Boyd's Blog

Thank You, Dennis

2012-03-21T15:54:00.000-03:00

This week I attended the funeral for the pastor who baptized me, the Rev. Dr. Dennis Maynard Veinotte, who died on March 15th at the relatively young age of 74.

I was in my mid-teens when Dennis, then in his 20s, became the minister of my home Church in Windsor, NS. Dennis was an immediate hit with his energy, good humour and gift for friendship.

Our Church had only one minister in those days, so Dennis was responsible for all aspects of pastoral ministry - worship, teaching, pastoral care in homes and institutions, elder care and, most important to me and my friends, youth work. It was a good thing he was young!

It soon became evident that Dennis had a gift for pastoral counseling. Having a "chat" with Dennis meant trusting him with deeply personal and meaningful aspects of your life, a trust he honoured.

Dennis was the first person I told of my growing sense of call into Christian ministry. He was preparing me for baptism at the time and I came to believe that Christ was not only calling me to follow him in baptism, but to dedicate my life to full time Christian service.

Dennis' encouragement, understanding and practical advice were an important part of those early and faltering steps that have led to a lifetime in ministry for me. Now some 46 years later, I can still remember the sense of excitement and destiny that permeated those conversations.

It was when I was preparing for ministry that I began to understand a bit better that side of Dennis' ministry that made him such a great listener - clinical pastoral education.

CPE, or "clinical" as we called it, was then a relatively new discipline in theological education in Canada. It brought the insights of psychology and sociology to our pastoral role and identity. A clinical setting (for us it was a TB sanatorium) provided a student with a very practical experience of one on one ministry which was peer-reviewed under the guidance of a trained supervisor. In many ways it was the most valuable course we took in seminary.

Dennis eventually left the pastorate and began the journey that would lead him to a career in teaching as Professor of Clinical Pastoral Education at Acadia Divinity College. Along the way, he spent some time as a prison chaplain in Springhill, NS, during which he was a member of the Church I was leading in nearby Amherst. We often spoke of the unique relationship we had as I became the pastor of the one who had been such an important pastor to me.

Like St. Paul, Dennis had a "thorn in the flesh" to deal with in his later years - rheumatoid arthritis complicated by heart disease. In spite of days of excruciating pain, Dennis continued to minister and teach, a living example of the grace of God sufficient in all circumstances.

These memories, and many more, came to me at Dennis' funeral this week. I am grateful to God for the grace, insight, example and love Dennis offered to me at a crucial time in my life, and for the friendship I will always treasure.

Thank you, God. Thank you, Dennis.

Racism, Sexism - What Will We Repent of Next?

2012-03-15T17:19:00.000-03:00

Bill Leonard, the James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of Church History and Baptist Studies at the School of Divinity, Wake Forest University, in a recent column on the Associate Baptist Press website, lamented the way in which the Bible has been used in the past to support what now would be recognized as morally repugnant practices: slavery, the execution of heretics, the Inquisition, etc.

He asks: For which of our “biblical defenses” will our children or grandchildren be compelled to repent?
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Saint Paul Confronts Rick Santorum and Rush Limbaugh

2012-03-08T16:38:00.000-04:00

Today is International Women's Day (March 8), a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women and stand in solidarity with those who, as yet, do not have the freedom or opportunity to live their lives to the full.

Considering the crude and misogynist views on women that have been in the news lately, this day's designation is still vital and desperately needed.
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Without Distractions?

2012-03-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

    St. Bernard once had a friend who told him he never had any distractions. Bernard confessed to having trouble with them. The two were out on horseback riding when St. Bernard said, “I will give you this horse, if you can say the Lord’s Prayer without distractions. Now get off your horse and let me hear you begin.”
    His friend dismounted and got as far as the words, “Give us this day our daily bread,” when he looked at Bernard and asked, “Can I have the saddle, too?”
    During Lent we are invited to set aside time, without distractions, to spend in communion with God. This is not easy in the busy lives most of us live, and will take an intentional act of discipline.
    For some of us it may mean getting up earlier in the morning, or taking less time to eat lunch, or forgoing a favourite leisure activity.
    Jan Paderewski once was asked by a fellow pianist if he could be ready to play a recital on short notice. The famous musician replied: “I am always ready. I have practiced eight hours daily for forty years.” The other pianist said, “I wish I had been born with such determination.” Paderewski replied, “We are all born with it. I just used mine.”
    Jesus, though engaged in the most important mission this world has ever known, and often surrounded by the most pressing of human needs, still took time to go to the mountains, or to the wilderness, or to a garden to be in the presence of God, alone and without distractions.
    As with most things in life, nothing will change unless we make the changes. What practical, intentional things can we do to create time to spend with God?

