48 Hours of Victories and Five Victors
When I placed the words in the text of yesterday about Fear, there were some living examples of Fear – not far away.
Bruce Lindsay and his three companions, one from China and two from Korea, set out on Friday night to conquer 48 hours of blissful Canadian Wilderness. The pristine setting of the beautiful lake that they slid their canoes into was post card material. The video that is (again) shown at the end of this post tells you more of what took place on Friday night… beautiful.
Their plan was to paddle a good distance over three hours Friday evening and then camp for the night, get up Saturday morning paddle further camp again, then finally on Sunday make the final leg of the journey back to the starting point. The trip would conclude having completed a kind of loop covering five lakes and a number of portages.
Define portage as “carry two canoes and all your equipment, food and supplies across the ground between the lakes”. One portage was equivalent to three or four foot ball fields in length.
The map was very good according to Bruce. From the aerial shot in the map plus the Google Earth shot it is very clear and easy to do in two days.
But there is one thing about the ‘Pristine Canadian Wilderness’ that is not in the guide book. It is called “weather” – lots of changing “weather” that can and did include lots and lots of rain mixed with high winds gusting at times to over 80 KMPH (50 Miles per hour)…then the in between times just steady and strong winds that produce lots of white caps on the waves. That is really “fun” in a loaded canoe!
And I haven’t mentioned the most interesting challenge – you’re wet all the time – completely through and through….and chances are that even the so called “dry clothes” are not dry anymore.
Bruce said the comical memories he collected on this trip was the voices from within the tent next to him, “My underwear are wet, oh no, so are my “dry underwear”….”. The dismay of his traveling companions as they found that their clean and dry underwear weren’t so anymore…had a touch of humour in it.
Fire starting and cooking was a challenge to say the least.
Bruce commented as we headed home from the ‘pick up spot’ last evening, “The best part of this trip was the guy’s amazing attitude through out this trip… we were soaked, we were tired, the wind blew and it was hard to paddle, but they stayed happy and upbeat all the time. One would say, “We are wet but we are okay…” This upbeat attitude kept them all going – specially the leader and guide.
Four Victors made it home, exhausted and delighted that they had accomplished a great trip together.
Switch Canadian scenes to the other side of the country…
This next man’s name is Tim Schindel, a pastor and leader that works in British Columbia. Tim shared some of his story in our church yesterday. God has taken him through a “wilderness” as well and his journey has been good.
I would need much more space than this Blog to tell the whole story that Tim shared with us…but here it is in a nutshell.
Tim and his wife Barb were serving in a good church as pastors. After a number of years of working with people in a number of different roles as a pastor things changed. There was a stirring taking place inside to walk in a different direction.
One thing led to another and they found themselves changing ministry roles – and finally launching out into something brand new – never tried before.
Now something that the ‘ordinary pew sitter’ – the ordinary, everyday Christian may not know is….Pastors are pretty normal and they love normal…they love being able to know what might happen this week and they love the steady pace of church work. There are a few surprises but for the most part it is a good job. They like the surety and safety of knowing that they are needed and something is happening.
Well – when the directions started changing for the Schindels it really changed.
They moved to Victoria B.C. to launch the very first Chaplaincy to Provincial Legislative Assembly – the provincial government. Tim’s new job was to sit and listen to the dialogue(arguments) of the politicians – hour after hour…then pray for the people in government.
Is that all? Isn’t there more that a man like Tim should be doing? More than prayer?…maybe… preaching?…maybe…I don’t know…just more?
Most of his pastoral friends have thought that way I am sure. Some have thought this guy has to have his head read! To leave the pastorate and go into politics and not even get paid… is a little too much of stretch for 99% of his ‘Minister Friends’.
Now for Canadians reading this they will understand the challenges a little better. We can watch a certain TV channel that lets us listen and take in all that our government politicians are doing from day to day. There are cameras in the legislative assemblies that record all the “going ons” that take place. Sometimes it is a circus with people very upset about their points not being heard – or about what others are saying on certain topics.
Tim sits and listens to all of it…then prays for his politicians – that are now his friends. He is their pastor.
Most people hate politicians. Tim and Barb love them. That is what Leading Influence Ministry is all about – loving people…no matter what!
Tying this all together…
There are a lot of similarities to a Canadian Wilderness Canoe Trip and the Ministry to People. You can be completely equipped to have a great voyage – have every bit of the best equipment and plans going… but you can never tell what may happen with the “weather”.
In Tim’s case politicians will come and go. They are not all in need of a ‘pastor’. They are busy meeting up with the argument of the day. People in their communities are after them for something. They are pressed by their own political parties to do some things at time that stretch their own morals. They cannot figure what a guy like Tim Schindel is doing – just sitting there listening.
They don’t know that Tim prays and stays and prays and stays. Tim loves them.
Bruce and his canoeing partners didn’t give up even though there were storms.
Tim and Barb Schindel haven’t giving up either. Through the thickest storms they have weathered it all. They are amazing!
Bruce Lindsay and his three companions, one from China and two from Korea, set out on Friday night to conquer 48 hours of blissful Canadian Wilderness. The pristine setting of the beautiful lake that they slid their canoes into was post card material. The video that is (again) shown at the end of this post tells you more of what took place on Friday night… beautiful.Their plan was to paddle a good distance over three hours Friday evening and then camp for the night, get up Saturday morning paddle further camp again, then finally on Sunday make the final leg of the journey back to the starting point. The trip would conclude having completed a kind of loop covering five lakes and a number of portages.
