Yearly Archives: 2015

Well, on Saturday we started taking our walls in the basement.  The area that was needed immediately has been cleared out and made ready.  That took a little elbow grease, sweat and whatever else goes along with good hard work.

Sunday I felt quite good.  My muscles were still in place and not aching much at all.  We had an active day with church service, picnic lunch, afternoon activities and cleaning up at the end of today.

This morning is another story.  I’m a bit stiff and there is one muscle I can definitely feel.

The older you get the wiser we get?

The immediate judgement, after the initial victory of completing our tasks on Saturday was, “I can do this!”

Today, the words might be closer to “Maybe I can do this.”  I’ll carry that thought with me today as I continue to apply elbow grease to the basement remodelling!

I wonder what words will echo in my head tomorrow!

My exercise bike has just crossed the 4000 mark.

I think that number symbolizes the miles I have travelled. 

No traffic.  No hazardous potholes.  No unjust rain or inordinate wind.

Just me, on my bike, limbering up for a day’s activities.

Perhaps one day sitting at a desk, writing a sermon.  Another day flexing my muscles as I remove a basement wall.  Another day visiting friends and parishioners.  Another day contacting family and friends about loved ones.

The bike is unconcerned about the day’s activities.  The function it has to perform is merely to serve me.  Provide tension when needed – firming up my muscles and resolve.  Provide movement to stretch muscles that need to flex throughout the day.

Not a function that brings grandeur.  But whatever glory I receive throughout the day, I reflect back on the preparation my bike provided. 

OK, this is really a parable of how we are to live in light of God’s glory.  We have a purpose God has provided for us.  Perhaps without limelight or fame.  But in the glory God receives, there is a reflection back upon us for being faithful and fulfilling our purpose.

That’s how I’m beginning my day today!

Old hard drives need to be disabled – too much data, too easily retrieved if left unharmed in a waste site.

So, yesterday I had six young men bash away at old hard drives I had accumulated over the years. 

In a civilized manner.

With a sledge hammer.

Ten swings each.  Wearing safety goggles.  Standing a safe distance from the one swinging the hammer.

Just for the fun of it.

Imagine this:  All six have come over for a games night.  They are absorbed in a video game – yelling and screaming – intensely involved.

I wander into the room and mention that I needed help to destroy the harddrives.  I figur they will shut down the game in a few minutes, and then come.  Instead, they immediately jockey for position to line up behind me as I lead them out to the destruction zone.

Who says this next generation is addicted to video games?  I think a viable alternative is all they need!

The beginning of this week I was at our denomination’s District Conference.

The area covered is large – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and some of Northern Ontario.  The population is somewhat sparse.  The largest city is Winnipeg.

Our church population is not large.  We have less than 100 churches, but are attempting to aggressively multiply.  That means discussions both at the conference and outside the conference.

One approach being discussed is apostolic/entrepreneurial leadership.  These terms sound new and yet old.  As I understand it, the idea is to have a pioneering attitude. 

Church life is to no longer be about sustaining a building and a committed group of people.  We are to look out beyond ourselves and invite others in.  Not necessarily to the building or even to an insider group of people.  But to invite them into life with Jesus and with His followers.

That is a challenge that is worth considering.

More than that – acting upon!