I know of a few who follow my blog and I appreciate your support. I just wanted to say thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you are a great Christmas and a better New Year.
We are traveling to visit family. My parents live in Windsor, ON then we are going to see Tracey's side of the family in Cleavland, OH. Part of the reason we are traveling is because my brother is moving to FL and we wanted to see him and his family before they move. We will have a busy summer and will be unable to visit this year after they are settled.
See you all in the New Year and keep us in your prayers. We are only 6 months away from the big move to The Big TO!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
A Christmas Thought...
I wish I could pride myself as a deep thinker but most people who know me, know that I am not consistent. I will have deep thoughts from time to time then move along to the task at hand and the many opportunities I take in being a wise guy.
This weekend I had a deep thought! (Audience breaks into applause) Our pastor, David R. Stokes, www.davidrstokes.com, is speaking through a series entitled "Joe to the World." It is a 3 part series on the life of Joseph. This past Sunday was a great message and he pointed out the fact that Joesph did what God had asked him to do regardless of human reason and emotion. My deep thought was that he could have missed being a part of the entire plan. As pointed out in the message, he had to work through his human experience and emotions that could have crippled him. However, he followed through and was a part of the plan. The interesting thing is that God's plan would have continued regardless of Joseph's actions. Joseph could have missed it if he did the "human thing." It reminded me that God has plans and I need to jump on board.
It is interesting to think that Joseph followed God's plan in all of this but was not a witness of Jesus' earthly ministry. He did not have the satisfaction of seeing Jesus perform miracles or preach to thousands. It is believed that Joseph died sometime between Jesus' visit to the Temple at the age of 12 and the beginning of His earthly ministry around the age of 30. He continued to follow the Lord in commitment and obedience probably hoping, like many of his time, that the Messiah would be revealed...and it was his SON! He probably spent a lot of time thinking about when this would happen and how happy he would be to have his obedience satisfied in a great triumphant moment that he never would experience. (He would not experience it in his lifetime I should say because Joseph has been in heaven for years now...) It made me ask myself if I have that kind commitment in obedience? Will I be obedient even if I do not see "satisfaction" for in it? I hope I can be that guy.
Let me tie my thoughts about obedience to our plans in Toronto. I would love nothing more than to see a great church built in Toronto with many coming to Christ. My hope rests in that and I am following by faith. As a matter of fact, I heard another interesting statistic about Canadian churches. There are only 20 churches in all of Canada that have 2,500 members or more. Why? They are "the neighbor to the north" of the USA that have many churches 4 to 10 times more in membership and attendance. I shared this with a couple who is coming to help us get started. I said there is no mega church in Canada. Their reply was, "There is no mega church yet!" Man that made me laugh and made me think, "I am bringing a load of crazies with me to Canada if they think I am a mega church pastor!" BUT, maybe we are the catapult of that mega church. What if obedience is "satisfied" one day after I am off the scene and God takes Burlington Community Church to heights Canada has not yet experienced. All I can say is, cool! Use me Lord.
This weekend I had a deep thought! (Audience breaks into applause) Our pastor, David R. Stokes, www.davidrstokes.com, is speaking through a series entitled "Joe to the World." It is a 3 part series on the life of Joseph. This past Sunday was a great message and he pointed out the fact that Joesph did what God had asked him to do regardless of human reason and emotion. My deep thought was that he could have missed being a part of the entire plan. As pointed out in the message, he had to work through his human experience and emotions that could have crippled him. However, he followed through and was a part of the plan. The interesting thing is that God's plan would have continued regardless of Joseph's actions. Joseph could have missed it if he did the "human thing." It reminded me that God has plans and I need to jump on board.
It is interesting to think that Joseph followed God's plan in all of this but was not a witness of Jesus' earthly ministry. He did not have the satisfaction of seeing Jesus perform miracles or preach to thousands. It is believed that Joseph died sometime between Jesus' visit to the Temple at the age of 12 and the beginning of His earthly ministry around the age of 30. He continued to follow the Lord in commitment and obedience probably hoping, like many of his time, that the Messiah would be revealed...and it was his SON! He probably spent a lot of time thinking about when this would happen and how happy he would be to have his obedience satisfied in a great triumphant moment that he never would experience. (He would not experience it in his lifetime I should say because Joseph has been in heaven for years now...) It made me ask myself if I have that kind commitment in obedience? Will I be obedient even if I do not see "satisfaction" for in it? I hope I can be that guy.
Let me tie my thoughts about obedience to our plans in Toronto. I would love nothing more than to see a great church built in Toronto with many coming to Christ. My hope rests in that and I am following by faith. As a matter of fact, I heard another interesting statistic about Canadian churches. There are only 20 churches in all of Canada that have 2,500 members or more. Why? They are "the neighbor to the north" of the USA that have many churches 4 to 10 times more in membership and attendance. I shared this with a couple who is coming to help us get started. I said there is no mega church in Canada. Their reply was, "There is no mega church yet!" Man that made me laugh and made me think, "I am bringing a load of crazies with me to Canada if they think I am a mega church pastor!" BUT, maybe we are the catapult of that mega church. What if obedience is "satisfied" one day after I am off the scene and God takes Burlington Community Church to heights Canada has not yet experienced. All I can say is, cool! Use me Lord.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Catching A Break
My wife and I were on our way into the office today and discussing our plans for the future in Toronto and what we needed to do this week at Fair Oaks Church. We have gone through a very busy fall and began talking about a break this Christmas. Since the end of August, I have pushed our family into a busy season. Much of it was my own design of what I felt was necessary. Because of that, I have not been myself in many ways. I am a very happy content person but I have been very busy, very tense and very frustrated at times this fall. It was getting to the point that my wife and daughters were concerned about what mood I was in or what small thing could throw me into a fit. This is not like me at all. I stretched myself to the limits and can confidently say I know I will not frustrate my family this way again.
Tracey and I got a little break this weekend. During the snow storm on Saturday, we spent most of the day in the house with no kids! We watched the snow fall, enjoyed the fireplace and even watched the movie It's A Wonderful Life together. I decided to make time for my wife and I am very glad I did. It gave us an opportunity to talk and for me to get the wake up call about the type of person I had been lately. Tracey told me that it was great to have me back. This was rough to hear but I completely understood. I kept telling myself that it was just a busy time and it will all change. Do you know what I needed to ask myself? What if it doesn't change? I am going to Toronto to start a church and that is a lot of work! I will be as busy as I am now so I need to learn to deal with it.
Has much changed? No, I am still pretty busy but I am giving my family a break so we can "serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing." This happens when I change who I am because I can only change me. You know what I am saying?
If you have found yourself busy and frustrated like I have been, catch a break. Decide to change the person only you can change and watch the difference it makes in your life and those around you.
Tracey and I got a little break this weekend. During the snow storm on Saturday, we spent most of the day in the house with no kids! We watched the snow fall, enjoyed the fireplace and even watched the movie It's A Wonderful Life together. I decided to make time for my wife and I am very glad I did. It gave us an opportunity to talk and for me to get the wake up call about the type of person I had been lately. Tracey told me that it was great to have me back. This was rough to hear but I completely understood. I kept telling myself that it was just a busy time and it will all change. Do you know what I needed to ask myself? What if it doesn't change? I am going to Toronto to start a church and that is a lot of work! I will be as busy as I am now so I need to learn to deal with it.
Has much changed? No, I am still pretty busy but I am giving my family a break so we can "serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing." This happens when I change who I am because I can only change me. You know what I am saying?
If you have found yourself busy and frustrated like I have been, catch a break. Decide to change the person only you can change and watch the difference it makes in your life and those around you.
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