Along the Way

2012-02-08T08:17:00.005-06:00

M2MS

"He that demands mercy and shows none, ruins the bridge over which he himself must pass." (Thomas Adams)

"The the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all the debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed." (Matthew 18:32-34).

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Location:Fourth Chute Rd, Eganville, ON, Canada

2012-01-17T07:54:00.002-06:00

M2MS

"Love knows no law but the law of sacrifice." L.E.Maxwell (1 John 4:10; ROMANS 13:8).

2012-01-07T10:20:00.003-06:00

M2MS

"The best course to prevent falling into a pit is to keep at the greatest distance from it." (Thomas Brooks). "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13:14

M2MS

2011-10-24T05:52:00.001-06:00

"The greatest fault is to be conscious of none." Thomas Carlyle

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Location:52 St E,Saskatoon,Canada

My Shepherd is Near

2011-09-04T16:29:00.001-06:00

Our pastor preached on Psalm 23 today. All our fears are dispelled by the assurance that we have a God who cares for us. David writes from the perspective of a sheep who is in the loving care and protection of a good shepherd. In fact, he says, "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life." As I read the words of this comforting Psalm, I was reminded of an observation I'd read in another book some years ago. David begins his song by talking about his shepherd and then in verse four he transitions to talking to his shepherd. It's almost as if the shepherd shows up part way through the song. When does the shepherd make his presence know, or better, when does the sheep recognize the presence of his shepherd? As he walks through the valley of the shadow of death. I believe he was always there. But like me, David never felt the need for his comforting protection until in the midst of adversity. The fear of evil flees in his presence.

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Location:The Snuggery, Douglas, ON

The Deeps

2011-08-30T07:36:00.001-06:00

Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be yours alone.

Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in you, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of yourself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in your word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from you. Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until you alone are seen in me, your beauty golden like summer harvest, your fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no master but you, no law but your will, no delight but yourself, no wealth but that you give me, no good but that you bless me, no peace but that you bestow. I am nothing but that you make me, I have nothing but that I receive from you. I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water. Amen

(a Puritan prayer)

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Location:Lougheed hwy, Port Coquitlam, BC

Childlike Faith

2011-08-26T15:26:00.001-06:00

These are my two little faithful pray-ers! Last week both Denise and I had near misses with large wildlife on the road. Thank God it didn't happen. Every night in their bedtime prayers Elijah and Grace ask God to keep us safe on the road. Grace prays, "Help Nanna and Pappa not to hit a moose again." We have often envisioned an angel dispatched on a mission to shoe a moose off the road, or one time holding the muzzle of an elk as we drive by. Thank God for the prayers of our family.

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Location:Thessalon, ON, heading east on hwy 17.

There is a River

2011-08-25T08:26:00.001-06:00

We have a vacation wish list of places that we've driven by in our truck. Some day we'd like to return to take some time to really relish the scenery and sights. I84 heading east out of Portland, Oregon, is one of these. This route is also called the Oregon Trail. It follows the Columbia River. The scene transforms from rainforest and waterfalls to desertlike landscape.

Traveling along this route we passed through many cities using the mighty river as their source of life and commerce. I was reminded of Psalm 46:4-5
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
God is the source and constant supply of all life. Every moment our sovereign Lord is providentially sustaining life on this broken planet. If He were to remove His gracious hand even for a moment we would all dry up and perish.

Further, He has mercifully provided for our life beyond our existence on this planet. In the final words God's message to us, we read these words of hope in Revelation 22,
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Dive deep into God's unending flow of love and experience His grace for whatever challenges that you are facing. He alone is the source of our life.

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Location:I84 eastbound in Oregon

Psalm 121

2011-08-22T15:07:00.001-06:00

In two months from now, when we approach the mountains I will start to get a nervous feeling in my stomach. I am usually confident driving in the mountains in the warm months, feeling assured with my skills and well maintained equipment. But when the weather turns cold, there are so many factors that I cannot control. In reality, I have no ultimate control over anything. My sovereign Lord graciously has everything in control.

I was reminded of Psalm 121 as I approached the mountains today driving through Black Diamond, AB. As the Hebrew pilgrims trekked towards Jerusalem for the festival they would sing this Song of Ascent. Jerusalem was built as a fortified city on Mount Zion. It was a safe haven for all weary travellers. However, the Hebrew pilgrim would acknowledge in this song that in truth safe is only found in the Maker of the mountains.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Today, and everyday, I renew my commitment to trust the Lord for our safety; for everything.

Here we are parked in Fernie, BC. On the Crow's Nest Highway. We are the blue truck (Yanke), not the black Schneider National.

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Location:Fernie, BC

The Necessity of Thankfulness

2011-08-22T07:16:00.001-06:00

Psalm 50
The Lord has no need of my sacrifices or anything else I can offer Him. He already owns all things (vv. 8-12). My only appropriate response to God, who created and owns all things, is thankfulness. "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." (v. 23). Gratitude acknowledges that I have nothing and He has everything I need and has graciously given to me all that I need. His gift of mercy is new every morning!

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Location:Calgary, AB

A Drive Through the Desert

2011-08-06T14:56:00.001-06:00

Just got back into Canada after a five day trip down to California. We passed through the Mojave Desert on I15. 40C, but it's a dry heat!

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2011-08-01T08:44:00.002-06:00

Weakness with watchfulness will stand, when strength with too much confidence will fail. Richard Sibbes

Don't forget that you need His help for everything in your life.

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Location:Prince of Wales Dr,Regina,Canada

2011-08-01T06:43:00.002-06:00

Breakfast of champions. We're currently on a reset of our driving hours, parked in Regina, SK. I haven't blogged in such a long time. One reason is that we have started using an iPad for our Internet needs and blogger doesn't work on our iPad. So I found a Blogger manager app and we'll see how it works.

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Location:Prince of Wales Dr,Regina,Canada

2011-04-21T17:06:00.001-06:00

M2MS

What changes the quality of your life is not improved circumstances, rather a changed perspective (Philippians 2:5-8).

2011-02-15T08:12:00.004-06:00

M2MS

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." G. K. Chesterton

My life has been enriched by feeding on the thoughts of others through their writing. I have never lacked a mentor to give me guidance or a friend to share comfort. Reading has been a source of education as well as entertainment. The more I read the more I realize there is so much I have yet to learn and discover.

Of all the books I have read, the Holy Bible has had the greatest impact on my life. Through its words I have come to know the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Its penetrating wisdom has peeled back the external layers of pretense I have created over the years in order that I might become a person of true character. In a culture that pursues the acquisition of stuff, the Bible has informed and molded my desires towards the things that hold true and lasting value. Although I have read through it many times, I have never been bored by its stories and have yet to exhaust the wealth of its insights. This book is alive because its Author lives through it and transforms my life. I try to read it every day and meditate upon it through each day. My sons, I encourage you to make reading an important practice in your life, moreover, the Bible the most vital.

2011-01-18T10:51:00.004-06:00

M2MS

When you fall pick something up.

This pithy proverb speaks three lessons. First, a fall is inevitable. It says when you fall; not if you fall. We are born to blunder; that's our inheritance from Adam. Don't despair and give up; get up!

