Paddle for the Peace

On Saturday, we were part of a very exciting event, Paddle for the Peace. More than 140 canoes, kayaks, and other types of water vessels set in at the confluence of the Halfway River and the Peace River and paddled downstream to Bear Flats. The purpose of this second annual journey was to bring awareness about the potential loss of the Peace River valley (as it now exists) if the proposed Site C dam is built. The West Moberly First Nations provided a great feast at the end of the day.

In the early nineties, there was lots of talk about the building of the Site C dam, proposed for a location about 10 km from Fort St. John, just downstream of where the Moberly River joins the Peace. Then the proposal was shelved. Recently, however, it seems as if the talk has resurfaced. The loss will be great. The valley will be changed forever. We need to speak up! Politicians, both provincial and local, are always eager for economic development, but often it is at a great price. Now is not the time to be short-sighted. We need to be conserving and preserving.

We must be good stewards of what we have, and not to be given over to the flagrant, wasteful consumerism that drives much of North American society. Now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to make those changes that we all think about but often forget to do. Conserve to preserve!

blood line

I've been reading in 1 Chronicles lately as I go through the One Year Bible, and I've been wondering why all the genealogies are listed there. What can it mean to me as a Christian? Why did God put all those names (the famous or perhaps infamous "begats") in there? What importance could it have to us today?

Perhaps the importance is not the individual members of the family trees that are listed there (although I did find my son's name, which is Jadon, in a list of similar names in Nehemiah), but in the idea of the family tree itself. The idea of the blood line, and when I use this phrase, "blood line," I am thinking specifically of how we are related to other Christians and even to our Saviour through His blood. All Christians, in fact, belong to the same family, the same blood line.

I know that I can look up the meanings of all the different names in the genealogies, and perhaps draw some ssignificance from those meanings, but for now, I think I'll contemplate the blood line. What it means to be related to Christ, how I am cleansed by His blood, and how those who are similarly cleansed are related to me. It's a wonderful thing knowing I am a part of that wide family of God, of those who love the Lord Jesus and who are saved by His death on the cross.

Now, when I come across one of those long list of names in a chapter in my reading, I have a new perspective. They are not some verses to be skipped over to get to the important part, they are the important part.

A Glorious Day!

There were many things about today that were wonderful. The weather was warm, and there was barely a breeze. The lake was calm, at times almost like glass, reflecting the few high scattered skiffs of clouds that wisked overhead. I made a plan early in the day to have supper with friends, a plan which included my bringing the supper to their place. I shopped for the ingredients that I needed, returned home, whipped up a chocolate cake, put together a lasagna, iced the cake, made the vegetable trays, packed everything up, and was picked up by boat and taken over to the other side of the lake with all the necessary acoutrements.

We ate supper and dessert, and during supper, as often happens, we talked deeply of significant things. One thing I expressed was my desire to be "transparent," that is, to be who I really am so that no matter when people see me, they will always see the same me.

Afterwards, were entertained by various people in the family singing and playing songs on the guitar. We had so much fun; I laughed so hard that my face hurt!

After supper, we went down to the beach and sat by the fire. We continued the theological discussion that had started at the supper table, talking of Abraham and election.

Now, I've just been ferried back across the lake, again glass-smooth, so smooth, in fact, that we could see Venus reflected in the mirror of the water. The mountains became great black bears hulking at the water's edge in the waning western light.

I am thankful tonight for this beautiful place, for friends who love me, for conversation that is stimulating and significant, and the opportunity to share my faith with those who are important to me.

Leftovers

At our house, we try to be good stewards of what God has provided for us by using up leftovers. Sometimes, leftovers from the fridge go into a soup. Sometimes, leftovers morph into a different looking meal; for example, leftover chicken can be chopped, fried, seasoned, and then made into a meal of burritos.

This principle holds true for other things beside food. We try to make use of what we have, and if we can no longer use it, we try to recycle it to the Thrift Store or to the Clothesline clothes give-away. We might have a garage sale, knowing that one person's "junk" is another person's treasure.

Despite the fact that in most daily circumstances, using leftovers is a solid principle on which to operate, when it comes to what we offer to God, He does not want our leftovers. He does not want our leftover time; He wants the best of our time. He does not want our leftover money; He wants the firstfruits of our money. He does not want our leftover energy; He wants the best of our day.

We must be disciplined to be His disciples. We must offer ourselves fully to Him: our bodies, our minds, our hearts, our praise, our substance, our good works, our love. May He help us to do this daily.

Light in Darkness

In my grandson's room, there are glow-in-the-dark "stars" stuck on the ceiling and on the walls. These "stars" are made of some kind of plastic, which, after having been exposed to the light all day, give off a glow in the dark. It's neat to see the stars "come out" when we turn off the light at night.As Christians, we are supposed to be "glow-in-the-dark" people.

Jesus said that we are to be a light in a dark world. We are to absorb His light, and then be the light. Notice that Jesus didn't say, Ye are the light of the church. That might be easier. On Sunday morning, everyone looks great! But Jesus said, Ye are the light of the world. That means we have to be out in the world. We have to talk with people who are out in the world. We have to bring the light of Jesus and the light of the gospel to those who are lost. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Are we out there shining for Jesus? Is our light His light? Have we been exposed to His light so we can glow in the dark?

Welcome to The Sheepcote. "Sheepcote" seems to be quite an old-fashioned word, and it's not the woolly fleece that sheep wear! "Sheepcote" is another word for that place--a pen or a corral--where sheep are gathered in, perhaps at night--a place where the sheep are safe, where they are sheltered, and where they are cared for by the Shepherd.

In this blog, I will be posting daily meditations on things that I observe both in the world around me and in the Word. My hope is that my words will be thought-provoking and that you will find a blessing in reading them.