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

Where oh where did I go wrong?

When I first began this blog and picked up my fan base (all four of you) I thought “what a fun adventure!” After all i type on the computer everyday. I should be able to put some well meaning thoughts down on TBGC everyday or two. I love to tell stories and figured it would be easy!

Well i may be slow but even I can confess that I have botched this deal. I have let the time pass each day without a word being typed. Oh I think about it, I read other blogs and think I should post that or link to it or refer to it on my blog. But alas I did not.

I am facing one of those start-over moments. The anniversary of my birth is upon me and I may just use it to refocus my efforts in many areas. Might just as well add this one to it.

So I can honestly say I will try. Who knows I might even learn Greek too. Yeah right!

The countdown continues

One week from today the students will be back for registration. The apartments will be set up, the photocopying all complete and the building ready. (some new surprises there) The excited chatter will fill the halls again. That is why we do what we do. The students of the Word, gathering to learn about their God in community. Worship will take place, prayer will increase (especially near exam time) hearts will be filled with the wonder that is God.

Come and join us for a class or two, take in a chapel, or visit on Tuesday evening. It is all directed at bringing our lives into a more Christ centered place. And in these days of uncertainty, instability and worrisome news we can all benefit from being in that place!

Welcome aboard

It is a great to have a constancy in life. We all like things to be stable. This is especially true when that which is changing has been there for a long time. But change is or can be very good. Readers know we made some major staff changes this summer. Coming into the Fall term I have already announced the new dean of men. Troy Goodman has settled in, painted his new office and will be on hand Monday.

It with great pleasure that I am now able to announce the replacement for the registrars position. Mark Tubbs will join us in this important position. Mark will bring his own fingerprints to this position, not replacing Mrs B or Lenin but rather making it his own “mark” with the people making inquiries at the college.  Mark will blend the recruiting aspects of Lenin’s position and the administrative side of Mrs. B. It will be interesting to see the affect this change makes.

Endang joined us last summer and has been great in the business office. But love has prevailed and she is returning to Indonesia to marry Kolin. As a result we sought a suitable replacement and believe we have found just that in the person of Jennifer. A recent grad from UBC, she comes with kknowledge, experience and most importantly a love for God. She knows her finances and she knows her God.

We owe a debt to the B’s, Lenin, and to Endang. We will miss them and pray for them as their life takes this turn. We also look forward to the arrival of the new faces. The team is strong, we are excited and know that God is firmly in control!

A caring community

Each year the students who have reached the end of their program of study give a gift to the college. Over the years these gifts have covered a range of items. Pictures, games, books for the library have all been given to the betterment of the college.

At the end this last term during the commencement ceremony I was given an envelope with this years gift. It was money towards the purchase of a new computer for the library. We have six computers in there for the use of the students during the term and it is usually very well used. All things in life grow older and that is very true with computers. With this new unit all the students will benefit.

This gift shows the care the students have for each other. The remaining students and the new incoming students will find an aid to help them in their studies. Thank you to the Graduating class of Spring 2009.

OBTW

We still need to replace other computers in the library as well. If anyone out there reading this are interested in sponsoring a new machine contact our office at 1-888-999-2364. It takes $500.00 CDN to secure a new machine.

A welcome change

It has been hot, not hot as in Arizona or the deserts of Iraq but hot for the lower mainland. The streak seems to be over and rain is even in the forecast for later in the month. It has been a welcome change for the sounds of the AC units in the neighborhood have started to get on my nerves. It is not envy, i spent enough time in AirCon country to know I don’t like the artificial environment it creates. While in Jamaica, we learned to deal with the heat the way the local folks did. we worked during the morning and afternoon but left the heat of the day to the tourists!

Another reason I am glad the heat has broken is the start of the new term is drawing near and the task of enticing students to study in stifling heat was not a pleasant thought. Soon the sounds of the fans will be replaced with another, that of exciting chatter. Many of you may remember that first week you were in school. It all seemed new and perhaps a bit overwhelming. Soon though they will settle in and allow the work of the Holy Spirit to begin. His desire is to shape and mold these willing hearts to serve Him in the great call.

The staff is once again complete and as a team we are looking forward to meeting the new students, renewing friendships with the returning ones and together seeking all that God has in store for us.

Great humor

It is with heavy hearts

No, that sounds too serious. It is bitter sweet to say goodbye today to two co-workers who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us for so many years.

Grant’s contributions are countless from the wise counsel given to the students to the care he shows for the physical building.  Time will reveal just all that he did for us. He is going to have a whole new community to influence. The folks of Cherryville will enjoy his wit and the stories he will have to tell. But as he tells the story he is also teaching as Christ taught. The starting point for Jesus was a listening ear to what the Father had to say. So it will be a prayerful and careful presentation from the new shepherd.

Janyce has had her fingers in so many of the operations here at the college that her finger prints will be surfacing for a long time. First hired way back 90-91 as administrative assistant she helped to develop just about every department in one way or another. Of course it was as Registrar that her greatest influence was felt. Each student in the last 10 years have dealt with her, often before anyone else. Her voice became the voice of answer to many of the first questions asked by inquiring students.

We can put a body in the position to cover the tasks but we are not replacing Grant and janyce, because no one can.

Blessings to the “B’s” as they depart for Cherryville.  God’sgrace and strength be your portion.