Something to think about ...

It seems the following thought from last Sunday's sermon has been lingering in the hearts and minds of many who heard it:

"As a church, it seems we spend all our time building an army that never goes into battle."

That's not exactly how I said it (you can hear the sermon at www.myfreedomplace.com), but you get the idea. We keep preparing for a battle we never engage in! One these days, we shouldn't just talk about making a difference in this world - we should just go out and do it! We'll never feel fully prepared. We'll never feel like we know enough. We'll never feel primed for success. At some point, we just need to step into the batter's box and take that first swing!

It's my prayer that Liberty Assembly wouldn't just talk about becoming a great church, but that we would just simply BE a great church. If Jesus is our source and strength ... how can we fail?!

Let's live our lives sharing the love of Jesus every moment of the day, everywhere we go, to everyone we encounter. THAT, my friends, is what Jesus did. THAT, my friends, is our marching order!

Reflections on a day to remember

Today, President Barack Obama took office as the 44th President of the United States of America. Certainly much has and will be written about the significance of President Obama being the first African-American President, and rightly so. But for me, as this being the first inauguration I've ever witnessed, I was most amazed by the significance of the transfer of power.

To think of it - millions voted for President Obama, but millions also voted against him - yet, on this day there really were no Republicans or Democrats or Independents - just Americans celebrating history: not history past, but history present. Not history simply because of President Obama's skin color, but history because of the ability for leadership to so drastically shift in an instant, without bloodshed but with a handshake!

In many countries, the ousted leader is lucky to leave with his or her life! Yet here we see former President Bush giving his congratulations and gracefully stepping aside with class and dignity to join other past-Presidents Clinton, Bush Sr., & Carter in the history of this great nation.

Now, before all my Canadian friends become concerned about my allegiances - allow me to clarify something ... I didn't love my daughter less when my son came along - it was easy and natural to love both. In the same way, I still love Canada. Much of who I am and the way I process life is connected to my heritage - a heritage I am proud of and thankful for. That being said, I also love America. One day, I hope to be a citizen of both great countries, who knows, maybe even in 2009!

That being said - there is something special about 1.5 million people gathering at the Washington Mall to participate in history. There is something special about a TV set up at my bank to soak in the images of a new President taking his oath of office. Businesses & schools and just about everywhere you looked stopped to see freedom in action. The people chose, and government responded as the keys to government were passed.

I wish I really were a writer. I wish I could express my emotions in words for you. All I can say is God HAS blessed America and I pray He will continue to do so forever until Jesus comes.

I also hope Americans realize their place in this world. Americans don't need to learn from the world to appease the world and be more palatable to the world, but Americans need to be leaders in the world to help raise the standard for freedom. So with that in mind - I pray President Obama is blessed with wisdom from God and a courage to choose rightly in every decision that crosses his desk.

My latest adventure

I'm an 8th grade teacher! How weird is that? I found out Youngstown Christian School (YCS) needed a Bible teacher, and I figured ... why not?

I really love teaching the Bible - but - unfortunately, I haven't figured out HOW yet. It's one thing to have information, it's another to communicate it - especially to an age group I don't typically deal with. What do they like? What works? What gets us through the curriculum?

Perhaps to some, it really wouldn't matter too much - just get through the material and give out grades. But, this is a Christian school and I have this crazy idea - that BIBLE should be a FAVORITE course, and not a drudgery. I figure if by the end of the year the students love the Bible more than when the year started, the year will have been a success!

So, the adventure begins - influence students to begin to love the Bible just as David loved it!

Digging out!

You'd think I'd be talking about all the snow we've received lately and the need to 'dig out'. Nope. See, after growing up in Montreal, it's hard for me to be either excited or concerned about 6 inches of snow!

I'm talking about digging out of the mess that my office becomes! It seems that every time I file and re-organize all my things, I never quite finish the job. THEN, seeing as I'm not quite done, I leave the foundation on which future piles of papers can be laid. Looking around my office right now I see ...

- pictures that are remnants of the missions convention
- a salt bucket that is a remnant of a kids dance number (don't ask)
- popcorn bags that are remnants of someone tidying up their part of the church
- a cowboy hat that is a remnant of a western night
- a stein that is a remnant of winning a fantasy football league
- sheet music that is a remnant of a worship service
- a bike that is a remnant of when I had no other way to get to the office
- 4 4x3 post-it notes that are remnants of a leadership meeting
- video camera that is a remnant of capturing Christmas memories
- receipts that are remnants of spending too much money last month
- chocolate that are ... well ... they'll be gone soon, nevermind them!

and - this is only 1/2 my office!!!

Anyone have any helpful tips for me???

Bible Hero Resolutions

If you want to make a resolution for 2009 - here are some suggestions ... and they are biblical!

1. Jacob resolved to tithe (Genesis 28:22)
2. David resolved to read the Bible (Psalm 119:15-16)
3. Daniel resolved to live a holy life (Daniel 1:8)

What resolutions are you making for 2009?