April 14th

God, it was a pretty good day. Accomplished a few chores, had a good workout, took care of some business. Thanks. May days like these help me get through the tough ones.

April 13th

God, it's been a tiring day. Not a lot happened, it wasn't a super busy day, but just working to prepare for Sunday and get things ready for the weeks and months to come seemed to take a lot out of me. I thank you, however, for being able to work uninterrupted and to have gotten a clearer vision of upcoming worship. I pray that you will be with me as I continue to plan and lead St. James effectively in the way we come before you Sunday mornings.

April 12th

Lord, as St. James embarks on the search for a couple of new staff people, I ask for your help and your blessing. Lead us in the right direction and to the right person. I also ask that you help me to say and do the right things not only so that I can play my part in finding who we need, but also that I can be and effective leader and support person, so we can work together without my getting in the way.

April 11th

Lord, it's been a good day. I saw Anna compete in the Kiwanis Festival and have a ball. I recorded a couple of songs. I had a great workout. Thanks. Thanks for feeding my soul as a parent, as a creative person, as a guy trying to be stronger and healthier. Thanks for all your blessings.

April 10th: Going Straight

I am a bad person! Or, at least I was rather naughty the other day. Not so much so that the police are after or that God will never talk to me again, but enough to have mildly irritated a couple of people for 20 or 30 seconds. My crime was simple: after having ordered and paid for two coffees at the Tim Horton’s drive-thru, I then proceeded to ask for another two coffees. I did this not because I had forgotten what I should have ordered, but in order to avoid paying the Harmonized sales tax. You see, in the bizarre mathematics of Canada’s HST, ordering four coffees at once would have added 45 cents to the order, above and beyond what the normal cost would have been. Not wanting to pay this ridiculous government money grab, I ordered coffee twice, causing a slight delay in the line up. My bad!
While I may have irked the motorists behind me and caused some mild cursing at the Tim’s order desk, my crime was not a great one. Still, I hereby apologize to anyone whose nose may have been put out of joint by my thoughtless actions yesterday. While not hugely so, it was still wrong of me to delay the folks behind me, no matter how good my excuse might have been.
OK, so maybe my deed was not entirely justified, even if it was the most petty of misdemeanors for the most justifiable of motives. It does, however, illustrate a point. Excuses are rampant. Folks are always going off the rails and then justifying their actions for some reason or another. At times, like mine, the damage isn’t too great. All too often, the hurt is significant, so much so that no amount of back-peddling or self-justification can cover the pain. The trouble is that it’s easy to start small and build up to greater and greater things. One small, seemingly righteous act of wrong-doing can lead to far bigger and better (in a bad way) crimes and misdemeanors. Pardon the cliche, but it’s a slippery slope if you’re not aware of the path you’re headed on. I’m not saying that my Tim’s adventure has now opened me up to committing a string of high-profile art thefts, but it might make other peccadilloes seem OK.
The cure for this ailment is two-fold. Try to do the right thing the first time ‘round and own up to your mistake if you blow it. No excuses, no justification, no covering up the wrong with a good sounding explanation, just don’t do it, and if you do, take responsibility and don’t do it again. I know, I know it’s easier said than done, because we are short on time, don’t have enough money or just find some things too irritating to do, but both in the short and the long run, the best way to be a good person is simply not to do the wrong thing.

April 10th

First bar-b-cue of the season! Thanks God for the way Spring is finally making itself felt and for the joy that the warm sun brings. May its warmth and brightness always remind me of the joy, warmth and brightness that Jesus offers all of us. Thanks as well for another good day of worship. Lord, inspire folks to give St. James a try, especially young families that are looking for a good family and for a closer connection to you.

April 9th

Lord, it's been a good day. I especially thank you for being able to spend time with Lois and all that she brings to my life. She's a true gift from you, and probably the best blessing you have ever bestowed upon me. Help me to be worthy of her.

April 8th

Lord, thanks for a good day of visiting and working. Thanks as well for a nice run, the first one of spring. I feel blessed to be able to do what I do, both in my vocation and in trying to keep fit.