Have you ever sat down and thought about your friends, both past and present! I don't know why but I was sitting on the weekend just thinking about some old friends. Some I still talk to, some I know where they are but haven't had the chance or made the effort to contact but some are gone without a trace. And those are the friends I was thinking of this weekend. The guys and girls that I grew up with, the friends that shared some very important experiences basically the friends that shaped my life and made me what I am today.
I got an email from a daily mailing list that I get and it was about "How to get past regrets". It really struck a chord because I was thinking about all the bad stuff I did in my past life and how I must have hurt some of those friends. Wishing I didn't do this or that, wishing for a better life and better decisions when I was young and it hit me! The choices that I made and the things I did are what they are and I can never change that. However if I take what I did in the past and build towards bettering myself for the future than everything I did can be used as a measuring stick to say "Yeah I was there but now I'm here and this is where I prefer to be!"
I really miss some of those old friends and who knows maybe with Facebook or other social internet sites I may reconnect with some of them but until then I'm extremely greatful and fortunate to have some awesome friends at Bikers Church.
Talk at you later
Icon
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Expectations
So what comes to mind?
A pretty loaded question isn't it?
Thoughts, comments, replies! I'm very interested in your opinions! I have no expectations just curious!
Thanks
Icon
A pretty loaded question isn't it?
Thoughts, comments, replies! I'm very interested in your opinions! I have no expectations just curious!
Thanks
Icon
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Upside Down Life
So we started a new series last week at Bikers Church called The Upside Down Life and with the Cirque du Soleil in town I was really looking forward to this series. Man was I ever disappointed, not at all what I was expecting! Instead of talking about jumps and trapeze artists we are talking about leading an abundant life but without the circus tricks! What a ripoff.
Actually this is going to be an awesome series and I encourage you to listen to the podcast on our website at:
http://www.bikerschurch.com/
What does it mean lead an Upside Down Life here are the 5 key points:
1. If you want to be first, you must choose to be last.
2. If you want to receive, you must learn how to give.
3. If you want to be strong, you must become weak.
4. If you want to be free, you must submit as a slave.
5. If you want to truly live, you must truly die.
See what I'm saying, not at all what you were expecting is it? It's completely the opposite of what we are used to. In a society of me me me or a society where we compare ourselves to the next person by how much they have vs. what we have, it's really a different way of thinking, acting and living!
You may think it's impossible to do but if you think about it even the smallest act of kindness can touch every one of those categories. It's not only the big things that count it's all the little things that can make a huge difference. Mother Teresa used to say that it's not the great things that you do but the little things you do with greatness! How awesome is that!
So keep your eyes open for opportunities to do little things for people, it's not that hard if you take little bites at a time. You can't help everyone all of the time but you can help someone some of the time.
Talk at you later
Icon
Actually this is going to be an awesome series and I encourage you to listen to the podcast on our website at:
http://www.bikerschurch.com/
What does it mean lead an Upside Down Life here are the 5 key points:
1. If you want to be first, you must choose to be last.
2. If you want to receive, you must learn how to give.
3. If you want to be strong, you must become weak.
4. If you want to be free, you must submit as a slave.
5. If you want to truly live, you must truly die.
See what I'm saying, not at all what you were expecting is it? It's completely the opposite of what we are used to. In a society of me me me or a society where we compare ourselves to the next person by how much they have vs. what we have, it's really a different way of thinking, acting and living!
You may think it's impossible to do but if you think about it even the smallest act of kindness can touch every one of those categories. It's not only the big things that count it's all the little things that can make a huge difference. Mother Teresa used to say that it's not the great things that you do but the little things you do with greatness! How awesome is that!
So keep your eyes open for opportunities to do little things for people, it's not that hard if you take little bites at a time. You can't help everyone all of the time but you can help someone some of the time.
Talk at you later
Icon
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Look outside and enjoy
Well the days are getting shorter and colder. Trust me it's going to get worst before it gets better. However take the time today and this week to look outside, go for a walk at lunch, heck just eat lunch outside. The cold weather might be coming but it's not here today so make the best of it.
Talk at you later
Icon
Talk at you later
Icon
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Canser sucks!
Yes I realize that I spelled that wrong but if you haven't read Carrie's blog you probably don't know what I'm talking about so I strongly encourage you to do that right now here actually I'm telling you to visit her site:
http://cbelair.wordpress.com/
Go ahead it's OK I'll wait!
