William Gurnall's Masterpiece

A few months ago, a friend of mine was telling me about a book that was next on his list to read. Being an intelligent Christian man whose recommendations I take to heart, I had to get a copy for myself.

Obviously, you can see 3 separate books...but don't be deceived. It is one book published into 3 volumes because it's over 900 pages long!

Too much for you? Swallow your fear, and get this book. I'm glad my copy is in 3 volumes and is a modernized abridgement. It makes it less intimidating for me to get through. I'm not even half way through the first volume and it's a absolutely AMAZING read. It has been said that if the Christian owned only 2 books...the Bible and this book...he would have all the information he needs to live his Christian life. I already can agree with this statement. It's perfect, simple, Biblical truth.

If the Bible is your sword, this book would be your dagger.

READ IT.

Fight the GOOD fight.

The Church...?

The thoughts I'm about to share started from a message I had heard a couple of months ago from a motivational speaker/financial success coach who is also a faithful believer. She said a lot of really great things, some little things I may not completely agree with, or may question...But she did touch on an incredible truth that I can't get out of my mind: Her thoughts on the modern Church. It caused me to meditate on these truths. To focus on them, to talk to the Lord about them. A lot. And I can't help but feel and believe that these words need repeating.

What I am about to say will be offensive. But I think it's the kick in the head a lot of us need...I know I did, and still do. That said, here goes...

Within the last week, a blog was posted by several Christian peers about why youth are leaving the Church. There were many great truths within that article. Hard core ones. And if you are truly are a believer and follower of Christ...punch you hard in the stomach ones. But if we are to truly be honest about what is going on in our churches, we should say that these truths encompass more then just our youth...it is affecting EVERY age group. They are ALL leaving the Church.

I don't know about you, but I have NEVER heard more about Church splits, people leaving the Church, or people being angry or complaining about things in their church like there has been in the last decade. The Church is falling apart at the seams...the simple yet foundational things like Doctrine and Scripture are getting manipulated and mutilated. We fight over worship music, we fight over how long the sermon should be, we fight over when and how announcements should be announced, we fight with each other about who should lead what ministry...

Hold on....

What is the purpose of the Church...the Body of Christ?

To build a HUGE building with a school, a ministry for infants, for toddlers, for pre teens, for teen girls, for teen boys, for single mothers, for single fathers, for single woman, for single men, for married women, for married men, for married couples, for seniors, for pastor, for dogs, for cats, for bunny rabbits??

Here's your cup of coffee and cookie...you are now redeemed?

That's a lot of work to get people to stay, and they are still leaving.

Yes, I know. There is much to do in Christian work. But what I'm talking about is needless, busybody work. Work that is taking up your time, your commitment, your affections, so you think and feel that you are being HOLY.

I said it. And I said it because I'm just as guilty. Am I saying that it's wrong to fellowship with other Christians? No. We need the support and the prayers of those faithful friends. But if your Christian life is centred around the time you spend with you Christian friends...then yes....it's a HUGE problem.

You see, this is what that motivational speaker I mentioned earlier was talking about. The Church is a mess, and in such a RUKKUS, because the Body of Christ is too self-centered and self-absorbed.

WE ARE SEEKING OUR OWN SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

We want to have spiritual identity and vindication among our Christian peers. This has become the #1 goal of the Church. No wonder all we do is fight! We are too busy trying to decide who is holier than he or she is, and once that's decided, we'll listen to what they have to say and follow them...until they do something we don't like, and then we start following someone else...or insist that everyone follow US.

The result of this train of thought is disasterous. Because of it we have done the WORST thing possible as the Body of Christ:

WE HAVE ABANDONED OUR POST.

When was the last time you were at work and someone said to you, "Wow. You seem so happy and your life seems to have meaning, what's your secret?". We should be asked that, you know. People should KNOW that we are different. Are we not referred to in Scripture as a "peculiar people"? That we are to "let our light so shine before men"? That we are not to be "conformed to this world.."? These are just 3 examples of references...JUST 3. There are plenty more (I'm not putting the references so you will be encouraged to look them up!).

When you are at work, are you different from everyone else? Is the only way someone knows that you believe differently is because you told them once that you "go to church"? The way we talk, the way we act... what we do and what we say...this is our testimony. If you think you are being a good Christian simply because you invited someone to church..think again. They see what the church is now. They see who you really are. We go to work to fill in time, to get a pay check, so we can get back to the church that evening and show THEM how righteous we are. It's nothing but a glorified social club, and they want NOTHING to do with us.

NOTHING.

So, we can't get people to stay, and we can't get people to come.

Um...I'm not the only one seeing a problem, am I?

Where did Jesus spend most of His time during His ministry? In the MARKETPLACE. Think about that.

His followers were fishermen, tax collectors, doctors...every day regular working people. Do we realize what our job REALLY is? It's a MISSION field. This is our MINISTRY. How powerful would it be if President Obama's personal assistant was a radical believer in Christ? Someone who prayed everyday for his boss, prayed over his desk, prayed over the documents in his hands that he is about to give to the President? And through that The President got saved, started reading the Scriptures, and sharing with others? The entire nation of the United States of America would be not only influenced, but changed!

