Do you remember when there was no Walmart in Canada? Hard to imagine really. We had Kmart and Woolco and we still have Zellers. But Walmart just seems to get bigger with groceries and more super and 24 hours and Mcdonald’s. I think they have Walmart brand 5 door hatchbacks with power windows and heated seats there now…..just kidding … or am I?

I was with three of my four sons today at Walmart, you can guess which ones. We were not there shop but to collect. We volunteered to be collectors for the Salvation Army kettles. The money goes to those who are in need in our community. My boys decided to dress up for the occasion and were wearing suit jackets and collared shirts. They put me to shame in that department I must say.

So we started at 10 AM and I was coaching my children the proper etiquette of doing this. Of course they supplied us with sleigh bells to ring which my boys were very good at. They know how to ring those bells. Come on. So I stood there with my children as people walked by, some who gave and those who didn’t smiling at each one. Many people gave during those two hours. Many gave fives and tens and even twenty dollar bills.

Believing that what they were giving to would help someone and yet they would never see those they are helping. Wow that’s faith. Kudos to the Salvation Army for having such a great reputation for helping those in need. But to those who gave today I commend you. I was taken aback by your generosity without expectation of receiving anything in return. That reminds me of Jesus. He gave because it was who He was. God is love the Bible tells us.

I am encouraged today that we live in a culture where there are many people who are willing to pitch in and help those in need. We have to ask ourselves will an extra five dollars really help me? Or will it impact another person’s life so much more because they have so little? You can figure it out I’m sure.

Well as for me and my children, who I am sure earned a few extra dollars because they are rather fetching in certain moments, I don’t think we will ever be able to pass another Salvation Army kettle without considering what can we do to help others today who cannot help themselves.

Have a Jesus Christ centred Christmas.
P Shane

So, I just finished a night with my small group. My children were in the basement of the gracious host using mini hockey sticks. I’m not sure who started or invented these extremely hard plastic sticks but when I watch kids use them I get scared and have thoughts of the “Lord of the Flies” book they made me read in high school. Who has the conch?

Anyway, we had a great discussion on a simple and yet not so simple biblical topic. I am not really going to comment on the content of the discussion but rather those involved in the discussion. While going through the questions we stopped for a moment on a certain point to which everyone in the group shared their take on what the verse was trying to say.

I gotta tell you, it was so encouraging, uplifting and faith building. It was awesome to hear people talk about their faith in God in such unique ways. Each perspective that was given challenged us to think about God from a different angle. What was revealed was how amazing that God can use people from all different walks of life to disciple one another as they share their version of the Good News of Jesus Christ .

I was not the leader of the small group tonight and we ended on time. lol. I find that most times I talk too much in these settings. I probably talked too much tonight as well. Sorry guys. What I found was that I sure do learn a lot more when I’m not talking. I was discipled tonight by my small group just because they shared honestly and openly. It’s that simple really. If we want to grow in understanding in God’s truth we need to spend time listening to one another talk about our faith. You don’t have to be in a small group to do that but it sure helps.

It’s pretty late now and my children and their mini sticks will be awake soon. I will leave you with this. It’s really hard to disciple yourself. I recommend giving the conch to someone else and listening to what God has revealed to them….. and through their words God will reveal Himself to you.

Still long winded even in blogs! Hopeless!
P Shane

It has been a while since I have blogged so here I go. I couple of months ago I had the chance to go and see the Lion King as a theatrical play in Toronto with my sons. The costumes and sets were really the best part of show. The music and the singing were pretty good but let’s just say it was more pleasing to the eyes than to the ears. Of course the play like the movie opens and closes with the song The Circle of Life. The opening and closing scenes are the same – with a father lion presenting his cub son to the pride as a symbol of new life. I must admit I did this to each of my sons just after they were born. I sing the song and raise them in air. I’m not sure you can picture this but I laugh every time as each time I raise them in the air and start singing I get a role of eyes from my beautiful wife and a confusing stare from my newly born son.

This past month, I have been exposed to both death and life which has brought this whole train of thought about. Lion King aside there is so much emotion involved in the beginnings and ends of life.

There is so much to reflect on and think about in these moments. There is one common thread between to two events that has caused me to stop and think. Life is a miracle. This life we have been given is not an accident or coincidence…but a gift. There is nothing we did or our parents did that somehow won us enough points to be breathing right now. Every day, every hour, every breath is God’s amazing gift to us. Life begins for us at birth but honestly never ends. My life, your life will last forever. That is the miracle of creation.

The Bible tells us that what we do with this life here on earth will determine what our lives will be like for the rest of eternity in heaven or hell. Some might say that’s not fair. Why should I be judged this way. That seems so harsh. I always find it comical when one of my boys says that to me when I make a decision that is best for him like going to bed. “But that’s not fair” they exclaim. They have judged based on their thinking as a small child that my decision as their loving parent who would do anything for them is unfair. The child has no idea how good they have it, how much of their life is provided for them so that they can succeed. Fairness only counts when we deserve or have earned what is coming to us. None of us deserve or have earned life. You are breathing right now because God made it so. It sounds fair to me.

