Consider this

This past Saturday, a buddy of mine and I went on a motorcycle ride to New Town, North Dakota, over to Williston and back home again. In all, we put over 500 kilometers on our bikes. Since running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere would not be any fun and because we were not quite sure how far it was between gas stations, we filled up every chance we got. As well, because my motorcycle is older and has a fairly small tank, I not only filled up, but I literally filled it to the top every single time. When I was done, you could not have squeezed in one more drop. I wanted all the fuel I could get because it was important to have enough. Sunday morning after we got back, I was teaching from Ephesians chapter three. In that passage, Paul prays that his readers may be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (verse 19). In light of my previous day’s experience, that verse meant a lot. I wonder how many times we try to live our lives on “half a tank”. Instead of bein...

I only agreed to do it because I was asked, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Estevan’s version of the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” was a hoot! Seriously, it was a ton of fun! Good visits, lots of food, staying up all night, good weather, entertainment (the “Mr. Relay” portion was a little disturbing to watch – but terribly funny at 2:30 in the morning) and lots of people made it a great event. It was more than just fun, though. It was inspiring! In a time when people say, “No one cares about anyone but themselves anymore” here were several hundred people giving their time to help others. In a time when people say, “Teenagers are lazy and don’t know how to work anymore” a pile of kids proved them wrong. When I arrived, there were teenagers everywhere! They were hanging signs, giving people rides, putting out chairs and generally doing what needed to be done. In a time when people think, “We have lost our sense of community...

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). A very rich woman died and went to Heaven. Outside the Pearly Gates, she met St. Peter. “Welcome!” Peter said, “Come in and I will show you your new home”. The woman followed Peter and soon came to a beautiful mansion. “This must be my new home”, she said. “It looks very much like my home on earth”. Peter, however, said, “No! That is not your home”. They continued to walk and came to another very impressive mansion. The woman thought, “Well, this must be my new home”, but Peter walked past this house as well. Soon, they left that neighbourhood and moved into one filled with more modest dwellings. “I guess I could be happy here”, she thought, but Pe...

Susan Boyle’s appearance on the TV show “Britain’s got Talent” has made her an overnight success. In fact, her performance is one of the most watched videos on “YouTube”. (If you have not seen it, please look it up). When Boyle walks on the stage and introduces herself, Simon Cowell (of “American Idol” fame) gives her a look that indicates that he does not expect much from her. She is not dressed for the part. She makes silly jokes and acts as if she is very nervous. The crowd laughs at her. One girl rolls her eyes. Then Susan starts to sing. The best part of the video is the look on Simon’s face after he hears the first three notes. He literally lights up with surprise and joy. As Susan continues to sing, the crowd begins to cheer and gives her a standing ovation. One of the hosts of the show turns to the camera and shouts, “You didn’t expect that, did you? Did you? No!” At the end of her performance, the crowd erupts. It is absolutely amazing! After seeing that vi...

So, I turned 40 this past weekend! When I moved to Estevan 19 years ago, I remember looking at the guys who had a career, two or three kids and a minivan and thinking, “Wow, those guys are old!” Thinking about it now, they must have been in their early thirties at the time! They were just young pups really. Generally speaking, Sara and I do not make a big deal about birthdays. It seems a little odd to celebrate the fact that you were born on a certain day, doesn’t it? I mean, it is not like you had a choice in the matter. Nor is it really very special or unique (Everyone on the planet was born, so what is to celebrate?). We have parties for our kids, but she and I generally just get cards and a few small gifts. I figure that birthdays are not a big deal after the age of twenty or so. However, I did think a little more about this one and the big thought that went through my mind was, “If I live to be eighty, then I am already half dead!” I know that is not the happiest tho...

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…” (Ephesians 2:1-2a). Wow! That is strong language and it is a tough lesson to teach these days. In fact, it is almost impossible to talk about “right” and “wrong” in a world that hardly even believes those things exist anymore. We have been raised in a time that says, “You can do anything you want, as long as it does not hurt someone else”. “Sin” is even harder to talk about. As one writer states, “The only place most people see the word sin anymore is on a desert menu” (think “Sinful chocolate cake”). It is difficult to convince us that we are “sinners” in need of anything from God. Yet, what if that is true? What if our actions have separated us from God to the point that we are “Spiritually dead” (both now and in eternity)? What if we wanted to change that situation? How would we do that? Here, from this same passage, is the answer: “But beca...

“Alberta gambling revenue expected to outstrip oilsands royalties”. That was the headline on a CBC news story last week. The Minster in charge of Gambling explained that, “Alberta has a relatively young population and we have the highest wages in the country so there is more disposable income”. Think about that for a moment. They have the highest wages in the country and yet record numbers of people are gambling in an effort to try to get more. It is no secret that blessings can become problems when we misuse them or pay an inordinate amount of attention to them. Drugs, for example, can be medicinal and have helped to prolong our lifespan, but they can also be abused. Similarly, sex was created by God to be a beautiful thing between a husband and wife, yet our culture’s obsession with all things sexual has turned it into a problem for some and something that is considered “dirty” in general. In the same way, money can be used well or it can be badly misused. No one would arg...