Mackenzie and I had a good laugh over this Reebok commercial! Hope you enjoy it.
Information, audio sermon files, short writings about faith and life and how these two intersect, photos, and more.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Captivate me; Elevate me; Lord!
Man races against horseThis morning I read a verse that simply took me away into the imaginations of my heart. It captivated my mind and fascinated my spirit. God has such a way with imagery, a real flare as a word smith. This weekend I picked up a book (finally used my Christmas gift card) by Eugene Peterson called "A Long Obedience in the same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society" As I settled in to read the first chapter this morning the opening verse found in Jeremiah was all I needed. It consists of two questions that the Lord asked of Jeremiah and then again he asked them to me a few thousand years later. Two questions that have the same answer; two questions that probe the recesses of the heart. Two questions that every apprentice of Jesus must settle, probably many times along the journey towards spiritual maturity. Though I found the God's Word enough to paint the picture in my mind I found a couple of pictures on the net to aid with the imagery.
The verse is Jer. 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
The thickets along the Jordan River
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Chris's blog reminded of....
Being so exhausted that you can't even take a dump without falling asleep. This literally happened to me one time. I fell asleep on the crapper!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Things that make you go hmmm....
Yesterday two things happened that made me go hmmm.... The first was an experience I had while stopping to fuel up my truck around 7:30 last night. I pulled in just ahead of a very expensive looking SUV built by Lexus that was sporting Washington plates. Three women in their early 40's got out but it soon became totally apparent they had never fueled up their vehicles before. They had no idea of how to start the pump, they had no idea where the gas port on the vehicle was, and they did not know how to pay for their gas. They called over to me and asked how to pay so I told them to go inside for that. I finished and followed the one women in while she tried to figure out how her debit card worked. Then after several attempts she decided to go get a credit card from one of her friends but only wanted to put 10.00 worth of gas in...in her words, "to start with lets put 10 dollars in and and then see if I will need more gas after that" I finally got my gas paid for and got out of there with the women still not having put one drop of gas into their SUV! Gotta wonder?
The second thing was an email I got from one of the guys in our church. He often sends me quirky little things and most of the time they are kinda dumb. However, this one made me go hmmmm....
This is what he sent me, "Sometimes you just scratch your head....
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered
that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this
problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen
that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface
including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over
300 C.
The Russians used a pencil. Your taxes are due again--enjoy paying them."
Just some things that make you go Hmmmm....
God is Good All the Time.
The second thing was an email I got from one of the guys in our church. He often sends me quirky little things and most of the time they are kinda dumb. However, this one made me go hmmmm....
This is what he sent me, "Sometimes you just scratch your head....
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered
that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this
problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen
that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface
including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over
300 C.
The Russians used a pencil. Your taxes are due again--enjoy paying them."
Just some things that make you go Hmmmm....
God is Good All the Time.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Sabbath
Sabbath. A good healthy and soulful practice that takes the pressure off, allows for moments of despair without rushing past them after all we are only human! It is good for the entire body, soul, mind and emotions. I love my day off. No church people! Nobody but family if that's what I choose. I don't have to answer any questions, I don't have to answer any phones, I don't have to check emails, I don't need to leave my haven of rest here in the house.
Sabbath was created by God for our sanity just as much as our sanctification. It is meant to be a time to unwind and recoup. I love it and after this past week I really needed it.
Thank you Lord for Sabbath.
God is Good All the Time!
Sabbath was created by God for our sanity just as much as our sanctification. It is meant to be a time to unwind and recoup. I love it and after this past week I really needed it.
Thank you Lord for Sabbath.
God is Good All the Time!
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Thoughts on the cost of non-discipleship
A lesson that I am learning right now regarding the cost of discipleship has been very fun to think about and learn. When you grow up in a Christian home and you tally up how many sermons you have heard, how many bible studies you have attended, conferences, camps and workshops you have enjoyed it can be a bit staggering. If I only take one sermon per Sunday over 43 years that alone adds up to just over 2400 sermons. That is a ton of biblical information running around inside my heart, mind and soul! Then something happens; an awaking comes and a fresh word is spoken to our hearts and we are like a kid in a candy shop with it.
