Have you ever wondered what it might mean to live with Christ for "Eternity"...for me usually its the concept of eternity that is hard to wrap my head around.
Here are some of my thoughts in that regard:
Eternity is:
-when every day feels like the perfect day
-no fears for tomorrow
-no regrets from yesterday
-time is irrelevant and we won't care
But...what about the aspect of eternity that is the right now?
We are living with Jesus right now, and right now is a part of the eternity that we are promised with Him. My previous thoughts don't really seem to relate to a CURRENT eternity do they?
On the other hand maybe they should, maybe we should be feeling that way even now, remembering that God is the focus and reason for living and doing EVERYTHING. After all we are to rely on Him even in tough times and in a perfect relationship with Christ the day would still be perfect...things to think about.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Not really sure...
I just kinda felt like writing but I wasn't sure what to write about. I do know that I'm tired, a little overworked and stretched in way too many directions. I'm looking forward to moving because it will clear up a bunch of those issues. I won't have to deal with the strata any more (I'm the president), we won't have to worry about packing and moving, I won't have to worry about finishing the basement bathroom because it will be done before we go, and I just sort of feel like we'll have a chance to settle down into our new place. Plus there is a hot tub at the new place which is really good and I'm REALLY looking forward to using it ALL the TIME.
Anyway, pray that we make it through the next few weeks in one piece.
I'll leave you with this question, How and where do you draw the line for individuals you know claim to believe and live for Jesus and yet refuse to live the way that they know they should?
I know, there are a lot of factors involved but its worth thinking about either way. What about when those decisions may affect your kids? Do we extend love never ending? And how do you profess love over all to individuals like that and to your kids when they can only think in black and white terms for their age.
Anyway, pray that we make it through the next few weeks in one piece.
I'll leave you with this question, How and where do you draw the line for individuals you know claim to believe and live for Jesus and yet refuse to live the way that they know they should?
I know, there are a lot of factors involved but its worth thinking about either way. What about when those decisions may affect your kids? Do we extend love never ending? And how do you profess love over all to individuals like that and to your kids when they can only think in black and white terms for their age.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Moving
Yep, we're moving. We sold our house for 100$ more than we were asking which is good. And the place that we are looking at/considering buying right now is great. The only hang up is that it used to be a grow opperation. But that might be why its so cheap now!
So, pray that if things are supposed to work out that they would continue to and that God would be in charge of all the decisions that we make every day. We are super stressed right now which is not good. Pray for sanity and unity between Melissa and Myself as well as our family. It'll be good to move out of a strata environment but at the same time we're going to miss it a lot. Its been home for more than 5 years and basically the entire time we have been married as well as the full lives of 2 of our kids.
It's going to be hard. Plus the financial situation we will be in is going to be hard too!
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!
Dave
So, pray that if things are supposed to work out that they would continue to and that God would be in charge of all the decisions that we make every day. We are super stressed right now which is not good. Pray for sanity and unity between Melissa and Myself as well as our family. It'll be good to move out of a strata environment but at the same time we're going to miss it a lot. Its been home for more than 5 years and basically the entire time we have been married as well as the full lives of 2 of our kids.
It's going to be hard. Plus the financial situation we will be in is going to be hard too!
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!
Dave
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tired...relaxed and refreshed was the goal.
Why is it that Christmas never ends up being the break that we are expecting or hoping for. I spend the entire time stressed about the sermon I had to preach on Dec. 31. Now that its over it seems that the stress is only building up instead of letting go.
We decided to try and take in a handicap lady, which meant we would have to move and buy a place suitable for a wheel chair. We found a place, offered on it and listed ours...didn't officially sell our place so someone else managed to buy the one we had hoped for. But by then we had signed papers to sell ours which meant we had to move regardless. 3 days after the deadline we get a bunch of people looking at our house and actually able to buy it instantly. Well, now here we are with a house we were able to sell for a little more than we had hoped, which is good, but still looking for somewhere else to live.
Which of course brings up the fact that in order to sell ours I have to have the basement finished (I've done everything but completed the bathroom in the basement. So, now I have a week to finish that and at the same time hope that the house we are looking at now (it was a grow opp) checks out for insurance reasons.
We had hoped that income from having others live with us would help with major additional costs to the new place and now we are worried about surviving as it looks like we won't be able to take the handicap lady. In the mean time I have been sick in bed for a week and have to worry about planning the rest of the year out for youth. We have a "God Stalkers" retreat this weekend which means I won't be here to work on the bathroom for 3-4 days.
