Well, the Olympics are winding down but they have been front and centre for the past while for sure here in Canada.
Something that you might not have seen is this story of Canada's own Cindy Klassen from Manitoba who is a beautiful Christian gal. Check it out.
Cindy's Story
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Give Yourself A Break
More road analogies... A very grand man named Henry Hildebrand said one time, in a class I was privileged to be in with him lecturing, that the only things that run by themselves are running down hill. You can surely appreciate the truth of that statement. It points out the need for us to put real effort into our living. We need to be motivated (motored).
But it occurred to me recently that life sometimes can get away from us almost like it is ‘running down hill’ in a sense. It’s like you’re in a vehicle and unless you have some kind of braking mechanism you can really get yourself in big trouble.
The implication is that, not only do we need to be motivated and energetic, some times we need a break!!! Unless we have some kind of breaking system we will continue to accelerate until we lose control. This is particularly true in our contemporary world which never stops. Businesses run everyday of the week, phones never shut off … they used to call New York the city that never sleeps but it seems now like the whole world could be described that way almost.
But God designed the world and us to live balanced lives. When you consider the Sabbath laws of the Bible you start to get a sense for how important God feels these things really are.
So we really need both motors and breaks. We need to get going and we need to be able to stop. The question is, have you developed a good breaking system that keeps your life under control? If not, then that would be a really important thing to put some thoughtful time into. But, for that to happen, you’re going to have to take a break.
But it occurred to me recently that life sometimes can get away from us almost like it is ‘running down hill’ in a sense. It’s like you’re in a vehicle and unless you have some kind of braking mechanism you can really get yourself in big trouble.
The implication is that, not only do we need to be motivated and energetic, some times we need a break!!! Unless we have some kind of breaking system we will continue to accelerate until we lose control. This is particularly true in our contemporary world which never stops. Businesses run everyday of the week, phones never shut off … they used to call New York the city that never sleeps but it seems now like the whole world could be described that way almost.
But God designed the world and us to live balanced lives. When you consider the Sabbath laws of the Bible you start to get a sense for how important God feels these things really are.
So we really need both motors and breaks. We need to get going and we need to be able to stop. The question is, have you developed a good breaking system that keeps your life under control? If not, then that would be a really important thing to put some thoughtful time into. But, for that to happen, you’re going to have to take a break.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Motoring
Well, I can’t resist these road analogies. Cars have motors of course and it has got to be the most important part. I mean, it is the motor that makes the car go and that is what cars are for, right.
What about you? What motivates you? Do you have something that could rightfully be called ‘drive’? What is it that, not only helps you put your feet on the floor in the morning, but really ‘revs you up’?
Let me put it another way – what is it you love? Do you have real passion in your life?
You don’t want to coast through life. It seems that most people do. But then there are those who ‘motor’. Let’s go for a drive! What do you think?
Find yourself lacking motivation? Maybe you need an engine overhaul. Try reading the gospels and discover the passion of the Christ.
What about you? What motivates you? Do you have something that could rightfully be called ‘drive’? What is it that, not only helps you put your feet on the floor in the morning, but really ‘revs you up’?
Let me put it another way – what is it you love? Do you have real passion in your life?
You don’t want to coast through life. It seems that most people do. But then there are those who ‘motor’. Let’s go for a drive! What do you think?
Find yourself lacking motivation? Maybe you need an engine overhaul. Try reading the gospels and discover the passion of the Christ.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Trafficking In The Truth
Heather B was telling me she heard someone say how submitting to God is like ‘yielding’ in traffic. She said it reminded her of my little story about Derek’s ‘traffic insight’ [See Jan 25/2010 Blog - 'It's Who You Know'].
Now, this got me thinking … I wonder how many ‘spiritual life’ analogies we could come up with from the world of traffic? What do you think? It would be kind of neat to see wouldn’t it? I think I feel a song coming on … Jesus Take The Wheel…
Let’s do it! Let’s see how many traffic analogies we can post here. Submit yours using the comment function below and we’ll see how many good ones we can come up with.