Make Friends with the Angels

2012-02-24T11:46:00.000-04:00

This coming Sunday is the first in Lent and it is traditional to hear the story of Jesus' temptations in the wilderness, this year from Mark 1:12-13. Mark's is the shortest version of this story, only two verses, though brevity is no excuse for ignoring it!
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Where All Heaven Breaks Loose!

2012-02-17T13:33:00.000-04:00

In many Churches, this Sunday, the last before Lent, will feature the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus takes Peter, James and John to a mountain spot where they have an intense spiritual experience that includes the appearance of long dead biblical figures (Moses and Elijah) and a mysterious cloud out of which is heard the voice of God. During the experience, Jesus' own appearance and visage are transfigured and become dazzling white.
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Praying with Jesus

2012-02-10T09:56:00.000-04:00

One of the signature elements of a typical Christian prayer is the closing phrase: "in Jesus' name; Amen." It is based on the promise found in John 14:12-14, especially these words: If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Although many sincere prayers are offered "in Jesus' name", there are also those times when the words are said without much thought, almost like "magic words" to give a better chance for a positive outcome!
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Are We Allowed Up There?

2012-02-02T17:13:00.000-04:00

This week I had a great experience with a group of Grade 8 students from a local junior high school. They had come to First Baptist on a field trip sponsored by the Canadian Centre for Diversity, a leading provider of interactive programs designed to educate young Canadians to see beyond stereotypes associated with faith, ethnicity, gender and ability.

The Centre takes youth on visits to local cultural and religious sites from various traditions and gives them the opportunity to hear first hand what that group is all about.
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It Bothers Me ...

2012-01-27T14:56:00.000-04:00

One of my favourite moments on TV is the weekly "rant" by Canadian humourist, Rick Mercer. He picks a topic and let's loose with a satirical "riff" that often throws more light on an issue than pages of journalistic analysis!

I would be the first to admit that I am no Rick Mercer! But, I have often felt a rant coming on and this past week there were a number of events that tempted me to let loose. I restrained myself, though, to this list of things that bother me:
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Priorities for Power

2012-01-19T21:34:00.000-04:00

It is difficult, even for Canadians, to avoid the all pervasive primary season in the US as our American neighbours move toward the election of their next President. The various Republican candidates, as well as President Obama, will use tens of millions of dollars to tell prospective voters what their priorities will be should they have the power of the presidency after November's vote.
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The List that Matters

2012-01-13T12:05:00.000-04:00

This week I shared my birthday with two of Canada's Prime Ministers: our first, Sir John A. Macdonald, and the much more recent incumbent, Jean Chretien.

January 11 also happens to have been the birthday of Alexander Hamilton (first Secretary of the Treasury in the US), William James (psychologist and philosopher), Maurice Durufle (one of my favourite composers) and Alan Paton (South African opponent of apartheid).
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Be it resolved...

2012-01-05T17:05:00.001-04:00

A new year brings the usual opportunity to take stock and make resolutions - two things I have never really enjoyed doing!

You see, taking stock requires the kind of rigorous personal inspection and introspection that can lead to such things as regret, or even repentance (change).Who wants change?!!
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Room for Jesus

2011-12-21T16:43:00.001-04:00

This week I read an interesting and persuasive article by Stephen C. Carlson of Duke University entitled, The Accommodations of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem: Κατάλυμα in Luke 2.7 (available here) in which he proposes that Luke meant us to understand that Jesus was most likely born in the home of Joseph's relatives in Bethlehem, perhaps in the very home in which Joseph himself had grown up. He arrived at this conclusion through a careful study of the Greek word, kατάλυμα ("accommodations" or "place to stay"), mistranslated into English as "inn", along with close attention to the text of the story in Luke 2:1-20.

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Feel the Joy

2011-12-13T16:15:00.000-04:00

There is a great wisdom to the Church’s rhythm for Advent, which calls for its Third Sunday to take on the hue of joy. In it is the realization that we humans are very susceptible to turning even the best things into drudgery, anxiety driven competitions or cynical counterfeits of the real thing.
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Disturbed for the Sake of Peace

2011-12-01T16:40:00.001-04:00

There are many thoughts flying around my head this week.

The sad stories from the aboriginal community of Attawapiskat in Northern Ontario have caught many of us by surprise, even though this has been going on for some time. The horrifying living conditions - flimsy shelters, no running water, toilet facilities or safe drinking water in minus 20C weather - captured in excellent news reports and videos were unlike anything we would expect to see in a wealthy, developed country like Canada. If you have not yet paid attention to this story, check out the CBC website - but be prepared to be disturbed!
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Claiming our Hope

2011-11-24T15:51:00.001-04:00

Have you ever felt like shaking your fist at heaven? The prophet of Isaiah 64:1-9 did!

