Am I ready for his coming? Mark 13

Am I ready, are you? Do I look forward to his coming or am I so attached to this current world and what it offers that I pay little attention to my Lords returning?

If a man or a women is waiting for their spouse to return after an absence, if a person is seeing a friend for the 1st time in a long time, they make sure to present well. May be the house is tidied. Maybe a nice outfit is put on. How will I present when my Lord returns?

Do I love him with all my heart? Will I live and act as though his return for me could be at any time?

Mark 13:5-8, 32-37 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

The Day and Hour Unknown
³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard! Be alert^[e]! You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Great Ride 'n' Stride in Woolwich: Ruppert - Canadian Cancer Society Great Ride 'n' Stride (Scott)

Great Ride 'n' Stride in Woolwich: Ruppert - Canadian Cancer Society Great Ride 'n' Stride

This will be my first go at being involved in something like this, thanks in advance for your support.

Going separate ways, that's ok, really it is!!

Maybe it's just me, but I find sometimes with friendships that I have this expectation that they shouldn't sour or result in a parting of ways.

In the bible Paul and Barnabas parted ways over a disagreement. Did this make them less? Actually perhaps it's admirable that they recognised there differences and moved on. Maybe it's a practise that should be used more today, rather than making like all is well, 2 disagreeing party's could mutually agree to move on. Rather than let things fester and continually churn and gossip about the other party, maybe there is merit in moving on like Paul and Barnabas did.

Acts 15:36-16:10 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

 

Paul and Barnabas Do Not Agree

³⁶ Some time later Paul spoke to Barnabas. “Let’s go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord,” he said. “Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. ³⁸ But Paul didn’t think it was wise to take him. Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. He hadn’t continued with them in their work. ³⁹ Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed with each other. So they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas. The believers asked the Lord to give his grace to Paul and Silas as they went. ⁴¹ Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia. He gave strength to the churches there.

I remember our youth group being a rather small group and sometimes it felt like we were forced into getting along and being close friends when there were differences as wide as the ocean.

We are all different and gravitate to different personalities, yes we should be civil, but we should also know when separation is the best option.

And no I am not suggesting this for marriage.

One day at a time......

I am now  a year and 3 months into my cancer journey, at least the known diagnosis of it.

Noticing lumps in unwanted places is not new to me, but this time it was cancer.

Its a very disconcerting thing to come across a lump or a sudden change, its like a blow that just knocks you right off your feet.

My first experience was as a young fella, maybe around 12. My neck and underarm lymph nodes were enlarged. The doctors diagnosis was stress, worry or something like that.

My second was a lump on my ankle which was a fat deposit later removed.

My 3rd was a lump on my leg, that I prayed about and it disappeared.

My fourth one was one on my back, which again was thought to be a fat deposit and has never amounted to anything. I remember noticing it before going to a youth group event. I was afraid.....I remember the leader asking me what was wrong...I was not myself.

My fifth was enlarged lymph nodes. I passed them off  as being what I had experienced as a kid. I remember looking on the Internet and discovering that enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area typically point to an infection or cancer. About 6 months after the original discovery and several tests, I received the feared diagnosis, "cancer", the very thing I had feared during each discovery.

Its been a tough thing to accept, a tough thing to wrap ones head around. Its like a large dark cloud that is always looming. Its hard to stay positive. Its hard to know how life should be lived.

For those of you out there who have found an unwanted spot or lump, etc., or have even been diagnosed with this dreadful disease or some other dreadful thing, I understand your anguish and the fear you may feel. I don't know exactly how you feel, but I understand.

Its hard to keep the faith, its hard not to be frustrated, angry, etc., its hard not to live in fear. Its hard to put a smile on for the sake of your kids, spouse and yourself. Its hard to feel like you are all alone with your own feelings of despair and uncertainty. Its hard not to fear for what may lay ahead. Its hard to live in the moment.

Yet after all the doubt and discouragement, I know that there is a God who has a plan, who wants to use my experiences for the furthering of his kingdom.

May we push on desiring to be a good stewards of the experiences, both good and hard that he has given us.

We rest our weary souls in this and the fact that due to our relationship with him, we will experience eternity with him, free from the problems of this sinful world.

We strive to live one day at a time, the way he asks us to. God is good.

