The Thin Thread of Life
It doesn't matter if we're young, or just think we are young, but man oh man life holds on by an awfully thin thread. Every day is a gift worth treasuring. Every day.
I am someone who desires to follow and image Jesus however, whatever, wherever. Grateful for growing up in a Christian home and community, I've gone along to become a husband, father and very recently a grandpa (still trying to get my little brain around that one!). We've been in Ottawa since 1994, where a long-suffering and gracious community lets me serve as their pastor.
I enjoy -racing my sailboat (don't get me started talking sailing - you'll be there all evening), -running (get rid of stress and keep middle age from spreading around my gut) and -curling (a man with a broom.... and loving it).
It doesn't matter if we're young, or just think we are young, but man oh man life holds on by an awfully thin thread. Every day is a gift worth treasuring. Every day.
A line I often hear (and maybe you do, too) is: “If that’s what God is like, I don’t think I could believe in him.” Why are we so quick to re-write God when we find something we object to?
I hope I never hear it again. I hope I never say it again. I hope we can make this phrase totally disappear from the life of our church. You’ve probably heard it…..
I heard it again this week in an online talk — “Remember your baptism.” Say what? Yes — Remember. Do you consciously remember that you were baptized?
Someone said to me, “I don’t do nursing homes.” Perhaps you feel the same way. If you have – may I gently tap you on the shoulder? ‘Cause I’m wondering if turning away is really an appropriate option...
If you read Psalm 13 you'll find 2/3 of the poem is focused on the struggle. Giving voice to the pain. Expressing the frustration and worry. Only 1/3 – at the end – is about hope. Which is the way so much of life can be.
I can’t tell you how many young adults, as well as older adults, I’ve run across over the years of ministry who have walked away from the church because of the way they were treated when they wanted to ask challenging questions....
I hear more stuff that makes me wonder sometimes – “Are we running a business, or some organization…. or are we a church?
Why are we sometimes so hard on ourselves? Or, for that matter, hard on each other? Ever notice that? No wonder someone said recently, “Christians can sometimes be SO mean!” That hurt to hear. But I think he was more right than I might care to admit. We CAN be mean – to ourselves, to each other...
“Regrets, I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention.” Anybody remember that song? Too few regrets? Not me! I’ve got lots! Just thinking back across 2012 – missed opportunities, people I let down, thoughts harbored that should have been rejected, failed projects. There have been enough of these for me. How about you?
Hi, Dan
Re scheduling of your Sunday volunteers (coffee hosts, ushers, greeters, sound techs, video crew, elders, worship team, etc) - someone here in Ottawa has written a piece of software...
I'd love to hear more from you, Sandra, about what you're looking for and what you find lacking in RW. Is the challenge in the area of music only? Or are there other elements in the liturgy that...