There is a circle to life. The circle represents a starting point but no ending. The circle is God’s love for us the moment our lives began and that love will never end. Make the most of God’s gift of life to you. It goes best when we trust God to lead us.

I’m totally going to do the Lion King thing with my youngest when I get home. I don’t care if no one else thinks it is cool because I definitely do. Peace.

P Shane

As many of you know I have a deep appreciation for good deals. I spend most Saturday mornings in the summer scouring the neighbourhood for people who are selling things on their lawn hoping to find something that I think is way underpriced and would be worth spending money on. I must admit that when I find a good deal I am pretty proud of myself. I also shop at second hand clothing stores like Value Village and Goodwill. While shopping at these stores last week I found an amazing deal on some sports equipment. I bought the equipment not because I wanted it but because I knew I could sell it on kijiji.ca for quite a profit. It was risk of course, I had to be sure that what I was selling was what someone else was willing to buy.

As of now I am waiting for a buyer to show up at my door to purchase said equipment for a profit of 250 percent. Yeah that rocks. Through all of this it is interesting how people gage worth in our society. The question is how much is the equipment worth? Well it depends on how much you are willing to pay for it, if you are not willing to pay for an item then it’s not worth anything. How we spend our money, time and energy really can reflect on what we value. The Bible tells us that where our treasure is our heart will be also. What is our relationship with Jesus worth? How much does it cost us to serve Jesus? I guess the implication is that if our faith in Jesus doesn’t cost anything than how much is it worth?

I gotta tell you I hate it when people ask me these types of questions. No warm fuzzies or funny stories to make me feel better. These are the questions that keep you up at night. It’s a question worth asking because the Bible tells us that Jesus will forever be in human form for the rest of eternity to remind us of his sacrifice for us on the cross. It cost Jesus quite a bit to save us. Something to ponder indeed.

As it turns out the guy who was supposed to buy the equipment just stopped by and did not buy the equipment. Rats!(rats get a pretty raw deal) He went on to tell me that what I was selling was not the real thing and was a cheap knock off from another country. So I guess my plan backfired. Interesting though that when the person realized that what he was buying was not the real thing it was no longer worth anything to him and drove away never to return. Something else to ponder.

In the mean time if you are interested in buying some overpriced knock off foreign sports equipment then I am your man. I’ll give you a good deal. Lol

Cya

I am sitting here on Sunday evening after the children go to bed reflecting upon the day. It was great to be with my church family Bradford Community Church. Today I spoke the first sermon I ever preached in Bradford. I have been pastoring in Bradford for about 5 and half years now and it is amazing to see God at work. Of course before I spoke the message, I wondered if anyone would actually remember the message. It was the message I preached before the church voted on choosing me as their Pastor.

I guess the rest is history since we are still here more than five years later. I guess I wanted to say thanks to my church for allowing us to share our lives, dreams and family with you. It is truly a blessing to actually like the people you are called to minister to. Apparently that is not always the case. Many times in our lives we wait until someone is leaving to say thank you but as sincere as you can be in that moment wouldn’t the thanks have been much more appreciated when it was not expected? I think so. On a day like sept 11th we realize how life can change in a moment.

You should say thank you to those are due thanks. Walking in thanksgiving is Godly quality. Maybe there are those around you who have no idea that you appreciate them or value them. You could show them that their life has significance in a unique way by finding a way to say thank you. For those who go to my church I am not looking for a pat on the back. I’m not really comfortable people touching my back . I just wanted to say thanks for our friendship. I am hoping for many more years together. Mark this date down, March 11, 2016, because you may hear the sermon I preached today again because apparently I preach it every five and a half years.

That’s enough bloggin for now
Cya

And so it begins a new era in communication for Bradford Community Church welcome to our new website. I am sitting in the living room of my in-laws house. I am pondering life and hoping that my phone will continue to function as a wireless hotspot to access the internet. I am embarking on a two week journey in the hottest part of summer with no access to air conditioning other than my swagger wagon(Toyota Sienna). I ask myself if I am going to able to adapt to the surroundings and not think of how hot I am for the next 336 hours of my life (that’s two weeks). Of course I should be fine and will surely get over it and as well I should. Jesus had to change his surroundings when he came to earth. Interact, function and communicate in a way that was less convenient than he had existed since forever. The truth is Jesus changed his very existence for eternity in order to express his love to us. Phillipians 2:8 is my favorite scripture because it reminds that the most powerful person in existence humbled himself even resulting in death so that I could gain life. It’s not easy being content and taking a permanent vacation from complaining as I ponder any possible reason to get in my van and turn on the AC to hi. I guess I will be hot and full of perspiration for the next two weeks and that will benefit me in the long run in a variety of ways and yet even a lack of AC causes me to reflect upon the great sacrifice Jesus made for me. Imagine the everyday sacrifices you make for the ones you love and think of Jesus and be reminded it’s worth it. I am leaving now for an excursion into town to a local splash pad to cool off and it wasn’t even my suggestion.  :)   Jesus loves me.