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New Article: Strength for our Struggles

  When going through challenging times, people often receive one of two pieces of advice: “Try harder,” or “Quit!”  Unfortunately, most of the time, those answers are unrealistic, unhelpful or both.  So, what should we do when we do not know what to do?  Colossians 1 gives us some good advice. The chapter begins with Paul mentioning two qualities that indicate his readers are on the right track: they have faith in God, and they love one another (Colossians 1:3-4).  You may remember that someone asked Jesus what the greatest command of God was, and he replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.  There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).  Success starts here, but how do we get to that point?  The next verse gives us a surprising answer. “[This] faith and love spring up from the ...
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Darkness to Light (Colossians 1:9-14)

 Our transition from lost to found is a gift of God. It is because of God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice.  However, our growth in that new life is at least partially our responsibility. So, what needs evaluation?  Where should this growth begin? What does it look like to walk in the light? Colossians 1 highlights three starting spots.  https://youtu.be/1nWWWj4awh8  
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New Article: Be Last

    Peter was probably not surprised when he learned that Jesus wanted to talk to him.   Someone had to take charge of the followers when Jesus went back to heaven.   Perhaps Peter thought this was his big promotion. If so, he was quickly disappointed.   Jesus’ message to Peter was, “Feed my sheep!” (John 21:15-20).   Not “lead my sheep” but feed them.   Typically, this was a job given to the youngest, most insignificant member of the family.   You may recall that years before, when Samuel came to anoint a new king, David was not present, because, as the youngest, he was out with the sheep.   “Feed my sheep” was not a high-level assignment.   In essence, Peter was being asked to humble himself and serve everyone els Jesus consistently taught that we ought to serve one another.   Several times he stated that, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).   His own example was that ...
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Strength for your Struggles (Colossians 1): What to do when you do not know what to do

 Why hope is so important, where it comes from and why we MUST guard it.  https://youtu.be/pTdDmkMDKzk    
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New Article: The Power of Stories

I like car shows, but perhaps not for the reason you might expect.   I like looking at and working on old cars.  I have one myself.  However, my favourite part about car shows is walking up to people and asking, “Is this your car?  Where did you find it?  What shape was it in when you bought it?  Did you drive it to the show?”  If you take the time to be curious and listen, you will not only learn something, but you will also hear some of the most amazing stories and meet some of the nicest people.   Stories are powerful.  They allow us to discover truths and help us understand the world around us.  There is a reason we read our children bedtime stories instead of the instruction manual from the microwave.  The instruction manual contains facts.  Stories teach life lessons.  It should not surprise us then that the Bible is full of stories.  From the story of creation, David and Goliath, the parting of the Re...
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Be Last! Jesus' way to change the world

 Forget your big ideas and vision statements. Jesus has another plan.  https://youtu.be/9z_vnTUNMo0  
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New Article: The Art of Noticing

 A carpenter friend of mine and I walked into a new restaurant.  While I was “oohing” and “awing”, he noted the crooked countertop, the misaligned floor tiles and the drywall that had not been sanded well enough.  He was not trying to be overly critical.  It is just that builders see buildings differently. I have a musical friend.  When I would listen to songs with him, he would say things like, “Did you hear that bass line?” and I would say, “Nope!”  It was there.  However, I did not notice it because I had not trained myself to hear music in the way my buddy did. Sara loves painting.  Often, she will look at a sunset and say something to me like, “Do you see that magenta colour on that cloud?”  I do not even know what magenta is, much less where to find it.  I see a sunset while she, as an artist, sees colours. This happens in all areas of life.  Cattle people see cows differently than I do.  I do not know a good cow from an ...
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