Pubdate: Wed, 01 Oct 2008 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Abbotsford News Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Warren Schatz Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/tim+felger HOLY SMOKE: PASTOR ADMIRES POT CANDIDATE'S DEDICATION I have a confession to make. I drove through a red light last week. I didn't mean to, but as I was approaching Essendene and West Railway Street I happened to glance out of my car window at the election campaign signs dotting the landscape. One of Mr. Tim Felger's (Abbotsford federal candidate running for the Marijuana Party) more creative signs so distracted me that I rolled right through the intersection before I realized it. Fortunately, the other drivers weren't as distracted and kindly allowed me to drive through the intersection safely. My thanks to you! Creative election signs aside, I have to admit that there are things I admire about Tim Felger. While I don't necessarily admire or even agree with Mr. Felger, there are three things that I see in Mr. Felger that I wish I had more of in my life. Specifically, I admire his sincerity, his determination and his perseverance. First, it is obvious that Mr. Felger truly believes that our world would be a better place, and people would be more free to achieve lives of significance and joy, if other people accepted his views. I may completely disagree with those views, but I recognize that he is not doing this just to cause trouble, or because he wants to profit from it, but because he truly believes we will all be better off. This makes me wonder how others perceive me. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I truly and sincerely believe that being connected to God through a relationship with Jesus is the single most important thing we can do to bring joy and contentment to our lives. But as I try to share this belief, do others see my sincerity? Do they think I am out to manipulate them, out to make my church bigger, or out to carve another notch on my "conversion" belt? Or, do they see that I am truly sincere in wanting the very best in life for them? Do people who believe differently still sense that I care about them and their life? Can they detect my sincerity? Secondly, I admire Mr. Felger's determination. Abbotsford cannot be the easiest place for him to share his message. Yet, no matter how much opposition he receives, how many of his signs get torn out (for the record, please don't do that), no matter how hard it is, he keeps going. About a year and a half ago I attended a forum at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium on crystal meth drug use. Needless to say, the majority of the crowd there was not interested in hearing about harm reduction, yet there was Mr. Felger doggedly handing out a brief pamphlet outlining how he thought we should handle drug abuse. Again, let me be clear, I don't share his views but I can't help but admire how determined he is to share his message with others. As I examine my life I am forced to ask, "why don't I have the same determination to share the good news of Jesus?" If I sincerely believe that what people need most in their life is a relationship with Jesus why am I so hesitant in sharing this with others? Am I worried about being rejected? I am sure Mr. Felger doesn't enjoy these things any more than I do, yet he believes his message is so important that it makes these actions fade into insignificance. Do I believe my message is that important? Do I bury my faith in the sand and walk away quietly at the first sign of hesitation or rejection? Thirdly, I can't help but admire Mr. Felger's perseverance. Year after year, election after election, Mr. Felger is always there. No matter how poorly people respond or how few votes he has previously received, he continues to persevere in trying to convince us that he is right. Again, I have to admit that I do not have nearly the same perseverance to complete the mission that Jesus has given me. I too easily want to give up, to say "I tried, and it didn't work," to find the easiest, most conflict-free path in life. I may mention Jesus once or twice but if I get no response or a negative response, I am quick to shut things down. Yet, Jesus calls on me to give up self-interest, and self-comfort, and to be the one who "brings good news," to take his message "to the ends of the earth." He calls me to "deny myself" and to "take up my cross and follow him." Am I willing to persevere, as St. Paul did, through shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment? Am I willing to endure laughter, indifference, and hostility? So, while I may think Mr. Felger is missing out on the most important thing in life (Jesus), can I really blame him for not getting it, when I do not have the same sincerity, the same determination and the same perseverance for my message that he shows for his? All too often, I fail to measure up and I thank Mr. Felger for showing me what it means to be "committed." Warren Schatz is the Senior Pastor at Grace Evangelical Bible Church Abbotsford - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin