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Nothing says a good physical workout like walking around for three days like you just rode across the mid-West riding bare-back on a wild mustang! There are days when I wonder why it matters so much that I work on my arms if I can’t even lift them afterwards to show people. It seems senseless.
But we all know that physical fitness is important and that the pain is the body’s way of making sure that it is stronger for the next time you face that same scenario.
That’s how God works as well. We may not always like the situations that we face but they really are opportunities for us to allow Him to strengthen us and build us up. John 15:2 says that “He cuts off every branch in [Jesus] that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
If you want to grow in God, you’re going to have to suffer a little ’spiritual’ training. It may not always be fun… it may even seem unbearable… but rest assured, He’s training you to be able to accomplish things you never dreamed you’d be able to do.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I read this for myself. I could hardly believe the facts. Probably because I have been so used to grabbing a tissue when the need arises. We have them in the front of our churches. Church isn’t always happy. Sometimes we are confronted with sadness. With pain. With heartache. Sometimes life makes us cry.
But I read a quote that will revolutionize the future. Revelation 21:4 says “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
This says that there will come a day when all of the past hurts, pains, frustrations, challenges, and fears will come to an end. That the pain of today won’t last forever.
Some of us have conditioned ourselves to reach for the tissue box out of habit. Pain has followed us for so long that we almost won’t know what to do with it when it goes. And ‘go’ it will.
What I see is a future that will be void of pain, turmoil, fear and neglect. He prepares a place full of love, release, liberty, freedom, and joy… with no runny noses and tear-stained faces.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
A few years back I had honour of going to the CNE with my family as well as my in-laws (really… I like them). What an incredible experience! All the lights, the huge rides, the horns from the those rides attempting the break the land-speed record. I thought it was simply incredible. Apparently there were others who felt differently.
Somewhere between the cotton candy booth and the man telling me that all I had to do was put a softball in a bushel basket; in the middle of a crowd larger than life, I felt a tiny little hand slowly but methodically slide into the middle of mine. I looked down to see my little daughter taking in the sights… mesmerized, but a little overwhelmed.
It reminds me of the Psalm that says “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. (22:11)” Sometimes we can get a little like that. We enjoy our independence. We look forward to the ‘fun in the sun’ but when life becomes a little overwhelming, a little staggering, and we don’t know where to turn, we can raise our little hands and set them in the palm of the One who is not only in control, but desiring to take us through the journey together.
At least that’s how I see it,
Craig
It’s hard to tell someone to stop worrying when they aren’t the one facing the situation. I’m sure I see some nodding of some heads right now. It’s all well and good to hear that but what about when you are the one FACING it!?!
W.R. Inge wrote that ‘worry is the interest paid on trouble before it is due.’ Truth is, when you pay interest on something, it’s usually something that you already have. At least you have it. Worry on the other hand is a whole of energy and fear paid out before you even know if you have it or not. You may worry and not even face what you feared. Worry can paralyse you and stop you from being able to accomplish anything well at all.
Proverbs 12:25 says that ‘worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.’ Wow! You and I have the opportunity to help someone get out of debt… worry debt that is. The words that we use can help someone move forward in a ‘potential’ crisis before they even know whether or not they will face it.
No sense paying for stuff that you’re not even sure you’re going to get. Let’s help them face the day. Who knows when we will need the same sort of help.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I’d hate having the last name Jones. McKibbon is bad enough. I get McGibbon, McRibbon, one time I even got MacIbone, Whatever. But imagine the last name Jones?
I’m sure many of you know people with that last name and I am sure that they are fine, upstanding people… but these are the people that we are apparently always trying to be like. “Gotta keep with the Jones’!” Who were these first Jones’ anyway and why were they so amazing?
Regardless, there is this pressure in our society to always be worried about how we are perceived and how we ‘look’ in other people’s eyes. Media convinces us that the car we already have, the house we already own, the clothes we already wear, and the job we currently go to everyday are inferior to what OTHER people have.
Sorry to tell you but this is nothing new. Paul told a church in Galatia “do your own work well and then you will have something to be proud of. But don’t compare yourself with others. (Galatians 6:4 CEV)” Be proud of who you are, and what God has already given you. I’m sure that if you WERE the Jones’, you’d probably wish you were the Smith’s, the Thompson’s, or the Johnson’s… no offence to any of these families either. I’m sure you’re nice people too.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I can picture it now… the wife standing in front of the television during that final minute of the third period… goalie pulled… breakaway… “Do you love me?” Aaarrgghhh!!!
Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme but let’s be realistic… Do we really believe what we say when it comes to our spirituality? We may hear or say terms like ‘loving God’ and ‘loving Jesus’ or ‘living for Jesus’ but when it comes down to it, do we really live up to those words?
