No Ones Watching

Do you always do the best you can? Or can I say, Do you do the best you can most of the time? I’m not talking about doing something you don’t normally do. I’m not talking about a wood carver taking amazing photographs. I’m talking about you or me or anyone, doing the best they can do at what they do best? For me it’s preaching but for you it is probably something very different. If you are a framer carpenter, do you drive those three inch ardox nails in as good as you can? Or if a farmer, have you prepared the machinery the best you can so that when spring comes in six weeks, you can get out there and go with no breakdowns? How about cooking? Do you make the best potatoes you can? I don’t know if this is the reverse but, are you the type of person who only does enough to get by? Many people think they can just get by. But is that fulfilling? I remember a story from a long time ago. A young carpenter had been dating a girl for a while and they were talking of getting married. The girl’s father approached the fellow about a business proposition. Maybe they could work together and build houses. The carpenter agreed and started to build the very first house. What he did without telling the future father in law was, he cut a lot of corners in construction. He could have done better but cheap is good when you want to save money and put it in your pocket. When he completed the first house, the father of his girlfriend gave the house to them as a wedding present. Would he have done it differently if he knew the end result? Probably? No, for sure. He would have used the best material, the best plans and the best of his building skills. I wonder, do we do the best we can as Christians. We know what the best is and we are all followers of Christ. But do we do our best? Paul wrote that he wanted to forget what is behind and strive too win the prize that is heavenward. Being the best Christian means something else. We are what people see when the world needs to see Jesus. When someone looks at you, are you the best you can be? Something to think about. Robin

Whose That?

It was picture evening this past week. For a while I have put off dealing with the pile of lost photographs. Well, they aren’t really lost, it’s just that I can’t remember what year many of these wayward photos were taken. We were doing this so they can return to their proper album. Was it 2002 or 2006? Was it before the operation or after the kitchens remodel? So, to really put motivation to the task I recruited two others. This way the job could be done very quickly and probably with more accuracy. After all three heads are better then one. But, do you know what happened? Yes, we started talking about this person and this event. About what a good time we had here and “I remember . . . ” You get the idea. What a delightful time. I have a cousin who stays in Arizona every winter and he sends out new pictures every week. So good to see what he is doing, where they are going, the people and the scenery.
As of right now, we have more than 50 photo albums. Twelve of them are from the past and a handful is from the distant past. They not only predate me but they predate almost everyone alive today. One has a hand made leather binding. We look at them and do exactly what you do. We ask ourselves, “Wonder who that is?” Luckily for me, I have one of my dad’s cousins who knows. So, I scan the picture and send it to his inbox and get back a list of people I don’t know but who are family. And for many of you, please go to your photo albums and write on the back who the people are and when the photo was taken and at what event. Sure will help future generations.
In the midst of this we noticed something else. It doesn’t take long to look at certain people and notice the changes over the years. Some baby pictures took a while to clue in on. Then we were definitively able to say it’s this person or that. One thing is for sure, going through 50 albums made us realize, we are all changing. We are all different then we used to be. We also realize, it doesn’t just happen in looks or growth or maturing. It happens in our hearts and who we are becoming.
We are not what we used to be. As the Bible says, we are changing every minute and are in the process of becoming more like Him. And when we come to Christ we are changed and become a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. One day, when the last trumpet of God sounds we will be changed one last time. At that moment we will be transformed into the likeness of His son and we will behold Him.
Looking in the mirror tells part of the story but looking inside our hearts tells so much more. What do you see in your heart? Are you changing to be like Him?
Something to think about.
Rob

The Weight of The World

Is life weighing you down? Are you one of those people who feels the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Well, let me lighten you day. It’s not. It may feel like it, but in reality it’s on all our shoulders. That’s both the good and the bad news. There is help, but we all realize there is definitely weight as well. Now, here is the Good News coming from Jesus very own words; ~ "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you . . . ” In the last week our world has observed what the weight of the world is all about. A country in trouble and despair, crushed under the weight of it’s own building. More then a week ago, most of a complete city came crashing down. As we watch in disbelief, we saw and still see an impoverished nation and people, where years and years of help have not lifted the weight off their shoulders. And now this. Crushed by the weight of buildings. Many have not survived under this weight and only time will tell how many thousands have died under the concrete of that city. As our nation and other nations run to their rescue, many will survive and make it. Albeit alone. At this point no one can see what the future holds for these people. As we hear of all suffering and sadness, we also hear of support and supplies going into Haiti. We realize that together we can carry their weight, and we can carry their load with them. I believe that is what Jesus was talking about when he made reference to the oxen’s yoke. It doesn’t take much looking around us to see people holding each other up. Just this morning at the gym an elderly man shared how he, in his old age, is taking out a new mortgage to help his son through a really rough time of separation and divorce. Look around again. If you don’t see someone you are holding up, you will see someone holding you up. A song of another day comes to mind and we need to realize the impact it can have on whom we are and how we carry the weight of each other on our shoulders.
There is no problem too big, God cannot solve it. There is no mountain too tall, He cannot move it. There is no storm too dark, God cannot calm it. There is no sorrow too deep, He cannot soothe it.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my brother that He will carry you. If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my sister that He will carry you.
God has connected us together. We are His hands in this world. A world where no one is an island unto themselves. In a world of sorry, personnel or nation to nation, we reach out to each other. Take time to take someone’s hand and lets carry the weight together. The words again of Jesus, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Something to think about
Rob