So you're back now you know exactly what I'm talking about! CANSER SUCKS!!!! However the people affected by it, both patient and their friends and family, are some of the bravest, strongest and nicest people I know. You can't walk by more than 2 people before you meet someone that has been affected by this terrible disease either directly or indirectly and that's what sucks about it.
So let's stand together and beat this thing! Let's stand with those who are suffering, let's stand with the survivors and their families, let's stand with the families and friends of those who lost the battle and let's stand for those who can't anymore! Let's just stand up against this bully that has ruined so many lives!
Carrie I love you babe and I'll do whatever it takes to stand with you, beside you and for you when you will be too weak. If anyone can beat this piece of trash monster it's you! Keep up the fight you have a huge family that will help and support you.
So come on people let's stand together and make canser history!
Icon
http://cbelair.wordpress.com/
Go ahead it's OK I'll wait!
So you're back now you know exactly what I'm talking about! CANSER SUCKS!!!! However the people affected by it, both patient and their friends and family, are some of the bravest, strongest and nicest people I know. You can't walk by more than 2 people before you meet someone that has been affected by this terrible disease either directly or indirectly and that's what sucks about it.
So let's stand together and beat this thing! Let's stand with those who are suffering, let's stand with the survivors and their families, let's stand with the families and friends of those who lost the battle and let's stand for those who can't anymore! Let's just stand up against this bully that has ruined so many lives!
Carrie I love you babe and I'll do whatever it takes to stand with you, beside you and for you when you will be too weak. If anyone can beat this piece of trash monster it's you! Keep up the fight you have a huge family that will help and support you.
So come on people let's stand together and make canser history!
Icon
Monday, September 22, 2008
A great day
So I've been really going negating my posting duties lately! Everyone who blogs tends to go on hiatus for a while, however most people do that after several months but for me it lasted 1 week and then "life" got too busy all of a sudden, or so I thought!
I was going to write or comment about the conference that I went to on Saturday, or comment on the service that I went to on Sunday or the concert/show I went to on Sunday night! I had so many choices that I was actually stuck on what to talk about that is until about 1 hour ago! Everything changed! My views, my opinions, my meaningless rants and selfishness has been pushed aside to make room for others.
Rob (the Bikers Church pastor for those of you who don't know) started a new sermon series this week at Bikers Church called the upside down life. I think this is going to be a great series because like everybody else at church I struggle with some of these. OK most of these! You see I love to help people, I love serving and I love being there for friends and family members (brothers and sisters) of our church, but when it comes to being there for my immediate family I seem to fall short! WAY SHORT! Don't get me wrong I would do anything for my family that's not the problem, the problem is assuming that they know this! It's easy to say well she knows that I love her or my daughters will understand if I'm not there AGAIN, or I don't have time to call my parents but they know I love them so that's just good enough. TRUST ME IT'S NOT! MAKE THE TIME AND LET THEM KNOW!
Can I tell you a story? If you said no then stop reading, for the rest of you here goes. For those who said no this is your last chance stop reading now!
Like the title of the blog says I'm an assistant pastor and since the beginning I have been working out of my own home and that just isn't working out very well. So the church that we are partnering with offered a room to use as an office and today was my first day here at the office. I got more work done today than I did all summer it's totally awesome Thanks guys! However it's funny how God works. I'm sure He has a sense of humor and He loves to show me things in the funniest ways! This office is connected to a church that has multiple ministries in the city and one of them is a drop in soup kitchen from Monday to Thursday! Today I met one of the volunteers let's call him John, 1. to protect his identity and 2. because I'm really bad with names and I forgot it! I went to the washroom and got lost, now before you say anything this place is a labyrinth, and ended up in the kitchen downstairs and that's when I met John. We started talking just having a conversation and being very polite. I started asking him about, well him, and he told me that he has been volunteering there for over 10 years. He has been coming out EVERYDAY for the last 10 years! Rain or shine he comes out and cooks dinner, serves and cleans up day in, day out FAITHFULLY! I thought that was amazing, here I am complaining at how busy I am having to make time for others, when all John does is make time for others. I was going to end the story here but it just got better! Funny! God I get it! As I'm writing the door bell rings, it's John, he locked himself out, and got lost walking around the building!!! I asked him how he got lost working there for so long??? Turns out John is 75% blind!!!! And that's when God spoke to me and said "How do you like them apples!"
So now I'm blogging again, I read the chapters that had to be read, I watched most of the Dreamweaver videos, sent an email to my wife, drew a picture for my daughters and sent an email to my parents telling them that I love them and appreciate everything they do for me/us.
