A Lifetime to Prove It

"It takes a moment to tell someone you love them, but it takes a lifetime to prove it."  (unknown)



I can remember when I was still preschool age, standing in my front yard with my sister.  The wind was blowing fiercely and the season was autumn.  We were standing together facing into the wind and holding hands.  It was as if we were ready to face life and all its challenges and somehow we would do it together and support each other.  We looked at each other and promised each other we would get married one day.  That was before we understood brothers and sisters couldn't marry. That was before we discovered that the opposite sex was "ucky" and that we really had different interests.  It was before she became ill with cancer.  It was before she died at the young age of twelve.  As she became more and more ill we became more distant. She wasn't up to living life to its fullest and there were many days when she was grumpy or she disrupted our family's life patterns.  On the other hand all of life seemed to be before me and I was anxious to get on with it.  Yes, I regret being too full of myself to be there more for her.  And so the life lesson is simply this:  How often are you too full of yourself and your agenda to be there for those you love when they need you?  How easy it is for the heat of the moment to take over.  How difficult it can be to put ourselves aside.  But these are the things that will count when we take the "End of Life" test.  They will count much more than the "Bucket List."

Take a moment to show someone you love them today.

Tim Keller's Prodigal God

Our church as just finished undergoing the study of Tim Keller's book "The Prodigal God."  It has been an incredible experience for our congregation.  A high percentage of regular attenders bought the book and a large number of people signed up for discussion groups that met weekly for six weeks.  Yesterday our Sunday service was modified from the usual format and anyone who wished to share how the Prodigal God study had touched their lives was invited to give testimony. The church was packed for the service. Very moving testimonies were given, tears were shed and people came forward to commit or restart their walk with the Lord.  This morning, someone who had not been a part of the study, but who came to church yesterday, came into the office to say that they had read the book last night and that it had made a powerful impact.  I cannot begin to say how deeply it touches me when I see the Spirit of God moving amongst so many people.  Sometimes we know that we need to change or to get excited all over again about our faith but it never seems as easy as a little bit of self-talk.  God has to move and do something to move our hearts that are either broken or hard.  Yesterday our Praise Singers sang a song called "Carried to the Table."  It held incredible meaning for me because its message as simple.  We don't have to get ourselves to the table.  We just have to open ourselves to the work of the great triune God and he will carry us to the table.  Rejoice.  Jesus has already done the work two thousand years ago.  Now its time to learn how to really live.

It's Sunday - Let Your Heart Cry Out in Worship

The Real Skinny on Heaven

The bottom line about heaven is that it is as much about things that we could call material as it is about things that seem just a little surreal.  When Jesus came to earth he proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand and he performed many miraculous signs and healings to verify his claim.  It is interesting that his first miracle - the one that heralded all others - was to change water into wine so that a wedding feast would not be spoiled. At another time he provided so many fish for the fishermen that their boat was about to sink. (In my mind it depicts the abundance found in the kingdom of God.) He went on to heal all sorts and conditions of people and to set them free from demons and the power of evil.  He cared about the very state of the human condition and told people there would be no place for them in the kingdom of heaven if they did not care for the poor and hungry, the prisoners and captives, as well as those who were downtrodden and powerless.  It all sounds very worldly to me and certainly is something that I can relate to. Heaven is indeed a wonderful place.  It is the ultimate destiny of the believer's journey. It is something to look forward to.  My guess is that when we arrive we will feel right at home.

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.:  (Revelation 21:3-4)

Are You Excited About Heaven yet?

We are told in the book of Exodus that God would speak to Moses "face to face, as a man speaks with his friend."  We are also told that after these meetings with the Lord God Moses' face would glow and he would be difficult to look at.  To make things more comfortable for the people Moses would put a veil over his face until the glow died down.  Where would this glow come from?  Quite simply the glory of God.  Moses had been in the presence of someone so radiant and glorious that his whole countenance would be changed. Saul, on the road  to Damascus, encounters Jesus as such a bright light that he is blinded.  Later in life he writes to Timothy "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light..."  Finally, in the book of Revelation it states regarding the New Jerusalem:  "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.  On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."  (Revelation 21:23-25)
I wonder what it will be like to live in the presence of this glorious light.  I wonder how it will affect me.