Now, this got me thinking … I wonder how many ‘spiritual life’ analogies we could come up with from the world of traffic? What do you think? It would be kind of neat to see wouldn’t it? I think I feel a song coming on … Jesus Take The Wheel…
Let’s do it! Let’s see how many traffic analogies we can post here. Submit yours using the comment function below and we’ll see how many good ones we can come up with.
Monday, January 25, 2010
It's Who You Know
A very good friend of mine who is also a brother in Christ has a really neat way of explaining the difference between believing in God and having a personal relationship with Him. He says, think about when you are in city traffic how easy it is for people to cut you off or be rude to you. It’s almost like you weren’t even there! But of course you are there and they know you're there. So why is it?
It’s because they don’t know you. They know you exist because they can see you and they know that cars don’t drive themselves. They know there is a real bona fide person behind the wheel with a life of their own to live but they don’t know you personally so they don’t think twice about pulling out in front of you and making your wait for them. If they were getting ready to pull out but realized that you were their friend from work, or their neighbour, or their mother in law (OK bad example) then they would act very different toward you.
Derek says that it is the same way with people and God. Lots of people would say they believe in God, but it has little to no effect on the way they live their lives. Why? Because, while they give some kind of mental assent to His existence, they don’t know Him; they do not have a relationship with Him; they don’t talk with Him or listen to His Word or concern themselves with what concerns Him.
I think he’s right. What do you think? Share your comment.
It’s because they don’t know you. They know you exist because they can see you and they know that cars don’t drive themselves. They know there is a real bona fide person behind the wheel with a life of their own to live but they don’t know you personally so they don’t think twice about pulling out in front of you and making your wait for them. If they were getting ready to pull out but realized that you were their friend from work, or their neighbour, or their mother in law (OK bad example) then they would act very different toward you.
Derek says that it is the same way with people and God. Lots of people would say they believe in God, but it has little to no effect on the way they live their lives. Why? Because, while they give some kind of mental assent to His existence, they don’t know Him; they do not have a relationship with Him; they don’t talk with Him or listen to His Word or concern themselves with what concerns Him.
I think he’s right. What do you think? Share your comment.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Old Story Behind The News
For most of us today, the news comes to us in snippets. It’s not that more information isn’t available to us. We live in the information age! But we only make time in our busy lives for these short sound bites. In spite of this we tend to draw broad reaching conclusions from these very narrow slices of truth. We become myopic as if viewing life through a drinking straw.
When it comes to the situation in Haiti there is undoubtedly more ignorance than knowledge in the public mind. As usual, most of us are woefully ignorant of the critical truths of history that tell the real story behind the story. And so we end up drawing conclusions from our ignorance. In our own self righteousness, some of us are tempted to think that the people of Haiti have brought all of this on themselves somehow. We become like the disciples of Jesus who, having seen the blind man (Jn 9) asked Jesus who had sinned that he was born blind - was it him or his parents? We become like Job's comforters who just couldn't consider that maybe Job hadn't done some horrible thing to bring all of this on himself. I know that sin has consequences but it isn't always our own sin that gets us. The truth is that it is quite often the sins of others committed against us. And in those times the blood cries out from the ground.
I know you likely don’t have time for a history lesson but if you can take even 5 to 10 minutes you would do well to consider the historical background. It is the old story of greed, slavery, colonialism and oppression.
Canadian singer/song writer Steve Bell has written an excellent little blog about Haiti’s past that is well done but concise. It is worth your time. It’s entitled, ‘Debt, Dictatorship & Disaster’.
When it comes to the situation in Haiti there is undoubtedly more ignorance than knowledge in the public mind. As usual, most of us are woefully ignorant of the critical truths of history that tell the real story behind the story. And so we end up drawing conclusions from our ignorance. In our own self righteousness, some of us are tempted to think that the people of Haiti have brought all of this on themselves somehow. We become like the disciples of Jesus who, having seen the blind man (Jn 9) asked Jesus who had sinned that he was born blind - was it him or his parents? We become like Job's comforters who just couldn't consider that maybe Job hadn't done some horrible thing to bring all of this on himself. I know that sin has consequences but it isn't always our own sin that gets us. The truth is that it is quite often the sins of others committed against us. And in those times the blood cries out from the ground.
