June/13 health update (Scott)

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it..........

Over the last few weeks as I thought about what I might write, that song came to mind, but I wondered, would I be able to do that regardless of the news I was told.

On May 21 I had tests to review my abdominal area organs and my lungs, the later which have a nodule that the doctors have been monitoring. This is the kind of monitoring I will need at least annually. Both showed no signs for concern. Phew, happy dance...I can rejoice in the day the Lord has made, but would I have been able to do that with less positive news or can I do that knowing that future less positive days are days that he made too.

Its a reminder to me that I should be rejoicing always, even when its hard and sometimes it is very hard, sometimes rejoicing in the day the Lord has made is furthest from my mind.

How are you doing with that?

Psalm 118:24 (http://www.biblegateway.com)

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Is church a safe place?

Is church a safe place?

I have been reading lots over the last year on dealing with difficult times. Currently I am reading a great book called inside out by Larry Crabb. All these books and the bible point to the fact that people hurt. King David hurt, Jesus hurt and the list goes on and on. So just why is it then that society and church in particular seem to have little place for hurting people. Why do we feel the pressure to fake it, to make like all is well.

As I get older, real authentic people inspire me. People who are shallow and make like all is well when it just can't be, people that fake it, I feel sorry for them. They seem to prefer to hide or mask their feelings when their hurt is all too obvious.

What is sad is that the safe place, "the church" is often not that, the place where people should be able to be real is the place where the biggest mask is often put on. The place where people should be able to go to be loved is often cold and unwelcoming.

How did we get here, it certainly wasn't the example Jesus set for us. He was real, he cried out to his own father, he showed his emotions. He also set the greatest of all examples of how to love, loving freely.

Whens the last time I loved freely, when the last time I truly sacrificed my time to love someone, to support someone in need.

Am I doing my part to make church a safe place?

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.