Do you know your weakness?

 

Good morning friends and family....Do you know that our enemy knows our weaknesses? He designs temptations to carefully match your personality. Think with me for a moment...Fear in the path of an introvert, ease and release of the uncontrolled tongue to the exhausted person, uncontrolled desire for food for the lonely or busy, false promises of a better life to the love starved spouse, numbness of alcohol to the depressed, ultimate self sufficiency to the strong willed with the fantasy that he or she needs no one else...the list goes on and on...What is your weak spot? I bet you know what it is. 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Be aware...be alert...Today, give it over to God. Ask for His grace, ask for His help....then allow Him help you. You may need to change your habits by removing yourself from situations that are not helpful to you...you may need to change your friends - not all friends are friends - if someone is tearing you down and using you, you need to rethink that friendship...you may need to change how you see life - Do you realize the God REALLY LOVES YOU and wants the best for you....you may need to change how you view yourself - You are a beautiful creation, designed by God and have great value...Remember friends, one day at a time and the learning happens "during" the journey Have a great day friends !

What I learned in 2013.

It has been a while since I blogged...A lot has gone on in the last 6 months - So where do I start? 2013 will be a year I never will forget. I've learned a lot. A lot that is deeply personal to me. A lot about myself and I will share some of it with you – my friends, my family.
I learned that life is like a vapour, here one minute, gone the next. I talked to my mom at 5:20pm one day...and that very night she went home to be with the Lord.
I learned priorities. God, my family then church, and that and is making me a better husband, a better dad, and a better pastor.
I learned that I have friends that deeply care for me and my family.
I learned that if you do not get the rest you need, your body will force you to rest.
I learned that God is in control and He will accomplish His will, with or without my help.
I also learned that if I get in God's way, He will gently correct – as a loving Father does.
I learned that it doesn't matter what people say about me – my confidence and self worth comes from God, not people.
I learned that my children are a beautiful gift...a gift that God has entrusted into my and wife's hands. They are precious flowers, delicate and in need of constant caring and love.
I learned that my wife means more to me now, than ever before.
I learned that God is not in a rush, nothing catches Him by surprise...God's plan is not according to my timing, it's according to His.
I learned that Bethel really loves my family and me. God has His hand on this Assembly – Good things are happening – we must remain faithful to God's timing, one day at a time, one step at a time.
I learned that the people of Smooth Rock Falls are loving, caring and considerate – even more than I ever dreamed.
I learned that 2013 was just that....a learning year for me. A year of refining. I'd be lying if I said it was painless. I'd be lying if I said it was comfortable. I'd be lying if I said it was fun...it wasn't. But here is the thing that I learned...joy comes in the morning. The morning may or may not be 2014...I don't know. But I do know Who is in control. I do know that He is just. And I know that He loves me, my cherished wife, my blessed children, my precious Bethel family, and the wonderful people of Smooth Rock Falls. What better place to be May God bless you in 2014 !

My Mom - Eulogy that I gave at my mom's funeral, June 29th, 2013

My Mom

I stand here today to tell you what my mom means to me:

When I was sick, she was my nurse, - I can remember having the mumps. I could not open my mouth...mom bought me a bag of Doritos...I was able to slide them between my teeth and then let them dissolve in my mouth...

When I needed to go to hockey or baseball, she was my personal chauffeur- one time we were coming back from a hockey game in Mitchell...it was snowing so bad we could not see the road...mom had me stick my head out the window so we could see where the shoulder of the road was. We made it home safely...

When I was in trouble, she was my advocate, - we aren't going to talk about this one :)

When I was confused, she was my voice of clarity,

When I was depressed, she lifted my spirit,

When I was angry, she calmed me down, - my sister (I won't say which one (Faith)) had the ability to turn a kind, gentle me...into the incredible hulk....one night my sister and I had a minor disagreement...I got mad and put my foot through the side of the couch..picture a hole ...a big hole...through the side of the couch...I then went outside, got my hockey stick and started to shoot the puck....mom came home from work saw me outside and said...What did Your sister do?... I caused the damage...my sister got in trouble :)

When I was bitter, she sweetened my mood,

When I got mad at God, She reminded me that " all things work together for good to those who love God"

When my Papa (grandfather) passed away, I got very mad at God. I asked my mom a couple questions...questions that a lot of you are probably asking right now...."How could a kind and loving God take such a wonderful person?" or "Why did mom suffer painfully for her last 15 years and then die suddenly?"

I'll answer the second question first....I truly believe that my mom was specifically chosen by God and given His grace, to be an example for me...an example for us all here today.... an example that no matter what my situation is, I have a choice...I can choose to praise or I can choose to complain...I can choose to honour God, or I can choose to ignore God...I can choose to focus on what I don't have, or I can choose to make the most out of what I do have... I can choose to focus on my shortcomings or I can choose to focus on my strengths....I can choose to be bitter or I can choose to let go...I can choose to hate or I can choose to forgive.... I can choose ...The choice is mine...but the choice is also yours.... My mom was an example for us...an example God used to draw us closer to Him...if we choose....

Now back to the first question - How could a kind and loving God take such a wonderful person...my mom answered it to me this way..."Papa was ready...Papa loved the Lord with all his heart...God was giving more time to others - time for people to come to know Him."

My mom told me that...and I chose to be mad at God....I chose...But my mom prayed for me...she loved me...she encouraged me...she believed God would get a hold of me....and He did.

