Murray Lincoln's Desk - # 2 Now See - http://murraylincoln.blogspot.com/

2009-09-07T16:33:00.004-04:00

Murray Lincoln Transfers Posts to New Blogspot

2008-06-19T23:53:00.004-04:00

Please Note that all posts will be made at the falling address from this date on....
http://murraylincoln.blogspot.com/

Please add this new address to your favorites....

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

I Believe...

2008-06-19T11:19:00.003-04:00

I Know...
A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave
loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long
after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your
attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who
do what has to be done when
it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way
of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I can
do anything or nothing
and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you
expect to kick you when you're down,
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough,
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn
to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your
heart is broken the world
doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background
and circumstances may have
influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for
who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager
to find out a secret.
It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in
a matter of hours by people
who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you
have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not
make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most
in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to all of the
people that you believe in, I just did.

I Believe...
"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Wilma S... very timely
Author Unknown - from an email...

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Age is only a number

2008-06-18T06:56:00.001-04:00

"Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can't retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with less energy and time." ~ Bernard Mannes Baruch ~

I love this quote as I exit my full time ministry at our church. The semi retirement mode is upon me. The long weeks and many hours at times – are now fading and a whole new world is appearing. The new world has people actually asking about my experience and finding value in what the past was in my life.

At the time I was living through the ‘experience’ – I often shuddered and wished that I wasn’t there. Now I am happy that I went through it…and even more happy that I am through it and not back there living it.

I am also delighted for the good experiences too. They are almost as many as the not so good ones. But the good ones left less scars…and torn parts…which are now my medals of honour.

I read the following of Bernard Mannes Baruch….
Born: 1870 ADDied: 1965 AD, at 94 years of age.
1970 - Born 19th of August in Camden, South Carolina.
1897 - He married Annie Griffin.
1889 - Baruch attended in City College of New York.
1923 - Finished LLD in Williams College.
1918-1919 - Served as U.S. War Industries Board.
1918-1919 - Chairman of U.S. War Industries Board.
1941-1945 - Worked for the U.S. Office of War Information.
1946-1947 - He served as UN Official UN Atomic Energy Commission.
1965 - Bernard Mannes Baruch died on 20th of June.

He was only 94 when he died…lived and worked through two world wars and then saw all of the other small wars the world has witnessed.

Reading some things of the man’s life has left me wondering where I fit as well. My experience is rich. I need to pass it on and on and on….

Blogging does that for me. Out of the daily routine I find wonder. Out of the pain and problems come deeper experiences than I ever have had through the years of pleasure before. I wish now that I would have blogged my entire life….

Pondering the wonder of “Experience” and savoring the memories today.

How about you? Have you ever done a “Stock Taking of All Experiences”?

Today as I prepare for my last Sermon at Northview – the flood of experiences are coming back by the millions…where will I start and where ever will I finish? Few people will ever have the wonder of the opportunity that I am being presented with…. WOW!

Age is only a number…. Hmmmm?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Famous Quotes from Baruch, Bernard Mannes

"During my eighty-seven years I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think."
"I was eleven, then I was sixteen. Though no honors came my way, those were the lovely years."
"Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why."
"If you have made a mistake, cut your losses as quickly as possible."

When The Answer Comes - WOW!

2008-06-17T09:06:00.002-04:00

For the past few days I have been looking for a huge answer…from an extremely small and far away place. The place I am looking for the answer from is over 23,682 miles away.

At our church in August we are connecting with a Beth Moore Seminar entitled “Living Proof Live 2008”. Beth Moore is an excellent speaker and very popular with her ability to communicate truth. She holds her audience’s attention with her wit and wisdom.

Beth will be in our church by a unique connection via Satellite – The Galaxy 25 Satellite that is situated the 23,682 miles up in the sky way over Houston, Texas direction some where. From our area that means it is 217.3 degrees West at an elevation of 35.6 degrees and a rotation of 18.1 degrees. The Satellite is not large – perhaps something the size of a family’s van – and is hanging there in space doing a continual orbit along with the speed of our earth’s rotation.

For the non technical people, a signal is sent up to the Satellite from an earth station, then the Satellite catches it and then redirects it back to earth and any receiver that is ready to receive it. The signal is very straight proceeding down to earth to the waiting and tuned Satellite Dish. By ‘tuned’ I mean directed or aimed perfectly at the Satellite above.

The connection from up above to down below is not easy. It requires some special adjusting and also some special equipment carefully designed and aimed.

How hard can it be?

Well come back to earth and walk out on a football field. Stand at one end with a long stick that is able to reach along ways out across the field – say 100 yards or 300 feet – to the other end. Imagine that you grab your end of stick lifting it up and then get ready to lift the other end of the stick up carefully and steadily until it clears the ground. In this case imagine the stick will not bend and the far end rises at the same speed that the hand held end does.

Your goal is to move the other end of the stick and place it 10 yards – 30 feet to the right of where it is and inside a small space of 6 inches square in the exact center. The stick cannot touch the ground outside the square and if at all possible it MUST BE in the exact center!

Tuning a Satellite Dish is a wee bit harder than that. The place that you need to hit is 23,682 miles away and only as big a family van. Actually the emitting signal point is smaller than that. One tiny move on the ground under your hands can be 5,000 miles left or right, top or bottom of the Satellite hanging so far in space.

Here is how you do it…
First – open the box of the packed Satellite Dish which is in about 100 pieces. Follow the instructions and tighten all the nuts and bolts.

Second – Make sure the mast of the Dish is exactly at a 90 degree angle from the ground. After it is assembled connect the wires to the receiver and then the receiver to the Television.

Third – Turn it all on and watch the screen for possible signal reception. But just before all that comes the code and the correct numbers that tell the receiver which Satellite you are looking for (I forgot to mention that there are hundreds of Satellites hanging above our earth sending signals down – everywhere!).

Fourth – Begin moving the Dish a little this way and then that way…suddenly there is an indication that you are close… and then BINGO – you hit it! It is like that special moment when the fish bites on your line. You have it and success is yours.

It wasn’t quite that easy. Remember I said that it took some days to do this. The first equipment that we had was not good enough. The equipment was not getting the signal – or rather got it but couldn’t understand what it had received.

With the change of a small amount of the right pieces of what was needed – we had success.

How much is this like life….?

I have been asking for an answer for a long, long time – from a long ways away. It seems like my prayer just never gets there. Yet it has and signal has come back to me…but my equipment isn’t tuned – or maybe even all wrong…my personal equipment that is…the stuff inside of me… hmmmm?

In another sense it is a whole lot like life. We face problems that are massive. We need help. Then we try every thing we can do to find an answer in all the wrong places…aiming at some thing that is there but we are 1000s of miles off course.

God isn’t 23,682 miles away…but it can seem like it at times. In fact maybe it feels that he is so far away that we will never hear from him.

In the days prior to connecting to the signal I found that I was in the right area but because the equipment was all wrong and even too old – the signal couldn’t be interpreted by the receiver.

Often there are pieces of my personal life that are not right. There is sin that blocks the signal. There are parts that need to be made new…or changed all together…for me that includes the habits that get in the way of the clear signal arriving to the heart of my life.

When I have made the changes and then tuned in…WOW! The signal comes loud and clear.

Perhaps today you feel like someone that has lost the signal. Or maybe you once had the signal and now it is off line.

God wants to talk to you clearly. His signal is coming to you all the time. He only needs for you to tune in your Spiritual Dish… and then make sure that the equipment is up to date and clean. He is sending right now…are you receiving?

When the answer comes…WOW!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

The Little Nest

2008-06-16T07:01:00.000-04:00

On top of the hill, near the property line is lone tree. When we walked by the tree the other day there was a gentle breeze blowing. In one of the branches there was a small nest with a little bird sitting in it.

Within an hour there was a violent storm that pelted our area. It nearly tore the umbrella from my hands as I ran to the vehicle. It pounded hard against the windows on the way home….

Today it is sunshine… and there is sparkling grass with the last evidence of the hard rain.

The nest is still there and so is she.

Man oh man what love that must be. No matter what the storms are like – that little creature is committed to the best for her little ones.

I can only imagine what was going through her mind. These eggs matter and nothing will get me off of them – not even this wind and water.

The amazing thing too is the ability that the small bird had to weave the nest so well around that branch. Who taught her to do that?

The Bible states clearly
Luke 12:6-7 (New International Version)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies[a]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Today is a new day….
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Happy Father's Day - "3 Years"

2008-06-15T08:03:00.002-04:00

3 Years - Happy Father's Day
by Jessika Van Spronsen

Yesterday marked a huge day here in the Van Spronsen house. Yesterday, the 14th of June is exactly 3 years since our Jonah has been home!! What an amazing 3 years it has been!

When he was born, they didn't know if he would live through the night, and he did, then they told us he would be home in 3 weeks, but he wasn't. It was touch and go for so long! Wow! 3 years!! Where has the time gone?

Jonah has never been hospitalized in 3 years for an illness, which is very rare for all kids who have di-george AND a tracheotomy! He has learned how to do something they said he never would--walk. He has learned to speak, another feat they said he would never do. Albeit it is with his hands, but--he did it! He is getting so much wiser as the days go by. He now has a special machine called a 'Tango' that he uses to communicate with. Once on, this machine works as fast as Jonah's mind does, and allows him to communicate up to thousands of phrases and words, he can even speak like SpongeBob Squarepants if he wants to!

What has 3 years meant to all of you? To us, it has meant family togetherness, overcoming MANY obstacles, and living to tell the tale. A huge commitment of love, dedication and trust in the Almighty that everything was going as planned. Some days there are glitches, but most days there are many humourous stories to tell about. God is good, and He sure knew what He was doing when He gave us this special little bundle to take home.

I can remember the day like it was yesterday, bathing him in the morning, dressing him in 'going home clothes' which consisted of a long sleeve button up collard shirt that was blue, a pair of beige pants, a pair of beige socks, and beige SHOES!! The first time ever he had worn shoes!! And a matching knitted sweater vest! Man was he sharp looking!

I gathered up the remained of his blankets and toys, and held my son before gently placing him into the nurses arms to say goodbye. We stood there for about an hour crying on the fifth floor, taking in the fact that HE WAS ACTUALLY GOING HOME!!! Then it was down to the 3rd floor where it had all started, we were so excited!! We cried there as well.

Then we left the hospital, all 3 of us, our little family. Jonah's first time ever going outside. The air was beautiful, it was 19 degrees, and he was taking in everything.

We headed home for a HUGE surprise for Nana. We headed straight through to Lindsay, where we were supposed to go for dinner that night. We had kept it a secret that Jonah was coming home to Nana.

When she opened the door, there he was, and she gathered him in her arms, and has yet to let him go.

She thought we had finally had enough and signed him out of the hospital Against Medical Advice (AMA). Haha!!

Oh what a day. That night, I tucked my son into HIS OWN CRIB, IN HIS OWN ROOM, WITH HIS OWN BLANKETS, IN OUR HOUSE!!! What a memory that will always be!! The rest is history, but not only has each day of the last 3 enriched our lives, it has given us such a cool perspective on what life really is all about!! It isn't about the possessions you have, or the money you have, it's about the richness you have in family. It's about cherishing each day you have your family home with you, healthy, laughing and playing. I think that is pretty cool!!

Jessika, George, Jonah and Samsun!!xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

2008-06-14T07:01:00.000-04:00

Today – I can make an honest evaluation of the events of this week. Again I have watched how God has a plan for everything. I have also felt and personally witnessed that most everything is better when the rain stops. In fact we have to have the rain in order to see the growth come.

We have a pot full of dirt sitting beside our side deck. In the pot is huge bulb that my wife purchased from a green house. It was a small extravagance at the time.

When we returned home and she had the bulb planted – but nothing happened for a long time. It seemed that the extravagance of the purchase was a dud.

Then it rained and rained. In fact for a number of days it rained with a few weeks going by. Nothing came in the pot…only small weeds that had managed to keep their place in the soil.

This past week the soil was pushed aside and the little giant is beginning to show himself. He is now pointing skyward and has a brand new leaf. The bragging on the package says something about an elephant ear plant… with leaves about a meter in length…or more. Its warning was clear that it could reach up to almost two meters in height.

This little guys needed rain lots of it and then it needed hot sunshine…almost to the extreme. It needed two conditions that made the rest of us uncomfortable.

In yesterday’s posting I referred to the feeling of having a cloud above your head and it is about to rain. It tends to make you freeze and make choices that change your life.

Today….
This afternoon I am doing one of the last official functions at our church as a Senior Pastor by performing a Marriage Ceremony for a great young couple. I have come to know them as friends and respect them deeply.

The unique thing about their lives is the two different tragedies that they have risen from. In both their lives the circumstances were very stormy and life was rough. The crashing and bashing of their person was unfair. They were ordinary people that reacted and survived. As they described their stories individually it was enough to make you want to cry. How could anyone survive these huge obstacles?

They did survive and on the other side of the trouble they found each other. Today she will receive a man that loves her so very much when she says “I do”. He will receive a beautiful wife and two wonderful kids when he says “I do”.

On the other side of the rain there is life. This is a love story better than anything on television or in the movies. This is real.

The postscript to a week…
I have found again that God has a plan. One person wrote to me stating again a known fact – when God closes one door another will open. I have watched it happen again….and it is happening right now.

Can you hear the squeaky hinges as the door begins to open. I can.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – I received a kind and caring letter from the “lady” that I met in the LPV carpenter shop(yesterday’s posting). I understand better now. She is good at what she does… There are also a number of issues about volunteering at LPV that have surfaced. In the heat of the moment I “explained some of the pain” of working there…if there would have been no heat… there may never have been an opportunity to suggest…

Something good will happen from it all. The rain has stopped…skies will clear….and there is a tomorrow…

When someone kills the spark inside us

2008-06-13T07:59:00.007-04:00

The post of yesterday must be balanced with the reality of what happens around many. I am sure that it sounds as if I am always “high” with the things that I do. To balance it I must also confess.

Before I do – you need to see the perspective of people that have had their spark suppressed or even killed.

First – a young boy by the name of Scott. He was totally in enthralled with his Sunday School Teacher Mr. T. Scott was 9 years old. Mr. T. had promised the boys of his class that they were going for a special outing on the next Saturday. Mr. T. had talked it up big time. As the boys went home from their class that Sunday they were so excited – but none as much as Scott. Scott had always wanted to do this activity promised by Mr. T.

Saturday came. Scott was out of bed early. He got his mom up to make his lunch. He dressed himself. Then he went out of the house to wait. He stood in the driveway for a long time waiting for Mr. T.’s car to pull up. An hour went by. His mom checked on him every once in a while. After an hour Scott settled down to sit on the curb and watch the cars turning down his street. More than another hour passed…

His mother had tried over and over again to get him to come in and maybe do something different. Scott refused because Mr. T. had promised.

As she spoke to me the sadness for her son was more than evident.

So as the Minister I had to follow up with Mr. T. Excuse…He had heard from some of the other boys’ parents that they couldn’t go. Then something came up in his own family. He thought that someone would have called Scott that the planned trip was canceled. It was so sad. Mr. T.’s talk was big – but his actions were not.

You can kill the spark inside. Scott’s spark that day died.

Second – a man by the name of W. had given years of great service to his company. He sacrificed his time with his family and his own personal interests to do his best for his company. One day in his mid fifties he arrived at work to find a note inviting him to come into his boss’s office.

As W. described his recollection of his feelings of that meeting I could feel his pain. The boss in his direct way told W. that he was being let go at that very moment. He was to collect any of his personal affects and leave the company’s office. The boss described the close out package that he was to get. The job that W. had was being down sized and other employees that had worked beside W. would be picking up W.’s portion of the work.

As W. drove home to tell his wife that it was all over he told me of the mixed feelings of anger, loss, confusion, hatred, exhaustion, and horrible fear of not knowing what would happen to a 55 year old unemployed worker that had done well all his working life – but now it was over.

As I listened to the story it was evident to both Win and me that one man – or possibly two – had changed the course of the company out of personal interests or a really stupid decision. They had almost destroyed a man’s life and his family in doing so. But the spark that they tried to put out was not their problem.

Third – in our area the GM workers have been parading up and down the road leading into the General Motors Head Office of Canada. A contract was recently settled and signed by the company and the union. Everything was in place for another few years of peace in the labour force. Suddenly the GM officials had announced from a far away office in “GM Heaven” that the entire Truck/Larger vehicle factory was closing and thousands would be losing their jobs on a certain date.

The blame game started. The price of gas was the fault. The government’s tax on the gas was the fault. The Union’s grab for money and the strength of the bargaining position was the fault. The GM Head Office was at fault for not keeping their word. The fact that fewer and fewer people were buying – or were able to buy a larger SUV or a Truck was more likely the problem…. BUT EVERYONE ELSE WAS THE PROBLEM.

After the announcement the hurt was real. Lots of men like my friend W. went home to tell their wife and kids that the good life was over. Soon the family would have no income. Any jobs that might be available in the community would be grabbed by whoever could get them. The spark in the lives of each GM worker from that plant had gone out – actually been snuffed.

Lots of men develop an alcohol problem when they have the spark blown out. Lots of men want to die.

Confession time… oh boy…
For three years I have helped out as a volunteer at Lang Pioneer Village. Yesterday I revealed the “why” of what I do. I wish that I would have waited to Friday the 13th before being so open.

Following the revelation to my world of what I so loved about the experience at LPV – my delight came crashing down.

Yesterday - The small shop had been filled with sparkling eyed children from Grade 3 classes from all over the area. There were over 188 students brought by their teachers yesterday – it was a very full day.

Just after 1 PM there was a lull in the students coming through the doors. I grabbed a sandwich to put down my hunger. As I wiped the last crumb from my face, a lady walked into the small carpenter shop. Coming over to the work bench she quickly zoomed in on the few toys I had set out for kids to enjoy.

You will not really understand what is going on at that moment. It is an 1850s carpenter shop. I have been acting the part of a 1850s carpenter, as a volunteer, helping the kids to see back in time. At the very end I added a portion of the story that described the Day of Rest – Sunday – when children and adults were to do nothing – and it was a boring time. The carpenter had worked hard all week. It was a time when Grandpas, like me, made toys like these...

In about 3 minutes at the end I tell them about toys that were made for kids during the 1850s.

Well it seems that someone didn’t take kindly to my presentation. The “dear lady” addressing me began to let me have it verbally with a series of questions. I was not catching the total impact or what was happening. The toys lying on the bench were part of the infraction I had committed – apparently. The “exhibit” of the carpenter’s shop was defiled with what was laying on the workbench. I was found guilty!

It was then that I asked who the heck she was!? I asked carefully if she was a guest to the LPV – or maybe a parent expert? No she was the most important person a Museum could have – she was the expert that had brought about all of the things in the “display”. I cannot tell you her name or her position. I can tell you that I felt as if she was important and I should be frightened to death. I was.

Mustering a wee bit of courage at that moment I kindly told her that I was a volunteer and if she wished they could fire me…. ?(not right on my part I guess) ….and I did not appreciate her coming into the middle of what I was doing with the children ….and that they were after all Grade 3 kids…that needed something to keep their attention ( the reason that I had for displaying a few toys…) On top of that “dear lady”… “YOU HAVE NOT HEARD ANY OF WHAT I HAVE SAID OR WHAT MY PRESENTATION HAD BEEN….”(struggling to keep my reason for being there…)

I asked who might have been upset or complained. And she would not tell me who. From then on it would mean that whoever came through the door could be a complainant. It was like realizing a cloud was over your head and about to rain.

The interaction was less than three minutes I am guessing. Another load of kids was pouring in for a time with the old carpenter. But something had happened… the spark died in me. The lady had a job to do I guess. And she did it. And it killed the carpenter

Two hours later the spark was dead. I had nothing left to give. And I left the program.

I have discovered again that you can kill the spark in a volunteer, in a host of factory workers, in one man by the name of W. and little boys like Scott.

