February 16th

God, it's been a good day of small tasks and good visits. I thank you for the people that open their homes and hearts to me, and for letting me be a part of their lives. I also thank you for letting me into your heart, and for letting Jesus into mine.
May my heart for you be reflected in my life and the way I live it. May others see what you offer and open their hearts to you as well.

February 15th

Lord, it was a busy day at Presbytery. We face so many challenges as individual congregations and as a national church. We need your clear vision in order to see us through. We need our people to get up out of the pews and into the community actively spreading your Good News. We need our leaders to inspire us and help us move forward. I need your help to be an effective leader and pastor. Please help us. You have shown us the way, and that's through Jesus alone. Now give us the guts and the wisdom to follow His way in a way that satisfies you and reaches out to the world.

February 14th

God, thanks for the blessings of a wonderful wife and a chance to spend some time with her.

Thanks also for the blessings of exercise and a dog thats fun to walk with.

May all your blessings to me serve to help me better bless others in your name.

February 13th: Silly Humans

There’s a program on TV called Pawn Stars. It chronicles the day to day business of a large, busy pawn shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pawn shops are fascinating because of the wide variety of objects that can be found within them. Pawn Stars focuses on those items, exploring their history, value and whether or not they are actually what the owners claim they are. As a gadget lover, I love that process of discernment and explanation.
The four guys that run the store are pretty interesting, as are the folks that come to pawn or sell their items, but the strength of the show is the focus on the items. Rather than descend into a human freak show exposing the follies and foibles of humanity, Pawn Stars entertains by educating, and keeps from being boring by the way the stars of the show explore the value and truth of the items that are offered.
The success of Pawn Stars has spawned a similar program, but this one focuses more on the people than the products. I like people. I like hearing their stories and being invited into their lives. Not all stories are pretty, not all stories are tragic, but all stories are interesting to me, and I try to treat everyone I meet with dignity and respect.
This new program uses a kind of freak show approach rather than telling human stories, so I won’t be watching it. I have too much respect for other humans to watch them be displayed for my entertainment. I’m interested in folks as possible friends, or someone to learn from, or teach, or help, or any combination of the above. I have no interest in meeting people just to gawk at them or to say “there but for the grace of God go I.”
We are all unique and wonderful creatures. God has fashioned all of us in a special way, with gifts beyond measure and abilities that are out of this world. Circumstances and our own poor choices often muck us up. Some lives become absolutely glorious, some completely tragic, most bounce along between those two extremes. We all know moments of despair, of happiness and boredom. We share those moments in the hopes of building each other up, relieving stress, or simply to acknowledge each other’s imperfect take on life.
God takes part in our lives as much as we let Him do so. He is not an outside observer gawking at us or laughing at us. He is not an impartial creator that has left His work to its own devices. God loves us with a passion beyond imaging, and invites not only to share in His love, but to share it as well. Only when we are engaged with God and with our fellow humans can we be fully human ourselves. And while it might be entertaining to see one another’s follies and foibles, nothing is more satisfying than to take part in each other’s mistakes and triumphs in a spirit of Christ-like love.

February 13th

God, what a great day of worship and fun. Breakfast was wonderful, the volunteers were great and the worship a blessing. Thanks also for a chance to relax with friends and see a fun Ringette game. You're a truly wonderful God.

February 12th

God, thanks for a productive day and for the folks that helped me out today. It's wonderful to have such support and so many dedicated people on my side, which hopefully is your side too.

February 11th

God, thanks for a chance to get together with friends for fellowship and fun. Thanks especially for the gift of friends outside the church, so I can be a more rounded and better person. Help me be a true friend, just as my friends are true to me.

February 10th

God, thanks for the gift of music, in the world and in my life. It's great to be able to play with others who love music, and to be able to create songs for fun and for your glory. Help me focus my efforts and work towards something good with my recording. Help me work with my producer and my band so we can make music that glorifies you through our fun and joy together. Help me listen to others openly as they comment on my creations, so that the songs I've written can be the best they can be, and reflect you, who gave me the songs in the first place.

February 9th

God, as work towards Sunday and the season of Lent that will come all too soon, give me the tools I need to please you and to serve my flock. Guide my thoughts and open my heart to hear your message. Let me be your advocate as I share your Good News.

February 8th

Lord, a few folks at St. James have had surgery's and illness. They are brave and joyful, but suffering. So are their family members and friends. Place your healing hands upon them. Help them deal with their limits and heal fully. Give them your patience, grace and sense of humour as they deal with doctors, nurses and other caregivers. Let every hand that touches them be as Jesus' own hands, and help me serve them and help them as you see fit.