The last minute is on us! Looks like BC will win the Grey Cup. But there could be one last go for Winnipeg. I expect a short kick.
Yes – and no! Short kick but maybe not 10 yards. That could be it. But you never know.
That’s the story of life. Never give up! Have faith!!
I awoke this morning and checked our weather forecast.
That’s not out of the ordinary. What is??
We have had some very cold days lately, and lots of snow. By very cold, I mean down into the -30’s Celcius with the wind chill. The last few days have crept up to the freezing mark. And now . . .
Sunday is expected to be 12 degrees above zero! That is like a warmish spring day. That’s like a nice fall afternoon. That’s like unbelievable.
Our streets will run with water for the day. Snow packs will diminish to snow puddles. Our cars will be wet with salt and dirt. Children will splash in puddles and adults will sit and watch.
The best part of it all? This is a foretaste of spring! One last day to retain the memory before the chill of winter completely sets in.
To think – Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent in which we think of “hope”. The coming again of Jesus. Perhaps the weather will remind us that we will have hope of a coming again!
William Wilberforce is often cited as a leader in the movement against slavery. Lesser known was his campaign to reform the manners of a society that had become lax, lewd and lascivious (all great words to say that they were more inclined to satisfying their own desires rather than looking out for the good of others).
As I sat over tea today, I entered into a discussion about freedom and boundaries. Certainly the slave trade was a boundary beyond sense and reason – if we truly take into account the thought that we should “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” At the same time, to be released from slavery still means that you must work within a culture to enhance the culture and not threaten those who make up the culture.
I think many of us think that getting rid of all rules means we are no longer slaves! As Wilberforce would have seen, the riddance of slavery (as practiced at that time) was an affront to the “Golden Rule.” At the same time, unbridled lust and wilful destruction – living without manners – was also an affront to the “Golden Rule.” Somewhere in between is where a society will be seen as “the good.”
Of course, in the midst of all this discussion, there is a recognition that we tend towards ourselves and not others. Only a changed heart – one that seeks the good of others and the proper place of our creator – will truly be able to reform a society. Which is why I keep turning back to Jesus for direction – God as man, God’s change agent for our world.
Thomas Chalmers is quoted with this tidbit of wisdom. I’ve been watching a promotional video series on Conflict Resolution with Tim Pollard. Put out by Peacemaker Ministries, the session I just finished has some great nuggets!
When we experience conflict – go to God first. That means; in all I do, I do only what would shine a favourable light on God. If I can’t see God in the mirror, I’m in trouble.
Then, get real with yourself! We have a great capacity to blame others before we even consider the downside of our own behaviour. The deeper issue in conflicts are not the symptoms but the cravings that underlay our reactions.
Whatever craving is not based in God is an idol – another mini god has replaced God! Sin is what we do when we are not fully satisfied in God. And so our hearts become idol factories.
What idols rule your heart? What do you fear? What do you want the most in life? What would you sin to obtain? Have you ever stretched the truth to obtain something? — And here is one of those statements from the video that hit me. “Your wife and kids know your idols because they’ve seen when you’ve flared up.”
How do you explode an idol factory? Replace that factory with a much better factory. Drive our love for the mini god out with a big love for the true God. If our lives are comprised of an insatiable love for God, then the little loves will shrink into nothingness!