And personally…. I am very much less than perfect – I am a volunteer! The spark went out.

Today I am wondering…. Does anyone have a place for a really good 1850s carpenter that is presently unemployed… This is too much like real life.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
(POST SCRIPT - Revised slighty- Saturday AM - There is a reason for everything. The kind staff at LPV called. Thanks guys and gals. It has been a good three years.)

Each of us has a spark of life inside of us

2008-06-12T06:55:00.000-04:00

Her name is Ryan. As she bent her knees she had a funny look on her face. In front of her Grade 3 class she was about to do something that she had never done before. There is uncertainty. There is the feeling that someone might laugh at her. Then there is the feeling that because she was the only one that was allowed to do it….she has one up on the others.

You can see the response will be good when the cameras and cell phone cameras are activated…and she is the center of all attention.

The choice of my assistant was good again. This young lady was demonstrating the use of a “yoke” for carrying water two centuries ago…in early Ontario. The “yoke” for those that have never lived 2 centuries ago is a section of tree that is hollowed out to fit over your shoulders. From the yoke there are two ropes hanging down on each side to carry the water pails.

The delight of talking to a group of Grade 3 students is one of the highest points in my life. Their eyes shine and sparkle as they catch the idea that you are talking about. In the moments together I take them back to 1842 and they experience what a Carpenter Shop did way back then.

I came across the following statement that helped me to understand the reason that I do what I do as a volunteer at Lang Pioneer Village

“Each of us has a spark of life inside of us, our highest endeavor ought to be to set off that spark in one another.” ~ Kenny Ausubel

There is nothing like working with children. There is something about the sparkle inside of them that comes alive when you share a story of an idea that tweaks that special place in them.

For years I have been trying to share the spark of life inside of me with everyone that I meet. As a minister it is what I do each week. For the past ten years I have worked at attempting to spark older people in our congregation to catch the ideas and then run with it. But they are just not like the Grade 3s that come to Lang Village.

Older people tend to cross their arms across their chest and state with their intent stare – “I just dare you to try to light my fire… I bet you can’t!”

Children are so different. They want to try it. They are not like adults that are afraid to try it….or refuse to try it because they have made up their minds to remain old and stubborn and stationary and sometimes even miserable.

As you may guess I have watched a number of old men that have given their old wives no end of problems. When I step into to help their old wives need help – they are at their wits end. But even my words will not move them.

The spark in me does little good to ignite the old soggy wood in them.

Yikes that may sound dreary to say the least. I really do appreciate the older folks – I just don’t want to be “older” and lose the spark in my own life. I am finding that if I spend too much time with people that throw water on my spark of life – my spark will sputter and even go out.

It is at that moment that I scramble to find a grandson or granddaughter that is ready for some fun with Grandpa….or I go to Lang Pioneer Village to talk with little people.

Someone asked me to tell them why I was a volunteer at the LPV. That is my secret…I need to keep my own spark alive and well.

Now you may be in need of a spark starter experience. My suggestion is make a wise choice. Find someone or some group that is ready to come alive.

Not long ago I sat in the meeting area of a seniors home with an older gentleman. His eyes twinkled and bounced as we talked. He was very much alive. We laughed together and shared a number of ideas. He asked what I thought about the present reports that were flooding the television at that time of the week. It was so neat listening to him share his ideas.

Not far from where we sat another older gentleman sat in his wheel chair. He was yelling at the care worker that was struggling to make him more comfortable. His curses were abusive to her and the rest of us that had to listen.

What a contrast in two people that were less than 10 feet a part physically…but a million miles a part mentally and spiritually.

I made another important decision that day. I knew who I wanted to be like when I grow up. I want to be like the inspiring and gentle one. The old cursing and yelling one is not who I want to be. I want to be in Grade 3 again.

What about you?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

The Violence of Rumors

2008-06-10T09:24:00.006-04:00

A few years back I was part of a group that took some gigantic steps to establish a home for men coming from prison. It was designed as a “transition house” and finally named “New Beginnings”. Men were having great difficulty finding lodging as they left prison and tried to make their way in this community. The group is Peterborough Community Chaplaincy.

We believed in what we were doing. The miraculous way that the house came into our ministry confirmed the good idea was being assisted by God – no not assisted – completely guided by God. The results have been amazing.

This however was not without great difficulty. Within a day of the announcement that the house would be used for helping men from prison – a sign appeared on the front lawn of the neighbor. The sign was a 4 foot by 8 foot piece of plywood with red paint sprayed on the surface declaring that “Ex-Cons coming next door”. To say the least it was unkind and horrible.

If you lived in Peterborough you will remember the weeks following being filled with rumors and stories that raged. The stories and rumors arrived at our city hall and even our politicians became involved debating things that they did not understand.

Sadly it hurt people deeply.

Rumors do that easily. They are like knives that are not sharp but do great damage. Imagine your surgeon doing a fine operation on your body with a rusty old jack knife that can hardly cut a stick – let alone your skin. The healing and pain afterwards will be long and difficult to say the least. It is a wound not an operation.

Coffee Shops are filled with rumors in our area. It is a regular meeting place for local people. Without reservation or hesitation you can share a recently heard rumor. The rumor you are sharing need not be verified or substantiated. If it is repeated by a “friend” – it just has to be true.

In recent weeks new rumors have started to fly. The rumors involve our church and its death. People in coffee shops and places of great power are talking of the complete closing and destruction of Northview church. We are now two weeks after our announcement of a cut back in staffing and also the early retirement of the Senior Pastor(me).

At this point I assure everyone that the church is not closing – nor was that ever considered! It is another “Peterborough Rumor” shared in Coffee Shops and over telephone conversation.

As a pastor I had heard of the rumors as much as 4 months ago. A fellow pastor had come to my office to tell me he had heard the church was for sale. That was February or March. He was attending a conference in Hamilton, Ontario and some fellow ministers had told him they had heard and that they knew the Northview Church would soon be for sale. His church needed new facilities and maybe they should make the approach before someone else did.

Rumors. Wow. They scare the stuffing out of you. They can make you do some really silly things – even illegal things! They make people act weird and even make decisions that will affect their relationships for years to come. Worse yet – when the rumors are about you and you start to believe them – you are in real trouble.

The very best example for this kind of thing happened to the Children of Israel as they left the country of Egypt under Moses leadership. Moses had chosen 12 men to head into the Land of Promise and take look at what they were going to see and take over. The 12 men returned with two reports. 10 men had frightening reports of Giants and very strong cities and opposition and horrible possibilities. 2 men had a completely different report. There was some truth in what the 10 had said – yes…but this truth was mixed with their personal fears of the worst case scenarios their little minds could brew on the way home.

The end result of that adventure can be read in the whole book of Exodus. Because they listened to rumors and then believed them, they walked for 40 years in a Wilderness Experience…until all the people that believed the rumor died along with the 10 men that had started it.

God is not impressed with rumors. Rumors with him are lies. And lies started by even the best people are dealt with harshly. They die in the Old Testament…and even in the New one.

In our city it is usually the Newspaper that gets the ideas confused and mixed up. They tend to follow rumors and then report what they feel would be good press… and good rumors sell newspapers.

A few years ago with the “New Beginnings” house episode we saw the crisis that the community felt tear the heart out of people. What isn’t widely known about that episode was that it was a large number of “church people” that kept sharing the rumors…half truths…silly stories…and downright lies!

Yes all of these rumors nearly scared the daylights out of our caring community. None of the rumors were true – but they were great Coffee Talk!

Just after we had to make our decision to cut back at our church I took a step to help the Christian Community and the Pastors of the churches to know what was going on at our church. Carefully and resolutely I worded a letter to my fellow ministers so they would know the truth.

Just as I suspected the rumors are flying among the church people now. Our church is closing. We are dead. The Northview Day School that uses our facilities is also closing on the horrific day of June 22nd! Parents are calling the Day School asking why they have not been informed of this terrible decision. Whatever will happen to their children without the day care they get?

As recent as this past Sunday(the day the all Christians “share” stuff)…we had a rumor passed on to us that it has been confirmed by our head office of our church that Northview is closing. If it came from that source it HAS TO BE TRUE! WHAT IN GOD’S NAME IS GOING ON? (read that last line with a scream!).

The one rumor that has not surfaced yet has two parts… one is that Murray Lincoln is dieing and two that the Lincolns are in terrible trouble personally. Ooops – I just started another one….darn.

The fact that the Lincolns are healthy and happy – looking forward to retirement with some hesitation of any couple our age and our limited resources… isn’t considered yet. But that isn’t as good as a rich rumor full of “GOOD CHRISTIAN “*&%$” RUMOR”.

Yes I get a little perturbed with some of my delightful Christian friends. But then Joshua and Caleb must have wanted to scream too.

The Newspaper hasn’t called yet…maybe this week. The St. Alphonsus church is losing their Priest, Father Paul Massel as well. The Bishop has sent him packing to Cobourg. He is highly loved and greatly respected here. The Bishop must need his head read. Are they in financial trouble too….? Maybe there is a problem with relationships? Darn rumors never stop in Peterborough….

Did you hear that Pastor Frank is taking a lot of trips to other parts of the world? Their church has financial problems greater than ours. One person thought that Pastor Frank and Maureen may be going to an African Country to teach.

Did you hear that Pastor Karl is in trouble too. Retirement is coming for him too. He doesn’t know if he will stay in Peterborough or not…after all he is an American and he will likely head home too. Is that this year or next? I will have to ask about that one….

And the best one is about Pastor Lloyd… he has been here in Peterborough the longest now. It is rumored that he has run out of sermons – nothing new and nothing fresh. He has refused to go to Sermon Central on the Internet and get any new sermons. Rumors are his people are tired of the same old Bible Based sermons each week. Rumors are he may retire too.

That is only three rumors about three guys I know a little bit about. Now you should hear about the Presbyterians, the Salvation Army and the Anglicans…Holy Mackerel you wouldn’t believe what is happening in those denominations…! But then did you know that in Peterborough there are no Holy Mackerel – only Wormy Cod – but that is a rumor too.

Oh – by the way… the dude that put up the signs in front of his house telling about the “Ex cons coming next door” – is now a supporter of the New Beginnings house… and he is doing what he can to help the guys next door.

Retirement looks good….. I am starting a rumor today. Murray Lincoln is having the time of his life. It is better today than it was years ago when he started. And rumors are he is going to tell all about the real truth on June 22nd. Don’t miss it! He will be telling it all…rumors are he will talk about many of you….!

And….if you pass on one of these rumors – God will likely be visiting you to ask why?

(With Thanks to Norman Rockwell)

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

2008-06-09T06:26:00.000-04:00

The following words were penned by a very good friend of mine by the name of Mary Lou. They are in response to my posting about the Indian River.

Thanks Mary Lou for allowing me to publish these words. You have taken me back to a time when things were so simple and so special. You have shared something very important to me….and you are one great writer!!!!

Murray

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hi Murray:

I don't know if I told you but I raised on Indian River. We used to have a paddle boat and would go fishing up the river we called it.

There was one spot about two bends from our house that we called the deep hole because we could not see bottom. So we would fish there.

I am sure it has really grown in after over thirty years since I was last up the river. You are right there are very, very shallow spots where we were barely able to float over without scraping the bottom of the boat.

Our family dog which was part beagle and part collie would swim behind the boat for some of the way and then go on land through the bushes for most of the journey. Sometimes we would feel sorry for her and give her a ride home.

The furthest I have been is from Hwy 7 and Indian River where our house was to the railroad bridge. We were not allowed to go towards Lang village because the current was too strong and we would not have been able to get back under the bridge very well.

Actually just down from the Hwy 7 bridge toward Lang there was a place that we called the Pigery. People actually used to drive their cars into the river to wash them because there was flat rock on the river bottom and there used to be an old stone building with just walls and a few windows without glass that I was told was a slaughter house years ago.

I can remember one winter in particular that there was just the right conditions that the river was frozen over like a large sheet of glass so we went skating at night with a full moon shining skating through the trees. My oldest brother would have been a teenager and I think I was around twelve or so.

My parents used to rent our cabins for many years. They had four cabins all different and they all had Indian names. There was the front cabin with a little screened in porch like dining area and two bedrooms with just a partition between the two rooms which didn't go right to the ceiling. Each room had a little wash stand with a basin and old fashioned jug. It slept four people and had two double beds.

Then there was the little white cabin we called it and it was just a tiny little cabin that only had one bed.

The log cabin was next constructed of logs with a porch area which was partly screened and there were wooden flaps that you would put down at night. It had one fair size bedroom with one double bed. It also had a night stand with a basin and jug.

The green cabin was next and it was the largest of them all and was actually winterized with a front room a little area with an small fridge and a hotplate type stove. There was a small bathroom and a toilet but it was not hooked up. It also had a large bedroom and actually at one point in our lives my parents housed my four older brothers in it when space became a concern. My father put in an oil stove and my brother was in to old phones at the time so they had two old phones hooked up so that we could ring them up in the morning from the house. You know the old phones with the crank on the side and the two bells on the front.

The last cabin was a large log cabin rather unique and we called it Grandpa's cabin because he slept there on weekends when he came out from town. It wasn't anything fancy and was used for storage more then anything.

All the cabins were made up with white crisp cotton sheets and pillow cases that were laundered at the old Fannings dry cleaners picked up and delivered each week. Each customer was given white towels and face cloths, a jug with ice water, glasses and an enamel pail and dipper to bath with.

I can remember the one cabin used to rent for $21.00 a week.

All of the land along the river frontage was all bush so my father cut many trees down and had a bulldozer come in and level many, many loads of fill. He then developed it in to a small camp ground with an outside toilet and later added electrical outlets and a lamp post.

He used to put truckloads of sand at the beach area for swimming and it was fantastic. On a hot steamy day when I was swimming in the evening I used to think I wonder what the rich people are doing. We had our own swimming pool every day.

My Dad built a large garage near the house and Mom finally got her new Kitchen but it was short lived because Dad retired and they decided it was too much work and so they moved to Lakefield.

It is very depressing to see what changes have been made to the house and the grounds. Very pathetic actually. It is truly just a business per se former owners painted Mom's oak cupboards brown. The house has been painted chocolate brown and the cabins have all been moved to the back of the lot. It actually looks quite crowded. But memories will be with me forever and that's all that matters.

I have always wanted to do what you just did yesterday but somehow have never got to it. Did you have to portage anywhere along the way? The beavers used to make some mighty large dams.

Sorry for babbling on but I could not help myself you just lived my dream.

Talk soon.

Mary Lou
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hi Murray again:

I would love to see any picture you took of your excursion down the Indian River.

It has been such a long time since I have been on the river.

Many funny stories I might add.

I was just thinking, I should get some of my family and plan a trip down the Indian River before we are all in wheel chairs using walkers or canes don't you think. LOL

Something to look forward to as we all need times like this to get out and appreciate what nature has to offer.

It would be a blast.

Mary Lou

Going Where Few Have Gone Before

2008-06-07T07:35:00.007-04:00

As the frail craft slid into the river, the early morning mist covered the river surface. There was a beautiful stillness that engulfed our small canoe. We were about to enter an adventure that will never stop. The images will be kept for eternity – buried deeply in my memory.

When did this happen? It was only yesterday. It was a vacation day being used up before the big change in my life – from Pulpit to Pew. If you have been reading along with this Blog – it is the last few weeks before my retirement shift – at which time I will embark on the stuff that I always wanted to do…but never had the time.
Yesterday was the beginning keeping of a promise I made to myself. I did something that is almost impossible for a 64 year old man. I canoed on the beautiful Indian River – not far from Peterborough. I took time to be with my granddaughter Emma and her dad Bruce. I took time to be far away from the normal hurry and the normal strain of not knowing what will happen next.

We entered the Indian River toward the upper end at the Warsaw Caves. We exited at Lang Pioneer Village – 24 miles down stream. We exited after 126,720 feet of canoeing that required between 21,120 to 31,680 strokes of a paddle – (figuring 4 to 6 foot paddle strokes). Today my hands will not close properly and there are muscles in my back that I have not connected with for perhaps 40 years! I am sore – but oh am I happy.
Pure delight would be one way of describing the millions of moments as we traveled this amazing river that is so close to home. Sensory overload could be added to that description as the constantly changing scenery lumbered by the canoe. Every hundred feet, every half mile was different from the ones before. What a treasure so close by – yet so far away.

The best part….there were few people for most of the river journey and just a minimal amount of human evidence on its banks. There were only a few cottages at places close to roads and small towns. For 90% of the journey we had joined the native people of long ago that traveled this super highway of the 1700 & 1800s.

So many thoughts flooded my life yesterday as I traveled this route.

I had never been on this river before. I had no idea what was just around the bend. Only a short distance around every corner was the possibility of very deep water or extremely fast water that rocked us as we flew across the large boulders submerged below the surface. Yes there were rapids. Yes there were low hanging branches from trees that were downed by powerful storms. Yes there were many obstacles. None of them were known when we launched our small canoe in the early morning.

Was it ever like life for me. The unknown faced with little more than a prayer and the thought that it would be really good to hang on tight right now.

The canoe was our vantage point of safety and security. We placed our lives and future in a frail little craft that was a paper thin contrast to what it slid over and through. If ever I need an illustration of “faith”, yesterday has provided it. We put complete trust in something that is so frail that it could snap in two at any rapid – yet it was strong and safe. Other than stepping in and out of the canoe at water’s edge we never were wet…it protected us from everything.
There is no way to describe the feelings I have today deep down inside. Except maybe… thanking God for the time to have experienced the wonder of the day. Thanking Bruce and Emma for taking Grandpa along. And finally being very thankful for a really soft bed last night.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Wonderful Memories

2008-06-06T06:21:00.004-04:00

By Brenda van Lier

This morning I took my coffee out to our screened gazebo just a short walk from the side of the house. It is set in the woods. It is a great place to be quiet, reflective, listening to the birds and watching for deer.

As I settled in I could faintly hear our neighbours, several hundred feet away, talking to one another.

I was Immediately transported to our former cottage. This was a place my Grandfather built over 60 years ago & I got to enjoy it every year of my life until 3 years ago. After Grandpa built this little place, he went on to build a much larger one up on the hill for my Aunt who was very artistic. A school teacher during the year, Aunt Ethel came north every summer with other painting friends and in fact ran an artist's school from this beautiful cottage with the large window overlooking the lake. Our home is currently adorned with many of her paintings.

Over the years other cottages were built on the very large piece of property--each owned by one of my Aunts and Uncles.

As a child it was a wonderful place to be---swimming with my girl cousins (I had only brothers at home); playing under the immense Pine Trees; running through the grasses. Once I was stung by a wasp while running about--no fear--I could go to the nearest cottage as I would find one of my mother's sisters there. After I was kindly looked after--baking soda plastered on the bite--I was sent across the way to find my mother.

All these wonderful memories flooded back this morning. And Then I became Very Sad as I remembered the terrible decision I was forced to make 3 years ago.

I could either buy my 2 brothers out and buy this little, 60+ year old place with no drinking water or shower--- or I could pay off our mortgage here and put a new roof on the house. I made the "wise" decision--but oh, how it broke my heart. (Fortunately one of my cousins bought it which helped greatly.)

After a while this morning, God spoke to my heart saying, "But Look at All those Wonderful Memories you Have". I realized just how Blessed I am to have had so many, many years at this wonderful piece of heaven. My husband and I were able to go up there taking our young children. The cottages are now owned by cousins. There are no Aunts any longer. It has seen an evolution of life. It is not the place I remember as a child. Some cottages have been sold outside of the family and now one must be aware of property lines. The little place has become old and not so comfortable any longer---it needs Lots of work. But it will Always be Beautiful within my heart.
I realized sitting in the gazebo that many people NEVER have such a wonderful experience as growing up with a family-compound of cottages.--A place I could count on going to each summer--if not with my family, then with one of my cousins. God has been So Good to me.

I also realized I only need sniff the air; hear the wind in the trees; hear distant conversation; hear a loon & I am whisked right back up there. I have Golden Memories that will ALWAYS be with me.

