Are they cheering us on?

Are they cheering us on? Sometimes I wonder what my loved ones and other Christians who have gone before me are doing in heaven. Are they worshipping God, do they have a view of us? If they do I wonder if they are cheering us on, like a gallery cheers there hero on from hole to hole in a golf game or like a crowd on the sidelines of a marathon cheers on their family member, friend, coworker, etc. You get the picture.

Can you imagine Christians you know and don't know who have passed before you cheering you on, urging you along in life's marathon and then there along with your saviour to welcome you into the kingdom when you finish the race?

While there are many aspects of this life that I would find hard to part with, mostly my wife, kids and those close to me, I long to see my dad again and others who have passed that I dearly loved. I long to meet my Lord and saviour.

Some day I will.

Revelation 21:22-27 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

When were you last fishing (Mathew 4:19)?

Jesus wants us to be fisher of men, but where do we do that and how do we do that?

Many of us Christians stand behind our good old faithful saying, "well we can't all be missionaries", so wink, wink we stay behind in the all important support role living our cushy lives. Missionaries need support don't ya know, like on a 1 million to one ratio:):).

We stay back saying there is fishing for men to be done at home, and we do fish for men, but half the time we forget our pole, some of the time we forget our bait and the rest of the time we forget to go to the fishing hole. Our lives in the support role are often self indulgent and rarely do we do any fishing. Sometimes we fish where the fish have already been fed to obesity levels like say at church. How often do we sacrifice our time to feed the fish that need food, to be out and about in the community and to feed the hurting and the people that have not been exposed to the gospel. Maybe I am just speaking for myself.

Whens the last time I witnessed, whens the last time you witnessed to someone?

Matthew 4:19 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Saying goodbye

Yesterday we said goodbye to a great man, my uncle Joe. It was a beautiful celebration of life. Joe was genuine and that's what made him special to so many. He loved freely and was loved by many.

I sat thru part of the service, but found it very difficult to keep my emotions in check. With the close calls my wife has had and my own health I would be outright lying if I said I had not thought about how our days might look. It was easy today to visualize my kids saying good bye to me. I don't mind crying in public, but when you feel like you could just sob uncontrollably, well that's another thing.

I listened to the rest of the beautiful service from the foyer. Perhaps you haven't given any thought about how your funeral would look, but I wonder sometimes, especially after Joe's, how I will be remembered. 

What legacy will I leave, what will you leave?

why are people leaving their faith in bucket loads??

While some churches may be seeing encouraging growth, people are leaving their faith at an alarming rate. It has been said that by age 29, 7 of 10 young adults raised in a Christian home will leave their faith behind.

Why????

Is it because of the allure this world offers? Is it because we have it so good in North America that we don't need God?

Personally I think its both of these and likely many other factors too. Its very discouraging.

I wonder when God returns how many people living at that time will spend eternity with him. Will you? How do you know you will? The bible says by your fruit......have you been producing any? Will one spend eternity with God if they made a decision as a child to accept Jesus as their personal Savior, but than never really acted it out in faith and stood behind their beliefs.

Have you left your commitment behind to chase a dream or perhaps because you have been hurt and God didn't provide as you thought a loving God should? Or maybe you have left your commitment because you just couldn't accept his word in faith, you needed something with hard fact and in your face answers, not a God that is out there some where, but not physically visible.

Are your really willing to roll the dice on eternity, to gamble on eternity, to pass on a free gift in exchange for the present?

Matthew 7:15-23 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I will follow where you lead me...........

I will follow where you lead me...........as I reflect on life I can see that I have not always done this very faithfully.

As God places the interconnecting puzzle pieces of my life, how often do I disrupt his plan for my life by grabbing hold of that piece and placing it elsewhere or even putting it aside.  How often do I cause myself more grief by thinking I know better and by trying to control my own fate. Do I really trust him with his plan and purpose for my life?

This is the lesson God continues to hammer home to me, "my ways are better than your ways", "my ways fulfil my overall purpose", they may not accomplish what you want Scott, but they accomplish what I want, please follow me where I lead you. "Trust me Scott"!!!

Kari Jobe: Steady My Heart

Isaiah 55:8-9 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Have we lost sight of sin?

