Hunters in the Mountains

Posted on February 23, 2009
Filed Under Personal, The Church | 3 Comments

Not guys with guns or bows & arrows…but a Canadian family of seven. Think of the van Trapps of “Sound of Music” minus two and you’ll be close. The other exception is that, other than mom, they are all boys—hockey playing boys, of course. Pro and semi-pro. And the Hunters can sing you somewhere just this side of heaven.

I had the privilege of meeting them in the mountains of Colorado over the past four days where a small group from around the country had gathered for a retreat. I was teaching some things that I think could help prepare people with their “evangelistic” interactions and how to handle the twelve basic attacks on Christianity. So we talked about the heart and the mind, truth and apologetics, and, you guessed it…being attractively winsome with outsiders. I am nominally calling it “The Truth Encounter”.

We met at Copper Mountain and so the real attractions were the ski slopes. I refrained, as I am nursing a pulled back muscle, but I greatly enjoyed just being in the mountains…and the amazing fellowship with wonderful Christian friends.

That is where the Hunters come in. They were a part of the group and delighted us with their awesome singing, beginning Thursday night with one of my all-time favorites, Holy, Holy, Holy…arranged in a way that I had never heard, but loved. They are farmers from Saskatchewan and maybe that is why I felt so close to them. But you don’t have to be a farm boy for that to happen—they are easy to love.

Think of the fruits of the Spirit and you will have the Hunters. This became even more evident as they were informed that first night of a sudden death in their family. Their faith and hope and trust in God was manifested in a beautiful way to us all.

And, as I was watching the closeness of this family and listening to how their voices blended so perfectly, I was struck with something else. This is exactly the way God has designed the local church…each with our own gifts…gifts that are to be used in harmony with one another…creating a sweet fragrance and unity and oneness and love…a sound that Jesus said would be the basis by which the world would know that we are His disciples…that the world might “believe” and “know” that the Father has really sent the Son into the world. Jesus said that last minor detail twice in His prayer:

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity (into a unit), so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-22

That’s just how important this unity stuff is—like “singing” in harmony together.

So, thank you, Lorne and Norma, Ty, Luke, Dusty…and J.J. and Brock…I really enjoyed our late night talks and hope this is just the beginning.

(this includes Suzanne and Kristina)

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