Well my time is done at Highway and I truly loved every minute and every relationship that I have there.

I know that I am now starting a new journey with a new congregation. For this reason, I will stop my blogging here and start them up at a new site. It is www.craigmckibbon.wordpress.com.

Thanks for everyone who participated in this journey.

The journey continues… just on a different road.

Be blessed all,

Craig McKibbon

www.craigmckibbon.wordpress.com

Do you know that type of person? They can’t quite open their mouth without something coming out that just grates against you… or perhaps even hurts. It’s like when they start speaking shards of glass come out and cut up everything around them.

I don’t know why some people are like that. I’m sure there are enough books out there to explain why. But I know what the Bible says. In Proverbs 12:18 it says that “reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Wow… that says that we have a choice. Our words can either tear someone down, or build them up. I choose build them up. What about you?

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

To me, next to attending funerals, Remembrance Day observations are next on my list of things you should make sure you attend.

Because of my son’s involement with Air Cadets and my involvement with the police, I get to go to two of them. My son’s was on Sunday and I’m going to another one tomorrow.

Why I’m blogging tonight is because of the minister’s address on Sunday. His premise was that because of the different views that people have on wars, present and past, he questionned whether or not our fallen members were really ‘heroes’ or were they instead the tragic cost of society’s evil.

I am really trying to see his point of view but I find myself coming up short. Quite frankly, I was livid when I heard him speak.

I believe that when we consider the selfless and courageous lives of those who have served, are presently serving, or fell in service, it would be callous and selfish of me to not take time and honour their sacrifice. Even if they survived the war, they fell prey to the damage and trauma of what they observed and experienced.

My conscience and sense of civic duty and pride cannot go without not only honouring their service, but also heralding and championing their cause, their commitment, and their personal cost.

I wish to shamelessly and unabashedly thank the ‘heroes’ who have valiantly sacrificed their lives in order to support, protect, and ensure the freedoms that we have today.

God bless them all.

That IS what I think!

Craig

Let’s face it… people get mad. Mad at drivers. Mad at telemarketers. Mad at computer customer service…  aaaarrrggghhh!!!!

Getting upset is just a way of dealing with life’s junk. If something doesn’t upset you… it obviously doesn’t matter enough to you. But everyone has a line… and anger peers its ugly head!!

But Ephesians 4:26 gives us a deadline to deal with that anger. People think that anger is bad. No. It’s not… but what you do with that anger can end up being bad. Paul says for us to deal with it ‘that day’. “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Festering anger turns into bitterness and holding bitterness is like having an ulcer… no one can see why you are so much pain and it keeps getting worse until you deal with it.

If your upset, breathe, ask God for direction, and deal with it. Don’t let it stew.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

I know that people joke about it all the time but in my case, it really does happen… I run into furniture at night. Many times when I’m busy at night Kerry takes it upon herself to do some ‘re-modeling’. Unfortunately I don’t know about it until I am coming through the room the way I have… since the last time I banged my shins.

Life will always change. Circumstances will always need for us to readjust our lives. The problem is that so many people try to do it blind and then they have the scars and hurts to show for it.

Jesus says in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” When God shines his ‘light’ on our lives, the issues that could hurt or damage us suddenly are exposed and we then can make the changes necessary to stay clear of them.

What about you? Are there things in your life that you wish you hadn’t ‘run’ into? Ask God to shine his ‘light’ on your life. You’d be amazed what you’ll end up seeing!

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

I’m sitting here at my computer shaking my head back and forth. I have vivid memories of Saturday morning pro wrestling. The flips, the chairs, the broken tables, the ref always looking the wrong way when it mattered. They spent more time telling us that it wasn’t fake than making sure it didn’t LOOK fake!!!

But not all wrestling is fake… in the ring or in our lives. Every day we battle with enemies that we can (and sometimes cannot) see. It may not be a chair hitting us in the face but rather a lost job, a sick family member, or bills greater than our supply.

But if you look in the corner, dressed in a white robe is the greatest wrestler of all-time, King of Kings, and He has his hand out waiting to be tagged. He says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

It’s time to get out of the ring and let Him take over. The battle is far from fake, but the victory is His.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

Dear Friends:

A number of years ago Kerry and I were given the opportunity to come to Hagersville and pastor Highway Pentecostal Church. During our time here we have truly enjoyed and cherished our memories with the board, staff, congregation and their families.

Recently, after much prayer and discussion, Kerry and I have felt God’s leading to go and offer leadership to Evangel Pentecostal Church in Brantford, ON.

Our last official day will be Sunday, November 16, 2008.

I wish to convey that our decision has nothing to do with anything that has happened during our tenure at Highway. Our incredible time spent at Highway has actually made the decision very hard and painful for us. Though we are excited about what lies ahead, we truly do cherish the friendships and relationships that have been built during our time here. Their faces and smiles will be greatly missed.

Please know that Kerry and I have counted it an extreme privilege to be at Highway and we do desire God’s best for her future.

Sincerely,

Rev. Craig A. McKibbon

I like to be alone sometimes. Maybe going out for a hike, or sitting on the porch reading a book, or watching a Pats’ game on TV (I don’t like doing that alone but the rest of my family doesn’t share my same interest). Being alone is not a bad thing to do. We need that time to recharge.

But being ‘lonely’ is a totally different story. Statistics say that 25-30% of Canadians feel ‘lonely to extremely lonely’ at any given time. That means… you see four people, one will feel that.

God never intended for us to be alone. The first negative thing that He said in the Bible is that it is NOT good for man to be alone. That’s why I believe so much in going to church. It’s not about doing something instead of sleeping in on Sundays. The writer of Hebrews writes “let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (10:25).

Going to church is connecting with a hub of other men and women who are growing in their faith just like you are. So don’t feel you have to do it alone. That was never God’s intention for your life.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

I would have loved to have served with Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War. Though I may not agree with some of the things that the Confederates were trying to protect, hearing stories of his ironclad faith in God amaze me.

If you don’t already know, General Stonewall Jackson got his name because when the enemy would fire on them, he would be the only one standing instead of cowering behind something. He felt that the fate of his life was in the hands of God so he didn’t need to worry.

Philippians 4:7 states that ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” If we put our faith in Him, rather than the circumstances around us, we can have true peace.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

I lived on a dirt road outside of Ottawa when I was child. I think living in the country made me think that I could go anywhere without telling my parents seeing as it took so long to get anywhere. I knew that I could go anywhere as long as I was within an ear-shot of home. When it was time to come home, my dad would go outside and whistle three times… our code that he wanted me.

Jesus says in John 10:27 “My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost.” Jesus calls for us to follow and it becomes our choice whether or not we choose to follow it. His voice is clear and can be heard by all… we just need to listen for it.

I challenge you to open up your heart and ask Him what He’s saying to you. You’d be surprised how long He’s been calling and waiting for you to come.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

PS – I was at a crowded Toronto airport a couple of years ago picking up my dad after a trip to India… his three whistles still work!!!