“I need to spend more time working on my relationship with God.”

I responded, “Why would you want to do that?”

Startled she says, “What do you mean?”

“Well, why would you want to spend any time at all on working on your relationship with God?”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

“Let me answer by asking you a question. Can you think of anyone, right now, to whom you need to apologize? Anyone you’ve wronged?”

She thinks and answers, “Yes.”

“Well, why don’t you give them a call today and ask for their forgiveness. That might be a better use of your time than working on your relationship with God.”

 

Christians don’t wake up every morning thinking about how to become a more decent human being. Instead, they wake up trying to “work on their relationship with God” which very often has nothing to do with treating people better. How could such a confusion have occurred? How did we end up going so wrong? I’m sure there are lots of answers, but at the end of the day we need to face up to our collective failure. I’m not saying we need to do anything dramatic. A baby step would do to start. Waking up trying to be a little more kind, more generous, more interruptible, more forgiving, more humble, more civil, more tolerant. Do these things and prayer and worship will come alongside to support us.

I truly want people to spend time working on their relationship with God. I just want them to do it by taking the time to care about the person standing right in front of them.

This looks like a really cool idea for creating a bit of a different mood Christmas morning – I could use a way to think a little more outwardly during that time I think.  Anyone know a place in Regina who could use some used clean toys?

As I was helping the boys get dressed to go outside to play the other day…

TIM: “Michael, take your slippers off so I can help you put on your shoes”

MICHAEL: “But, but, but I have to wear my Spiderman slippers so I can save the day”

The Close family is back blogging, it’s a good read.  Oh yeah, they started up a business, and they can help you with your eco-lawn as well.

Here’s some interesting thoughts about the power of music from Mark Batterson’s blog – get the full deal here and more here:

….think about all the ways we use music. They range from putting babies to sleep to going to war. Almost every special occasion involves music. And that music sets the mood. We’re surrounded by music all the time. Whether we’re shopping or dining or stuck in an elevator, we’re being serenaded by music….
For good or for evil, I think music is spiritual in nature. It’s not a human construct. It dates all the way back to time before time. The angels, including a fallen angel named Lucifer, worshiped God with singing before the creation of man. And according to Revelation 4, there is perpetual singing on the other side of the space-time continuum.

and from the second post – great stuff…

All of creation is singing a worship chorus to God. And it’s not just the meadow lark with its 300 notes or the nightingale finch with its 24 songs. According to the German physicist and pianist, Arnold Summerfield, a hydrogen atom emits 100 frequencies which makes it more complex musically than a grand piano which emits 88 frequencies.

For what its worth, Pythagoras said: “A stone is frozen music.” Very interesting in light of what Jesus said: “If you remain silent the stones will cry out.”

My point? All of creation is singing a unique song to the Creator. And you are part of that universal chorus. No one can worship God FOR you or LIKE you. God has given you a unique voiceprint. There are millions of people praying and worshiping God in every language all the time. But your voiceprint is unique.

This looks like a cool idea for celebrating Advent with the family…

And you thought the stairs were bad in Mizoram mom!

• Saturday is activity day for Elijah, soccer and then learn to skate in the morning.  Both have been lots of fun, although skating is tough – lots of falls – but he’s hanging in there.  Soccer is lots of fun – Elijah does great, next step is learning to trust that if he actually passes the ball it might come back around, or we could be happy to let a teammate score even – a tough lesson, the glory is in the goals!
• Had a great visit with Aunt Heather and Uncle Dave last night, it has been a while since we had that chance – was also good to get an update of how Grandma Mc is doing and how things are in Kennedy.  I continue to be grateful for the way my Aunts & Uncles/Mom & Dad have cared for my Grandparents – each in their own ways and making it work together.
• Tara is off to Saskatoon with the boys for the day to visit some good friends and especially our young friend Ricky who is a foster child a part of the Dyer family, but who will moving within the next couple of months.  A tough situation.  It’ll be good for the boys to play with him again.
• Played my first hockey game in 2 years this past Saturday – it was a lot of fun – I thought I was feeling pretty good, but I’m feeling the 2nd day soreness now.
• Good lunch with Pastor Blair today – it’s really good to reconnect with friends like him – we have yet to try A&W like we used to in Dauphin.  Not sure my body can take it anymore.

I believe you could call this extreme.  Nic & Jer, you should try this.