ACA Blog » Relationships

Peace on Earth?

Dave — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:08:39 +0000

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.

Men Who Fish and Snore Together!

Mitch — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:44:58 +0000

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…

You are Wanted.

Mitch — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:45:10 +0000

Last Friday morning after driving my kids to work & school I enjoyed a delicious hot cup of home-brewed coffee in front of a toasty crackling fire together with my wife. We talked and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company as we reveled in the fire’s warmth and the tranquility of the early morning alone together.

I’m always amazed and so happy that my wife loves me so much. I’m so far from perfect yet my wife loves me in spite of my flaws and mistakes. My mishandlings of her tender emotions at times or misunderstanding or somehow forgetting her needs. My impatience, my moods….I could go on and on. Now without sounding arrogant, I do believe I must possess a certain amount of quality characteristic that she loves and that makes her feel wonderful & loved but, I fail often and suffer from inconsistency. The most amazing thing is that she loves me in spite of my lack. That’s unconditional love!

It’s awesome when people love us unconditionally, but what is even more awesome is that God our Father loves us absolutely and totally with an unconditional love. So much so, that He pursues a relationship with us that is only subject to our agreement and willingness to interact with Him. You see, He wants you not for what you can give Him but for what He can give you. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Now it’s up to us to respond to His love. It’s not forced nor is it illusive. His invitation to you says, “Come to me all you who are week and feeling burdened…I will give you rest.”

He knows you and loves you as if you were the only person on the earth. You are the apple of His eye! So if you are feeling like you have to measure up or be more lovable to qualify for His love, forget it. He accepts you as you are, freely and without reserve in spite of your inconsistencies and failings. He doesn’t base his love for you on your good performance either. You can’t earn His love. He’s bigger than that. You don’t want religion nor does he. He wants a relationship with you! He loves unconditionally and He is God…not a human being.