I have heard countless sermons on counting the cost of following Jesus. I have basically always assumed that meant the cost to me personally or what I would have to give up in order to gain eternal life with Jesus. While that may be true, part of counting the cost is also counting what you gain through what you are giving up. There is a story of man who found gold in a field, lots of gold, more gold than he could ever have imagined. As it turned out he is the only one who knew the gold was there so he goes off and sells everything he owns(negative cost)and then takes the money and purchases the field with great joy (positive cost). Was it a burden to the man to sell everything to buy the field that was rich beyond his wildest dreams? Yes, but in light of what he gained the cost was almost insignificant!
Then I started to see another cost that needs to be factored in when it comes to counting the cost of following Jesus. That would be the cost of non-discipleship. What if I choose not to be an apprentice then what? It didn't take long for me to see that what I would loose far outweighed what I would gain by not entering into the apprenticeship program of Jesus. If I knew the gold was there but decided not to sell everything to purchase the property then I am the biggest looser for it. For me it should be a "no-brainier"!
I think it is healthy to think of life from this perspective; to ask yourself if you can really afford not to take on the life of an apprentice of Jesus. The way of the sinner is hard but then so is the way of the Christian who is unwilling to count the cost in both directions. If I am right about this then the cost of non-discipleship may even be harder!
I have heard countless sermons on counting the cost of following Jesus. I have basically always assumed that meant the cost to me personally or what I would have to give up in order to gain eternal life with Jesus. While that may be true, part of counting the cost is also counting what you gain through what you are giving up. There is a story of man who found gold in a field, lots of gold, more gold than he could ever have imagined. As it turned out he is the only one who knew the gold was there so he goes off and sells everything he owns(negative cost)and then takes the money and purchases the field with great joy (positive cost). Was it a burden to the man to sell everything to buy the field that was rich beyond his wildest dreams? Yes, but in light of what he gained the cost was almost insignificant!
Then I started to see another cost that needs to be factored in when it comes to counting the cost of following Jesus. That would be the cost of non-discipleship. What if I choose not to be an apprentice then what? It didn't take long for me to see that what I would loose far outweighed what I would gain by not entering into the apprenticeship program of Jesus. If I knew the gold was there but decided not to sell everything to purchase the property then I am the biggest looser for it. For me it should be a "no-brainier"!
I think it is healthy to think of life from this perspective; to ask yourself if you can really afford not to take on the life of an apprentice of Jesus. The way of the sinner is hard but then so is the way of the Christian who is unwilling to count the cost in both directions. If I am right about this then the cost of non-discipleship may even be harder!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Scary Night for Scottie
Last Wednesday evening while I was teaching a class on Elisha I received a call on my cell phone. I thought it might be the kids so I picked it up but saw it was my friend and kept teaching. Later I called him and found out that he was trying to get a hold of me to tell me that my cousin Scott Nichol had been seriously injured in a Hockey game. He had been watching TSN and saw that Scott had been hit, lost his balance and plunged head first into the boards. He was knocked unconscious and after laying on the ice surface for 10 minutes they got him on a stretcher and took him off to the nearest hospital. He missed most of the season up until Christmas and now this injury. They hope he will be back in the line up by the end of next week. Hope the rest of the season goes much better for him! Here are some pics that I found about the incident.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
The Christian Reality Show
If been thinking lately about my own families considerable ingestion of reality T.V. shows. Right now Cheryl and the girls are focused on American Idol. I am trying hard to like it but it is not going very well. I am often told to go do something else as my comments are becoming a real nuisance to the ladies as they try and enjoy watching the show. What I find most amazing is just how horrible some if not most of the contestants are at singing if you could call it that. Yet, somehow, in their own little worlds, they believe the lie that they've got what it takes to become America's next Idol. Reality truly is the farthest thing from their minds and even the minds of those who support them in this endeavour. After completely humiliating themselves and slaughtering some song and being torn to shreds by the judges they storm off angry and hurt from their experience. Then in post interviews they bitterly argue with the judges decisions. Usually with tears and/or vulgar language they say they have perfect pitch, that they sang completely on key, they say so many things that are not remotely connected to the truth and therefore to reality. If it wasn’t for the few who can sing well you could call it Non-reality T.V.