Second, when you find that you have chosen to walk down the wrong path, turn around! When you fall get back up! Although we all blunder, by God's grace, we are destined for for something better. That's our hope: we don't have to stay down and wallow in our failure. God has granted us an incredible gift for escaping the grip of our sins: repentance. This word may sound archaic; conjuring up an image of a grimacing young monk bent over in an act of self-flagellation. No, repentance is a beautiful picture. Like the prodigal son rescued from homelessness to honor; rags to riches; loneliness to lavish love. It's the picture of Ebenezer Scrooge transformed from a grumpy grasping fiend into a giddy giving friend.

Repentance is not something you do to gain God's favor. It is simply the act of changing your mind to return to the place of God's favor. It's a transformation of perspective about what got you down; about the wrong choices that you've made; that there is a better way to live.

Third, learn something from the failures in your life and make the necessary course corrections that will take you to the place of grace. Pick something up! Failure plus failure plus failure plus repentance and God's grace equals success.

2011-01-15T08:14:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday Josh!

Today is my son's 30th birthday. The day he was born was one of the happiest of my life. And I experience that happiness every time I am with him. There is a mutual respect and admiration between us. We talk freely about any topic, from love and leadership, to the Lord Jesus and faith, to cars and carpentry. And we are at ease to be silent and work together.

One of the greatest blessings in my life has been to watch my son grow and develop into a man; a godly man. He is becoming a man of Christlike character and faith. He loves his wife and he will be a good father.

My son has been a hero to me. At one of the lowest points in my life he opened his arms wide and welcomed us into his home; no questions, no conditions. He never criticized but he did challenge with truth and love.

I thank God for my son, Joshua Caleb.

"The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." (Proverbs 23:24)

2011-01-13T09:58:00.004-06:00

M2MS

"All our authority is derived. Either God gives us a word, or we are only giving opinions. either God vouches for us, or our credentials are forged. If anyone ever stops to listen to you or me, this had better be solidly in place: Our speaking comes out of our listening. What we say comes out of what we hear. We have to be people who listen, day and night, to God. (1 Peter 4:11)

"Carl Sandburg, in his biography of Abraham Lincoln, describes his childhood this way: 'In wilderness loneliness he companied with trees, with the faces of open sky and weather in changing seasons, with that individual one-man instrument, the ax. Silence found him for her own. In the making of him, the element of silence was immense.'

"What makes me? What makes you? What are the elements that shape us? . . . Silence is the condition for true listening. . . .

Henri Nouwen noted that the root of the word absurd is the Latin word for 'deaf,' surdus. Absurdness is deafness, where the voice that speaks truth in love, that wounds to heal, that gives clear guidance amidst many false enticements-that voice is lost in the cacophony. We cannot hear. We are deaf to it. For lack of silence, our lives are absurd." (Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God).

Over the past six months our life has been busy and hectic to say the least. With building a home and our work load as team drivers. There has been little time for quietness and silence. But God is faithful to get our attention. This past week we were back to work heading west with our first load when the truck slowing started to lose power and then stall. Seven hours later, at the Freightliner shop in North Bay, Ontario, we were told that the repairs would take a few days. Since we were only two hours drive from our home, we rented a car and headed for our cabin.

These few unexpected days off the road have been a rest from the business of our life. Here in this quiet place, I have intentionally set aside time to be quiet and listen for the voice of God. And I am beginning to understand that there is nothing of greater value and satisfaction in this life than to know the God who loves me and to hear him speak.

"Lord Jesus, . . .

Love brought thee from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave.

Love caused thee to be weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, buffeted, spat upon, crucified, and pierced.

Love lead thee to bow thy head in death. . . .

Thy love is not intermittent, cold, unchangeable; it does not cease or abate for all eternity. . . .

Let me see thy love everywhere, not only in the cross, but in the fellowship of believers and in the world around me.

When I feel the warmth of the sun may I praise thee who art the Sun of righteousness with healing power.

When I feel the tender rain may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul.

When I walk by the river side may I praise thee for that stream that makes the eternal city glad and washes white my robes that I may have the right to the tree of life.

Thy infinite love is a mystery of mysteries, and my eternal rest lies in the eternal enjoyment of it." (Love, The Valley of Vision, p. 161).

2010-12-06T09:24:00.002-06:00

M2MS

God is Lord of our journey; His purposes and His presence often come disguised detours, disasters and delays (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).

2010-11-23T09:46:00.001-06:00

M2MS

"The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." Proverbs 23:24

2010-11-20T17:19:00.000-06:00

M2MS

"My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered the interruptions were my work." Henry Nouwen

2010-11-08T07:33:00.001-06:00

M2MS

Don't allow yourself to be consumed by the things that feed the ego but starve the soul! (Matthew 6:33)

2010-11-05T09:32:00.003-06:00

M2MS

Don't be in a hurry getting to the next thing without fully engaging the thing in front of you. Haste makes waste!

2010-11-02T06:39:00.002-06:00

M2MS

Nothing really changes in your life until your mind does. Transformation is the result of a shift in outlook (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23).

2010-10-26T08:02:00.002-06:00

M2MS

Money has little value in the absence of wisdom (Proverbs 17:16).

2010-10-24T14:21:00.004-06:00

M2MS

Never abandon a clear for a doubtful command.

2010-10-22T12:20:00.003-06:00

Trucking Is Going to the Dogs

This pic was taken in the Husky parking lot in Calgary, AB. He sadly watched his master walk away from the truck.

2010-10-01T08:26:00.004-06:00

A World of Difference

Just read a great article that was recommended by my daughter, Amie, in her blog, A Small Part. It's a National Geographic piece from the September 2005 issue about the Mbuti Pygmiesof the Congo, in Central Africa. I found it significant since Amie and her husband are planning to go to Kenya, Africa, in 2011 to serve in a seminary for the training of African pastors. Anything I can absorb concerning the needs of this dark continent inspires me to pray for them.

Also we met a fellow driver a few weeks ago, who is from Sudan, East Africa. He has come to Canada as a war refugee. He too, is a follower of Jesus Christ. Listening to his story has motivated me to pray for this war-torn country. Here's a quote from the article that is indicative of the hopelessly violent situation:

"Africa is the most unpredictable continent in the world. Yet no African nation confronts a future so unscripted, so fraught with disaster and sheer possibility, as the misnamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. Will war resume and Congo shatter into smaller, squabbling states? Possibly. Can the frail but hopeful peace last, allowing Congo finally to put its fabulous riches to work? Conceivably. Everything is so unclear, so unfathomable. . . . But UN experts warn that more than 100,000 rebels, bandits, militiamen, soldiers, and assorted other killers have yet to disarm. And the ethnic and political rumbling along the rift won't likely stop with a mere presidential poll. So with astonishing patience and good humor, millions of people in the center of Africa hold their breath."

The only hope for the hopelessness of this situation is found in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. God bless all those who reach out to those who are trapped in the midst of darkness.

This is how the Mbuti men harvest trees from the Ituri forest.

This is how the DeGraaf men harvest trees on the Fourth Chute Road forest.

2010-10-01T08:06:00.004-06:00

M2MS

He could not believe because he would not obey (concerning the rich young ruler who refused to follow Jesus) (Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship). Submission is essential to faith.