Our kids have been sick too and Melissa's job has regular additional stresses. Not even sure if we can get up to Kamloops at this point due to the bad weather...Does it ever end?
Anyway, on the bright side, we'll get out of having the STRATA president responsibilities, I'm the mediator and have to do all sorts of extra work. Having the inside of the house completed will be really nice and relieving. This house we are looking at is perfect for us. I suppose a little extra motivation never really hurts, getting the bathroom done before we have to pack will be really good!
Anyway, it kinda feels like life never really slows down enough to breathe, I'm often afraid that I'm missing my kids stages as the grow up and time seems to slip away faster and faster every year.
I guess it sort of brings me back to the whole point of the movie "Click." Although it had way too much sexual inuendo and stuff the message was great. Its not about longing for the next thing and needing to be where your long term goal is, its about where you are now. "Its not about the destination, its about the trip/ride." So, if I take it one day at a time I guess I'll be OK. We really felt God leading us to take this step, although we did expect to be approved for recieving Bev (our handicapped friend) into our home if it doesn't work out we can only assume that God had something different and maybe bigger in mind!
So, I Breathe and do what I need to do next...
Whoa, here comes another dip in the roller coaster....
Dave
We decided to try and take in a handicap lady, which meant we would have to move and buy a place suitable for a wheel chair. We found a place, offered on it and listed ours...didn't officially sell our place so someone else managed to buy the one we had hoped for. But by then we had signed papers to sell ours which meant we had to move regardless. 3 days after the deadline we get a bunch of people looking at our house and actually able to buy it instantly. Well, now here we are with a house we were able to sell for a little more than we had hoped, which is good, but still looking for somewhere else to live.
Which of course brings up the fact that in order to sell ours I have to have the basement finished (I've done everything but completed the bathroom in the basement. So, now I have a week to finish that and at the same time hope that the house we are looking at now (it was a grow opp) checks out for insurance reasons.
We had hoped that income from having others live with us would help with major additional costs to the new place and now we are worried about surviving as it looks like we won't be able to take the handicap lady. In the mean time I have been sick in bed for a week and have to worry about planning the rest of the year out for youth. We have a "God Stalkers" retreat this weekend which means I won't be here to work on the bathroom for 3-4 days.
Our kids have been sick too and Melissa's job has regular additional stresses. Not even sure if we can get up to Kamloops at this point due to the bad weather...Does it ever end?
Anyway, on the bright side, we'll get out of having the STRATA president responsibilities, I'm the mediator and have to do all sorts of extra work. Having the inside of the house completed will be really nice and relieving. This house we are looking at is perfect for us. I suppose a little extra motivation never really hurts, getting the bathroom done before we have to pack will be really good!
Anyway, it kinda feels like life never really slows down enough to breathe, I'm often afraid that I'm missing my kids stages as the grow up and time seems to slip away faster and faster every year.
I guess it sort of brings me back to the whole point of the movie "Click." Although it had way too much sexual inuendo and stuff the message was great. Its not about longing for the next thing and needing to be where your long term goal is, its about where you are now. "Its not about the destination, its about the trip/ride." So, if I take it one day at a time I guess I'll be OK. We really felt God leading us to take this step, although we did expect to be approved for recieving Bev (our handicapped friend) into our home if it doesn't work out we can only assume that God had something different and maybe bigger in mind!
So, I Breathe and do what I need to do next...
Whoa, here comes another dip in the roller coaster....
Dave
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Stalker=Disciple?
Consider this...maybe for our purposes and understanding today, a Stalker is a more accurate concept of what God calls us to be. Disciples followed and learned in every aspect of life. They left everything else behind.
I mentioned Psalm 119 before but read it again with "Stalker" in mind. Think about the things you know about stalkers and hear about stalkers. What do you think?
Stalkers are obssessive, don't limit their thoughts about the object of their affections to one are of their lives but affects everything they do.
Dave
I mentioned Psalm 119 before but read it again with "Stalker" in mind. Think about the things you know about stalkers and hear about stalkers. What do you think?
Stalkers are obssessive, don't limit their thoughts about the object of their affections to one are of their lives but affects everything they do.
Dave
Luke 14:25-33
The most hated verse in the bible? Verse 33 is said to be that!
Jesus uses shock treatment...tells the huge crowd following him to "HATE" all those they care about. Why?
Telling them to carry their cross, in effect be crusified...die?
