Cold & Snow

It’s cold out there. You probably know that but I just thought I would remind you. On the drive to work this morning the car thermometer said -21C. That’s cold even from the inside of the window. As I continued along the weather individual on the radio said it was cold and then said, it’s going to be colder on Wednesday. What! Isn’t it time things should be warming up?

Right now, I’m sitting in my warm 19C office and it is reading -12C outside. Better than an hour ago. Interestingly enough, it’s not just the cold we have to deal with. After telling us how cold it is, the weatherman said there is lots of snow coming and it will start before noon today. One thing is enough, right? But two things at once? Can’t we just skip to Sunday & Monday when it’s going to be +3&4C with sunshine?

I know, life’s not like that either. We can’t skip over the trials of life, and the weather is only a minor problem. There is no detour in life when we see something uncomfortable coming. Sorry to say, and I know from experience, God has us go through things we wish no one has to go through. And I’m not going to tell you it helps make you strong or you brought it on yourself.

What I am going to tell you is that in each case, two truths will happen. First, God will go through it with you and that means ‘if He walks with us to it, He will get us through it.’  The second truth is we will learn some life lesson out of it and maybe in the future, we can walk with someone who is experiencing a something similar.

So, when it’s cold this week, we will all be cold together. When it snows Monday & Tuesday, we will all be shoveling. And while you are out there being cold and blowing out your driveway, help the neighbour who is struggling with a shovel. That way everyone can get inside and warm again. Something about ‘Do unto others as . . .’ Also something like getting through a cold week and warming up to God’s presence at church come Sunday.

Something to think about   

Rob

Who Are You Working For

There is some evidence out there that tells us, 20% of the people do 80% of the work.  It’s a funny statistic. I have done my own investigation and found that, yes, it’s true, but not in all situations. Most of the time it deals with how much the person has invested in their work. They call this: 'ownership'.

You see, if an individual claims or inwardly takes ownership of their place of work or the occupation they labour at, they work more, participate more and just have a ‘connectedness’ that comes from feeling they are a part of whatever they do. They show up early, they always seem to do that little bit extra that makes it better for everyone. One thing I learned a long time about about being a leader is to look for ways to make other peoples jobs easier. So, if most everyone did this we might be able to make it 80/20. Don’t you agree?

I remember being at church one Sunday. It was bright and sunny. With all this light coming in the foyer one individual in our group noticed a significant cobweb in the corner. They said, “I guess the caretaker missed another one.”  The conversation continued but one person slowly backed on over and with their foot, removed the cobweb.

This reminded me that not only can the stat have some validity but in that moment I realized it also depends on who you are working for. We can go to work, do a job, complete a task, get our pay, then go home. What about working for God? If we discover God has put us where we are in life, including where we work, aren’t we working for Him? Believing you work for Him will change everything.  Col.3:23  "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for man."

Just another way of showing the world that Christ is in your life.

Something to think about

Rob

GOOD NEWS

Many of us know about this but few say too much about it. I remember having an assignment that I had to do at seminary. The paper was to be on a religious group and their contribution to Christ’s mission. Back then, you took a walk to the library and went looking for information.

Luck would have it that I found a few books on the subject and started writing about what I found. I was pumped. The last book I looked at gave so much information that I thought I hit the mother lode. Felt so good about the paper when I handed it in. Then. . .

The prof handed it back and said, “You will have to do better than this because the last book was written by and unknown author and these books were only sent to libraries. All the information was made up.” WHAT, the McMaster Library has fake news published books back in the ‘90’s?

Fast forward to 2019. Donald is always talking about fake news. Our computers are full of fake news and so are many of the emails we receive each day that we have not subscribed to. Then there are all those emails asking us from facebook to add a friend. But you already had added them as a friend. What’s with that. It’s another scammer trying to get into you facebook account and computer.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. The Bible tells us that the truth will set us free. But where do we find it today. We have to be very cautious in what we read and what we accept in our fast computer age. So much is not real. Well, except for one item we can call on for every situation and answer we are looking for in life. The word of God, our Bible tells the whole true and nothing but the truth. It is there to guide and direct and cuts to the very core of our hearts and lives.

Here is what we read:   Hebrews 4:12,  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Nice to know, and.

Something to think about

Rob

Messenger

We live in a world that can't wait. Everything in our life is fast, especially the computer that is getting faster and faster. They measure in mill-seconds. Well, except messenger. But, I thing I know how messenger notices work.  You get them, we all get them.  I wish people would just stay with what works. You know, you go on your computer and go to your mail account and click. It's that fast to read your emails. Well, that was until messenger comes along. What used to take less than one second shows up as an email that you have open and then do a few more clicks, then it takes time to load and then you sometimes have to click again.  You get the idea. So why create something that takes more time?

Wasn't it good enough to just click once and read? Even when I got on the computer just now, all I did was click three times with the last click 'compose'.  One more click and this comes to you in you inbox and there you have it. Oh, I forgot, each page has all those advertisements. Right now it's for a new Honda Accord that when you click on it, it takes you to 2016 'new' car and the other advert is EGENCIA - business travel which reads: 3 Swipes 2 clicks 1 solution. Really? And I don't travel for business. Okay, here's the thing. There is only one thing that I know is so important I don't have to jump through hoops or do a bunch of stuff to have some important contact.

You see, we all want things faster but didn't I just remind you that new is not better or faster. Even with messenger it is taking time.

We want everything faster, clearer, simpler, etc. And it's not just relegated to computers. It's with everything in our souped up world. Well almost everything.

We are so so fortunate there is one, just one part of life that is faster. It is faster, clearer, efficient and truthful. Here you are, close your eyes, focus on what you perceive Christ to look like and start talking.

Make sense to me

Something to think about

Robin