January 16th

God, I thank you for a quiet day and a good workout. I don't know that I'm losing much weight, but it feels good to at least try and to notice the small improvements in my cardio. Help me keep on track and to get physically stronger and fitter and, if it's in your will, to shed some of my excess physical baggage so that I can serve you all the more without being limited by my excess baggage.

January 15th

Thanks, God, for worship today and for the chance to meet with someone and hear their kind words about today's Message. I feel blessed that you are able to use me to inspire others and give you all the praise and glory you deserve for using me this way.

Help me to keep serving you through the words I use and the way that I share them.Help me, as well, to receive both the kind words and the criticism that might come my way, with openness, humility and love.

January 15th: Best Behaviour

It is widely rumoured that when the dog is away, the cats will play. I cannot attest to the veracity of this adage. In our household, the cat plays when it wants to, if it wants to, when you don’t want it to. Zed, my feline, does not care whether or not Mentor, our dog, is there or not. He is completely unconcerned about what her canine counterpart says about his capers. Nevertheless, while cats play regardless of the dogs proximity, there is a great deal of truth to that saying when it comes to human beings. In fact, I’m pretty sure that true focus of that old cliché is none other than people.
The reason I am confident that the saying is true comes from another common phrase: best behaviour. It is, perhaps, the polar opposite of the opening quote, but its implication is similar: human behaviour changes depending on whether or not one is being observed. When the boss (our alleged ‘dog’) is out of the office, the employees (the aforementioned ‘cat’) accomplishes no work. On the other hand, when the boss is in sight of his or her employees, there is a great deal of work and busy-ness. In other words, when one’s superior is present, we are on our ‘best behaviour.’
Or so the sayings go. Personally, I don’t have a lot of time to waste when the boss isn’t around, and in reality, while I have Ruling Elders that help me lead the church, I don’t really have a single, definable, earthly boss. In other words, there is no dog to be here or away while I, one cool cat, am working.
I know what you’re going to say. Yes, God is my boss, Jesus is my CEO, and the Holy Spirit is my gentle, loving taskmaster. So, yes, I am never alone in the office. My upper level (pun decidedly intended) management team is always present, which brings me to my point: my heavenly superiors aren’t just in my office hanging around the water cooler and making sure I’m getting things done. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are constantly watching over us. One might say, reverting to our opening Canine/Feline motto, that the ‘dogs’ are never away, when it comes to we humans.
That doesn’t mean we are never allowed to play, that we are constantly on duty or that we’re being watched by a do-nothing bunch of bosses. What it does mean is that our every action is a Holy one, because the one that watches is also the one that created us, and He is supremely, capital ‘H’ Holy. As a result we children of our Heavenly Father are also capital ‘H’ Holy.
If we lived according to our Holy origins we wouldn’t have to worry whether or not the boss is watching. If every human being lived as if they were Holy beings created in and for God’s love, everything we did would be a loving, holy action, a joy and a pleasure for both God and us. In other words, imagine for a moment how great things could be if our best behaviour wasn’t just saved for when we thought God was watching. I bet there would be a lot more playing and lot less worrying if every person’s best behaviour was in reality our normal behaviour.

January 14th

God, I thank you for the Elders that help me lead St. James. Thanks especially for those folks who were able to come to the retreat and share their blessings as I shared my teaching. I also pray for those that weren't able to make it; bless them with the joy and enthusiasm and hopefulness we found together this morning.

January 13th

God, thanks for those folks that have given so much to St. James and who have been such a blessing to my ministry. Help me learn from them and follow their examples. Help me to serve them as well, and to keep learning and to be inspired through everyone I encounter.

January 12th

Had a good voice lesson today and had fun at Praise Team Practice. Thanks for the music in my life, for the folks that help me sing better and for those that sing along with me. Help me continue to offer my songs of joy and praise to you, both with my voice and with my heart.

January 11th

Thanks for friends and for the way they help keep me honest. Thanks as well for environments that lend themselves to relaxing together and serve as a space apart. It's nice to have a nice office, but there are times when it's easier to chat in a public place rather than within the confines of four 'official' church walls.

Help me remember, God, that spaces are not what makes for a sacred chat, but hearts. Let me behave in a way that makes are spaces sacred ones, simply because I am aware of your presence there with me, through Jesus, who lived and died for me.

January 10th

As much as being is important, sometimes you need to do and toady was one of those days. I feel like I got lots of good things done and I feel doubly blessed at being able to do them.

Of course, as I do, sometimes it gets in the way of my being with family, especially when they are busy.

Lord, help me find a better balance, along with Lois and the kids, so that we can make the most of our time together.