I know you likely don’t have time for a history lesson but if you can take even 5 to 10 minutes you would do well to consider the historical background. It is the old story of greed, slavery, colonialism and oppression.
Canadian singer/song writer Steve Bell has written an excellent little blog about Haiti’s past that is well done but concise. It is worth your time. It’s entitled, ‘Debt, Dictatorship & Disaster’.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
RUINS
Maybe you read the ‘Our Daily Bread’ devotional each day from RBC. The reading yesterday was from Lamentations Chapter 3, verses 22,23:
“Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
These are very familiar and oft quoted words for many Christians. But as I read the larger context I was struck by the obvious parallel in my mind. Jeremiah is called the 'weeping prophet' and the book of 'lamentations' is his book of tears. He wrote these words as he looked over the ruins of his beloved nation. It is almost as if he was sitting in the rubble. And maybe he was. I could just picture it. Maybe it was the images from the news these days that combined with these words that so easily, yet disturbingly, became such a vivid picture in my mind…
1 I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of his wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me
again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
and has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I call out or cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
he has made my paths crooked.
10 Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding,
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow
and made me the target for his arrows.
13 He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs
and sated me with gall.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;
he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.
34 To crush underfoot
all prisoners in the land,
35 to deny a man his rights
before the Most High,
36 to deprive a man of justice—
would not the Lord see such things?
37 Who can speak and have it happen
if the Lord has not decreed it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?
39 Why should any living man complain
when punished for his sins?
40 Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD.
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven, and say:
42 "We have sinned and rebelled
and you have not forgiven.
43 "You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us;
you have slain without pity.
44 You have covered yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer can get through.
45 You have made us scum and refuse
among the nations.
46 "All our enemies have opened their mouths
wide against us.
47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls,
ruin and destruction."
48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes
because my people are destroyed.
49 My eyes will flow unceasingly,
without relief,
50 until the LORD looks down
from heaven and sees.
…
55 I called on your name, O LORD,
from the depths of the pit.
56 You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears
to my cry for relief."
57 You came near when I called you,
and you said, "Do not fear."
58 O Lord, you took up my case;
you redeemed my life.
59 You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me.
Uphold my cause!
“Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
These are very familiar and oft quoted words for many Christians. But as I read the larger context I was struck by the obvious parallel in my mind. Jeremiah is called the 'weeping prophet' and the book of 'lamentations' is his book of tears. He wrote these words as he looked over the ruins of his beloved nation. It is almost as if he was sitting in the rubble. And maybe he was. I could just picture it. Maybe it was the images from the news these days that combined with these words that so easily, yet disturbingly, became such a vivid picture in my mind…
1 I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of his wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me
again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
and has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I call out or cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
he has made my paths crooked.
10 Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding,
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow
and made me the target for his arrows.
13 He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs
and sated me with gall.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;
he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.
34 To crush underfoot
all prisoners in the land,
35 to deny a man his rights
before the Most High,
36 to deprive a man of justice—
would not the Lord see such things?
37 Who can speak and have it happen
if the Lord has not decreed it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?
39 Why should any living man complain
when punished for his sins?
40 Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD.
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven, and say:
42 "We have sinned and rebelled
and you have not forgiven.
43 "You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us;
you have slain without pity.
44 You have covered yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer can get through.
45 You have made us scum and refuse
among the nations.
46 "All our enemies have opened their mouths
wide against us.
47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls,
ruin and destruction."
48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes
because my people are destroyed.
49 My eyes will flow unceasingly,
without relief,
50 until the LORD looks down
from heaven and sees.
…
55 I called on your name, O LORD,
from the depths of the pit.
56 You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears
to my cry for relief."
57 You came near when I called you,
and you said, "Do not fear."
58 O Lord, you took up my case;
you redeemed my life.
59 You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me.
Uphold my cause!
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