Daily Posts...
Friday, February 24, 2006
Expect great things!There is just something about music that uplifts the soul. There is something about music that can speak to ones heart, and bring a new dimension to worship. That's what I love about music, and that is why I am so passionate about music whether it be leading worship or simply picking up my guiatar and singing a song in the quietness of my room. It becomes even more special when something in the song resonates within.....
I am sitting in my room and preparing a song list for the upcoming Freeway retreat, playing various songs and contemplating on which ones to play next weekend. Then I come to the song "The River", a song which Brad played at the Freeway last Sunday. It's just one of those songs that you could sing for hours, a song of personal testimony, anticipation, healing, forgiveness, mercy.....it's just one of those songs that is so captivating.
I just love the chorus of the song for it ought to to be the cry of all of our hearts, and I believe it is a wonderful cry for this upcoming retreat. Look forward in anticipation, expect great things, stand in awe of the wonderful things that will be accompliashed next weekend. Changed lives, deeper relationships, a deeper sense of community. Let our hearts be prepared to surrender all at the feet of the One who we long to draw closer to. Let's have an awesome time as we gather at Jackson's Point and as the retreat draws closer let the words resound in your heart....
Prescious Jesus, I am ready
To surrender every care.
Take my hand now
Draw me closer
Lord I need to meet you there.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Where??Where am I from? Can you guess? If you know me you can, for others they just can't seem to get it right! I thought for sure that the accent would give it away, yes by' ya knows I'm a Newfie. Yet, quite amazingly it doesn't appear that way for some, and I find it quite hilarious. The list of my "apparent" homelands continues to grow. I've been asked if I am from the states...no I come from a province. I've been asked if I am from Texas.....no never been that far south. Then while I was paying for my meal at the Outback the waitress asked if I was from Australia....no I am not from the great down under. I was quite impressed by all these suggestions...and then yesterday in school another one was added to my list. One of my classmates asked if I was from South Africa!
Isn't that interesting! It's pretty amazing if you ask me, I didn't realize that Newfinese could fit into so many different cultures. So as the list continues to grow (and it most likely will) remember....I'm not an American, or a Texan or even an Aussie, and I am not South African....I am a Canadian from the rugged east coast, born an raised on the rock, and proud to be a Newfie!! So who am I?
Thursday, February 09, 2006
A fence or a bridge?Someone forwarded this email to me, and I thought that you guys might want to have a look....go ahead....dare to be moved....
THE FENCE
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange ofbitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man witha carpenter's tool box. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a fewsmall jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother, "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to buildme a fence; an eight foot fence so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore.
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all-- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."
Remember...
God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character. God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
Monday, February 06, 2006
In a galaxy far, far away....
Isn't it interesting!! Taken by the Hubble Telescope the M51 Galaxy is 20 million light years away! Just a reminder that no matter how far we look, 10 miles or 200 million light years, we will always be reminded of the awesomeness of God. Oh the Wonderful Cross....I wonder how the ones who discovered this galaxy felt when they saw it for the first time....mysterious......astounding....yet not surprising, for our Creator is mysterious and creative. Be amazed!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Am I content....are you?Funny isn’t it? How we can live with so much at our fingertips, yet still try to reach further to get more? Interesting isn’t it? How we can have the best that money can buy, yet desire for more? It’s unfortunate isn’t it? How we tend to get caught up in those things that really aren’t all that significant, and forget about that which matters most.
Why shouldn’t we be? Living in such an individualistic and materialistic culture that equates happiness with personal possessions. A dog eat dog society where putting onself ahead, looking out to oneself is the ultimate goal. But wait......haven’t we all had these feelings at one point or another....I know I have. How easy it is to desire what the neighbor has, and to want the latest device that is so carefully displayed on that device that we call a Television. I wonder how happy and content Donald Trump really is? What about Bill Gates? Why can’t we just be content with what we have, and live life to it’s fullest, to embrace what we have in each situation and stop running after what we don’t have? We are presented with a great illusion, one that needs to be broken. There’s more to life than what is in our hands. Instead grabbing after everything, it’s time to embrace what has been placed within our own two hands.
I read the other day, "I’ve learned by now to be content whatever my circumstances." I must admit I haven’t yet conquered this feat. Too often the circumstances of life dictate whether I am content or not. It goes on.... "I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little." Wow....what if everything I owned was stripped away? Would I be content with that? But there is still more... "I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty." What an amazing recipe that must be! So often if my hands are empty I am reaching for something to fill it up, looking for the latest technological advancement, the latest cell phone, maybe one of those Blackberry’s, but then there is those new Dell computer’s with those massive hard drives. It seems like hands empty is not a well liked situation.
I guess Paul understood where happiness and contentment can be found... "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."
If there is one thing that I have come to realize is that we find contentment in this life, when we are content with who we are, and to see this we need to seek the One who made us so. Maybe it is time to stop chasing after an illusion, and start embracing reality for all it is. That reality is found in Him, and not matter what this life may throw at us, and no matter what this life may take away, we can be content and find happiness in knowing that the true meaning of life does not rely on what we hold in our hands, but what we hold in our hearts.......be blessed!