I was fortunate enough to read Pastor Pete Wilson’s latest book, Empty Promises. It’s a great book on how we deal with things in life that truly do not fulfill our needs and desires.

God reminds us that we should not live for the approval of other people. Often that’s all we do: strive to gain approval of others. The freedom this provides is beyond description.

Many of us have read Psalm 46:10, where the writer advises us to be still. Pete shares with us that Be still has a Hebrew meaning: Let go. Can you truly let go? Can you trust God and not rely so much on yourself and others?

I love the quote Pastor Wilson shares about money and peace. They cannot co-exist.

Religion always tends to complicate what God has made simple. We are always trying to add to something, to make it better.

We buy cars, and then we want to accessorize them to “make them better.”

We want to buy add-ons for our cell plans, to “make them better.”

We want to “super size” our value meals, to “make them better.”

We chase what is deceptively good, not necessarily what is bad. We chase and long after things that will not satisfy us in the long run. That 42″ TV in your living room? It’s nice, but not as nice as your neighbour’s tv. (neighbor for my American brethren.) This is what idolatry is all about. You seek and seek and seek and never get the satisfaction.

This book will walk you through the steps to see what you are idolizing, and guide you to let go.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson”.

My hunch?  You don’t.  Things fall by the wayside.  Some of those things should fall aside, while others will likely be a pest/pain/thorn/etc…. until you can address the situation.

I’m (slowly) learning that things that need to get done will eventually get done, but maybe not in the self-imposed or externally imposed time that people want, but as we should all know by now, want and need are two different animals.

Effective May 1st, which is also my Mom’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!), I am the new Director of Outreach for New Creation Church in Toronto.

This ministry role will stretch me, and for that I am thankful.

God, my family, my careers (Yes, I’ve had a few), church roles, and all the people I’ve met throughout my travels have had a part in me being able to take on this role.

I thank the following people (and apologies if I don’t mention you by name…you’re included in my heart!):

- My wife Jennifer and my awesome daughters

- The love and support of my entire family

- My friends all across the globe

- Pastors Dan and Barb Taylor, formerly with New Life in Momence, IL

- The No B.S. Bible Study group, from Naperville Presbyterian. That group, along with Pastor Mike Marcey impacted me to walk this path

- Pastor Joel Lindman at Bell Creek Community in Livonia, Michigan. Joel left a corporate career and became a pastor. This provided my inspiration

- Pastor Darrell Edgar at Ambassador Community in Windsor, and the entire congregation. Your faith in me to be your elder humbles me to this day

- Pastor Corey Parish, formerly at Amherstburg Community (Now at New Sudbury Pentecostal.) Your fellowship after my health scare in 2009 gave me renewed hope. Plus the coffee discussions were awesome!

- Pastors Barry and Lynda Antle at A.C.C. Your welcoming and caring spirit, and support during the time between there and our move to Toronto was a blessing

- Amherstburg Community Church. If there’s a template on how love should look like in a church, ACC has mastered it! Love you all

- the bridge in Markham. When we moved from a town of 22,000 to an area with 6 million people, your love and the way you serve our community, while letting me serve along side will bless me forever

- Pastor Trevor Moss @ the bridge. Thank you for Soul Care, and for letting me grow through your teaching

- Pastor Brian Childs. How do two guys from Detroit get to serve God in the GTA? Also, why can’t we get a Coney Dog in Toronto? Thank you Brian for your continued guidance

- Pastor Moses, Pastor Harry and my new family at New Creation Church. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve along side you.

I’m sure there’s hundreds more that I can thank, and I will as time proceeds.

The journey continues.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Of the 135 TV Series that have had over 160 episodes, there are only 7 programs that are currently airing.

Why are there only 7 programs that have lasted 5 years, while the rest don’t? One could argue bad programming/content, but I wonder if part of the reason is that we don’t enough invest time into things.

Our collective attention spans have been bombarded with choices. Cable TV, Netflix, Internet, SmartPhones, you name it, our attention is being grabbed by anything and everything.

I am not making fun of those that suffer from A.D.D. or A.D.H.D., but I wonder if we all suffer from variants of those conditions, because we cannot focus our attention long enough on a single item or event.

If we’re out with friends, we’re checking our iPhones/Androids/BlackBerrys in-between (or worse during) our conversations.

If we’re watching a sporting event (or other program) on TV, we’re also surfing the Web. (Disclaimer: I’m typing this blog post while listening to the Devils v Flyers hockey game. Guess I need to practice what I preach.)

