We're in Caldercruix, Scotland and guess what...God is here already

(Levi waving in front of the church in Caldercruix... it sits just beyond our front lawn!)

(above: our new home)

It has been good but challenging adjusting this week to live in a brand new place thousands of miles from everything and everyone familiar in Canada. 

Good because of the unbelievably thoughtful welcome from the church in Caldercruix, who - for us complete strangers - put effort and expense into renovating the manse we have moved into - all floors, walls painted, a bathroom fully renovated, garden updated, towels and curtain supplied.  And the retiring pastor who left much useful furniture for our benefit - couch, chair, wardrobes.  And Agnes' mom Effie went overboard getting the cupboards and fridge filled and buying and endless number of household essentials to make our landing here soft - beds /bedding/night tables,  dining table and chairs, dishes, dishsoap, shampoo, on and on.  And  Caldercruix is a beautiful little village of friendly people and kids who come to play in the churchyard in front of our house, renewing trails and breathtaking sunsets.

And challenging- missing loved ones, struggling for days just to get a cel phone working, learning we won't get home phone/internet til Sep 21, and feeling cut off from the world, jet lag, heading by train to the bank to open an account (two villages away) and forgetting my ID...   But today was special as we sensed the Spirit of God speaking his welcome to us.

The last song we heard in Comox was 'you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.'  This was picked by a friend who unbeknownst to them, was singing the verse the Lord used to clearly, relentlessly call us on this adventure to Scotland.

We came to church late today, though we live 50 metres from the church door... missed the opening song but what was the first song we sung there - 'you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.' 

When I shared with the kids on June 13 that God was giving our family a new calling, I first read to them the disciples' call narrative from Mark 1 where they left their nets and followed Jesus.  Another song we sung in church today referred to that same story.   

At the heart of our journey has been simply seeking to listen for the Lord's call on lives.  A couple days ago  I read the boys Samuel's call story from their children's Bible - a story which encapsulates that idea (1 Sam 3).  What was the preacher's message today in church about ?   Samuel's call.

And we had a taste of our home church this morning - one of our new Caldercruix friends was introducing the church here to Operation Christmas Child - a Bay tradition.

We are where we need to be, and God will be and will give all we need.  God help us to remember that, and to be grateful for his plan and his call.  It's going to be good.

THIS IS IT! 3-1/2 Days to Scotland

Saturday, August 27, 2015

Dear friends and family,

Four months ago we were settled and comfortable in Comox, BC where David grew up and where we have spent our entire 14-1/2 years of marriage.  Mid-May God called us clearly to finish our ministry with the amazing family we call Bay Community Church and move to Scotland for study and mission.  In three days we will be on a flight to Glasgow, Scotland to begin a new chapter in the Mitchell family. 

David is doing a 3-year theology degree at Edinburgh Theological Seminary to be better equipped to serve the church, Agnes is taking a 2-year Gaelic diploma to relearn the heart language of her Highland kin, we are continuing to homeschool... and in it all our family has this deep sense God is calling us to join his mission over there. 

Words are inadequate to express our appreciation to so many people who prayed, counseled, and prophesied in the discerning stages, and to so many more who have served meals, painted, caulked, put money in our hands, hauled truckloads to the dump and the thrift store, cleaned, installed lights and a whole new ceiling, packed, built crates and loaded pallets, babysat, researched, loaned vehicles... and on and on.  Our dear friends have virtually carried us along as we have sold house and possessions to follow an adventure we feel privileged to pursue.

We cherish each memory and friendship from these precious years in the Comox Valley.  We are so encouraged that in spite of, and perhaps through our brokenness, God has allowed us a small part in his work here.  Thank you to each and every one of our friends and family, from the bottom of our hearts, for the role you have had in our lives.