One of my favorites!
Anyway, I preached on this on Dec. 31, 2006. I don't think I can do justice to all the stories and other things related to this passage. I have a DVD of it though if anyone is interested.
The jist for now though is that Hate was meant to be used as a comparison. You will hate all those you love in comparison to how much you love Jesus. You will always choose Jesus over all others and everything else in your life.
We are called to know and realize this before we commit to following Jesus because when we commit to Jesus we commit ALL of ourselves, not just parts and pieces.
We aren't obviously going to be perfect and not want to hold on to parts of us and things that we should stop doing, its that we need to be aware that God may call us at any time to let go of something or let Him control some part of us or our lives we either haven't given Him yet or maybe He wants us to do something we never thought He'd ask of us!
It may be uncomfortable but we've given it all and have to let Him do what He would with us, for His will as His followers.
Jesus uses shock treatment...tells the huge crowd following him to "HATE" all those they care about. Why?
Telling them to carry their cross, in effect be crusified...die?
One of my favorites!
Anyway, I preached on this on Dec. 31, 2006. I don't think I can do justice to all the stories and other things related to this passage. I have a DVD of it though if anyone is interested.
The jist for now though is that Hate was meant to be used as a comparison. You will hate all those you love in comparison to how much you love Jesus. You will always choose Jesus over all others and everything else in your life.
We are called to know and realize this before we commit to following Jesus because when we commit to Jesus we commit ALL of ourselves, not just parts and pieces.
We aren't obviously going to be perfect and not want to hold on to parts of us and things that we should stop doing, its that we need to be aware that God may call us at any time to let go of something or let Him control some part of us or our lives we either haven't given Him yet or maybe He wants us to do something we never thought He'd ask of us!
It may be uncomfortable but we've given it all and have to let Him do what He would with us, for His will as His followers.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
John 15
A couple of options from things I've been reading lately...
John 15:1-17...Bearing Fruit, am I bearing fruit? Apply it to yourself and see. And then in verse 16-17, how amazing would it be to be so connected to God and with Him so often that we only ask for the things that He would want us to ask for? I want to know that when I pray and feel like I'm supposed to say something or do something or ask God for something, that its exactly what God want me to ask Him for "He may give it to you".
John 15:18-26...interesting, this quote from Jesus seems to say that people are not guilty if they haven't been told and don't know better. Almost makes you feel like not telling anyone huh?
Think about that for a few minutes...
But then think about the rest of the Bible, God's whole purpose was to connect with us and show us our purpose in life as His creatures. So, we should all be given the option of knowing and choosing to do what we were created for and having the fullfilment of KNOWING and TALKING to God any time and all the time. So, God calls us to tell others, over and over again and makes that extremely clear, He wants everyone to have that option and choice.
Pastor Dave
John 15:1-17...Bearing Fruit, am I bearing fruit? Apply it to yourself and see. And then in verse 16-17, how amazing would it be to be so connected to God and with Him so often that we only ask for the things that He would want us to ask for? I want to know that when I pray and feel like I'm supposed to say something or do something or ask God for something, that its exactly what God want me to ask Him for "He may give it to you".
John 15:18-26...interesting, this quote from Jesus seems to say that people are not guilty if they haven't been told and don't know better. Almost makes you feel like not telling anyone huh?
Think about that for a few minutes...
But then think about the rest of the Bible, God's whole purpose was to connect with us and show us our purpose in life as His creatures. So, we should all be given the option of knowing and choosing to do what we were created for and having the fullfilment of KNOWING and TALKING to God any time and all the time. So, God calls us to tell others, over and over again and makes that extremely clear, He wants everyone to have that option and choice.
Pastor Dave
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
One of those times when the Scripture just Hits you in the face!
I was reading 2 Timothy 3 last night...
OK, so go and read it first and then come back...or remember what you read as you read the passage.
The first 9 verses of this chapter are talking about what people will be like in the last days. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that the end of the world is coming. I'm not the kind of person who sees signs and assumes everything is ending now. I believe that God told us to be ever vigilant for the purpose of our constantly giving our all to Him. Knowing that if we don't share today then it might be too late tomorrow. But thats another entry.
Read what it says in those verses, how many people that you know are like that?
How many of us are like that?
Not neccessarily in every one of those ways but one or two...The most impacting point for me was in verse 7 where it talks about how we can always learn but never come to a true knowledge of the truth. Do we believe with our hearts? Do we KNOW in the depths of our soul that God is who He says He is, and if we do does our lifestyle show it? If our life doesn't show do we really believe?