Make the time for the important people in your life, show and tell family and friends that you love them don't assume they know because they may not know! It's not too late!
Talk at you later!
Icon
I was going to write or comment about the conference that I went to on Saturday, or comment on the service that I went to on Sunday or the concert/show I went to on Sunday night! I had so many choices that I was actually stuck on what to talk about that is until about 1 hour ago! Everything changed! My views, my opinions, my meaningless rants and selfishness has been pushed aside to make room for others.
Rob (the Bikers Church pastor for those of you who don't know) started a new sermon series this week at Bikers Church called the upside down life. I think this is going to be a great series because like everybody else at church I struggle with some of these. OK most of these! You see I love to help people, I love serving and I love being there for friends and family members (brothers and sisters) of our church, but when it comes to being there for my immediate family I seem to fall short! WAY SHORT! Don't get me wrong I would do anything for my family that's not the problem, the problem is assuming that they know this! It's easy to say well she knows that I love her or my daughters will understand if I'm not there AGAIN, or I don't have time to call my parents but they know I love them so that's just good enough. TRUST ME IT'S NOT! MAKE THE TIME AND LET THEM KNOW!
Can I tell you a story? If you said no then stop reading, for the rest of you here goes. For those who said no this is your last chance stop reading now!
Like the title of the blog says I'm an assistant pastor and since the beginning I have been working out of my own home and that just isn't working out very well. So the church that we are partnering with offered a room to use as an office and today was my first day here at the office. I got more work done today than I did all summer it's totally awesome Thanks guys! However it's funny how God works. I'm sure He has a sense of humor and He loves to show me things in the funniest ways! This office is connected to a church that has multiple ministries in the city and one of them is a drop in soup kitchen from Monday to Thursday! Today I met one of the volunteers let's call him John, 1. to protect his identity and 2. because I'm really bad with names and I forgot it! I went to the washroom and got lost, now before you say anything this place is a labyrinth, and ended up in the kitchen downstairs and that's when I met John. We started talking just having a conversation and being very polite. I started asking him about, well him, and he told me that he has been volunteering there for over 10 years. He has been coming out EVERYDAY for the last 10 years! Rain or shine he comes out and cooks dinner, serves and cleans up day in, day out FAITHFULLY! I thought that was amazing, here I am complaining at how busy I am having to make time for others, when all John does is make time for others. I was going to end the story here but it just got better! Funny! God I get it! As I'm writing the door bell rings, it's John, he locked himself out, and got lost walking around the building!!! I asked him how he got lost working there for so long??? Turns out John is 75% blind!!!! And that's when God spoke to me and said "How do you like them apples!"
So now I'm blogging again, I read the chapters that had to be read, I watched most of the Dreamweaver videos, sent an email to my wife, drew a picture for my daughters and sent an email to my parents telling them that I love them and appreciate everything they do for me/us.
Make the time for the important people in your life, show and tell family and friends that you love them don't assume they know because they may not know! It's not too late!
Talk at you later!
Icon
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
When do you know?
I just had a conversation with a co-worker and she told me that after 17 years it's time to put her cat down. She is extremely sad about it because she loves her cat very much, but BECAUSE she loves her cat, and the cat is suffering, she knows it's time. I have also had to make that decision when it came to our dog so I know how difficult it can be but like my coworker we seemed to know that it was time. When do you kwow when it's time, what or who gives you the strength and courage to make that decision.
A couple of weeks ago our pastor shared with us his story on when he lost his daughter and that he had to make the decision to let go. Everytime he tells the story I cry like a little baby because there is a point when he says to the doctor that it's time to let go! And that's when I feel the knife going through my heart.
So I ask you when do you know when it's time to let go? Where does the strength and courage come from to make that decision? And did you ever notice how we forget how strong we were at that time? Even after it's done we say to ourselves I could never go through that ever again and yet another situation arises and we are forced to make the decision and for some reason we can!
Let me know what you think
Icon
A couple of weeks ago our pastor shared with us his story on when he lost his daughter and that he had to make the decision to let go. Everytime he tells the story I cry like a little baby because there is a point when he says to the doctor that it's time to let go! And that's when I feel the knife going through my heart.
So I ask you when do you know when it's time to let go? Where does the strength and courage come from to make that decision? And did you ever notice how we forget how strong we were at that time? Even after it's done we say to ourselves I could never go through that ever again and yet another situation arises and we are forced to make the decision and for some reason we can!
Let me know what you think
Icon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)