How to Find a New Church - Part II

So earlier this week I was sitting with a friend James and chatting about what God has in store for us in this next chapter. We wandered on to the finding a new church topic. He's moved a couple of times and was sharing his thoughts. It was all building on what I had in my last blog about being comfortable in a church vs. being in the church God wants and allowing Him to make you comfortable. James had a slightly different but very cool take on things.

He shared that the worship, the people and the sermon do matter some but really have very little importance at the end of the day. As he explains every church, no matter what the denomination or style, has a common and unifying characteristic...God is there expecting us and He has invited us.

So rather than trying to be comfortable and find the perfect worship and pastor...just show up with a big appetite and be prepared to be fed.

James talked about our relationship. We can talk on the phone and it's good communication but not really personal and close. We can meet over a table in a coffee shop and we become closer but when we invite someone for Thanksgiving dinner and the feast and festivities that comes with sharing that meal it changes our relationship and draws us even closer together.

Going to church is like God's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner with Him. He has prepared the banquet feast just for us with all of the fixins.

So rather than seek out the best of everything or the place we are comfortable, we just need to show up hungry and ready to dine with Him. With that as the expectation, He will meet us there and He will quench our appetite and we will be drawn in closer to Him.

The Message - 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

How do you pick a church..this isn't rhetorical...

So one of my biggest concerns around our relocation is finding a new church home. I have been at Lambrick for most of the last 16 years or so...there was some floating in the middle because I was upset with some things that were happening - with the church and with me - but it has been home.

I sit in the same section week after week and often even in the same seat. I wouldn't ever consider myself a seat warmer but there is no doubt I am comfortable there.

What the heck am I going to do? Will I ever find a place in another church that is as comfortable as Lambrick is for me.

Erin and I had a chance to go to Airdrie a few weeks ago. It was a house hunting expedition and that came with its own up and downs but that is another blog topic.

On the Sunday morning we were able to check out a church. I will premise this by saying it's not Lambrick so you know I wasn't comfortable. I find it very hard to relax in this situation. I am nervous about people looking at the newcomers and in my shallowness I am looking around the room and analyzing everyone I see. She's too big, he's too small, the worship band is too loud, the screens too high, the pastor's too...you get what I am saying!

We walked into this church and I will say it felt warm. The people were friendly, almost too friendly...a lady hugged me and I didn't even know her! Next a guy walks up and says "are you Pete and Erin?" We nearly flipped out but found out a friend knew the pastor and had texted him that we were going there. Turns out the guy was this pastor. While talking to him, an older couple welcome us (this was when I got hugged). Seems they were newcomers only a short number of months before. We chatted with them some and realized they were also from BC. Anyway...the people were lovely.

Next I had to critique the worship. I need/crave/desire amazing worship. I know that and have very high expectations. Lambrick has always led the way and Glad Tidings (where I was prior and in between) did too. So my comparing started....well Lambrick would do, these guys to...etc. I realized that this church would push my level of comfort in terms of how charismatic some were with their worship. Overall it was pretty good, but it wasn't Lambrick.

Next up...coffee time right after worship and before the sermon...interesting...it's not Lambrick (but I did like this).

Sermon time. The pastor [not the one we met] (and I won't say his name because I don't think I should identify the church) spoke on the "new seven deadly sins". Today's topic was on the love of money. The message was well delivered and most important was rooted in scripture and came with a challenge on applying the scriptures to my life. I would have given this sermon a 10 out of 10 if we were grading. But it is still not Lambrick (Bob nails 10 out of 10's often).

Soon after the service ended we were milling around and the pastor we had met comes up and invites us to a breakfast the following week...I like food...unfortunately we wouldn't be there so I plan on collecting on the breakfast another time.

So my experience there is almost over...I survived and I learned that it isn't Lambrick. I am messed...there will never be another Lambrick. I will never be comfortable again.