2010-09-30T13:08:00.003-06:00

M2MS

A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it. (G. K. Chesterton)

2010-09-21T07:35:00.004-06:00

Godliness in Prosperity

There is a saying I heard many years ago that wisely observes, for every ten people who can handle adversity there is only one who can handle prosperity. I believe this is the great challenge of the North American church today, and particularly, my own life. Recently, I've been blessed and convicted by the writings of George Swinnock (1627-1673). He said, "He who is ever trading and thriving in godliness, need not fear that he shall prove a bankrupt." (Christian Man's Calling, 1:25). I fear that in spite of all the wealth and blessings of my life, I still remain poor in godliness. Oh, that God would fill my heart with a holy passion for Christ and an inescapable desire to do His will!

Swinnock has some good counsel for thriving in godliness in the midst of prosperity. He defines prosperity as, "a condition which consists in the fruition of outward good things, as health, strength, friends, riches, honours, and the like." Then he insightfully observes: "They are in themselves mercies for which we may pray with humble submission, and for which we must praise God with holy affection; but through the corruption of our hearts, they often prove prejudicial to holiness. Those fires which were made to warm us, do often black and burn us." He offers six directives on how we may grow in godliness in a life of many comforts.

First, be especially watchful against those sins which a prosperous state is most liable to. In particular, take heed of pride, confidence in personal abilities and accomplishments, and insensitivity to other's sufferings.

Second, evaluate yourself, not by your possessions in this world, but by your inheritance in the other world. Rate yourself by your treasure in heaven, by the pardon of your sins, by your investment in Christ, by His unfailing riches and righteousness.

Third, let God alone have the glory of outward mercies; it is God's bounty that fills your barns and banks, and therefore His glory must fill your heart.

Fourth, love God even more for the mercies He has given to you. . . . as fire which has fuel enough to burn of itself, flames out the more by having oil poured upon it, so the mercies which flow from God must increase that fire of your love, which is founded in, and abundantly fed by, those blessings that are in God.

Fifth, do God the more abundant service. The more wages men give, the more work they expect. Those that are rich in goods and wealth, must be rich in good works (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

Sixth, in prosperity, prepare for adversity. Summer will not last all year, therefore men provide for winter. Now God gives you health and wealth and strength, do your best to use these blessings to build a good foundation against the time of need.

May my heart be so affected with His blessings that I may be more abundant in my duty. With great privilege comes great responsibility.

2010-09-21T07:03:00.002-06:00

M2MS

To love involves great risk, but not to love is the greatest risk of all.

2010-09-16T17:06:00.002-06:00

Building a Home in the Woods

This is what we have been busy working at on our time off at home. Thankful for all the friends and family who came to help raise our little "barn." You can view more photos on our Flickr Photostream. Free tours, by appointment only.

2010-09-16T16:59:00.000-06:00

M2MS

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

2010-08-30T07:30:00.003-06:00

The Pursuit of Pleasure

In 2 Samuel 11, we find the story of David pursuing pleasure in an illicit relationship with Bethsheba. David sins and then commits further sin to cover his original sin. The chapter ends with this summary: "But the thing David had done displeased the LORD." (vs. 27). No matter how much pleasure I may receive from sin, it always displeases the LORD.

The ultimate question is, "Whose pleasure is more important, mine or God's?" Ironically, God desires my pleasure, and He offers it through an eternal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. His pleasure is that I might find my eternal pleasure in Him. And I can only find it in Him alone. David later wrote, "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11).

2010-08-30T07:15:00.003-06:00

M2MS

The habit of calm and serious thinking makes the real difference between one man and another.

2010-08-18T15:34:00.002-06:00

M2MS

Gratitude is recognizing and affirming your dependence on God and others - an act of humility that battles pride in your possessions and performance. Practice regular thanksgiving! (Ephesians 5:4)

2010-07-29T16:53:00.001-06:00

Day 7 Stranded in Madison, Wisconsin, but Trouble Soon Be Over

2010-07-27T08:21:00.004-06:00

M2MS

What John says about Jack, tells me more about John than it does about Jack. (Proverbs 11:13; 16:28)

2010-07-24T12:09:00.005-06:00

A Picture of the Faithfulness of God

A full rainbow in Whitecourt, Alberta.

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the everlasting covenant between me and the earth. . . . Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." Genesis 9:13, 16.

2010-07-24T11:47:00.004-06:00

M2MS

Every crisis in your life can make you stronger.

I believe this happens by increasing our capacity for trusting God. True strength must come from God. Recently we experienced a crisis in which we had very little control, but God was in total control of our lives! While driving south on Interstate 39 in Wisconson on Thursday, we encountered a terrible thunderstorm. Suddenly we were hit by lightning. We lost all power in the truck and Denise pulled safely to the shoulder. All the electrical was burned up except the emergency flashers! So we have been in Madison since waiting for repairs. The truck shop cannot check out our truck until Monday, so I guess we'll be here till at least Tuesday. God is in control!!! I don't understand his plan, but I do know that He is good and great, and so I trust Him do what is best for His glory in our lives. That's all that matters and that's where true lastly joy is. This morning I read in Romans 5:4, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

2010-07-16T14:16:00.007-06:00

Gollumized or Eutacised?

Gollum was a Hobbit. But something happened to him. Hobbits are as a rule good-natured folk, hospitable and delighted in parties and in presents, which they gave away freely and eagerly accepted. They had red cheeks, bright eyes and thick curly brown hair on feet and head. When Bilbo met him he was anything but a Hobbit; rather a monster: thin, black-skinned, flatfooted, with sparse hair, long thin hands and bulging eyes. In Tolkien's words, "he was a loathsome little creature."

What happened to bring about such a dramatic transformation? He set his affection on the Ring. And the One Ring, the Great Ring, the Ruling Ring of power overtook him and disfigured him. He called it his "precious." He worshiped it and it eventually consumed him and ultimately destroyed him.

Gollum's debauched life is a vivid picture of what happens when I set my heart on anything in this world. His disordered love did him in. Because of his obsession with the ring, Gollum was no longer what he was supposed to be. The same distortion happens in my life every time I set my heart on the things of this life rather than Jesus Christ. Augustine said disordered love leads to a disordered life. I am in peril of becoming "gollumized" (David Naugle's word in Reordered love, Reordered Lives).

Eustace Clarence Scrubb was Edmund and Lucy's disagreeable nine-year-old cousin (in C. S. Lewis's Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Eustace was a disgruntled, self-centered little lad. The cousins found themselves transported to the land of Narnia as participants in a rescue mission aboard the ship, Dawn Treader. At one stop on an island, Eustace wanders off alone and stumbles into the lair of a fire-breathing dragon. To his delight the dragon was not only dead but had also left his entire fortune of gold and precious jewels to him. He drifts off to sleep but when he awakens he realizes that something shocking had occurred during his nap: his true inner state had manifested itself in his outward appearance. He had been transformed into an ugly, scaly monster.

Eustace was devastated. He wanted desperately to become "undragoned" and become human again. He pleaded for help but no one was able to help - until the great Lion appeared to him. Aslan led him to a mountain pool and told him to wash in it. But first he must remove his leathery skin for the waters to work their magic. Eustace tries but eventually Aslan has to tear his thick scales off with his sharp claws and this is excruciatingly painful. Then the Lion places Eustace in the pool, bathes him and clothes him in a new suit.

