Hard to be Humble

Hard to be Humble

Pastor Henry’s sermon today really hit a chord in me. There was a time when my standard concern would be what’s in it for John? Someone many years ago called me to account for my self-centred attitude but it has been a process. That ego keeps following me around. It has taken several crisis situations in my life to learn that it’s not about me but is all about God and His amazing grace. He accepts me despite  my prideful attitude and selfish ambitions. I have been a slow learner in that it’s usually when I’m in dire straights that I fall on my knees and cry out for mercy and grace. Lord thank you for your love that knows no boundaries. A contrite heart you will not turn away. One of many texts pastor Henry used sums it all up:

                       

^{Isa 66:2} Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD.

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

 

Pastor Henry reminded me that to be useful to the Lord I need to surrender my will to His and to take the attitude of Christ so powerfully outlined in Philippians 2:3-11.

The undeserved favour or “Grace” that the Lord pours out his followers was not cheap. It cost Him his life on a cross and He did it for me. Amazing! Too bad it takes a crisis like the health challenge I am facing at the moment for me to see the truth that ‘the joy of the Lord is my strength” Thank you Lord for opening my eyes again. Thank you pastor Henry for your timely message today.

 

 

Abiding in the Vine

Let’s Dialogue

I have some interest but limited expertise in managing our church blog. I agreed to pastor Norm’s request that I would keep the blog up to date by posting the latest bulletin and also a few Hope pictures. However I feel the blog can be so much more than merely a convenient way to keep our church community up to date on what’s happening.. I would like to facilitate discussions on any “spiritual” topic that might be of interest to you and that you feel might also be of some interest to others in our community. The blog could become a type of forum on issues that have been burning in your mind or heart.The forum should not just be a sounding board but rather I see it as an opportunity to grow together in knowledge and faith as we dialogue together. Of course I can begin by introducing those issues that are important to me but I would like to open it up to all of you. Feel free to email any article or opinion that you would like me to consider for inclusion in this forum or instead of emailing you could mention something in your response to this posting. Let’s talk together..

The Big Bang

This summer I read most of Lee Strobbel’s book “The case for a Creator”. Its fascinating reading as he systematically presents the evidence for a creator from the study of Cosmology, Physics, Astonomy, Biology, biochemistry and what he calls Conciousness. Its impossible to summarize the arguments and evidence he presents in the over 300 pages of the book but in my opinion he presents overwhelming evidence that on the one hand Darwinism is ” too far fetched to be credible” and on the otherhand that ” the universe is governed by both physical laws and spiritual laws. The physical laws point toward the Creator and the spiritual laws tell us we can know this Creator personally.” Mr. Strobel does not spend a great deal of time examining the literal biblical account of creation but he leaves no doubt that God indeed is beyond time and space and designed this universe in all its  diversity. But to me the most amazing fact is that our God who knows the stars by name also intimately knows each of us by name even before we were born. I don’t understand it but I believe it. Do you?