Have we lost sight of sin? Do we know what it is?

When people do crazy evil things that result in things like the Newtown tragedy (shooting) or the recent Tim Bosma murder, we call the evil doers crazy, sick, etc, which they are, but do we associate their actions with sin and a fallen world?

Do we understand sin and its dark deceptive ways? When a person hurts us with something they say, do we associate it with sin, the same sin that is in us, but may have different outlets and outputs. Or do we condemn that person?

People involved in heinous crimes have the same root issue we all have, "sin". They may have had poor upbringings or other circumstances that they will argue contributed to their poor choices, but at the core of the issue is sin. These people will pay severely for the consequence of their sin as will the innocent lives their sin has forever disturbed.

Sin, its all around us, its part of our daily lives. We live in a fallen world, a dark sinful world.

What am I doing about sin in my life? It may be anger issues, coveting, lust, pride..............am I taking the necessary measures against sin? Only God can combat sin.

One day we will be made perfect.....that is if we have accepted Christs free gift. One day sin will be conquered for eternity.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Whats really required to have a good time?

Its the long weekend, time for a good time!!

The talk is that the LCBO will strike in Ontario closing the liquor stores. This would of course disrupt a lot of long weekenders good times.

So what is required to have a good time anyway. What are the essentials? Is it booze, dope, sex? Can you go to a party without booze and have a good time? It it possible to enjoy a long weekend with limited alcohol? Could that really be possible?

If my reliance is on booze to have a good time, how much depth do I have. Now I am a man who enjoys a drink here in there, but's its never been the determining factor in whether I can have a good time or not. That is more a reflection of who I am and the depth of the relationships I have. That's what is essential to me having a good time. If the centre of my being is happy, I am happy and not reliant  on very superficial things like a drink.

Is the centre of your being happy, what makes or breaks your day? Is whatever you are relying on for your happiness working? Do you have lasting happiness?

Do you have inner peace......that's whats central to a good time.

Matthew 11:28-30 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Come to me / Kari Jobe

An emotional make over in process.....

Coming up here in May I will go for more testing on my lungs. Scans in 2012 saw a nodule on my one lung. Subsequent testing in 2012 showed no additional growth so the medical staff determined to followup here in May to do a comparative test.

While I feel well, its the uncertainty this kind of thing and the health issues we have experienced in our house over the last 8 years that have worn our emotions thin. When I experience back issues like I have this spring, it's easy to connect the dots and think "oh NO" is this the cancer, after all back pain is how they found it in the first place.

Everyones coping mechanisms and ability to handle stress are different. For me I came to a breaking point about a year ago. I simply had come to the end of my rope and what I could cope with. My emotions were raw, my anxiety issues were bad and I was struggling with depression. Poor administration of antidepressants and thinking I could be superman and work through chemo didn't help. I was mentally spent.

Over the last year I have learned and done some important things that are helping me cope better;
- recognising how Satan can twist ones thinking. It's OK for Christians to be real, to hurt and to show it. We don't have to be Macho and always at our Sunday best. We can be real.
- sometimes we have to step back, do less so we can take care of what's most important, "relationships"
- ones journey can be very lonely as mine has been at times. Not everyone is going to be able to love on ya the way you might hope, some will say and do some hurtful things, stick to those who truly love you by their words and actions
- I am a contemplative silent muller, I am learning to better communicate my feelings, especially to my wife
- since both my wife and I have health challenges, we have the stress in our house that these things add, it is important for us to take time away. Maybe it's dinner, a weekend away, etc. Satan would love nothing better than for these stresses to be our ruin.
- the antidepressants I was on were doing more harm than good. I am not against them and have used them successfully in the past. As the doctor said, the one I was on simply was no longer a fit.
- working out has been a good replacement for the antidepressants and my progress has been closely monitored
- seeing a psychiatrist and learning more about myself, who I am, why I do what I do, how life has affected me, and how I can improve my coping mechanisms by disciplining my thought patterns. It's no easy task and there are plenty of things anyone can worry about. Basically I have had to change the way I handle stress, I can't just suck it up anymore. I am learning to recognise better how it affects me and what I need to do to cope. Sometimes it's breathing exercises, sometimes it's working out, sometimes it's talking it out, sometimes it's praying and sometimes it's all of the above.
- learning to deal with the facts. I am naturally a sensitive guy that can easily visualise things and sense how things will unfold. Being in a worn out state, these tendency's sometimes led me down bad paths. I am learning to deal with the facts more. For example, I might foresee my boss having a concern with something I said or did, but rather than dwell on this thinking I have to train my thoughts to think, unless I have been given the facts, I don't worry about it, I try to leave it in Gods capable hands
- it's one thing to say we trust God in all things, it's a whole other thing to regularly do it in faith, to allow him to be part of your every day. When you are at your end as I have been, even the trivial seems overwhelming. The moments and days when I am able to rest in the fact that no matter what happens to my health or my wife's, that God is in control, are pretty good days. When I start operating on my own and letting my mind dwell on misfortune or worry I run into problems. Although my psychiatrist is not a Christian, living in the moment as he says, is quite biblical, but like I said it takes faith to live it out and to truly abide in God so he can abide in me.