More About Heaven

Trying to put concrete and understandable ideas about heaven before people can be a very difficult task.  How can we talk about what we have not seen?  The scripture does give us some very clear images however.  One of the clear images I find is in the fourth and fifth chapters of the book of Revelation.  Heaven will be about praise and worship.  I hear the voices of all of creation saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."  I hear the voice of humanity shouting to God "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  And then to Jesus they cry out in a loud voice "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Have you ever been to a huge gathering (thousands) where people are singing songs and choruses of praise?  It can be a glorious experience - joining your voice in praise with thousands.There are moments in church when we are singing praises when I lose myself in praise and it gives me just a glimpse of what heaven will be like.  Heaven is a wonderful place.
I invite you to click on the link below for an exciting video of flash mob praise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

Heaven is a Wonderful Place

Throughout the years of my ministry many people have asked me what heaven is like.  Those who are sick or dying are particularly interested as they prepare for their future.  I have often found myself short of words when people have asked this question.  I talk about how we only see things vaguely or dimly and go on to assure them that it will be a glorious place.  I laughed as I looked for a picture today that depicts the New Jerusalem and couldn't find anything more natural than the picture that is posted here.  We have a hard time relating the spiritual to the material world.  Perhaps that is why the concept of a feast is so well received.  We have all experienced one and so when the scripture speaks of a great feast in heaven we nod our heads and figure that we get it.  Let's talk a little bit more about this feast.  It is called the wedding banquet of the Lamb.  And let's relate that to the words found in the book of Revelation: " I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."  The temple in Jerusalem was built as a house for the Ark of the Covenant which was the very dwelling place of God in the midst of the people.  But now in the New Jerusalem this temple will not be needed because the Father and Jesus will simply be there amongst us.  This union of God with his people is referred to as a marriage.  I want to think back to the days when I was courting my wife Cathy.  I was badly smitten.  I did not ever want to be out of her presence.  Going home to my apartment at night was painful; having to go to work was painful; spending time apart for any reason was painful.  I wanted to be with her all the time.  One of the great things about getting married was being able to be with her more of the time.  And so it is with our Lord Jesus.  As we come to love him more we want to be with him more and more and yet we find the daily routines of life take us away from recognizing his presence. But this wedding feast that is described is the beginning of being in his presence all the time.  WOW!  What a glorious day that will be.

A Day of Celebration

As I look back at my years of growing up one of the images that stands out is that of Sunday dinner.  We always went to church - my father was (is) an Anglican priest and of course the clergy family wouldn't consider missing church.  Church seemed good in those days.  The pews were packed and I was able to find a number of other people my age in the crowd.  There was a coffee hour afterwards and everyone connected.  When we got home there was always a Sunday dinner.  As often as not it seemed there were guests to join us for the meal.  I'm sure there were many wonderful things on the menu but what sticks out is the roast beef.  My Dad always cut it thin (so we wouldn't eat too much of it) and as we got older we were introduced to the taste of English mustard with it. Once we settled into our feast the conversation would begin.  Dad would start:  "Well Richard, what did you think of this morning's sermon?"  I would look pleadingly at my younger brothers and sister hoping that they would come to my rescue, but of course I was the oldest and was expected to carry to ball on this one.  A rich desert always followed.
There was no question that we celebrated on Sundays.  It was a church time, a family time and most importantly it was The Day of Resurrection. In our home today we still have a Sunday dinner although it is at night.  There is always good food and usually a guest at the table.  And yes - we eat in the dining room.  But Sunday's don't seem quite the same.  The world doesn't stop turning as it once did.  People head out shopping, or go to work.  Children have busy schedules of hockey or some other sport depending on the season of the year.  Often they haven't been to church because they were just too busy or too tired.  We've lost our understanding of celebration.
But what a great celebration Sunday should be.  It is the day Jesus rose from the dead.  It is the day that death was overcome and the great heavenly reunion and feast was assured.  It is a day of victory and of rejoicing.  Let's recapture it and celebrate.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."  Psalm 23:5

