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Articles by Julia Sterne
The difference between ... — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
Alastair and I are living in between. We are constantly confronted with the tension of being “here and there”. We are living in one city while praying for another. We are planning and preparing for a church plant that is currently just a future hope. We are saying goodbye to friends while meeting new ones who live 3000 miles away. It is exhausting, exciting, heartbreaking, and overwhelming. I am so glad that God does not call us to two cities, two communities, two worlds.
Oh, Clarity — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
One of my mentors once said to me “God doesn’t give us clarity, son”. It may have been said first by Mother Theresa. I can’t remember. This insight has stuck with me, and has been on my mind over the past few weeks in Vancouver. As Julia and I have been walking faithfully in response to where Jesus is leading us I can’t help but want to know a few things. I want his timeline and milestones, and other measurables.
Praying but not listening — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
Have you ever had moments where the unresolved nature of life becomes such a burden that it plunges you headlong into frustration and stress? I have, even in the midst of consistent and focused prayer. We can’t always expect congruency between our prayer life and our circumstances. But shouldn’t praying at least bring solace to our burdened souls?
How Facebook Saved My Sanity — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
There is some kind of love/hate relationship with Facebook. It draws us in. We can spend countless hours just scrolling and looking and stalking, I mean, exploring what our family, friends and even perfect strangers are up to. Then we feel guilty for wasting time. Or we get caught comparing our lives to other’s and we feel less than awesome, intelligent or good looking.
The Good Person Pandemic — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
The other night I was having a conversation with a woman who considered herself spiritual. She was a fun conventionalist, very animated and vibrant. But, when anything even remotely Christian came up her entire demeanor would change. She would stiffen, her lower lip would quiver, her eyebrows would furrow. She had experienced a lot of hurt growing up in the church.
Clinging To The Wrong Things — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
In Acts 3 there is an incredible, miraculous healing. An unnamed man, who had been lame from birth, whose survival depended on daily begging, was made whole by the name of Jesus. He asked for alms but got restoration. Luke tells us that he leaped up, started walking, and praising God. He isn’t just mobile, he’s ecstatic and exuberant. And rightly so. But almost immediately, he assumes a very different posture. He “clings” to Peter and John (Acts 3:11).
When you're uncertain ... Gelassenheit! — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
Have you ever taken a step of faith only to look back and wonder if you took the right step? I have. Fortunately I haven’t been turned into a pillar of salt like Lot’s wife. But I have to confess: I’m not much better than her. Our human hearts are timid. God is not a God of confusion, but that doesn’t correlate to our own condition. We can be confused and in such a state we begin to wonder if we heard God correctly about decisions made. We question ourselves.
Selfish like a Shellfish: Pt. 1 — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
As we have moved, and begun getting settled, we have done a lot of shopping. We have been on the look out for pots and pans, and couches, and warm undergarments, and wool anything. It has been three weeks of this getting settled/shopping business. First, I have to say thank you to everyone who is supporting us and praying for us. You are really making a difference in how we are adjusting. I feel like I have a new home and it is all thanks to you. Second, I have to admit I am feeling a bit selfish.
Tidings of Comfort and Joy? — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
This Christmas season I could not help but hum “God rest ye merry gentlemen”. I agree, it is a great song, but after weeks of it being stuck on repeat in my brain I was beginning to feel a touch unhinged. I even tried changing it up with different versions—some more upbeat and others more solemn. I tried listening to it- that only made the words more clear in my head. Going back a bit though, I have to say I was drawn to this song for a reason.
How to Become Wise — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
Today I started reading through Proverbs. This is a book I tend to skim. The many words of wisdom feel like too many words in general. It is ironic because if I were an author I think this is the kind of book I would write—a book telling other people how to live. In fact, much of what I do as a counselor involves the wisdom given in Proverbs. However, I still skim it. Back to today, as I was reading I began to wonder, what is so important about wisdom?
Wait — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
Waiting is the hardest part. I think I have already written a blog on waiting? Amazing how there will always be more waiting in my life—and more blogs about waiting I am sure! This morning I read in Isaiah: “If you repented and patiently waited for me you would be delivered; If you calmly trusted in me you would find strength … all who wait for Him in faith will be blessed” (Isaiah 30:15, 18) This was exactly what I needed to hear today.
How Friends Ruined Community — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
This has been my epiphany in the last week. It is a thought that has never crossed my mind before now. In fact, it feels a bit sacrilegious to declare it because I admittedly enjoyed the show, but I really believe it’s true. The 90’s sitcom Friends, beloved for ten years by millions of viewers, has ruined our generation for community. The show about six characters basically documents their friendship. It was a simple concept and hugely successful.
Against the Flow — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
Have you ever done one of those personality tests? I admittedly have taken hundreds of them in my curious lifetime. I am hungry to know how and why I am the way that I am. When I was in middle school I took my first Myers-Briggs (that is the one with the INFJ, ESTP, ISFJ, etc). My first test revealed I was introverted. I remember feeling ashamed and angry. How could I be introverted? Defensively I thought, “I am a nice person.
Listening to Young Atheists: A Christian Response — St. Peter's Fireside | Vancouver, B.C.
The Atlantic recently published a great read called Listening to Young Atheists: Lessons for a Stronger Christianity. Take the time to read it, it’s worth it. As usual, an article of this calibre is making its way around the social media sphere. There is one sentence that seems to have caught everybody’s attention: “I really can’t consider a Christian a good, moral person if he isn’t trying to convert me.” Gut-wrenching. Soul-checking. It makes my insides twinge a little. Could it really be?
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