Still Amazed

Chapel times have always been one of the greatest “added value” experiences of my long CFN relationship. Starting when I was a student in the mid 80’s right up till this morning, I enjoy being able to join with others in worship of God led by talented people who set the stage for an encounter through music.

The student led chapel times  provide a double blessing for us as we experience the rich gifting God has given the students. Songs are only a portion of a well rounded worship time. pauses to reflect, scripture and testimonies can add to the full experience. this morning we had it all. Great music, reflective time and a very powerful testimony.The student team was outstanding in their desire to provide the atmosphere conducive to a God encounter.

I am amazed at the blessings of God in the lives of others as they share of their life changing encounters with God. This semester, on Fridays, we make time for longer testimonies to be given. The openness of the revelations always reveal how much God loves us and how far we have come from the sinful creatures we were.  What a priviledge to be part of this!

A frog in boiling water

You have all heard of the science experiment where a frog is placed in a beaker and the water temperature is slowly raised until the frog sits in near or boiling water. the point is two fold; illustrating the frog body’s ability to adapt to changes but also a warning to be aware of your surroundings and any changes taking place.

I have been sitting in a big green office chair for almost ten years. It came with the position of president of the college. It is the source of the name on this blog. However, it seems that I have been sitting in an ever-changing environment not totally unlike a beaker. It seems the chair has simply worn out. This breakdown took place over time and went un-noticed by me, although folks around commented on my Pisa like appearance. (leaning over to one side)

I finally noticed after I sat in some one elses chair and noticed how straight and tall I sat. Wow, is this chair comfortable. Then i returned to TBGC and noticed it’s lopsided demeanor. I have begun looking for a suitable replacement but it will take time. I have discovered that I am picky about my life in some odd areas. (go ahead and giggle) Finding a new chair has proven to be a daunting task. It must be tall enough to allow me to lean my head back in sleep quiet meditation, it must lock in the upright position, have soft arm rests and be comfortable to sit and type from. Of course green would be a valuable asset.

I will keep you posted.

Shalom

A day like any other day?

I hope not! Today, the 11 of the 11 of the 11 should not be just another day in our mind. Yes it has 24 hours, yes the sun will rise and set. But on this day we should choose to remember something we all to often like to forget.

War is a terrible occurrence. It always has been, it always will be. But there were times when the alternative was worse. what could be worse then sending men and women to kill each other on the fields of combat? Sending waves of people to prison or death for merely being _____ (insert any characteristic you choose here)

As long as there are humans there will be war. Why? because of jealousy, greed, lust, selfishness and envy to name a few. Add pride to that list and we don’t even began to scratch the surface for reasons. Peace is not an easy option, it often has to be earned. When deals are made to appease aggressors, some one has to pay. It was that way in scripture, it was that way in history, it will be that way in the future.

We can give peace a chance, as the song implores but who will pay the cost?  This day we remember those who did and those who are paying the cost right now. You may not agree with any of the current conflicts, but the honoring of those willing to toe the line is different then expressing support of an armed conflict.

So today, honor the fallen, the fighting and the future of the world. Dream of a day of peace, it will come……in heaven.

Blessings

How can we help?

Many people have asked me how they can help towards the roof project. My first response is always to ask them to pray for us. God can open up the windows of heaven and rain down a blessing upon us. I feel that happened to a large degree when the contractor offered to replace the roof at cost. Significant savings is a wonderful blessing in its self. However, some (many, lots, everyone) may want to also become a financial partner with us for this cause.

Donations can be mailed, of course but you can also follow this link, Donate

to make a Credit Card donation. Please make sure when you follow the link that the recipient on the web sight is listed as Christ for the Nations, (Canada), Inc. which is our legal name. The Website, CanadaHelps, is a partner with non profits to allow on line donations. Choose where needed most designation, because the roof is needed most.

Drop me a note at gerald@cfnc.ca to give me a heads up about a gift on the way. I can alert the business office to watch for it. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated. Maybe a group of alumni can do something together? Or a pastor may be willing to take up an offering for your alum mater. Never hurts to prayerfully share with others.

May God richly bless you!

 

The mailing address is:

19533 64th Ave

Surrey, BC V3S 4J3

Almost completed but the rain is coming

The roofer’s are banging away but the rain is coming, faster than they are able to fire their coil nailer. I would not want to work in the rain but neither do i want to have to fix th ceiling where the water is coming in. Life is filled with challenges and struggles.

We, as a family are facing the challenges that come with aging parents. Both sets of grandparents are healthy, PTL but as the time passes we see signs of the passing of time. My folks have recently relocated to the town that my sister lives in and she is able to give visual updates on their life. Sue’s sisters still have eyes on her parents so we are up to date on both side.

It is not easy being this far away from them as the years pass. There are times we will admit to lamenting about our location but we remember it was the big Boss who sent us here. we would not have the wonderful daughter’s in law that we have been blessed with had we not come here. We would not have seen the college become what it is. We would not have friends around the world, like we do, if we had not come here in obedience to God’s call.

So while we area saddened at times with the distance from family, we can rest in the knowledge that one day we will spend eternity together. Therein is the hope to which we hold.