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Have you ever found yourself daydreaming while you drive? I knew you would. You have been driving for a while and before you know it, you’re at your destination and you don’t remember the trip. I used to do that a lot back in my Bible College days. Drove from Spadina and Bloor, back to Burlington after a whole day of classes. Got on the Gardiner and woke up as I pulled in the parking lot. Not good sometimes but I guess it has something to do with an autopilot of the brain.
Well, it happened to me again on Sunday. No, I wasn’t asleep like the old days. It was just such a wonderful morning of worship and I got caught up in thinking it through, and reliving the beauty of Christ as He came and sat in on our celebration of worship. And so on the drive home, I missed the scenery as I drove. Well, not entirely.
Down the street from us is a nice gentle hill that in the summer is beautiful and green. In summer it is meticulously groomed. But due to the size of the slope, not too many people walk up or down it. Except for the odd overly energetic sugar-filled children. That all changes in winter. Especially when there is snow everywhere. Well, after smiling all the way home I woke to the delightful sound of parents and children filling the air. The hill was alive with laughter and screams of delight. I even noticed a small child being comforted by a parent as they cried from what I assume was the fear of the first ride. There were other adventurous children wanting to race or ride together while others ran as hard as they could before jumping on the unsuspecting inert sled that didn’t see them coming. Caught ya! You were going back in your memory bank and reliving. I see you smiling.
I sat there at the stop sign taking it all in. There was even a boy who showed up like I used to, with only a large piece of cardboard. Those on the slope were having fun. Amongst the children of many ages were the parents or older siblings. I noticed them as well. Some were standing at the top of the hill, watching, chatting with someone’s mom or dad. They were watching all that was happening and continuing to talk as they kept a careful eye out for their own child. A number of these parent stood there with their arms crossed. In the coolness of this past bright Sunday afternoon, I presume they did it to keep warm while they shuffled their frozen feet inside their plastic designer boots.
Then there were the other parents. Who would have none of that? They jumped on the back of their child’s sled or toboggan and went along with them. Everyone on that trip laughed and screamed and . . . and ended up in a pile of arms and legs at the bottom with uncontroled laughter.
It was then that I really woke up. It might have been the sound of the horn of the fellow behind me waiting to get through the stop. But it wasn’t. It was God reminding me that there are times of joy in life. And we should join in. At any age! It’s time to get off the top of the hill, jump on the sled and just have a great time being with each other. Go down the hill, laugh, roll, get entangled, ride with each other, and realize, Jesus will be on the back behind us, laughing, rolling, getting entangled and gliding to a stop at the bottom of the hill yelling to each and every one of us, “Let’s do it again, yes, let’s do it again.”
Something to think about.
Rob

Snow!

It’s winter. I know, was that my first guess? Hibernation is a good thing for those of us who can. For those who can’t, try to enjoy the winter we have. It’s part of being Canadian and I know there is so much beauty in this world even in winter. Looking out our window this week I saw wonderfully green cold grass. No snow. No pure white blanket covering the earth. It would be nice to see some snow. If only for a little while. Well, it arrived last night, all 3cm of it. I believe God made snow for a reason. Yes, the farmers will tell me it’s to provide the earth with slow release moisture in the early spring thaw. Others will say it’s to cover the hard brown ugly dirt and make the world look amazing.
Just last week I decided to sort through all our pictures. Now this is a major undertaking. Not only are there twenty albums covering the last fifteen years but there are 10 albums filled with pictures of another time and other places. I am so fortunate to have inherited a number of albums from my ancestors. Some dating back before my grandfather was thought of.
Most are of people. My people. People whom I know about but didn’t come along early enough to meet or at least to be held by them.
On my dad’s side I have pictures of family reunions. There is also a picture of three mischief makers. Arms around each other and you know, they are going to be up to something very soon after the picture is taken. It was probably 1932. There they are, dad, his brother Oscar and cousin Jim. All, close to the same age and probably ready for some fun.
On mom’s side there were the same sort of pictures with a couple of exceptions. Mom’s grandparents lived in the small town of Moosomin. It isn’t unusual to turn a couple of pages and see people standing beside a mountain of snow blown up near the back of the house by those western winds. Remember that Moosomin is in southern Saskatchewan. Way out there where winter shows up one day and doesn’t leave for six months.
I see some amazing things in all those pictures. I see people enjoying the life they have with what they have, where they are and in all kinds of situations. Was life wonderful back then? Yes, it was. It was different and for them, it was wonderful.
It is the same today. Twenty years from now, I would say fifty years from now, my great grandchildren will go through these forty albums and see the same things I see. People enjoying people and sharing in a life that is amazing no matter where you are or who you are with or what you are doing. Even when it snows.
For life is filled with the wonder of winter, just as it is filled with the fragrance of summer flowers. God made it all. He made it for Himself and decided to create us so He would have someone to share it with. So, we enjoy His handiwork.
What an amazing world God created. In the dark cold days of winter I really think it’s time to put the pictures down, your paper down and go enjoy God’s creation. Take along some family or friends. Oh and don’t forget the camera.
Something to think about.
Rob