The Living Bible paraphrase stated verse 5 like this; They will go to church, yes but they won't really believe anything that they hear.
Do we believe?
I also found it interesting to think that it sounds pretty clear that the culture this kind of thing would have to take place in would be one just like ours. Cultures that persecute Christians wouldn't have pretend believers there, its only cultures that accept those who go to church that could produce this kind of pretend Christian.
Lets be careful not to be confused by these people and most importantly lets be sure we aren't one of those people.
Pastor Dave
OK, so go and read it first and then come back...or remember what you read as you read the passage.
The first 9 verses of this chapter are talking about what people will be like in the last days. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that the end of the world is coming. I'm not the kind of person who sees signs and assumes everything is ending now. I believe that God told us to be ever vigilant for the purpose of our constantly giving our all to Him. Knowing that if we don't share today then it might be too late tomorrow. But thats another entry.
Read what it says in those verses, how many people that you know are like that?
How many of us are like that?
Not neccessarily in every one of those ways but one or two...The most impacting point for me was in verse 7 where it talks about how we can always learn but never come to a true knowledge of the truth. Do we believe with our hearts? Do we KNOW in the depths of our soul that God is who He says He is, and if we do does our lifestyle show it? If our life doesn't show do we really believe?
The Living Bible paraphrase stated verse 5 like this; They will go to church, yes but they won't really believe anything that they hear.
Do we believe?
I also found it interesting to think that it sounds pretty clear that the culture this kind of thing would have to take place in would be one just like ours. Cultures that persecute Christians wouldn't have pretend believers there, its only cultures that accept those who go to church that could produce this kind of pretend Christian.
Lets be careful not to be confused by these people and most importantly lets be sure we aren't one of those people.
Pastor Dave
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Holiness...?!
I'm reading a book called "The Chase" right now. Its about our personal persuit of holiness, our desire and efforts to become more like God in all that we do. I'm wrestling with it a lot. So much of it makes sense but at the same time I feel almost like if I pursue a lifestyle that looks more like Christ's that I may end up in a place of legalism. Not to say that I don't try and live like this already, I think it might be the extra focus this book seems to place on do's and don'ts as Christ calls us to.
We all know we are called to live righteous lives, but do we ever really think about what that would look like? And those of us who do choose to live that way have to be extremely careful not to make others feel like they are being judged for not living as we/they may think is applicable to their own personal lives.
I'm looking forward to God working in my heart through this book, I suppose the more I wrestle the more God is working right?
Pastor Dave
We all know we are called to live righteous lives, but do we ever really think about what that would look like? And those of us who do choose to live that way have to be extremely careful not to make others feel like they are being judged for not living as we/they may think is applicable to their own personal lives.
I'm looking forward to God working in my heart through this book, I suppose the more I wrestle the more God is working right?
Pastor Dave
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Have a bog, now what to write on it...
Maybe I'll make this my Bible reading and devotional site!
On that note...You should all read Psalm 119
Yes its fairly long but you could read it in sections if you want.
And while you read through it think about 3 different terms and how they might relate to you and your relationship with Jesus.
Think in terms of their being 3 different options as far as your level of connectedness with God.
Are you:
1. A passive and accidental learner
2. A student
3. A Stalker
There are many phrases that relate to the last 2 options in this Psalm. I have immense amounts of underlining in my bible.
My personal goal is to be a stalker, but we can all tend to fall back into the passive mode if we aren't careful.
Along with that, ask yourself, are you a reluctant learner? Are you following God...Running...chasing...or being dragged along?
This is something I got out of a talk from Ron Luce while I was down in Texas last month.
Pastor Dave
On that note...You should all read Psalm 119
Yes its fairly long but you could read it in sections if you want.
And while you read through it think about 3 different terms and how they might relate to you and your relationship with Jesus.
Think in terms of their being 3 different options as far as your level of connectedness with God.
Are you:
1. A passive and accidental learner
2. A student
3. A Stalker
There are many phrases that relate to the last 2 options in this Psalm. I have immense amounts of underlining in my bible.
My personal goal is to be a stalker, but we can all tend to fall back into the passive mode if we aren't careful.
Along with that, ask yourself, are you a reluctant learner? Are you following God...Running...chasing...or being dragged along?
This is something I got out of a talk from Ron Luce while I was down in Texas last month.
Pastor Dave
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