In the "Beginning"....God

This week the launching of "The Grand Design" by Stephen Hawking hit the air waves declaring "God isn't necessary for the universe to be created....only gravity and Quantum Physics". Listening to an interview with the Co-Author, Leonard Mlodinow, he said the book is not disproving the existance of God - rather that the creation of the universe" -- In Genesis 1 it states that God created the heavens and the earth...and, it is my opinion that the laws of Gravity and Quantum Physics were also His handiwork....for God is God of order and purpose....can you imagine if there were no "Law of Gravity"??? What would hold us together, what would happen to orbits of the planets??

When I look into the Heavenlies, I see God's work.....when I look around at what I can see with my naked eye, I am at "awe" of the beauty and splendor....this doesn't even touch on the intricacy of how fearfully and wonderfully made we are...again, God knew what He was doing when he created this universe, world and our bodies.....It is His desire that each one of us "know Him" persoanally....to have a personal knowledge and growing personal relationship to God - made possible through Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection from the dead. I am thankful that I know Jesus and God's love and Grace personally. I am thankful that these authors have noted that they do not challenge the existance of God....my prayer is that this book would not lead people to a false conclusion about God and the wonderful work of Creation.

Friends - For a Moment, A Season....For Eternity

My Brother recently sent an email which had multiple views of different friends that are apart of our lives...for a Moment, A Season and Eternity.

It reminded me that we often spend a lot of time with things that are very temporary....mowing the grass that will yellow and fade, flowers that will wither....and accumulating "stuff" that in a few years will either become a lost treature in our attics or garages...or will become someone elses "treasure" at the next Garage sale.

But "PEOPLE" are Eternal....they are currently "Body, Soul and Spirit".....and our current body is "temporary" but we really are an eternal treasure....and, the friendships we make (regardless of how short) are connections that are significant because People are "Forever".

I used to spend time on "chat rooms" when I first got into using the internet (at age 40)...and there I found "connections" that were often "fleeting" but I prayed that God would make my intersection with these distant "people" significant...that something I said would impact them for the now and eternity. God knew my heart...and, I believe that He did use me during those times

I say all that to say.....Friends, and People are an Eternal connection that we need to value and cherish -- some we will never see again till the end of this world and God restores heaven and earth for our Eternal Life with Him.....but, God help me (help us all) to view every person like YOU DO....someone Fearfully and Wonderfully made, someone with gifts and abilities (although some may still be hidden) -- help us look beyond the "cover" of the book....look beyond the "age" or the habits...to see a precious "Friend" .....Jesus called us all to be "friends" and "Friendly" to others -- maybe we could learn something from others if we were not so absorbed with Ourselves all the time......If I sound like I'm ranting....I could be......we're just approaching our annual "Love Winnipeg" event for 2010 and we plan to make ourselves available to people in the Core....it will be a stretch for both myself and Janet, but I am praying that by God's Spirit, He would be able to use us to bring light, love and acceptance to someone who needs it...and, just maybe they will show us something we really need to see in Jesus Name.

We also have made new friends recently, and realize again how "Special" it is to "connect" with people outside our own lives...to laugh together, to discuss our issues together and get a different perspective. God intends us to connect with others, because he believes in community...not "Lone Rangers".

I'm thankful for all the friends ....the ones for the moment, a season, and for the great friends I look forward to spending Eternity with that have crossed my paths over the years of my life Journey.

I also Thank God for My BEST Friend, Janet my Wife -- She Blesses me beyond words, and I enjoy each day we share together. Though tiredness, work or other issues may crowd out our time together - still, just being in the same room with her is "Special" and she is not just for a moment, or a Season...she's My Best Friend FOREVER!!!!!  8-)

Thankfulness

As I return back to my blog site.....I'm amazed how much time has passed by.....WOW. Does it ever slow down??

Life has been busy -- Lots of stuff happening at work - with Physical Inventory on the horizon and a trip to Saskatoon to help out.

Amidst all the busyness....I am Thankful !!! It's funny - Thankfulness is something we all remember our parents coaxing us to "do" -- "say Thank YOU!!!" We'd spit out the word to avoid further pressures and knowing we would be restrained until we did. But, I think Thankfulness is a "KEY" to enjoying life to it's fullness. When we lack Thankfulness-it's replaced with a range of possibilities....Discouragement, Discontentment, Disappointment....those three "D's" spell "Discouragement" and Despair (I think I'm on a roll??)

I heard it said once.....if you are lacking "Thankfulness".....look around closely, and you likely can see somebody who has "less" than you....and you just might realize things are not so bad and regain some "Thankfulness" in your Journey of Life.