Just before leaving I was speaking with the fellow, the recent newbie from BC, and he shared one of those nuggets you just never forget. We were talking about Airdrie churches and he was sharing about their search and the struggles he'd had. Every church was different...some had this, some had that. I asked him how he eventually chose this church. He said to me that it took some time but that he eventually realized that he would never be comfortable in any of them (greaaaat...doesn't that bring peace of mind...it got better though) . None of them were his old church in Kelowna and none even remotely close actually. Then he said "so I knew that it wasn't about what church I could be comfortable in but knowing what church God wanted me to be in. If He wanted me there, then He would make it comfortable."

WOW...wow. I never would have thought about this. All my thinking and my prayers (when I prayed about this topic..which hasn't been often enough) had been focused on where will I be comfortable, where will I find the place I fit, that we fit. I had it all backwards.

THANK GOD those churches aren't Lambrick as He desires something even more, even greater than we had here. God, show me where it is you want US to be, where you can use us and where we can grow. Who cares about comfort, we know that if you call us there, the comfort will come.

I don't know if this is the church we will land in. We will likely check out more when we are there and see where God leads. I do know that these are God's people and good people and I hope the regardless of where we end up that we have a chance to be in relationship some of them.

Peace out!

Out of Date

If you follow my wife Erin's blog you will know she blogged every day in November. Me, I opted for the opposite and didn't blog once in November...or should I say NO-vember.

It wasn't that I didn't think about it or didn't have something to say. I actually had a few different topics, I just never got to putting them on paper.

So much is going on in our lives these days as we prepare for our move. We know we are following God's will for us but some days are just plain harder than others.

We've had our house on the market for about a month and a half. We've had tire kickers but nothing serious. We've even had two second showings which are usually a good sign but they haven't led to offers.

We did make a trip to Airdrie and found a place we liked very much. We put a offer on it conditional on the sale of our house. We knew there would be some risk but we were okay with that. It's a slow market and December is usually even slower.

Unfortunately it's only a week since the offer and we received word last night that they had called our condition. They have accepted another offer and we now have 24 hours to remove the condition for the sale of our house. Obviously without an offer on ours, we can't remove it so as disappointing as it is, we will lose that house.

Erin and I are okay with that. We saw many houses there and know there are many lovely places. This one just seemed to fit us. We have decided that while it might delay us a bit in the end, we plan to wait until we have a firm offer with no conditions on our place before we go look again.

It's been a roller coaster for sure going through the process and dealing with all of the financial stuff but through it we just want to keep trusting Him and listening for His direction.

If you are into praying, please think of us. We'd love to have things settled, to know when we are going so we can start planning. Please pray for patience and for peace. It is tough living here but not planning into the future beyond weeks, as well as knowing we are going there but not being able to plan or invest ourselves there.

Somebody shared this verse with me the other day and it is so appropriate for right now.

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Is Waiting a Cop Out?

Okay, I gotta ask...is waiting a cop out? I am not talking about standing in line. I am talking about taking action when God calls for it.

First off, how many times do I miss hearing God because I am not ready or willing to listen. He spoke I missed it and then I use the old line...I need to wait till I hear from God. ppffff!

It really struck me that I must do it far more often than I realize. Exhibit A...I am laying on the floor of our bathroom after collapsing in pain and I ask the question...God should I go to the hospital or should I wait...hello...my response to myself...you need to go...

So that example really has little to do with waiting on the Lord but the point is I asked but wasn't waiting for an answer. I already knew in my head what answer I was willing to hear.

My problem is that I am a person that needs to have answers. I need answers to everything...but where does stepping out in faith come in? I don't mean moving ahead out of folly but just trusting Christ.

My number one spiritual gift is faith...interesting considering I need answers. Actually, I don't need answers though, I need information. I love stepping out in faith. What I need is to collect information as part of the discernment process...I don't think it slows things down. When I hear God...its full on...let's go!

In pretty much every example of Jesus preaching he had a call to action and people responded...instantly.

Just look at Matthew 4:18-22.

¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²²and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

It reminds me the stories I heard from my Josiah Venture family in Eastern Europe. In short, when a young person comes to Christ, they enter into their relationship with such a sense of urgency and passion...they don't wait they just "leave their boat and follow him".