I am prone to chase after the stuff of this world, but by God's grace I have been "eustacised" (my word). My cure from the distortion of disordered loves begins when "God as the Great Physician applies the medicine of the cross to the disease of my sin and nurses me through the love of the Holy Spirit into good health according to the prescriptions of His word." (Naugle, 147). His love, through the cross of Christ, transforms my love and reorders my life. I become a worshiper rather than an idolater.

Ideas for this refection comes from my reading of David K. Naugle's Reordered Love, Reordered Lives: Learning the Deep Meaning of Happiness.

2010-07-01T10:13:00.006-06:00

Eucatastrophe

I have experienced a "eucatastrophe." J. R. R. Tolkien coined this word in his essay, "On Fairy-Stories." He used the word to describe a "good catastrophe" of a "sudden and miraculous grace." For me the word describes a "blessed disaster." It is an event in my life that, though painful, is intended to bring about a glorious transformation.

Jonah experienced a eucatastrophe when he found himself on a ship in a violent storm, thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish (Jonah 1). God sent a blessed disaster to expose the prophet's pride and prejudice.

In my case, three years ago God removed from me the thing in which I had placed all my worth and identity: Ministry. In the process of the violent storm God exposed the ugly sins of pride and selfishness, lust and covetousness in my heart. But for His "sudden and miraculous grace" I would have given up everything important in my life to hold onto my idol of ministry. In His mercy, God removed the blinders of pride from my heart and revealed that my identity was based on what I did rather than what he has done for me.

I haven't arrived yet. The journey of glorious change is not finished. And it won't be done until I have reached Home with my Saviour. I still have strongholds of pride and lust in my life. And God continues to bring eucatastrophes into my life. He will faithfully strip away every false value from my heart until I find His Son, Jesus Christ, to be my one and only true treasure. And so I thank God for the "blessed disasters" in my life.

2010-06-30T12:00:00.000-06:00

M2MS

Give money and possessions away and you will remain master over them.

2010-06-24T06:57:00.002-06:00

M2MS

The journey of faith is not about finding your freedom, rather it is about finding your true Master. (Matthew 16:24-26)

2010-06-21T08:29:00.004-06:00

Hazards of the Journey of Faith

Our job requires that we are sometimes assigned freight that is considered 'hazmat' (hazardous materials). The law demands that we go through certain procedures to ensure that the freight is handled in the most secure way in order to protect the public and the environment. One requirement is 'placarding', or labeling the substance contained in our trailer.

I wish temptation came with such clear warnings about the potential dangers of pursuing its appeals. I was reading the story of Samson and Delilah (Judges 16) this morning and was reminded of the deceptive and relentless nature of temptation. The ultimate goal of Delilah's appeals was the destruction of her 'lover'. And she wrapped her invitations with 'love' (v.15) and persistence (v.16). All the while, Samson follows her blindly down a path to his own destruction. Such is the nature of all temptation: the world and the enemy of our souls wraps temptation in glittering tinsel that appeals to our basic desires for security and happiness. Then they constantly bombards us with their 'BS'! "And with such nagging they prod us day after day until we are tired to death" (my paraphrase of v. 16).

Two things are necessary if I am to overcome: constant vigilance and dependence. I must be on my guard against the lies of the enemy and I must depend upon Christ for strength (Ephesians 6:10-12). Only in relying on Christ as my Saviour can I find power to win the battle and only in pursuing Him as my Treasure can I see clearly the 'BS' of temptations.

Thank you Jesus for your salvation, truth, protection to overcome sin and your forgiveness when I yield to its lies and destruction.

2010-06-21T08:07:00.003-06:00

M2MS

We are at war and the enemy is not like us - he's better! We need God's help. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

2010-06-12T11:30:00.005-06:00

Misunderstanding

Recently we did a two week pilot program of driving team for a dedicated customer. We were shipping grocery and fresh produce from Ajax, ON to Montreal, QC. Navigating through the Montreal area is a challenge to say the least. I found myself constantly being critical of other's driving skills. How easy it is to find fault rather than show compassion.

Karl Menninger wrote with keen insight: "When a trout rising to a fly gets hooked on a line and finds himself unable to swim about freely, he begins with a fight which results in struggles and splashes and sometimes an escape. Often, of course, the situation is too tough for him. In the same way the human being struggles with his environment and with the hooks that catch him. Sometimes he masters his difficulties; sometimes they are too much for him. His struggles are all the world sees and it naturally misunderstands them. It is hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one."

God, give me your eyes so that I might see people with your compassion and understanding; ready to respond with forgiveness and grace.

2010-06-12T11:06:00.002-06:00

M2MS

The journey of faith is not about being a good leader, rather a faithful servant: someone who expends himself for the good of others (Mark 10:43-45).

2010-06-04T04:38:00.007-06:00

DTMBG

It happened again the other day. I had our day planned out perfectly: pick up freight in Ajax, ON. at 04:30; deliver two stops in Montreal by 12:00; back to Ajax by 18:00; be at my brother's home in Whitby, ON. for a family get-together by 18:30. Well, we didn't get back to Ajax until 00:45 the next day! Our freight wasn't ready for pickup in Ajax until 07:00; when we arrived at our first stop there was six trucks waiting to be unloaded; five hours later we were at our second stop in Montreal; and then we contended with Montreal evening rush hour traffic!

This kind of situation has a special reference for us: DTMBG. This is how it all began. About a year ago, we were assigned back-to-back loads from Cambridge, ON. to Lethbridge, AB. and return to Cambridge. This was a windfall: a potential 4,200 miles! We were rejoicing in our financial blessing. Until we received a message that both loads had been cancelled and we were assigned a relay load from our Aberfoyle, ON. operating center to a small town in Massachusetts: one way 440 miles and no return load. The freight was due for delivery to a construction site at 08:00 on Monday morning. This meant that we would drive eight hours and then wait for 20 hours until our delivery appointment. After delivering the cargo we waited another 12 hours for our next load assignment.

I struggled with the lose of a potential $1,200 pay. I was angry with my employer, the customer and other drivers on the road. Then I began to reflect upon what God might be doing in our situation. I remembered a sermon that I had heard on the Desiring God podcast. John Piper was preaching from the fourth chapter of John's Gospel about Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. He said that God had a "million billion reasons" for that appointment. As sovereign Lord of all times and events, he weaves together all of the situations of every single living creature into a beautiful tapestry that brings glory to Himself. My fault is found in focusing only on the single thread that involves my personal interests. God spoke His gentle rebuke to my heart for loving money more than Him. These disordered values are often only revealed when God graciously withholds them from me. He alone is to be my treasure and joy.

And so, whenever our plans are blocked, we use a special reference to remind us that "our times are in His hands" (Psalm 31:15): DTMBG, "Dispatched to Massachusetts by God." He claims ownership over every creature and circumstance, restoring all things to himself for His glory and our good. Or as Abraham Kuyper puts it, "There is not a square inch in the whole dominion of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, 'Mine!'"

The photos above are of us parked at the construction site in Westfield, Massachusetts. As I was looking at the photos I realized that we were parked next to a historical building where they used to manufacture horse whips. The parallel to my situation was incredible: God was graciously disciplining me to keep me on track with His values and purposes. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:4-12).

2010-06-03T15:07:00.002-06:00

M2MS

People measure wealth by what is stored in banks and barns; God by what is stored in the heart (Luke 12:13-21).