The Kingdom of God is a Feast

Some years ago Tony Campolo wrote a book called "The Kingdom of God is a Party".He could well have written another called "The Kingdom of God is a Feast". Yesterday at Trinity we focused on the subject of  "The Feast". We did so because it was the culmination of our study of "The Prodigal God". The parable of the prodigal ends with a feast and a celebration because the son who was lost was found.  We could have done so also because it was "Christ the King" Sunday.  The scripture proclaims that a day is coming when Christ will rule on earth as he does in heaven.  It speaks of the end of the suffering, pain and death that the whole of creation is longing for. It will be a time when we all come home.  What a party it will be.  In the book of the prophet Isaiah I find these words:  "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines.  On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.  The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth."
As I took my communion yesterday I could clearly see this act of taking bread and wine as a foreshadowing of the great feast to come in the kingdom.  It was an Ah Ha moment for me.  As if to confirm what I saw, several people said to me on their way out of church "Coming to church and receiving communion is my feast."  I'm looking forward to that great feast - in the meantime Holy Communion heightens my anticipation and reminds me of great things to come.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

It's Sunday - Prepare Your Heart For Worship

Are You Ready For Sunday Worship?

This week I received the feedback that I was really on the ball last Sunday with my leadership during worship. I think it was a really exiting time of worship and of course it is always great to get affirming feedback. I have no doubt that it is important that the leadership of worship be enthusiastic and spirit filled. Let me tell you however, about all the Sundays that I have arrived excited to worship only to find that no matter how excited I am the congregation seems unmoved by the Spirit of God. Being ready to be moved by the Spirit is the responsibility of everyone who comes to worship on Sunday morning and not just the clergy. But being ready for worship does involve some preparation. Some time of prayer, reflection or just sitting quietly before attending worship can make all the difference. Every Sunday morning I am posting a YouTube video of a worship song. Tomorrow morning take five minutes to listen and prepare yourself for worship.

New Every Morning

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our faith was new every morning - full of confidence and excitement.  The trouble is we don't always feel that way. There are days when faith feels old.  In fact there are times when it feels like it is a burden to keep the faith and to stand firm in what we believe.  When that moment arrives it is time to revisit the very basis for our faith - the love of God for us unconditionally demonstrated on the cross.  When we take the time to contemplate the great price that Jesus paid it becomes a powerful motivator for living out our faith.  This, you see, is the difference between religion and Christianity.  The religious person says "I must do these things in order to stay on the right side of the fence - in order to gain God's favour." The Christian, on the other hand, is not motivated by fear and striving.  The Christian says:  "I have profoundly experienced God's love and therefore I respond freely with my life."  The book of Lamentations says:  "I call this to mind.  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness."  (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Just as his love is new for us every morning, so may our love for him be new every day.

When the Anger and Judgement Has Passed

The Prodigal Son Comes Home

How many parents have lived through the battle of wills between with their children?  How often have parents watched their children make all the mistakes they hoped they would never make?  How often have parents stood helpless as their children have hit bottom in their lives?  If you are one of these parents then you are not alone.  At first it is tempting to rise to the challenge and to determine that those strong willed children will not prevail.  As time goes on the battle becomes more stressful and heated because the children are not the only ones with a strong will.  And then that strong willed child becomes an adult and finds ways to hurt the parent to the depth that only a parent can understand.  How tempting it is to heap anger, criticism and judgement on the foolish child.  But in the end, none of those things help.  Our children (even the grown ones) do not need our anger and judgement.  If they have messed up they probably have their own self-anger and judgement to deal with already.  They don't want our wisdom either.  They only see it as judgement and control meted out in the name of wisdom.  The  only thing we have left to give is ourselves and our love.  Interestingly, what may seem to be left-overs to us is the very thing that is most valuable.  "Parents - you can't live with them and you can't live without them."  Make sure that your children don't live without them!

