In God we trust

I'm sure you already know that on every piece of U.S. currency the phrase in God we trust is inscribed on it. I always used to think that was a way of declaring to the citizens that this country believes in God. However in preparing for this week sermons I think it is interesting that they put In God we Trust on Money. I would suggest that most people probably trust money more then God.

Money promises you security, Significance and freedom, but in actual fact on God can provide these things. Only God can truly give you eternal security, on God can make you have significance by being his child, and only God can give you true freedom.

I know a lot of well off people who live scared of being robbed. I know a lot of rich people that still feel they need to make more money to really be noticed, and I know A lot of rich people that may have money but they aren't free because they have to maintain and make more money.

The love of money is the root of all evil, and God says in Matthew that you can't serve both God and money, so you need to decide who are you going to serve.

Money isn't evil, but the love of it will end up destroying anyone.

PJ<><

Sickness

Well as most of the Life Church family knows this weekend I was struck down with an illness. I had a case of the flu. I was still able to preach on Sunday, but it was a struggle.

Sickness is horrible, it takes away all your energy, it makes your body ache and you can hardly breathe. It was really aweful. In fact I'm still not feeling 100 %.

Sin is like sickness except your born with it. Sin takes away life, and ruins your health. Sin brings pain into your life, and it can separate you from God.

My body is strong enough to deal with my case of the flu (with the help of Cold FX). However my spirit cannot deal with the sickness of sin all by itself. No matter how badly I may want to feel better I was powerless against my flu until my body began to heal.

Often we will try and deal with the sin in our lives through shear will power. But yet we still fail. God is there ready to help us with our sin, all he asks is that we invite him to do so. Don't try and do it your way, but let God help you deal with your own case of sin.

I'm getting better, soon I will be back to full health, I just pray that I will also continue to get better at giving my sin over to God.

PJ<><

Forcast for love

I wanted to put this video on the Blog today to highlite on of my favorite comedians. His name is Shaun Majumder. He is from Newfoundland and he is hillaroius. He is often on CBC (That's why you probably have never seen him). Anyway I thought you would enjoy this.

Weather Watch



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PJ<><

Bad Timing?

I was in the line up for Tim Horton's today on King St. when all of a sudden I was hit with a commercial. The commercial was for Dairy Queen's newest Ice Cream Bar.

It was -21 degrees, and a thought came to me. Who was the genius that decided to market a new ice cream treat in early February? I would go Donald Trump on that person and they would be fired?

It also made me think of another picture. The guy who was standing on a milk crate preaching on Spadina Rd. in Toronto. People were busy going to and from work and he was telling them to get rid of all the sin in their lives.

Now I'm not a big Soap Box preacher myself, but if you were to go retro and do that wouldn't the love and grace message be more fitting. I'm not a marketing expert but, telling a bunch of people in a hurry how bad they are, isn't going to draw a crowd. It might just draw and egg aimed at your head.

People are people and they need to hear about the love of Christ. My Dad used to say, "You've got to catch the fish before you clean them."

Matthew 22 says the greatest thing you can do is love God completely, then show other people love." I think that message is always appropriate!

Happy Valentine's Day, buy your sweety some Dairy Queen, I hear they have this really great new ice cream bar!

PJ <><

Just Cause?

On Sunday I'm starting a new series on commitment here at Life Church. This Sunday I'm talking about the word love. The word Love is used so many different ways in the English language, and we are going to explore what kind of love you should have for Christ.
However in studying up for this sermon, I've come across a few words that have double meaning in our language. Words like run. You can run a race, you can have a run in your stockings, and right now my computer is running. All these are the word run but really they have different meanings.
There is one phrase I want to Blog about that is the phrase Just Cause. There are two meanings to this phrase that are almost by-polar opposites. Let me show you what I mean:

I'm doing this because it's a just cause. ( I'm doing this because it's stand for justice, and I believe in it.) OR

I'm doing this just 'cause (I'm involved in this activity because I have nothing better to do)

The two phrases are almost exactly the same yet the have completely different meanings.
Why do you do the things you do. We live in a world that worships entertainment, we spend hours a day doing stuff so that we're not bored. Yet, Volunteerism numbers have dramatically dropped, because people say that they are too busy. I think we need to re-evaluate our lives and how we spend our time. Are we living for Just Cause or are we living Just 'Cause.

Make your life count for something, or else you'll live for nothing!

"In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

PJ <><

If you don't have anything nice to say.....

Today it's -12 degrees
We are going on our 17th day below 0
I haven't seen the sun in two weeks
I have a blasting headache
My kids aren't feeling well.

And all my credit card bills from Christmas are due.

My Dad says, if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all.

So this Blog is over!!

PJ<><

Sunscreen in the Winter

It's another dark day here in Oshawa, the kind of day that makes you wish you were on vacation. Some sunny place where you could lie on the beach and put on your sunscreen and just relax. When I was on my way to the church today I heard this song play. The song was called "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen." by Baz Luhrmann.

The Lyric's were actually from an article in the Chicago Tribune called "Advice like youth, is probably wasted on the young" by Mary Schmich. The song's not that great but the Lyrics are awesome, so read on:

Wear sunscreen.If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing. Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch. Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room. Read the directions, even if you don't follow them. Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out. Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Cool Eh!
PJ <><