As we go to Scotland, it feels like we are walking on water.  Our house is not quite fully sold yet, and it's been complicated (though we have great buyers and realtor!), but God has said "do not be afraid, only be still -I've got it." (Ex. 14:13-15)   We are stepping out in faith way beyond our financial means, but God has said, "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."  (Mt 6:33).  We are grieving the separation from so many friends and family, but God has said, "my grace is sufficient for you." (2 Cor 12:9).  And we are longing to share in the fresh harvest of new disciples God is bringing about in Scotland, and we hear God say, "those who sow in tears will reap with joy."  (Ps 126:5).

We would like to ask you to stand with us in faith as we go, however God leads you. 

Most of all we need your prayers, that we would walk closely with Jesus, stay strong as a family, see God's provision and his kingdom come, and walk in the calling God has for us.  To receive a regular or quarterly intercessors update, let us know.

We want to stay in touch - Facebook, email, Skype - don't be shy!  And we have been ridiculously blessed with a large house in Caldercruix with room for guests so start planning your visit now - seriously!

We are grateful to be sent to Scotland by a Canadian mission agency, Into All the World.  It's not our desire to place a burden on anyone, so we'll just say if God prompts you to join this adventure through financial giving, contact us for details of our needs and how to give, or go to www.iatw.ca (gifts through IATW are tax receiptable).   Most of all please pray, believe, and thank God with us for his perfect provision - whether through paid work, supporters, or miracles.

We love you! 

David, Agnes, Acacia, Elijah, Andrew and Levi

new email address: davidandagnesmitchell[at]gmail.com

In honor of the great leaders at Bay

I shared this with the incredible leaders of Bay at what I thought was my last board meeting... we came up with another board meeting since then - lol.   Much respect and appreciation to some beautiful people.

June 22, 2015

Dear Bay leaders,

These days I find myself grasping for words rich enough to give substance to the gratitude I feel for each one of you.   Some people feel sorry for me when they hear I am a pastor.  Others have horror stories of pastoral ministry.  I would be lying if I said the journey as a whole has had no challenges.  But I am deeply glad to say that serving alongside each of you has been one of the richest blessings in my life.  I love my job, and you have made pastoring Bay such a joy. 

This month as I looked back on fifteen years at Bay, I have wept tears of gratitude as I thanked God for you.  Thank you for giving your time, your money, your prayers, and your love.  Thank you for walking with God.  Thank you for making disciples.  Thank you for making Christ's mission your mission.   Thank you for standing in unity.  Thank you for all the things you do in secret for God that no one knows but him.  He will honor you richly.

More personally, thank you for being friends and being family to me and to my family.  This move to Scotland is exciting, an adventure, dreams fulfilled.  It's also hard to make, and one of the biggest reasons isn't the stuff we leave behind - it's that we are saying goodbye to such good people.  If it were just up to me I wouldn't want this to end.  But going is God's will and I know his will is good - in fact, best - so I wouldn't have it any other way.  One consolation is the hope that we will come to know people in Scotland  who are perhaps nearly as good as the folks we leave behind at Bay!

It might be scary or odd, anyway, to carry on for a season without a senior pastor.  I am trusting our Shepherd Jesus to lead you well.  I am asking Christ to release an extra measure of leadership gifting among you which makes you more than equal to the task, as you rely on him, the Head of the Church.

My family and I are deeply grateful for your prayers and support as we take this new step of faith.  We are trusting God for greater fruit in our lives and in our beautiful Bay Community Church family as we each follow Jesus into the future he has prepared for us.

As you press forward together to know Jesus and make him known, let me encourage you to cherish the fellowship you have with one another.  In the words of Dietrich Bonheoffer,

"Therefore let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God's grace from the bottom of his heart."   (Life Together).

And in the words of Jesus,

John 17:20–21 (NIV)

²⁰“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

He has started this good work in you, and he will finish it (Phil 1:6).  Glory to God.

Invitation: House Facelift Party @ The Mitchells July 25!

A family we know needs some help, and I am asking you to consider pitching in.  The family is us - the Mitchells! 

We need your help to sell our house.   We are having a Facelift Party for our house and you are invited!

