I Believe

I Believe

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” 
                                                                               Ecclesiastes 3:2-8
The writer of Ecclesiastes is right. There is a time for everything. You don’t have to be a wise man to necessarily realize this. The writer is just stating the obvious. There is a time and a season for everything.
In my sixty years on this earth I have seen and experienced a lot. Everything from war, to the death of loved ones, to serious illnesses of both my wife and myself.
I have felt the joy of the birth of my children and been amazed as they grew to manhood going on to serve their Lord and Saviour.
I have rejoiced and danced at the wedding of my son. Praising God for the love he and his wife have for each other.
And through it all I am amazed at the Love God has shown to both me and my family.
In our life we have had more than our share of tragedy, the near death of one of my sons,  A serious injuries to another that could have crippled him for life. 
Both my wife and I almost dying in separate incidents just months apart. A diagnosis of Bipolar disorder that did change my life forever. Even a house fire that took all our earthly possessions.
Yet through it all I can truly praise God. Even when we lost our house, on which we had no insurance, we never went homeless. There was one waiting for us, in a better location no less.
God is truly good.
After the loss of our house we were also able to attend a wonderful bible based evangelical church. A family place in which we could bring up our children.
It was a place my wife and now our sons can serve the Lord. And that for my family and I that is important.
The events of my life have for me proven there is a loving God who cares for the individual. Who cares for those love him.
I know there are many out there that would deny God exists but I cannot believe this. I believe the word of the apostle John who wrote,
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God". 
                         John 1:12,13.
I believe the writer of the Apostles creed who wrote,

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

      and born of the virgin Mary.

      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

      was crucified, died, and was buried;

      he descended to hell.

      The third day he rose again from the dead.

      He ascended to heaven

      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the holy catholic* church,

      the communion of saints,

      the forgiveness of sins,

      the resurrection of the body,

      and the life everlasting. Amen.

(*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places)
I believe the writer of Ecclesiastes was right when he said,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
   Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
For me there is no debate. What you the reader believes is entirely up to you. It is my prayer that you at least examine the Bible and make up your own mind. Still ultimately belief in God is an act of faith.
Think about it

A Testimony

A Testimony

She stood for a long moment, looking at him, snow blowing around her in swirls, glistening in the bright light.
A few short hours ago, she’d thought him an inmate at the institution, they’d been visiting.  Now, he was offering her a chance to find a job in the city.
Questions, dozens of questions went through her head.  Was it God’s will?  Did she want to take the chance, the risk?  Could she move from the small town she’d known all her life?  Was she ready to move?
For uncounted years, as a child she’d been abused by the hands of her stepfather.  Had it not been for the love of Christian friends, she’d surely have gone mad.  Now, she’d have to leave those friends.  To go with a stranger.
Was this the door opening, allowing her to escape the stigma of her traumatic past?
Standing amid the arc lights of the prison parking lot, she would have to make a decision.
He stood there, watching her.  The snow on the ground, reflecting the intense artificial lighting, making the midnight black as bright as day.
God had make it clear, she was the one.  Yet, he couldn’t tell her.  God made that clear.  All he could do was invite her to come and look for a job.
In a few hours, a hundred miles would separate them.  A seemingly, insurmountable obstacle.  Yet, he knew she was the one and God would find a way.
He had no idea the LORD had opened a prison door that night, setting a captive free, and although the hallway to freedom would take some years to transverse, the journey had begun.  A love story beginning with a single word, “yes.”
The above story I know is true. It is testimony to what the apostle Paul writes,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 
                                                Romans 8:28.
You see that is the beginning of a love story that has lasted from that moment until now. A love story that is still continuing.
It is how my wife and I met. I was with a gospel group invited to perform at a coffee shop in a small town in Northern Ontario and then at some minimum security prisons.
My now wife was with the organizers.
I know non-Christians might think our meeting was by chance. But I’m convinced it wasn’t. My wife and I were truly made for each other.
We are not as one would say ‘normal’ we are when it come down to it a little odd which in many ways has served us well.
In the thirty-seven years since our meeting have served the Lord in various capacities and never once in all that time has he let us down.
In another few days we will have been married thirty-five years.
True we have had our ups and downs we have seen our eight year old son hit by a car almost killing him and putting him into a coma. The doctors telling us he would have brain damage.
They didn’t take into account the power of prayer. Today some twenty-six or so years later there is no sign of brain injury.
While living in a rural area we watched our uninsured house burn down before the fire department could do anything taking with it all our belongings.
At the same time we seen God’s provision. In less than two days we had a house full of furniture, clothing and all we could ever need to start over. God has been very good to us.
More recently we received a call from Africa where our twenty-six year old youngest son had fallen from a roof and badly broken his leg. A break that would need special surgery.
Miraculously they were near one of the best hospitals in Kenya where there was an excellent bone specialist from England available to perform the surgery. God had once again provided.
We have never doubted what our Lord and Saviour can and does do for us.
We are not rich in a materialistic sense but we are rich in many other ways.
We have been blessed with wonderful children, all of whom are serving the Lord today.
We have been blessed with good friends and church family.
And we can sing with David,
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,...” 
                                                                                                 1 Chronicles 16:8-12
Can you?
            Think about it.