Then I started to think about Christians and reality. I started to wonder how interesting it would be to have a reality show about how Christians really live. It may not be a hit T.V. show but it would be very interesting. It would be fascinating to see just how many Christians live out what the bible clearly teaches as the kind of life the believer is to experience. For example, you could post a warning at the beginning of the show say something like: "Tonight’s show contains scenes of violence, judgemtalism, contempt and rage. Viewer discretion is advised." Followed by a verse that would be the theme of that evenings show, something like 1 Pe 1:7 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy". Then follow a selected group of Christians around to see just what this inexpressible joy looks like at work, at home, with friends, with neighbours etc. Interspersed with interviews of those closest to the Christians in order to provide a living commentary from those who are on the receiving end of what is supposed to be “inexpressible and glorious joy!” Then as the show comes to a close the contestants would watch their lives, listen to the commentary and respond to it. Thus attempting to measure what is really true about themselves. Which could be very different from what they may think is true about themselvs.
Sounds like the makings of a sad and terrifying look at what really goes on in the hearts and minds of people who claim to be Christian yet act and think and feel something else! Or better yet, sounds a bit like judgement day!!!!
Then I started to think about Christians and reality. I started to wonder how interesting it would be to have a reality show about how Christians really live. It may not be a hit T.V. show but it would be very interesting. It would be fascinating to see just how many Christians live out what the bible clearly teaches as the kind of life the believer is to experience. For example, you could post a warning at the beginning of the show say something like: "Tonight’s show contains scenes of violence, judgemtalism, contempt and rage. Viewer discretion is advised." Followed by a verse that would be the theme of that evenings show, something like 1 Pe 1:7 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy". Then follow a selected group of Christians around to see just what this inexpressible joy looks like at work, at home, with friends, with neighbours etc. Interspersed with interviews of those closest to the Christians in order to provide a living commentary from those who are on the receiving end of what is supposed to be “inexpressible and glorious joy!” Then as the show comes to a close the contestants would watch their lives, listen to the commentary and respond to it. Thus attempting to measure what is really true about themselves. Which could be very different from what they may think is true about themselvs.
Sounds like the makings of a sad and terrifying look at what really goes on in the hearts and minds of people who claim to be Christian yet act and think and feel something else! Or better yet, sounds a bit like judgement day!!!!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Block Buster Motto
Few and far between is how I would describe last night. It was one of those rare times when my wife and I had an evening alone at home. No kids, no running around, no interruptions, no pressure! We decided to rent a movie from Block Buster called "The Gospel". If you enjoy Black Gospel choir music then you will love this movie as the music is quite spectacular. It is basically a prodigal son story and the acting is definitely "B" rated. While we were standing at the check out Cheryl noticed the motto of the Block Buster staff.
It reads: "At Block Buster, our employees are empowered, authorized and committed to taking care of you." Pretty heavy duty stuff for a movie rental outlet half full of teenagers receiving minimum wage for their efforts!
We chuckled and thought that this would be a good slogan for a church leadership team. At Peachland Community Church our leadership is empowered, authorized and committed to taking care of you!
I like it!
God is good all the time
It reads: "At Block Buster, our employees are empowered, authorized and committed to taking care of you." Pretty heavy duty stuff for a movie rental outlet half full of teenagers receiving minimum wage for their efforts!
We chuckled and thought that this would be a good slogan for a church leadership team. At Peachland Community Church our leadership is empowered, authorized and committed to taking care of you!
I like it!
God is good all the time
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
The Case of the Missing Mojo!
This morning I went out to leave early for my work out and my truck wouldn't start. It just kept turning over and over. I checked under the hood to see if something obvious had happened but saw nothing. I hopped back in and noticed my gas gauge was on empty and I mean right empty. No gas No go! Someone had come and taken my gas out of my tank in my truck while it was parked in my driveway at some point in the night. I think it was just under half full when I parked it last time.
So, I guess I will have to go out and buy a key entry gas cap so I don't have to go this trouble of running out of fuel and the expense of the lost petro!
We live in a fallen world but...
God is still Good all the time.
So, I guess I will have to go out and buy a key entry gas cap so I don't have to go this trouble of running out of fuel and the expense of the lost petro!
We live in a fallen world but...
God is still Good all the time.