I may step on some toes here (and I’m not light) but when I think about following God, I think he’s a little more concerned about the motivation of our hearts than the words that we can use to try to appease him. Jesus said in Matthew 15:8 that there are people who honour him with their lips but their hearts are far from him.
I think a lot of people think God is some cosmic force off doing his next thing not caring about us or what we are going through. Personally, I think God is not in ‘front’ of the television but rather sitting ‘beside’ us wanting to share in the experience with us. He may be ‘silent’ but his love for us ‘screams’ everywhere around us. Why don’t we try turning the ‘television’ off in our lives and take some time with him instead. I think we’ll be surprised what we may find out.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
Now that the weather is starting to finally cooperate a bit more we can start looking for the joggers on the sides of the road who have come out of hibernation.
Have you ever watched a marathon before on TV? I’m sure following one person for 26 miles might be a little boring but the thought of putting the human body through that much stress and agony is mind-boggling. I can see them coming down the road in my mind grabbing cups of water that are passed out to them by staff and volunteers on the side-lines.
What do they look like? Can you picture them? Are they ever interviewed on camera as to how their re-fuelling abilities helped propel that runner to the finish line? Of course not. There would be no point. It would be boring… but it would be a HUGE oversight.
The runner wouldn’t be able to make it without the periodic filling up stations because their body would collapse from the lack of care and succumb to the stress that they are placing on it.
In our own lives, God is willing to stand on the sidelines and ‘re-fuel’ us if we so choose. “He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak. (Isaiah 40:29 NLT). God isn’t looking for the camera interview. He’s standing by the water cooling station waiting for you to come to him and receive from him the care needed to keep going on. He is waiting there for you… because he wants to see you make it across the finish line.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
Boy, if I’ve ever had to be cautious about blogging it is today. I totally understand that what I am about to write about it a delicate matter but I feel that something has to be said here.
As some of you know, Highway Church was placed strategically between two towns. Hagersville (yes… the Hagersville Tire Fire) and the other town has been in the news a little lately… Caledonia. When Kerry and I moved here we bought a house around 300m from the disputed land claim site and within months were thrown into a whirlwind of police, natives, residents, power outages, helicopters, roadblocks, violence precipitated by anger, rage, bitterness, arrogance, racism, and ignorance - on both sides. We have subsequently moved; not due to the land claims issue - we actually live closer to the Grand River than we did before, we just found another house we liked.
These past 2+ years have been extremely eye-opening for me and I have been very surprised as to how people act… and react to what they perceive and perhaps do not know. I have seen people during the height of the stand-off bent on ‘taking the law into their own hands’. I have also seen our provincial police officers do the best that they can with the mandates that they have been given.
I guess the reason why I am writing is because of the latest article I saw on the CBC website see link where our Aboriginal Affairs minister noted that “peace is being restored in the southern Ontario community of Caledonia.” I don’t know much about the power and authority that Michael Bryant has but I can tell you that in the years that I have been here, I have yet to see someone (or someones) who have the ability to control the chaos that is going on here… on the streets, on the highways… and most of all in the hearts of BOTH communities thrown in the middle of the ring here… native AND residents.
I think that most Canadians would agree that unfortunately, for whatever reason, our government has made agreements that they have not fulfilled with some native land claims. This is unfortunate and really, our government needs to fulfill their obligations. It’s the right thing to do.
I do however find it hard to send my kids to school where on every wall and on every piece of literature sent home we see ‘anti-bullying’ paraphernalia yet it seems to me like that is exactly what our government is tolerating - and just like bullying, nothing changes until SOMETHING changes.
In my humble opinion, I feel that Mr. Bryant’s words would be better translated “we’re taking down this barricade and we will see some semblance of peace until such time that persons (from either side) will react to something again and start the whole process all over again.”
If you are going to ‘bring peace’ then both parties need to ensure that there are qualified, and mandated peace-’keepers’ as well as if the conditions warrant them, peace-’makers’.
Through it all, I believe in the power of prayer. I have learned in life that many of the things that concern me are also things that cannot be changed by me. So, I have turned to the One who can change not only circumstances, but how ‘I’ react to those circumstances.
It is unfortunate that I disagree with Mr. Bryant. I do not believe that the removal of these barricades will bring peace. So, instead of putting my faith in him, or others, I choose to put my faith in Christ. Last time I checked, they referred to Him as the ‘Prince of Peace’.
At least, that’s how I see it.
