Like Chocolate

 I recently read the introduction to this season's "The Word For You Today"...and I believe it was Peter from UCB Canada who wrote it. He mentioned how much he loves chocolate (I do too!) and how exciting recent studies have been syaing that dark chocolate (in small doses each day) is good for you...it has antioxidants in it. But he also went on to point out that, as we all know, too much of a good thing is dangerous...too much chocolate is bad for you. He made an interesting comparison...he said that the Bible is like food...and your favorite stories/verses are like chocolate. If you only read your favorite verses or stories it is bad for you because you do not benefit from the nutrition of the rest of the Bible...This does not mean that you should not read your favorite parts of the Bible...It's not wrong to have chocoate once in a while, it is healthy. It simply means that you should not pass over other parts of the Bible and suffer from malnutrition because you only hear part of the Word.

...for example...find where these verses are in the Bible...

"Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” 


"And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, _____?”
   “A plumb line,” I replied.
   Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.


"When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
   the light of my face was precious to them."

I love...I hate

The words "love" and "hate" are very strong...yet I believe we have made them a lot weaker through overuse and sarcasm. Perhaps we don't mean to...but when we say "I love _________"

We lessen the meaning of love, and the same with hate. We should save these words for when we really mean them. One of my co-workers this past summer once mentioned to me that he never heard me say the word "hate" and thought that was pretty cool. Why? Because I had previously mad a comment to him about how people who swear take things too seriously . What do I mean? Well have you ever met someone (or are you someone) who instead of saying "ow" when hitting a thumb with a hammer they swear...it's not that big of a deal in the long run, yet they act as though it is a reason for foul language.

Seriously, tone it down a little...be a little more easy-going...don't make a mountain out of a mole-hill. Save the words for when they really matter. When is the last time you told your parents you love them? When is the last time you thought about loving your enemy? When is the last time you thought about hating yourself because you are so full of sinful desires? When is the last time you read 1 Corinthians 13 and asked yourself "do I do this?" Now is a great time...

LOVE IS

1. love is patient

2. love is kind

3. it does not envy

4. it does not boast

5. it is not proud

6. it does not dishonour others

7. it is not self-seeking

8. it keeps no record of wrongs

9. it does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth

10. it always protects

11. it always trusts

12. always hopes

13. always perseveres

14. it NEVER FAILS

A letter on abstinance

*the following letter was an assignment our P.E. teacher gave us to write to a fictional character about abstinence.... (i.e...Jacie isn't real :)

Dear Jacie                                                                                                                       March 28, 2008

               I want to write to you right now about a very important and difficult topic, it may seem awkward, but it is something I am sure you will deal with.  What I am talking about is purity and abstinence.  First, I’ll go with purity; it isn’t just keeping your virginity, but keeping your thoughts, words, and actions pure. It is difficult, because I know and have experienced the difficulty, but I am challenging you now to keep yourself pure—of all bad things. Now, Abstinence; as well, it involves not only abstaining from the act of having sex outside of marriage, but you need to abstain from immodesty, and all types of immoral behaviour-guard your mind from the temptations of sexual thoughts.

               I’m sure that you have had “boy_friends” and will have boyfriends, but you will only ever have that one true love. When you do find the right guy be careful-he may be wearing shining armour, but the reflection in the armour should be of God.  Remember, of all the crushes you may have, and think “he’s the one” they may last for only a short time, so try to treat your crushes as friends, and let the relationships grow from there. Choose carefully who you go on dates with and set rules and guidelines for your behaviour and physical contact; this will help you both to keep from getting tempted, and unsure of what behaviour is “off-limits”.  These rules don’t have to be as strict as “six-inches-apart-or else”, but you know your weaknesses and can set rules that will avoid those tempting situations.  If you do find yourself being too tempted (and I know those thoughts sneak in very easily) when you are alone on dates, try double-dating. Being in a group will help you to keep from doing things you would only do when alone. Hold your dating friends accountable, and be accountable to them. They are there to help you have healthy and Godly relationships.

               You and your boyfriend should always put God first. Doing devotions together and praying with and for each other are great ways to grow together spiritually. You can even have friendly visits, going to each-others church Sunday, and having lunch with each other’s families. This will show your commitment to God and to each other, and help you get to know the family of your special guy.

Charlie Schultz Philosophy

I got this in an e-mail from my dear friend Aleta and I thought I would share it...

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz , the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.
Just read the e-mail straight through , and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is , none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish..
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

 Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with...

Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials , the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.

An excerpt from Dr. Del Tackett's Blog

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I have been working on a Cross Examine show that we will film in few weeks. It is a show about forgiveness…forgiveness for something that is tough to forgive. Jennifer Barrick was a lovely high-school girl, intelligent, athletic, vivacious, a beautiful voice, filled with love for God, a great family…fill in all the fairy tale blanks. She was the picture of joy and innocence.

Then a drunk driver changed it all in an instant.

Without warning she went from a vivacious girl with an unbounded future to a nonresponsive, lifeless body at a horrible crash site. Her triage score was as low as you could get before being dead. She was in a coma for 6 weeks, suffering from very severe brain injuries. The amazing thing was that, although she couldn’t communicate, she could sing…and pray. People would be on their knees in her hospital room listening to Jennifer talk to the Lord…in a coma.

Little did I know that this story was about to hit close to home.

On January 11th, our dear friend’s daughter, Joanne, got on a treadmill at home and collapsed from a major stroke. She has been in a coma ever since. Today there was good news as she squeezed her husband’s hand. That was really special, because earlier he had said that “if I could just get a little hand squeeze from her that would send me over the moon.” He got it today. We continue to pray for her as thousands are.

