Its been a long time between blogging. I just decided to take a break from writing . Not that I didn't have stuff to say or topics I wished to cover but one has to know when its time to be silent. Well now its time to put to blog again what is on my mind and heart . Much to reflect about and much to think about as I move forward as well .
As normal I will cover whatever I wish , some about the past , some about the present and musings about everything in between . The good , the bad and fun , I hope so anyway. So the few that may read my rants and ramblings , welcome back and enjoy .
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Living in the Shadow of Cancer
Today was a day of liberation . A day when the shadow of cancer has been put prayerfully and hopefully away forever.
Yesterday , my wife was given her 5 year clear . For all intent and purposes , she is considered cancer free. It was over 5 years ago when the cancer first presented itself . From the point of official diagnose , the family entered into the world of cancer. It has a way of creating a shadow , a cloud over the whole family . Especially in the first year with the surgery , the treatments and the recovery . It seems to consume the whole household . But after the first year , and the treatments seem to be going well , you still pray and wait and see what will happen with every check up , every trip or test you wait . Quietly you pray and hope .
As I watched my wife , get stronger and pass every check up , my confidence grew but always in the back of my mind the shadow lingers . Until the 5 year mark comes , you know that there is still a chance and possibility it can still present itself and come back. Over the the last 5 years , we have seen others be diagnosed . Some are still fighting and a good friend and wonderful support for us lost his battle , when his cancer came back with a vengeance. So when that occurs , you take a breath , move forward and realize , it isby God's grace and mercy alone one lives.
So yesterday was a good day . No , it was a great day . But its also a reminder of the brevity of life . It is truly a shame it takes something like this to smack you in the head and make you take stock . Even then you still lose at times , the preciousness of life . But I will say in many ways this past 5 years has been a blessing. Let me list a few.
It has brought both my wife and myself back to the Lord . In fact it has been a wonderful thing to see my wife grow and become more solid in doctrine and boldness. She has more opportunities to share her faith and witness than ever before. Even though we had both highs and lows over the last 5 years , I do believe that even in our weakness , our testimony to God's goodness has been a solid witness to our sons .
Plus I would like to openly thank all those who prayed , wished us well and supported Kathy and my family with so much generosity . Especially in the first year , when money was very scarce . People amazed us both with giving and support. I will ever remain humbly grateful.
Last thought , as I know others who are still fighting this dreadful disease , my prayers are with you and your family . To those who have lost someone way too soon because of this blight , I say I weep with you knowing the pain ( having lost my Mom over 20 years ago ) . But ultimately my prayer is for all to know the one who will undue the results of sin when He comes in His glory .
Yesterday , my wife was given her 5 year clear . For all intent and purposes , she is considered cancer free. It was over 5 years ago when the cancer first presented itself . From the point of official diagnose , the family entered into the world of cancer. It has a way of creating a shadow , a cloud over the whole family . Especially in the first year with the surgery , the treatments and the recovery . It seems to consume the whole household . But after the first year , and the treatments seem to be going well , you still pray and wait and see what will happen with every check up , every trip or test you wait . Quietly you pray and hope .
As I watched my wife , get stronger and pass every check up , my confidence grew but always in the back of my mind the shadow lingers . Until the 5 year mark comes , you know that there is still a chance and possibility it can still present itself and come back. Over the the last 5 years , we have seen others be diagnosed . Some are still fighting and a good friend and wonderful support for us lost his battle , when his cancer came back with a vengeance. So when that occurs , you take a breath , move forward and realize , it isby God's grace and mercy alone one lives.
So yesterday was a good day . No , it was a great day . But its also a reminder of the brevity of life . It is truly a shame it takes something like this to smack you in the head and make you take stock . Even then you still lose at times , the preciousness of life . But I will say in many ways this past 5 years has been a blessing. Let me list a few.
It has brought both my wife and myself back to the Lord . In fact it has been a wonderful thing to see my wife grow and become more solid in doctrine and boldness. She has more opportunities to share her faith and witness than ever before. Even though we had both highs and lows over the last 5 years , I do believe that even in our weakness , our testimony to God's goodness has been a solid witness to our sons .
Plus I would like to openly thank all those who prayed , wished us well and supported Kathy and my family with so much generosity . Especially in the first year , when money was very scarce . People amazed us both with giving and support. I will ever remain humbly grateful.