An emotional make over in process.....

John 15

New International Version (NIV)

The Vine and the Branches

4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

saying goodbye to an uncle, he was a great man

Saying goodbye to family is never fun, since 1999 my wife and I have said good bye to 3 of my grandparents, 5 of my uncles, her great grandmother, her grandmother, her aunt and nephew. In 1992 I said good bye to my dad. It seems like enough, but we know that this is life.

The most recent has been my uncle Joe, he passed in his 75th year. I have so many good memories of all of these people who have passed on, but today it;s about uncle Joe.

My memories of uncle Joe go way back and include fun filled Martin family reunions where the uncles would play football with us.....what a blast it was, farm boy me spending a few days in the city at uncle Joe's......what a culture shock that was for me, Joe making trips up to our area when my dad was battling cancer,  Joe and his dear wife spending a night at our house when grandma passed......we enjoyed their company and the wine they brought, them visiting me in the hospital in 2005 when my wife battled flesh eating disease, Joe taking the time to call me to see how I was doing and just taking a general interest in me over the years.

Joe was a genuinely nice guy who deeply cared about people. He always called my mom on Christmas day, he would take her for dinner after dad had passed on, he was a true gentlemen!!

Joe had a great laugh, I have never heard one even remotely similar. It was his very own and the kind that you could not help but enjoy. It made the zd, zd , zd sound......very hard to explain in word, but it was awesome.

Joe will be greatly missed, but we take comfort in knowing that of those whom have gone before that have accepted Christs free gift, we will see again......certainly Joe will be one of them.

Love ya Joe....a new laugh has joined the heavens

Gaither Homecoming - When the Roll is called up yonder
Leann Rimes - Amazing Grace
Carrie Underwood with Vince Gill How Great thou Art
I'll See You Again Lyrics Westlife
Westlife - You Raise Me Up (With Lyrics)

Does hurt drive you more than you realize?

As I journey along I am realising how much of a role hurt plays on our society, in each of our lives. Maybe your thinking, "you just realised that bud".

As I study and seek council in my own life I realize that hurt is what often steers us. The challenge is where does it take us, where do we choose it to take us?

Have you ever stopped to think of how you are responding to hurt caused by: something someone said or did, dashed dreams, guilt from how you have behaved, abuse, coping with children with learning or other disorders, health crisis, marital issues...............

Hurt always leaves a void that has to be filled, but with what?

Hurt may lead us to over indulge in chocolate (me), sex or any means of filling the void. Hurt people often look to others, in some cases this is good, in other cases it leads to misunderstandings, affairs and more hurt. Hurt may cause rage, suicide, depression anger. If you are a christian hurt led you to God. If you have other beliefs, hurt and a deep longing led you there.

Figuratively speaking, "what is your comfort food" when you are hurting?

Hurt really does steer us and although we have a loving God who promises to meet all of our needs, how often do we choose that remedy first? He says come to me all you who are weary, but really is that our first stop, or are we more apt to stop elsewhere like the liquor store.

Where is hurt leading you?

Kari Jobe - What Love is This (Lyrics)

What love is this