“what must I do to inherit eternal life? (Mark10:17-24)

Do our attitudes state that everything we have is Gods or do we somehow think that we earned all of our belongings? Do we realise that what we have is what he has allowed us to have, what he has given us, that everything we have is because of him?

 

Do our attitudes state that everything we have is Gods and that we are willing to lay our belongings at his feet for the sake of eternity?

 

Mark 10:17-24 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[a]”

 ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

 ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

 ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

 ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[b] to enter the kingdom of God!

How does that shoe fit anyway?

Our good neighbour and I were discussing life and peoples innate ability to critique each other and he made a comment I have heard many times "unless you have walked in that persons shoes, you don't really know what they are dealing with".

It really struck me, not only because I have felt so misunderstood as I deal with the aftermath of life's bumps and bruises, but as I view others. I am so quick to point out others flaws with no idea at all of what is behind the scenes, of what they are dealing with at home, at work, in their marriage, with their health, etc.

Perhaps the person who just had an uncharacteristic outburst just noticed a lump where lumps shouldn't be, perhaps they are dealing with financial uncertainty, family stresses, children stress's, etc.

Where is the love that I should show people when I only take the time to look at the result or the outcome instead of taking the time to get to know the person, to ask how they are doing, to care how they are doing?

A few times recently, people have passed on and characteristics were revealed at the funeral that were not common knowledge. These were good qualities.

Why do we spend so much time critiquing others and then wait for a funeral before we can acknowledge the good? Why cant we take time to invest in each others lives in a real and meaningful way while we are alive?

Can I/we take the time to invest, to sometimes try on another person's shoe in order to empathise with their struggles, to share in each others joys and sorrows and to portray less of the critical Mr or Mrs know it all or fix it all persona?

Can I love as Jesus did? Will I take the time to listen so that I can love?Will I take the time to understand so that I can love?

U wanna be treated like Gem.....

U wanna be treated like  a Gem, then act like one. Over the years I have heard many people gripe about how they are treated by their spouse or how they wish they were treated.
Its sad, because the reality is, in some cases the result is in the hands of the gripee. If he or she were acting like the gem or the catch they think they are, they probably would be treated in the respectful manner they want to be treated in.
If your constantly hearing your spouse complain about you in public (and I am not talking about mine), are you really going to feel like treating them as they want to be treated. Probably not. If your often hearing your spouse groan about how they wish they were treated, is the first thought you have going to be, I will get right on that. Probably not.
Sometimes when I hear spouse bashing, I feel like asking, is your spouse aware of this issue, have you spoken to he or she.

Luke 6:31 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

You idiots....

I always find it kind of silly when people at sporting events go on about the refereeing or the play of their team. Some people can get quite animated and angry to the point where they call the players idiots or worse, if the player makes a miscue.

We are all on a team, either as Christians or not. I wonder what God thinks sometimes of my play. What does he think of your play? Does my play look as if I am a God dependant person, one in tune with the holy spirit or is it such that Jesus should be exclaiming you idiot. I wonder if he is thinking, here I am (God), ready and willing to empower you to be great and all I get is to I watch you floundering around day after day and year after year, stooping into a self indulgent life.

God likely has every right to call many of us idiots.

Thankfully he doesn't, he continues to forgive and show mercy, the same mercy we should show whether at a sporting event or elsewhere.

Being a perfectionist!!

What is a perfectionist anyway, is it someone who is perfect or someone who expects perfect?

I think the latter. Both as professionals and as Christians we can get caught up in perfectionism.

In our work lives or at home we have expectations. I know for me with some things I can picture them much better than I can perform them, i.e. art or carpentry. I can form a great outcome in my mind, but the real outcome does not measure up. Our world is a world of high and many times very unrealistic expectations. We expect to make money by the boat load, women try to measure up to the celebrities, we try to mold our kids into celebrities, we expect to be debt free at a certain age......we all try to measure up.

I am a perfectionist, someone who puts outlandish expectations on themselves. It’s not all bad, but I have found that over the years and through experiences this has snowballed into a challenge for me. I expect too much firstly from myself and secondly from others. How did this happen? Well it’s not only my nature, but I believe that the soul searching/ rock bottom experiences I have had have contributed. Even a medical doctor said recently "you’re too hard on yourself". Others have said you’re too serious, you gotta have some fun, you think too much. I wonder sometimes what others would do and how they would respond to my experiences, or how I would respond to those of others. Its funny how we are all experts on other peoples stuff.

