Friday, January 6th, 2012
As we cleaned up the last of Christmas, I awakened from “peace on earth” to CNN’s latest report on world conflict. Not wanting the peace of Christmas to be a mere stoplight, just how do we have more peace in our lives? Now, aside from wishing that our mean ‘ol neighbors would move or get run over by a Greyhound bus – let’s ask ourselves, “What would God desire I do to have more peace in my life when each of us are surrounded by others having different beliefs, opinions, habits and quirks?”
I guess if we could create our own utopia, we would only hang out with those we like/love or agree with. Conversely, all others who we dislike or hurt us, disagree with us or just plain get under our skin could move to eastern Mongolia where they wouldn’t affect our otherwise happy lives.
But life does not worketh that way.
Reality says the very same people who fill us with the abounding joy, love and fulfillment can cause us pain or tick us off. And we do the very same thing to them and gulp… even repeatedly.
For this dilemma, the Bible gives us this instruction, from Colossians 3:13:
- Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. (New Living Translation)
- Put up with each other and forgive each other (God’s Word Translation)
- Bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other (Weymouth N.T.)
Listen closely to the heart of the Lord as you openly say to yourself “Put up with… make allowance for… and readily forgive”, knowing that others who love you are thinking of you in the very same way – perhaps at this very moment. Even more so, Christ did this for us and continues to do it every day.
And watch the season of “Peace on Earth” get just a little longer.
Posted in Bible Study, Christianity, Community, Friendship, Love, Relationships | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
It’s beautiful in Merrit, BC this time of year now that the rainbow trout are feeding. The snow and ice are gone, the aspens are budding and the illusive trout are beckoning their challenge. All you need is a fly rod, a cold beverage, a cooler full of meat and treats and some guy friends and you are set for an enjoyable adventure.
This last weekend thirty of my friends and I went fishing up at Roche Lake and had an awesome time together teasing, making fun of each other, putting up with each others snoring, just being guys together. We had a blast expressing our hu-man-ity, beating our chests, avoiding showers and shaving and enjoying cholesterol and all meat meals.
Besides all the caveman cavorting we were able to be men who love being men who love other men in a very real and transparent way.
Yes, I did say thirty friends.
You say, “I wish I had thirty friends…”
These guys are all from my Church, and somehow we all get along and actually like each other so much we can spend a weekend together trying to catch the most or biggest fish so our name is engraved on a gawky second hand trophy.
The richest relationships I have are with my brothers from the Church, that is why we call our Men’s ministry, ‘A Band Of Brothers’.
We are building lasting supportive relationships where we encourage, assist, mentor, hug and even cry on occasion because we love each other as brothers.
The rainbow trout dancing on our lines is always a bonus. It’s the deep relationships and bonding that we experience that keeps us coming back year after year. We all want and need friends. The Church is a great place to make lasting friendships and experience brotherhood. I hope you can come with us next year…see if you can put up with my snoring…
Posted in Church Life, Community, Friendship, Love, Relationships, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
I was dangling about 25 feet off the ground from the eaves of my house last Monday on that cool, but gratefully dry, afternoon. I had two things going for me; no rain and free time, sort of. It was my day off and the “honey-do-list” was pressing on my conscience. I desperately needed to hang my Christmas lights up before the first winter snows fly. Besides, my wife’s Christmas nostalgia was getting restless about the seasonal necessities.
Just as I was finishing, my brother-in-law drove by, saw my garage wide open and spotted me hanging on a corner of the roof doing my reindeer impression. I waved and made a funny face at him and he returned it warmly as he passed by heading who knows where. Moments later I heard a noise and there he was pulled up in my driveway. He had deliberately turned around, put his agenda on hold, and stopped in to chat it up with me.
I tend to take my cues quite responsibly and since I had numb fingers, and had run out of garland, I quickly suggested he come in and sit down for a cup of coffee and a visit. He gladly complied — after all, he changed his plan for my sake it seems, or perhaps because we share a healthy relationship. He values my friendship and knows I value his.
This friendly encounter with my brother-in-law reminded me of God’s interest in meeting with you and I. It’s quite interesting to me how ready God is to meet and talk with us and enjoy our interaction with Him. he’s very interested in our lives and thrilled to engage with us about it in great detail and enthusiasm.
I have come to truly believe that He would love it if you would turn your truck around, put your daily agenda on hold and pull into His driveway for an assumed coffee visit. After all, it is a relationship and He’s always ready to meet and talk. Are you?
Posted in Christianity, Community, Friendship, Love | 1 Comment »