My other bone to pick about waiting on the Lord being a cop out is others who run a block on the holy spirit...that is someone else hears from the Lord but we haven't heard yet so we can't move to I hear regardless of whether you've heard. Get over yourself...it isn't about you...(insert my name here).

So how do we balance waiting and responding? Well I guess it all starts with our own relationship with Christ. We have to constantly be getting into the word, trust others and seek the council of others. And most of all...trust God...

So here is my road map verse...Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

My Recent Experience

Here’s the story. Everything started on Monday night. Right after dinner I started having severe abdominal pain. Because I have a preexisting gastro-intestinal condition I assumed it was part of that. Throughout that night and the next morning not so good things were happening. I couldn’t eat solid food and liquids went right on through me. I had sweats and the pain in my abdomen would go from six out of ten to ten out of ten.

Around dinner I called the Health Info Line and spoke to a nurse. I shared my symptoms and she made some suggestions with the caveat that if the pain didn’t decrease or if I became faint to go directly to emerg. I made it a few more hours and collapsed on the floor in our bathroom. Erin had already gone to bed so I had to wake her up and made the trek to emerg.

Thankfully it was slow. I was admitted and taken in in less than 15 minutes. From there though it seemed like forever before I got any help. The staff were in and out and were excellent. I had blood and other tests taken in less than 30 minutes but unfortunately they wouldn’t give me anything for the pain until the doctor had test results.

A couple of hours later those results were in and that was when the morphine kicked it. Wonder drug. Pain went from 10 to zero in less than five minutes. Where was this 12 hours prior. Within an hour of the results of those tests coming in, I was in getting a CT scan. Those results were back in and the doctor was reviewing them forty five minutes later. His preliminary diagnosis was ulcerative colitis but he wanted me to see a Gastro Intestinal Specialist first thing this morning. By now we are talking 330am.

Many people complain about our health care system but I have to say my experience was very good. Staff were friendly, caring and attentive. I actually feel a bit privileged as they put me up in a private room in a wing of our new emerg. Because it was slow I ended up with my own nurse too.

The emerg doctor, Dr Buchanan was incredible. He checked on me four or five times in the night. I probably had him for 45 minutes. In retrospect, I am thinking that the attention given was likely proportional to my pain and their concern.

First thing in the morning...maybe seven am they came in and said that the GI Specialist and the GP had spoken and they were going to admit me.

They had me on IV from the time I got there until around 10am. I’d had four or five rounds of morphine...did I mention wonder drug...and a round of gravol. My last morphine was around 630am. At 1030am Dr Singh, the GI Specialist came in and went over everything with me. He did some palpation and discussed my test results. Her reiterated the early diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. He said though there was a chance it was viral rather than chronic. He did give me a glimmer of hope though. It I was able to manage pain then I could go home at the end of the day. Dr Singh scheduled me for some tests throughout the day, saving the best for last...the sigmoid scope! More on that later.

I got through the day experiencing only little pain. Definitely manageable! No pain medication since 630am. No food either. I am hungry as a bear but no solid food for a couple more days.

Had a surprise visitor in the afternoon. One of Erin’s bosses, Rory came by to check on us. It was pretty cool. He prayed over me before he left and I think that was a big reason why the pain was manageable.

Back to the sigmoid scope. Cool and invasive all in one. Watching a camera go up inside you isn’t something you get to see every day. The experience was beyond uncomfortable but necessary. So Dr Singh did the scope and took a few biopsies. We chatted for a bit after he finished the scope and he said he believes that it isn’t viral but is chronic. I will see him in a couple of weeks in his office once he gets the results.

I did get the good news though...recoup at home so I got released and came home around 4pm. I am exhausted, sore, hungry and am still treating some symptoms. I am on medication to try and control the colitis and a clear liquid diet for the next 48 hours.

So there you go...you have the story.