Define portage as “carry two canoes and all your equipment, food and supplies across the ground between the lakes”. One portage was equivalent to three or four foot ball fields in length.
The map was very good according to Bruce. From the aerial shot in the map plus the Google Earth shot it is very clear and easy to do in two days.
But there is one thing about the ‘Pristine Canadian Wilderness’ that is not in the guide book. It is called “weather” – lots of changing “weather” that can and did include lots and lots of rain mixed with high winds gusting at times to over 80 KMPH (50 Miles per hour)…then the in between times just steady and strong winds that produce lots of white caps on the waves. That is really “fun” in a loaded canoe!
And I haven’t mentioned the most interesting challenge – you’re wet all the time – completely through and through….and chances are that even the so called “dry clothes” are not dry anymore.
Bruce said the comical memories he collected on this trip was the voices from within the tent next to him, “My underwear are wet, oh no, so are my “dry underwear”….”. The dismay of his traveling companions as they found that their clean and dry underwear weren’t so anymore…had a touch of humour in it.
Fire starting and cooking was a challenge to say the least.
Bruce commented as we headed home from the ‘pick up spot’ last evening, “The best part of this trip was the guy’s amazing attitude through out this trip… we were soaked, we were tired, the wind blew and it was hard to paddle, but they stayed happy and upbeat all the time. One would say, “We are wet but we are okay…” This upbeat attitude kept them all going – specially the leader and guide.
Four Victors made it home, exhausted and delighted that they had accomplished a great trip together.
Switch Canadian scenes to the other side of the country…
This next man’s name is Tim Schindel, a pastor and leader that works in British Columbia. Tim shared some of his story in our church yesterday. God has taken him through a “wilderness” as well and his journey has been good.
I would need much more space than this Blog to tell the whole story that Tim shared with us…but here it is in a nutshell.
Tim and his wife Barb were serving in a good church as pastors. After a number of years of working with people in a number of different roles as a pastor things changed. There was a stirring taking place inside to walk in a different direction.
One thing led to another and they found themselves changing ministry roles – and finally launching out into something brand new – never tried before.
Now something that the ‘ordinary pew sitter’ – the ordinary, everyday Christian may not know is….Pastors are pretty normal and they love normal…they love being able to know what might happen this week and they love the steady pace of church work. There are a few surprises but for the most part it is a good job. They like the surety and safety of knowing that they are needed and something is happening.
Well – when the directions started changing for the Schindels it really changed.
They moved to Victoria B.C. to launch the very first Chaplaincy to Provincial Legislative Assembly – the provincial government. Tim’s new job was to sit and listen to the dialogue(arguments) of the politicians – hour after hour…then pray for the people in government.
Is that all? Isn’t there more that a man like Tim should be doing? More than prayer?…maybe… preaching?…maybe…I don’t know…just more?
Most of his pastoral friends have thought that way I am sure. Some have thought this guy has to have his head read! To leave the pastorate and go into politics and not even get paid… is a little too much of stretch for 99% of his ‘Minister Friends’.Now for Canadians reading this they will understand the challenges a little better. We can watch a certain TV channel that lets us listen and take in all that our government politicians are doing from day to day. There are cameras in the legislative assemblies that record all the “going ons” that take place. Sometimes it is a circus with people very upset about their points not being heard – or about what others are saying on certain topics.
Tim sits and listens to all of it…then prays for his politicians – that are now his friends. He is their pastor.
Most people hate politicians. Tim and Barb love them. That is what Leading Influence Ministry is all about – loving people…no matter what!
Tying this all together…
There are a lot of similarities to a Canadian Wilderness Canoe Trip and the Ministry to People. You can be completely equipped to have a great voyage – have every bit of the best equipment and plans going… but you can never tell what may happen with the “weather”.
In Tim’s case politicians will come and go. They are not all in need of a ‘pastor’. They are busy meeting up with the argument of the day. People in their communities are after them for something. They are pressed by their own political parties to do some things at time that stretch their own morals. They cannot figure what a guy like Tim Schindel is doing – just sitting there listening.
They don’t know that Tim prays and stays and prays and stays. Tim loves them.
Bruce and his canoeing partners didn’t give up even though there were storms.
Tim and Barb Schindel haven’t giving up either. Through the thickest storms they have weathered it all. They are amazing!
Bruce’s trip is over… Tim’s is just beginning.
Both of these guys need to know – there is one person praying for you two – that is ME! If I support you – then I succeed as well!
Your friend,
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Resources:
Tim Schindel – Leading Influence - http://leadinginfluence.blogspot.com/
And…
http://www.leadinginfluence.com/
Calvin’s First Canadian Canoe Trip - http://yout
ube.com/watch?v=Ec2vtju3KSgBoth of these guys need to know – there is one person praying for you two – that is ME! If I support you – then I succeed as well!
Your friend,
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Resources:
Tim Schindel – Leading Influence - http://leadinginfluence.blogspot.com/
And…
http://www.leadinginfluence.com/
Calvin’s First Canadian Canoe Trip - http://yout
The Original Tim Bits...
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Monday, May 05, 2008
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