Friday, January 20, 2006
The Measuring Wall
Its been a long time since my last note. So many things have happened, the good the bad and the ugly have been a part of my daily routine. One of things that was a big deal was lining up our kids against the corner wall in the kitchen and measuring their growth. It is fascinating to me. I live with them everyday of their lives and I don't notice the growth. That is I don't notice the growth until it is time to buy some shoes or pants or whatever! The biggest growth spurt in recent times goes to Paige. She must have grown a full 3+ inches in one year a while back. But needless to say, they are all growing up and there is nothing any of them can do about it. We ended up teasing Paige about her resistance to growing up. She used to cry when someone would say "my how you've grown" because she didn't want to grow older or grow up. But, all the crying in the world cant stop the growth that the body is created to go through.
Since I am in an apprentice type mood these days it didn't take me long to start seeing some interesting parallels between my girls growth spurt and the need to have a growing faith as well. We feed the body, we feed our faith, we exercise our bodies, we exercise our faith, we measure the bodies growth and we measure the growth of our faith. One thing remains the same, we are meant to grow and it would quickly be seen as a serious problem if growth suddenly stopped when we know it should be happening.
Every once in a while we need take out the pencil, line up the girls, back to the measuring wall, place the pencil on the top of the head and make the mark. I think every once in a while we need to take out our pencil, back our faith up against the measuring wall, place the pencil on top and make our mark. Stand back and see the results... Growing?
Since I am in an apprentice type mood these days it didn't take me long to start seeing some interesting parallels between my girls growth spurt and the need to have a growing faith as well. We feed the body, we feed our faith, we exercise our bodies, we exercise our faith, we measure the bodies growth and we measure the growth of our faith. One thing remains the same, we are meant to grow and it would quickly be seen as a serious problem if growth suddenly stopped when we know it should be happening.
Every once in a while we need take out the pencil, line up the girls, back to the measuring wall, place the pencil on the top of the head and make the mark. I think every once in a while we need to take out our pencil, back our faith up against the measuring wall, place the pencil on top and make our mark. Stand back and see the results... Growing?
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Blah Blah Blah
Wow what a week it has been. First week back from a break is usually full and this one was no exception. So I finally have some time to do a little blogging. And wouldn't you know it, I seem to be at a loss for what to write about. Our family is busy enjoying all their new Christmas toys, thanks to everyone for all the spoiling over the Christmas season. We had one of the best Christmas times on record. It was especially nice to re-meet Nyah and then to also get to know Avery and Ethan a bit better as well. What great kids they are all turning out to be. We are looking forward to the new addition in a few months from Chris and Jamie.
Well, I suppose one of things I haven't mentioned is that I received an invitation to become the chaplain for the local Legion. My instalment ceremony is Monday the 23rd - Election Day! I have taken on this task reluctantly and decided to say yes to it based on a 3 month evaluation where-by if the load is too much I will step down from being chaplain. I look forward to hearing all the stories that go with our war vets. Peachland has quite a few vets living in it. We have a very active Legion here with a membership of around 500 folks. The Legion crowd is a group of folks in town that I don't (for the most part) know. I know I am going to enjoy getting to know these Peachlanders.
My friend Blair Bates has worked for a couple of years to put together a Music CD and it was finished this past week as well. He is pretty excited about it and I have listened to it and he really has done a good job. I hope the sales go well for him and that his music is well received by those who listen to it. If you want to check out his Cd here is a link for his website www.journeymusic.ca
Today is my day off and I am glad I get a day to rest and get ready for the new week to come. Today at 3 pm I am off to pick up my girls and hustle them all over to the eye doctors for their regularly scheduled eye appoints. That should prove to be a real eye opener! Ha-ha.
Any way, have a good day everyone.
God is Good All the Time!
Well, I suppose one of things I haven't mentioned is that I received an invitation to become the chaplain for the local Legion. My instalment ceremony is Monday the 23rd - Election Day! I have taken on this task reluctantly and decided to say yes to it based on a 3 month evaluation where-by if the load is too much I will step down from being chaplain. I look forward to hearing all the stories that go with our war vets. Peachland has quite a few vets living in it. We have a very active Legion here with a membership of around 500 folks. The Legion crowd is a group of folks in town that I don't (for the most part) know. I know I am going to enjoy getting to know these Peachlanders.