I am really happy to be home. Erin has been awesome through all this too hanging with me, driving me around, getting groceries. It is going to be a few more days before I start to feel normal again and recovery will take some time. I have some learning to do about colitis and will need to make some adjustments to lifestyle to accommodate that.

I can’t thank you all enough for the words of encouragement, the prayer and the messages. You really helped me get through these past couple of days.

Oh Blog...seems I have forgotten you!

Okay so it's been a month since I blogged...officially that is. They may not be up here but I have little pieces of paper all over my desk with my notes for blogs.

One of them was going to be called "When Worship Isn't Working". For me, music and worship are crucial to my life with Christ. Worship music is generally the gateway to something deeper with Christ for me and when worship stops working then I know somethings up.

My life has seemed to be in a constant state of transition or change since 2003.

What I have learned is that all of that transition can leave you leaving unsettled. I am not thinking of just the day-to-day but also our lives with Christ. I am not saying it is a bad thing either. Feeling uncomfortable can also be a launch pad for great things or changes.

Deciphering my notes from several weeks ago it appears I was struggling with a period of sadness. I have know idea why as it has long passed but one line of my scribble says...Today I am sad. I feel like I am breaking God's heart. For the life of me I can't recall what or why. I think God must have carried me through that, cause I am not scared by it.

What I recall is thinking of life as a kitchen sink. We can fill the sink right to the top with gallons of water. Just like in life we can fill every day with "things". So many things that we lose sight of God and our purpose and we begin to drown. Unfortunately our immediate reaction is to pull the plug to drain the sink or start dropping things in hopes of finding our purpose again.

Have you every pulled the plug on a full sink? What is the response? Water starts swirling and gurgling as it goes done the drain. Little mini whirlpools form too...nothing but chaos!

One thing I have learned in life is that having the bible isn't enough. It truly isn't about what we know, but it's what we do with that knowledge.

So what do we do when our sink gets too full or better yet, what can we do to keep our sink from getting too full? I like what James 1:5 says...this is from The Message..."If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it". Seems simple huh...well experience has shown me it works.

Our faith and walk with Christ operates much like a car...in drive or reverse you are constantly moving. You can get many places when you shift into gear.

There is a time when the car becomes pretty much useless though...that is when it slides into neutral...all you can do is coast to a stop.

So put some gas in the tank, shift yourself into gear and just see where God can take you!

One of those days!

Ever have one of those days? Today is one of those days. In fact, the past few days have been "one of those days".

I know I love God with all of my heart but these days the things of the world have been so attractive, so appealing.

It's not that I am doing things wrong, more it is just a struggle to do things right. To not be selfish or self-serving.

It is when I have one of those days that I really don't understand your grace Lord. How can you still love me when I am struggling to love you? How can you forgive me when I am struggling to forgive myself?

I am actually writing this in church. Scribbling it down on a piece of paper. Truth be told, I didn't even want to be here today.

Interestingly, one of the worship songs was one I've referred to in a past blog. It is Matt Maher's "Christ is Risen?. I was pretty tuned out during worship (rare for me) till we got to this song and the verse:

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

I am really not sure why this verse is speaking to me now or even what it is saying but I am going to meditate on it for a while.

Wow...God you are listening and you are in control. Bob, our pastor, just stood up to preach. The first words out of his mouth (not verbatim, but it was something like this)...while we might separate ourselves from God, we are never separate from God. He then used a scripture verse about God never leaving you or forsaking you...maybe Hebrews 13:5.

I prefer for this one, Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

WOW...did I need to hear this today.

I am not surprised this is happening to me right now. This is a critical time as I set out on a new chapter in life serving Christ in ministry. Satan would like nothing more than to have me separate myself from God. Satan has that divide and conquer mentality.

As I sit and reflect on the words I have put to paper I realize that I am not separating myself from Him but in this simple way have opened my heart and mind to allow His spirit and His grace to fill me full again. Rather than shutting Him out, this is as invitation for Him to come in.

Thank God, literally, that He never leaves us.

Can you do me a favour? Can you pray for me?

