Pastor John Van Sloten

Here are a few quick pics I took at a friend’s wood shop yesterday. 

This picture headlined on MSNBC this morning. How could I NOT be reminded of Moses? And of the God who saves us, even in the midst of great calamity…

“I think its important to get bored and just watch flies or observe what you are surrounded by”  (Director Thomas Balmes, commenting on his recent film that looks at how children are raised differently around the world, The Globe and Mail, April 26th, 2010)  Apparently we, in the developed world, overstimulate our kids, leaving little room for the development of observational skills.  By putting so much before our children’s eyes and lives, we ironically leave them more blind.  I think this is true.  We need the time and space that boredom affords in order to look and see more deeply.  There’s a deep connection between ‘nothing else to do’ and ‘wow, look at that!’

For years I’ve grappled with the question of how creational revelation interacts and intersects with biblical revelation.  Many times I’ve had sublime glimpses of what their union could look, sound, feel, smell or taste like.  Every time its happened its felt very personal, as though Christ were right there, intimate and near.  Which makes more sense to me now, after reading something in Leslie Newbiggin’s book, Proper Confidence.   There he writes about another author who articulated the idea of the Cappadocian Fathers (4th century theologians) that a proper understanding of coherence of the created order and God is best articulated and modeled through the incarnate Christ (Jesus as both God and material man).  “Therefore there are no ultimate self-contradictions [between creation and God]. It is not to be understood in terms of a yin-yang duality as in far Eastern thought. It has an ultimate coherence, a coherence of which the central secret is make known in the Incarnation.” (page

Jesus is the ultimate and perfect expression of the coming together of created and Creator.  If this is true, then he must also the one in which the secret of the co-mingling of the two books of revelation lies.  What a great question to pursue!  How does the person of Jesus Christ reveal the coming together of the two revelatory natures; creation and the bible?

I just got back from a cohort gathering with Regent Seminary on Galiano Island (I suffer so).  It was probably the most intellectually stimulating experience I’ve had in years (maybe ever).   They talked a lot about a God who speaks through two books.  Needless to say I was into it.  The speakers were brilliant, and those who formed the group possesed some pretty dense grey matter.  At times I felt out of my element, but for the most part it was a blast.   The theological affirmation I felt throughout the event was quite moving.  I found myself trembling a lot.  When I got home I told my wife that, while I’m not an academic, I do love dabbling in that world.  Got a few great ideas for a sermon series on science this fall… and took a few nice photos!

I just read these words in an old Hebrew Psalm (18), “That’s why I’m singing songs that rhyme Your name…”  It led me to ask, What does it mean when something rhymes with God?   How would words, a work of art, a beautiful scientific theory rhyme with God’s nature, character and being?   Would it be like a parable or icon – an “unlike” look at something – or act like a metaphor – a representation, symbol or emblem?   Sort of, I’m thinking, but there would be something unique of the idea of a rhyme, a resonance that not only means the same thing, but also sounds the same way.  In fact rhyme doesn’t even have to mean the same thing does it?  But this idea of sound resonance rings true.   It’s not an echo or a reflection…  it’s a lyrical, singing sound-alike.  Surely all of creation rhymes with God’s name in this way.    I’m going to get a book on rhyme and try to figure out how all that works.

Sunday after church a highly motivated and energetic young woman came up to me and asked, “So now what? I’ve read the book and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do next.” Earlier this month I assigned some homework to our community; read The Art of Travel, by Alain de Botton, and try to figure out where God is revealing himself in the text (in the book itself and in the phenomenon of travel)…

The whole idea of God speaking through creation (and the cultural products of creation like travel and good books on travel) was relatively new to this woman. She’d recently started attending our church, and came from a different Christian faith background. She was having a bit of trouble understanding her homework. I briefly explained the process again. There are three questions you need to ask yourself;

1. What makes travel so good? Try to identify the good human passions and desires that travel evokes. Be specific.
2. Why do you think God made you with those passions and desires? Can you imagine how these same yearnings might operate in relation to him?
3. Given the fact that we’re made in the image of God (in a way made like him), what do these yearnings teach us about what God is like?

She nodded as I went on about the process, and then said, “But where do you start?”

It was a good question; because the book is brilliantly written and filled with all kinds of good, godly truth in this regard. So much so that it would be a bit confusing. The day before our conversation I’d read just one chapter of the text and got so excited. I figured there were four sermons in those few pages alone.