The Beatles Are Back

The Beatles are back. "She Loves You Ya Ya Ya"; "Yellow Submarine"; "Sergeant Pepper"  and all that stuff.  Yesterday Apple announced that the Beatles music would now be sold at the iTunes store.  That's pure gold for people of my generation.  When I finally got to put my weary bones into an armchair last night what did I do?  Go to the iTunes store to check it out.  I kept trying to get there only to be disappointed because I kept getting the message that the server was busy.  I checked my Internet connection - no, it was working fine.  Guess the iTunes store was having a busy night.  I finally got connected.  I can buy a Beatles song for $1.29 or I can buy the "Beatles Box" for $149.00  (I can't tell you what Cathy threatened to do if I did.)  So I just sat there playing the little snippets that the iTunes store will allow you to play in order to preview their products.
There is no question in my mind that the Beatles music influenced a whole generation of young minds - for better or for worse.  It is an example of the power that there is in music.  Music continues to influence the North American mind at a very powerful level.  Unfortunately we often don't listen carefully to the words but rather just get into the beat.  If we took the words to heart there might be a whole lot of music we would never listen to again.  But in case you think this is going to turn into a rant about the horrible directions our culture is taking - it is not.  I prefer to think about the positive and the lovely.  There is a ton of great music out there and in this decade we have some wonderful composers and performers such as Michael W. Smith; Chris Tomlin and many others. I invite you to familiarize yourself with this music; let your heart and mind soak in it, and allow this wonderful music to have a powerful effect on you.  May it lead your heart to worship the King of Kings.

Have a great day.

Perhaps you have heard enough about worry but I am going to discuss it one more time.  That's because I know that worry can be a troublesome and stubborn thing and it is not easy to get rid of.  I believe that the most important weapon in our arsenal against worry is our understanding of God's love.  When we reach the place that we realize that God's love for us is unmoveable and absolutely complete then we can begin to understand that when we are in his hands we are safe.  Now I know that  we live in a world that seems unpredictable and chaotic, but I also know that there is much I cannot see or understand.  Underneath everything that happens are God's everlasting arms and they are more than strong enough to keep me safe in the day of trouble.  Having confidence in this I invite you to give up your worry and put your trust in the one who loves you completely.  

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you."  (1 Peter 5:7 NLT)

Today focus on God's love and let all your worry drop away.

More About Worry

Last week I wrote a couple of times about the subject of worry.  Today I want to write about our responsibility in dealing with our bad habit of worry.  There is no doubt that it is God's power that brings us success in our battle against worry but He wants us to do our part too.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said:  "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:5)
I interpret this to mean that we are being encouraged to discipline our minds -not allowing our minds to entertain those things that will harm us and take us away from God. As a child of God I am totally in his hands, but doing my very best is a part of the deal. If worry (or any other thought pattern) is a problem for you then fight the battle and win the victory.  Renounce the harmful thoughts, give them to Jesus and turn your mind to beautiful things.
Have a great day.

It's Sunday - Take Time to Worship

Worry Takes Over

"Worry is a think stream of fear which, if encouraged, becomes a wide channel into which all other thoughts flow."  (Unkonwn)


We all know the words of scripture about worry.  Jesus himself was very clear that we should not live our lives in worry.  He pointed out that our heavenly father loves us and will care for our every need.

