Recently, it was announced that Virgin Galactic, a division of the Virgin group of companies, owned by Sir Richard Branson, will offer tourist flights into space. The flights, which will launch from a special base in New Mexico, will last about two and a half hours and will provide about five minutes of weightlessness to the participants. Most than 150 people (mostly the rich and the famous) have already signed up to go. These include soap opera star Victoria Principal and physicist Stephen Hawking.
The reason the rich and the famous have signed up (well, at least it's the reason the rich have signed up) is because these flights cost $200,000 U.S. That's $80,000 an hour. At that rate, those five minutes of weightlessness will cost $6,666.66.
Although this price seems pretty high--more than $1,000 a minute--(who makes this kind of money? Maybe consultants?) I've experienced another kind of weightlessness the price of which far exceeds what Virgin Galactic will charge. When I stood at the Cross, and the burden of my heart rolled away, when my sins were lifted off me and placed on Jesus, when that happened, I felt weightless. I was no longer under the crushing weight and burden of my sin.
The price for this freedome was far greater than can be reckoned in dollars and cents. It was nothing less than the death of the Son of God. He gave His life that I might live.
This forgiveness yields the kind of weightlessness we all need to feel.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Dealing with Discouragement
Today, I saw two people who were discouraged about some things in their day. I felt for both of them because sometimes I'm discouraged, too. I feel as if my heart has been taken away, and that idea is pretty close to the original meaning of discourage. This word comes from the French for heart (coeur), and so to be discouraged is to lose heart; to be encouraged is to be enheartened.
As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about those two people because today I am a little discouraged after talking with a friend. I tried to give the best advice I could but I couldn't make my friend see what I was saying. That person didn't want to let go of one way of thinking to move on to another.
We can take heart from the scriptures, and God has a lot to say about the heart. Although my heart may be deceitful, God has given me a new heart and that heart is a heart after Him. It follows after Him and rejoices in His ways, His laws, His commandments.
Lord, help us to take heart and be encouraged in You.
As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about those two people because today I am a little discouraged after talking with a friend. I tried to give the best advice I could but I couldn't make my friend see what I was saying. That person didn't want to let go of one way of thinking to move on to another.
We can take heart from the scriptures, and God has a lot to say about the heart. Although my heart may be deceitful, God has given me a new heart and that heart is a heart after Him. It follows after Him and rejoices in His ways, His laws, His commandments.
Lord, help us to take heart and be encouraged in You.
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Day Away!
Today, we went skiing at Worsley, Alberta. It's not the Swiss Alps, as one student from Switzerland said, but I think everyone had a very good time. Some of the students skied and some snowboarded, but all of the students came in with high colour in their cheeks after a day on the hill.
I spent the day in the chalet, chatting with people as they came in for a rest and reading a book. I'd say it was more of a day of apres-ski, for me. I'm still recovering from the tobogganing incident back in November!
The fresh air was exhilarating and the during the drive, we saw many moose and deer and one wolf that dashed across the road in front of the bus. For the students, seeing wildlife is always a thrill.
It was lots of fun today, but judging from the number of tumbles those students took, especially the snowboarders, I think that when they go to get up in the morning, there will be some moans over the aching muscles.
I'm glad I sat this one out!
I spent the day in the chalet, chatting with people as they came in for a rest and reading a book. I'd say it was more of a day of apres-ski, for me. I'm still recovering from the tobogganing incident back in November!
The fresh air was exhilarating and the during the drive, we saw many moose and deer and one wolf that dashed across the road in front of the bus. For the students, seeing wildlife is always a thrill.
It was lots of fun today, but judging from the number of tumbles those students took, especially the snowboarders, I think that when they go to get up in the morning, there will be some moans over the aching muscles.
I'm glad I sat this one out!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Remembering Marilyn Monroe
On January 14, 1954, Marilyn Monroe married baseball great Joe DiMaggio, who was known as "the Yankee Clipper." For two years, their courtship had played to the romantic in American hearts everywhere, but, after January 14, they remained married for only nine months. Monroe went on to marry playwright Arthur Miller, and, then, in 1961, she died of an overdose of barbituates. I remember hearing that news, and being incredulous--it couldn't be! She was so beautiful; she was so rich; she was so famous.
Of course, that was the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Yet many around us have hidden wounds of the soul that even their close friends or family do not know about. Some have pressures in their lives that make them despair of ever getting out from under them.
Our calling, as friends, neighbours, sisters, wives, husbands, partners, brothers, parents--whatever relationships we find ourselves in--is to be kind, encouraging, and sensitive to those around us. We need to listen to what's being said and to what's not being said. Sometimes silences can speak louder than words. We need to make the chance to speak kindly often to each other. Pay a compliment to someone. Write a note to cheer someone. Stop and really listen after you ask, How are you?