Sound far fetched? Not so much...

May I remind you of Daniel. That's right...Daniel. Jewish captive in Babylon. Know for his intelligence and skills. Mostly his interpretation of dreams. Which caused him to be a member of the counsel to the King. And eventually the Chief of Sorcerers. What? You read that right...SORCERERS. The King's counsel, his wise men, were Sorcerers! Daniel was put in the most prestigious, but dangerous positions in Babylon! But he was put there by the hand of God. And Daniel THRIVED at his post because of his faithfulness to his God. Because of his influence of righteousness IN the world. Because He trusted God to do His work through him where God CALLED him to serve. All Daniel did was follow in obedience and what happened?

The King of Babylon came to worship the God of Israel!

I believe that this is the problem. We are ignoring the call of God on our lives because we don't think it is spiritual enough. We are creating our OWN ministry and our OWN calls on our OWN lives. We are either IGNORING God's call on our lives, or allowing others to GUILT us into places and things where we do not belong. We are not being OBEDIENT because we are not where GOD wants us to be.

We are STRIVING when we are suppose to be SUBMITTING.

I do want to make a point here that I do firmly believe that there are some who are called to specific ministry...Pastors, missionaries and the like. But I also believe that there is a specific call on their lives to do so...and there is no doubt in their heart as to what God is calling them to do. The fault lies in the Christian world and our mantle of guilt we lay on those who are "trained" for ministry but do not go into ministry "full time". How is working amongst non-Christian people, being faithful to God, and actually taking the time to care about those people not FULL TIME ministry?

The fighting and arguments within the walls of the church would cease if we got back out into the world where we belong. Caring for people, loving people, bringing hope, THE GOSPEL, to people. But this can't happen if our main goal is ministering to other Christians. Our "ministry" is nothing but petty fights and disagreements amongst ourselves, arguing over how we can be more affective in ministry. Then we wonder why the church isn't growing and why people are leaving.


It's time we get over ourselves.

It's time we get back to our post of influence.

It's time to preach the Gospel. And if necessary...use words.

Just Do It!

I've been learning a lot in the past few months about to do lists. They are important and essential to organization and accomplishing things in our every day lives.

With that said, the past few months have been difficult to make any to do lists at all...so many distractions and frustrations. I was reminded on Monday while listening to a sermon, that my most important "to do" list has been being ignored and cast aside in my every day life. Which is why I have been struggling with negativity and remembering the promises of God. I know now that unless I have this to do list done every day, first thing, life is ugly.

So I encourage each one of you to start your day and continue the rest of your day, EVERY DAY, with these 5 essential to do's:

1) Pray
2) Glorify God
3) Learn from Him
4) Be patient
5) Trust God's Sovereignty

The rest is just details that are His to take care of anyway...

Earthen Vessel

Oh, I have missed writing on here. I promise, it is the truth. I'm not sure why I have been lead to not write on here for such an extended period of time. Maybe I felt nothing I had to say was worthwhile in the past couple of years to write about.

I know that may sound depressing, but before when I had written so much about life, and especially my spiritual journey, I was surrounded by friends...Godly friends full of faith and influence. Really, it was easy to write. It was easy to be DEEP. The last two years, those things have not come easily...

I don't think it's because there wasn't anything I haven't learned. In fact, I've learned a lot, if not too much about myself...especially in the last year. To be honest, it's made for a difficult year, maybe the hardest of my life. And just in the last few days, there has been a climax in this "troubled" time of mine.

I'm not saying that I fell off the spiritual "horse", if you will. I've done the best I can to be faithful, to believe and to press forward. And yet, I have been feeling like I've been getting no where...not just spiritually, but in life in general.

My job...or jobs if I am to be honest, has been one subject. The complete and utter frustration of feeling like I've been tossed back and forth. Not because I'm not wanted, or can't do a good job. In fact, it's been told I am the opposite of that. But because of circumstances beyond my control...financial cuts and natural disasters... Having a steady, reliable income has been challenging.

My personal life. Dealing with a broken relationship. Giving a piece of my precious heart to a guy who didn't deserve it and didn't want it. Knowing I was used for my companionship by someone who just wanted someone to talk to, not spend his life with. And again, I'm back where I've always been...waiting.

I haven't just been feeling like at I'm a stand still...I have felt beaten down. Not by the just the world but by the One who is suppose to love me most. So many things that I don't understand...why must my heart keep breaking over the same thing? If I am to live on my own, God, than why can't I find a job that would sustain me to do so? I have been faithful for so long...will I ever be rewarded?

These thoughts have made me feel so incredibly selfish. Who do I think I am to not have difficulties? What makes me think I deserve ANYTHING?

This has been the struggle. This constant pull back and forth between my carnal self and my spiritual self. No wonder I have felt so angry, so sad, so lonely, so....forgotten.

BUT GOD...2 of the best words in life. But GOD...

But God gave me a revelation just today. Something that hit me hard enough, I couldn't help by pour my heart out...just in case someone out there needs the revelation too.