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Getting Around the Roadblocks

I am sure everyone has a story like this...you rush out the door, jump in the car and take off somewhere only to run into road construction. Usually there is a flag person or signs to direct you to a detour.

Well a few weeks ago I was traveling in Eastern Europe. I was driving with a friend Gord and we were on our way from Krakow, Poland to Malenovice, Czech Republic. No biggie you say? Well we set out on our journey with maps in hand and directions written down. Things were going good. We made our first right turn and were on track...until we hit construction...road closed...no signs (not that we could read them anyway) and no flag people to direct us. No worries, we had our maps! Gord worked at backing us up...no easy feat when you aren't comfortable with a stick shift and the road not wide enough to turn around.

We backed tracked a street or two and starting making our way around the construction. We got to the end of another street...boom...more road closures with no signs and no flag people.

Directions were now useless, the map pretty much the same because I couldn't really read the street names...they all looked the same! All we had were our wits and keen sense of direction. That was enough though, between us we were able to make our way to the main road we needed to be on to head towards the Czech border.

Earlier this week I was reading a couple of devos by Dr. Charles Stanley. Both were focused on anxiety. In the first devo Stanley shared that Knowing God and trusting Him are the two key elements of deep faith. In the second he was speaking about how our experiences often shape what we think of feel about ourselves.

Now you are probably thinking "how does driving around Poland relate to anxiety and deep faith?" Let me explain...it isn't what you think...and you'll need to give me some latitude here...they don't...just the driving reference had me thinking about roadblocks...and the roadblocks I put up in my own life that prevent me from going deeper in my faith.

Stanley talked about a number of root causes of anxiety. He included in his list four specific potential causes. The first was a belief that one can't reach a set standard, another was an erroneous idea of God as a punisher. The third was attitudes instilled in us during childhood. The one that hit me...my roadblock...our guilt over past sin.

I am not sure why I am the way I am but I have always been pretty hard on myself. I set the bar high for myself and when I don't make that standard or when I screw things up, nobody needs to beat me up over it...I do it myself just fine thank you.

I know how majestic God is. I know His amazing grace. I get His incredible forgiveness. What I don't often get is WHY! Ah yes, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all yours ways acknowledge him and He will make your way straight". (Proverbs 3:5-6)

So if He can forgive me...why can't I forgive myself. I know that in my flesh I analyze things...way too much. Then I analyze them more. I think of all the ways I could have done it differently and avoided the sin. I focus in on the circumstances of what happened rather than allowing God's grace to wash over me. Obviously, if I am going to go deeper in my faith, this is something I need to work through.


Oh Lord, hear my prayer. I desire to be in deep relationship with you. I struggle. I screw up. But you are my rock, my strength in weakness. Come rescue me Lord. Teach me Lord to forgive myself just as you forgive me. Thank you for your amazing grace! Amen.

Freedom Isn't Just Another Word

Today I did something I never believed I would do in life. I toured the Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps in Poland.

I don’t profess to be much of an historian, nor am I a WWII trivia buff but today’s experience moved me beyond what I can truly capture in words. Having visited the memorial sites, I am flabbergasted that anyone could deny what happened.

There was a point not long after being at the Auschwitz site, where we were shuffling along a narrow hallway. I couldn’t help but believe the scene was the same some 65 years ago, only the stakes were much different. I walked in freedom because of the sacrifice of a large number of brave men, brave soldiers and also walk in spiritual freedom because of my relationship in Christ. They walked to their grave. Step by step to their last breath.

I stood in a window looking out at the killing wall, the place where innocent men and women were gunned down. Where I stood was in the footsteps where some unknown man/men stood and watched the atrocity 65 years ago.

My heart broke when I saw the piles of luggage with names still on them, the mound of eyeglasses, prosthetics, thousands of pounds of hair from their shaved heads. My eyes welled up with tears when I saw the thousands of pairs of shoes. What devastated my heart was the knowledge that those cracked, weathered and battered shoes made the many, many steps to the camps giving their owners hope that better times were ahead. They were deceived...there was no better life ahead, only death.

