cared enough to do something about it. It would be easy to say, “I believe in generosity.” But it’s another thing entirely to actually be generous. Money is a big deal for all of us. We all need it, we all have some of it, we all could use some more of it, and we could all use some help with it! We believe that God doesn’t want something from you, He wants something for you.

Everything has to start somewhere. Investing starts with being invested in; inviting starts with being invited; including starts with being included. Being ALL IN starts with being IN. And all of this starts with...Jesus.