All in the past

Over the weekend Sue and I went down to Seattle to help  our oldest children relocate. Daughter was first, on Saturday and Son (and family) were on Sunday. It was, as always, a treat to be able to help with events such as this one but even more encouraging is the fact that had we not made the effort, the move would have still taken place. To move a family member is sort of an oblication but to move a friend is a committment. Each of the households had enough friends committed to them that Sue and I did not need to do much heavy lifting at all. Age Wisdom has its advantages like being called on to tie down the load rather than carry it.  I organized the placing of items on the truck but was not called on to carry much of it.It is a joy to see the friends of the kids stepping up. Speaks well of them!

Sue went the second mile and helped to deep clean the new place daughter was moving into. A very nice place but not really cleaned after the last 12  different families lived there. Okay, so maybe it was not 12 families but the mess left behind was surprising. So while us movers moved, she scrubbed places like the top of the fridge and the top of the range/microwave combo unit.

For the second move she was able to tend to some of the needs of grandson #1. Lots of hands were there for that but she can be focused where he is concerned.

All in all the move s went great ad we are happy they are in the rearview now. Once the aches and pains go away, i may even forget they happened. But for now I rise a bit slower in honor of the great help of the weekend move squared.

To all involved-A big Thank You!

Where are you headed?

At the annual fall retreat for CFNBC we were blessed this year to have an alumni be the keynote speaker. Mike was great! He is currently part of the pastoral team at the Comox Pentecostal Church. He blessed us with his quiet, engaging teaching style; connecting with both staff and students alike. The first day he spoke on the well-known parable of the prodigal son. But he choose to address the father’s response rather than the son’s actions. Although Mike used this well-known section of scripture, he was able to draw the students into the father’s heart. ike made several observations about how the father responded.

1. The father never gave up looking for his son’s return. He loved and expected him t return.

2. The father welcomed the son home with full honor.

3. The son was restored back to full status as signified by the robe, the ring, and the shoes.

When we have chosen a path that leads us away from our heavenly father we can expect him to respond in like fashion when we finally come to our senses and come home.  So where are you headed. Are you heading away, or back or are you at the father’s side?

When It Rains It Pours

When I was younger, there was a well known commercial on billboards and road signs. (yes we had tv back then) They showed a little girl carrying a large container of Morton salt that had been treated with magnesium carbonate which allowed the salt to remain dry in humid conditions but did not change the favor. The salt would pour out of the container instead of clumping in the bags their competitors used. So that expression (When it rains, it pours) has always had the connotation of a good thing to me.

I guess that is a good thing because the troubles of this world can heap up on you, dog piling you unmercifully. Jesus promised that He would never leave us and I take that to mean that if and when troubles come our way we can know for sure and for certain that Jesus is keenly aware of our plight.  He is there with us as we go through what ever is happening to us. He is sort of the additive in the life of a Christ follower that allows them to pour out despite adversity instead of clumping up in a wet sack of despair.

So when the cloud burst of trouble hits you, grab your umbrella and let your favor season the situation. You are the salt of the world.

My bucket has a hole in it

Well actually it is my roof, more precisely the college roof.

Our fifteen-year old roof has developed a substantial leak and we suffered ceiling damage in our large fellowship area.  Technical details aside, the roof needs to be replaced. It was one of the first items we noticed when we purchased the property, showing signs 12- years ago of sub-par installation. We have been fortunate this problem has delayed this long. The cost of replacement is $68,000 and that is a scary number. We have secured a loan to allow us to re-roof before the winter rains but now the task of covering the loan looms before us.

As I shared this with the staff i offered a challenge to them. Each of us can assist in at least two ways with this project. First, prayerfully consider how you personally can give towards a new roof. Second, prayerfully pass this need on to others who may be able to help in small or large ways. Working together we can raise the amount needed and repay the loan before it matures.

Please join us as we trust God to assist us in this challenge. Share this need with your friends and those associates who can catch the vision and help us carry this project through to a swift completion. If you would like more detail, please feel free to give me a call.

Shalom

Day 19345 of my…..

That is correct. Today I mark 19,345 days (19,358.25 counting leap years) upon this mortal coil. I have no idea what a mortal coil is but I have heard some one else say it and it sounded cool. Nineteen thousand days! wow,G od has been good to me!

As of this morning everything still worked so I guess I have not reached my expiry date yet. Although from down wind i might at times smell like old cheese.

in those 19,000 plus days I have become a husband, father, reverend, teacher, missionary, klutz, and clueless. I know less today then I did yesterday about just about everything. Everything except what is important to me. My family and my faith. Now I did not say I understand my family or my faith, I just know more about them. i spend my time, or at least I aspire to, learning more about both these topics. I study for I don’t know when the exam is. At any time I might be called on to defend these and this I will do. I have learned in these times of uncertain times that I can depend on my God to comfort and strengthen me. I have learned that I can take comfort in the family God has blessed me with. I do not speak here of only my blood family but of those who I call family. My extended family includes folks from several continents and are both living and passed. This cloud of witnesses cheer me on.

Wow, where did all that come from? I must be getting old……….

Blessings in the name of the Blessed Three