I always remember the verse "In Everything Give Thanks, for this is the Will of God concerning You"
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

That's a tough verse to walk without God's help.....but, I can confess that keeping "Thankful" is a KEY to happiness. God help me to keep Thankful in all circumstances. AMEN

Back to the Grind-Hi Ho Hi Ho...it's Back to Work We Go

Well....it was back to work today.....slidding back into the saddle, before long it didn't feel like I had been away. The day was a busy one ...trying to catch up on the missing days and grab hold of the emails trickling in all day. 

The nice thing about having a long weekend, is that it causes a "short work week"...so, by end of tomorrow we're already at the 'half-way' point.

Tonight we enjoyed the BBQ burgers cooked last night and then had a relaxing evening....Janet had a sinus headache coming home tonight, so she rested until her Nana called for a "phone visit". Nana is really getting excited about Janet's two week visit which starts next Wednesday.

Tonight I started my Blog Page called "A Father's Legacy" ...this was based on a book that Janet bought for me at our first "Father's day" (2006)...it is a book of questions for Father's to answer to give a collection of memories and history that the kids can read and enjoy. I actually have been waiting to start this and tonight I decided was the time to do that.

It's been a good day....God is so faithful.....always always working in and through our lives if we are open to it. God is willing to help us change and grow....he only needs our permission and willingness. God....I am open and willing to see your love and life work in and through me for your Glory.AMEN.

First BBQ of 2010

Today Janet and I enjoyed another "Day Off" together.....it was a cloudy morning, but later in the day the sun finally poked through the clouds for a few hours.

We walked over the grocery store mid-afternoon to buy some fruit and veggies for the week and then came back to enjoy the rest of the day together.

The highlight of the day was being able to fire up the BBQ for our first grilled supper....YummmYummm.....love bbqing !!! We enjoyed burgers tonight and watched a bit of TV together while I filed this years income tax returns.

Tomorrow is "Back to work" but it sure was nice to have a long weekend off and now we have a short work week to boot.

Time to hit the sack so I've got the energy to catch up to my co-workers....not too worried, cuz some of them move at about half my speed anyway.

Sunday's - Challenges & Blessings

Today was "Daylight Savings" Time change which meant we "Lost an Hour" -- so, the time before heading to church was a bit shorter than usual....Today, we had a guest speaker who had been part of the "Promise Keeper's" weekend...his name was Kenny Luck from the Saddleback church....he spoke a great message that challenged us all in our relationships...."Grace not given out, is Grace wasted".....how we need to recognize in our relationships that we have an audience of "One" being God....and He is the one we live to please...how we need to listen to the Holy Spirit in all our relationships to ensure we are relating to others....that in all relationships "Conflict is inevitable, but distruction is optional"......He spoke of the Keys to healthy relationships ...how the Holy Spirit gives us Security, Humility, Comoraderie, Accountability and Urgency.....it was a great message.

After church we went to a cute little bakery on the way home....wow, could have bought lots (and had "something" to show for it if I ate it all....what a neat little "busy" bakery....we came home and enjoyed soup and fresh buns....then, had a nap to catch up on the lost hour.

Tonight we had our first "Love & Respect" group meeting....we had a really nice time meeting three of the five couples tonight...each with their own story, but all open to learn and improve on their marraige relationship....it was a really fun time and we are looking forward to meeting again next Sunday.

So...today, we've been challenged in our hearts to live our lives obedient to the Holy Spirit....to take every opporunity to allow God's love and grace flow from our lives to others and not just squander it for ourselves....and, we are blessed by God's forgiveness and Love which never fails and is unconditional....and, I enjoy life to the full with My Wife Janet....and with the wonderful people God brings into our lives. It's been a Great Day....looking forward to enjoying tomorrow as we have another "Day off Together" and not having to head to work in the morning.

It's Been a "Working" Day

Today was an "Inside day" for Janet and I.....we really are 'Home-Bodies' and can easily huddle inside together without feeling it was a "wasted day".

We started the day tweaking the blogs....we're both still "learning" how to use this new thing called "blogging"....then, Janet worked on some needle point while I worked on logging Safety training for Saskatchewan.

What is really "Special" is that we both "Enjoy" just "Being Together".....Janet's my BEST FRIEND, and we enjoy living life together -- we can both cook, we both enjoy music...but, neither of us dominate ...instead, we can easily talk together and move into the next meal, the next TV show, the next activity without making each other feel awkward.....so, although from other's perspective it may have been a slow or "wasted day"....we don't look at it that way. Each day together from my perspective is another "Blessed Day" where we are enjoying health and life and love together.

Tonight we are heading out to meet with our co-leaders for Love & Respect which will start-up tomorrow night. We're excited to get involved with the couples who have registered...to get to know them over the next eight weeks and learn about "Loving and Respecting" to enjoy Married Life that God intended.