2010-05-26T06:30:00.006-06:00

That Which I Pursue Will Ultimately Have Me

One of my favorite classic stories is Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Captain Ahab lost his leg to a whale and spends the rest of his life searching for the beast, consumed with vengeance. I've watched the 1956 movie version a few times and in it the final battle with the great white whale is the most gripping scene.

Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab makes a last-ditch effort to harpoon his obsession. The harpoon strikes the whale, but unbeknown to Ahab the rope is wrapped around his leg. As the whale lunges in response to the piercing of the harpoon, Ahab is dragged overboard into the deep. The violent thrashing of the whale increasingly entangle the pitiable sailor and the beast. The last image of Ahab is a helpless soul lashed by his own devices of his obsession, disappearing forever into the churning oblivion.

The imagery is hauntingly clear. A person will ultimately be consumed by that which he pursues. Proverbs 11:27 says, "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it." To seek the Lord is to find eternal life; but to make anything else in this world my passion will only lead to my destruction.

2010-05-26T06:17:00.002-06:00

M2MS

God considers good deeds more attractive than good clothes (1 Timothy 2:9-10). What are you known for - good looks or good works? Clothing or character?

2010-05-18T04:42:00.005-06:00

Thank You Jesus

I was introduced to an inspiring blog this past weekend. It is entitled, Thank You Jesus. Written by an friend who through many trials has found much strength and hope in expressing gratitude to Jesus. As I read his reflections about the simple blessings of life received from God's gracious hands (The Bottom Line), I was reminded of the words of another follower of Jesus.

Helen Keller, who became blind & deaf at a very early age, wrote in her autobiography: "For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that he brought me knowledge of His works; deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to - a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song." She claimed that so much had been given to her that she had no time to think about what had been denied her. O God, nurture this heavenly perspective in my heart!

2010-05-16T18:33:00.010-06:00

The Divine Transcendence of Forgiveness

A Human Being Died that Night: A South African Story of Forgiveness, is a book about the hatred and violence that plagued the Apartheid years of South Africa. How would they deal with the past in a way that would break the cycles of violence and restore peace? the journey of healing a broken nation involved the intentional process of bringing victims and the perpetrators of violence together in a series of controlled hearings called The Truth and Reconciliation Commission. the hearings were intended to be opportunities for confrontation, confession and ultimately forgiveness and reconciliation. In most legal procedures the goal is justice, not reconciliation, and therefore the victims are excluded.

One of the perpetrators stands out as the man whom many in the country considered the most brutal of Apartheid's covert police operations. Eugene de Kock was the behind-the-scenes engineer of hundreds of murderous operations. His sinister reputation earned him the nickname "Prime Evil."

At the very first hearing he confessed to planning and executing the murder of three black policemen in a car bombing. The widows of two of the murdered policemen were present and testified how their lives had been affected by the lose of their husbands. As de Kock finished his testimony he apologized to the widows for the wrong he had done. With tears in his eyes and his body shaking, he said with a breaking voice, "I wish I could do more than say I'm sorry. I wish there was a way of bringing their bodies back alive. I wish I could say here are your husbands," stretching out his arms as if bearing an invisible body. His hands trembling; his mouth quivering.

After the meeting both women said that they felt that de Kock had communicated to them something he felt deeply and had genuinely acknowledged their pain. Pearl Faku said, "I was profoundly touched by him. I couldn't control my tears. I could hear him, but I was overwhelmed by emotion, I was just nodding, as a way of saying 'yes, I forgive you.' I hope that when he sees our tears, he knows that they are not only tears for our husbands, but tears for him as well. . . . I would like to hold him by the hand, and show him that there is a future, and that he can still change."

Whenever there was a response like this at a public hearing of the commission, Archbishop Desmond Tutu would be compelled to call for silence "because we are standing on holy ground." there was something divinely transcendent about forgiveness. The example, motivation and ability to forgive comes from God.

2010-05-15T20:17:00.004-06:00

Why Should I Give When Our Culture Puts Great Importance on Getting.

1. It is a means of greater personal blessing. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35).

2. It is a way of godliness; I imitate God. I am never more like God than when I give, for God gave his One and Only Son that I might have life (John 3:16).

3. I master my money and possessions by exercising control over them as I give them away; rather than being mastered by them (Matthew 6:24).

4. I give joy to others in this discontented culture.

5. God commands me to give and therefore he enables me to do it (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

6. My giving stimulates gratitude in a greedy culture.

7. My giving will bring glory to God (2 Corinthians 9:12-15).

2010-05-15T20:11:00.002-06:00

M2MS

When you forgive you set a prisoner free and then you discover that the prisoner was you.

2010-05-14T21:40:00.006-06:00

A Cure for Bitterness

"I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for who Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner. This is a happy discovery for the Christian who begins to pray for others. There is no dislike, no personal tension, no estrangement that cannot be overcome by intercession as far as our side of it is concerned. . . . How does this happen? Intercession means no more than to bring our brother into the presence of God, to see him under the cross of Jesus as a poor human being and sinner in need of grace. Then everything in him that repels us falls away; we see him in all his destitution and need. His need and his sin become so heavy and oppressive that we feel them as our own, and we can do nothing else but pray: Lord, do Thou, Thou alone, deal with him according to Thy severity and Thy goodness. To make intercession means to grant our brother the same right that we have received, namely, to stand before Christ and share in His mercy."

Dietrich Bonoeffer, Life Together.

2010-05-09T08:23:00.006-06:00

The Sin-Eater

In his novel, Master and Commander, Patrick O'Brien introduces a very minor character aboard the ship, Sophie, who is rejected violently by his shipmates. In a transparent moment he reflects that he was a sin-eater back in his home town. Upon the revelation of this news the whole crew turns hostile on the unfortunate sailor. They ostracize him and physically harm him. He eventually ends up in the care of the ship surgeon, who is frustrated because the man has refused to eat or drink.

He discovers the significance of his previous role and the reason for the crews enmity for him. It was the common practice to call for an individual, usually a beggar, to come to the wake of a deceased person. A relative would place a piece of bread on the chest of the corpse which would be taken and eaten by the beggar, the act of which would remove the sin from the dead and place it upon himself. Hence the term, "sin-eater." The beggar received a small fee for his service and as he left the presence of the family and friends of the deceased, he would be spit upon as well as stones and abuse hurled at him. This ritual was believed to make atonement for the sins of the dead person and ensure safe passage into heaven.

This ritual is a picture of the perfect sin-eater Jesus Christ. Who, though Himself sinless, took on the sins of the whole world and the wrath of God. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid portrait of the suffering sin-eater in chapter 53: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Peter quotes this Old Testament prophecy and applies it to Jesus Christ's crucifixion: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24). However, he makes the application that the Saviour's act is for our victory in this life over the sins that enslave us; liberating us to live a life of righteousness. Thanks be to God for giving us the ultimate Sin-eater!

2010-05-04T15:48:00.005-06:00

Congrats to the Grad!

We are very proud of our son-in-law, Jonathan. This past weekend he graduated with his Masters degree from Briercrest Seminary. He has worked so hard these past three years and is growing into a godly man and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ. Our daughter, Amie, has been a great encouragement and she deserves congratulations as well. May God bless and lead as they enter another stage of their life of faith together. They are preparing to serve in a teaching ministry at a college in Kenya, Africa. To learn more about what God is doing in their lives, you can read their blog at http://jachalmers.blogspot.com/

2010-04-30T12:34:00.008-06:00

Reading about Worldliness

"Many of the distinctions separating Christian conduct from 'worldly conduct' have been challenged if not altogether undermined. Even the words worldly and worldliness have, within a generation, lost most of their traditional meaning." James Davison Hunter, Evangelicalism and the Coming Generation.