My experience with going through difficult things is that when they happen, I long to please God, to know what he wants from me. As Christians we believe that God molds us through hard times and that sometimes he even allows things to happen to us to wake us up. So in our house and with some of our experiences being: crying out to God because we could not have children, then miscarrying, then having children, then my wife contracting fleshing eating after a birth and it altering her life forever, then her contracting another serious and life threatening infection, then a bad accident, then her contracting another life threatening infection, then my cancer........you start to get a bit paranoid and wonder "what am I doing wrong here". You cry out to God continually, wanting to and hoping that you are pleasing to him. You start thinking like a perfectionist and in my case not only one that is hard on myself but picks apart others flaws also. It can be a trap, a guilt ridden one. Some have commented to the affect "whatever God is trying to teach you guys", you better figure it out. Before you know it you don’t know what inner voice you are listening to, the Holy Spirit or guilt (Satan).

While I still firmly believe that a Christian should "Run the race in such a way as to get the prize (1 Cor 9:24)", I am also learning that there is a balance between striving and letting go and letting God. Through bible study and therapy I am learning that it’s important to rest, to let life come to you (not to worry), to be more in the moment, to rest in God's plan. After all, I have been in 5 serious accidents in my life, have cancer, have done many foolish things that could have gone poorly and I am still here.......God has a plan and a purpose and yes I need to strive to act like his child, but more importantly I need to "let GO and Let God do the perfecting!

He is the perfectionist, I need to willingly let him do his thing. On a daily basis and sometimes more often I need to just say "do your thing Lord" and let his amazing powers work through me and in me instead of "trying to measure up".

Below is an excellent reading from the devotional "Jesus Calling"

 

 

 

a partnership

What is a good partnership any way? In the workforce I have some experiences with ones gone sour. I worked at a place, when all of a sudden one day the one owner fired the other one. That was tense, it was just a small shop.
The 3  that I have been associated with all started great and went sour, for reasons of work ethic, money, etc.

A marriage is a partnership, it can be beautiful when you are functioning in harmony and challenging at other times. Like the work relationships described above, many things can play havoc in the partnership, things like: how she or he spends money, he just sits around watching TV, she gripes all the time, differences in personality, health, he plays too many sports, he works too much, different parenting practises, intimacy, difference in love language and on and on. Life can be hard, marriage can be too.

Like so many good things, marriage takes work, sometimes hard work, but it is a beautiful thing to know that you have a partner that has your back, someone that you can trust, someone that you can rely on, someone that you can build a life with.

My beautiful wife and I have had many rich experiences, both good and very hard. After years of being the caregiver, I was diagnosed with cancer and the caregiver role changed. It was a hard change. We are wired differently and respond differently. "Our Normal changed"". I don't respond as my wife does and she doesn't respond as I do. I am a muller, she is verbal. I don't always know what to do with her verbal expressions and she doesn't always know what to do with my internalising. The experience is teaching us to appreciate each other in a new light and under different circumstances for the strengths we each bring to the table. Due mostly to health issues we have had to work through 13 years of marriage and raising 2 young kids, while having a lot of stresses pulling at us. Sometimes it feels very draining, sometimes its easy to point fingers, but then I am reminded of the beautiful partnership we have, the things we have fought through together and become stronger for it and I know I wouldn't want anyone else to have my back.

Sometimes it may seem easy to pull out of a partnership, but is rebuilding, starting over, going through all of the same learning's you already have been through, something that ya really wanna do?

Marriage is symbolic......as Christians we are part of the greatest partnership, we are Christ's bride. As Christ serves the church we should serve our partners. We should put them before us. Its not always easy but are all the challenges inherit with opting out easier?

Ephesians 5:25

New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Anxiety, depression, stress, hurt....(Scott)

Anxiety, its not that out there thing that only some people deal with, we all deal with it to varying degrees. The below link is to an article about a preacher who after years of public speaking and writing books suddenly experienced severe panic/anxiety attacks. The root cause, stress, what's the cause of stress, well all kinds of stuff we all face on a daily basis.

Anxiety Attack

I read and enjoyed the article. I could certainly identify with parts of it.

