| Smelling Like Sheep? |

Lately I've been pondering the social dynamic of church as it concerns me. The pastor of a church is called to be a shepherd to a flock, but at what point is the shepherd just like any other sheep, I wonder. I read a devotional for a class of mine from a book called They Smell Like Sheep wherein the author placed a heavy emphasis on the shepherds intimacy with his flock to the point that the shepherd smells like his stinky dirty sheep.

To this I began pondering my own sense of self, my own sense of pastoring, and whether or not I can really do that. I'm often too much a perfectionist to get down into the muck and the grime; I'm too concerned with my own appearance, my own pride, and my own ability to bring about change. I'm coming to realize that shepherding isn't simply about the rod and the staff - discipline and comfort - for it is also about being a sheep too.

Perhaps I've fallen too far away from the notion that I am a sheep too. I've become this monster of a shepherd, intimidating his sheep, petrifying them into inaction, and debilitating the flock. Exaggerate much? So maybe it's not that bad, but if I keep down this path, surely this exaggeration will become reality.

I'm coming to realize that the social dynamic of the church (as it concerns me) is that I'm not some distant and removed mover of chess pieces about a board, I'm just another sheep who's been called to get down dirty in the muck, encourage, exhort, and exemplifying what it means to be a sheep set apart for God.

| NHL 10/11 Picks |

I have decided - as I do every season - to put my NHL season standing picks online.

The East...

1*. Philadelphia

2*. Washington

3*. Buffalo

4. New Jersey

5. Pittsburgh

6. Boston

7. Tampa Bay

8. Toronto

The West...

1*. Vancouver

2*. Detroit

3*. Los Angelos

4. Phoenix

5. San Jose

6. St. Louis

7. Chicago

8. Edmonton

*indicative of a division leader

Your thoughts? Your picks?

| Potency in Prose or Poetry |

When I prepare to preach, I often find myself pondering the power of the word of God. A single verse - a mere sentence of prose or poetry - possesses the potency to truly transform a life. And where some quotations fall under the "one person's trash is another's treasure", Holy Scripture - the God breathed living word - is applicable and appropriate for all. And where some books may contain only a handful of truly "quote-worthy" phrases or sentences, our Bible is jam-packed full of juicy gems, just waiting for us to hear them, receive them, and apply them.

When I prepare to preach, it is this amazing word that I try with all my strength to surrender to. Even that is a funny thought; in ordinary and mundane circumstances, surrendering is the active-absence of strength. Whereas in the spiritual context, it takes all of our effort and all of our strength to truly set aside our pride, our knowledge, and our wisdom in order to surrender. With the word of God, it is this determination to place ourselves under its authority and in surrender to its potency, that yields the best results. We need to actively place His word above our own.

Consider that when you open your Bible to read what God has for your life.

| The World Wide What? |

Friends, familia, and familiar readers alike, I am excited to tell you that I have broken through the vast divide of the world wide web. I present to you a sermon on Jeremiah, spoken to Wellspring Worship Centre on August 29th, 2010.

http://www.wellspringtoronto.ca/church/Podcast/Entries/2010/8/29_Steve_Coupland_Jeremiah_38.html

May you be blessed as you listen or as you feign listening.

Cheers.

| A Wednesday Freefall |

Contained, constrained under my skin is an enigma of emotion.

It longs to break free; it desires to burst forth, surging like a wave.

But, like a wave, its raw power is beyond control once it is unleashed.

Even though I long to share with you, to care for you, and to dare to be free with you, I fear letting go.

Should I let down the gate, be free from the constraint, and give way to the wave of an emotional hurricane?

A wave becomes a tear, emotion leaving behind fear, and as joy overtakes apathy, hope becomes clear.

So consider this all, when I'm being honest, when I'm raw, that I'm not always so free, so spoken, so me.