Friday, May 20, 2016

Burger's Preist

There are a lot of things that wear the "Christian" label. Music, movies and books are the obvious ones, but there are others like clothing companies and... ah... I think that's it.

Or so I thought. A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to check out a new restaurant in Barrie called Burger's Priest.

I saw the sign going up a couple of weeks before hand. Seemed weird. Although, the thought of having a new burger place to check out quickly replaced my confusion with the name.

Disclaimer, I would have checked this place out either way, but I did go as part of a media day... and it was really good!

I'd say the burger to fry ratio was a bit off (seemed like I had more fires than I knew what to do with), but both were great. I've really developed a taste for "pretentious burgers" over the last few years. Unique and creative mix and matches of cheeses, meats and toppings. They had a couple of those. One including deep fried mushrooms. YES, PLEASE.

And milkshakes! I hadn't had one of those since I was a kid. Not sure if it was good or if I was just milkshake deprived, but I want another one!

Anyway, the thing that stuck me most is how Christian the joint is. There is a wall with scripture in English and Hebrew on it. All the burgers have Christian and theological terms/ names associated with them and little crosses adorn the menu. It was kinda neat.

I dug it!

Monday, May 2, 2016

Be Thou My Vision

I wouldn't call myself a hymn guy. Personally, I prefer modern worship songs. That being said, I do have a soft spot for hymns. Especially when you put a modern twist on it.

My favourite hymn is Be Thou My Vision. Originally, it was an Irish folk song. You can hear a bit of that history in the overall sound/ composition.

I know and love this song. However, I feel like I just heard it for the first time recently.

We sang it at church on Sunday. It wrecked me. I don't know how else to describe it.

I'm a big advocate of meaning what you sing in Church. If you don't want to surrender your whole life, singing "I surrender all" probably isn't the most sincere thing you can do!

During practice I was hit with this line - 

Verse 3 
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise; 
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise... is that true?

I hate to admit it, but I don't think it is for me to the level I believed it to be.

Riches and praise are tangible. They can be measured. Success can come through awards, critical acclaim or wealth. None of those things are inherently wrong, but to strive for them is.

To make God your main focus is hard. There's not a goal you can set. There's no tangible standard or evidence for it. Depending, there may not even be any earthly reward. However, as Christians, it's what we're called to do. It's what I am called to do. To daily take up my cross and follow him. That's hard.

I did sing the song on Sunday. However, not as a statement of my frame of mind or how great at being a Christian I am. I sang it as a prayer. A prayer that one day I would be able to say that line without any hesitation. That I could sing it without a shadow of a doubt that that is who I am. Someone who seeks God before praise, wealth or anything else this world has to offer.