As you know, God has called us to Scotland this fall.  I'll be starting three years of full time study and we'll be joining the mission of Jesus over there and reconnecting with Agnes' family.  And God has told us to sell our house as one part of financing this new calling.  It's been on the market three weeks, lots of showings, and the common feedback is "too much work."  The truth is, our house is older, it's very "lived in", and you may be aware, while I try, I am not much of a handyman.  lol.

Our realtor told us we need to drop the price and give the house a facelift. 

We are evaluating the price, and praying and trusting God that the house could sell any day.  And we are trying to do our part to make our house attractive to a buyer! 

If you can, will you help us?

Saturday July 25, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm is our House Facelift Party.  If you want to help and you can paint, haul junk to the dump, clean, pack, fill cracks,  or just do whatever needs done, you are invited!  Come for an hour or come all day.   Come at lunch and we'll make sure you're fed!

You don't need to RSVP but if you could that would help us with planning for that day.

We will have a list of jobs - you can pick ones that suit you.  If you want to see the list in advance, let us know, or if you want to come on a different day to help out - that would be amazing too.

It's humbling to ask.  But we are family and so we're not ashamed to just let you know we have this big need we really can't take care of by ourselves.    We need to ask for your help to follow Jesus where he's taking us.  No pressure, but if you are able to help, that would be amazing!

Pray for us, as we pray for you.

With our love,

David, Agnes, Acacia, Elijah, Andrew and Levi

PS. God's provision for us has been amazing so far - getting accepted in seminary just in time, receiving a house in Scotland for a fraction of normal rent, and we are trusting he has this in his hands too.  Thanks for believing God with us on this journey.

The Mitchells are Moving to Scotland!!!!!!!

Note: this Sunday Agnes and I announced our family’s call to Scotland.  Below is my letter to you about this journey.  Would love to connect personally this summer and after we go, stay in touch as God leads each of us on our journeys.  We are here for another 10 weeks!

June 13, 2015

Our dear Bay family,

This may be the hardest letter I have had to write.  Words cannot describe the feelings behind it.

Fifteen years ago the clear call of God led me to become part of the ministry of Youth For Christ Comox Valley and Bay Community Church.  Two years later you confirmed God's clear call on my life to pastor this amazing church family. 

I have always been committed to Bay for the long term and imagined spending the next thirty years serving here and probably retiring in Comox.  I did my growing up here, many of my closest friends are here, and I love this church and this Valley. It probably would take nothing short of a two by four to jar me out of this comfortable place.

The two by four hit me last month while I was worshiping in chapel at Regent College in Vancouver.  I thought I was there for a theology class, but I was there to hear a call from God.  The voice of God has been persistent and strong since that time.  The call has come clearly through Scripture, circumstances, open doors, a multitude of godly and prophetic counsel from people close to us, and the redirecting of our hearts.  As my mentor Barry Falk said when I told him my story, "This is one of the clearest calls I've seen in my life."   While it's hard, it's also exciting, and we can't say no to Jesus.  The truth is I thought at first I could put it off a year, but God has made it so plain that the time to go is now.  In fact he has been blowing the doors open to make this happen.  It has taken our breath away.

God has called me, Agnes, and our family on a new adventure.  He is leading us to Scotland, where Agnes grew up and where she and I met at Bible college.  Hindsight is 20-20, and we can see a masterful tapestry of providential care that has prepared us for this step.   We will be heading out at the end of the summer.

It will be incredible for our kids to get to be part of Agnes' family and culture during this new season in our lives, and very sweet for Agnes to live in her homeland again.  We have a sense of calling to mission as we go, that perhaps in some sense we're being led in the ministry footsteps of Agnes' father, Rev. John Ferguson.  Agnes is quite a preacher and I wonder if she won't be preaching again.  We're hearing God say, "There's a spiritual battle going on here in Scotland, and I'm calling you to join the ranks."  Previously, I had set aside aspirations of doing significant further study; now God has awakened that dream and is opening a door for me to do a 3 year theology degree at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, starting in September.  I believe God's purpose is to increase the tools in my toolbox, preparing me for a new season of ministry. After that, we trust God will lead us, and we pray we will be ready and faithful.