My friend Blair Bates has worked for a couple of years to put together a Music CD and it was finished this past week as well. He is pretty excited about it and I have listened to it and he really has done a good job. I hope the sales go well for him and that his music is well received by those who listen to it. If you want to check out his Cd here is a link for his website www.journeymusic.ca
Today is my day off and I am glad I get a day to rest and get ready for the new week to come. Today at 3 pm I am off to pick up my girls and hustle them all over to the eye doctors for their regularly scheduled eye appoints. That should prove to be a real eye opener! Ha-ha.
Any way, have a good day everyone.
God is Good All the Time!
Monday, January 02, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Christmas season always brings with it such high heights and then suddenly it's all over and done and life goes back to the glory of the grind. Whoosh is the sound that comes to mind when I think of it all! Then the first day of the New Year comes leaving behind a whole year for good and starting a new one once again! It is a clean slate, a fresh new start, an exciting beginning. The whole combination of spending time with family, shopping, seeking out a few deals between Christmas and new years, checking out a couple of movies, (fun with Dick and Jane was great), driving great distances, eating rich foods, staying up late, getting up early, laughing and reminiscing, missing some folks who we haven'’t seen in many Christmas'’s, saying all those yucky good-bye's, getting home, unpacking and settling in, seems to leave me in a reflective state of mind. I seem drawn to examine my journey, drawn to sitting in my favourite chair, to sip a hot cup of fresh coffee and contemplate the Lord of the past year and the same Lord of the New Year that's on its way in a big hurry!
I always like it when I get a "word". By that I mean a mental picture of what I sense the New Year will be like for me. An image of what I hope to look like at the end of the year in my life. An all inclusive "word" that just seems to be where I am headed based to a large extent on the experiences of the past year. Last year was the word "reason", taken from the book of Isaiah when we are instructed to come and "reason" with the Lord! As I look back I see the progress made in that particular area of my life. I feel that I have grown more reflective, more communicative, more prayer-full in my approach to life this past year. Thanks Lord for this gracious and spacious place you'’ve led me too in my journey. This year the word is "apprentice". I see myself as entering into a new and deeper relationship with Jesus. I feel as eager as those on the T.V. show apprentice to be like their master, to learn his ways, to understand his teachings, to follow in his footsteps and too becoming more skillful with the tools of his trade. I see myself growing deeper, moving farther along, and soaring just a bit higher than I have ever been before. Yes, I believe the word for 2006 is apprentice. "If any one would be my apprentice, he must take up his cross and follow me..." Jesus once said. Yes Lord, I am enrolling in your apprentice program in 2006. I am taking up my cross, I am counting both the negative and the positive costs that come with following you. And, I will follow you. I will be more like you by the grace of God come January 1, 2007. God is good all the time!
I always like it when I get a "word". By that I mean a mental picture of what I sense the New Year will be like for me. An image of what I hope to look like at the end of the year in my life. An all inclusive "word" that just seems to be where I am headed based to a large extent on the experiences of the past year. Last year was the word "reason", taken from the book of Isaiah when we are instructed to come and "reason" with the Lord! As I look back I see the progress made in that particular area of my life. I feel that I have grown more reflective, more communicative, more prayer-full in my approach to life this past year. Thanks Lord for this gracious and spacious place you'’ve led me too in my journey. This year the word is "apprentice". I see myself as entering into a new and deeper relationship with Jesus. I feel as eager as those on the T.V. show apprentice to be like their master, to learn his ways, to understand his teachings, to follow in his footsteps and too becoming more skillful with the tools of his trade. I see myself growing deeper, moving farther along, and soaring just a bit higher than I have ever been before. Yes, I believe the word for 2006 is apprentice. "If any one would be my apprentice, he must take up his cross and follow me..." Jesus once said. Yes Lord, I am enrolling in your apprentice program in 2006. I am taking up my cross, I am counting both the negative and the positive costs that come with following you. And, I will follow you. I will be more like you by the grace of God come January 1, 2007. God is good all the time!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
over the top christmas lights
check out this, these people have way to much spare time!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6883449590273474624&q=wizards+of+winter
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6883449590273474624&q=wizards+of+winter
Faith-musings
Thanks for sparking a bit of thought and thinking about faith Chris. I have been on a bit of a crusade myself regarding faith and being full of faith. Biblically, there are a few different ways in which the word faith is used. The most Holy Faith would be the set of doctrinal truths, as we would say it today our Statement of Faith. Then there is faith used as the broad sense, the way of faith, we would say today the Christian faith. Then there is faith that is described in Hebrews 11:1 the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. The essence of this faith is assurance and conviction. It is full of life, it is full of hope, it is full of love and it is full of the eternal. It is full of God as God is completely faith-full.