Craig
John Wayne, one of Hollywood’s more inspiring actors had this to say about ‘tomorrow’: “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”
To me the difference between a person who makes a mistake and a person who chooses to be a failure is that the person who fails doesn’t get up when they make a mistake. We all make mistakes. It’s in those mistakes that we have the opportunity to change or stay put.
Romans 5:3 says that ‘we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.’
Midnight is a great time to recognize that yesterday is gone. It cannot be redeemed or relinquished. Nothing will bring it back. But ‘today’ is a perfect opportunity to make the changes necessary to ensure that tomorrow will be better. That comes by building on the mistakes of yesterday and the momentum of yesterday’s victories as well.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I grew up never hearing about terms like “Earth Days”, “Earth Hours”, and “climate control’. When we had garbage, we took it all out to the end of the laneway and the garbage crew would pick it up… all up. There were no blue boxes, grey boxes, clear bags. Garbage… was garbage. Simple as that. As soon as it left our driveway, we never had to worry about it again.
But we were apparently mistaken. People who knew more than us starting telling us that our selfish decisions were having a negative effect on the Earth’s conditions and that if we didn’t make changes soon, we would affect our planet and civilizations to come forever. We were faced with the decision: live carefree and let the future suffer or make changes now to save our future. Actually we still are.
In Mark 8:36 Jesus talks to his followers about the cost of living carefree, “how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?” One can make the choice to live however they like, with no regard for how it will affect the future (just like we put out all of our garbage when we were younger because it was easy and ignorant) but it comes with a cost; a cost that many don’t take the time to assess before they make the decision.
What is the future worth to you? Are you ‘thinking green’ when it comes to your spiritual life? Are you making decisions today that are going to benefit you tomorrow and the generations to come?
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I’ve read in the paper and on different news-sites about Gen. Hillier’s announcement that he is stepping down as the current Chief of Defence Staff for the Canadian Armed Forces. The words are hardly out of his mouth and people are already asking him if he is planning on running for politics.
If you listened to the man, you would notice that he is talking about doing things like hunting, fishing, relaxing after all of the service that he has brought to the Canadian Forces and this country of ours.
I know some of Gen. Hillier’s extended family personally and success has followed them well and though I have never met the man before I can tell you that even from the fringe you can see that this person is a leader.
I’ve been trying to think of someone who was incredibly influencial yet at the same time extremely unnoticed. Someone who had the ear of the people when they spoke yet could never be found when they were needed.
I think that the Canadian Forces are losing a great leader and the uncertainty that comes from the rank-and-file is noticed mainly on the fact that Gen. Hillier did an incredible job of standing at the front to lead the way, stand at the side to encourage the men and women who proudly wear our uniform, and stand at the rear to make sure that no one was lagging behind.
Heroes are hard to come by. We need more heroes.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
Do you remember that? Growing up, on Sesame Street there was that sketch where the kid had to go to the grocery store so he made up a little song with his list, “A loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick o’ butter.” Maybe you hear it now too and like me, won’t be able to get it out of your head,
That’s what the writer of Proverbs is doing here. He’s giving a ‘shopping list’ so-to-speak of what one needs to get by in life. “Get the truth and don’t ever sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and discernment. (23:23).”
If you make sure those things are in your life’s ‘shopping cart’ I can assure you that you will be well on your way to living a life full of blessing and contentment. Remember Jesus told us that ‘the truth will set you free (John 8:32).” Now get out there and go shopping!
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
When I got married (a ‘few’ years ago…) I remember my father-in-law, as he was giving his toast he said, “People who know me, know that those that I don’t love I… tolerate.” The room exploded with laughter. He is not the most ‘affectionate’ person but there is never a question of his love… it is truly genuine.
In the book of Romans, Paul tells the church to “love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other (12:10).” In a world that rejoices with those that mourn, and mourns with those who rejoice, I think Paul is onto something.
We need to champion, encourage, and honour those around us. We need to stop worrying about how good ‘we’ look and instead, genuinely concern ourselves with the bettering of others. They will be noticed, and I can guarantee you, we won’t look bad in the process either.
At least that’s how I see it,
Craig
You remember Oxymorons don’t you? Two words that, on their own are opposites are put together like: jumbo shrimp, same difference, pretty ugly, or even the Dodge Ram.
Sometimes we view constructive criticism the same way. How can something that is meant to deconstruct what you are doing actually be ‘constructive’? At least, many times that is the attitude we bring to the criticism.
But it’s a matter of the heart. Proverbs 15:31 says that “if you listen to constructive criticism you will be at home among the wise.” If I read that right, this means that the people who have been considered wise in the past have been ones who are willing to listen to the advice, positive or negative, of others and filter them as to how to make things better in their own lives.