We love every one of you like family and it has been such a holy and joyful privilege to live among you.  You have loved, served, invested, honored, and shared yourselves with us in such a wonderful way; we have been humbled and blessed over and over.  Our cup has overflowed.  What an incredibly faithful, nurturing and affirming church family our kids have been able to grow in.  What models you have been to us of faith and faithfulness, prayer and sacrifice, mission and obedience.  I see Jesus so strongly in this church and I am very proud of you in the Lord.  I am so excited about how God is at work in Bay.  I have great faith that even with all the great things God has done in Bay's past, your best days as a church are waiting for you to discover in the very good future he has planned.    We are praying for you and we are confident.

It will be so hard to say goodbye to you!  As your pastor my heart is absolutely torn, but I know it will be okay.   I want ask you to bring me joy by doing these things: walk closely with Jesus, keep building a community of disciples, and live the mission for the sake of the lost and the glory of God.   Trust God to lead you in his way and time in choosing a new pastor who has a heart after God and will help you to grow in grace and truth, faithfulness and fruitfulness.  Honor, pray for, and partner with him and his family as they serve you.

I have been honored to support many of you through life transitions.  Now we are asking for your support. 

Above all, please pray for us.  This whole adventure was initiated by Jesus, it is for him, and we can only walk it through intimacy with him.  Pray that we would stay rooted in the grace and presence of Jesus, and strong as a family.  Pray for all the preparations - there are a lot of details to walk through in a short timeline.

If you have wisdom about international moves with children, share it with us!   If you catch us crying, offer a hug.  If you feel led to drop off a meal or help us sort through fifteen years of stuff or get our house ready for transition... come on over!  

We are going in faith - God has clearly called and we are fully confident in his provision.  Once our house sells, we expect to have 40-50% of the funds needed for the three years ahead.  We are prepared to work part time as God leads and opens doors.  We are trusting God to move hearts of people to support us if that is his way.  Coming this far this fast has been a miracle, and we are thanking God in advance for the miracles he will do.  We would value your prayer that we will walk strong in faith and see God provide in his way and in his time.

We would love to connect with you personally before we go - give us a shout and let's get together.    We hope to have space for guests in Scotland - start planning your visit nowJ.

Jesus is coming.  After we're gone, if we don't see you again here, we'll see you there.  Let's bring along as many as we can.

Philippians 1:27 (NIV)  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

All our love, respect, prayers, and gratitude,

 David, Agnes, Acacia, Elijah, Andrew and Levi

Crazy Brilliant guy from the 3rd century: Origen of Alexandria

The Life and Times of Origen of Alexandria

When I was a high school student, the last thing I would spend my spare time on is reading history.

But as I’ve gotten older and especially in the past year I have become fascinated with the question of how we got to where we are today.  And the answer is found in history.

One of my goals this year is to get a better grasp on this history of western civilization.

As a Christian and a pastor, naturally I’m interested in the interesection of Christian faith with western history.

I took a class related to that this summer.  For that class, I researched the life of a 3^rd century man you may not have heard of, but whose impact was enormous.  I believe whether or not you are a person of faith you will find his life inspiring.

He was the greatest biblical scholar since the apostle Paul, and influenced the following 1300 years of biblical interpretation.   If you’ve ever heard of the Bible containing a deeper or allegorical meaning beyond its literal-historical meaning, the roots of that idea trace back to this man.  [He also provided one of the first near-complete lists of the New Testament books, and wrote the first systematic theology and a massive Hebrew-Greek parallel edition of the Old Testament.]

Much of his life is recorded by 4^th century historian Eusebius.  And many of his 2000+ works were preserved by Latin translator Rufinus.

His name: Origen of Alexandria, Egypt.  He was born to Christian parents around 185 AD.

His father was his most significant teacher in early life.  In the year 202 Emperor Septimus Severus initiated an anti-conversion law with severe persecution.  Soldiers came to their home and collected Origen’s father.  Origen, 17, wanted to go to be martyred with him, but his mother prevented him from emerging by hiding his clothes.  Origen told his father, “mind you, don’t change your mind on our account.”   He didn’t, and he was beheaded.  A year later, Origen was called on to fill in as a theological teacher.