My Christmas message this year focused on the supernatural aspect of the Christmas story. Why did God pull back the curtain so we could read of the supernatural goings on of the angels, of dreams, of the Holy Spirit "overshadowing", of Prophecies, worshippers and prayers. Because the whole story must be believed by faith. Not just faith because we weren't there but faith that any one part of the entire story could somehow be true! Zechariah's silenced voice from disbelief, Mary's servant obedience because she believed by faith in the word of the angel regarding "nothing being impossible with God", The shepherds angelic visitation, Joseph's consistent obedience to his spiritual dreams, Simeons Holy Spirit promise of actually seeing the Lord's salvation, Anna's prophetic utterance, Wise men following a star that disappeared and then reappeared directly above the place where Jesus was and then going home a different way because of a spiritual dream. The whole story comes off so NON-WESTERN, by that I mean so mystical and that it must be accompanied with faith to believe it.
My prayer these days is that I would be a man full of faith; that I would full of assurance that God with me all the time, fully convinced that God can do the impossible in my life, my family, my relationships and my church. Full of faith that is growing day by day until I see him face to face and faith becomes sight.
God is Good- All the Time!
My Christmas message this year focused on the supernatural aspect of the Christmas story. Why did God pull back the curtain so we could read of the supernatural goings on of the angels, of dreams, of the Holy Spirit "overshadowing", of Prophecies, worshippers and prayers. Because the whole story must be believed by faith. Not just faith because we weren't there but faith that any one part of the entire story could somehow be true! Zechariah's silenced voice from disbelief, Mary's servant obedience because she believed by faith in the word of the angel regarding "nothing being impossible with God", The shepherds angelic visitation, Joseph's consistent obedience to his spiritual dreams, Simeons Holy Spirit promise of actually seeing the Lord's salvation, Anna's prophetic utterance, Wise men following a star that disappeared and then reappeared directly above the place where Jesus was and then going home a different way because of a spiritual dream. The whole story comes off so NON-WESTERN, by that I mean so mystical and that it must be accompanied with faith to believe it.
My prayer these days is that I would be a man full of faith; that I would full of assurance that God with me all the time, fully convinced that God can do the impossible in my life, my family, my relationships and my church. Full of faith that is growing day by day until I see him face to face and faith becomes sight.
God is Good- All the Time!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Memories from frozen water
It has been cold enough this year to have an out door skating rink. I know, I know, that is not a big deal to you all but to us here in the mild Okanagan it's a real treat. This year the fire department got a few of it's members to volunteer to make a terrific outdoor skating rink a little way from our house. There is quite a fine art to this procedure and it as taken a few seasons to get it right. Basically, I think you just can't be in any kind of a hurry. One must put thin layers of water down because if you put to much water down at one time the top freezes before the bottom and forms air pockets. And skate blades and air pockets in ice don't mix. I am excited to go over and skate around a bit.
I was thinking about the times when me and a bunch of friends would go skating on the ponds and lakes around B'lodge. We had such a great time except of course for solidly frozen feet that came with it! That nasty sensation of the THAW! When your toes ache right up to the top of your knees! The uncomfortable feeling of taking chilled feet and putting them into ice cold boots! Did I say we had a great time???? I remember freaking out a couple of times when we heard a huge crack as the ice shifted and made a sharp cracking sound. Ever see 15 kids skate for the edges all at the same time. I even remember taking a vehicle out on the ice surface and spinning doughnuts as everything in the cab was tossed from side to side! Oh what fun it is to ride! (Yes dad that was your vehicle!)
Guess I'll just have to find some time before we head for B'lodge and home for Christmas to take the kids over for a skate on the new out door rink. Should be a good time. Make a few of our own memories on frozen water.
Have a good day everyone!
God is good--all the time!
