Last week, Oliver Edwards-Neil and Troels Hansen were flying a small airplane from Labrador to Iqaluit when the engine quit. They were able to land safely and then, before they had time to get anything out of it, the plane sank in the icy water. After spending all night on an ice floe in Hudson Straight just south of Baffin Island, they were finally rescued by a passing boat.
The good news, though, was that they were wearing their survival suits at the time of the crash. “They did not land on an ice floe off of Bermuda, so it’s definitely because of their preparedness that they survived the event”, said Master Corporal Joe Arsenault, who was part of the search and rescue team.
Being prepared long before the plane crashed made all the difference.
In Luke 8, Jesus tells his disciples to get in a boat and cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As they went, a storm broke out and things became so bad that the disciples thought that they were going to die. They woke Jesus up and he calmed the storm. Then he asked them this question: “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25).
I have always read that question as an accusation. In other words, Jesus is bawling them out for not having enough faith to be strong in the storm. However, what if that is the wrong assumption? What if that question is not so much an accusation as it is a reminder?
What if Jesus is actually asking them: “Where is your faith? Is it handy? Do you have it close by, because you are going to need it!” That is a completely different lesson!
Storms will come. God never promised to protect us from everything. In fact, in this story, they are in the storm because Jesus told them to go out on the lake! Faith does not keep us from trouble, but it can help us get through it.
The two pilots had their survival suits on long before they needed them. Similarly, our faith needs to be constantly nearby. It needs to be part of everything we are and everything we do. If we go looking for it only when trouble comes, it may be too late.
Now is the time to get ready.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Live is Better
Over the years, I have been lots of concerts such as Sawyer Brown, Toby Keith, BNL and, maybe the best one, Keith Urban. From that list, it may sound like I am a country fan, but I am not. In fact, I am just a fan of “live music”. I really enjoy the various “Concerts for Saskatchewan” artists that come through town. I like piano recitals. I have even gone to hear jazz played live (and I generally hate jazz).
There is just something about live music, regardless of the style, that is different from listening to the same song on a CD. In fact, often the concert version is not as technically well done, but there is an energy that you get when you hear a song performed live that cannot be reproduced on any recording. This past Sunday, I was reminded that the benefit of hearing something live is not limited to music.
We had a guest speaker here and that meant, that for the first time in a long time, I got to sit and listen to someone present the word of God. To be honest, since I spend a lot of time talking about God, I had sort of forgotten how powerful the spoke word can be when you are listening to it.
That the word of God is powerful should not be a surprise. Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12). We are also told that “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).
Think about the book of Acts for a moment. The church grew because the Christians were living their faith. However, they were also teaching and preaching about God, Christ, the cross and the Holy Spirit. Many turning points in the church came as a result (at least in part) of someone teaching the word of God.
I hope that you spend time reading God’s word on your own. Nothing can replace Bible reading. However, I also hope that you know the benefit of hearing the word being preached or discussed in a Bible class with other Christians.
There is something special about hearing the word.
There is just something about live music, regardless of the style, that is different from listening to the same song on a CD. In fact, often the concert version is not as technically well done, but there is an energy that you get when you hear a song performed live that cannot be reproduced on any recording. This past Sunday, I was reminded that the benefit of hearing something live is not limited to music.
We had a guest speaker here and that meant, that for the first time in a long time, I got to sit and listen to someone present the word of God. To be honest, since I spend a lot of time talking about God, I had sort of forgotten how powerful the spoke word can be when you are listening to it.
That the word of God is powerful should not be a surprise. Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12). We are also told that “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).
Think about the book of Acts for a moment. The church grew because the Christians were living their faith. However, they were also teaching and preaching about God, Christ, the cross and the Holy Spirit. Many turning points in the church came as a result (at least in part) of someone teaching the word of God.
I hope that you spend time reading God’s word on your own. Nothing can replace Bible reading. However, I also hope that you know the benefit of hearing the word being preached or discussed in a Bible class with other Christians.
There is something special about hearing the word.
Live is Better
Over the years, I have been lots of concerts such as Sawyer Brown, Toby Keith, BNL and, maybe the best one, Keith Urban. From that list, it may sound like I am a country fan, but I am not. In fact, I am just a fan of “live music”. I really enjoy the various “Concerts for Saskatchewan” artists that come through town. I like piano recitals. I have even gone to hear jazz played live (and I generally hate jazz).
There is just something about live music, regardless of the style, that is different from listening to the same song on a CD. In fact, often the concert version is not as technically well done, but there is an energy that you get when you hear a song performed live that cannot be reproduced on any recording. This past Sunday, I was reminded that the benefit of hearing something live is not limited to music.
We had a guest speaker here and that meant, that for the first time in a long time, I got to sit and listen to someone present the word of God. To be honest, since I spend a lot of time talking about God, I had sort of forgotten how powerful the spoke word can be when you are listening to it.
That the word of God is powerful should not be a surprise. Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12). We are also told that “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).
Think about the book of Acts for a moment. The church grew because the Christians were living their faith. However, they were also teaching and preaching about God, Christ, the cross and the Holy Spirit. Many turning points in the church came as a result (at least in part) of someone teaching the word of God.
I hope that you spend time reading God’s word on your own. Nothing can replace Bible reading. However, I also hope that you know the benefit of hearing the word being preached or discussed in a Bible class with other Christians.
There is something special about hearing the word.
There is just something about live music, regardless of the style, that is different from listening to the same song on a CD. In fact, often the concert version is not as technically well done, but there is an energy that you get when you hear a song performed live that cannot be reproduced on any recording. This past Sunday, I was reminded that the benefit of hearing something live is not limited to music.
We had a guest speaker here and that meant, that for the first time in a long time, I got to sit and listen to someone present the word of God. To be honest, since I spend a lot of time talking about God, I had sort of forgotten how powerful the spoke word can be when you are listening to it.
That the word of God is powerful should not be a surprise. Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12). We are also told that “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).
Think about the book of Acts for a moment. The church grew because the Christians were living their faith. However, they were also teaching and preaching about God, Christ, the cross and the Holy Spirit. Many turning points in the church came as a result (at least in part) of someone teaching the word of God.
I hope that you spend time reading God’s word on your own. Nothing can replace Bible reading. However, I also hope that you know the benefit of hearing the word being preached or discussed in a Bible class with other Christians.
There is something special about hearing the word.
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