"I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church." Charles H. Spurgeon

Put your finger on any prosperous page in the church's history, and I will find a little marginal note reading thus: 'In this age men could readily see where the church began and where the world ended.' Never were there good times when the church and the world were joined in marriage with one another. The more the church is distinct from the world in her acts and in her maxims, the more true is her testimony for Christ, and the more potent is her witness against sin." Charles H. Spurgeon

"Worldliness is a love for this fallen world. It's loving the values and pursuits of the world that stand opposed to God. More specifically, it is to gratify and exalt oneself to the exclusion of God. It rejects God's rule and replaces it with our own. It exalts our opinions above God's truth. It elevates our sinful desires for the things of this fallen world above God's commands and promises." C. J. Mahaney, Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.

"The goal of worldly people is to move forward rather than upward, to live horizontally rather than vertically. They seek after outward prosperity rather than holiness. They burst with selfish desires rather than heartfelt supplications. If they do not deny God, they ignore and forget Him, or else they use Him only for their selfish ends. Worldliness . . . is human nature without God. Joel Beeke, Overcoming the World: Grace to Win the Daily Battle.

"Worldliness is departing from God. It is a man-centered way of thinking; it proposes objectives which demand no radical breach with man's fallen nature; it judges the importance of things by the present and material results; it weighs success by numbers; it covets human esteem and wants no unpopularity; it knows no truth for which it is worth suffering; it declines to be 'a fool for Christ's sake.'" Iain Murray, Evangelicalism Divided: A Record of Crucial Change in the Years 1950 to 2000.

"[Worldliness] exists in our hearts. Worldliness does not consist in outward behavior, though our actions can certainly be an evidence of worldliness within. But the real location of worldliness is internal. . . . We see this by looking closely at [1 John 2:16]." C. J. Mahaney, Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.

"The worldly characteristics . . . are in fact reactions going on inside of us, as we contemplate the environment outside." David Jackman, The Message of John's Letters.

"The antidote to worldliness is the cross of Jesus Christ. Only through the power of the cross of Christ can we successfully resist the seduction of the fallen world. The Savior's death on the cross is what makes possible forgiveness of sin and provides power to overcome sin. And the cross is the attraction that draws our hearts away from the empty and deadly pleasures of worldliness." C. J. Mahaney, Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.

"When someone sets his affections upon the cross and the love of Christ, he crucifies the world as a dead and undesirable thing. The baits of sin lose their attraction and disappear. Fill your affections with the cross of Christ and you will find no room for sin." John Owen, Sin and Temptation.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace."

Helen Howarth Lemmel, hymn published 1922.

2010-04-29T07:07:00.004-06:00

M2MS

Faith will never grow stronger apart from the stress of endurance. The problems of life exercise the muscle of faith (James 1:2-4)

2010-04-16T18:56:00.002-06:00

Don't Lose Sight of the Cross!

"Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, 'I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.' Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size" [John Stott, The Message of Galatians (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968), 179

2010-04-15T14:45:00.002-06:00

M2MS

"One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving." (Amy Carmichael) (1 John 3:16-18)

2010-04-12T04:59:00.005-06:00

The Good an the Bad

Pride is insidiously deceptive. I have discovered that even when I do what is good and right I am prone to self-centeredness. This reality was graphically illustrated to me recently while listening to Robert Lewis Stevenson's The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In reflecting on my own life, it turns out that the case was not so strange after all.

Dr. Jekyll comes to the self-discovery that he has two opposing impulses at work within him: good and evil. Furthermore, his bad nature is holding his good nature back. And so, he develops a potion that can separate the good from the bad. His intention is to free the good self from the influence of the bad self and then he will be able to accomplish all of his good goals. However, upon taking the potion, he comes to the realization that his bad side is far more evil than he expected and he is irresistibly drawn to the evil more than the good. He says,

"I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil; and the thought in that moment, braced and delighted me like wine . . . [Edward Hyde's] every act and thought centered on self."

Dr. Jekyll's confession reminds me of the Apostle Paul's struggle and my own: "I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. . . . I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:14-15, 17-18).

Jekyll, determined to overcome his evil inclinations of self-centeredness and pride, resolves not to take the potion anymore. He devotes himself to charity and good works in an attempt to defeat his selfish nature and atone for the wrong Edward Hyde has done.

However, something strange happens while he is alone on a park bench reflecting on all the good he has been doing and how much better a man he was than most people.

"I resolved in my future conduct to redeem the past; and I can say with honesty that my resolve was fruitful of some good. You know how earnestly, in the last months of the last year, I labored to relieve suffering; you know that much was done for others. . . . [But as] I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active good will with the lazy cruelty of their neglect . . . at the very moment of that vain-glorious thought, a qualm came over me, a horrid nausea and the most dreadful shuddering. . . . I looked down. . . . I was once more Edward Hyde."

For the first time Jekyll becomes Hyde without the potion. This realization that he is unable to control his transformations leads him to despair and suicide. Why would Jekyll become Hyde without the potion? Like so many of us, Jekyll knows he is a sinner, so he tries desperately to cover his sin with good works. Yet his efforts do not actually diminish his pride and self-centeredness, they only aggravate it. They stir up within him prejudice, self-righteousness and pride. The transformation occurs because of his goodness.

The good news is that there is a powerful principle available to overcome the deceitfulness of self-righteousness - it is through the renewing power of the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ has broken the bondage of sin and death upon our lives by his death and resurrection. By grace he has imparted his righteousness to us by the presence of his Spirit in our lives. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2).

2010-04-12T04:52:00.002-06:00

M2MS

To be clever enough to get all the money, one must be stupid enough to want it. (G.K.Chesterton) (1 Timothy 6:10)

2010-04-05T04:52:00.002-06:00

M2MS

Spend some time in a cemetery. It will remind you of your own mortality. (Psalm 39:5)

2010-04-04T17:39:00.002-06:00

Easter Morning Sunrise in Edmonton

We had some time off while we were in Edmonton on Easter Sunday. So we went to a church with a big enough parking lot to park our rig. God blessed us as we worshiped at North Point Community Church. He even had a trucker sit right beside us.

2010-04-04T17:33:00.002-06:00

My King Lives. Do You Know Him?

2010-03-31T02:40:00.002-06:00

If I Had Only Known You Better

Lord, I crawled across the barrenness

To You with my empty cup

Uncertain of asking

any small drop of refreshment.

If only I had known You better

I'd have come running with a bucket.

Nancy Spiegelberg & Dorothy Purdy in Fanfare: A Celebration of Belief

2010-03-30T08:18:00.005-06:00

Is God Self-Centered?

I have struggled with this question. God demands that his creatures give Him undivided worship and yet, when we humans have the desire for personal glory, He condemns us for being self-absorbed. The only way I have been able to justify this command is that He alone is worthy of such loyalty as the supreme being in the whole universe. All life finds its origin in Him, therefore all life should look to Him with complete devotion.

