Rain, Rain, Rain...

Well, Vancouver set a record for most rain in a month ...29 out of 31 days with rain and by tonight it is expected to be the wettest month ever as well. I only had one game of golf all month (one of the two days that it didn't rain...the other day was a Sunday, so you know where I was that day) And it really isn't all that bad, you kinda get used to it after a while (the rain... not missing the golfing).

I have been on medication now for a month, blood pressure and chloresterol problems, also started to watch the food I eat by eating less and healthier (that's not fun) and had to quit smoking (after 40 years) which causes a few anxious moments. I used to get up around 6 A.M. but now I am sleeping to 7:30 - 8:00 in the morning (and have strange dreams to boot) I also feel tired all the time, must be the effects of all the changes I'm going through with this 'health' thing.

The Thursday night bible study seem to be going o.k. but I find some just don't seem to care much. I mentioned this to our pastor and he said to just keep encouraging them and not make a big deal out of it or they may not come back. I guess for me it is an important commitment to the Lord (at least that's how I look at it) Another neat thing I have been doing is listening to the Bible being read while I follow along...
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/
I hope to do the whole Bible this year...I know I will !!!
Anyway, back to work...

Abiding Life Conference...

We had a great week at the Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge, B.C. Sunday night until Saturday morning, a long week but well worth it !!! We were well taken care of and
fed like kings (I probably gained a few pounds AND I'm not gonna check that)

The material was quite easy to follow and made a lot of sense. Man was created by God and for God. We learned with placing Jesus first and in front of all that we face each day, we find that Jesus not only came to deliver us from hell in the future but also from the daily hell (lying emotions and thoughts, idolatry, mistaken identity, self-centeredness, unbelief and death) we experience each day.

We found out whether we were (or portion of) Thinker, Feeler and Doer...listing all the characteristics involved in discovering that. I was 50% feeler, 30% doer and 20% thinker, which is how I am most of the time. Also we look into the idea of 'good and bad' idols and how it affects your behavior with yourself, others and God. We all have issues in our life that needs change, the key is to look to God not man for the solution.

The material will also work well for ministering (like the Stephen ministry http://stephenministries.org/ ) to others in pretty well all aspects of life through work, church, family and friends. Most important is that it opens the eyes of the person participating in the program to have utmost faith that Jesus is #1 in our lives and in all that we do each and every day.

On another note, I'm having a stressful time with the prison system with my friend who is in the system...I have to hand it over to Jesus in prayer, Amen (so be it)

God, grant me patience, humility and love of the enemy...

Last Year was Different...

I had lots of moments when I needed Jesus to help me through with many trials and challenges. The thing is I made it without loosing my faith in God, knowing that He knew what was going on in my life. Looks like I'm going to have to deal with some serious health issues (which includes my diet, darn!!!) which will involve exercise and medication. But it could be worse, so thank God for the health I do have.

My pastor, Dean, (picture) gave a super message on Sunday about resolving to let Jesus be the focus of your life, all that you need and everything to live for. It's not about me in the sense of what I have materialistically, how much money you need to try and attain or how I stand up to others in church, work and in the world. I did make some resolutons and I plan on keeping them. (some I have to keep...no choice)It's about what you can do for Jesus daily in your life, how you represent Him to others by showing love and compassion, peace and honesty and everything Christ demonstrated to us while He was with us on earth.


Next week I'm going to an "Abiding Life Conference' ( http://abidinglife.com/ ) for 6 days...I am really looking forward to this as I feel Jesus is going to reveal something to me, something about what I should be doing with my life that will help me with 'My Journey'.

One, of many such words of encouragement in the Bible comes from Philippians...

Phi 2:1 If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tendernesses and mercies,
Phi 2:2 then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind.
Phi 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Phi 2:4 Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others.
Phi 2:5 For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Phi 2:6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
Phi 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Phi 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name,
Phi 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth;
Phi 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.