Today, I mourn my mom. I miss her dearly. I wish I could talk to her one more time – the last time I talked with her was Monday afternoon at 5:35pm...On Tuesday morning @ 2:45am she was gone....I wish I could give her one more kiss, give her one more hug....just one more... .she's my mom....But even as I mourn, even as I miss her...I know where my mom is. Do Not say that I Lost My Mom...When you lose something, you don't know where it is – I know where my mom is !!! I know that she has finished her race...she has gained her prize....I know that the Lord welcomed her by saying...."Well done, my good and faithful servant."

I know that one day, I will see her again. And on that day, I will talk with her... I will give her a kiss...I will hug her...and I will thank her for being a loving... Godly.... Mom to me...

I Love You Mom :)

Fishing and God Speaking

Wow, it has been a long time since I wrote on this blog...I thought this may be an interesting story to tell -

Over the last 3 months, I've gone out ice fishing several times. Never catching anything. Often the other people I go with catch fish, and I like that. It adds a bit of excitement to a quiet time. Then a week ago I decided to go out by myself. Just some quiet time, a chance to get away and commune with God. Nice and quiet, no one around – the odd bird singing, but that is few and far between. It's cold here – really cold. The ice is 4 feet thick. The warmest day fishing was -7 C. Most days were between -20 and -12C. (Not including the windchill).

So there I am, Snowshoeing, the snow a couple feet deep, and drifted on the frozen lake. A light wind, but it is enough to bring a bit of a chill. I walked out to the middle of the lake, drilled a couple holes, and started fishing. Fortunately a few days before I went out, some others had been to the same place. The holes were only slightly frozen (a few inches of ice) and they were easy to punch through.
There I sat. Sled in front of me, snowshoes sticking up from the snow to create a wind shield and my portable heater pumping out some warm air. For an hour, nothing...It was a nice time to look around at the trees. The sun was behind the clouds and no one...absolutely no one was around. No snowmobiles, no cars, no trucks, no other fishermen....Just me and God. You never know how loud silence is, until there is nothing making a sound.
I prayed, and prayed and prayed some more. Fishing was secondary – an excuse to get away and be alone with God. It was really nice.
Then I heard the ringing of a bell....ding ding...ding...ding ding... That's when it hit me - “I had a fish on !” I have bells on the end of my ice fishing rods in case I get a fish on and I am not looking at it....well it worked.
I looked over to see my rod tip in the hole...the pole still in the holder but bending and bouncing violently. I ran over and grabbed my line by hand. A few seconds later, my first fish caught ice fishing was laying beside me. I was happy. Finally, I got that gorilla off my back.
Of course I had to take a picture of it, so I did. Then I released the Northern Pike back down the hole, into the lake.
I fished and prayed and enjoyed His creation for another 2 hours – not even a nibble...That was ok.
I went home, and had really enjoyed my time on the lake.
The next day I was talking to a friend and I had told him about catching my first fish ice fishing. He said one thing that intrigued me. He asked me what time I caught my fish – I looked at the picture that I took and the time stamp was 13:51. So that means I caught the fish between 13:47 and 13:51. He said to me – look up that scripture.
So I typed 13:47-51 into Google and guess what came up. Matthew 13:47-51 Parable of the Fishing Net :) Here is that scripture -

Matthew 13:47-51 Parable of the Fishing Net

47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. 


49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand all these things?”
“Yes,” they said, “we do.”


I sit at the computer thinking – “You are so good Lord !” “You even speak to me when I am fishing :)” 
There is a lot in this passage of Scripture...next Blog, I'll expand on this passage - Be blessed friends !

Ontario Teachers Strike, Government Blinks, Kids Lose

On Wednesday my children brought home papers informing us that on Monday December 10th there will be  no classes for them as the teachers are striking for one day. Later that night, I heard that the union has picked 2 school Boards - Avon/Maitland in Southern Ontario (60,000 students) and Ontario North East - a relatively small school board. That is where my children go. 

Across the street from my house is a French Catholic School (also know as private school that is funded by the public) They will be teaching on Monday. The students that go there will be getting an education.
Now before you start putting your comments on what this strike is all about...save it for the spin doctors. I have heard both arguments and I know how each side is "staying on message". The French Catholic & French Public Teachers unions both accepted the same deal that the ETFO rejected. Here's what it boils down to. The Union is in a power struggle with the Government. A struggle that in all likelihood will be won in court. That is what the experts are saying. Unfortunately that is not good enough. 

Then is the locations of the strikes...2 relatively small boards - Not Toronto...that is where the majority of the Liberal seats are...but in Northern Ontario (NDP) and in Southern Ontario (PC). Does no one else see what is happening here. First of all, it is a test. A test to see what the Government will do...the answer is - Nothing.  Second, there is a Provincial election coming up...soon - The Union recognizes this - they have been very close to this Government for the last 8 years - they don't want to burn all the bridges. Third, this effects a relatively small number of students. The Union doesn't want to upset the cart totally until they see what the Government will do.

I have family as teachers, I have friends as teachers. They  are hard working, energetic and devoted to their jobs. I also went through a teachers strike when I was in high school....a long strike...very long. I lost a math credit - I couldn't "cram" everything I needed to know in a short period of time when the teachers returned. And all through the strike the message was "no student has ever lost a credit because of a strike" I would disagree.

This is not the right move by the ETFO - They talk about Democracy...having their rights taken away. Yet if a teachers breaks rank and chooses to teach while a strike is on that teacher can be fined up to $500 a day. Not very Democratic. 

The Government has been voted in to lead. The government has been voted in to make tough choices. I see neither leadership or choices....I see politicians looking towards the next election.

In all this - The kids Lose.