. . . Love one another, for love is of God.
Of course, that was the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Yet many around us have hidden wounds of the soul that even their close friends or family do not know about. Some have pressures in their lives that make them despair of ever getting out from under them.
Our calling, as friends, neighbours, sisters, wives, husbands, partners, brothers, parents--whatever relationships we find ourselves in--is to be kind, encouraging, and sensitive to those around us. We need to listen to what's being said and to what's not being said. Sometimes silences can speak louder than words. We need to make the chance to speak kindly often to each other. Pay a compliment to someone. Write a note to cheer someone. Stop and really listen after you ask, How are you?
. . . Love one another, for love is of God.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Let It Go!
Sometimes, someone says something to us that offends us. It doesn't really matter what it is. It might be something about the way we look, the way our children look, or the way our house looks. Once those words fall on our ears, we take offense. Our feelings are hurt. Our pride is wounded. And that's the problem right there.
It's a matter of pride. That original sin in the original sin. The sin that keeps on rearing its head. As humans, we are so full of our own goodness and our own self-importance that when someone dares to say something against us or ours, we are ready to play that for all its worth.
We may talk it over with a friend, sounding them out about the situation. He or she in turn will probably feed our own feelings about the situation, fanning the flames instead of dousing the fire with water.
This year, starting today, we should let those things go. Give them up. Let go and let God deal with us about our own pride. Of course, we would rather that He deal with the other person who said the words that injured us. And He may do just that. But first, He may wish to deal with us.
Let's welcome the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the dealings of a merciful and gracious Father, and the blood of His Son that covers sin, even our pride.
It's a matter of pride. That original sin in the original sin. The sin that keeps on rearing its head. As humans, we are so full of our own goodness and our own self-importance that when someone dares to say something against us or ours, we are ready to play that for all its worth.
We may talk it over with a friend, sounding them out about the situation. He or she in turn will probably feed our own feelings about the situation, fanning the flames instead of dousing the fire with water.
This year, starting today, we should let those things go. Give them up. Let go and let God deal with us about our own pride. Of course, we would rather that He deal with the other person who said the words that injured us. And He may do just that. But first, He may wish to deal with us.
Let's welcome the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the dealings of a merciful and gracious Father, and the blood of His Son that covers sin, even our pride.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It's Christmas All Over Again!
I know Christmas is over for another year (although driving past a friend's house this morning on the way to work, I noticed their Christmas tree still lighting up their living room window!), but a delivery card in my mailbox let me know that a parcel for me was waiting to be picked up at the post office. I went down after supper and yes, it was Christmas all over again! A box of books. Can there be anything better!
This delivery brought a treasure trove: The Geneva Bible, 1560 edition. Advertised as "the Bible of the Reformation," this Bible is a bit different from what we used to. Who knew that the letter "s" used to look like the letter "f" or that "v" looked like "u"? What this means is that "love" is "loue" and "bless" is "bleff." So it will take us a bit longer to get through this than perhaps we anticipated. The interesting thing about this edition, though, it that it contains notes in the margins by various Reformers. We think these annotations will be precious and revealing. (This book really was a Christmas present that didn't arrive in time!)
The other book was The Reformation: A History by Diarmid McCullough. I'm looking forward to reading this. It's quite hefty, but I want to make more time this year for reading.
The last thing I uncovered in the box was a five-set DVD on the history of the Bible and of the Reformation. These I plan on watching while walking on the treadmill. Talk about redeeming the time! The minutes and miles just flash by!
Although I receive lots of e-mail everyday at both my work e-mail and personal e-mail addresses, I'm still excited to receive a box of books from the post office!
This delivery brought a treasure trove: The Geneva Bible, 1560 edition. Advertised as "the Bible of the Reformation," this Bible is a bit different from what we used to. Who knew that the letter "s" used to look like the letter "f" or that "v" looked like "u"? What this means is that "love" is "loue" and "bless" is "bleff." So it will take us a bit longer to get through this than perhaps we anticipated. The interesting thing about this edition, though, it that it contains notes in the margins by various Reformers. We think these annotations will be precious and revealing. (This book really was a Christmas present that didn't arrive in time!)
The other book was The Reformation: A History by Diarmid McCullough. I'm looking forward to reading this. It's quite hefty, but I want to make more time this year for reading.
The last thing I uncovered in the box was a five-set DVD on the history of the Bible and of the Reformation. These I plan on watching while walking on the treadmill. Talk about redeeming the time! The minutes and miles just flash by!
