Just wait. . .

I read an article a while ago that said that we will spend 5 years of our life waiting in line! I was probably reading it while I was waiting.   There have been times that I’ve felt like I waited 5 years in one line, usually behind someone checking lottery tickets.  That doesn’t even start to include the time we spend waiting on the phone, waiting at red lights and stop signs and waiting in doctor and dentist offices. 

If you are anything like me, you probably don’t like waiting; nothing seems to irritate me more than waiting for something to happen — in the case of the dentist’s office, it almost seems perverse to be waiting for what’s going to happen there!  But sometimes in this super-fast world, waiting is the only time we get to think.  The Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

This week, why not take a little bit of time to wait on the Lord, a little bit of time to ask Him, “God, what are your plans for my life?”  He might have a pleasant surprise in store for you.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Bad parenting or bad choices?

I have never watched 19 Kids and Counting, I didn’t watch 18 Kids and Counting or 17 Kids and Counting. I have never had the slightest desire to peek into the lives of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their brood. If reality TV had to rely on me, then television would look very different.  Anything I know about the Duggars I have picked up peripherally, from conversations I have overheard concerning the family.

Recently however the Duggars have had their show canceled and have been all over the news because of the behaviour of their oldest son, Josh. First there were revelations that while Josh was a young teen he molested a number of younger girls, and recently he was outed as having been on the Ashley Madison list.

The world, and some Christians, seem to take delight in Josh’s fall.  I’m not defending Josh Duggar, he made his choices but I find it difficult to comprehend that there are those who blame Jim Bob and Michelle for Josh’s failings. 

I’ve discovered that many times how our kids turn out is more good luck than good management.  Like the Duggars, most of us do our best and hope for the best.  And if it’s a comfort, remember, God has problems with His kids too.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Got Gas?

It was like a flash back to the 70’s without the long hair, bell bottom jeans and great music, or as Yogi Berra said “It’s like  Déjà vu all over again.”  What I’m referring to were the scenes last weekend when gas stations across Nova Scotia began to run out of gasoline.  When I left church last Sunday afternoon, every pump at the Esso was busy and cars were lined up Gatehouse Run to the traffic lights. 

Apparently supplies were short and so were tempers.  According to industry sources, the shortage of gas was the result of a tanker of gasoline arriving in Halifax and failing to meet environmental standards & the replacement tanker experienced the same problem.

It was only when the third tanker arrived that the supply was restored. 

I had lots of gas, at least for the weekend, but it was a reminder of how fragile our society is and  that even a minor event like a tanker not arriving could cause such a major disruption for so many people. 

3000 years ago King David challenged the people of Israel to place their trust in God instead of horses and chariots. I would suspect the principle still holds true, that our trust needs to be placed in things higher than the world can offer.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

The Smell of Moral Outrage

I love the smell of moral outrage.

I read today that a group of Ashley Madison clients have joined together for a class action law suit.  If you’ve missed the news, Ashley Madison is a website whose specific purpose is to hook up married people who want to cheat.  Their slogan is "Life is short. Have an affair." Last week Ashley Madison’s servers were hacked and the names and emails of their clients were made public, literally tens of millions of people were outed. 

Apparently some people who had no problem breaking their marriage vows are upset that Ashley Madison didn’t keep their promise of confidentiality. Sniff, sniff, is that moral outrage I smell or hypocrisy?

I find it interesting that the villain in the story isn’t Ashley Madison, a company based on adultery and betrayal and the villains aren’t the men and women who were willing to violate their marriage vows and betray their partners. Instead the hacker is portrayed as the villain.  They are the ones being blamed for all the harm that might be caused when would-be adulterers are exposed, not those who were willing to break their marriage vows.

Maybe Instead of “Life is Short” Ashely Madison’s new slogan should be “Be sure your sins will find you out.”   Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Sharing isn't always good

Perhaps you’ve seen some of the warnings and maybe you’ve even shared them.  Many of the warnings have been showing up on Facebook and other social media.  They involve Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) and they are alarming and true.  People are being warned that DHMO is used by the nuclear power industry, that it is used in the production of pesticides, is present in most poisons and it is guaranteed to be fatal to humans in large quantities and yet it is still used in everyday products and food.

And it is amazing how many people simply hit share in order to warn their friends about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide without further investigating the claims about this mysterious and supposedly deadly compound.  If people checked, they would discover that DHMO is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, and is simply another chemical name for. . . water. 

And that’s just funny and pretty much harmless.  But not everything that people share on social media is funny or harmless and if you share it than you are responsible for it.   Be sure that what you are sharing is consistent with your faith and your witness and maybe even ask yourself: WJST? Would Jesus share this?   Because if He wouldn’t, chances are, you shouldn’t either.

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.