Are you willing to do the same? Are you willing to listen, reflect, and if need be, change? Then you are on your way to being ‘among the wise’.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I remember hearing that as a kid. Sitting in class and hearing the teacher say it over and over again. “Never play with matches… never play with matches” became the mantra of a room full of six year olds.
I hear the stories in the news about kids who choose not to listen to the advice that they were given. Somehow they think that they have it under control. They think that they will never get burned or worse yet, burn those around them.
Proverbs 6:27 says “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” To me, the answer is pretty self-explanatory. But how many times do we see friends and family take on lifestyles that we all know will catch up to them sometime? Worse yet, how many friends and family know that WE are taking on lifestyles that we DON’T know will catch up to us sometime?
We need to take a good long look at the things that are in our lives that may ‘ignite’ and destroy everything around us if we keep on ‘playing with the matches’. From what I’ve seen from others’ misfortunes, the joy of the flame never matches the damage of the fire.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
I’ve done some pretty dumb things as a kid… tried to jump over a ditch with my bike forgetting that front wheel was not attached properly… got my tongue stuck to a metal pole in the winter (yes… I had to find out for myself). I think one of the dumbest things I ever did was decide to become a toll-booth on my street with a big long stick telling people to stop… and go. When my dad saw me doing it… I stopped… and I ‘go’ed!
But my dad hardly remembers that moment. He disciplined me and was upset… but he loved me more than he was mad about what I did. It was his love that I remember that day… even though I DO remember the discipline.
Psalm 25:6-7 says “Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness (NLT).” Some people think that their past prohibits God from forgiving them. Nothing could be further from the truth. His love is everlasting. His forgiveness is always available.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
It never ceases to amaze me that I can bring my car into the shop at eight in the morning worrying whether or not it will actually make it there and by the time I get a call a few hours later, it’s almost as good as new.
I don’t understand all of the components of a car. I could probably fool someone for a while but soon enough the other person will realize that my automotive knowledge is fairly limited. The more foreign the problem is to my understanding, the more amazed I am that there are people who can diagnose and fix the problem.
What about the human body? Scientists are daily scratching their heads trying to figure out how something SO complex could be ever imagined, planned, and created.
Thousands of years ago a man named David wrote to God “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous – and how well I know it. Psalm 139:14 (NLT)” It’s often not until we get sick before we recognize how incredibly intricate our bodies are and that the slightest variance can be fatal. May I suggest that we take time today, sick or well, and thank God that He put that much work into us? Isn’t it beautiful that He cares that much about the lives of you and me?
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
You know the drill. Get ready for the big trip! Pack the bags. Stuff the car to the hilt. Make sure the iron is turned off and then hit the road. The buzz is in the air. Road Trip!
Then comes the drawl… You know it’s coming because all the road signs look the same and the scenery is starting to look like the Flintstones background… same tree… same house… same tree…
But then you start seeing things that tell you you’re almost there. The buzz is back in the air!
The Bible says that ‘God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He (God) has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT).’
Some days you may feel like you are stuck in the middle of the road trip called ‘Life’. You may be asking yourself, or God, “Are we there yet?”
Rest assured. If you are breathing, you’re still on your way and God has not finished the journey with you yet so sit back, enjoy the scenery, and let God bring you on His great adventure.
That’s how I see it.
Craig
I think I’m a pretty reasonable guy. I wouldn’t say that I’m pig-headed or anything (notice I’m not asking for anyone else’s opinion yet) and I think that I am fairly open to having discussions with other people on subjects that I know a lot about, or even very little.
If you are like me, I think that the areas that we seem more knowledgeable on are the topics that we are a little more vocal on. The topics where we don’t seem to know a lot of information about are the ones where we sit back a bit more and gather the details.
I love the fact that God said in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together.” There is no doubt that God pretty much has the information area covered. We are not going to throw some curve-ball at God and have Him try to scrounge around looking for the proper response.
Yet He invites us to ‘reason’ with Him. I think that He does that because we will then go to Him with our thoughts, frustrations, concerns or worries knowing that it is going to be a discussion rather than some one-way rant. God isn’t going to sit us down in some corner and lecture us, neither is He going to sit back and take all of our belly-aching. It’s about bringing reason to one’s thoughts or viewpoints. In God’s case, He won’t lose, but maybe, just maybe, we’ll change.
This blog is here so that you can not only hear my heart and thoughts on certain issues, but also give you a chance to comment and bring your own perspective to the topics. I will never think that I am the ultimate authority on anything. Some things I’ll feel pretty comfortable defending. Others I will sit back and learn from the experienced in those fields. Either way, I feel that we can learn from each other’s journey with Christ and grow together in our walk with God.
That’s how I see it, for now.
Craig
