Consider this

                  When I was 10 years old, I spent much of my time pretending to be someone else.   When I played road hockey, I was Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Mike Palmateer.   When I played football, I was Saskatchewan Roughrider safety Ken McEachern.   When I rode my bike, I was racing legend A. J. Foyt.                   Pretending you are someone else when you are a kid is fun.    Pretending to be someone else when you are an adult is lonely and isolating.                   Rather than be who we really are, we adopt personas so that we seem more impressive to others.   Instead of talking about how we really feel, it is tempting to put on the “I am fine” mask and keep everyone else out.   Outward appearances do not always match up with what is going on inside of us.                 Such is the case with the rich, young ruler

                A thousand years before Christ, if there was a “Most likely to succeed” vote, Saul would have won by a landslide!                   1 Samuel 9:2 introduces him by saying, “[Saul was] an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites – a head taller than any of the others”.   Some versions of the Bible say that he was “Young and good looking” or that “There was no one more handsome than Saul”.                   When God finally allowed Israel to have a king, the choice was obvious (1 Samuel 10).   Saul’s courage made him a good military leader (1 Samuel 11) and his popularity united the people.   Saul was strong, confident and effective.                   It is surprising, then, that when God lists the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, King Saul does not make the team.   There are several reasons

                I have two lists.   One is a list of problems and issues that I need to fix.   The other list contains all the good things in my life.   The good things list is much longer than the problems list.   However, it is the problems list that gets most of my attention.   As I listen to people, it is obvious that they are concentrated on their problems list too.                 Contrary to what we are often told, listing your blessings is not going to change your focus.   Even the most depressed person can list the things that should bring them joy.   The list is obvious!   If we want to change our perspective, we need to add another, often missing, element.                 Most of our problems come with a feeling!    We are scared, worried, angry or nervous and those feelings make the problems seem much bigger and m

                  I cannot remember a time when I have looked forward to Thanksgiving weekend as much as I am this year.   The long weekend will be nice.   Having family around will be great!   But the big reason I am looking forward to Thanksgiving is because I need it.                 Compared to what other people are going through, my life is not that difficult, but lately it has felt very busy and chaotic.   There is always something to think about, worry about, plan for or figure out.   I have been living in crisis mode just waiting for the next thing to go wrong.                 I need Thanksgiving weekend, not for the break, but for the reminder.    I need to remember that my thankful list is hundreds of times longer than my problems list.   I have been blessed beyond imagination.                   James 1:17 says, “Every

                “If we were half the church we sing about, we would be unstoppable”.                   That statement, made by a song leader at a conference I was at last year, has bothered me ever since I heard it.   Think about the words we sing so regularly.                   “If Jesus goes with me, I will go!”   Really?   We sing that but do we mean it?   To be honest, most of the time I do not want to go anywhere. I would rather stay at home and be comfortable.                 “I am mine no more.   I’ve been bought with blood.   I am mine no more.”   Really?   In reality, it seems like most people are planning their life and future with very little thought about anyone other than themselves.                 “All to Jesus I surrender!”   Really?   Then just leave your car or truck keys with me, I will sell them and us