I am thankful that I have freedom to live, freedom to believe. I truly hope and pray that nothing in our world in this generation, or any other, would compare to the horrid atrocities that occurred at Auschwitz and Birkenau.

May God's peace be with you and with all your family and ancestors.

Impress the Word

These past few days have been fantastic. It has been an opportunity to meet and share with others, have great quality time with Erin, eat some great food but even more importantly get some spiritual food.

Dave Patty, the JV CEO, has been walking us through a series on Roots: The Fatherhood of God. The focus has been on parenting kids and spiritual kids, which has application for everyone here since it is Family Conference and everyone here works with youth and young adults.

The other day, the topic was Impress - the family way of instruction. I thought I'd share some of this as it really challenged me to stand up and take some action.

First off, Impress comes from the word "Echad" which means sharp or sharpen. If we are going to impact our families and others, we truly do need to be sharp as the message and outcome needs to leave a very lasting impression.

Dave shared out of Deuteronomy 6 and it wasn't really until I went back and reread it today that it home.

We were able to take some time today and consider applications for what we have learned. I began my time by asking myself "what can I do"?

A few verses in advance of the passages that Dave shared on, Moses wrote that the purpose for this scripture was for him to share the commands, decrees and laws that God directed to us for living a long life.

Moses shared, "Hear O Israel, be careful to obey so you may increase greatly, in a land of milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your Father promised you." The command was simple. OBEY! What resonated deepest though was why...to increase DEEPLY. Further in the chapter Moses added that these commands (decrees, laws) are to on our heart and we are to impress (sharpen) them on our children (I extrapolate that to all God's people).

The word says we are to talk about it...when we sit, walk, lay down and get up...guess that really means anytime but when we are sleeping. The word says we are to tie/bind it to us. It adds to tie it to our hands, which we use the most. Lastly it calls for us to write. Where? On the door frames and gates. So this means write it in the places where we are most comfortable.

So after chewing on this some, I had to ask myself the question "what is preventing me"?

I came up with fear, lack of knowledge and understanding of the scriptures, lack or preparation, lack of being intentional, time and desires (that is me filling life with all the other things I love to do).

After pondering that some time, I thought "what do I need to do to change it"?

I need to commit. I need to make certain these things are on my heart.

I need to give God the First Fruits of my time, not the leftovers or what I fit into the rest of the day. I need to get deeper into the word, to study it, work to understand it and not just read it. Kind of like the old cliche, you can be a mile wide and and inch deep or an inch wide and a mile deep.

Another conclusion I reched is that I believe I need to sacrifice something in my life to do this. Not a sacrifice made to deprive myself of something I enjoy but out of obedience and love. By giving up something with meaning to me, it then gives more meaning to what I am doing.

The final action for me is to continue to write. This outward expression "The Experiment" is written for me but I hope it touches you too. We never really know the full impact our words can have.

My heart desires the the kingdom increased greatly. We each have our place.

My prayer is that I will seek Him, hear Him and obey Him. May you seek God and fulfill your calling. May He continue to bless us all richly!

On a venture, a Josiah Venture!

Well we are through the first few days and this trip has been amazing. Council meetings ended after this morning’s session and now I am able to relax some. The intensity and purposefulness of the meetings, combined with the fact everything was new and I was also trying to build relationships with folks took about every ounce of energy I had.

I am truly amazed by the passion every single one of these people have for reaching the lost. I should tell you that the attendees of the council meetings are the country head and their 2-I-C. Every country has one US missionary and one National missionary. Others that are a part of the council are the JV executive and support staff and a few guests like myself.

They are all amazing but I wanted to share about one country leader Mart. He is a national from Estonia. This guy gets it. He is beyond sold out for Jesus. I know that if somewhat were to say he had to denounce his faith or die. He’d fall on the sword without even batting an eye. I have met very few people in life who have this kind of Holy Spirit fire. He had a couple of countrymen traveled to the US on a fundraising trip.

