December 11th

Yet another good day of worship, God, with a couple of folks coming back that haven't been there for a bit and a couple joining the church. We also had a wonderful 'Gift of Music.' It's great to see young talent developing.

There's a great sense of community and joy at St. James and it's a blessing, Lord.

It was a lot of fun at the Praise team party, and I thank your for Ed and Carol's openness to hosting us all, and for the team community we have created together. Bless us all as we work together to your glory.

December 11th: Safety first

It was a cloudy, overcast day as I drove from Chatham to Blenheim. One would think that sunglasses would be the last thing needed, but that was not the case. The combination of snow on the ground and the sun still managing to make its presence felt suggested very strongly that I don my aviators. Light sensitive, they were not at their maximum darkness, and the light shading they offered was just the ticket.
It was rather strange to wear sunglasses with cloudy skies, but my eyes were bothered by whatever brightness was available that day. Not wanting to be an unsafe driver or to give myself an entirely avoidable headache, I took the necessary precautions. I felt stupid at first but I’m old and cranky enough not to really care what other people think of my appearance.
Donning my shade apparel for the sake of safety and comfort made me think of the number of times we all avoid doing just that. The danger of finding a nail when just going to the shop for a second is too little to justify wearing proper shoes. It’s only raining a wee bit so I won’t wear a raincoat for my forty minute walk. I’m only going to cut one thing with the dull knife so I won’t bother sharpening it. Go ahead, try it yourself. Think of one slightly risky activity you’ve done while avoiding any safety precautions. You were probably luck most of the time, but lucky only goes so far…
Of course, as a Presbyterian, I don’t believe in luck. So, even when I run my table saw for a second I put on goggles and ear protection. When it’s starting to get dark, I wear something bright and my dog, Mentor, wears a safety vest if we go for a walk. I never mow the lawn barefoot (and yes, I have seen people do it) and I even wear my seat belt when Lois and I have to juggle our cars in the driveway. It makes sense to take precautions when we know the risks.
So, why is it that we don’t ‘arm’ ourselves better when it comes to our faith life. Living is hard enough without having God on our side. Living with God on our side but without knowing the basics of what He expects is plain silly. He made us. He knows what works and what doesn’t for us. He’s given us all the safety measures we need in the Bible. So why do we risk pain, misery and embarrassment by not taking adequate precautions and studying our Bible more often?
It’s not that hard. Regular worship attendance helps. A weekly Bible study strengthens things. Daily devotions are pretty easy to do. And don’t say you don’t have time. Don’t let your busy-ness get in the way. Making the best possible use of God’s Word is a help, not a hindrance. Untold mistakes and foolishness could be avoided if we knew what God expected of us. We most likely would be able to save oodles of time if we didn’t mess up as much as we do. All it takes is a little precautionary study. The safety tips offered in the Bible could make all the difference between a good life and a great one.

December 10th

Had some fun making a Palm Tree for the After School Program today. I enjoyed being a little creative and a little silly in that act, using my hands to create something a little different, and using simple items to do it. I love being able to work that way and wish I could do it a bit more.
Help me, God, arrange my time better so that I can get some more hand-work in.

December 9th

Lord, it was a good day. Excellent visit with my counselor, a good afternoon's work and lots of fun taking Shannon and her kids, along with my family and David's girlfriend, out for dinner and a show. It's such a blessing to be able to offer someone like Shannon a nice gift and to see her enjoy it.
It's also a blessing to have Shannon as our After School Program Director. She does a great job with the kids. Bless her as she serves St. James and you so capably. Bless me as well as I try to support her. Bless my family as well, with continued joy and unity together.

December 8th

A strange day, today, starting with forgetting about an appointment and being pretty full and busy from there on. It was good to be at Praise team and to feel a little more comfortable on the drums; I pray, however, that you will help us find a full time drummer, so that I can focus on the other aspects of worshiop and not have to spread myself so thin.

December 7th

Thanks, God, for a productive day and for all the blessings you provide.

It was fun to spend some time with Shannon getting her and Piper to and from church. It might have taken some extra time and been a little long, but it felt good to help her and to support her.

Thanks also for my friends at Lodge and the open reception they offer me for just being me. It's a true gift to be appreciated for who I am beyond my role as one of your ministers.