I think we would be a lot better off, and less stressed, if we focus on one thing, and put this multi-tasking crap to bed.

1. Hold coffee without spilling. Thankfully she didn’t spill it all over me
2. Hold handbag without dropping it on the floor
3. Retrieve tangled earphones out of handbag

After a minute of watching her struggle with this exercise, I offered to hold something while she attempted to get the tangled earphones out of her bag. She shook her head in a firm, disapproving ‘NO’ fashion.

After fumbling for what felt like an eternity, she finally was able to get the tangled earphones out of her bag.

Of course she then had to untangle the earphones.

How often do we try to solve problems on our own, turning down a helping hand?

Proverbs 13:10 tells us:

Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Spent today with 67% of my children (my wife and oldest daughter are out of town this weekend, so it was me hanging out with # 2 and # 3.)

I’ve been in a reflective mood all day today. Not the typical beat yourself up over the mistakes made in life, but more of a thankfulness of where I am, and how the mistakes, good times, great times, bad times, etc. have shaped me into who I am at this moment.

Too often we (try to) avoid the struggles of life, mostly due to fear.

Don’t miss life, and what it offers. Embrace every moment, whether good or not.

Actually, this book is more about how to live your life. Specifically, how to organize your life as well as believe in yourself.

As I was writing this review, my daughter Rachel was commenting about book writing, and she asked if I was writing a book. When I told her I was in the process of writing, and it may end up in a book, she then asked if I would get paid for the book, or make money on the book. I advised her that I was probably going to give my first book away for free, she said “but people get paid for being authors, make money for printing books.”

She’s 10, and full of opinions.

Jeff’s book walks you through the process of building a community aka Tribes. I love tribes as a description for people that follow along with you. If you believe in yourself, which you should do anyway, then you will discover there are many people that will follow you.

After reading this book, I am motivated to get off my backside and start writing more often. Jeff’s recommendations of de-cluttering and discovering your passion of writing can be applied to everyday life, not just us writers.

I am a writer, and I’m thankful for this book!

For fun and games (aka too much information department), here’s a peek into my weekday routine (give or take a few minutes.)

5am: Wake up. Note, my alarm doesn’t go off until 6am, but my body wakes me up before then.

5-6: Grab my Kobo Vox and read e-mail, my daily devotionals and Scripture reading via YouVersion.com, blogs, maybe Twitter and/or F’book.

6-7: Shower/get dressed, drink coffee, make breakfast for my early rising daughter (she gets up before me…energetic from sunrise to sunset that one.)

7-8:15: Commute to downtown Toronto. During my TTC commute, I will usually read a book (either e-book, or old school book format), or I will listen to music. Current playlist consists of:

Elevation Worship
Van Halen (their new CD)
Chickenfoot
MercyMe
ThirdDay
Random Blues

8:30-4:30: Workin’ for a livin’ (now try to get the Huey Lewis song out of your head. You’re welcome.)

4:30-6:00: TTC commute back to the hizzie. Reading/music during the ride.

6-9: Family time/dinner, and maybe catch up on blog reading.

Between 9 and 10: maybe some TV (sports) watching, then wind down and sleep time.

Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

When you document your routine like I just did, it should hopefully help you priortize what is important, and what can be eliminated/reduced.

Cheers

Reblogged from Cast Light:

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“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius

It’s been one of those weeks where everything feels complicated and hard, the running through wet cement hip deep kind. As I wandered through photos and quotes, it hit me. There’s nothing that symbolizes simplicity more than summer. And the promise of summer lifted the weight, shifted my perspective.

Read more… 62 more words

This is a great post, and reminder that even though you might be in a winter mood, summer is coming

As someone that has experienced a variety of losses, the subtitle of this book “Choosing to LIVE through LOSS with PURPOSE” grabbed my attention.

The Ben Ripple chronicles Ben Elliott’s battle with Leukemia, and the open and transparency of Ben’s Mom Lisa Elliott provided, via a Facebook group.

The raw emotions and roller coaster experiences that Lisa wrote in this book make you feel like a part of the family.

Being a part of Care ministry at my church, real life experiences that Lisa describes are helpful for those dealing with losses.

I highly recommend this book, and remind everyone to cherish every moment of your lives, and the relationships you have.

Book has been provided courtesy of Word Alive Press and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now from your favourite bookseller.