I was thinking about the times when me and a bunch of friends would go skating on the ponds and lakes around B'lodge. We had such a great time except of course for solidly frozen feet that came with it! That nasty sensation of the THAW! When your toes ache right up to the top of your knees! The uncomfortable feeling of taking chilled feet and putting them into ice cold boots! Did I say we had a great time???? I remember freaking out a couple of times when we heard a huge crack as the ice shifted and made a sharp cracking sound. Ever see 15 kids skate for the edges all at the same time. I even remember taking a vehicle out on the ice surface and spinning doughnuts as everything in the cab was tossed from side to side! Oh what fun it is to ride! (Yes dad that was your vehicle!)
Guess I'll just have to find some time before we head for B'lodge and home for Christmas to take the kids over for a skate on the new out door rink. Should be a good time. Make a few of our own memories on frozen water.
Have a good day everyone!
God is good--all the time!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Christmas: Seeds of the Eternal
Lately I have been quite interested in the current surge of attention in our culture toward being entertained by the realities of the spiritual realm. There is a large volume of "spiritual" entertainment that has come over the past few years. On T.V. we are watching a steady diet of the spiritual. With shows like Touched by an Angel, Medium, The Ghost Whisperer, and Missing all relying on the spiritual to help solve crimes and other such type stories. From the movie theatres we have the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter and now the much anticipated C.S. Lewis Classic The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. Certainly they are all classified as fantasy and I don’t want to take this too far, however, the stories that these great movies are made from are from classical books.
These books have had a significant influence upon our modern society. Most of that influence comes in the form of subtle (and at certain points in the stories not so subtle) spiritual content. And the reading/viewing public really eats it up!
Evil is real. However, evil can be overcome by good. Hate, vengeance, power, manipulation can all be overcome by love, forgiveness, courage and wisdom. The story teller’s creative abilities with these basic facts set our hearts at ease. They basically reassure us that the power of love and goodness will ultimately win over all that is rotten and evil in this world. It’s never without a fight and it always seems like evil has the upper hand for most of the story.
The bible is very clear about why we are all so fascinated with the hereafter, the other worldly, the spiritual realms. It teaches that “God has planted eternity in the human heart”. We come by this fascination honestly. You could say it is in our spiritual DNA. We long to know as much as we can about the supernatural. We believe in "lucky charms' or even "superstitions". Some will go to great lengths to pry into the darkness through witchcraft and incantations but only end up spent, depressed and disillusioned at the end of their search. But search they must for God has planted the seeds of eternity in all of our hearts.
In keeping with this theme I want to encourage all of you to check out the Christmas story. It is full of the supernatural. It is truly a spiritual story from start to finish. There were Angels coming and going and God speaking to people. Speaking to young and old alike, all of whom were searching for life and fulfillment just like the rest of us are. The Christmas story is a truly great story! Some have even gone so far as to say the greatest story ever told. However just because it is in the Bible, sadly most folks haven’t bothered to read it. But take the time this Christmas to slow down, grab a bible from somewhere (if you don’t have one give me a call we will try and get one to you somehow) and read this fascinating and wonderful story. It is found mostly in the Bible Books of Matthew and Luke, and in both cases they are in the first couple of chapters of these books. You will see that the reason God planted eternity in our hearts is for us to take interest in spiritual things and so be lead towards a relationship with him.
Please feel welcome to join our Peachland churches this season. Our schedule includes a Christmas service is on December 18th @ 10:30 AM; a Christmas Eve service from 6-7 PM of music and carol singing and a reading of the whole story of Christmas on Christmas morning @ 10:30 AM all in the Peachland Community Center. Check this local paper for times for all of our Peachland church services this season. Don’t allow the fantastic and highly spiritual story of the birth of Jesus Christ to slip past you this year. Merry Christmas everybody!
These books have had a significant influence upon our modern society. Most of that influence comes in the form of subtle (and at certain points in the stories not so subtle) spiritual content. And the reading/viewing public really eats it up!
Evil is real. However, evil can be overcome by good. Hate, vengeance, power, manipulation can all be overcome by love, forgiveness, courage and wisdom. The story teller’s creative abilities with these basic facts set our hearts at ease. They basically reassure us that the power of love and goodness will ultimately win over all that is rotten and evil in this world. It’s never without a fight and it always seems like evil has the upper hand for most of the story.
