Who Would Have Thought?

Penn of Denn

Wild fires in New South Wales, flooding in Queensland and the ice breaking up on Lake Erie. And to various degrees, tragedy accompanied the events; people died and property was destroyed. And people act surprised, but there is a bit of a pattern here. It's not like people are saying, "Wow wild fires in New South Wales, flooding in Queensland and the ice breaking up on Lake Erie, who would have thought?"

Those things happen on a fairly regular pattern in those places, like almost every year; maybe not to the extremes that they happened this year, but still.

And while the natural disasters may not have been able to have been prevented, some of the lives may have been spared if people had of heeded warnings. Instead, many waited until the last minute, not wanting to leave their possessions behind.

How often do people fail to heed the warnings about putting their spiritual life in order, thinking they have lots of time?

Not wanting to be a wet blanket, but the reality of death is even more certain than wild fires in New South Wales, flooding in Queensland and the ice breaking up on Lake Erie. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    
 

Believe in God and Enjoy life.

Penn of Denn

You have probably heard the news stories from Britain concerning the "British Humanist Association" bus advertising campaign. The project, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations as well as the support of prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins, has plastered buses across the UK with signs that say, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." And while Dawkins said that he would have preferred if the word "probably" had been dropped the BHA said they used the word "probably" because didn't want to appear dogmatic. That was nice of them.

I heard recently that a similar campaign will come to Canada and I have no problem with that. I love the freedom we have in this country, even the freedom for people to say things I don't necessarily agree with.

I don't think the church will see a great falling away but if it results in people talking about the existence of God and seeking him, it can't be a bad thing.

And if you have a personal relationship with God, that in itself should be a great reason to stop worrying and enjoy life. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    
 

Sticks and Stones

Penn of Denn

There was a story in the paper recently, concerning a request by the Montreal police union. It seems that they want city council, to pass an ordinance making it illegal for members of the public to insult police officers. Two specific examples given, were the uses of the highly inflammatory slurs: "Pig" or "doughnut eater". I am not making the second one up.

Not wanting to cause distress to any of my Police Officer friends: Grow up people. Do you remember what your mother taught you: sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you.

Of course if the ordinance passes, freedom of speech considerations aside, there should be a complimentary one passed, making it illegal for police officers to insult suspects. No more referring to them as "Criminals" or "crooks" and the like. You know; what's good for the goose and all that.

Maybe we should just make it illegal, for anyone to insult anyone; everyone would have to talk and play nice.

As a start though, as God's people, maybe we should just listen to what the word of God tells us in 1Peter 2:17 and simply, respect everyone. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    
 

Just Doing Your Job

Penn of Denn

It is quite the story. What could have been a tragedy, instead turned into a story that would be told and retold. The media was quick to dub it the "Miracle on the Hudson" and the passengers of US Airways Flight 1549 spoke with high praise of the professionalism of the flight crew. It was because the men and women, who manned the ill fated flight, did their jobs, that 155 people lived to tell the story. The media spot light has focused on pilot, Sully Sullenberger. And he did a great job; it would appear that he spent his life preparing for this event, having received his pilot's license at the age of 14.

He did exactly what needed doing and he needs to be commended and while I think he needs to be singled out for doing a great job, I'm not so convinced that he was a hero. He didn't risk his life to save the lives of others, he just did was what he was supposed to do. And if each one of us simply did what we were supposed to do, think of the difference that could be made. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    
 

A Life Well Lived

Penn of Denn

Two weeks ago, I preached on the topic "Live Like You Were Dying" and last week I saw evidence of what that looked like. I was at the funeral of Captain J. Andrew Rae and the preacher used the phrase, "A life well lived." And I thought to myself: At my funeral, I want the preacher to be able to say that and have everyone else nod in agreement.

Although I didn't know Captain Rae personally, I do know his sons and as they spoke fondly of their dad, it was obvious that his was indeed "a life well lived." From all accounts, he loved his God, his family and his work and that indeed is a life worth emulating.

The question has to be: How do we live in such a way, that people won't have to lie at our funeral? And I think Jesus answered that when he told us: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself. And if you do that, than people will say nice things about you when you die. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    
 

Stop The Pinching!

Penn of Denn

When the kids were little, we had a dog named Kato. After we had the pup for awhile, we discovered that while he was friendly with the rest of the family, every once in a while he would nip two year old Deborah. Nobody else, just Deborah. Without warning, we would hear a scream and Deborah would inform us that the dog had bit her once again. We would scold the dog and life would go on. Truly a mystery.

Then one day, Angela happened to observe Kato and Deborah sitting on the stairs, when suddenly Deborah reached over and pinched the dog. Kato immediately snapped at Deborah and she screamed that the dog had bit her. The mystery was solved and we stopped scolding the poor dog. After awhile, Deborah learned that the dog didn't like being pinched anymore than she enjoyed being bit, so she stopped pinching him and he stopped biting her. An amicable solution.

Maybe the situation in the Middle East is that simple; when the Hamas stop pinching Israel, then Israel will stop snapping at the Hamas. And until that happens, it really isn't Israel that needs to be scolded. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

    

No News is Good News

Penn of Denn

I think one of my New Year's resolutions this year will be: less news. I really don't think the world is getting worse, I think the news services are simply getting better at telling us how bad things are.

I came to that conclusion this past week, as the cable news described in detail a fatal domestic shooting...in California. A tragedy no doubt, compounded by the fact that the shooter was dressed as Santa, but it had happened on the other side of the continent. But because the carnage is delivered fresh to our living room, it makes us fearful that our world is not as safe or as ordered as it once was.

The old news adage, "If it bleeds, it leads", apparently is still true, but on a much larger scale. Twenty years ago the same things happened in far off places, but they were irrelevant to our everyday lives, because we didn't hear about them.

So this year I am going to watch less of the lurid news from afar and try to focus on those things that are close to home; things that are true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.