Last thought , as I know others who are still fighting this dreadful disease , my prayers are with you and your family . To those who have lost someone way too soon because of this blight , I say I weep with you knowing the pain ( having lost my Mom over 20 years ago ) . But ultimately my prayer is for all to know the one who will undue the results of sin when He comes in His glory .
Friday, October 5, 2012
Can One Fathom To Hear God Sing
The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he
will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
My heart was restless today . As I looked at my life, my sin and where I'm at I was troubled . It made me feel defeated . Then later on during my reading of numerous blogs I came across this passage of scripture used in the piece that was written over a very sad event in a father's life . The loss of a child . So as it moved me away from thinking about me , which we can do way too much at times , I said a silent simple prayer for this man I do not know personally . Then as I read this passage , I realized that I must trust that it is God who will quiet my soul with His amazing love . A love that showed itself on the cross . A love that showed itself on that third day . A love that one day will come for me .
But what really blew my mind away is that the God of the whole universe , the one who created the planets , the stars and every living thing exults over me with singing. Singing , God singing over my soul . Should that not calm ones heart . Should that not give one a peace that the world cannot comprehend. The peace that this father and family needs as well can only come from God . God is singing with this man's daughter and singing over this father's soul as well . He is over all who trust in Christ for salvation . He is not a impersonal force or a far away God but in Christ , through the Holy Spirit is near , He lives within you by His Spirit and is singing over you right now . Oh what a God , oh what a Savior .
My heart was restless today . As I looked at my life, my sin and where I'm at I was troubled . It made me feel defeated . Then later on during my reading of numerous blogs I came across this passage of scripture used in the piece that was written over a very sad event in a father's life . The loss of a child . So as it moved me away from thinking about me , which we can do way too much at times , I said a silent simple prayer for this man I do not know personally . Then as I read this passage , I realized that I must trust that it is God who will quiet my soul with His amazing love . A love that showed itself on the cross . A love that showed itself on that third day . A love that one day will come for me .
But what really blew my mind away is that the God of the whole universe , the one who created the planets , the stars and every living thing exults over me with singing. Singing , God singing over my soul . Should that not calm ones heart . Should that not give one a peace that the world cannot comprehend. The peace that this father and family needs as well can only come from God . God is singing with this man's daughter and singing over this father's soul as well . He is over all who trust in Christ for salvation . He is not a impersonal force or a far away God but in Christ , through the Holy Spirit is near , He lives within you by His Spirit and is singing over you right now . Oh what a God , oh what a Savior .
Monday, October 1, 2012
Odds and Ends
Odds and Ends will be just a over all free for all . It will cover numerous thoughts or observations in quick sound bites . So without further ado , shall we begin.
Great Listen : Best album of the year so far is Andrew Peterson , Light For The Lost Boy . It is a beautiful collection of songs reflecting on living in this fallen ,broken world as pilgrim and follower of Christ . Get it as soon as possible .
Summer Movies : This summer was a banner year if you like superhero movies . You had Avengers , a new Spider-man reboot and the final film in the Batman trilogy . All three were excellent . The Avengers managed to entertain and over all achieve what I wondered could be done , featuring numerous hero's and still giving them all room to breath . It was a perfect popcorn flick . The new Spider-man hit all the right bells and whistles . With the new actor Andrew Garfield playing Peter Parker , he hit all the quirky nerdiness needed . Plus Emma Stone was perfect as Gwen Stacy. The action was awesome and it had a heart . But the best was the Dark Knight Rises . The movie had all one could ask for . Great action , superb acting , emotional depth and a fitting resolution to Bruce Wayne/ Batman story arc. It was the best .
You Got to be Kidding Me : In a more serious vein , recently in Canada's parliament a motion to re-examine when human life begins was handedly defeated . So in Canada a 400 year old law that says that human life does not exist till a baby exits a woman's womb still stands . So technically under the law as it stands , there is no real protection of a unborn baby till he or she exits a mothers womb . Many saw this as an attempt to open up the abortion debate . Well sure it was . But why are the opponents so afraid of having a real open and honest debate . Because as science has opened up the window of the womb , it has given those who are for life , a hammer to smash the lies of the killing fields at the abortion clinics. We know thanks to DNA research, that life begins at conception. Plus we all know that when a woman becomes pregnant it is a human being she is carrying . We all say she is having a baby . No one says , well I hope its human and not a chicken. We truly live in a country that has much blood on its hands and every MP that voted against this motion should be ashamed .