They intentionally sat in seats apart from each other so they could share the gospel. By the time they arrived in the US, each had shared Jesus and one came away with $450 a month support from someone they had never met before. While in Chicago, their first stop, they went to a pizza place for dinner and led their waitress to the Lord at their table. They are so grounded in the scriptures, they believe that the great commission is what God has commanded them to do and it is serious business to them. You gotta meet these guys.

The people they are ministering to are the first generation not born into communism. Some are very open but open to everything. Many are still caught in oppression that communism caused. There is a youth movement sweeping Eastern Europe. When they see Christ, they become passionate, sold out Christians ready win others to Christ.

Eastern Europe needs capacity in the current evangelical churches in order to discipline them. Church plants are happening at an astonishing rate. New churches are parenting another new church in just a couple years. I can’t wait to share more of the amazing stories of life change that is happening in every country. Now that council is done, we are into the Family Conference. This brings all the American missionaries together for a time of fellowship and to be fed. The JV CEO Dave Patty is the speaker and tonight he challenged us all with some biblical teaching on the “Role of the Fatherhood”. After the intensiveness of the first few days it was cool to just worship and be fed.

Tonight we were able to sit and chat with another couple of missionary couples, one in particular who are new to Slovakia. Again it was so inspiring.I could write much more but I haven’t really slept since leaving Canada and am REALLY hoping I can get at least 5-6 hours tonight.

If you have questions, please ask…

Please keep praying and stay tuned….more to come.

Music to the Heart

Not sure there will be anything awe-inspiring about this post but just want to put to paper (keyboard to screen I suppose) what I have been thinking about God's blessing on our (my) life.

Do you know the Matt Maher song "Christ is Risen"? No, check it out here before you read the rest of this blog...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2KNvuscKRA&feature=fvw

The lyrics to this song are beyond amazing...

Let no one caught in sin remain Inside the lie of inward shame But fix our eyes upon the cross And run to Him who showed great love And bled for us Freely You've bled for us

This past few weeks our extended family has been so blessed by God through the answer to prayer. Hearing the inspiring daily updates from my cousins brings tears to my eyes even as I think about it now. God listens, God hears and God does give us the desires of our hearts.


Christ is risen from the dead Trampling over death by death Come awake, come awake Come and rise up from the grave Christ is risen from the dead We are one with Him again Come awake, come awake Come and rise up from the grave

On Saturday Erin and I leave on one of the biggest trips of our lives. We are on our way to Poland and the Czech Republic to spend some time with a missions organization there. For us, this is an answer to prayer. Over the past months, we have been seeking God's direction and call for our lives. He pulled me out of one situation and we knew He had something greater. It is and has been my desire to serve Him.

Beneath the weight of all our sin You bowed to none but heaven's will No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown No burden great can hold You down In strength You reign Forever let Your church proclaim

We have come a long way with this organization and are very excited by the potential opportunity to serve with them (don't worry...we will still be based in Victoria). It is our hope that this time we have to spend with them and them with us will reaffirm what we already feel is where God has led us too. Please pray for us!

O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? O church, come stand in the light The glory of God has defeated the night

If this wasn't enough already, God's incredible creation is set to bloom again. we will return from Europe to celebrate the birth of our new nephew. Hopefully he'll wait till we get back! We are so excited for Brian and Meryl...we cherish the role of aunt and uncle and will do all we can to love him, spoil him and show him Jesus in all we say and do.

O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? O church, come stand in the light Our God is not dead He's alive! He's alive!

So, here I am at the end of this post. Hopefully you caught the two themes of blessing. God listens, God hears and God grants us the desires of our hearts. His blessing is evident all around us. One of the greatest blessings God has given me is my family...I love you guys!

That's it! That's all I've got...please pray for us!! And go do something special for your family today!

1Tim 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Drive-thru Jesus

A few years ago I made a conscious decision to stop using drive-thru's. Typically the stuff you get going through a drive-thru is crap...carbo-loaded, sodium-saturated, fat bombs. The least I could do if I was going to poison myself with this garbage was park in the lot and get the exercise from walking into the building.

