Schoolyard Rules DON’T Apply

Oh I hated standing against the wall at school as two captains chose the teams for kickball, soccer, or whatever the activity at recess was. I don’t ever remember being chosen last (of course!!!) but I always had that sinking in my gut as the last couple were picked. Nothing compares to being picked for a team only because there is no one else to pick.

 

But I read a different story in the Bible. I read Jesus’ words in John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”

 

Wow!!! To think that the God of the universe stood there at the beginning of time and looked at me standing against ‘the wall of existence’ and said, “I pick him!” That’s a powerful feeling. And he picks you too. He calls for you to ‘join His team’ and waits for your response.

 

Are you going to go? Are you going to join Him on His team or say no and miss out on all that He has and desires for you? You’re standing at the wall right now. Teams are being picked. Your choice.

 

At least that’s how I see it.

 

 

Craig

Remembering The Untold

A number of years ago I had the privilege of going on a week long golf trip with my dad. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime dreams that Dad had and we made it happen. For me, I loved the trips there and back because it gave me a chance to find out more of his upbringing (he was trapped in a car for 28 hours… it’s not like he could go anywhere).

 

If I had never heard the stories, there would so much of my history that I would never know. The battles, the victories, the failures, the successes; all making him, and my heritage what it is.

 

In the book of Deuteronomy (6:6-7), the families of Israel are instructed to make sure that their children hear the stories of what God had done. Without those stories, the children would lose sight of God’s importance in their lives.

 

Sometimes I wonder if we ‘tell our children’ enough of what God has done. If they never hear then they will grow up being not only unsure of His importance but not understanding how involved He wants to be in our everday lives. We need to make a point of reliving the memories and instilling them in our future.

 

At least that’s how I see it.

 

 

Craig

The Hatfields and McCoys

You know the story… two families living beside each other… hating each other… not really sure why nor when it all started.

 

Interesting story? Sure. Not relevant to us? Not so sure.

 

I think that there are people who often take time to nurture the ‘weeds’ in their Garden of Relationships rather than put that effort into blossoming the beautiful flowers and plants around them. It could be so much easier to resolve situations but instead they expend horrendous amounts of energy to keep the war going.

 

Paul tells us in the book of Romans “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone (12:18).

 

Did you get it? Did you notice what he said? “… as it depends on you…” It depends on YOU… Not them… It can all stop… but it depends on you.

 

So next time you face the war… be a Hatfield… or McCoy… and end the spat.

 

At least that’s how I see it,

 

 

Craig

Sleep Through A War!!!

Some people sleep really lightly. The slightest sound and they are up on their feet. I feel bad for those people. As you can tell, I’m not one of those people. Once I’m out… I’m out. I even had some friends yelling my name in my tent in the Appalachians while I peacefully sawed logs!!!

 

We can often calm down and relax when we know that the things surrounding us are cared for. The poet in Psalm 4:8 says, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

 

Sometimes we have to remember that the cares of this world cannot always be controlled by us. As we relinquish our fears and concerns and give them to God we can get the peace and tranquility that only He can give.

 

At least that’s how I see it.

 

 

Craig

Barren Fields, Seeds in Pockets

Imagine a farmer sowing seeds in a field with all of the seed still in his / her pockets? It would seem rather strange. Some would say that all they are doing is really just going for a walk in the mud.

 

But so many of us live our lives like that. We go around boasting like we are living our lives with the intent of affecting those around us yet we hold onto the very truth that will change people’s lives.

 

Ecclesiastes 11:6 encourages us to “keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow – perhaps it all will.”

 

You can’t grow what you don’t sow” would make a great motto for people’s lives. We have such potential to change so many other people’s lives that it is a shame when we leave the seed in our pockets and choose to just ‘walk around’. Dig deep, grab a handful and let’s see great things happen.

 

At least that’s how I see it,

 

 

Craig

No Pain… No Gain…

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

 

Facial Tissues To be Officially Banned

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

CNE, Loud Noises, and a Tiny Hand

 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

Going Into Worry Debt

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

No Offence to the Jones’

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