I have had some very rich experiences in my life--my grandmother giving us girls a bath on Sat. night in the large, tin wash tub on the floor--the water heated over the wood stove; my Aunt Glad tucking me into bed with her daughter Penny & teaching us to say the Prayer: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I Pray the Lord my soul to keep---"; my cousin Cathy walking with me to Sunday School a mile away--the shortest route took us over the train trestle bridge over the river---this frightened me… I made my cousin walk the longer route through town; the train stopping at the edge of the property & the Porter throwing comic books out to the children who ran quickly when the train whistle sounded--sometimes we were even allowed to board the caboose & ride into the nearby station & walk back again with our comics; going in the row boat with an Uncle to the fresh water Spring across the lake--filling the pails with wonderful, clear drinking water; learning to swim in the lake avoiding the open clam shells or blood suckers. Rich, Rich experiences--and I am Thankful.

THANK YOU LORD for helping me to see how very Blessed I have been--how very Blessed I am. Thank you for such Wonderful Memories.

Are You one of the 55 ???

2008-06-05T07:09:00.003-04:00

Don't even think about using spell check!!!!!!!!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna you raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I wsa rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr teh ltteres in a wrod are, teh olny iproamtnt tihng is taht teh frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi t pclae. The rset cna be a taotl mses and yuo cna sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! fi yuo cna raed tihs frowrad it.

The fact is that large percentage of people cannot read any of these words – even this line. Literacy is a huge issue for many people.

In 1967 my wife and I moved from Trois Rivieres, Quebec to Fredericton, New Brunswick. At the time we had been married for 3 months (married in Saskatchewan).

At the time I was a Technician working on all kinds of business machines. The job took me into banks of all kinds.

As I worked behind the counter with the tellers and the various staff I had the opportunity to listen in on many conversations. One particular caught my attention shortly after I began working in that area. It went something like this…

“Good morning Mr. John. How are you today? What could I do for you today?”

“I would like to cash this check please.”

There was a pause, then the teller would call over one of the staff that was walking around near where I was working. The staff member would quietly step up to where the teller was working, lean forward, scribble something, following that the teller would pull out some money a give it to Mr. John.

I knew the procedure for cashing a check. This was different from what I had ever seen. When I asked the person that I was working with what was happening, the answer startled me. “Mr. John cannot read or write. When he comes in we all know him. He places his mark – usually an “X” on his check and then our teller and the extra person sign it for him.

In 1967 that happened perhaps with as many as 5 to 6 people out of 10 people in the bank line up. Literacy rates were very low – illiteracy rates were very high – especially among the men.

The bank staff explained that many of the men had left school when they were very young and simply headed off to the bush to become loggers. Some had started as young as 10 years old helping dad, their uncles or their grandfather. From that time on the only thing that mattered was working. Reading never happened. Who would ever carry a book to the bush?

According to some studies that have been released in recent times – literacy rates are falling. In the chart below you can see that the rates are falling world wide. How can that happen in such a high tech world as we live in? I mean I can understand if a country doesn’t have computers or books – their people may not be able to read – how can that be?

You can sit a book on the table of a person and leave it there for say one month… If they do not pick it up and read it nothing happens. Reading requires action of the whole body – not just the eyes. I must stop, pick up the book, turn on the computer, and then look at the words. It takes a total participation to become a reader.

The top paragraph of this blog is fun to read. If you read it all it demonstrated the power of your mind. If you are in the group of 55 people that could read it – you likely can read just about anything. However 45 people cannot. Not just because their brain cannot sort out the words and letters – they just cannot read at all!

I came across this tremendous statement….
Where will you be in five years?
"You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read."
~ Charlie Tremendous Jones

Let me test you.

When is the last time you read a good book? Or maybe any book? Do you read newspapers or magazine articles? What do you read?

I am a reader. I love books of all kinds. I love topics of all kinds. I have some favorite kinds of books – but in reality I love all books. I read.

With my transition to retirement mode I am moving my books out of my office now – finding boxes to place my treasures in.

A man walked into my office and said a loud – “WOW! Are you having a garage sale or did a bomb go off in here?” There are books all over the floor, the couch and the chairs.

Then he asked, “Have you really read them all?” My answer shocked him, “Yes…and some I have read many times over.”

His answer or comment shocked me, “I don’t read at all. I have read only three books in my life and that was way back in primary school. I don’t know how you can read all these!?”

When I told him that I write about 1000 words each morning for people to read (on this Blog) – he looked at me like I was from another planet… “Why?” was his next question.

Illiteracy lives right next door to you. In fact it may well live right under your own roof.

Illiteracy is a serious problem and can be dealt with by one good book at the appropriate level for a reader…then another book added with another great story.

What are you reading now? Do you have a good book for your summer reading in Canada?

At a cottage a long time ago I witnessed an amazing thing happen. The day was cold and raining. We sat in the large front room. The lady that we were with picked up a book and began to read out loud to the kids that sat around her. There was no TV and no computer game. There were just words…beautiful words read by an expert reader. It still is one of the most amazing moments at a cottage that I have every experienced…wonderful words mixed with the sound of falling rain…

I have to go no…I have two more books to read from this morning. Happy reading!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resource
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy

Don't Just Sit Around

2008-06-04T05:45:00.008-04:00

By Bruce Lindsay

I have most of this week off. I don’t really have plans but there are always things that need to be put away and things that need fixing around the house. But today, the rain has made me change my plans today, and stay indoors. I could carve some wood, practice the banjo, work on some songwriting, or just catch up on some sleep. It’s a good position to be in – as long as I don’t just sit around doing nothing.

“A man can’t just sit around.” That’s a famous quote from Larry Walters, a.k.a. Lawn Chair Larry. Let me tell you his story.

Larry Walters always dreamed of flying. He joined the Air Force after finishing High School, but because his eyesight was so bad, he wasn’t accepted as a pilot. He eventually became a truck driver, but his dream would not die. He’d sit in his lawn chair in his girl friend’s backyard and watch the planes crisscross the sky.

Then one day Larry got an idea. He went down to the local Army Surplus store and bought a tank of helium and 45 weather balloons. These were not bright coloured party-balloons, they were heavy-duty spheres measuring more than 4 feet across when inflated.

Back in his girl friend’s yard, Larry used straps to attach the weather balloons to his lawn chair. His Sears lawn chair was not unlike one you might have in your own backyard. He anchored the chair to the bumper of his car, and inflated the balloons with helium. Then he packed some sandwiches and drinks and a loaded BB gun. He figured he could pop a few of those balloons with the BB gun when it was time to return to earth.

It was July 2, 1982. His preparations complete, Larry Walters sat in the chair and cut the anchoring cord. His plan was to lazily float up from his girlfriend’s house in San Pedro, CA and drift over the desert a while, just a few hundred feet. But things didn’t quite work out that way.

When Larry cut the cord, he didn’t float lazily up; he shot up as if he was fired from a canon, over 1000 feet per minute! He climbed and climbed until finally leveling off at over 16000 feet! At that height he didn’t dare risk deflating any of the balloons, lest he become unbalanced and really experience flying! So he stayed up there, sailing around for 14 hours, totally at a loss as to how to get down.

Eventually, Larry drifted into the approach corridor for Los Angeles International Airport. A Pan Am pilot radioed the tower about passing a guy in a lawn chair at 16000 feet! (Now there’s a conversation I would like to hear.)

Larry eventually started shooting his balloons but then lost his BB gun around 11000 feet. By nightfall, the winds began to change and Larry was drifting out to sea. At that point, the Navy dispatched a helicopter to rescue him. It was difficult, because the draft from the propeller kept pushing Larry’s lawn chair further and further away. Eventually, they were able to hover over Larry, drop a line to him and haul him back to earth. Although he got tangled in some power lines, he was uninjured.

As soon as Larry hit the ground, he was arrested. But as he was being led away in handcuffs, a television reporter called out, “Mr. Walters, why’d you do it?” Larry stopped, eyed the man, then replied nonchalantly, “A man can’t just sit around.”

For all who know me, - Don’t worry! I’m staying inside today.

There are some pictures on the links below. Today Larry’s lawn chair sits in the Smithsonian. Larry appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and had some fame. I think it’s a great story. Sadly, Larry took his own life, walking into the woods and shooting himself in the heart, on October 6, 1993.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I hate to admit it...but I have thought of doing the same thing. Maybe in this retirement mode I could drop by an Army Surplus Store...I know they had some balloons for sale...and I have a real good Lazy Boy Arm chair...better than his Lawn Chair... hmmmm?
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/l/lawnchairlarry.htm
http://www.markbarry.com/images/chair1.jpg
http://www.ssqq.com/archive/stupidity04.htm

Saving the Life of One Child

2008-06-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

The young woman’s voice trembled as she shared her horrible story. She was preparing to abort her baby. Yesterday she was taking the first steps to have the “thing” removed. She called to tell me of her decision. She wept.

Her “man” had just taken all their next month’s rent and blew it on a one night Crack binge. Every cent she had budgeted for out her salary was completely gone. She works and he plays. He also demands sex and is abusive in a dozen different ways. It was during one of those times of abuse that the baby came into being.

She raged on how she wants nothing to do with this baby. How she hates everything about this guy. How this guy’s mother is abusive as well toward her. How this guy’s parents attend a church in our city and consider themselves to be better “christians” than most others in the city (the small “c” is not a typo).

As I listened yesterday I was heart broken for her. I heard and felt her pain. But as I listened I also heard what I knew in my heart. This baby was not to blame. Though it came about through the tragedy and heart ache of misplaced priorities – he or she was still a life.

I prayed with her and shared my deep care for her as a person and the tiny baby growing steadily inside her. I encouraged her to keep her ultra-sound appointment for 1:00 PM and then call me.

At 2:00 PM she called back. Her soft voice told me she was no longer the same person. She said, “Thank you Pastor Murray for caring for me. Thank you for praying for me. I am 2 ½ months pregnant and I know I am going to have this baby. When I saw its tiny heart beating I knew I couldn’t go through with getting rid of it.”

My response was simple, a big lump in my throat, a thank you to God for answering my prayer, and deep pride in a young lady for growing up very quickly. I said to her, “You’re going to make a great mom. I know you can do it. We will help you.”

Reflecting today…
I am a pastor. I have been a pastor for a long time. Soon I will not be a full time pastor with this retirement thing happening to me now. However and whatever – I am above all someone that cares.

As I finished the day-off yesterday I am so glad that I took that terrible first phone call – that lasted a long time…ended in prayer…and then waited for the results to come. That may have been the longest three hours of waiting I have ever had.

Yesterday I was involved in saving the life of little tiny baby! And today I am so happy. This one will be like another grandchild for Alida and me. We are going to walk through this one with this new mommy.

The young lady’s mom called me back later. Her words were, “Thank you Pastor Murray for being there! If you wouldn’t have been there we might have lost this little one.”

Please pray for a new mommy that is taking on a new world. Pray for her safety and this relationship to have new boundaries and protections placed on it by God.

If I could walk in and pack his clothes for him – I would… and maybe more. These kind of guys need to be kept in an isolation ward from society. I can’t do this to him of course – but maybe God can. He is in the moving business and he isn’t impressed with guys that are bullies and idiots. I just pray that he will be stopped – NOW!

Okay, okay…okay! I’m okay…so is a baby for now.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS#1
If by chance you are reading this and have lost a baby in the past – for whatever reason – God knows all about it and understands. He loves you just the way you are today…and will help you pick up the pieces and live to his fullest. I care too and want to help you in your journey – that is what Pastors do…

PS#2
The following was given to me one day before the above events and helps me to remember why I love children so much.

Why do we love children?

1) NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible a head of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'

2) OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'

3) KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now She's hitting the bottle.'

4) MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'

5) POLICE # 1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'

6) POLICE # 2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.
'It sure is,' I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the
Van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'

7) ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by t he various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'

8) DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.'
'And why not, darling?'
'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'

9) DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the in toning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.

The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)

10) SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'

11) BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.
'What have you got there, dear?'
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

The Interview with the Funeral Director

2008-06-02T06:02:00.001-04:00

By Bruce Lindsay

It was a couple of hours before the funeral. But most of the family members were there. We set up all the photos and finalized the last details. After that, I gave them some private family time with ‘Grandma’. I went into the lobby and glanced at some of the family photos. Then something caught my eye.

It was a book called All About Grandma. I picked it up and was instantly hooked. It was a scrapbook with questions written for a Grandma to answer. Questions like: Did you like School? Her answer was, that she liked school, but she didn’t like Ron (I’ve forgotten the last name) who sat in front of her. She would do all her homework on her slate, but he would turn around and scribble all over her slate. The teacher would make her take her work home and do it all over again.

Other questions were: What was your favorite subject? How did you meet Grandpa? Where did you go on your honeymoon? What are you most proud of about each of your children?

This dear woman had thoughtfully answered each question in great detail. A priceless record for everyone, about many fun and important, but less known aspects of her life. I learned so much about her and what her life was like in the old days. What a treasure for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and me!

In my own life, I’ve recently done something similar. My son, Clifford, had a school English project in which he had to interview someone he admires. (Now I don’t expect that he actually chose me because he admires me. Rather, I think it’s that he’s a busy guy and he knew that he could just write down his questions for me and get them answered before the due date.) His questions were: Where were you born? What is your favourite memory? What was the biggest disappointment of your life? What is most important in your life? Why did you decide to be a funeral director? Who are 2 people who influenced you the most and how? And about 10 others.

We actually had a lot of fun with it, and in the end, I think my son learned some new things about me. Some themes came out through those questions and answers. Namely, that if you work hard, you can do whatever you choose and you will be successful, and once you decide what’s important in life, you can live a purpose filled life. Oh, and of course, I love you Clifford.

In fact, the same themes came through in the All About Grandma book. Through the whole book, you could read the message to the grandchildren between the lines – I love you.

We’re very fortunate to have a Heavenly Father who has left us a book to read with a similar message. It gives us information about how things were in the old days, but more than that, He shares his favorite memories, His disappointments and His victories. He also gives us direction and encouragement, but through it all, there is that same theme. I love you.

I’d bet that everyone who reads this knows about the Bible, and I'd expect you have heard it referred to as God’s Love Letter before. Please take this as a gentle reminder that it is there for us to read, again.

Bruce

Adversity As An Opportunity (- From Denny)

2008-06-01T05:56:00.005-04:00

The following was suggested by Brenda, a close friend of mine. It was so good that I re-publish it here with thanks also to Denny…
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways," declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8 NIV)

When adverse circumstances come upon us, we most certainly wonder "why" God would allow such a thing. Did He turn His head away? We're pretty sure he didn't. In Isaiah, God declares that His thinking is different than ours, and we don't always understand what's happening or what He's doing. But it is encouraging to know that God is in control. In Job's case, it was God who pointed out Job's righteous life to the accuser Satan. The extent of Satan's attack was clearly limited and defined by God. It was God who set the rules and boundaries.

It becomes very easy for us to blame the devil for our circumstances, but it is God who has the devil on puppet strings, allowing things to happen for a higher good. In his own difficulties, Job replied to his bitter wife, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble (Job 2:10)?" We can be encouraged to know there is an ultimate purpose God is working in us in difficult circumstances.

Why do things happen we don't always understand or approve of?

1. We learn just how fragile and limited our lives are, and then just
how much we need Him.
2. We learn to cry out and lean upon Him.
3. God wants to conform us to the image and likeness of His Son.
4. All things, indeed, work for the good of those who love Him.
5. Our adversity is an opportunity for God to receive glory.

Everything happens for a reason - to form in us the heart of Jesus and
to become more like Him in every way. I want that. How about you?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denny Dowd lives in Pennsylvania with her two cats, Liam and Shamrock.

Denny is a social worker and she enjoys writing, reading, and volunteering. Denny is the world's biggest Notre Dame Football fan. Denny lives with Chronic Inflammatory Demylineating Polyneuropathy and cancer and has strong faith that God will see her through even the most difficult of days.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/chronicpaindevotional/message/3824

The Blame Game

2008-05-31T07:15:00.001-04:00

"When you blame others, you give up your power to change."

Douglas Noel Adams is credited with these words.

Who was he?

1952 - Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge, England on March 11, 1952.

1958 - Adams first attended Primrose Hill Primary School in Brentwood. He took the exams and interviewed for Brentwood School at age six.

1959-1970 - Attended the Preparatory School from 1959 to 1964, then the main school until 1970. He was in the top stream, and specialized in the arts in the sixth form, after which he stayed an extra term in a special seventh form class, customary in the school for those preparing for Oxbridge entrance exams.

1971 - Adams was awarded a place at St John's College, Cambridge to read English. Adams attempted early on to get into the Footlights Dramatic Club, with which several other names in British Comedy had been affiliated. He was, however, turned down, and started to write and perform in revues with Will Adams (no relation) and Martin Smith, forming a group called "Adams-Smith-Adams." Later, on another attempt to join Footlights, Adams was encouraged by Simon Jones and found himself working with Rhys Jones, among others.

1974 - Adams graduated with a B.A. in English literature.

1979 - Adams and John Lloyd wrote the scripts for two half-hour episodes of Doctor Snuggles: "The Remarkable Fidgety River" and "The Great Disappearing Mystery" (episodes seven and twelve). John Lloyd was also co-author of two episodes from the original "Hitchhiker" radio series (Fit the Fifth and Fit the Sixth (also known as Episodes Five and Six, see explanation below)), as well as The Meaning of Liff and The Deeper Meaning of Liff. Lloyd and Adams also collaborated on an SF movie comedy project based on The Guinness Book of World Records, which would have starred John Cleese as the UN Secretary General, and had a race of aliens beating humans in athletic competitions, but the humans winning in all of the "absurd" record categories. This latter project never proceeded past a treatment.

2001 - Adams died of a heart attack at the age of 49 on Friday May 11, 2001, while working out at a private gym in Montecito, California. He suffered a narrowing of the coronary arteries which led to a myocardial infarction and a fatal cardiac arrhythmia.

Author of books:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980) Life, the Universe and Everything (1982) So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish (1984) Mostly Harmless (1992) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987) The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul (1988) The Salmon of Doubt (2001) The Meaning of Liff (1983, with John Lloyd)

49 Years Old – dead!
His quotes that I discovered again is a kind of for warning for me.
He also stated…
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."

I am looking at Retirement. And if there is any set of words that makes perfect sense – these are the ones.

But – God is the one that has it all in his hands.

This is going to be one huge adventure! I hope yours is as well today! I am praying and pulling for you.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resource:
http://www.s9.com/Biography/Adams-Douglas-Noel

The Days of Sunshine

2008-05-30T06:47:00.000-04:00

As the day opened we received the first hint of what was to come. It is always that way I guess so why were we surprised?

For almost a week we had entertained the clouds and the cold. Along with the heavy overcast days was the unending wind that would not stop. It was cool and miserable. The weather man said that it was 10 degrees cooler than normal.

Then it happened. The wind slowed and the clouds moved away. The weather was changing. Within hours the sky cleared and we had SUNSHINE. In fact we had days of sunshine. A brilliantly clear sky stayed with us for almost three days! What a wonderful relief from the unending overcast conditions of the weeks previous.

As I watched the weather man on television demonstrate what has happened in our area of the world it was amazing. Almost one half of our province was bathed in sunshine…beautiful, bright, brilliant sunshine. The photo showing on the TV screen was taken from outer space many hundreds of miles above us – there was not a cloud to be seen anywhere.

As I pondered this thought and savoured the sunny days I have come to the simple realization again. Far above us there are no clouds. It is only closer to the earth surface where the weather challenges are felt so deeply. The hovering heaviness of the weather, mixed with the violence of the disturbances that come our way affects us deeply.

Yesterday was the beginning of the official Tornado weather for our area of Canada. This announcement means that in the next months our areas could be open to devastating weather with high winds, violent ripping storms and heavy rain.