So why do we worry?  Because sometimes we just can't stop it.  It's just great for me to pat you on the shoulder and tell you today to stop worrying but how can we control it?  What we need to know is that we do not have to deal with all of these things in our own strength.  As Christians we are given the opportunity to be connected to the power found in Jesus.  A few days ago I wrote about the power of taking all our concerns to God in prayer and leaving them there.  Here is another piece of advice from the scripture: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  Whatever you have learned, or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  (Philippians 4:8-9)

Focus on Jesus

Church (the institution) is a funny place.  We get caught up in activity.  We get caught up in endless discussions about what the scripture really means.  We get caught up in nasty arguments about morality.  I could say more but you what it is like...  Don't get me wrong, the church is the body of believers and we are who we are -messy and broken... but we are God's people none the less.  So why am I a part of this organization/group of people?  It's really quite simple - I needed a savior and I found Jesus.  If we were to focus on that which holds us together - our common need for a savior - then I think all the other stuff would fall away as unimportant.  Trouble is we seem to forget that we need a savior and are busy out trying to save and justify ourselves.  Let's get our act together.  Let's focus on Jesus!

We Will Remember Them

On this Remembrance Day I am particularly thinking of all those who gave their lives in service during the Second World War.  Because of what they gave I have lived my close to sixty years of life in peace and safety.  It is gift that I do not take for granted.  War and all its horror has been an integral part of human history and for all intents and purposes I have avoided it in my lifetime.  Now there are those in this generation who are putting their lives on the line (and losing them) in Afghanistan.  It is my prayer that their sacrifice will make the world a better place just as the sacrifices in times past have done.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Thank you.

Are You Stressed Out?

On my way to the office this morning I was listening to the commentators on the radio talking about a report on research done in the USA about the levels of stress in the population at large.  Not surprisingly, they were saying that the general level of stress in the population is alarmingly high.  This, in light of the fact high stress levels have a serious impact on our physical health is a serious matter.  I can relate completely.  I woke up this morning at 2:00 a.m. and to my distress discovered I was wide awake.  I hate it when that happens.  It is not the long quiet night hours I mind but rather how I know I will feel the next day.  I'm too old to go without my sleep.  It wasn't too long before I realized I was thinking about some things that were maybe raising my stress level.  Eventually I thought about praying.  I prayed about the things I was thinking about and, what do you know, the next thing I knew it was morning. I think I have found a great cure for stress.  I invite you to try it.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:7-8)

I Have Myopia

Yes.  I really do.  I have had to wear glasses since I was seven  years old. In grade three I was sitting in the back of the class at school.  One day, I put my hand up and told the teacher I couldn't see the blackboard.  She moved me to the middle of the classroom.  It wasn't long after that I put my hand up again.  I was moved to the front row in the classroom. When I put my hand up a third time she wrote a letter to my parents suggesting I should see the eye doctor.  I am very myopic and know what it means to, literally, not be able to see beyond the nose on my face.
But sometimes I think I am myopic spiritually as well.  It seems easy to have faith when things are going well, But faith is not really for the good times.  It is not about the things we can see but rather the things we cannot.  About the third day into the flu I am convinced I am going to die.  That's why I always have such sympathy for those undergoing chemotherapy.  The side effects of the treatment only serve to convince them that the prognosis is terminal.
Psalm 26 starts off this way:  "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering."  That's my goal. I am not there yet. Lord, teach me to trust you without wavering.

On Repentance

More thoughts from Tim Keller:

Martin Luther said:  "All of life is repentance."

Lord Byron said: "Only the weak repent?"

Which is true?  If you live a religious life believing that your power and reward come from your good works and your doing things right then to repent is to recognize that you have failed and as such have separated yourself from your source of power.  This is surely only for the weak and for those who have failed at self-discipline and godliness.  If you live a life of humility, recognizing your limitations,  then repentance actually puts you in touch with your source of power - Jesus Christ.

Do you find repentance empowering or dis-empowering?  Why?