Apparently he was fed up with his situation, probably at tail end of the Babylonian Exile when Jews were being permitted to return to the ruined lands of Israel and its capital, Jerusalem. It was a time of economic and political uncertainty with little protection from armed groups. An occupying army was still in place. There was little to get up in morning and be happy about.
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Honourable Sacrifice

2011-11-03T14:18:00.000-03:00

There is a story in the Gospel of Mark (12:41-44) about the time Jesus who saw a poor widow put in her two lepta (worth about a penny) while watching the crowds bring their offerings to the Temple Treasury. Although it represented everything she had, it paled next to the much larger gifts brought by the wealthy.

Nonetheless, it was her sacrifice that Jesus honoured when he called his disciples together: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.”

This is the time of year when we remember and honour the sacrifices of our veterans and, most poignantly, those who gave the supreme sacrifice of their lives in the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries. Is there something in the honour Jesus gave to the poor widow that can give us perspective on our Remembrance Day observances?
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A Call to Build Social Change

2011-10-28T12:02:00.000-03:00

This week I heard a great lecture by Michaëlle Jean, Canada's 27th Governor General and currently UNESCO's Special Envoy for Haiti. She was delivering the inaugural Alex Fountain Memorial Lecture at the University of Kings College.

Several hundred people, the majority of them university students, had come out to hear her speak about the great difference youth can make in our world. She encouraged them to use both their creativity and their passion for good to address challenging situations in the developing world and in our own country.

Jean spoke eloquently of her personal journey as a refugee to Canada from Haiti and of her commitment to bring about social change by encouraging Canada's artists, poets, authors, music makers, actors, etc. to use their creativity to challenge, inspire, goad and empower people.

Her message seemed to strike a special chord with the youth as she opened all our eyes to the power of the arts. Jean challenged them to become proficient in a number of languages (she is fluent in five!) so that they could communicate with people at a deeper level and thus build stronger bonds of solidarity and common purpose. She also called on them to see the opportunities for development work in our own country, especially among our aboriginal communities.

The lectureship was established by Fred, Elizabeth and Katharine Fountain as a perpetual memorial to their son and brother, Alex, who died tragically of suicide on August 22nd, 2009. Each year the students of Kings will choose the speaker.

In a poignant and deeply meaningful welcome to those present, Fred spoke of the special qualities of Alex's life, a life brought to an end by the power of depression. He told the students that they need not go through difficult times alone and that help was available. "We do not want to hide what happened to Alex," he said, "because we do not want this to happen to anyone else."

I believe our youth need and want noble purposes to which they can commit the precious resources of energy and creativity they have in such abundance. Michaëlle Jean outlined opportunities and challenges big enough to inspire, empower and demand the best that any of her hearers could offer!

Health Professionals Make a Difference!

2011-10-20T17:14:00.000-03:00

Today I had my first massage! I had injured my neck and left shoulder in a high speed car crash earlier this month and my physiotherapist had recommended that I also have some massage appointments. It was really quite helpful as a professionally trained therapist worked at the "knots" that were causing me discomfort when I tried to do my usual activities, like write this blog!

The accident itself has highlighted for me the role of so many medical professionals whose lives are dedicated to relieving the suffering of others. At the scene of the crash paramedics assessed my wife and me and gave us reassurance that all was going to be OK. At the hospital we met a first-rate emergency nurse who used her professional skills and a quiet sense of humour in dealing with our injuries. A few days later our personal physicians made their own assessments and set up the ongoing care that will restore us "as good as new", or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof!

Our accident occurred on Thanksgiving Sunday and reminded me that we Canadians have much to be grateful for in our health care system. Our experiences could very easily have caused us great financial hardship were it not for publicly funded medicare; but even more, our injuries could have caused longer tern problems were it not for dedicated, well educated and available health professionals.

Dr. Drew Bethune

As it happens, this coming Sunday our Church will host its annual St. Luke Service at 10:30 a.m. as a way of saying "thank you" to the medical community while connecting some of the dots between spirituality and healing. Several of the medical students will be participating in the service as readers and one will bring a message especially for the children. A wonderful Chorale, mostly made up of students in the health professions, will provide the music and one of Halifax's most prominent surgeons, Dr. Drew Bethune, will speak.

Legend says that St. Luke, whose actual "day" is October 18, was a physician, and as such is recognized as a "patron saint" for all health professionals.

This year Debbie and I will have a special reason to be grateful for the professionalism and skill of these dedicated people!