Category Archives: Christian Life

Running to Win

No self-respecting athlete ever enters a competition just to say he was just there. I am not an Olympic athlete, not even close, but I know by the hours and years, the self-discipline of training, the restricting your diet to eat what will enable you to perform the best possible on the day of the race. One enters the race to win it.

It doesn’t matter what dirunning-and-lifting-1scipline you train for, be it a 100 meter sprint or the marathon, or something in between, the goal is to win the prize at the end of the day. The great tragedy is when a runner is eliminated by an error that was totally in his control to be able to change. Many Canadians will remember the year (1988) when Ben Johnson apparently won the Gold Medal in the 100 meter race. Tragically, it was discovered later that Ben was disqualified by something that was totally under his control to deny. No one forced him to take a drug stimulant to race faster, he had total freedom to take it or to say no to the temptation. The choice was his to make. Today, he lives with the consequences of his decision.

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Spiritual Amnesia

design-3One advantage of growing older, there are many but one that is particularly advantageous, is life history. Those who are of my generation and older are able to look back and see how we have survived and thrived in the midst of adversity and challenges. Continue reading “Spiritual Amnesia”

Is God trustworthy 

Is it worth the risk to trust God? Or to put it another way…

Is common sense “common” in Christians?
It is often said, “I will not believe it until I see it for myself!” Even one of the most famous characters of the Bible said, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Thomas has been severely criticized by preachers and other believers alike for his unbelief however many of us act in the same way when it comes to the practical issues of life. Can I trust God with my future? Can I trust God with my children? If I am faithful financially in my local church, will God be faithful to me?
More than 20 years ago, our family went out as fully supported missionaries. But when we started the project we didn’t have any money and no one who was going to pray for us. But we can share that because of God’s faithfulness to us, we never lacked anything in our service for God.  
We often want the guarantee first before we respond to follow the plan. But it never works that way with God. Even in the work of salvation, God says, “Trust in me, believe what I have said to you!”  
God is always faithful to His Word, Always! If you think there is something that He has missed, hang on, God has it all under His control. It is always worth trusting what He has said!

The Secret that is Not

You often here that there is a secret formula for a restaurant item, or a secret to becoming rich and famous! Unfortunately, some who claim to be Christians have reduced success in the Christian life to the same foolishness.

It would seem that some believers may have a special inside track to spiritual success when we look at them from the outside. Here is a news item for you toIn Times Like These's photo.day, a secret formula for walking with God and being successful in your profession does not exist!

The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Corinth that to live a life that honoured God five attitudes they needed to develop. The longer I live for Christ, the more I observe that Paul’s pastoral counsel is right on!

Everyday you and I must be on guard because there are enemies that want to destroy our walk with God. We must stand firm in the truth of God’s Word! We must be courageous to live out our faith in the midst of people who love sin. We must maintain our strength in the Lord. Finally, we do all of this marked by and marking others with the same love God has for us!

If we repeat these attitudes everyday, we will be successful in God’s eyes. No secret here, only obedience and trust is required!

Running to Win the Race

running to win

 

As often as I have watched the Olympic games, I have never seen a medal ceremony that included just the participants! It is those who finish, and finish well that are standing on the podium. There are examples of this all through the Bible.  One such example is King Uzziah.

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Always and in Everything

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Really? Always…and…in everything? You can’t be serious!

That is my first reaction as I read Ephesians 5:20, “…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What an unbelievable statement! My question is: “Who can do that?”
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Rescued by Love

It is said that love is what makes the world go around.  Indeed, love is the fuel that you and I need daily to get us up in the morning and to keep us motivated through the myriad of challenges we encounter each day.  But, it seems to me that us mortals have very different definitions of love than God does.  Continue reading “Rescued by Love”

Jars of Clay

Clay PotsWhen God gets set to do something special among us, he usually does so through by choosing people who would be judged the most unlikely of candidates.  Some would even classify them as frail, needy and broken.  I have been preparing this week to share with our church the vision statement that the elders have been praying about and working on. I have come to the conclusion that God is not looking for experts but rather those who are willing to follow Him completely and totally.  Continue reading “Jars of Clay”

Just Beginning!

I started writing this blog with the goal of sharing what God has been teaching me. There is no “Rocket Scientist” material here only the thoughts of one still journeying with God. Here is a list of the most popular postings that have been published to date.  We are just beginning to develop this writing ministry.  I hope that you have been blessed by it. StarbucksContinue reading “Just Beginning!”

Life’s Great Purpose

68A978F8-1AC2-4ACC-8C16-339BEF91D575Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3 ESV)

The joy and delight of every person who has by faith come to Jesus is to magnify the Lord! Is there any higher calling and responsibility in all the world? As we look at this verse, we notice that this calling begins with one’s own personal walk with the Lord. Because of God’s grace and mercy in my own life I want others to join in with me!

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