Perspective for the new year

I've started doing something as I finish one year and begin the new....I've started reading the book of Ecclesiastes in one sitting at the end of the year. I just finished these 12 chapters a few minutes ago and am thinking about Solomon's words as he talks about his observations on life and God. "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity!" are some of the most familiar words in this book. "There is a time for everything..." became the lyrics of a popular pop song in years past. This little book is rich with observations from Solomon and his conclusions about life. It's a great way to calibrate your life and thoughts as you finish one year and start another. It's quite humbling to realize how little we control, how little we know about our lives and the days ahead. It's humbling to know that we each will quickly be forgotten once we are gone. It's humbling to be reminded that we are not God. It's a great book to read at the end of one year as you begin the new one.

Eccl. 12:13 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

The end of a year

Today is the last day of 2009. Imagine, another year gone already. With the end of anything there is always a little reflection on what is finally passing away. It comes to my mind that in any year I have lived there are a host of boring normal days that are just part of living, but there are also the highs and lows of a year that will come to mind as we think back. In this post I won't go into the lows. Those are for me and God to talk about. There's enough bad news in the world and you don't need to hear about mine too. So let me simply take a moment to talk about one of the highs of the year. In late June my wife and I, along with an amazing team, went to Kenya to teach a group of pastors and their wives. It was a great 10 days together. Time to meet new friends, to get to know the team we went with and to experience Africa. It will be one of the highs of my life. I can see why people go back to Africa. The people are wonderful! The experience was life changing for me and I look forward to a day when I can return and spend time with my new friends in Kenya.

There are many times like this in our lives. Times we remember fondly. The life changing events stick out in our remembrance, but there are little highs all through the year that will change us and mold us as well. The last two years have been difficult for me in one way- In February 2008 I fell and crushed my heel. Since that accident I have lived with constant pain in my foot. A little high for me has been that in the last 2 weeks it has not hurt. I'm glad to finally be able to walk without constant pain. Thankful for little things...little blessings...yes! God is so good. Even with the tragedies of life, the problems and challenges we face, God blesses us and encourages us for the new year ahead. I look forward to see what God will do in 2010. It's not a time for fear. Jesus told us not to be afraid of the days ahead, but to trust him. I look forward to seeing what God does as we serve him in these last days.

Planning ahead

One thing that is sure...there are trials and temptations ahead of each one of us. We each have days ahead that will test our faith. The best way to be ready for these challenges is to know they are coming and keep your relationship with God active, alive and fresh. Read God's word and talk to him regularly. Planning ahead is the best way to deal with the inevitable trials and temptations we each face. The person who is most likely to fall to trials and temptations is the one who thinks it will never happen to them. Trials come to every life. We can't avoid them. One of the notable comments I've overheard at a funeral I spoke at was this, "I can't believe this has happened to our family!"

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Caution! trials and temptations ahead. Plan ahead.

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James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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Monday's cartoon

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The latest in political correctness?

Ok, now this is funny. Here's the latest new law in Canada. Maybe it's too cold up there, eh?

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Bylaw to stop dogs from chasing squirrels, seagulls
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December 24,2009 Jenny Wagler/Staff Writer

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"Sechelt dogs that "without provocation" chase any animal — be it a rat, squirrel, seagull, bear or cougar — would violate a dog licensing and control amendment bylaw that passed three readings at the Dec. 16 council meeting.
The first draft of the bylaw, prepared by District of Sechelt staff, would only have stopped dogs from chasing, biting or attacking domesticated animals. But at committee of the whole Dec. 9, Coun. Keith Thirkell suggested expanding the bylaw to include wild animals and birds as well. Thirkell argued that this would bring it in line with provincial and federal legislation that protects various wild animals, including migratory birds and endangered species.
Councillors Fred Taylor and Alice Janisch voted against the bylaw.
"People have given me examples where their dog has run after seagulls and that would be a crime [if we pass this bylaw]," Taylor said. "One individual has talked to me about their dog chasing a rat in their yard. That would be a crime. People have talked again about bears in the park and how their dog ran after the bear to defend them and save them from being attacked. That would be a crime. I just think we're unnecessarily criminalizing behaviour in our community."
Coun. Ann Kershaw said the clause "without provocation" was key, and that she hoped common sense would guide how the bylaw gets enforced.
"I've thought it over and I think that if a coyote was in my yard, then I think that's provocation in itself," she said. "It depends on your interpretation of provocation. And a bird fluttering away in front of a dog, that's provocation."
Thirkell asked staff to clarify if the bylaw would be enforced differently for incidents that occurred on people's private property.
"If you look at it from practical terms, it's highly unlikely our bylaw enforcement officer would be as concerned with something occurring on somebody's private property, because there's a good chance nobody would be complaining about it," District director of corporate services Jo-Anne Frank said. "But if somebody saw a dog chasing a bird and had an issue with it, and it says in our bylaw that that's an offence, then theoretically our bylaw enforcement officers would be reacting to that complaint and enforcing the provisions of the bylaw.""

