Jesus

Better The Devil You Know Than The One You Don’t

Sometimes it’s just easier not to change, not to risk being more let down than you already are. It is often the reason behind why people vote the way they vote. It can be the reason we put up with bad service and return to the same restaurant or retail outlet. We may remain at the same doctor with the horrible bedside manner or buy the same car brand with the not so sexy looking models. Bad service, bad government, bad manners or bad looking may seem much safer than taking a chance on something new; at least I know what I’m getting. These situations are rather benign in comparison to areas in our lives that choosing the devil we know over the one we don’t, is not only lazy but it is also ungodly. Maybe that should be a given since choosing any devil is not godly…

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I am King Saul

No, it’s not my stage name. There have been many “kings” that have gone before me. The King of Rock, The King of Pop, and I am sure there is someone that either in their name or in their hype is the King of Rap or maybe that would be spelled Kg Rhyme. I know there are still kings of many countries including our Canadian figurehead in our constitutional monarchy. The desire for royalty even popped up in the USA starting with their first leader after getting rid of the British monarchy, George Washington.  Americans had what was the closest thing to a royal family in the Kennedys and some might argue that the current president with all his executive orders is in a way being like a king. But I digress. I am King Saul even though my name is David!

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The Delight of Disease

Before I go any further, I want to make a few things clear. First, I am not a silver lining type of guy. I do not try to find the good in the bad or try to look for the light in the darkness. While it is a good practice to be thankful and to remind oneself that God is at work, I don’t think that every situation has some type of good in it at least good that we can see this side of heaven. Second, I have always had a great marriage. People have commented on how in love we are and how we interact with each other. Third, I hate two “T” words, trigger and trauma. These words have been stolen from those who have had real trauma and suffer because of real triggers, your coffee being served to you cold is most likely not a trigger of past trauma. Why are these important points for me or at least why were these points important for me to make before you read on…?

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Be Present – the Greatest Gift

It’s 11am, 4 days into our 5 day getaway, a break from life that was way overdue but also will be far too short. We will pack up tomorrow not only the clothes we brought, the wheelchair I now need and finally used almost all the time but also the memories of what I can only describe as what my marriage should have been every day for the last 37 years. Sadly, it has not been like this. I understand that not every day can be a holiday, but every day can be a great joy. I can face all that comes my way with God and my wife, the only person that I would ever want to face the good and more often the bad things that just are life.

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When It Hurts Too Much For God

Sometimes it seems that my hurt is too much for God. I know that no theology supports this conclusion. I know that the messages I have heard in no way mirror this idea. I know that the Christians in my life would never propose this as even close to a biblical truth. Still, it seems possible, maybe even true, because sometimes it feels like my pain is too much for God.

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Taking an Acts to the Church

No, I didn’t spell the title wrong. Yes, I could have spelt Acts “Ax” and gave it a perfectly suited title for this post at least. Yes, for some I also could have used the word “Ask” and while the meaning would be different unlike the interchangeability I am aiming for between “Acts” and “AX” if read out loud the same word would be heard, acts or ax. It’s time to rethink church by taking Acts to it which, if my premise is accepted, we will take an ax to many of the things we call church.

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