Fast food was created because we are too busy in our lives to stop and have a meal and the drive-thrus were built to help out those that are so busy they can't even take the time to stop for the fast food. With work, school, sports, play, family, church, chores...life is complicated and busy...who has time to eat.

A week ago I was in church sipping my Tim Horton's "role up the rim" coffee (which I parked and went inside to get). It struck me as it has in the past...am I too busy for God? Have I chosen to make my life to complicated?

Am I just pulling up to the window and placing my order..."could I get one gracious and forgiving Jesus...oh, and can you SUPER-SIZE that...it's been a heck of a week?"

I often hear people talk about needing more discipline to pray, more discipline to read my bible more discipline to...well it's a crock. It isn't discipline we need, at least it isn't for me. It's actually a full-blown attitude adjustment.

I shouldn't need discipline. This isn't something I have to do...it is something I want to do and something I chose to do.

I should jump on it just like I do for the other things in life I love. I don't need discipline to go to Tim's, I just hop in the car and go (in fact, I might just do that when I finish this). I don't need disciple to jump on Facebook and message friends and family and play games, I just do it.

Putting God first in life isn't easy...we all have commitments...but it is biblical. Just check out Exodus 20:3...though shalt have no other God's before me. How can He be one-and-only if he isn't the most important part of our day.

So not quite convinced? Need to know the benefits?

...well scripture says in Psalm 72:12-14 that...

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
He will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.

Aren't we all poor, weak, needy and oppressed? Seems He just needs to be our priority.

In the end we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Now I said it...now I have to show! No more drive-thru Jesus.

Thank you for the Cross!

Today is Good Friday and this morning Erin and I went to a city-wide church service to celebrate this significant day. It was cool to sit among the 1400+ people in the field house at G.R Pearkes and just celebrate Jesus. It was cool because it brought together His people from all backgrounds and denominations. It was cool because the worship was good. Most of all it was cool because we were there to celebrate
FREEDOM, FORGIVENESS and GRACE!

One of our local pastor's Neil Blackstock shared about the pain that Jesus must have endured...I get a headache I take a pill...Jesus took it full on...no Advil, no morphin, no tears!

Why? Why?

Well not long before His death, Jesus pulled his buddies, the disciples, aside and offered a bit of an explanation as to why when He said "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). Mark 10:45 says something similar. So in my lingo...Jesus took it for the team. He paid my fees.

So we are covered by the blood of Christ and free from sin and guilt. I am a new creation in Christ! So...it's all good but...

Now...I look around (including in the mirror) and wonder...was His death all in vain?

You hear stats like only 20% of Canadians attend church on Sunday even less at 5% in Victoria. It must break His heart...it breaks mine (good blog topic for another time).

BUT it's even more personal that that. This is the mirror part...I heard the lyrics in one of the worship songs in the service...it was something like "I honour Him in all that I do". I was embarrassed to sing this and tears streamed down my cheeks.

I can't say I honour Him in all I do and still be honest. How many times in my life have I turned my back and made my choice and not His? Forget in my life...what about today...how many times today?

God...some days I don't get it...I don't get how you can extend you GRACE and MERCY the way you do. The pain we cause must take you right back to seeing your son Jesus, writhing in pain and bleeding out on the cross. You desire so much for us and we fall short...you knew that though...

Help me God to see the cross every day in every thought just as it was then! Steel shanks driven through Jesus' hands, and His side pierced . Help me God to see the cross every day in every thought just as it is today...EMPTY...so I can live free.



The lyrics of this worship song say it much more eloquently than I ever could.

And once again I look upon the cross where you died I'm humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside Once again I thank you Once again I pour out my life.

The Experiment

Okay, so today marks the beginning of The Experiment! What is the experiment you ask? Me blogging!

So why is it an experiment...because I am too private, can't settle down long enough to write, too much rattles around in my head to be able to focus on a single thought and I am LAZY. Yeah, lazy...not gonna lie, if the experiment fails it is because I was TOO LAZY to write.

So with the simple "click" of the mouse, The Experiment begins!