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So do I understand this correctly? Dogs are not allowed to chase squirrels? What has this world come to?

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Best and worst of 2009

We all have our lists....the best things of the year and the worst. I'm sure, in just a moment of thinking, you could give me your list. On the list of best you might tell me about a trip or a new job. There may be family blessings or financial successes that would be on the top of your list. But we all make our lists based on our own rating system...how did it affect me? On your list of worst you could have a job loss, a relationship failure or an illness. Again, we make our lists based on what we believe were the best and worst things in our lives.

But.....what if God is brought into the discussion? What if he were to tell you the end of each of the things on your list? What if what you thought was the worst thing of the year actually was part of God's plan to bring about your very best? What if our lists are UPSIDE DOWN? It does change everything to know that God is working in our lives. It does make a list of what we think were bad things just a list of things we haven't seen God's finished work in yet. We don't know how they will end, but at the moment they seem to be failures. But....what if God's not done yet? What is he's still working on our worst list? What if what we think is our worst is part of God's plans for our best? Maybe we should hold off on that list for now.....

To the third and fourth generation...

The bible promises us riches beyond measure, but they are not the riches you would think of...they are children. The rich heritage of a godly man or woman are their children who become godly men and women after them. I can't imagine how this works, but God seems to take the best from our efforts and molds our children into men and women who then parent their own children. The promise of God is that he will bless us with a rich heritage if we will follow him. I've tried to do that with my life, although I have failed many times, and once in a while I get a glimpse of what God has done. It's all God's work, but what a treat to see that I haven't been a complete failure! Here's a post my son wrote this morning on facebook. It is humbling and I feel most unworthy of such kind words, but his words have made my year. These words are the result of another influence...my own dad modeled for me what a man should be and from that model I was carved. Now I am blessed to pass these riches on to a third and fourth generation. Thanks to a most amazing son...

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"I spent the evening with my family, and my wife's family, and it got me thinking. I've been getting a lot of compliments lately on what a good father and husband I am. I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and I don't take compliments well, but really it's my father who deserves the glowing reviews. I learned everything I know about being a father and husband from him. He is hands down the strongest, most honest, hardest working, selfless, and loving man I've ever known. Not to mention he has a great sense of humor. His influence can be found in everything I do, not just the with my family, but with my life. I learned my work ethic, how to forge friendships, how to be there for people, how to truly care about those around me, and so much more from my father. For those of you who may have met him, he may seem quiet, or stoic. For those of you who KNOW him, you've seen a man who has made the most out of his life with every passing day. If I can be just a fraction of the man that he raised me to be, than I will be a man worth my salt. A man full of confidence, self worth, and compassion. God broke the mold when he made my dad, but hopefully he used some of those pieces when he made me. I love you dad." -Ian Messerli

Quote of the day

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

-C.H. Spurgeon

Merry Christmas

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An amazing promise, conclusion

Isaiah 9:6-7
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6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
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Prince of peace
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Tom Constable wrote, "He would be the "Prince of Peace," the monarch whose coming results in peace between God and man and between man and man." With his first coming peace between God and man has been accomplished. With his second coming peace between man and man will be a reality. In that day the prince of peace will become the King of Kings. Prince of peace...the title itself talks about a man who will come and accomplish what no one had done before him. The title hints at something God wants for us...peace. Peace with God, peace with those around us and peace inside. Peace isn't possible without the coming of this prince. Now, because he has come peace is available. Peace is coming to its fulfillment in the days ahead. We cannot imagine now how great it will be to live at peace in every area of our lives, but when this prince returns he will bring the peace we all long for.