Sunday, September 30, 2012
A Proper Way to Launch a New Start
This is the time to return to the world of blog. I had intended to reboot months ago , but found myself almost in a fixed pause mode . So I figured to kick off my return , I would feature the new trailer for the upcoming film The Hobbit. I love Tolkien , so needless to say this movie is highly anticipated. The trailer looks awesome . Plus the good news , it will come out before the Mayan doomsday calender prediction . That is a win .
Monday, July 30, 2012
Time for Silence to End
It has been a while , has it not . My quiet time if you will came from real consideration whether to continue this blog or not . After much thought and deliberation , I have decided to start again . Over the next couple of days I will be changing some layout features and will discipline myself to do certain features on a regular basis . My goal will be to write better , be bolder and still have some fun at the same time . I did miss it .
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Do You Really Believe It
1 John 1 : 9 . If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As we live our lives out in this fallen , sinful world , Christians will sin .We are fuller forgiven , being made new and sealed by the Holy Spirit and holy before God through the blood of Christ but until the day we go to be with the Lord , we will sin . John even before verse 9 tells us that if we say we have no sin , denying that we are sinners , then the truth is not in us . Then in verse 10 he repeats the warning again , saying that if we say haven't sinned makes the Lord a liar and His word does not abide in us .
So acknowledging we are sinners , that we have sinned is at the very least an indication we are in Christ. But the middle verse that really pulls both of these two warnings together is the act of confession . A believer will be ever conscience of sin and the struggle against it . Confession is good for the soul it has been said and it is true . We shouldn't make a morbid habit but even the pattern of the Lord's prayer , makes clear room for coming before the Lord in confession and asking for His forgiveness.
We should daily seek forgiveness an as many in the reformed tradition have said , preach the gospel to ourselves each day . Trusting in the finished work of Jesus to renew , cleanse and restore us daily . Martin Luther said the Christian life was one of daily or on going repentance . A honest reckoning of our sin , the Saviors amazing grace and power to forgive but not just stopping there . But truly believe God , in Christ will forgive our sins and remember our transgressions no more .
It is in accepting this astonishing gift of forgiveness , that the power to break the struggle with sin will come . Knowing the love of God , displayed in Christ and applied by the Spirit should truly , humble us and accept the truth of what John said, if we confess our sins , He will forgive them and cleanse from all unrighteousness.
The question is , do you really believe it ?
As we live our lives out in this fallen , sinful world , Christians will sin .We are fuller forgiven , being made new and sealed by the Holy Spirit and holy before God through the blood of Christ but until the day we go to be with the Lord , we will sin . John even before verse 9 tells us that if we say we have no sin , denying that we are sinners , then the truth is not in us . Then in verse 10 he repeats the warning again , saying that if we say haven't sinned makes the Lord a liar and His word does not abide in us .
So acknowledging we are sinners , that we have sinned is at the very least an indication we are in Christ. But the middle verse that really pulls both of these two warnings together is the act of confession . A believer will be ever conscience of sin and the struggle against it . Confession is good for the soul it has been said and it is true . We shouldn't make a morbid habit but even the pattern of the Lord's prayer , makes clear room for coming before the Lord in confession and asking for His forgiveness.
We should daily seek forgiveness an as many in the reformed tradition have said , preach the gospel to ourselves each day . Trusting in the finished work of Jesus to renew , cleanse and restore us daily . Martin Luther said the Christian life was one of daily or on going repentance . A honest reckoning of our sin , the Saviors amazing grace and power to forgive but not just stopping there . But truly believe God , in Christ will forgive our sins and remember our transgressions no more .
It is in accepting this astonishing gift of forgiveness , that the power to break the struggle with sin will come . Knowing the love of God , displayed in Christ and applied by the Spirit should truly , humble us and accept the truth of what John said, if we confess our sins , He will forgive them and cleanse from all unrighteousness.
The question is , do you really believe it ?
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