Origen was not only a Bible scholar; he was throughly trained in the disciplines of Greek education.  In his school, to which thousands came over nearly 30 years, he taught philosophy, logic, natural science, geometry, and astronomy as a primer to ethics and theology.  One writer says he studied by night and prepared the faithful for martyrdom by day.  It was not only other Christians who attended his school.   So highly respected was he, that Greek philosophers sought his counsel and sometimes dedicated their writings to him.  His popularity may have afforded him some protection, but he was often on the run avoiding plots on his life.

At age 47 (232 AD) he accepted an invitation to leave Egypt for Palestine to serve in Caesarea.  This coincided with his excommunication by the Alexandrian bishop, perhaps motivated by jealously  In Caesarea where he live 20 years, Origen was ordained a priest, founded a Christian school and library, preached, counselled the persecuted, and built meaningful relationships with the Jewish rabbis.  It was during this time he wrote the majority of his works.

As an old man Origen was tortured and pressed to renounce his faith.  He didn’t, but the abuse left his body weak, and he died in Tyre 253.

Idiosyncracies

Origen’s mastery of Greek philosophy made him a highly skilled critic of his host culture.  However it also distorted aspects of his Biblical theology.  A later church counsel rightly pegged his proposals regarding universal salvation for everyone including the devil himself as heresy.

He was an ascetic, often fasting from food, wine, sleep, and even shoes.  In his devotion to serve God, he literally made himself a eunuch through castration.  Nevertheless These lifestyle choices made him the “ancestor of the great monastic movement”^[1].

Contributions

Origen's goal was to make the Bible practical for everyday people.

His life is an example of healthy critical dialogue with people of 

opposing worldviews, with meticulous care establishing rappoire with Greek philosophers and Jewish rabbis (learned Hebrew just to be able to dialogue with Jews intelligently).

His role in the History of Biblical interpretation:  he popularized the allegorical, or spiritual interpretation of Scripture.  That is, in addition to the literal meaning of the text, there is a spiritual meaning with Christ at the centre.   

He promoted a sense of wonder in God.  I finish with this quote from Origen in On First Principles:  “For whatever be the knowledge which we are able to obtain of God, either by perception or reflection, we must of necessity believe that He is by many degrees far better than what we perceive Him to be.”^[2]

---

[1] Jean Danielou in McDermott

[2] Origen, “De Principiis,” in Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, trans. Frederick Crombie, vol. 4, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885), 243.

Malaysian Air massacre: does it matter to God?

You, like me were most likely sickened to your stomach to hear of the Malaysian passenger airliner downed over Ukraine on Thursday.  The jury is still out on who shot it down. 

 

I cannot begin to imagine the grief and anger of those who lost family members in an act of senseless, calculated mass murder.  

But I can identify with many who hear this story and ask, “if God is real, doesn’t he care?  What is he doing?”   These are massive questions and we can never pretend to solve all the mystery they imply, on this side of history.  Nevertheless if the Bible truly is a word from God, it must have something to say to us in this. 

The words of Dr. John Lennox are fresh in my mind, as he shared in a public lecture at Regent College this week how he walks with friends facing massive pain and injustice.   He points to the cross of Christ.  “If that’s God on the cross then God does not remain distant from our suffering but himself has become part of it.”  And he reminds us that final justice is promised.  “The flip side of a  God of love, is that he is a God of justice.  A God who doesn’t dispense justice isn’t a God of love at all... It will be utterly fair.   I believe one day you will look back and have no more questions.”   

I do not pretend to think these words in themselves could bring comfort to people dealing with such inhumane loss.  But I am convinced to my core that they point to the person who can: Jesus Christ.  Read one of the four New Testament Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John – for the historical account of Jesus Christ’s entry into the human race, sacrificial death, and his literal resurrection from the dead - the proof that when he returns, all will be set right.