Although I receive lots of e-mail everyday at both my work e-mail and personal e-mail addresses, I'm still excited to receive a box of books from the post office!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Our Conscience, A Good Friend
God has given everyone a good friend. I'm not talking about Jesus, although He is a good and true friend, the friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18: 24). I'm talking about our conscience. Often we see this depicted in cartoons as two little beings on our shoulders, whispering in our ear. One is an angel, telling us to do something that we should, or not to do something that we shouldn't. The other is depicted as a little devil, complete with the red face, the little horns, the pointy tail, and a three-pronged pitchfork. This being is telling us, Go ahead! Do it! It won't matter! Satisfy yourself! . . . or whatever other words we want to hear.
The very fact that people have consciences is "proof" for God. People who don't have the law of God do by nature what is codified in the law of God. Why? Because of the conscience that God has given to us. Every society has ideas of what is right and wrong. Most agree, for instance, that murder is wrong. Most agree that incest is wrong. The Apostle Paul talks about this in the book of Romans.
When we hear the "still small voice," we need to heed it carefully. It's a friend that can keep us from sin. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through a tender conscience. We're warned in 1 Tim. 4: 2 about those who have their conscience seared. Burned over. It becomes unresponsive. In Rom. 1: 24, we read about people whom God "gave . . . up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts" because they didn't listen when He spoke.
I want to be found always with a tender heart and a tender conscience toward the Lord. When the Holy Spirit speaks to me, I want to have ears to hear.
The very fact that people have consciences is "proof" for God. People who don't have the law of God do by nature what is codified in the law of God. Why? Because of the conscience that God has given to us. Every society has ideas of what is right and wrong. Most agree, for instance, that murder is wrong. Most agree that incest is wrong. The Apostle Paul talks about this in the book of Romans.
When we hear the "still small voice," we need to heed it carefully. It's a friend that can keep us from sin. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through a tender conscience. We're warned in 1 Tim. 4: 2 about those who have their conscience seared. Burned over. It becomes unresponsive. In Rom. 1: 24, we read about people whom God "gave . . . up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts" because they didn't listen when He spoke.
I want to be found always with a tender heart and a tender conscience toward the Lord. When the Holy Spirit speaks to me, I want to have ears to hear.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
What's on your reading list for this year?
I always have several books on the go. They are stashed at various places around my house: the bedside table, the small table beside the couch in the living room, the bookshelf in the dining room--all these places are ports of call in my reading voyage.
One of the books I'm reading now is Bury the Chains: Prophets and Revels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves. This is the story of the main personalities in the movement in Britain and America in the 1700s and 1800s to abolish the slave trade. This book was loaned to me by a friend after we watched the film, Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce, also a major name in the abolitionist movement. The volume is a hefty 430 pages, and I wish I could just stay up all night to finish it, but I'm only on page 99, and even staying up all night, if that were possible, might not do it. So I'll fit in a chapter or two a day, here and there, and prolong the experience.
What's on your reading wish list for this coming year?
One of the books I'm reading now is Bury the Chains: Prophets and Revels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves. This is the story of the main personalities in the movement in Britain and America in the 1700s and 1800s to abolish the slave trade. This book was loaned to me by a friend after we watched the film, Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce, also a major name in the abolitionist movement. The volume is a hefty 430 pages, and I wish I could just stay up all night to finish it, but I'm only on page 99, and even staying up all night, if that were possible, might not do it. So I'll fit in a chapter or two a day, here and there, and prolong the experience.
What's on your reading wish list for this coming year?
Friday, January 4, 2008
It's a new year, and I'm set to blog!
I'm set on a great path for the year, and I feel very optimistic. I have a list of things that I'm going to accomplish in 2008, and I am going to be steady in my resolve to keep my eyes on the goal. Writing is one of my goals and blogs are a great way to do this. Those who know me and saw my list for 2007 will probably note that some of the items from that list have been forwarded on to my 2008 list. That's right! If at first I don't succeed, I keep trying!
Over the holidays, we had some wonderful times with family and friends. Of course, there was lots of "stuff," too. Stuff for the little kids and stuff for the big kids. We want to remember the reason for the season. Giving gifts is a way to show our love and care for each other. God gave us the gift of His Son. It was His way of showing His love for us. Christ came, and then, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5: 8). This was also God's way of showing His love toward us.
I'm excited about the opportunities that are before me as the new year starts off. One of the things on my to-do list is to memorize a verse a week. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me in my selection and memorization of these verses.
Set yourself some goals. Aim high. Take courage!
Over the holidays, we had some wonderful times with family and friends. Of course, there was lots of "stuff," too. Stuff for the little kids and stuff for the big kids. We want to remember the reason for the season. Giving gifts is a way to show our love and care for each other. God gave us the gift of His Son. It was His way of showing His love for us. Christ came, and then, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5: 8). This was also God's way of showing His love toward us.
I'm excited about the opportunities that are before me as the new year starts off. One of the things on my to-do list is to memorize a verse a week. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me in my selection and memorization of these verses.
Set yourself some goals. Aim high. Take courage!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