But the same question lingers behind this and Jennifer’s story. Jennifer is now out of her coma, but with brain injuries that have changed her life forever. What do you do with the natural bitterness from this? It isn’t hard to imagine how hatred for a drunken man who robbed you of so much could fill your heart and mind.
The problem is that hatred and bitterness may feel good at the moment, but they extract a long-term toll. They are like a cancer that will slowly eat you alive. In many of these cases, hatred and bitterness is directed at God. All of the “WHY!!!????” questions are thrown at Him as if we have the better plan for our lives.
I’m not saying that it is easy. It isn’t.

But there are two paths here.
*One path has a wide gate. It is easy: hate, despise, dwell on the “what if’s”, become the victim, rally people to your cause, wallow in the sympathy, give up, etc. etc. etc. This one is easy because it feels so good to hate when you’ve been wronged. There is some satisfaction as if you’re “getting back” at someone by hating them.
*The other path has a narrow gate. It is hard: love, forgive, forget your story, accept reality, go forward from here, work hard to overcome the odds, etc. This one is hard because it doesn’t feel good…at least not at first. But the promise of God is firm. Jesus said that the easy path leads to destruction. All of the medical and psychological and social stats will affirm this. Hatred and bitterness will literally kill you. And make you miserable along the way. Not only make you miserable, but everyone around you.

But the narrow path, the path that isn’t easy?
That one leads to life.
Few take it, Jesus said.
Understandable.
We’ve all privately asked the questions concerning Joanne, “Why Lord? Why her? This doesn’t make any sense.” She is so talented. A wonderful writer. She has two sweet girls, Audrey & Emma. A great, loving husband, Toben. A wonderful Dad and Mom, Chuck and Kay, who have them over for Sunday dinners every week. A close-knit, loving family. It doesn’t make sense…to us.

But this is where we must set aside our feelings and return to the promises of God.
He loves us. He has plans for us. Good plans. Not plans to harm. Plans to give us a hope and a future.
The problem we usually have is that our definitions of these words are usually pretty small and temporal.
God sees the entire eternal spectrum.
I’ll go with His plan. That’s really a “no-brainer”.
But, my flesh still wants mine.

Toughest Test in College

http://www.thetruthproject.org/about/culturefocus/A000000282.cfm

for those in or preparing for college...be on guard

A speech I gave at a school assembly way back in 2009

1 Peter 5:1-11

            So here we are... a Christian high school in the year 2009. We have freedoms galore; a building which we can use to honour God by exercising learning skills and teaching concepts from a perspective of faith. Our school is a place of relationships where we can freely show our Reformed Christian faith without fear of physical or verbal persecution. It is here at Providence Reformed Collegiate where we aim to grow in faith, build strong relationships, and gain intelligence; all to the glory of God. So...How is it going so far? Is God pleased with your actions in this school?

            Fellow students, are you treating your teachers and peers with the respect and kindness they should expect from Christian students and classmates? Or, are you being disrespectful to your bus drivers, teachers, and friends. Are you doing you very best to honour God in your studies or are you simply coasting along? Do you aim to build people up in encouragement and brotherly love or tear them down by gossip, rude comments, or ignorance? Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.”

            Dear Teachers, are you being good examples to your students, shepherding them in God’s love? Or are you lording your authority over them, choosing favourites, and being unjust in grading? Do you enjoy your work and do it to God’s glory or do you come here out of compulsion or hopes of becoming everybody’s favourite teacher? Be reminded of God’s promise to those who do His will (in verse 4) “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

            Now to everyone gathered here this morning: Be sober and vigilant, resist the devil: he truly is like a roaring lion, and he seeks to devour you and me. Satan wants us to think that we are good enough: we are Christians, and we are way better than pagans and sinful unbelievers. In having us believe that we are perfectly fine the way we are, we are disarmed and will fall to our own ruin. Pride sets in and closes the door to our ability to witness the gospel to unbelievers, not only that...but we become numb and immune to our own selfish actions: we become proud sinful hypocrites.  Therefore be clothed in humility...it is not an accessory to carry around when we feel like it...but something to be clothed with, people can tell when someone is not fully clothed, and so it is with humility. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

            Well...all of this is too hard to do alone, but verse 7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” You don’t have to do it alone...God is always there with forgiveness, love, and hope. If you need strength—go to God; if you have sinned—go to God, because in God all things are possible. He promises that after you have suffered for a little while He will restore you, and make you strong and steadfast.

            One of the tools God uses to keep us strong is each other. “Resist Him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” says verse 9. Perhaps we may not struggle with physical persecution, but because of that we are in constant danger of being passive in our faith, we become nominal Christians. Instead we need to hold each other and ourselves accountable. Consider the following: It is a blessing when a teacher rebukes someone about to tell a coarse joke. It is very kind when a friend helps you with homework rather than letting you get late marks. It is good when somebody says “I don’t want to hear it” when somebody is about to spill a juicy story about another person. These are the people who help us in our walk, convicting us when we do wrong or are about to go astray, but doing it in a loving way...as part of the “brotherhood”.

            We can use the roles God has given us to make a positive difference in our school today. Teachers...be kind and compassionate (as always) yet also firm and willing to rebuke when necessary. Students...help each other, work hard, respect your elders, and encourage the teachers. Be accountable to each other and to God so that you will always have strength to resist the devil and overcome trials and sufferings. Be humble so that He may lift you up in due time.

  1 Peter 3:8-9

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so you may inherit blessing.”