As we watch the videos from the U.S.A. we see what has happened in the many different parts of their country. One news presenter stated that the USA usually has around 300 reported tornadoes up to this time of year. This year they have already had over 900. It has been a heavy season for violent weather.

But there is sunshine above all of this turbulent weather near the surface of the earth. There is SUNSHINE!

Reflecting…
Yesterday I visited a man by the name of John Greening. Two weeks ago he entered the hospital for an infection in his lungs. As they took X-Rays of his chest they discovered his condition had worsened and that he had pneumonia in his lungs. With antibiotics they treated his condition and then released him from the busy hospital.

John returned to the hospital by the end of the week suffering from great pain and in much discomfort. By Sunday night and on into Monday his condition worsened. On Monday night they made the decision to remove a portion of his Colon. It was not known then if he would live through this crisis.

John had contracted “Clostridium difficile” or “C. difficile”.

C. difficile has also become an acute health concern in Canada, where it was blamed for 260 deaths at seven Ontario hospitals recently, and for 2,000 deaths in Quebec since 2002.

John was very close to death.

We all remember the terrible fright that we lived through in Canada a few years ago when the S.A.R.S. problem hit our people and the health care system.

It seems now that C. difficile has killed more in the last few months than the S.A.R.S. ever did. And it almost killed John.

This posting is not about C. difficile or S.A.R.S. – it is about SUNSHINE.

Yesterday I visited with John in his bed in the I.C.U. at our hospital. They are waiting for a bed in another part of the hospital and then he will be moved. He is sitting up and even walking now – however he is very weak and it will take some time for full recovery.

Yesterday I saw SUNSHINE in John’s life again. It was so far from the days of last week when his body struggled to pull through hour by hour.

Today John is looking toward the next steps and the places that they might move to in order to get the care that he and his wife will need.

John’s story is like others I have received lately. Everything was progressing steadily through their lives…at an everyday rate. Then storms of life moved in very quickly. In John’s case it would be very much like a “Life Tornado” – almost destroying him.

Today there is hope. The storm clouds have moved away. There is SUNSHINE and life to live.

I have had this happen to me as well – and may well have it happen again. The part that I need to grab on to at this moment and fasten it deeply inside of my being – there is SUNSHINE above all of this “storm stuff” and it will come again – after the clouds, the wind, the storm and even the Tornadoes of life blow away.

How can it happen? Well in my child like way I see it as a product of God and what he does. He is far above the storms. He is the author of SUNSHINE. He is the conqueror of every problem. And he loves me…and you.

There is no one that knows this better than he does.

Today I am praying for John as he recovers in the hospital and ask God that he will be able to get out soon.

I am also asking God for a miracle for my friend Harold. Harold is a fellow minister that has just found out that he has cancer through out his bones and in different areas of his body. Together with his wife Yvonne they are facing a “Life Tornado”. I am asking that they will see SUNSHINE today and the clouds will blow away.

And finally – I am asking God for a miracle for you! May the present clouds roll away and the warmth of his love penetrate every part of your life.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources…
“C. difficile”
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/432546

The Law of the Garbage Truck

2008-05-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

A good friend emailed this to me...

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space, right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started Yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? That guy almost ruined your car and could have sent us to the hospital!'

That is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes, they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short, to wake up in the morning with regrets.

So..... 'Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.'

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Submitted in a hurry this AM - too much to do...

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS if a moment comes that you need a lift - take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h0zNQ3ZUW0

Old Ladies On Street Cars

2008-05-28T08:03:00.000-04:00

It was a Holiday for Alida and me yesterday…trying to use up vacation days before we finish our tasks at Northview. So off to Toronto we went to hear our nephew present his First Recital for his Doctrinal Studies in Music at the U of T.

For one hour and half he and five others in the Jazz Combo played the music that he has written. No small task to say the least! And it was amazing….our “little Jon McCaslin” is an amazing musician and also a composer! We are not just a little bit proud. But his mom and dad sitting with us (and many of their friends) must have been busting at the seams!

To get to the recital we travelled with the public transit – subway first then the street cars. It has been a while. It was busy and it was packed. It is jerky at times and moves at the speed of light – the subway at least… and the old street car is slow and gentle almost like an elephant ride in Thailand.

Now to the fun part. At the busy times on these vehicles there are no seats. They are usually filled with people from the previous stops with sore feet and tired bodies. Many are sleeping or nodding off.

As Alida and I got on to the crowded Street Car we had to push through the crowd. We were able to get to about the first three seats before the crowd was to thick to go further. That took some pushing and grunting to get that far.

It was then that my wife felt the first “wave of old”. A young lady about 25 years old quickly stood up and motioned for her to sit down. Alida said, “No, its okay..” But the young lady insisted. The seat was open with four others eyeing it. Alida sat quietly not saying anything but, “Thank you…”

When we got off the Street Car she turned and said, “I have never had that happen before!” I told her that the grey hair helps!

Then it happened to me. Not so funny! Old ladies on Street Cars are helped– old men don’t need it – not me anyway! The other young lady was kind to me also. Sheesh!

The Street Car Jerked a little and a younger hand reached out for the old codger standing near me to steady him on his feet. Then I felt someone holding my arm as well…so I wouldn’t fall.

I wanted to shout, “The Grey Hair I have is a premature GREY…I am not that old!” but I didn’t. I said thank you. The young person’s smile was kindly.

Old People on the Street Car have an advantage. My feet were sore and my legs were numb from walking. Old is better today than yesterday!

As I watched Jon on stage last night doing an absolutely amazing job as a musician tears came to my eyes. I was there in a Winnipeg hospital just after he arrived. He was a little tiny boy baby that made some noise when he was hungry.

Today he is a refined musician that is turning his world upside down.

When he came over at the end of the concert and gave both of us a big hug… there were big arms around me. As he hugged his aunt Alida – he said, “Thanks for coming!” Two little people in front of him beamed from ear to ear!

I am coming to like being old! And travelling with the older lady on a Street Car has some good advantages.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Dirty Filters

2008-05-27T05:37:00.002-04:00

I couldn’t believe it! The colour of the Gasoline was dark yellow – almost a grey yellowish tone. I had collected the fuel spurting from the old fuel filter coming off my automobile. It now filled a drinking glass. No wonder it would not run right! No wonder it was coughing and sputtering when I started to pull away or pull out into traffic. The poor vehicle was starved for fuel.

Now for the non-mechanical type that may look over my shoulder in this Blog I should explain a something important to know.
The fuel filter that is in the gasoline line between your gasoline tank and your motor has all the gasoline pass through it. It filters out the impurities that might have dropped into the tank – or that might have been in the gasoline from the service station where we fill up.

This fuel filter needs to be changed at least once a year some say. Others say that it should be more often to preserve better fuel efficiency.

When I looked at the filter’s contents in the clear glass it was filthy. At the bottom of the glass was a dark sediment. This fuel had run out of the bottom of the filter. In other words the filter had done its best to keep the harmful dirt out of the motor. When the fuel filter was disconnected the bad stuff just fell out into the glass.

The motor was starved for fuel and working ten times harder than it should.

This all happened as I was performing a small amount of service to our vehicle after the winter season was over. It should have been done by March but I was too busy.

But there was more…
The next part to check and replace was the air filter. It provides clean air from the front of the car to the motor. The scoop that allows air into it is lower and on the front of the vehicle. All of the dust and dirt and salt and whatever on the road is scooped into the air passage on the way to the motor. It is vital to the smooth operation of the motor. As I pulled it out the dirt began falling out. The normally white filter paper was almost blackened for more that 80% of the area that I could see.

I had watched the mechanic performing maintenance on the car motors before. They place a light on one side of the filter and look from the other side to see how much light is getting through.

My air filter had little to no light coming through. It was plugged full of dirt and filth from the street and highway.

My chugging and coughing motor of the last few weeks could not get fuel and was starved for air. Without these vital components in the motor – IT WILL NOT RUN. Worse yet it will begin to run but then die on the highway when you most need it.

When I installed the new fuel and air filters then started the vehicle it sputtered a wee bit…then roared to life. The smooth purr under the hood was almost musical. I turned off the motor. As I walked around the vehicle I really think that it smiled at me…maybe even giggled a bit. It can’t wait for the next outing on the highway.

A Reality…
As I read more about the maintenance of the vehicle at the parts store where I bought the filters it was clear now. The two filters being dirty made our gasoline costs soar. The motor needed to work much harder to keep going. It was like having to pull a heavy trailer one person said. Worse yet the motor’s insides were wearing away. The dirty filters eventually fail – the filth gets through to the vital parts inside.

So much like life…
As I pondered this yesterday I thought of own life and body. Without the proper filters in place the dirty stuff can get in and mess up the inside – physically, mentally and emotionally.

The food I eat can be good or not so good for me. We all know more about this now. Too high of this or that will cause my arteries to plug up and my old heart will have an attack – and maybe even die.

The things I take into my eyes and ears go straight to my mind. Allowing bad stuff to come that way messes me up big time.

In the mind I have discovered that when bad stuff comes in…it tends to mess up the thinking process big time. With the “Mind Dirt” comes worry, fear, frustration and foolish thinking. I have found out that perhaps it is even more dangerous to have a “mind attack” than it is to have a “heart attack”. Many people actually have had a real heart attack after months of “mind attacks”.

“Mind Attacks” cause ridiculous stress. No one wants stress. Now one goes to a store to buy stress. Yet we allow it to cover and smother us. And it all comes from some really bad stuff that comes into out system from the “Mind Fuel”.

Man oh man do I ever need a new Food and Mind Filter system.

Personal Reflection…
On Sunday we announced that our position at the church was ended. So were the positions of the rest of the staff. The lay offs/cuts were necessary because of financial problems. There just isn’t enough money to pay the staff. So it was a logical and practical thing to do. It was our churches tune up time.

In these days following there have been some major emotions as one may well expect. You don’t just turn off a life experience that has been rich in content and powerful in problems. These past 3,650 days for me have been loaded with victories and problems that have almost tipped me over at times.

But later yesterday something powerful happened to me. Sitting and thinking about the transformation that I am going through from “Senior Pastor” to a “Person in the Pew” – it has started to settle in…WOW! I am free!

For 10 years I have not had one day that I have not worried about the finances of the church. I have thought of it continually. The good reports at times mixed with the more recent bad reports had grown in my thinking. My mind was filtering all of it. It was MY PROBLEM…my debt…my difficulty…my burden. It was close to my heart.

When I accepted the challenge to become the Senior Pastor of the church – it all became problems in my world. Together with others we addressed the debt that the church had.

For outsiders of Northview you need to know something of the background. The building was erected in 1980 with a debt load of $1,350,000. The interest rate at the time of its opening was 20%. In the first 4 years of operation the church paid out $1,000,000 in interest. Then in the next 5 years they had to pay another $1,000,000 in interest. Yes – that is correct - $2,000,000 out and not one cent on the principal.

10 years ago we started working with the congregation to address that debt. At 18 years into the building it was still $1,350,000 in debt. The pastor that served just before me began by raising the idea to pay down the debt. A plan was made and we began to get rid of the debt.

In the 3,650 days we have paid it down to $775,000. This congregation has been amazing to work with. What troopers! Through thick and thin they have worked tirelessly. I honour them for what they have done.

In the last three years there have been some difficulties for sure. The momentum and ability to address the debt was reduced. We stalled.

Maybe the best way to put it was – “our filters were dirty or plugged” and we sputtered and coughed.

The staff reduction was our tune up time.

Yesterday…
In a wonderful moment yesterday I realized that the debt was no longer mine. With the transformation to the “Person in the Pew” – the worry, the concern, the fret, the frustration of fighting for debt reduction is not mine anymore.

I am free! And God…does it ever feel good!

So if you see me smiling – I AM NOT NUTS – I am free. Wah Hooo!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Fear and Friends

2008-05-26T06:34:00.003-04:00

I hate not knowing!

Not knowing what will happen down the road is okay when you are on a holiday in a new place is okay. It is what we usually set ourselves up for when we take the adventure.

But not knowing what will happen in real life is uncomfortable. In fact it is scary. From scary it builds to the next level where fear sets in and begins its slow smothering of the vibrancy of life.

I have found that there is one major help for the Fear Factor in life and that is the Friend Factor. When you are up against odds that make no sense – friends make a difference. Oh what a difference that is. I learned that very early in my life and then in my ministry.

Let me illustrate this for you.

When a family lost their child because of a horrible accident – the couple that stood beside them were their friends. We were in the cafeteria of the hospital waiting for the transfer of their only child’s body to the hospital. She had died on the ski hill.

I’ll never forget the words of that poor mom as she sobbed. She fell into the arms of her friend and said, “I couldn’t do this if you hadn’t been here.” The words that the other lady spoke were powerful, “I am here because I am your friend.”

In the darkest moments any person could face God gives friends. They were fashioned by him as he led them through problem upon problem. He fired them in his furnace burning away the dross of their lives. He shaped them through difficulties. Then when they were completely ready – he made them my friends – or your friends.

In another situation I faced a young dad was about to lose everything that he had. He was filled with fear. His relationship with his family had soured over the few years that he had not tried to be who he should have been. He had been less than the person he had said he would be. Things were tough and he was scared stiff.

Together we faced some issues that were eventually dealt with. He started to improve and there was a new daylight. As we set together after many months he looked at me and said some powerful words, “Thanks of being my friend. All the other friends I had gave up on me but you have stuck with me. Thanks.”
It is an honour to be a friend. It comes with the fact that you are prepared by God to do something special.

When Fear Came Knocking
For some that know me better and are closer physically to us they will already have picked up on what I am writing about today. I have faced fear again. For the last few weeks I have written about it in one form or another. Then in the last few days I faced up with it.

It has been necessary to let myself go. I have been freed from the church as the Senior Pastor that I serve in over the last 10 years. The reason is simple, the finances are not there to pay the bills that have been incurred. So together we had to let the staff go…and with that I let myself go as well.

In my case it is kind of an early retirement. In fact it is now 320 days earlier than I thought it would be. For others involved it has been a shock as they will not retire so soon. I have been responsible for their lives and this fact alone adds weight to what we have done.

The odd thing is that we look forward to retirement and what it might bring – even with the unknown. It is just that when it comes this way it is scary. I hate not knowing so fast.

When Friends Come
When the crunch came so did friends. Three people were there when we most needed them. Each had come into our lives when they were facing the tough issues. Each had come with their own complicated life problems. Each had moved from the casual encounter with me to become something very special. Each knew what to say and how to be there.

There were dozens of others that came along side as well.

The one thing that I have slowly recognized is – friends are giving by God until he is ready to personally appear on the scene with the full answer to remove most of the fear.

Yesterday I was surrounded with many friends and much love. Oh how that made a difference. They loved me and my wife.

I took a step yesterday that was gigantic – I let a friend love me when I most needed it. Man did that hug feel good at that moment. In fact there was more than one hug…there were hundreds.

Some came in person. Some came as a smile. Others came with an email. Some came with a FaceBook smile. In the end of the day God had shone his love all over me by friends.

Today I Am Excited…
When the sun rose today I peeked outside again. The air was filled with the smell of the Lilac Tree next door. It was a new day. And guess who was there again? Mr. Robin was singing his heart out.

It is a new day… Praise the Lord!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS - Today is a Day Off – guess where I am going? In a wonderful way I am back in the Hasty Carpenter’s Shop of 1843 in Lang Pioneer Village. I am a re-enacting the role as a carpenter. I am a friend today with about 200 school kids that will come to hear me talk about wood. It is my new job of the day.

Is this what retirement will be…?

If it is… as my Granddaughter Emma says so well… “Oh Yes, Oh Yes, Oh Yes!”

Does God Take Gift Cards?

2008-05-25T06:15:00.006-04:00

The thirteen year old is lanky and growing longer each day. He is all boy and quickly turning into a man. These are the “budding man years” as he stretches monthly to a new height. Meet Clifford Ross Lindsay – my oldest grandson.

Recently I was treated to a unique opportunity of attending his 13th Birthday Party with most of his friends and some of their dads. It was a “man thing” – kind of a special day of initiation to manhood. After school on a Thursday night we travelled to Marmora, a town to the east of our city, to take part in a Paint Ball War.

The expression “Paint Ball War” is mine and needs some explanation. Growing boys and men are given a compressed air driven Paint Ball Gun loaded with hundreds of gelatine covered, hard, round and coloured paint capsules – each is ¾ inch in diameter. Aiming this “gun” at some one and pulling the trigger will eject a ball at 200 feet per second. The target is of course another person - your friend!

I am sure that your first question must be something to do with pain. Yes it hurts when you are hit. It is equivalent to someone using two knuckles on their hand and then hitting you solidly on an unsuspecting muscle. If you can also call it a “Pain Ball War” – it hurts and it leaves welts.

“Soldiers” in this Paint Ball War wear layers of old clothes that protect their bodies from the impact of a shot. Added to these layers is a face helmet that allows easy breathing and all round good eye protection. There is a throat shield as well as a chest and back protection. The rest of the body is not protected other than with the layers of cloth.

At the end of the evening the guys all gathered around a picnic table to enjoy hot dogs and pop. Along with the food is the laughter and bragging of who was hit the most. The gales of boy laughter and the bragging was a delight to hear. The Big Boys and the Smaller Boys all mixed to a bounding moment.

I can’t really find the right words to tell you what it was really like. You would have to have been there. There is a video link at the end of this posting that will take you to “YouTube” where his Paint Ball War Party has been uploaded.

13 year old boys are amazing to watch.
I remember what it was like. The years are formative. The fact that so much influences them tells you that they are extremely teachable. But they are also becoming opinionated and strong willed. They may not yet have the best judgement yet.

13 year old boys will listen to coaches on Baseball Teams. They listen to coaches on Football Teams as well…but maybe not so much to their mothers and dads.

At this point it is where my story of Clifford turns.

At the party Clifford’s friends gave him their cards and gifts. It was amazing to watch him be poured upon by his friends. Each card had a gift of money or an actual “gift card” inside. The gift cards could be used in a store to buy what you want later. The total blessing of this Birthday Party was $200 total. Clifford was rich! (My how things changed in 51 years – that didn’t happen at my 13th B-Day!)

Clifford’s mom and dad believe in giving back to their community from whatever they receive. Simply put – they believe in a Tithe. They Tithe on their time and their money. For those who do not understand the term “Tithe” – it means to give 10% away.

In Clifford’s parents case they give at least 10% of their money to our church. I can’t tell you how much that is – but I can tell you that it is a great blessing to the church.

They are teaching their children the most important thing in their lives at this time – “Tithing”.

“Tithing” on $5.00 is a good mathematical exercise for a child. And taking 50 Cents of $5.00 is not hard.

Taking a Tithe of $200 is not only a mathematical challenge of separating out the $20 but it is a moral issue. From deep within it challenges is the basic greed and desire to keep what you have! 50 Cents was easy - $20 is impossible.

Clifford’s mom and dad listened and watched as he made his mind up about what he would do. It took some time…I think over a week of struggling with the idea.

Last week Clifford emerged from his room with a newly found solution to his Tithing problem. The solution was brilliant from anyone’s point of view…almost. It was logical question that Clifford asked. Listen closely… his words were… “Does God take Gifts Cards?”
As his dad and mom told me the story they described the feelings of suppressing their gales of laughter as he asked his question.

Clifford was earnest and honest with his question. It was formed in the heart of a newly minted 13 year old that was struggling with his new life issues of giving himself away…and even some of his birthday gift. He is making the life turning point questions now. And this perhaps is the greatest one ever. The question was not about his money or his Tithe – it was all about being selfless – or another way to put it – unselfish.

If you know boys…it is not easy for them to give their stuff away. Even as a 64 year old boy I find this hard to do.

Unselfish boys that have learned to give themselves away become Great Husbands and Great Dads….because that is what those jobs are all about.

Let me put this another way. Men that have learned early to give away themselves away are amazing employees and super community members. They are the guys that earn trophies and gain awards by the bundles. They are the coaches of all the teams and support for their own kids. They are at events whether rain or shine. They stick through changes in their family’s life. They are there when their wife needs them the most. They are amazing!