You see, what I didn't realize until today is that God gave me EXACTLY what I had asked for. I said to my friend Laura over a year ago..."You know what? I'd rather be the valley. I'd rather be weak...because if that's where I am, I can't do anything. God has to do ALL of it".

Wow. Oh to be reminded of our own prayers....And I don't think that this prayer was foolish, but I do think I didn't understand what I was really asking for. You see, I learned something today through the words of Andrew Murray:

"The Christian often tries to forget his weakness; God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply. The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it; God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it. The Christian mourns over his weakness; Christ teaches His servant to say, 'Most gladly will I glory in my infirmities (2 Cor 12:9). The Christian thinks that his weaknesses are his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God; God tells us that it is the secret to strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives us our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, 'My strength is made perfect in weakness'."

I have been doing all these things. I said I preferred to be weak but I haven't let God do all these wonderful things that He wants to do with my weakness. I have been seeking self righteousness...thinking weakness would be "MORE HOLY", and I would be all the MORE holy if I could overcome these weaknesses! Yet, I've been striving..working....struggling...to do something I can't do AT ALL. Because I'm not suppose to overcome my weakness...I'm suppose to find His strength IN it.

This year, I've been asking why God has let certain things happen, why when I feel like something is going my way, FINALLY,... it suddenly turns to dust.

Self sanctification does that. To paraphrase Murray again:

"The Christian is in danger of seeking sanctification in the power of the flesh, with the help of Christ, instead of looking to Christ alone for it and receiving it from Him by faith....one is the carnal way, in which we put forth our utmost efforts and resolutions, trusting in Christ to help us do so. The other is the spiritual way, in which, as those who have died and can do nothing, our one care is to receive Christ day by day, and at every step to let Him live and work in us."

WOW.

Lord, rid me of my carnality. I don't want to labour in vain anymore.

So friends, a revelation which hasn't quite sunk in yet, but I pray I'm reminded of every morning....

I'm DONE with self. I want HIM.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us". 2 Cor 4:7

My Date with the Kid

Oh, where to begin! What an incredible experience it was to go to Pittsburgh to a Penguins hockey game! So much fun, so much excitement! I got almost everything I wanted out of the trip. Our seats were AWESOME, Sidney scored a goal, and Pittsburgh won the game 5-1.
The only thing missing was the other half of the reason for choosing this particular game, and that was to also see Vinny Lecavalier who is the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightening. Unfortunately, Vinny fractured his hand and wasn't playing...in fact, he just had surgery on it yesterday. He'll be out for 6-8 weeks. So, that was a little bit of a let down, but in retrospect, it made it much easier to cheer for Pit all the way!!
Our hotel was literally across the street from the arena, so once we got there we stayed put in the downtown area. Pittsburgh is a nice city. We thought the people were great, and would go back in a heartbeat.
But most importantly, the atmosphere was insane. There is nothing like standing and screaming with people by the thousands, pounding the glass, cheering with the strangers beside you....it was really my favourite part of the whole experience.
Would I do it again? Oh YEAH. I am in 15 days in fact! Heading to Dallas to watch the Stars play 2 games! Now that the Pit experience is still fresh in my heart, I'm looking forward to this trip even more!
The epic saga of my hockey life continues,....
Stay tuned.

I'm Seeing Stars....(but I'm sorry, I guess you can't)

Yes, it's that time of year again.

Summer is my favourite season (weather wise), but there is only one thing that I struggle with during that time: NO HOCKEY.

For me, hockey season is the best season there is. And the extra blessing was that it started earlier then usual for me, and in such a special way.

About a month ago, I grabbed my friend Jenna and headed to PEI for the weekend. This weekend was going to be different than my usual visits to PEI because that always includes a long visit with my dear Blinders. This time, it was about hockey....and coming across an article online that I know for sure now, was NOT a mistake.

Charlottetown became home for the weekend to the Dallas Stars. It was on PEI that they were to have their training camp. I know most people don't find that exciting. But when you are me, and your favourite player of your favourite sport plays on that team,...yes dear friends, it's exciting!!

So, I got to watch Brad Richards practice and play hockey with his team....and meet him. Only for a second. I didn't want to monopolize is time with a lame attempt at small talk, so I shook his hand and walked away. I hope my actions were respectful and admirable....for that was my intention. But all in all, it was a great experience, with happenings I'm still reeling over and meditating about. I'm just so amazed that God could take something as simple as hockey and use it as a blessing to me. It really shows that he does care about the little things....even someone's joy in a GAME.

Experiencing what I have so far so early in this hockey season, I know it's just going to get better. And yes, if the Lord wills it, I'm hoping to head to Dallas sometime this season to see them play on their home ice.

Though it's still early (no team has played 10 games yet), it's wonderful to see the Stars have a perfect 4-0 season so far. And Brad is playing his best hockey in years. It does my heart good to know that I saw the start to this back in PEI a month ago. I'm hoping it will lead to a season of hockey that I will never forget.

P.S. I would have posted some pics, but I don't know how to get them off my phone. Sorry!

I See His Blood Upon The Rose

I see His blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice-and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.

-Joseph Plunkett