It's Sunday - Take Time to Worship

Excellence for the Lord

Striving for excellence - a catch phrase perhaps heard too often in a world where there is constant pressure to do more with less. But let us think for a moment about our service for the Lord.  Is it possible that after spending a day in the pressurized environment of work and family obligations that when it comes time for the Lord we are satisfied with second best?  By the time we get around to private devotions are we really all there for the Lord?  By the time Sunday morning arrives do we come to church "prayed up" and ready for the Lord to do a new thing in our lives?  When we offer ourselves to take on some task for the Lord or for his church do we do so to the best of our ability or are we satisfied with giving second best?

Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum. 

Dry Prayer Life?

Tim Keller shares the following reflection on conversations.  If you have a conversation with a business associate it tends to be a goal oriented one.  If you have a conversation with a friend you might open up about at least some of your problems.  If you have a conversation with a lover, you speak about what you find beautiful in him or her.  Which of the above sounds most like your conversations with God?  OUCH!!!

Growing Comfortable

A friend of mine pointed out this morning just how easy it is for us to become comfortable with out religious practice and our spiritual journey.  He said that when the time came that he was coming home from church without feeling challenged it was not a good sign.  How right he is.
The trouble is that it is so easy to stop growing.  Undoubtedly that rightly puts a lot of responsibility on us clergy.  But to preach and teach Sunday after Sunday, year after year, in a way that brings the listener to new depths of spirituality is very difficult - especially if we are not feeling renewed in our hearts.  And life is like that.  There are times when we feel that fresh breath of the Spirit and there are times when it seems as though the Spirit must be working somewhere else.  Pray for your pastors, whoever they are.  To do our job well we need that regular, fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.

I Am Still Confident

Have you ever prayed... and prayed... and prayed for something?  I certainly have.  After a long while of not hearing an answer I am tempting to start thinking that maybe God is saving his answer for me in eternity.  It's easy to start rationalizing - talking about God's timing and about all the things that He does that I don't know about.  It's kind of like giving up on the prayer and making sure that I don't set my expectations too high.  That way I won't get let down too badly.

Then one day I found the words of Psalm 27:13  "I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  King David who wrote this Psalm didn't allow discouragement and unbelief to settle in on him.  Nor should I.  The psalm goes on to say:  "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

I am still confident...

It's Always Your Move

At Trinity Church we have been preaching a series of sermons on the parable of the Prodigal.  I expect that most people who read this blog will know the story of the son who demanded his share of the estate from his father and once he received it went out and spent it on wild living.  If you are not familiar with this story then you might want to look it up in Luke 15:11.  Everyone knows that this parable is, among other things, about forgiveness. The interesting thing about forgiveness is that we always think it is up to the other guy to do something.  When we feel wronged we wait for an apology.  When we have done wrong we usually deny it or out of pride refuse to seek forgiveness.  Jesus said many things about forgiveness, but regarding the subject of who needs to make the first move he was quite clear - you do.  He said: If someone has something against you go and deal with it.  (Matthew 5:23)  On the other hand if someone has wronged you - no matter what it is - forgive him so that your heavenly father can forgive you.  (Mark 11:25)  Now the way I read this,  it is always your move - whether you are in the right or in the wrong.  A tough message.

Almost all healing begins with forgiveness - whether you are the giver or the receiver. Become a healing agent today and be reconciled to one another just as we have been reconciled to God.

God's Little (or Big) Surprises

We all live very organized lives.  On Sunday night I get out my I phone and take a look at my calendar for the week.  Mentally I start to put extra things into the blank spaces and it isn't long before my whole week is full.  When I look at the things I have to do there are many times when I wonder how God will have a chance to break through all my business and do something special.  It is amazing, however, how God can suddenly enter into the mundane activities of life and speak to us or intervene in our circumstances.  These unexpected moments rather than the things I have planned are what make the day or the week special. God spoke through Isaiah saying:  "See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up? Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland?"  (Isaiah 43:19)  He still is doing new things!  Do you not perceive them?