I am far too long with this posting…but you see Clifford has impressed me deeply. He has shown me my own struggles all over again. And I need him to know – Grandpa Lincoln had the same problems that you do. But when I learned that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive my life changed completely.

Now can I ask you as the reader of this long post something important? Would you please fine someone or some group to bless? Then when you find them give something important to you away.

Have a Great Giving Day – a GGD! May God bless you richly!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Special Note: This is number 600 post in this Blog! It is one of my places I have learned to give it all away!

YouTube posting
Clifford’s 13th Birthday Party – Paint Ball War http://youtube.com/watch?v=EhjG3vhXzuM

When the Robin Sings Its Okay

2008-05-24T06:12:00.001-04:00

Seventeen days ago I was standing in the foyer of a large hotel in Toronto, Ontario. It was at a large conference where many men and women met together to be encouraged and also do business for the organization we all belong to. There were over 1000 delegates and a total of almost 2000 people attending. It was like a small city to describe it simply.

In front of me was an old friend of mine. His name is Harold. He and I are about the same age. We do the same work as ministers. And we work not that far away from each other. I have known him since 1976 – 32 years of friendship. His father followed me as Pastor of a church in Walkerton, Ontario. I respect this man greatly.

He asked me how it was going. My answer was light as we began to speak. I told him that I had about 331 days left before I was able to collect money from the government – referring to my now possible retirement. He laughed and told me that he thought I would never retire. The banter between us went back and forth for a while as we talked.

Then he said, “I am three years older than you are, and I am not even thinking of the R WORD. I am going to keep going as long as my health holds up.” My reply was, “God bless you my friend!”

This week a darkness settled on me when I heard a report shared with me about my friend.

Last week he suffered a terrible pain in his chest. It came rather quickly. He was taken to the hospital early on May 16 – 9 days after we spoke in the hotel foyer.

Rather than trying to weave the story for you in my words… I am letting Harold share his words with you….

Quote from Harold’s email…
“Friday morning I awoke early with pain on the left side of my chest. It didn’t go away and got worse so we called 911. I then had my first trip in an ambulance. At the end of the day tests showed I had blood clots in both my lungs and that was the source of my pain. So here I am (Tuesday) on blood thinners. I have had four CAT scans as the medical people try to determine the source of the clots. They have been up front with us and have indicated that one of the possible sources is cancer. We are trusting the Lord for whatever outcome. I would prefer not to have cancer and whatever that would entail for us, but it is not my will but HIS will that must prevail. Both Yvonne and I are confident that God who has called us will sustain us as He has done again and again through our lives. He told the Apostle Paul – “My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in your weakness.”

Thank you for all your prayers for us during this time of challenge. The medical staff here is quite impressed with all the support I have and I trust that one of the outcomes of this time of testing will be people brought into the Kingdom by the Spirit’s witness through my life.

In my devotional reading yesterday these verses from The Message – Psalm 116:10 & 11 stood out to me: “I said to myself, ‘Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you’ve been rescued from death; Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling. I’m striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living!’”

HALLELUJAH! I’m writing this from the hospital, but in spirit “I’m striding in the presence of God”. He never leaves us or forsakes us! Both Yvonne and I are at peace with whatever outcome He determines for us.” ~ end quote.

Then another email arrived from his son… It stated – quote…
“At this point our main message is: "Harold has cancer in his bones but they will be doing further tests to determine if it has spread from another area, possibly his lungs."”

I was almost numb as I read the emails sent my way. Suddenly my friend is stricken with a terrible and possibly life threatening disease. His vibrancy and ability is seemingly gone in one stroke of time. His words rang clear in my ears…
“I am three years older than you are, and I am not even thinking of the R WORD. I am going to keep going as long as my health holds up.”

The word ‘cancer’ is a frightening one our world. Along with it comes dark nights and terrible days of fear. That happens for the person that has been diagnosed as well as the family around them. As a minister I see it all too often. So has my friend Harold.

Personally as I have tried to process the information about my friend Harold it has not been easy. A darkness has covered the thoughts. Senses of uncertainty and feelings of fear are there inside my own thoughts. What if it was me? What if…?

This morning early I went out on our deck to just listen. It was still dark. There was only a hint of daylight coming. The moon shone brightly in the dark sky. The sky being clear had hundreds of stars twinkling. It is amazing at 4:30 AM what is going on outside.

From the tree in our yard at top branch there came a crystal clear message of hope for me. There at the top of his lung power was a Robin. I couldn’t see him – but I HEARD HIM! He was singing his little heart out – making music for all he was worth. It was amazing to listen to…I stood still and savoured the sound.

Though it was still very dark…and the world was far away…here he was shouting loudly – “THERE IS A NEW DAY COMING – WAKE UP EVERYBODY – WAKE UP!”

I began to smile as I listened. He had a personal message to deliver and no one would be able to silence him. No one would tell him that its still dark outside – “Go back to bed you silly Robin!” He had a job to do.

When you study a Robin’s life cycle and ways you find some interesting things about this beautiful little bird. It is the ‘Daddy’ Robin that sings his heart felt song. He does this as his mate is sitting on a nest. She has laid the eggs which will become their new family soon. There she sits on the four small, blue eggs somewhere high in our tree – waiting for four little ones to come along. He is not far away and is telling the world ~ “Hey, I am going to be a father soon…wake up…wake up…I AM HAPPY!”

A study was done a while ago on a Robin’s song. It was found that his song is for a purpose. That purpose is to let his new babies know that he is there. Even before they are born they hear the song and voice of their daddy. Some one actually tracked this song with some hi-tech equipment. They found that the song of a Daddy Robin is duplicated in his kids. From the very beginning he is stating he is there and they should know his voice.

Another simple factor is that the Mommy Robin is in need of food and support. While she is on the nest she waits and waits. His song is not only happy – it is supportive! When the babies arrive in a few weeks it will take both Daddy and Mommy to feed these starving offspring. Every waking moment they will be busy supporting their kids.

For now…early this morning when it was the darkest….Mommy Robin was reassured by her Daddy – I am still here and I am supporting you through every thing that will happen today.

I have noticed each morning this week that he has been at work early – even through that last darkness of the night. Supportive. Encouraging. Strengthening. Not seen but heard and very close by.

As I stood this morning and listened these thoughts drifted around me.

God is like this Robin. He sings out his best when we need it the most. His song is louder than the darkness and much, much stronger than fear.

God is singing outside my life’s door today. He is doing the same for Harold.

Do you need a new song? Do you need help? Are you in serious trouble? The answer is likely a solid and hearty “YES”!

The good news is – YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I have found this so very true.

My prayer for you is…
Heavenly Father, I am asking at this time that you would encourage the people that read this. When they are worried, sad, frustrated, frightened, and feel they can go no further… sing a song for them. Lord may they hear all the different ways that you encourage me. May they not only hear but also see. Father I ask that they will be greatly blessed today in their most difficult time. And you now Father…I am asking you to do this because there is no one else, no other God that will do it the way that you can… Oh boy am I excited for my friends that have read this far!

And Lord today I ask for my friend Harold… he and his wife need a special gift of healing to be delivered to their home this week.

Finally Lord…thanks for the tremendous feeling of joy that you have let me have! What a wonderful gift it was. When I unwrapped it yesterday I laughed a for a long time. It was absolutely perfect! Thank you for that GIFT – it will look good in our home.

And Lord if it is okay with you… I am going to give most of that gift away today. I have met some people that really need it.

Thanks.

Your friend,
Murray

THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO

2008-05-22T21:10:00.006-04:00

Contributed by Jessika...
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me.

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And
again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. The same in year four.

"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.

"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo.. I will never quit on you.

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.

Author Unknown

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Jessika… this one was for me!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Hidden Stuff In LIFE

2008-05-22T06:42:00.003-04:00

“Who would have known?” uttered the exasperated man, “If I had known that I would have done something about the problem weeks ago.”

The old vehicle sat at the edge of the road and a tow truck was hosting it for transport assistance to the garage. However from all evidence that was available at that point – even a good mechanic would not help the situation now. The old car was dead. Now with no money extra the situation had darkened more. They were looking at more debt or maybe no car at all.

This family’s predicament is not all that unusual. Any one of us has been caught with the unknown burying us.

As I write this I know that my old vehicle in the driveway could die of old age at any time. At 12 years old and much rust showing on all sides, a few weird noises being emitted from the running stuff in the working parts…it could happen anytime.

If only I could find quite a few thousands of dollars extra…If only.

If only that situation would turn around I would be able to do something different. In fact, if only those involved would see what was happening I am sure that they would take evasive actions.

If only I had made a different decision at that one point in my life and taken a different road – I certainly wouldn’t be here in this mess!

If only!

The above “if only” list is but a starting point for more muttering on my part. It actually isn’t only my “if only” list – it is a compilation of the “if only” lists of others mixed with mine. The fact is that I can “if only” myself to death – or into a real good lather and then sink into “stinking thinking” so fast that it is scary.

How about you? Any “if only” thinking getting you down today?

This is a simple thought that is amazing. Life is filed with “if only”. Take “if” out of Life and you have only L--e. Life is 50% “if”.

Absolutely no one knows what their “IF” is in their LIFE.

The young couple with their new baby has dreams. The middle age couple has plans for their money and travel. The senior couple has long term plans where they will retire and where they will live. But all know nothing of the “IF” that they face.

“IF” so often is in thinking of the past. But “IF” is also in a future that is uncertain. “IF” is also in the most positive of forces as well…leading to tremendous possibilities. Acted upon at the right time will produce a powerful moment and opportunity.

Mix a little “KNOWING” with “IF” and you could see success.

But then in the middle of “KNOWING” is the word “NOW”. If we paid attention to the NOW and made some better decisions and better choices our “IF ONLY” list may be different up ahead.

But there is another word in “KNOWING” or “KNOW” that you can easily see… “NO”. Being able to use it properly is super important to create a better LIFE.

One person that I have worked with bought a car as a young lady. Add to that she had debt from school – lots of it. But she needed a car. Her ability to pay for the car at the beginning was not good. She had only other debt and low ability to purchase anything. But in order to get to work she needed a vehicle. The beautiful NEW automobile was what she needed – she was sure of it!

When we met to discuss the issues that had brought her down, I heard her sad story. The automobile was now 6 years old and was suffering from many new problems. It was not worth much money now in its old problem stages of life as a vehicle. But because of the “FINE PRINT” in the contract she had signed she still owed way more than the car was worth. “If only I had known then what I know now…I would have said NO to the wonderful offer the man had presented to me.” The regret in her words was very evident.

Now at this point in this article, with half my audience regretting yesterday and the other wondering what might happen…I have likely succeeded in pulling everyone back into their hidden “IF ONLY” list. The possibility for depression to sink in around your ears is great.

Pause….
Take a look at LIFE again. Do you see “I” in it? That “I” could be me or you. If it is, “I” can do something about what I face now. “I” also can refer to a bigger “I” than me. That “I” in my life is God.

A long time ago when Moses was unsure of what to do and not understanding the magnitude of God’s calling him to lead the People of Israel, he hesitated and pulled a “what IF”. “What IF the people do not believe me and the story of my meeting you? What IF…”

God’s answer was to tell them that “I AM” has done this. I love that story. “I AM” is in everything. No problem is too big for “I AM” – there is no problem too impossible for “I AM”.

If my LIFE will include a whole lot more of “I AM” – things will be easier. I have learned that HE has my best interests at heart.

What IF “I AM” were here to help me? He is… WOW!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Exodus 3:13-15 (New International Version)
13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

The Professor and The Student

2008-05-20T11:09:00.002-04:00

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students,

"Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"

He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him.

You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't,
does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in
this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer.

"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.

"Who created them?" There is still no answer.

Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom.

The class is mesmerized.

"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.
"Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The
room suddenly becomes very quiet.

The student begins to explain.

"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.

There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains.

"You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain?

No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.

God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NOTE from PML....
I felt this was an excellent example of Christian Apologetics. As it has been passed around and forwarded so many times it takes for ever to read as an email and is often discarded for that reason.

I trust that it will encourage the Christians to stand up for what you beleive.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Sweeping Away Great Intentions

2008-05-20T06:06:00.005-04:00

The wave of relief that swept over me after each day was done was amazing! It was like having a great weight lifted. Something was actually accomplished!

My wife and I entered a wonderful holiday weekend(just past) intent upon getting a clean up done and a number of odd jobs cleaned up. It began Thursday PM and finished Monday late evening.

I fixed, I sorted, I tore apart, I painted, I completed a promised job and then I collapsed.

Where did all this stuff come from? I know that one came from “D” when she could couldn’t use it any more. It had been too good to through out – so we took it home. “D’s” place was cleaner mine added clutter. Yesterday I dealt with “D’s” stuff.

Then there was “M’s” stuff…a whole lot of it. It almost blocked the entrance of the garage over the winter because it was everywhere. Yesterday it was sorted – keepers here – ‘Value Village’ stuff there. “V.V.’s” pile of stuff is bigger than ours now.

The “old furniture pile” – with things that might be good, things that we intend to use some day, and things that must be done now – grows all the time. Maybe the originally empty garage just attracts this kind of pile.

Add to all of this was the “I didn’t even know I had that stuff” pile…with a whole lot of “so that’s where it went” mixed in.

“How does one collect all this stuff?” Or should it be asked, “How does it get attracted to me and my garage?” I kind of look away when some one asks that kind of question…embarrassed I think the answer, “I dunno… I think it all came from China….”

A huge burden lifted…
Last evening I felt it again… a burden was lifted. A weight was gone. So were a whole lot of tasks that were accomplished, furniture repaired, and stuff gone.

I am not done yet. This week will be another powerful time I anticipate. Tonight more will be done. That is my promise to my garage. It smiled when I made it – I am sure.

Pausing again…
My garage is so much like life – my life – not yours. Stuff collects after months of living. There is a desperate need to sort and clean some of the stuff that has gathered. Some was piled up because things happened quickly. Others were added when problems came our way. All of it needs to be cleaned thoroughly.

Over in this corner of my experience is “stinky thinking”. In the opposite corner is clouded attitude. In the middle are desperate aspirations that were never accomplished. Scattered between the piles is the dust bunnies of exasperated hope, that roles from one pile to the next. Then there is my stool of numbness where I sit and look at the piles.

Oh boy… I gotta run. I have to get started on another day of possibility. Only 10 hours of work at a cluttered office…then back to the garage! The anticipation is over whelming at this stage.

The one favorite Confucius statement is mine again. I found it under a pile in my life experience. It states, “The start of any 1000 mile journey is the first step.”

The battle is on…
I discovered a great web site after beginning this work of cleaning up. It offers some good description of “me”. In fact it tells me that I have five parts… or five voices telling me stuff. They are…

The Hoarder: "This might come in handy someday!
The Deferrer: "I'll think about that tomorrow!"

The Rebel: "I don't wanna and you can't make me!"

The Perfectionist: "Next week, I'll organize everything--perfectly!"

The Sentimentalist: "Oh, the little darling!"

No wonder I talk to myself!
Oh Boy!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS - the Mask shown above is the "Clutter God" face mask....

R4M - Resources 4 Me
http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/organizing101/a/4cntnrmthdclttr.htm
The Clutter Within: What's Your Clutter Personality?
http://www.organizedhome.com/clutterer-within-whats-your-clutter-personality

Proverbs 6
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

GP Works

2008-05-16T07:11:00.007-04:00

In my part of Canada now we are being warned about the West Nile Virus. It is spread to human beings by a mosquito that has traveled from a bird that has the West Nile Virus to a human – injecting its stinger into both bodies.

According to Wikipedia…
West Nile virus (or WNV) is a virus of the family Flaviviridae; part of the Japanese encephalitis (JE) antigenic complex of viruses, it is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits. The main route of human infection is through the bite of an infected mosquito.

When you do some reading on this miserable disease you may never go out of doors again. It is extremely serious for many people. Death has occurred in some cases – but for the most part it is a long and disabling disease.

One small bite, from one extremely small proboscis of a mosquito being inserted into the body of a bird...that becomes host for the “amplification” of the virus – which is then transferred by the next mosquito to a human.

Wikipedia again says…
Transmission - The virus is transmitted through mosquito vectors, which bite and infect birds. The birds are amplifying hosts, developing sufficient viral levels to transmit the infection to other biting mosquitoes which go on to infect other birds (in the Western hemisphere the American robin and the American crow are the most common carriers) and also humans. The infected mosquito species vary according to geographical area; in the US Culex pipiens (Eastern US), Culex tarsalis (Midwest and West), and Culex quinquefasciatus (Southeast) are the main sources.

In mammals the virus does not multiply as readily (i.e. does not develop high viremia during infection), and it is believed that mosquitoes biting infected mammals do not ingest sufficient virus to become infected, making mammals so-called dead-end infections.

So what…
The reason I point to the WNV today is to get your attention about an even more serious V. It can show up at the same time that WMV is present in the community. But it is evident when mosquitoes are not there and there is no WNV. It is even more deadly than WMV in that the person that it attacks is at risk of very serious debilitating actions.

This very ancient virus affects the brain. It causes untold heart ache and family damage. It is the FV…or the “Fear Virus”.

Wikipedia states of Fear…
Fear is an emotional response to tangible and realistic dangers. Fear should be distinguished from anxiety, an emotion that often arises out of proportion to the actual threat or danger involved, and can be subjectively experienced without any specific attention to the threatening object.

Most fear is usually connected to pain (i.e., some fear heights because if they fall, they may suffer severe injury or even die upon landing). Behavioral theorists, like Watson and Ekman, have suggested that fear is one of several very basic emotions (e.g., joy and anger). Fear is a survival mechanism, and usually occurs in response to a specific negative stimulus.

Did you catch the last sentence in the above description? “…usually occurs in response to a specific negative stimulus.”

None of us will avoid the FV. A few of us will be exposed to the WNV – but 100% will be exposed to the FV at one of many points in our life.

As a minister I see more people that are taking down by FV than any other problems that people encounter. Worse yet – real problems that they encounter are almost always added to when the FV sets in. As you can see it is “an emotional response to tangible and realistic dangers”

Every single one of us have this FV in one shape or another. No one escapes this – EVER!

I have only been in one setting where there is only one person in the room that does not have the FV. This is guaranteed to be true every time. Can you guess where that might be?

It is at a Funeral – and the person is in the casket. You know dead people don’t worry any longer. Dead people don not have Fear. They are dead!

That simple revelation should help us to understand that everyone of us will experience FV in our life time. Sometimes it will be so great that it will paralyze our whole being.

Can anything be done for FV?

Yes…I believe there can be something done.

The Bible makes this clear with Paul’s words…in his letter to the Roman people…Romans 8:15
15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Or in my language…when I asked God to become my father and recognized that he was in charge… I became his son…then all the stuff that took me down before and produced FEAR – are gone.

But Pastor Murray… I am a follower of God and I still FEAR. Yes I know you do…BUT WHY BOTHER. Give it up. Let God take over.

Unlike the WNV that cannot be stopped…FV can be…when God steps in.

I am normal – I FEAR. In fact at times I am scared silly. I am not normal in that I stand still and with all the power that I have in me I give it over to God.

I think that I pray one of the shortest prayers ever at that moment, “HELP! God HELP!” Then I sit still and wait a few seconds, concentrating on what HE is about to do…not what I can’t…and then something happens. FV lifts and GP descends. GP? Oh I forgot to tell you… that is God’s Power.

Try GP as an antidote to FV and WNV and any other plague of problems you might catch today. GP works!
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources:
WNV - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_virus
FV - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear

A Season of Promise

2008-05-15T07:27:00.003-04:00

“God never closes one door without opening another.”
A quote that I find tossed about like a panacea to all things not understood by people that really don’t know what the dickens you are going through.

I know it is true – for most people. But for some in the Mire and Muck of their life situation – it is a platitude that rubs the wrong way. “Sure you can say that easily – but you don’t live where I live and who I live with!” is a quick answer.

