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