It’s a very, very lonely place to be when one feels so low, but those around them just cannot seem to identify. It’s a very lonely place to be when one feels so low, but everything and everyone around you seem to expect nothing less than normal. It’s a very lonely place to be when one just can’t find normal, when it always seems so elusive. 

Like this man I have found help in unlikely places. I have been seeing a phsychiatrist since August 2012, at which time I had told my family doctor that the pills he prescribed and that I had taken successfully in years gone by no longer worked. I felt as no one should feel. The doctor is an older Indian fellow whom I have nothing in common with, but he has experience in the area I need help in.  It's amazing who all God will use.

It’s a slow and sometimes painful journey. I meet with him weekly and have been working closely with him on medications, which I am currently off of. Another doctor commented about the “perfect storm” I have experienced and he too was helpful in helping me understand medications, cancer, anxiety and depression. I spent much of a year on very low sleep, thoroughly frustrated, angry and lost, but am seeing some glimmers of light.

 

Like in any profession, there are poor, average and excellent quality doctors, councillors and phsychiatrists. If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, be sure to find an excellent professional that can assist you. It may not be one person, it may have to be a team. Don't be embarrassed about this topic that has for far too long been taboo especially in Christian circles. Seek out the help you need.

 

If someone repeatedly bashes you in the face, you will likely have a sore face and need care, if one or a series of events hurts your heart, you will likely need care.

 

King David's writings ooze emotion from a man that I believe could have struggled with his emotions. Do we really think he didn't have any anxiety when King Saul was pursuing him and trying to end his life? Do ya really think the disciples didn't have any anxiety when they deserted Jesus just prior to the crucifixion. You bet they did, they were scared for their lives.

 

So why is it that this subject of anxiety and mental illness is so taboo, why is it that it has to be the big elephant in the room. After all we all have struggles, many of which when we share we find comfort in the fact that our peers struggle with similar things.

 

So how about it, why not share each others burdens, why not encourage each other as teammates, as we experience life together?

Meredith Andrews - You're Not Alone (Official Video)

A life without any frustration......

A life without any frustration, is it possible? If you have experienced difficulty in life, you quite possibly have had someone try to encourage you with bible verses, perhaps ones such as the below:

http://www.biblegateway.com
1 Peter 5:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 55:22

New International Version (NIV)

²² Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Matthew 11:28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

 

If you are like me these verses can be encouraging for a time, but then what? Are they the magic that make all your problems go away? Some seem to think that quoting you a few verses and a song will wash all your woes away. For me it's not been that simple, life's challenges and frustrations don't just shrivel up and go away, in fact there seems to be future frustrations more than eager to be part of the pile I already have. It's like they are standing there jumping up and down saying pick me, pick me. So how does one deal with them all?

 

Some would suggest that Jesus will take care of all your troubles, some verses even support this. However like many subjects, it is important to read all of what the bible has to say. The bible seems to suggest that we should welcome them, like throw down the welcome mat and greet your trials with a big hug and a kiss, cause hey it's going to make you better.....
 

James 1:2-8

New International Version (NIV)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ and unstable in all they do.

So it seems like rather than hoping for and expecting the easy life, if I truly believe in God, if I truly have a relationship with him, I should be turning these trials over to him so that he can be victorious, so that he can mold me into something better, not so he can simply give me what my human nature wants, happiness during my time here on earth.

Many of us have weights of hurt hanging around our necks, if you're like me you want a resolution, you want them washed away, but God seems to be saying that he wants to use them to make you better for his honour and glory. Paul had an infirmity that never left him. God used it to work through him. Perhaps it was an infirmity that required Paul to trust God to a greater degree on a daily basis. My wife and I each have one of those, hers with her limited vision and me with cancer.

It's not an easy task to say on a daily basis, have your way Lord, do as you will, work through me/us and our challenges according to your will and purposes. Use it for your honor and glory. It's downright hard at times.

Do I cause others to stumble? (Mark 9:42)

I wonder sometimes about my conduct, about how it has impacted other Christians. Has my gossipping, temper, the odd cursing and poor jokes caused others to stumble? Has it resulted in someone saying if he can get away with it, so can I?

Mark 9:42
New International Version (NIV)
Causing to Stumble
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.