If you have thought that out loud or have felt that deep inside – I can relate.

The Life that I live is not that easy. There are some times that the door has shut and the other four that exit this little box are not unlocked...or the door knobs are not easily accessible. Ever been there – in that little room of nothingness?

When I described my plight to an older man he told me that it was a good place to be and that there was nothing wrong with testing the door knobs as long as I didn’t try to pry open a door that was firmly shut.

Good advice for me at the time.

There is a special Psalm that rings true in so many ways. In the Mire and the Muck – it sounds like a sweet bird singing outside my bedroom door in the morning. It says simply…"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10).

But it is important to see the verse just before number 10 and then just after it…here is the whole quote…
Psalm 46:9-11
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Did you get the part about ‘making wars cease’?

In the middle of Mire and Muck thinking there is a war going on inside me at times. It would be so nice to escape the battlefield of my own mind.

The Psalmist asks me to consider that a stillness will accomplish the absolute impossibility of my situation.

This morning the sun is spilling into our living room as I write. This is the most peaceful moment in my day. With the sun comes the gentle but powerful knowledge that God is here. WOW!

After most storms there is this wonderful peace when the clouds move away and the sun breaks through. It is the same in our lives. His peace spills and splashes all over the area that I sit in.

After most storms there is a rainbow. It only comes when there is sunshine…and that happens when the clouds roll away.

My wish for you today is a place that you can find the peace you so desperately desire. I asked my Heavenly Dad today that he would roll your clouds away… starting now.

Have a great big peaceful day with the Father!

BTW - have you guessed what kind of flower the top photo is? It is a tulip just after an angry rain storm. Look closely at the tear drop....

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Middle of the Mire Thinking

2008-05-14T06:47:00.004-04:00

As we walked along we knew were in trouble. The soil below our feet was softer than the rest that we had just walked over. It was also wet and our feet were going deeper with the running shoe being covered more and more in the Mire and Muck around it. Further steps into the area meant only more Mire and Muck. We were bogged down quickly.

The Mire and the Muck was all over the previously clean shoes – the only shoes we had with us at the time.

The place was Saskatchewan – just on the edge of Regina – while we were walking with our friend Joanne. I had forgotten about the “gumbo clay” that is unique to this area of the world. There is nothing like “gumbo clay” to slow you down.

A longtime ago….
When I was a boy our family was traveling over roads made out of this clay during a rain storm. As our car went along its wheels become covered with the clay and then a build up started. The wheels actually became bigger and then the wheel wells filled with the sticky Mire and Muck. After nearly three hours of trying to go further over the road we were stranded in the sea of Mire and Muck. What usually took less than a half hour to cross was now over four hours long. We were badly stuck and could go no further. The best we could do was to walk into a farm house that was up the road, wake the family, and stay the night.

The “gumbo clay” makes Mire and Muck that will even stop a giant machine when it falls into a pit of it in the middle of a field. The “gumbo clay” is dangerous.

Recently…
I have been pulled down and held back by another one of my hidden problems. Have you ever had this happen to you? You won’t know about it until I reveal it…so here goes.

I have been stopped by my Mire and Muck thinking patterns. My thought life is held back, stopped dead, and even forced me to abandon my travel plans through life because of it. The “gumbo clay” thoughts of my whole experience has crippled me at times. Then I can go no further.

The last posting by Bruce Lindsay on this Blog was brilliant. He struck a chord with my thoughts and I took a personal survey of my own life and thinking. As I was doing so my “gumbo clay” thoughts were close by…then the problem rain fell all around me – and the Mire and the Muck appeared. Everywhere I stepped my path was in Mire and Muck. Then I stalled and finally stopped dead. I could go no further.

Negative thoughts filled me up. Horrible “what ifs” stunned me and stopped me cold. The “worst case scenario” crept from the ugly thinking to a reality. The bitter rain fell and so did I.

There was a point that I simply rolled over and quit. I could go no further. Like my family travels long ago – we could go no further. We were done!

“Gumbo clay” thoughts are always there – in the dry state or good state of affairs it can be traveled on easily. Add a bit of problem rain and mix it with an all night storm of fear – and you will STOP DEAD!

Mire and Muck thinking will kill you…or maybe just paralyze you…whatever is your case at the time – you will go not further.
Back to the stranded family…
We spent the whole night sleeping on the floor of the farm house about 45 miles south of Regina. In the morning the kind lady gave us something to eat. Our clothes had dried some and we walked to the door…to find our mud caked shoes. What had been a shoe was actually a huge black ball with a hole in it where our feet had been. It was a great reminder of what we had been through.

The car was still on the country road about a quarter mile away from the farm.

The farmer had a huge tractor running and told us to get on. My dad and I climbed aboard. Within a half hour he had hooked a chain on the undercarriage of the car and the giant of the tractor was pulling our car through the Mire and Muck. All four wheels were frozen solid and would not turn. The car slid along behind the tugging giant tractor that would not be stopped. Our family boarded at the farm house and then the farmer pulled us all the way to a better gravel road.

We were free and arrived home safely later that day…but not before taking a lot of time at the side of the gravel road to dig out the Mire and Muck around the car’s wheels.

So much like me…
This week as the “gumbo clay” of my mind produced the Mire and Muck of my thinking – I stopped. Then a miracle began to happen – someone stepped in to help me.

Who is that someone? His name is Mr. God. He is B-I-G and he has a “powerful tractor” that pulled me out of my Mire and Muck thinking. He did it by reminding me of all the stuff that he has brought us through so far…and that he has always been there for us. And then he helped me to remember that he will always be there to help – “Just call me… I will help you.” Were his words this week.

Today…
Today I am cleaning off the Mire and Muck from my traveling boots. They are almost clean. But just dirty enough to remind me of where I had been – but clean enough to get on with the job to be done.

Hey – I AM FREE of Mire and Muck today. Does it ever feel better!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Mental Toughness

2008-05-12T06:36:00.002-04:00

By Bruce Lindsay

For many years now I’ve been a soccer coach, first with Clifford (4 years) and now with Emma (this will be year #5). A few years back, Clifford switched to Baseball and I’ve been a baseball coach too, since then. Hey! I was Soccer Coach of the Year back in 2006!

I love team sports and I think it’s important for children to learn and play team sports especially when they are young. Learning about teamwork helps in a family setting for sure. Learning about setting goals, working hard and achieving them is something that if learned at a young age, I believe, will carry on as a good habit through all a child’s life, building confidence through past experience.

I think it’s good to be competitive, but to be a good sport about winning and losing. I think being accountable for what you do is good. I think some pressure to do your best is good. All these things are easy to learn through sports. Besides all these important life skills, children learn some sport skills, stay in shape, make new friends and have fun.

Recently I’ve been learning about a different aspect of sports: The mental game. I’ve heard people say that the mental preparation is every bit as important as the physical preparation, but I’m only beginning to understand what that means.

Clifford recently tried out for the Peterborough Tigers. He made the team too. Since then, in the few practices I’ve had time to attend, I’ve heard the coach talking about the mental game.

All these boys are good. By 13 years old, they can all hit, catch and throw. They all know the rules and they know how to get you out. They are getting into excellent physical shape. Clifford says the workouts are even tougher than football. The coach knows that it’s the mental game that makes a difference between winning and losing.

But how do you teach mental toughness? How do you teach a boy that he should hold his head up high and keep a stiff upper lip when someone has just belted a 3 run home run off him?

I was on a canoe trip with 3 younger guys in their early twenties recently. I learned a lot about myself. On this particular trip, there was one portage that was nearly 2 km long. I think it was the longest portage of my life. I wouldn’t have tried it, except that I figured with these 3 strong guys I wouldn’t have to carry too much. Oh how wrong I was.

I had my old fiberglass canoe and borrowed a second – a light Kevlar canoe - from Mr. Van Lier at church. For the first few portages I was carrying my canoe showing the guys how to do it. On the big one, I left it up to them. I walked half the portage carrying some packs, looked back and found I was alone. I left my packs at the top of the mountain and walked back to find these 3 struggling with the 2 canoes. Walking 40 yards and then putting the canoe down, ‘taking a break’. I tried explaining how much better it is to just carry it and take a break at the end, but the message wasn’t getting through. I ended up carrying my heavy canoe the whole way. I didn’t think I could – they didn’t think I could, but I did. I demonstrated mental toughness to them. I learned that at 40, I’m still a big strong guy who can do anything I set my mind to. Who knew?

Mental toughness is not giving up when your body tells you that you can’t go on. I’ve found when each step hurts, and you are so exhausted that you don’t think you can take another step, YOU CAN!

Another aspect of the mental game I’m only learning about is muscle memory. By repeating a movement over and over your muscles learn to do it without you having to think about it. That’s how I’ve learned to play songs on the banjo faster and faster – by practicing slowly, being sure to play it perfectly, then over and over. Soon I can play faster than I can possibly read the music. I explain to Clifford that is how he plays computer games so well. He doesn’t need to think about the controller at all, I do. So he whips me in every game. This is also the reason why he spends at least 30 minutes of every baseball practice playing catch and picking up ground-balls. Soon it will be second-nature. He won’t even have to think about it.

But muscles can learn from the brain too. If you rehearse something in your brain perfectly, over and over, your muscles will respond as if you have been teaching them physically. Listen to Chandra Crawford – Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist, 2006 Torino Italy, 1.1 km cross-country ski sprint.

“That's right, I'm on the line, Sandstorm is back and its go time, baby! People line the stadium cheering, and the "sun is shining, weather is sweet" like in the dance remix of Bob Marley's song. To my right is German Nicole Fessel (who will later become second in the world in this race), with two fast looking girls from France and Austria right next to her. I feel amazing! The gun goes off and I shoot out of the starting gate in a sandstorm of excitement and energy! Just 100 meters out of the start, the French girl goes down right in front of me and I lean onto my left ski to just miss going down with her. I tuck in right behind the German on the downhill and come out right beside her, then Austria passes me and I stay right behind them up the climb. The German makes some time pushing up and over the hill and I get stoked for the final stretch; here comes the kick, I'm making a move! I push right past the German, beside the Austrian all the way to the finish, and in the end I get her by a little less than a ski length. Wow!
At this point all I want to do is keep going.

What a race and an amazing experience!”

What’s most amazing about this interview is that Chandra is not talking about the gold medal race. She is talking about how she envisioned the race in her mind before it ever started. Wow! All that detail, from which other athletes are on her right and left, to the song in her head, the crowds, right down to the weather! Once she arrived at the Olympic venue she was seen walking the race course over and over. Playing the race over and over in her mind, until on the race day, her muscles responded not like she was racing this race for the first time, but like she had already done it 1000 times, and this was number 1001. Amazing.

As I learn about this stuff, I’ll try to pass it on to my children. Imagine Clifford being so comfortable hitting in a clutch situation that there is simply no doubt that he will hit that ball hard into a gap and drive home the winning run. Imagine him being so confident in the outfield that he is hoping that the ball is hit his way so he can make that last out.

I know it’s only part of it and it doesn’t make up for lack of fitness or preparation, but the mental game, the toughness, the confidence is what I want from my team and my children and myself.

Resources:

Chandra Crawford - http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=3087
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Additions by Pastor Murray Lincoln
Thanks Bruce – great words and ideas… what if we also applied this to our spiritual lives?

Take from “The Message” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (Amplified Bible)
23And I do this for the sake of the good news (the Gospel), in order that I may become a participator in it and share in its [blessings along with you].
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.
25Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.

General Conference 2008 – Long Lasting Impact

2008-05-09T08:23:00.000-04:00

Today as we return home and back to the real world of work I am smiling from ear to ear. There is a gentle and quiet happiness that has warmed my whole being. I have experienced satisfaction at its best…

In order to share it with you I need you to meet three men. Their names are Allan Waine, Ron Baker, and Adrian Thomas. There are amazing men that are doing exceptional things all over the world. Their leadership is far reaching – even to every corner of the earth. Amazing!

If you have been reading this Blog over this past week, you will know that Alida and I have been in Toronto, Ontario attending our church’s National Conference of Pastors. Men and women had come from all over Canada and many parts of the world to meet with each other over fellowship, worship and business. This conference happens every two years somewhere in Canada.

The powerful impact on me this year was the knowledge that our national church is now being led by so many young and vibrant leaders. The three fellows that you meet here are some of the new leaders.

Flash Back #1…
It is 1977 and I am sitting on the front steps of the old Wingham Pentecostal Church with a very young and new Minister. His name is Ron Baker. He and his wife Sue live in the parsonage that is joined to the church. Their home provides the church extra facilities when needed as well as a place to meet people.

I had been serving as the Presbyter(a Section Leader) for a group of churches in that area. I think I had leadership of about ten churches if my memory is correct.

I was leaving this leadership role soon as I had been called to serve in a new role at the Headquarters of the PAOC.

Ron had been nominated and/or suggested to become the new Presbyter with my leaving. Or perhaps I was shoving him a little at the moment – seeing the potential that he had and also needing to have some one in place soon – for the next meetings that were scheduled.

This week Ron related this account to me. He reminded me about our meeting on the front steps that day. We laughed and talked of the old days.

Ron Baker is an amazing leader today. His work is today is the same as that very first Presbyter job that I “handed over” to him. Only today his work is so much bigger.

Today he provides supervision and care for 99 churches and 244 credential holders(ministers), supervises six Regional Presbyters, 32 Regional Coaches and oversees pastoral changes.

Ron Baker is amazing. He was amazing the day that I sat with him on the front steps of that little church and also today as a humble but very powerful leader. Ron I highly respect you – and will pray for you too!

Flash Back #2
It is a very hot day in Hong Kong. It is the summer time and a group of teenagers have come from Canada. They are not mature. They have little of NO IDEA of any other culture than their own little corner of the earth – way back in Canada. They don’t even know each other. They have come to help me in my work for two weeks. I am now receiving them as new guests to our Hong Kong culture.

Oh boy! I am reliving that moment again as I write this… whoa…what a flash back.

The boys slept at our apartment. They were big and they hot and they were full of fun! Also they were mid to late teens in age – so they brought that teenage stuff with them. One needed his mother to travel with him, another was quiet and the last one was interested in everything. He was full of questions – all the time. His name was Allan Waine…18 years old, he is big, he is a football player at high school in Ottawa – and this was his first trip out of Canada.

When we returned home in the evening the boys were hot and wet. Their clothing stuck to their bodies. The temperature outside was about 100 - 110 degrees F. with about 98% to 100% humidity – but no rain!

Many evenings we returned to our apartment by walking up hill. It was cooler to do this than to take a hot taxi where we would all rub against each other – yuk!
The coolest place in our apartment was the front room floor that was a dark hardwood.

Allan came in a spread out on the floor – flat on his back. He was soaked. When he got off the floor there was a MAN’S BODY PRINT on the hardwood floor. It looked like someone had spilled water.

My daughters didn’t have any brothers. So having BIG SWEATY GUYS in their home was a novelty to say the least. They had moved from their own beds to sleep in our room. Now these big guys were sleeping in their beds. Oh boy that was fun!

Moving forward more… Allan Waine stayed in touch with us. He graduated from High School and then University. Then he launched into his Master’s Degree program in Toronto. He asked us to help him find a place to live in…but the places were pretty bad.

So Allan came to live with us. He was bigger…he was like a brother to our daughters… and he was part of our family. He graduated with his Masters degree. He married our College and Careers president, Ingrid, and took her with him.

Today Allan is a University/College Professor. And he is one of the top leaders and experts in training young adults for overseas appointments and work.

It all started when one 18 year old, that was big, that was a football player at high school in Ottawa – on his first trip out of Canada came to stay with us in Hong Kong. WOW!

Flash Back #3
Adrian Thomas came into my life as young man. He was the son of Missionary. His dad was a friend of mine. He is known a part of the unique group called MKs…that is “Missionary Kids”.

When we returned from Asia we witnessed a sad thing happening to the children of Missionary personnel serving overseas. When they came back to Canada they were struggling. They struggled with our Canadian culture – it was their parents culture – not theirs.

College and University stretched their values. The things of Canada mixed with temptations made for some terrible stuff happening in their lives.

Four of us formed a team to help these MKs by having a retreat for them and then built relationships with each one. The story is long and wonderful.

Adrian joined with a team of us that started helping MKs to adjust to what the new life would be. Adrian went on to help many, many more.

Adrian has helped hundreds of teens and young adults to get help and steady themselves since that time.

At one point Adrian was the youth pastor in our church, Northview.

Today Adrian is doing some amazing things in Dominican Republic working with some amazing projects. Today Adrian does this same kind of ministry in the D.R. as they call it.

This week Adrian and I talked about the old days of working together. What an amazing guy he is!

Deep Reflection…
I am blowing away by the hugs and hand shakes that have been given by all these young guys(and sometimes gals) – that are from our long lasting past and impact.

Like I said… “There is a gentle and quiet happiness that has warmed my whole being. I have experienced satisfaction at its best…”

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

General Conference 2008 - Camaraderie

2008-05-08T07:00:00.003-04:00

It was 38 years ago I attended my first General Conference with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. I went along with a senior pastor as his guest. I met many of his ‘old friends’ as I went through that first conference. We sat together and fellowshipped together. I met many new friends at that time.

I was young. They were ‘older’ than me.

At that conference…there was a quartet singing a special number that had most of the audience in tears as their blended harmony touched us deeply. The choirs that sang were right on. Along with the organ music we were drawn to a time of earnest prayer. The meeting was amazing.

Fast forward…
This week I met a few of those ‘older’ than me friends from 38 years ago. Some of them can’t remember my name. Oh boy! That is part of the ‘comedic game’ of the week – “Guess who this is…?” (But these ‘older’ folks, that I knew, are much fewer in number than in the last General Conference that I have attended.)

Some of us have changed a lot… much lighter hair colour… no hair… different shapes… etc. The differences are great.

There is one thing that is amazing. The camaraderie with each other continues. After 38 years the pastors love getting together and sharing.

There is something about friendship that is rich and wonderful. It binds and draws people together. It enriches and deepens what we know of each other when we can say, “This is my friend.”

In a local coffee shop I introduced myself to a couple at the next table. They were older than I am. He looked at me and before he told me his name he said, “You’re Murray aren’t you”. Oh Boy! Who was I speaking with…?

In a matter of minutes two friends discovered each other and caught up on many years of not seeing each other. But my how we both had changed!

Change was inevitable…
The change that I witnessed wasn’t just in the hallways and the meeting of friends…it was in “the church”. Let me explain.

Each night our group met for a Church Service. The Church Service had all the qualities of Church Services all over the world…with music, with announcements, with an offering, and with men speaking.
But this was very different from the world that I know and the church that we worship with in Peterborough. I will have a hard time finding words to really explain the difference. Very, very different with very, very different added to the first two very, very different-s – might help you see or feel what we witnessed.

First I will say there was “VIBRANCY”. The three main speakers were between 10 and 25 years younger than me. The worship leaders were probably between 30 to 45 years younger than me. The main/final speaker on introduction of himself admitted that he was one of the “older guys” now. (I remember him as a “very young upstart” beginning as a pastor of a larger church in BC. that had been a youth pastor not long ago…)

Second there was a “GAP” in what they DID in church and what I KNEW or was FAMILIAR with in our church today. The style of worship was VERY DIFFERENT! WOW – such vibrancy and such ability and so young and well – just plain different!

My wife leaned over to me and asked me a question. She didn’t need to whisper…but rather said it loudly…then had to say it again for me to hear… “What do you think “D….” or “M….” would think of this? I only wish that we could bring them all to see and feel what this is like!” Then she shook her head with a grin. “They would…” her words trailed off…

I was thinking exactly the same as she was.

The VIBRANCY and THE GAP was so great in what we normally do or know that there are no words to describe it. This was the NEXT GENERATION at its finest. This was GOOD. This was ATTRACTIVE and POWERFUL. In our old terms – THIS WAS SPIRIT FILLED and would draw the next generation back to church in a HEART BEAT.

