Turning Over a New Leaf

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This blog is not about my favourite hockey team, so it is safe to continue reading!  But it is about the “post resolution” making blues.  It is somewhat traditional to make all kinds of promises that this year is going to be different from all the rest we have lived.  We are going to lose weight, start an excersize program that involves a little more than lifting your fork to your mouth, and many other things we could mention.  If you are normal, and I know you are reading my blog because you are normal, your resolution will last to perhaps January 20th before you fall back into your old patterns of living.

Continue reading “Turning Over a New Leaf”

365 Opportunities

TimeIncredibly enough, 2013 is about to have its last kick at the can! As I look back on this year, I can see the fingerprints of God all over the calendar.  My wife and I celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss. Through the ministry that God gave us we saw many people come to Christ.  Operation Christmas Child  celebrated 20 years of faithfulness in sharing God’s love to the children of the world. There was our wonderful time as a family in Vancouver.  All of these events had God’s grace underlining each one. Continue reading “365 Opportunities”

Gifts that Last

grace and truthI remember it.  It had little metal men who had two holes on their bottom section to hold them in place on little metal peg so they could “skate” on the table. It was known as “table hockey” and it was all I wanted for Christmas way back when. Today, I have no idea where that game is that I desired so much. Continue reading “Gifts that Last”

Christmas’s Greatest Surprise

The birth of Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption for the human race.  Actually, God had been planning to send His one and only Son into the world on the ultimate rescue mission for all time.  From the moment that Adam and Eve fell into sin by disobeying God, God had a plan.  He was not caught by surprise nor was he unprepared. What is surprising from our human perspective are those to whom God committed his plan. Continue reading “Christmas’s Greatest Surprise”

The Paradox of Peace

dove of peaceHow would you define “peace”?   Is peace just the absence of war?  Maybe there is some truth in that statement, but, there are many types of wars we engage in other than the military type we often think of.  No doubt, the images of war that flash across our television screen demonstrate its horror and its cost.  It is terrible and it is horrific.  We often think of the story of the birth of Christ as one of peace. That would work except for the fact that Herod murdered all the male children who were under 2 years old. Continue reading “The Paradox of Peace”

The Adventure of Faith

The life of faith is an adventure like none other. This coming January 16th, I will celebrate yet another birthday. They seem to come all too frequently these days. One thing that I never tire of is seeing how God leads us, no matter how old I get.  There are turns and twists, unexpected surprises and discouraging situations.  It reminds me of the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament.  Continue reading “The Adventure of Faith”

The Reality of Our Hope

I have discovered that there are few things in life as slippery as the concept of hope.  Have you ever said this or had someone say to you,”Hey, why don’t we get together real soon.” Or, “It has been so long, we ought to have you over.”  You express a desire to make plans for something with a friend but couch it in the language, “I hope we can get together real soon.” It may be just me but most times the desire to get together and the reality of it ever happening are rare. Continue reading “The Reality of Our Hope”

Serving with Joy

servingI have never recovered from it.  A real live example of what the Bible talks about in regards to serving one another. I had just become a Christian, and the youth group from the church was heading up to Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada. What a gorgeous place it is! Wow! As we prepared to embark on our “Canoe Camp” for 5 days, our group prepared the food we would need.Continue reading “Serving with Joy”

The Freedom of Grace

Just in case you missed it….

For the last couple of weeks I have been receiving phone calls that have become a little annoying. When I go to answer the call with a very polite, “Hello”, on the other end I hear the horn of a cruise ship with a voice saying that I have won a free cruise.  I have never let the call go far enough to find out if my bride and I actually need start packing. But it did get me to thinking, is there anything in life that is free?

Continue reading “The Freedom of Grace”

The Freedom of Grace

Canadian currencyFor the last couple of weeks I have been receiving phone calls that have become a little annoying. When I go to answer the call with a very polite, “Hello”, on the other end I hear the horn of a cruise ship with a voice saying that I have won a free cruise.  I have never let the call go far enough to find out if my bride and I actually need start packing. But it did get me to thinking, is there anything in life that is free?

Continue reading “The Freedom of Grace”