I told her to pick the point that was most numinous to her and work with it. “If it really matters to you,” I said, “Then you’ll have the heart to read it right. I think part of your confusion comes from the fact that this book is really quite brilliant. There’s so much God-truth there that it’s hard to sift it all out and choose just one part.”

Then it hit me. The truly brilliant products of human culture – the best books, theories, entrepreneurial ideas, pieces of art, or sporting events – are like those ‘thin places’ the ancient Celts used to talk about. Certain monastic islands, church ruins or Irish causeways were understood to be places where the veil between our world and the other world was thin. Earth and heaven were understood to be very close in these holy locales. The legends of old affirmed their mystical provenance. The Spirit lingered there.

And it’s true. When I read the most eloquent literature, you are there God; the pages seem thin. During the height of an NHL hockey playoff run your presence seems so passionately close; my sense of being alive illumines your life. When that most brilliant idea comes to my mind I sense your mindfulness, your creativity, your immanent imagination. The best of what humanity has to offer – those times when we most fully live up to what you made us to be – becomes holy cultural ground. Thin places are not just geographical.

“Find that thin place for you,” I told the woman.

OK. I need some help for next week Sunday’s message. As I mentioned at church this morning, I want to know why you find a connection with New Hope Church (assumming you do). What is it about this church that makes it relevant to you? Why are you a part of this community? If you could just post your response as a comment (or email it to me), it would be greatly appreciated.
Listen John’s message here

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 30 2008 @ 11:57 AM PST
I’ve been to lots of churches over the years. I was born into the Anglican tradition. I’ve been to the Vineyard, and a nondenominational church that tried to bridge the gap between Christianity and the New Age movement. All of these communities had a different focus and flavour, and they were all good for me for a season. I believe that God creates communities and places for people within communities. For this season I believe God has created a place for me here – at New Hope. He has something for me to do here, and something for me to learn here. I’ve never been one of those people who worries too much about the denomination of a church. As Bono once told Oprah – “I don’t care whose name is on the house, as long as God is in the house.” (Or something like that). God is in the house here!
I’ve been working on this theory over the past few years that I like to call “Practical Mysticism”. My personal version is still full of holes, but the gist of it is that God manifests himself through people. We pray for the world to be a better place. God tells us to get up off our knees and give money to help out Inn From the Cold or Thandana or Ubuntu. He tells us to sign up as a volunteer, or stop to talk to that person who looks down, or be nice when you’re out driving on the winter roads. We somehow participate in making the world a better place. There is some sort of balance between experiencing God in that indescribable, vertical, mystical thinness, and living God as we interact with the world around us. New Hope is all about finding God and living God in everything we do – in short – ‘Practical Mysticism’.

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 30 2008 @ 01:15 PM PST
Initially I came because my kids really liked it. Now I come because the vision here is what I think the vision of a church should be, it fits with who I am and how I think. I also stay because of the people, there are some amazing people here, thinkers, doers, encouragers, lovers – all giving the gifts and talents they have.

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 30 2008 @ 02:03 PM PST
i love that families are working together at new hope – serving others and making church happen. kids handing out programs with their parents, stacking chairs, passing the collection baskets and helping out with kids younger than they are. awesome.

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 30 2008 @ 03:32 PM PST
As I’ve attended NHC my uderstanding of God has continued to grow. The idea of God being always present, always active in my life has awakened me to a whole new perspective of my daily routine. God cares about my job, family, even my hockey team…He not only cares but I sense his presence on those tough days, or whispering in my ear when decisions have to be made. You see, when I opened myself up to the possibility of God “doing stuff” all around me, every day of the week, it seems as though that not a week goes by where I don’t trip over God revealing himself in a way I never thought of before. It is not just a Sunday morning thing where I learn more about God any more. It is because of Sunday morning that I learn more about God and what he is doing in my life and life all around me every hour and every day of the week. And this is just my little, navel gazing life, my imagination is too small to take on what God does in this world fully and completely. So this is why New Hope is my church, to unlock more of the mystery, and to do this in a community of people who care and serve. C