The bible is very clear about why we are all so fascinated with the hereafter, the other worldly, the spiritual realms. It teaches that “God has planted eternity in the human heart”. We come by this fascination honestly. You could say it is in our spiritual DNA. We long to know as much as we can about the supernatural. We believe in "lucky charms' or even "superstitions". Some will go to great lengths to pry into the darkness through witchcraft and incantations but only end up spent, depressed and disillusioned at the end of their search. But search they must for God has planted the seeds of eternity in all of our hearts.
In keeping with this theme I want to encourage all of you to check out the Christmas story. It is full of the supernatural. It is truly a spiritual story from start to finish. There were Angels coming and going and God speaking to people. Speaking to young and old alike, all of whom were searching for life and fulfillment just like the rest of us are. The Christmas story is a truly great story! Some have even gone so far as to say the greatest story ever told. However just because it is in the Bible, sadly most folks haven’t bothered to read it. But take the time this Christmas to slow down, grab a bible from somewhere (if you don’t have one give me a call we will try and get one to you somehow) and read this fascinating and wonderful story. It is found mostly in the Bible Books of Matthew and Luke, and in both cases they are in the first couple of chapters of these books. You will see that the reason God planted eternity in our hearts is for us to take interest in spiritual things and so be lead towards a relationship with him.
Please feel welcome to join our Peachland churches this season. Our schedule includes a Christmas service is on December 18th @ 10:30 AM; a Christmas Eve service from 6-7 PM of music and carol singing and a reading of the whole story of Christmas on Christmas morning @ 10:30 AM all in the Peachland Community Center. Check this local paper for times for all of our Peachland church services this season. Don’t allow the fantastic and highly spiritual story of the birth of Jesus Christ to slip past you this year. Merry Christmas everybody!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Labels
Maybe it's more a pastor thing than anything else. Then again maybe it is typically human for all of us. The fine art of labeling other people. As a pastor I know I tend to label others based on two basic criteria. First, by their foremost or obvious sins. So and so is a liar, that person has a shady character, this person is immoral. The second is by the way that person has either intentionally or unintentionally disappointed me. They said one thing and did another, that person dropped the ball, this person has stopped attending our fellowship. The list could tend to be long and varied for both obvious sins and disappointments. Unfortunately, when I run into these folks, I often find myself unable to look past their sins and disappointments. The labels I create put up barriers that restrict connection with some while in other cases stopping relationship all together.
How do you view people?
In Luke 7 there is a terrific story about a women who came to a Pharisee's home to see Jesus while dinner was being served. Uninvited, unwelcomed and definitely unwanted by those gathered around the table, this women put on a show of extravagant love in desperate measure by wetting Jesus feet with her tears, drying them with her hair and anointing them with expensive perfume. Those around the table had labeled her as a sinner and were busy attaching labels to Jesus because he allowed this show of desperation by letting such a women even touch him.
Jesus whole ministry drove anyone who labels others crazy! He seems to gravitate to the labeled ones. So much so that his label went something like "he is a glutton and a alcoholic and a friend of sinners!" These outcasts found love, acceptance and forgiveness in Jesus and maybe for some of them someone who didn't bother to label them by their sins and their disappointments for the first time in their entire lives.
Lord, help me to train my mind and heart to see all the people around me without attaching labels based on sins and personal disappointments. Show me how to love and accept everyone the way you did and do to this day. Amen.
How do you view people?
In Luke 7 there is a terrific story about a women who came to a Pharisee's home to see Jesus while dinner was being served. Uninvited, unwelcomed and definitely unwanted by those gathered around the table, this women put on a show of extravagant love in desperate measure by wetting Jesus feet with her tears, drying them with her hair and anointing them with expensive perfume. Those around the table had labeled her as a sinner and were busy attaching labels to Jesus because he allowed this show of desperation by letting such a women even touch him.
Jesus whole ministry drove anyone who labels others crazy! He seems to gravitate to the labeled ones. So much so that his label went something like "he is a glutton and a alcoholic and a friend of sinners!" These outcasts found love, acceptance and forgiveness in Jesus and maybe for some of them someone who didn't bother to label them by their sins and their disappointments for the first time in their entire lives.
Lord, help me to train my mind and heart to see all the people around me without attaching labels based on sins and personal disappointments. Show me how to love and accept everyone the way you did and do to this day. Amen.
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