How can it be SO DIFFERENT from what we know – or maybe you know – as you read this…?

Well first you need to dim the lights… down to almost dark. You need to add a roaring and vibrant band that plays at a much louder level than we are use to…then add some lights that express the music. These lights are able to swing around in 360 degree circles and in any direction or angle downward. They also change colour and shape and size… and SPLASH LIGHT all over the darkened audience below. The lights – dozens of them keep pace with the changing music…and draw you into the EXPERIENCE that is taking place all around you.

There was one common thread between what we do “at home” and what they do…people raise their hands as they sing and praise God. In fact there are many more in this group that raise their hands in praise than “at home”. Here… to do so is CONTAGIOUS and VIBRANT and YOUTHFUL and NEXT GENERATION.

Another word is PULSE that helps me to describe what I saw and felt. PUSLE comes from a LIVING BODY that has life in it. If ever any of my “older friends” wondered if there was hope for the church of tomorrow - they only need to see what is happening at these meetings. There is PULSE and LIFE here. It is good – very good!

Pause…
Most of the people on the platform were not born – or even thought of when I attended my first General Conference 38 years ago as a ‘young man’. The main speakers of last night were in early public school along with my daughters….or in early high school at that time!

I am not in tune with what is happening around me. I am so far from the main stream of what is taking place with the up to date stuff that it is embarrassing…and I am not able to understand. I am a “dinosaur” – something that is almost a relic…of old bones that will be discovered with great interest some day…and looked at with fascination.

Wow!

The Tourist…
I walked around with my camera and took photos of my fellow pastors as they worshiped. I know that I looked like a ‘tourist’ but I didn’t care. Some how I had to take some of this home so others like me would be able to catch some sense of what I experienced.

As I came to the very front row of the church my eyes locked on to an amazing sight…there was an older pastor…MUCH OLDER than me…with solid white hair, hands raised and swaying back and forth to the music. The solid sound that was hitting him was like a wall of music flooding in wave after wave at the front row. This man had to be at least in his 80s and he was into it. He was not going to miss a thing! He was up front and right with the band.

That may have been why the band leader was crying…with tears running down his face at times.

I gulped as I witnessed that small snapshot of the service. I am so glad I was the ‘tourist’ last night.

What does God think with all of the changes…?
This question popped into my head more than once over these past few days. I now have an answer. He is the one who designed it. He is the one that is behind it all! Loud doesn’t phase him all – check out a Thunder Storm. Vibrant and lively is what he is all about – look at young colts running in the field. Flashing light and light of any kind is his specialty – take a look at the Lightening Storm or a Sunset.

Flowing, drawing, lifting, encouraging, challenging, caring, loving, grasping, working and all together is what God is all about. And that is exactly what the pastors worshipping together did this week. And it is what the church back home is all about (or should be…).

WOW! And DOUBLE WOW!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
(YouTube Video Clips to follow)

General Conference 2008 - Impact

2008-05-07T05:41:00.001-04:00

It is over powering to sit with all of these friends and be surrounded with this much love. The setting we are in is amazing. No one expected this many people to show up. They say it is the biggest one ever held in Canada. There are 2000 people registered and over 1000 in the meetings we are attending. 99% of the people with me are Pentecostal Ministers. You have to struggle to find a seat in the main room – there are not seats available even at the very front – in fact those seats seem to go first.

Where are we? Alida and I are attending our church’s National Conference in Toronto, Ontario.

Men and women from all over Canada and from many parts of the world have gathered to hear and give reports of all that has been happening. We have listened to many amazing stories both in the sessions that we have attended and also in the times together with the other ministers in the foyer/meeting places.

(I may not get some of the email and posting done that I would like to because of email access problems. At the hotel it is a little pricey – at $250 for the first day of connection and $100 every day after that. Yikes! At this moment I am at a friend’s home using their wireless connection – and a better price – free!)

The sessions are dealing with a topic that is powerful, “Everyone Matters!” It has been powerful to hear the presentations in such a creative way…WOW! I actually matter and some one cares!

I have met broken men and women that have been crushed in the situations that they are working in as ministers. The churches that they have tried to serve have been filled with some of the meanest people one could ever meet. I am sure glad that I don’t have to live there.

Others have been wondered what they are doing where they serve. The words spoken in the sessions that we have attended – have said it over and over again – “I matter” – “God cares and he knows where we are and what we do.”

I am just like the rest of the folk that are attending… tired… busy… surrounded with problems that I have no answers for. And taking this time to be away from everything has been wonderful… refreshing… uplifting… re-charging and Spirit Filled with God lifting us all up.

My needs are maybe even greater than others. That has been the humbling and sobering thought from yesterday.

One thing I know from it all – God has a plan for me and my life and my ministry. That thought was a great thing to go to bed with last evening. Double WOW!

I can’t wait for today to begin. It is dark outside and no one wants to get up… Come on there is stuff to do.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

48 Hours of Victories and Five Victors

2008-05-05T07:43:00.005-04:00

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’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=Ec2vtju3KSg

The Original Tim Bits...

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself....

2008-05-04T06:26:00.001-04:00

Fear swallowed me alive. It was like a huge monster that slid from below the surface and its mouth opened in a ravenous way. My legs were paralyzed as I tried to run but the feeling of fear stopped me on the spot. I couldn’t move. Worse yet – I was asleep when this happened and could not wake up. Not a good night – not at all….

A bad dream is the last thing that any of us want. It sticks with us for a long time.

Yet the one thing that is worse than a Bad Dream – is a Daytime Nightmare. They pop into our consciousness and linger for days at a time consuming our being with fear.

The situation that you are facing right now may be the worst possible scenario that could happen to anyone. It is happening to you. It is not a dream and it won’t go away. You are living it NOW. And it will not leave. Every waking moment it bites at your progress through life.

At this very moment people that I have heard from in the USA and parts of Canada – may lose their homes with the terrible conditions that they face now. There are no jobs or the jobs they had are now history. The struggle that they had for years to keep up mortgage payments and be on time means nothing now. They will lose their homes before the summer time. It has all meant nothing.

In southern Saskatchewan and parts of the middle west of the USA – there is a drought on now. It has been many years since the land has had a good soaking of rain. There simply has been little if any at all. The winter has had little snow in some parts. It is bad.

Yet at the same time the price of grain is high. But these parts will not be able to grow grain at all. As to cattle – it is almost as bad. There isn’t enough water in some parts to let the animals drink. And they all have payments that must be made – or else!

There is a growing sense that we are on the door step of another recession. The “R” word is not being used by any leader yet. But it may happen soon.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address in 1933 as he became President of the USA is powerful when you read it.
Quote:
“I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.” End quote.

Placing this address in context is important. In 1933 the whole of our two countries were in a mess with a massive RECESSION. There were no crops. It was much like it is today. People lost their jobs. They lost everything in fact. They walked away from all that they had invested in as to houses and farms and factories.

Up to the time that Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected he had campaigned with a light and almost comical presentation. No one really got to know according to some historians – yet they elected him President.

There was nothing light and easy about the times that he entered. He personally was not broke. He personally lived fairly well. He knew nothing of what the “good people” were going through in a dust eaten area of the mid-west.

He was a politician. Why would he know about what was going? They all seem to be isolated and insolated in many people’s minds. Why would they care?

The problem is…
When you are facing the worst time in your life and career – how can anyone care or even understand your situation? You are not sure you do – so how will they?

The illustration I gave earlier about a Daytime Nightmare is mine. I am frightened to death of some things that are rising in my life. But who will understand? Who actually cares? Who can I tell? The answer I am afraid is – No one..! That is what makes the fear the worst to face…that word “alone”.

In my case I started the battle against fear – by talking to someone. I can’t talk to everyone – just someone. A some “one” is enough. They didn’t have the answers for me – but they had an ear.

So where do we go from here? Frozen to death by the fears that are as real as the hand in front of us – we cannot go. What do you mean “GO” – pastor?

I am going to call on people that I need to listen. In turn they will get me listening to them. Together we will get through this Daytime Nightmare.

The Bible has a powerful statement by an ancient wise man – King Solomon. He said, in Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 (New International Version)
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

You cannot do this alone. Neither can I. Find someone and share the need and accept the care.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources:
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address – 1933 http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/

Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=4&verse=11&end_verse=13&version=31&context=context

Painting Balling and Canoeing

2008-05-03T07:12:00.010-04:00

Two very exciting beginning of summer days have just passed. One was a late afternoon happening with my grandson’s birthday party and the other was a later afternoon happening with three Korean University students and two canoes.

The first one you haven’t read about yet; the second one you have if you read Bruce Lindsay’s posting of April 28 on this Blog.

Both of these happenings were God’s special blessing for me. I needed them and God presented them with joy.

As a pastor of a mature church there is a tendency to be with more mature people all the time. Now granted that I am more mature now too…means that we deal with “more mature” things happening.

Thursday and Friday were anything but “mature” – they were fun.

Begin with Thursday…
I was invited to help drive my grandson’s friends and their dads to Marmora, Ontario – three towns to the east of our city – for my grandson’s 13th Birthday Party. Together they would take part in a Paint Ball War in the bush area just north of the town.

I had no idea of what would be…never having done it before. But now I am so glad that I went and became a little less “Mature” for a short while.

At about 5:00 PM the boys were outfitted with their face masks, gloves, neck protectors, some body armour if they so desired, and their weapons – a powerful, fast loading and firing, 220 feet per second, paint ball gun. Along with them were their dads – young, vibrant, cool, and caring for their sons. Some dads were actually 13 year boys but just a bit older – the others were sent by their wives to make sure that their son didn’t get “killed”.

After they were prepared with the outfit and the ‘rules’ of killing – they were led into the bush to begin the ‘war’. The excitement was high.

One dad walking with me confided, “I hope I don’t start crying when I get hit…”, then grinned from ear to ear – but he was serious. We have come to know each other when I attend my grandson’s baseball games over the last few summers.

Two other dads shared their hopes and dreams with me in the van as we drove to the Paint Ball place. Together we came to know each other and the struggles that they have gone through over these last years or so.

(Clifford's photo on the left)

The most powerful part was watching my son-in-law connect with these folks. He knows all the boys by name – as they are in Clifford’s class at school. He knows their dads individually and prays for them and each family. That’s why Bruce paid for the whole evening I am sure. It was an investment in his son and his son’s friends.

I want to pat Bruce on the back at this point – I am so proud of my son-in-law Bruce for reaching out the way he does. You Go Bruce! (My other son-in-law Bill does the same kind of things – but this story isn’t about him...sorry Bill)

There is a new YouTube Video in place now of this night together. The URL address is at the end of this posting – 5 minutes and 33 seconds worth.

On Friday morning Bruce shared more of the stories and family needs that the Paint Ball guys have. Together we now pray for them.

My grandson’s one friend, ‘Connor’ (on the right in the photo), came with the guys. Last year Connor’s dad died. Clifford and Connor walk to school together everyday. It has been a really rough year for this young fellow. On Thursday afternoon Connor experienced a whole bunch of dads that did “dad things” with their sons – and Bruce made sure that Connor came along.

Come with me to Friday…
On Friday afternoon Bruce and I loaded two canoes on to my trailer. Again I was driving for Bruce and his Friday outing. I was not as confident about this outing however… I didn’t have to go along but I was fearful of what could happen.
Bruce was preparing to load two canoes with tents, cooking utensils, food and clothing for three days in Ontario’s wilderness. A full blown canoe and camping experience on his three days off – with three Korean Young adults…who have never been in a Canoe before, never tented before, and have never, ever done the Canadian wilderness before.

Given the fact that hibernation for Canadian Black Bears is just over – the trip into this wilderness area will be an adventure for sure.

The launch of this Canoe trip, Bruce’s instruction and initial guiding techniques are on another YouTube posting given just below the 13th Birthday Party posting below.

Again I say that I am impressed with my son-in-law. He is amazing as he takes on these death defying challenges…Paint Ball Wars first and then the “Original Survivors T.V” series without the TV cameras and T.V. baloney – and for no money! There isn’t a million dollars to win at the end of this trip – only deep respect by three Korean young adults.

As they headed into the rainy sunset last evening I prayed with Bruce and for Bruce as they sat off shore in the canoes.

At 7:00 PM Bruce called on his cell phone that miraculously worked from where they were… they had made the first camp, cooked their first meal and all were delighted with what was taking place. And no Bears so far….

Bruce is excited about his life. He is vibrant and alive with expectations. He is willing to try it and go for the treasured Goal of this season. He will never wait, forget, or not even try – and later regret that he didn’t do it. He goes for the Gold!

Clifford and Emma watch dad and go with dad whenever they can.

If you see ‘proud’ written between these lines – you are right. But it is a healthy pride that should be written ‘admiration’. This is what I used to do also. Now both Bill and Bruce do the same. This father-in-law couldn’t be happier – and that is why I go along.

There is some hesitancy now though – in my ‘mature’ way I have an aversion to being shot by one of those half inch, hard and splattering paint balls. I also have some aches and pains that long paddling and portaging through Canadian wilderness is best enjoyed with a story written by some one like Farley Mowatt.

For these last two days I have watched what Christianity should be like – fun and caring. Thanks Bruce for the example.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Alias “Dad”

PS…
No post for two days is too long – some one will wonder if there is something wrong…yikes. There is – my shoulder is killing me, Something to do with a pinched nerve I believe – but who wants to go to the hospital? You wait for three hours for the first stage and then two more to see a doctor – who tells you that you should rest and let it heal. So…? And the rainy day makes it worse… So I apologize for not banging out as many words as usual – it has been hard to type at times… and I have been busy driving people to Paint Ball and Canoeing and just having fun…

For fun see….
Clifford’s 13th Birthday Party – http://youtube.com/watch?v=EhjG3vhXzuM
Calvin’s First Canadian Canoe Trip - http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ec2vtju3KSg

2 nd Posting For Thursday

2008-05-01T10:53:00.002-04:00

This is a mural in a Smoking Lounge. The picture says it all.

Shocking and Cruel

2008-05-01T10:20:00.003-04:00

“A young woman, slightly unkempt with tear stained cheeks is sitting in the back of a police cruiser, in the middle of the night. She is told that she will have to be transported to a community two hours away from her home and she bursts into tears again. "I am not the criminal here!"

Likely story you might say if you read the above without the context. In fact, she is not the criminal in this situation she is the victim, a victim of a sexual assault and because there are no specially trained personnel available to help her in her home community the trip is necessary.

As a woman I am disgusted. Imagine having been violated in such a violent way, sexually. This young woman is no doubt upset, she has bruising in very private places on her body, private places that she would only share in very intimate or medical situations.

These parts of her body are also filthy with the body fluids of the man that did this to her.

As a person who is involved at arms length with victims of sexual assault I can say that this type of situation is the norm!

There are many holes but this is where the story can begin.”

Lynn

The above note/posting came from a friend of mine. It describes the situation that a young lady has faced after the Rape she endured.

It happened in Saskatchewan. The place that it took place in is not large. To do the proper investigation they must do in a proper way to not lose valuable evidence. Virtually the young lady is the “crime scene” and must be handled properly or when the potential court case and conviction is sought, the criminal will be set free.

During the court case her testimony is vital and so is the evidence. When it is over and the results of the case have concluded – the person who did the assault/rape – is dealt with by sending him to jail. But it is far from over for the woman.

The fears and nightmares that she will experience will be unending – perhaps for a life time.

The first raping by the man is horrific. The second raping is potential by the system that handles her.

In the account given by Lynn she is made to sit in the back of the Police Car for two hours while traveling to a bigger center that deals with this issue more often.

Put yourself in her shoes and in the back that Police Car – alone and dirty – defiled by someone she either knew or didn’t know. Who will she cry with or scream at in those long two hours? No one is sitting with her as she is the “evidence”.

Why am I passionate about this?

Well as a person that cares… I care all the time – not just up to the court case and through the court case. It is long after that when no one listens or even seems to be there…when all the pieces that were shattered and dreams that once were have evaporated… I find the person struggling to exist or even stay alive.

Jobs are hard to hold after a rape. Family is hard to enjoy after you have been violated. And as much as the individual tries to “get on with life” – or suck it up and move on – that horrible half hour will never leave.

We need to do all that we can to help the victim of these crimes.

Locally…
In our court house in Peterborough, where the criminals and witnesses and families meet for the trial date(s), everyone is in the same hallway. Everyone goes to the same bathroom. For a victim of rape to have to meet up with the mother of the rapist – in the women’s washroom, words cannot describe the feelings that each may have.

Mr. & Mrs. John and Jane Public read about the arrest and the trial in the newspaper days later it has happened. Then are moved slightly by what they read…but then skip to the next article on the page about the price of chickens, the fact that a politician is in trouble and that real-estate prices are climbing. Simply the public never really knows what goes on or how people are treated.

That is wrong!

We need to know. We need to understand. We need to care.
So what has that to do with church and God and Christian and all that stuff?

As a pastor I would suggest that we really need to get out of our comfortable pew and do something. I can guarantee you that it will years before this young lady darken the door of a church or sits in one of our pews with her pain.

Can I suggest in a very loud voice – “FOR GOD’S SAKE AND THE SAKE OF THIS YOUNG LADY DO SOMETHING!”

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

To read the original posting follow this link – and visit it often…
http://realityofsurvivors.blogspot.com/

Social Networking – Part Two

2008-04-30T07:54:00.001-04:00

On April 27, 2008 (two posts ago) I explained a little of what we now know of SOCIAL Networking…

This is part two….

Wikipedia describes Social Networking as using software to build Social Networks. Some of the examples that are given in the definition are - Popular methods now combine many of these, with MySpace and Facebook being the most widely used in North America, Bebo, MySpace, Skyrock Blog , Facebook and Hi5 in parts of Europe, Orkut and Hi5 in South America and Central America, Friendster, Orkut and CyWorld in Asia and the Pacific Islands.

And all of these plus another 1900 (as of April 2008) are used by anyone that wants to – anywhere. You could conceivably be in each group – everywhere – all the time.

It is not just for young teenagers – old people are here by the millions as well. In one popular group called Facebook, they are adding 100 – 125 thousand people per day – or over 1 million per week. One half of the people on Facebook are over 35 years old and over 100 Thousand are over 64 years of age!

I use Skype, a computer program to talk and communicate with people - anywhere. It is free. At any one time when I use it, from 6:00 AM through to 7:30 AM – there are about 7 to 12 million other people using it at the same time.

Do these figures stagger your mind? They rock me. It is hard to fathom this when my “real world” might have six contacts a day. Or in the case of a quiet day at the office when no one is sick or in trouble – I get none – zero – zip – nada – nothing – no phone calls.

In my computer world I am rocked by the contacts.

A few years ago AOL, a computer service provider, had a clever little sound bite that said, “You’ve got mail..”. We could never have that happen today – most of us have buckets of email that drive us crazy with that kind of voice in the background. Add to that Facebook that has become a secondary(maybe even primary) conversation tool… then YouTube with its comments section…. And it takes time from an already busy day.

I came across an interesting fact – 68% of the people that go to YouTube spend more than 6 minutes a day watching videos in the USA. I know from personal experience in the YouTube video work that is almost impossible to get on (or very slow) right after school gets out during each day… and again in the evening after the kids go to bed. First the younger population is on and then second the older population takes over the family computer when the kids are not there.

So how does Social Networking affect our people…?

Well – one thing you should notice – it takes time to communicate with everyone. Just like a “real visit” with a face to face communication it takes time. The difference is that you do not have to travel to talk to some one….you click on and you’re good to go. And add to that you can talk with two or more people at the same time.

But the difficulty is that with too many communications at the same time the quality of the actual things being exchanged or shared drops. Your mind can only receive one thing at a time. We have to move from one conversation to the next. Sometimes we will miss what someone is saying because the conversation is too intense in another area.