In reading Tim Keller's book, The Reason for God, he has helped me to see that I have understood this question simply from a monotheistic perspective. "Christianity alone among the world faiths, teaches that God is triune. the doctrine of the Trinity is that God is one being who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The trinity means that God is, in essence, relational."

The Scripture describes these three persons living eternally in a community of mutual honour and joy. John especially paints a portrait of intimacy within the divine community (1:18; 16:14; 17:4-5). What does John mean when he says that the Father, Son, and Holy spirit glorify one another? "If we think of it graphically, we could say that self-centeredness is to be stationary, static. In self-centeredness we demand that others orbit around us. We will do things and give affection to others, as long as it helps us meet our personal goals and fulfills us.

"The inner life of the triune God, however, is utterly different. the life of the Trinity is characterized not by self-centeredness but by mutually self-giving love. When we delight and serve someone else, we enter into a dynamic orbit around him or her, we center on the interests and desires of the other. That creates a dance, particularly if there are three persons, each of whom move around the other two. So it is, . . . each person of the Trinity loves, adores, defers to, and rejoices in the others. That creates a dynamic, pulsating dance of joy and love."

This truth has profound implications. "If God is triune, then loving relationships in community are the 'great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very center of reality.' (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity). . . Ultimate reality is a community of persons who know and love one another. That is what the universe, God, history, and life is all about. If you favour money, power, and accomplishment over human relationships, you will dash yourself on the rocks of reality. . . . You will never get a sense of self by standing still, as it were, and making everything revolve around your needs and interests. Unless you are willing to experience the loss of options and the individual limitation that comes from being in committed relationships, you will remain out of touch with your own nature and the nature of things. . . . The world was made by a God who is a community of persons who have loved each other for all eternity. You were made for mutually self-giving, other-directed love. Self-centeredness destroys the fabric of what God has made."

Moreover, there is a greater personal significance in this truth. "Jonathan Edwards, in reflecting on the interior life of the triune God, concluded that God is infinitely happy. . . . because there is an 'other-orientation' at the heart of his being, because he does not seek his own glory but the glory of others."

This idea creates an apparent conflict with the many references in Scripture to God calling us to glorify and serve Him. The answer is resolved in the reason for this demand. "He wants our joy! He has infinite happiness not through self-centeredness, but through self-giving, other-centered love. And the only way we, who have been created in his image, can have this same joy, is if we center our entire lives around him instead of ourselves. . . . God did not create us to get the cosmic, infinite joy of mutual love and glorification, but to share in it. We were made to join in the dance. . . . We were made to center our lives upon him, to make the purpose and passion of our lives knowing, serving, delighting, and resembling him. This growth in happiness will go eternally, increasing unimaginably (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)."

2010-03-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

M2MS

The rich will need to live more simply so that the poor may simply live. (Proverbs 31:8-9)

2010-03-23T05:00:00.003-06:00

Do Not Be Discouraged by Your Feeble Progress

"No one in this earthly prison of the body has sufficient strength to press on with due eagerness and weakness so weighs down the greater number that, with wavering and limping and even creeping along the ground, they move at a feeble rate. Each one of us, then, proceed according to the measure of his puny capacity and set out on the journey we have begun. No one shall set out so inauspiciously as not daily to make some headway, though it be slight. Therefore, let us not cease so to act that we may make some unceasing progress in the way of the Lord. And let us not despair at the slightness of our success, for even though attainment may not correspond to desire, when today outstrips yesterday the effort is not lost. Only let us look toward our mark with sincere simplicity and aspire to our goal not fondly flattering ourselves nor excusing our own evil deeds, but with continuous effort striving toward this end: that we may surpass ourselves in goodness until we attain to goodness itself. It is this, indeed, that through the whole course of life we seek and follow. But we shall attain it only when we have cast off the weakness of the body and are received into full fellowship with him."

John Calvin, Institutes 3.6.5

2010-03-22T06:12:00.002-06:00

M2MS

Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Stephen R. Covey (Philippians 2:4)

2010-03-21T22:08:00.002-06:00

Smoke by George MacDonald

Lord, I have laid my heart upon thy altar

But cannot get the wood to burn;

It hardly flares ere it begins to falter

And to the dark return.

Old sap, or night-fallen dew, makes damp the fuel;

In vain my breath would flame provoke;

Yet see - at every poor attempt's renewal

To thee ascends the smoke.

'Tis all I have - smoke, failure, foiled endeavour,

Coldness and doubt and palsied lack:

Such as I have I send thee! - perfect Giver,

Send thou thy lightning back.

"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2010-03-20T08:03:00.003-06:00

M2MS

Whatever you can do with a clean conscience, you can do to the glory of God. No work is so menial that it cannot be rendered as worship. Mark Buchanan in The Rest of God. (Colossians 3:23-24). I drive truck for Jesus.

2010-03-19T09:51:00.003-06:00

M2MS

Life's a journey, some paths have deep ruts and are very difficult to abandon. Choose wisely! (Colossians 3:1-3)

2010-03-19T08:31:00.004-06:00

A Story of Personal Sacrifice

The stories that always seem to move us most deeply are those in which someone faces irremediable loss or death in order to bring life to someone else. John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meaney is another example of this motivating genre.

It's the story of two friends who grow up in a small town in New Hampshire. One of them, Owen Meaney, is peculiar by his smallness in physical stature, squeeky voice and quirky personality. His whole life is relentlessly moving toward a destiny of personal sacrifice. Irving portrays him as a prophet and ultimately as a messiah. The book is intriguing as the events of Owen's life all move toward a redeeming purpose: he sacrifices his life in order to rescue others. As imperfect as he is, his destiny is fulfilled.

A sub-theme that runs through the book is, for lack of a better description, "armlessness." The native chief who sells his land to the founder of Grave's End, NH, is represented by the graphic of a armless totem pole. Owen removes the arms of the statue of Mary Magdelene. Ultimately, Owen loses both of his arms in his fearless act of heroism.

The story is very moving. It stirs within me a desire to do something of worth in this world; to expend myself for the good of others. However, I find it difficult to follow through with my resolution to live more courageously. My heart's basic patterns stay the same. I am still driven by selfishness and the need for the approval of others. As long as these fears and needs have power over me, all my intentions to change will never be accomplished.

But the Gospel is a different story. it is not just another moving fiction. It is the true story of us. I am the one who is in peril and Jesus has come to give his life to rescue me. Despite my unwillingness to be saved he has taken my place. When I think of what Jesus has done for me I find transforming and liberating strength and inspiration for personal change. The fear and pride that enslave my heart is dislodged. I am humbled by the necessity of his sacrifice. I am thankful and joyful for his desire to willingly give his life in exchange for mine.

The Gospel is unique because Jesus' death is not the end of the story. He is not dead and armless. A Prayer for Owen Meaney concludes with the narrator's longing to have Owen back. He will forever remain an armless dead hero. In Contrast, Jesus is alive and forever remains the one "who holds the seven stars in his right hand" (Revelation 2:1), and the one "who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open" (Revelation 3:7), and the one who "is able to open the scroll and its seven seals" (Revelation 5:5), etc. It is he who Moses refers to with his glorious benediction, "The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27).

2010-03-17T18:00:00.006-06:00

M2MS

Remember in the dark, what you've learned in the light. (Psalm 119:105).