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 31 2008 @ 07:36 AM PST
When I attend New Hope, I’m always excited to hear what Pastor John has to say. His inspirational words always lift my spirit and give me the hope that I need to get through another week of my life. Pastor John relates all things going on in the current world to God and gives me a new perspective on them. A pastor is a very important part of a church for me, as I crave encouragement and enlightenment and Pastor John always delivers. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, January 03 2009 @ 05:53 PM PST
Why NHC for me?
It is a place to see and feel and know and love and experience and believe in God without borders and without the requisite shame that came with the God of my youth. It is a place to be real about who I am …about what I think or feel or believe or wear. It is a safe place to wonder..to worship, to be disillusioned even. It is a place on a journey…like all of us…a little messed up like all of us…
It is (usually) a place I like to be.

why new hope church?
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, January 03 2009 @ 09:36 PM PST
It was march of last year that I attended the baptism of my friend and her children at New Hope Church. In addition during this time I was going through some emotional turmoil in trying to understand and grieve the death of my father. I really enjoyed the service and found New Hope a welcoming environment. I found comfort and a hopefulness for peace in understanding that death happens for a reason; to believe in a higher power. It helps that I do have friends attending this very church and attending feels “right” for me and my family. My family enjoys that Pastor John brings real life matters and relates it back to the scripture and what it means to believe in God. This church environment is not one that we have previously experienced and enjoy what New Hope has to offer. Thank You!

A couple of nights ago Venus and Jupiter visited the moon. At first I thought they were just bright stars, but they seemed too bright for that dusky time of day. They must be planets. And they were. I had to pause and take a picture. How cool is that; a moment where God smiles down on us…

This morning’s paper had a story on the rare celestial event. It was interesting to note the varying interpretations. Astronomers didn’t see this as much of a big deal. Those planets are out there, orbiting, all the time. Other mere earthlings got a bit more excited. Seeing with the naked eye what star-gazers can only perceive through their telescopes was quite an other-worldly experience. Some saw this heavenly vista as a brief respite from all of the economic ills we’re currently facing here on the planet. Others (from their latitude) saw the moon’s crescent shape forming a smile below two planetary eyes; like a divine face or something (how we tend to humanize our gods!) In New York city the face changed, however, forming a frown.

According to the news story, some even posit that it was this kind of heavenly event that occurred in 2 BC when the Magi saw the Bethlehem star. A sign from God… that he’s still there… that he’s always been there… keeping it all in orbit… holding his universe in his hand.

I must have sat there for 10 minutes, camera zoomed out to the max, lens fixed on the subject tree top, auto focus set, finger pushing halfway down on the trigger, hoping the image stabilization software will correct my shakiness, hoping the flashing red battery light wouldn’t cut this opportunity short, and waiting for that bird to land. Not just an ordinary bird, no mere robin, chickadee or sparrow, but some kind of uber-aviator, with a very distinct call…

For a day and a half now I’ve been trying to capture this superb specimen, but I’m finding it too fast to shoot. Yesterday morning, as I sat eating breakfast, looking out over the foothills, I was introduced to two of them doing an air show. I think they were brothers, they were having so much fun. I tell you this species is like the F18 of the bird world; huge speed, incredible maneuvers, daring stunts – flying toward each other and then darting aside at the last possible moment – a better overall show than any crack air force team I’ve ever seen.

If I’m patient enough, attentive enough, perhaps I capture one yet. I’ll be here writing for a couple more days.

Watching those two flyers I thought, “They’ve lived more life in the past ten minutes than I have in a month! I want more of that.” Later that day I went for afternoon walk and saw, at a distance, a young colt playing with its mother. It would sneak up on her, and then when she feigned noticing him, he’d dash off, leaping and turning, tail flying everywhere, and then prancing away. Prancing is really the only word for it. That pastoral scene was a perfect image of leisurely play, of being there, of living life. “I want more of that too,” I thought. Walking back to the cabin I passed three young children laughing and singing on their backyard swing set.

Today I hope to pen a few more thoughts about seeing God in the world. Today’s chapter will be looking at how we learn to discern his presence.
This morning I read these words from a devotional;

“Leisure is not the attitude of mind of those who actively intervene, but of those who are open to everything; not of those who grab and grab hold, but of those who leave the reins loose and who are free and easy themselves – almost like someone falling asleep by ‘letting oneself go.’… When we really let our minds rest contemplatively on a rose in bud, on a child at play, on a divine mystery, we are rested and quickened as though by a dreamless sleep… It is in these silent receptive moments that the soul of man is sometimes visited by an awareness of what holds the world together.” Piper, Leisure, The Basis of Culture, 40-42

(That first picture I posted, of that tree top… in the bottom left corner, that tiny black blur… that’s the F18!)