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Gospel Seine-ry Part 1: Toronto and Paris (Proverbs 16:9, James 4:13-15)

As you know we were in Toronto since I last had a chance to chat with you here. It was good. Our work here was actually mentioned in two workshops as positive examples – one on shelters was apparently all about our shelter (but they didn’t mention it’s name; so, that was a little weird) and one on Public Affairs (we received quite a few shout outs). We also got to go to a Blue Jays game which was fun and see a musical but then I had to go home. My cap and part of my tooth fell out – so I had to get a plane, trains, bus, ferry, and a ride to get back home in time for the dentist to try to save the tooth. I think she did. I have another appointment in the next week or two. We had planned to be in Toronto but I wound up back here. This reminds me of

 

Proverbs 16:9: In their hearts, humans plan their course; but the Lord establishes their steps.  

and

James 4:13-15: Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

  

Paris

This summer I have been preaching on various scriptures and illustrating them with experiences the Lord has provided for me when we were in France. Today we are continuing that theme with this sermon entitled, ‘Gospel Sien-ery’.

It was a great trip to France and our time in Paris, which we are chatting about today, was particularly good but, relating to Proverbs 16:9 and James 4:13-15, it wasn’t without hitches. My phone did not work the whole time there so I couldn’t call about our B&B reservations or anything like that, which can be a little scary when you are standing on a strange street in a strange place where you do not even speak the language. It also meant I couldn’t check in with work easily or anything like that. And then also because we travelled a lot and I did not know the itinerary in advance, I must confess that I was more than a little disoriented. While this was very challenging at times, as I can sometimes be tempted to hide myself in my calendar and my work among other things; it did force me to be fully present in our trip and experience things in a way that I would not have experienced them otherwise. God provided a great opportunity through this unforeseen reality. This is the same with everything in everyone’s life. We can think that everything is going a certain way; we can plan every detail and for what we think is every possible contingency but in the end we should take encouragement and solace in the sovereignty of God for Proverbs 16:9: In their hearts, humans plan their course; but the Lord establishes their steps.

 


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