2010-03-15T03:20:00.003-06:00

M2MS

Life is a journey, not an event. God works in you and others slowly. So slowly, that unless you reflect back, you will never notice the changes.

2010-03-04T06:42:00.003-06:00

M2MS

"There are many angles at which a man may fall, but there is only one angle at which he can stand straight." G.K.Chesterton (Matt. 7:13-14)

2010-02-22T20:21:00.004-06:00

M2MS

Without the breath of God man remains mud. (Galatians 2:20)

2010-02-19T13:47:00.003-06:00

M2MS

Faith is resting in the faithfulness of God. Your faith will falter but His faithfulness will never fail.

This photo of a Canadian Prairie sunrise reminded me of the assuring words of the prophet Jeremiah: "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." (Lamentations 3:21-26)

2010-02-12T10:15:00.003-06:00

M2MS

You are never more like God than when you give of yourself, for God gave us His One and Only Son. (John 3:16)

2010-02-10T08:48:00.005-06:00

Calculating God

Just completed reading (listening to) a novel by Robert J. Sawyer: Calculating God. It's a Sci-Fi story about aliens who visit earth on a search for God. The aliens have discovered scientific proof of the existence of god and are on a galactic expedition to find clues that will lead to his whereabouts. One of the visitors is a paleontologist, Hollis, who lands his space craft at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) in order to collaborate with a human counterpart. He is introduced to Thomas Jericho who is a scholar on vertebrate fossils. Hollis is bewildered that Thomas, who is an atheist, cannot accept the existence of an intelligent designer of the universe. In one key intercourse Hollis challenges Thomas that his conclusions are based on more than empirical evidence; it is possible that he is being influenced by something else.

Hollis - "What sort of evidence would convince you that there is a god?"

Thomas - "A smoking gun . . .incontrovertible evidence . . . that's what I want . . . indisputable proof."

Hollis - "There is no indisputable proof for the Big Bang and there is none for evolution and yet you accept those. Why hold the question of whether there is a creator to a higher standard?"

Thomas thought, "I didn't have a good answer for that."

Thomas - "All I know is that it will take overwhelming evidence to convince me."

Hollis - "I believe you already have been given overwhelming evidence."

2010-02-10T07:23:00.003-06:00

M2MS

When two elephants fight the grass gets trampled. (African proverb). Don't leave conflict unresolved; it will hurt many others. (Romans 12:18).

2010-02-04T11:32:00.003-06:00

We Are Like Sheep

We took this photo as we drove through Jasper National Park in Alberta. A herd of mountain sheep had wandered onto the road to get their daily dose of salt. The Trans-Canada highway is the world's longest salt lick! The sheep were so absorbed with their desire for salt that they were completely oblivious to the danger that they had placed themselves in. They didn't even flinch when we blew our truck horn! As I reflected on this situation I was reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

When we think about sheep, we get a warm, fuzzy feeling: white, fleecey, soft, cuddly animals that are fun to be with. But when the Bible compares us to sheep it’s really a spiritual insult. the prophet does not use the comparison in a positive way. Two observations emerge from this analogy

A. Like sheep we need to be rescued – we are lost.

Sheep are notoriously single-minded and at the same time unaware of their circumstances. Their minds are on the next clump of grass and not much else. They have been known to eat their way onto the edge of a steep cliff and fall off to their peril. Furthermore, when they are frightened they have a tendency to bolt off in any direction. As a result of these two tendencies, sheep are prone to get lost. Like them, we humans seem not to be much aware of the consequences of our choices.

We tried raising sheep on when we lived on a small property on Breadalbane Rd. We bought a sheep and named her Patty. I had this great idea. Sheep like grass and we have lots of it. Why not use Patty to keep our lawn cut. Put a collar on her and tethered her to a post. She would eat the grass in a spot for a few days and then I would move her to another stop on the lawn, eventually trimming all of the lawn. Problem was Patty only ate grass at the end of her tether. What we ended up with was a lawn with many 30 foot circles. Patty was not content to eat the grass provided for her but wanted the stuff beyond her reach. Like you and I, she was prone to wander.

We were created to live on our Creator. We were meant to feed on the LORD alone. But we take the deepest longings of our soul and focus them on something. If it’s anything or anyone else than God – that’s idolatry. And we will always end up hungry. We are replacing something else for God.

B. Like sheep we are helplessly lost.

A sheep can contribute nothing to its rescue. The shepherd has to do everything. This is traditionally called the doctrine of original sin. We are all born in sin that we inherit from our parents. Children are not born innocent and then we teach them to do wrong. And the doctrine of the total depravity of man teaches that we are utterly lost in our sin and can do nothing to rescue ourselves. Like sheep, we can’t even see our lostness and peril. Hebrews 3:13, warns against the callousness that results from sins deceitfulness. Sin has a deceptive effect on us: we can’t see our own sin; and further, sin has a hardening effect on us: we become insensitive to it.

Like sheep we are hopelessly and helplessly lost in our sin! It would not help to send a great teacher or example that we could follow to reform ourselves. The problem is not lack of information. Jesus said, God has sent the prophets and you killed them all. We must be saved by God’s grace. This is where the Prophet gives us hope. the Lord has provided for our rescue by giving a substitute lamb to be sacrificed in our place: "the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." The shepherd becomes a sheep like us to die in our place and satisfy the justice of God. This is the good news of the Gospel of Christ.

2010-02-04T09:52:00.002-06:00

M2MS

"Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself." (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression) (1 Corinthians 10:5).

2010-02-01T18:12:00.003-06:00

M2MS

At every stage of your Christian development pride is your greatest enemy and humility is your greatest friend. (John Stott)

2010-01-22T10:33:00.001-06:00

M2MS

Being good is more important than looking good. (Matthew 6:1-18).

2010-01-14T13:23:00.001-06:00

M2MS

Many of the right things to do in life are the most difficult things to do. (H. Norman Wright)

2010-01-05T11:05:00.000-06:00

M2Ms

Holiness is all about ownership. You are not your own; you belong to Christ. He has bought you with His own life (1 Peter 1:15-16, 18-19; 2:9-10). Remember who you belong to & live by that reality!

2010-01-04T06:12:00.001-06:00

M2MS

You should never regret admitting you are wrong (Proverbs 28:13).

2010-01-02T11:36:00.000-06:00

M2MS

We are naturally blind to our own character flaws. We need people who love us enough to help us see them.

2009-12-26T09:49:00.002-06:00

M2MS

It is only in giving yourself to others that you truly live (John 12:25).

2009-12-16T11:23:00.000-06:00

M2MS 12/16/09

You cannot find what you are looking for in this world, because you were made for something more (Matthew 6:33).

2009-12-10T07:14:00.001-06:00

M2MS 12/10/09

There is no neutral! Every moment of your existence you are either advancing into more or retreating into less (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

2009-12-07T15:52:00.002-06:00

M2MS 12/07/09

Be careful what you look at! Your eyes are the gateway to your inner self (Matthew 6:22). Once something is in there it's very difficult to get it out.

2009-12-04T12:40:00.003-06:00

M2MS 12/04/09

We are at war and the enemy is ruthless and relentless. Always be vigilant! (1 Peter 5:8-9)

2009-12-01T16:46:00.004-06:00

M2MS 12/01/09

Good techniques can never replace godly character. (1 Timothy 1:5)