There have been several articles, posts, and blogs recently about our social media culture’s push back against our addiction to screens. Smart phones, computers, and YouTube increasingly are being seen as detrimental to relationships, physical fitness, and mental health. Our demand for instant stimulation and information is wearing thin.

What’s more this social media compulsion has bled over into church life. Our services in many ways have become easy answer, simple solution, and pop culture with soft rock music and “Ted Talk” motivational sermons. And we’re tiring of it. More and more people, especially those 20-35 years old are looking for lyrically substantial hymns, proven liturgy, and expositional preaching. 

Many years ago the famous pastor and author A.W. Tozer (April 21,1897-May 12, 1967) speaking to his generation could at the same time have spoken to ours: 

  “This is a blasé generation. 
    People have been over-
     stimulated to the place where
     their nerves are jaded and their
     tastes corrupted. Natural things
      have been rejected to make 
      room for things artificial. The 
      sacred has been secularized,
      the holy vulgarized, and worship
      converted into a form of  
       entertainment.”   

We need to remember that Christianity has never appealed to culture. Rather it has resisted it. Indeed it is counter-cultural, calling for cross bearing and the cost of discipleship. Yet, as one puts trust in Jesus one finds, as he promised, that “his yoke is easy, his burden light”. An irony for sure, but the point of faith is obedience to his word and the knowledge that we are not saved by works but “for” works. Indeed, we’ll be known “by our fruit”.

This Christmas, may the light of Christ shine into your heart and home. May His peace quiet every worry, His hope renew your strength, and His love remind you that you are never forgotten. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we pray you experience the joy of Emmanuel—God with us—today and in the year to come.

Blessings to you and those you love.

—Jim and Kathy Cantelon

One of the defining scriptures in my life is Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable into God, which is your reasonable service. And be not confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

Soren Kierkegaard (May 5, 1813-Nov 11, 1855), the famous Danish philosopher/theologian, once said that “mere mental assent to a doctrine is not enough. Where there is no transformation there is no Christianity.” He’s saying that there has got to be a connection between faith and action. Theology without moral rectitude is vacant. One’s intellectual assent to biblical truth must inform and impact one’s emotion and will. Indeed, faith is an action word. We choose what we choose because we believe what we believe.

The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Our life decisions reflect our hearts and our legacies are built by the choices we make. So it’s a wise person who thinks before acting.

When Kathy and I travel dusty rutted roads to remote rural villages in Africa, we’re often reminded that what to us is third world is not necessarily so for the inhabitants, especially those being cared for by our WOW partners. The pic above is a good example.

Here’s a single mom, obviously proud of and enjoying her young son. Both are healthy. Both are happy.

And, both are benefiting from WOW’s comprehensive Home Based Care (HBC) ministry, in this case “Somebody Cares Malawi”. We have been in partnership with SCM for 24 years and have seen thousands of dying orphans and widows lovingly ministered to with weekly HBC visits.

The opportunistic diseases that plague HIV infected patients are numerous. Everything from oral thrush to dysentery, bed sores, dehydration, diabetes, various kinds of tuberculosis, and occasional leprosy(!) challenge our godly volunteers relentlessly. Yet they faithfully soldier on, their hearts motivated by love of God and neighbour.

Again and again over the years we have witnessed the recovery and renewed vitality of many patients who were at death’s door but are now happy and healthy like the young woman in the picture. Their joy is both physical and spiritual. They sing and dance in gratitude to the Lord. They have no sense of deprivation. They are content.

This is why we always return to North America humbled and inspired, our African friends constantly reminding us that regardless of outward abundance or lack, the joy of the Lord is our strength.