The undiscovered gift

Early this week I sent a gift to a friend in another part of the world. The only way to get it there is by Western Union. The gift for my friend has been waiting for days, but he doesn't know it's there because he hasn't checked his e-mail to discover I sent it. I long for him to read his e-mail to discover the awaiting gift. But Christmas is almost here and I've heard nothing from him. I fear he will miss the gift....I don't want my friend to think I don't care...that I didn't think of him. I want him to know his gift awaits.

I wonder...is this how God feels about us? He's sent the gift, but many have not read the announcement that the gift has arrived. It's sitting there, waiting for their discovery. Imagine how God must feel to hear so many say, "God doesn't care. He doesn't love me." When all along the gift awaits their discovery. All they have to do is know that it has arrived and receive it. Christmas is that gift. God's gift of his son is that undiscovered gift. As you celebrate your own discovery of this wonderful gift take a moment and pray for others who have not yet discovered the arrival of God's amazing gift. I wish they knew the gift is theirs and it simply waits for their unwrapping.

An amazing promise, part 4

Isaiah 9:6-7
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6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
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Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
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Now we come to the most unexpected part of this prophet's words. In the last part of verse 6 Isaiah writes that this child who is born, this son who is given will be called Mighty God, Everlasting Father. Unexpected because no one, then or now, would expect God himself to show up on planet earth to be the Messiah. No one expected God to come himself, but he did! He came to show us his love, to show us himself and to do what we could never do for ourselves. Mighty God, Everlasting Father in a manger. This is a very strange reality for us. The God of the universe...the uncreated one visiting his creation. It's more than we can understand or imagine. This is why Jesus is such an unforgettable figure in history. He's God. When the creator comes himself to fix what we have broken it's a most wonderful day indeed.
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People who matter

Time magazine has its "person of the year" article online. This year you can vote on which person is most important. It's their list of "people who matter." People who matter...the title caught my attention and I was surprised who they nominated for their list. Many of the people on their list don't matter to me at all! I wonder who puts this list together? Often the people who matter most in our lives would never make any list because of their popularity. People who really matter in our lives are not in a popularity contest...they are people who care about us. Your list will be different than mine, but the people who won't be on my list are the very ones who are on Time magazine's list. Funny, isn't it....people who matter depends on what really matters most. So, if you were to list three people who matter most to you who would they be?

Imagine a world without Christmas...

We have the grandkids over today. It's great chaos and great fun. It's very loud. Am I getting old? But I am thinking this morning, as we watch Santa Claus 3 with the grandkids, what would the world be like without Christmas? What would our world be like in 2009 if Jesus had never been born?

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Imagine no Christmas. Jesus never born. The end of the year with no good news to celebrate, no gifts given to celebrate God's gift to us. Imagine a world that never experienced God's love in the amazing gift of God in flesh. Imagine lives without hope, without God's love a reality, without a promise of life, without so much.

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The world would be an terrible place to live without Christmas. No savior, no hope, no promise, no evidence of God's love. What would it be like? I can only imagine a horrible dark and sad world. The bible makes clear we live out of what's in our hearts. If there was no one in the world walking in love, in hope, how would we treat one another? Who would have built the hospitals? Who would have started the universities? What would morality look like? As I think this out to its conclusion it's clear that a world without God's entrance into it would have been hell itself. You wouldn't have to imagine hell, you would already be there. A world without love and kindness for one another. A world without hope or a reason to live. Everyone living for themselves. All of us taking care of ourselves and using everyone else to get what we want. What a horrible world that would be.

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The bible says that Jesus came at just the right time. Thinking about a world without him I cannot imagine what a sad place this would be if he hadn't come to show us his love, to die for our sins, to give us hope, a promise and eternity. Hell could not be much worse than a world without a messiah. That's just one of the reasons Christmas is so important. I'm thrilled to be in a world where the savior has come and we celebrate a new world because of his arrival and his life, his death and resurrection. It's a different world because he was here.

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Merry Christmas! The savior has come! The world will never be the same because of his arrival.

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An amazing promise, part 3

Isaiah 9:6-7
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6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

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And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

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"Wonderful Counselor" is literally "wonder of a counselor". His counsel goes beyond any man's wisdom. Jesus' comfort and counsel for us meets the need of the heart. His love draws us to him. As Jesus said, "I have not come to judge, but to save." Salvation means God's full intent to restore and repair the heart and life of each one of us. Need someone to talk to who really understands? He has lived our lives. He knows what we go through. He cares. He can help. Talk to Jesus. He is a wonderful counselor.