On our way today to Grand Rapids Michigan to meet with several dozen church leaders who want to talk family ministry.  It probably won’t bring us a break in the cold snap we’re going through here in the north (Grand Rapids really has the same weather as we do).

I’m stoked because we get to meet with about 75 church leaders who want to talk about family ministry.  As a Canadian, that’s inspiring because it’s hard to find 75 church leaders in Canada who connect casually about anything.

There are far fewer churches (and hence far fewer church leaders) in Canada than in the U.S., even if you measure per capita rather than in raw numbers.  That’s why I get very excited when Canadian church leaders get together too.  Next week, I’ll spend half a day with eight lead pastors from Ontario as we meet to discuss common issues.  Earlier this month, I spend half a day with a different group of Toronto area pastors for the same purpose.  Canadian church leaders need to get together more often!  Our denominations are all over the map, but our cause is the same. We need each other.

Hey — can I ask you for a favour?  Today, pray for church leaders everywhere.  As I meet leaders all over the place, I find they are usually under-encouraged and in need of all the support they can get.  When we pray, pool our efforts and support each other, amazing things happen — like the Kingdom of God advances.  Thanks in advance for that today!

Confession is good for the soul. Even in community.

I got together with a really good friend earlier today and we were chatting about life.  He decided to drill down on some issues I was facing and got to the heart of some of my issues with unbelievable speed and care.  He made me think about things I honestly hadn’t thought about, and by the time we wrapped up our time together, I had a whole new insight into what I needed to do to make two situations better.  Both of them dealt with attitudes I needed to change — even confess.  I’m not sure I ever would have gotten their on my own.  Thank God for true friends.

The scripture encourages us to talk about our sins and shortcomings when we come together.  I’m so grateful for this good friend.  I’m so grateful for people who love me enough to make me feel I can be honest about where I’m at.

The sad part is that for many of us, community is broken enough that there isn’t always someone we can confide in.  Like many of you, I’ve had several people over the years I’ve confided in only to have that relationship somehow get damaged badly.  That stings…and it’s tempting to just stop trusting people. Period.

Today, I just left grateful that there are people in my life today with whom I track deeply enough with to talk about anything and everything, and to even to talk about my sin with.  Who love me enough to care about that stuff and still care about me — junk and all.  I left thankful that I haven’t stopped trusting, despite past hurt.  I’m thankful that the counsel of the Bible isn’t just true — it’s actually helpful.

Who are you running with?  Can you still trust people deeply enough to talk to someone about real stuff? What bugs you about community, and what potential do you see in letting other people help you on your journey?

Love the comments so far…thanks!

So here’s more breakdown on my issue, when I move from "pole" to "pole" in confession.  At some points, I’m so aware of my sin that I get stuck there — believing that given my state God can’t use me for anything.  This can lead to paralysis.  Jesus didn’t die for our sin merely so we would be aware of our sin or sorry for it.  He died to conquer it.  To kill it.  To put it to death so life, not death, could reign in our bodies and lives.

When I’m at the other extreme and not in confession mode at all and probably want to run a small universe on my own power, I’m in double trouble.  Not only do I miss what’s really going on (I am sinning and making mistakes), but I’m missing grace and missing real power. Confession isn’t an act of punishment, it’s an act of mercy motivated by love on God’s part.  When I don’t confess, I miss that completely. 

Christ’s real power comes when I can own up to who I really am and realize that in Him this is not who I need to be.  He has a better way — there is hope, and it is possible today to live in that reality of forgiveness and possibility (change) in this moment, right now.

What are the rest of you thinking?  What’s the struggle for you? Share more of your stories…your journal.  I’d like to dig deeper.