Problem 1
We have “real relationships” – i.e. husband and wife relationships suffering from “Social Networking-itis”. A wife can talk to her husband while he is at the computer and he will not hear her – even when she sits beside him! Problem one – “real communication” drops off to nothing.

I know a husband and wife that email each other, or Facebook each other from two different rooms in the same house. They do not talk. When they drive somewhere, in a car alone, they do not talk. They are both thinking about what they will say next when they are back at their computer – to their friends.

Problem 2
People are addicted to their “Social Networking” and to Computers in general. China is the first country to force their people into Computer Addiction Recovery Groups. If someone deems that a person is being deeply affected by his or her use of computers and it is felt that they are addicted – they are forced into a program to de-program them.

Problem 3
There was a period of time when we heard the horror stories of men or women that “met someone” on an internet chat room and then left their mate for that new “special someone”.

The newer problem that is surfacing, people are having affairs from a keyboard without hurting anyone else. They do not leave physically. They have given all their time, their energy, their emotion and their whole being to the person that they think they know on the other end of the computer connections.

The “real relationship” that they so much enjoyed is no longer satisfying.

Problem 4
The excessive use of the computer has robbed some of their quality time with God himself.

Along time ago – in fact the first story of “Social Networking” that I know was that of Adam and God in a marvelous garden called Eden. They walked and talked together until Adam and Eve (or was it Eve and Adam) messed it up. If you know the story – Adam was naked – no clothes and no computer. And God and Adam talked.

Place the story of Adam and God in today’s world… Adam would be buying the biggest, fastest, coolest and cleanest computer and God would be looking at his watch in the Garden – Adam would be a “no show”.

Am I concerned? You better believe it. I am concerned what computers have done to me – not you. I have to limit my usage – just like everyone else. And it is hard.

As much as I appreciate you taking time to read this – please stop now and go to talk to a real person. Walk and talk with you husband or wife. Call someone on a regular telephone and see if they will leave their keyboard and go for a tea or coffee.

For goodness sake try the “REAL WORLD” it is filled with real people that need a little of your time.

For God’s sake – talk to HIM today. He is waiting for you and me. Yesterday or the day before we were both “No shows”. He is wanting to listen to you.

One last thing – God is not on Facebook, there are no YouTube videos of him and he has yet to get an email address. He responds quickly to “Hi God”, “Are you there?”, “Help!” and any other thing you might throw out there. The conversation will flow from that. Trust me.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Social Networking - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking

God on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God

Taking Canada for Granted

2008-04-28T00:53:00.005-04:00

By Bruce Lindsay

What beautiful weather we’ve been having. Have you been getting outside and enjoying it?

This week, on May 2nd I am leading a group of young Korean men into the bush for a canoe trip. You might think I’m crazy. When you know the whole story you will know I’m crazy.

Here’s the story.
Calvin is a young Korean guy, 22 years old, who has been living with our family as he attended Trent University for English as a Second Language (ESL). He finished school and was planning to take a trip to Cuba with 2 other Korean friends, then fly home and look for a job and start a career. He may propose to his girlfriend soon, he tells me.

Earlier this month, I mentioned that I'd have a few free days at the end of this week, and I’d like to take him on a canoe trip before he leaves. He wanted to go! In fact he was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

Later, I learned that Calvin cancelled his trip to Cuba to come along with me. He told Dana, my wife, all this over dinner one evening. His friends were very disappointed. Not disappointed that Calvin wasn’t going to Cuba with them, but that they were going to Cuba instead of on a canoe trip. Calvin said they were both wishing they had an opportunity like his.

I was blown away!

Not only was I shocked that Calvin would rather rough it in the bush with me than holiday in Cuba, but that 2 other guys felt the same way. I told him that if they wanted to go that badly, then he should invite them along. I don’t mind having extra people with us.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the past week. I’ve had to start making plans. What route should I take? I doubt these guys are strong swimmers or canoeists. I don’t know if they have any outdoor skills at all. It might be like taking three 7 year old kids – albeit kids who are strong enough to carry the packs and canoes through the portages. I need to be sure they don’t tip their canoe because the water will be very cold! People have warned me that there may still be ice on some of the lakes. It might be very cold at night. There might be tons of black-flies.

The ground might be too wet. The wood might be too wet.

There might be a fire-ban. There are many reasons to worry. Many reasons to think I’m crazy.

But I can’t wait!

I’ve checked (no fire-ban, no ice in the lake), nothing but cold water, possible rain and possible below seasonal temperatures. Who cares!

Let’s go!

How many people reading this have never gone on a canoe trip? How many have never experienced the beauty we have in Canada – for free! How many have instead, spent thousands of dollars to go to some beach somewhere south. The more I think about it the more I feel that these boys are doing the wise thing. There will always be beaches in hot places. But there might not always be places you can canoe into and not see another soul.

Camping near a waterfall; silently paddling near a loon or trying to catch up to a swiftly swimming otter; letting the river take you downstream, as you pass some deer, alertly watching you go; being woken up by birdsongs; being sung to sleep by the lullaby of owls, frogs, crickets and the nearby waterfall. This may be their only chance in their lives to experience these things. I’ve experienced them before, but I keep wanting more. These young men are in for a trip they will never forget. It will be difficult. It will be bracing. It may leave them feeling sore and tired. But it will be so very worth the effort.

Don’t take Canada for granted. Camping may not be your thing, I know. (My wife’s idea of roughing it is opening a window.) But I want to encourage you to step outside. Drive a little north. Stand near the water. If you dare to take a step further, step into a canoe. Paddle hard! Work until your arms are sore! See how fast you can go. Break a sweat! Sing out loud. And you will begin to feel the joy of les coureur-de-bois.

“What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other travel. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute; pedal five hundred on a bicycle and you remain basically a bourgeois; paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of nature.” – Pierre Elliott Trudeau

For 24 years I was a light canoeman. I required but little sleep, but sometimes got less than I required. No portage was too long for me; all portages were alike. My end of the canoe never touched the ground 'til I saw the end of it. Fifty songs a day were nothing to me. I could carry, paddle, walk and sing with any man I ever saw... I pushed on - over rapids, over cascades, over chutes; all were the same to me. No water, no weather ever stopped the paddle or the song... There is no life so happy as a voyageur's life; none so independent; no place where a man enjoys so much variety and freedom as in the Indian country. Huzza, huzza pour le pays sauvage! - Anonymous coureur-de-bois quoted by a Hudson's Bay Co. historian.

Can You Duet?

2008-04-27T07:28:00.003-04:00

As I surfed the Channels I stumbled on to a very unusual TV program. It was called “Can You Duet?” Yes – for sure – all about singing Duets…and it was on a ‘Country and Western’ TV channel… “CMT”.

Some of my friends will already be snickering at that statement. They know me and I don’t do “Country Music” unless it is real late at night and I am driving a very long, long ways – then the story line of the Country stuff will keep me a wake in the car… “Your cheating heart…will tell on youuuu…”

Your cheatin' heart will make you weep
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
When tears come down like fallin' rain
(words to a Country and Western Song see reference below)

Back to the Duet…
The CMT program featured amateur, country singers coming on to the program as a Duet. They sang wonderfully or painfully to a panel of three judges – who then said the words and they were either voted out of in – not necessarily together. Once or twice the judges select one of the two to allow that person to go on…knocking the other partner out.

WOW – a country western talent show that is like “Survivor” mixed with “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” – but with a ‘twang or two’.

There were the two ladies that had worked as janitors in a church, made a decision to enter “Can You Duet?” and were then fired from their jobs because they had done so. “Dumb church officials/minister…” was the feeling that you got from that little story.

There were two cousins – one young one old… the old guy was voted off/out and the young cousin was allowed to go on.

Then there were the brother and sister act…he played a base fiddle and she a guitar…and they sang about their ‘daddy being in prison’…but explained first to the three judges that he hadn’t really been in prison and didn’t have 18 kids like the song said…

Now DU you get the idea about DUET… “Do it…”? I know I have just caused my China Friends to nearly burn up their dictionaries and spell check translators with this… shish!
But hey…it is Country Music… and when you listen to Country Music…well it is a different world!

But the best was to come…
In the ‘commercial break’ there was an invitation to come to the CMT.com web site…click on to the site…and get this part… “Don’t just listen to Country Music…LIVE IT!”

“Holy Cow!”
Here was the newest example for me of “Social Networking”. Can you imagine “Social Networking” in country music? You have to believe it. Here is a group of people that are connecting with each other.. “living country music” not just listening to it…connecting over country music. WOW!

This posting is not about my preferences to Country Music of not. It is about our connections in our everyday life 2008. It is about the rapid change that is taking place right under my nose without me ever knowing about it. Social Networking is happening at a speed that none of us has ever experienced before. It was always there and had always been a part of everyone’s life – but MUCH, MUCH, MUCH slower.

This Blog is an example of a “Social Network”. People join me to read what I write. Sometimes the Blog will stir a comment. The comments are possible connectors with others and are made only under great strain by ‘my kind of readers’ up to last month. Suddenly things have started to change. Comments are coming by ‘new members’ from far away…with closer members watching and reading…new people joined the group and we are not sure what to do.

In fact we didn’t even know NEW PEOPLE were in a group.

SOCIAL MARKETING…
Social marketing is a new buzz phrase for sure. Googling it just now I received 42,800,000 results – so it may be new to us but a whole lot of people have been looking into it. Check out the Wikipedia link below re-Social Marketing.

The newest and fastest form of Social Marketing include all the computer related groups that we are joining and taking part in…FaceBook, YouTube, Blogging, Email, and many, many more.

Most people I know now belong to about three – maybe four groups. Others are into more than 12 groups – or even higher…ALL FROM THEIR COMPUTER KEYBOARDS!!!!

They belong to meaningful, virtual worlds that require connecting to on a regular basis…sometimes many times during to the day just to keep up with the flow.

Personally I connect with a group of pastors on a daily basis. Sometimes it is often during the day. I am amazed that some are on as much as they are…posting many times on topics of concern. It is a “virtual world of pastors”. Two weeks from now we are all attending a National Conference in Toronto. It was suggested that we all wear badges that state “PPC” – that is “Pentecostal Pastors of Canada” so we will know who each other is.

Imagine belonging to a group that you know everyone well…but have never met them. 10 years ago that would have never happened!

Too Much Change?
Social Networking and Social Groups have existed for a long time…just not over a computer.

The Children of Israel – the people that followed Moses out of Egypt in the Exodus were the first and greatest Social Network that I can find in the Bible. Then all the stories about their problems and interaction in their Social Network makes up the account of their lives.

Next when you go to the New Testament of the Bible you read of their amazing Social Network.

Through both Social Network stories we see God interacting with them according to accounts given.

Then we form a church – which is another Social Network. But the church only meets once a week. Naturally it has become almost isolated from the fast growing Social Network that most of us have outside of it.

So that opens a whole new topic for me this week. Expect more.

Question today… how many people are in your Social Networks in an average day – including real life connections and computer connections? Can you number them? For me it is about 12 in one group – live… 3 in another group live… 6 in another group live…3 in another group live…185 in another live…

In FaceBook I have 308 and growing each week. YouTube there are many, many, and many…in the PPC there are about 100 guys and gals…and growing.

My eWorld is bigger than my Real World. So is everyone else’s.

Something to think about for sure.

This is NUTS you say! Not so. My spiritual world is virtual world as well – I cannot see God and don’t know what he looks like… yet I talk to him. I have never seen Jesus – yet I talk to him each day and he speaks back to me at times.

Something more to think about…. Hmmmm?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Ray Charles lyrics – Your cheatin’ heart http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/ray_charles/your_cheating_heart.html

http://www.cmt.com/
http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/224592/can-you-duet-ep-2-extras-choose-your-partner-wisely.jhtml
Social Marketing - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_marketing

News Flash - Dan Haley is Losing Weight!

2008-04-25T22:08:00.005-04:00

Dan is a big man! Some have said that he is the size he is because he has such a big heart… He does have a big heart for sure. But he also tends to love his food and he is a GREAT COOK. Add to that the stress of an important job and you have a recipe for more pounds than he needs.

Recently Dan Haley began to work at shedding these extra pounds. His work outs begin at 6:30 AM and finish at 9:00 AM. His friends Fernand Samson has been a great encouragement.

Another motivation has been the need that his ministry, Peterborough Community Chaplaincy, has for support and encouragement as well. Together with his Board of Directors, I am asking you to consider supporting Dan’s effort to lose weight by sponsoring him for a few dollars per pound. His goal is lose a minimum of 30 pounds by September 2008.

If you would sponsor him for $10 a pound you would be receipted for $300 toward your Income Tax next year. $50 a pound would be another $1500 going into this vital ministry and so on. Together we could easily reach between $10,000 and $20,000 for Peterborough Community Chaplaincy.

You may be asking what Peterborough Community Chaplaincy is all about and why do they need support?

PCC as we know it – is a vital link between the Federal Prison system and the outside world. When a man is released from one of our prisons in Canada there is a period of transition that it vital for him to receive help. If he gets help – there is a 99% chance he will make it and there will not be anymore victims of crime…without it could and would be much worse.

PCC and Dan Haley provide that invaluable help and safety for each man.

Our hope and desire is to support PCC and also to see Dan come through this as a healthier Chaplain! After all it is Doctor Hardy Friesen’s orders… Thanks Doc for caring enough to offer Dan some tough love. We know that you are and will be proud of him – just like we are…

You go Dan! Go for at least 30 pounds and if you get more we will support you more!

Your friends,
Murray Lincoln and about a 1000 more people that believe in what you are doing!!!!

Meet China – Part One – Land and The Olympics and Politics

2008-04-25T11:47:00.007-04:00

Yesterday some of you were introduced to my friend “Land” who lives in China. I am excited about “Land” and his friends connecting with me (and you). It would be wonderful if this Blog could be used to connect the people of many different places.

As some of you know I have traveled to China a number of times in earlier years. I was able to visit a small portion of the south of China. While I was living in Hong Kong this was one of my greatest joys to discover China and travel to some of their cities – and most of all to discover some of their culture. That was way back on 1981 – 1985. It was almost 27 years ago that I my first visit into China.

Today China has changed in so many ways – yet there is a part that never will change. It is complicated for me to explain that statement in a short few words.

I have discovered some amazing, up-to-date facts about China from the National Geographic Magazine Web Site. It is shown below. In its Geopedia section it has collected a series of short articles under the banner of “China by the Numbers”.

The opening statement that Mary McPeak makes is….
“Everything about China is big. Its population, 1.3 billion, is the largest in the world. Its area--3,705,405 square miles (9,596,960 square kilometers)--is the fourth largest, after that of Russia, Canada, and the U.S. And its labor force, with 803,300,000 workers, is the world's largest.”

A few statements that describe the country well today are as follows:

China’s one-child policy created a generation of only children(only child) that numbers 90 million.
119 baby boys are born for every 100 girls.
The number of unmarried young men – called bare branches – is predicted to be 30 million in 2020.
45 percent of Chinese women surveyed say that they do not want to give up their careers to get married.
Three in ten Chinese families have grandparents living in the same household.
Beijing enforces a one-dog policy that prohibits pets more than 14 inches high.
China is expected to overtake the USA as the world’s largest economy in ten years.
China has the world’s highest number of deaths triggered by air pollution.
Urban Chinese earn more than three times as much as those in rural areas, the highest income gap since the start of reforms in 1978.
Public protests rose by 50% last year.
One in four residents in Beijing is a migrant from the country.
67 percent of millionaires surveyed say that they are sacrificing health for money. (source: National Geographic Magazine – may 2008 edition)

Do these figures move you? For “Land” they do. He lives in the middle of it all. He is one of the 1.3 Billion and he lives on a small portion of the 3,705,405 square miles… or to put it another way there are 350 people for every square mile of the country – and much of the country is not the kind you can live on… forests, water, mountains and rivers are all part of the total land mass.
China is crowded.

Personal Pride…
A month ago our family became even more interested in China and particularly Beijing in the month of August 2008. It is during that time that my nephew, Zack Bell, will compete in the Olympics representing Canada. You have to know that I am VERY PROUD of Zack as he represents Canada. I know that he has competed all over the world and that HE IS THE BEST! Now the world will discover how great he really is.

Zach is a cyclist that will be taking part in the unique race in the Velodrome – track cycling event.

Go Zach Bell Go!

Politics…
Now I pause for a minute and ponder the problems that China now faces. Problems of ‘protest’ are difficult for anyone. In leadership I know the feeling. You try hard but no one will listen – they are right and you are wrong.

Lest I have this Blog ‘flamed’ by protestors – I am very careful what I say about Tibet and China. I will say that I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE PROTESTORS AGAINST CHINA! They are going about this whole adventure of trying to expose ‘their ideas of bad practices by China’ – in a wrong way. That is my opinion at least. I protest the protestors and their methods for sure.

In China, long ago, one of their writers and wise men made a powerful statement about China and its culture. He said, “the grass bends as the wind blows”. The meaning is fairly evident I think. A north wind will bend the grass stalk to the south and the south wind will bend it north. The grass is very flexible and continues to bend left, right, front and back all summer and never breaks.

Under the mighty Emperors long before the Chinese people ever heard of Communism, the people were bent and bruised millions of times. Under the communist government there has been a blowing and bending as well. When you read of the oppression of the Emperor’s regimes – the communist era is seen in an entirely different way.

I make a very political statement at this point. I doubt that Democracy will ever improve the conditions of China if it had its way. And I know that Capitalism will do no better.

China’s basic problems of geography, population, vast regions and developing the huge resources will be the same no matter who takes leadership. The challenges dictate the leadership – not the leadership dictating anything.

And the number one problem that China faces is trying to feed the lust of the USA and Canada(and the western world) for “stuff”. Check it out next time you are shopping. Pick up 20 items and see where they all were made. My guess is that at least 85% will be “Made in China”. Now take away everything that is Made in China and see just how bare the shelves would be!

I want the whole world know… China I believe in “You” as a Country and that there is one man in Canada that is praying for your success – his name is “Murray Lincoln”.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Zach Bell’s Uncle and Supporter!

Resources:

National Geographic Magazine - China by the Numbers..
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/geopedia/China

Zach Bell
http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/olympic-hopeful-confident-about-chances-of-qualifying/
http://www.velonorth.ca/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2624&theme=Printer
http://zerailleur.com/blog/archives/134

http://www.topix.com/cycling/zach-bell

Ladies and Gentlemen – This is my friend “Land”

2008-04-24T11:53:00.002-04:00

Today I am introducing my friend “Land”. He is one of the many new readers and visitors to this Blog over these past months. “Land” lives in China and attends University at this time. Soon he will travel abroad to study in England. “Land” and I speak to each other using Skype and we also ‘chat’ using our keyboards. It has been a joy getting to know this young man. You will see that he has left comments on this Blog after certain postings.

“Land” and my worlds have certainly changed over these years. From the beginning of my ministry, where I looked after an immediate flock of people as their pastor, to now be reaching around the world from my computer keyboard simply staggers my mind.

At this moment a person from Ghana, in West Africa, is reading the pages of this Blog. His search on the computer took him to a January 2007 posting that I had done. A program on my computer and at our server – has told me that he is looking into our Blog using Microsoft XP, his Monitor Resolution is set at 1024 x 768, and he is using Firefox Mozzilla Browser to read the Blog. My computer tells me all about him.

And just before that a person in Pakistan at a commercial business has been reading a posting I made on December 31, 2007 regarding “Polygamy – Polygyny – Polyandry & Monogamy vs Marriage”. Think of this fact for a moment – a person in an Islamic country is reading a Christian Blog on some touchy subjects. This person’s Google Search was for “sociology polygyny wikipedia” and Google gave them our Blog….and this posting!

At about the same time the person from Pakistan dropped in to read – another person in Kampala, Uganda dropped by and came to read the posting I did on March 19, 2008 about Dr. Charles Ratz…by asking the telling of Google “i am looking for carman pentecostal church ,canada.”

And again – about the same time someone from Lazio, Italy – near Rome – came looking for images of Pioneers. Their request was for “Qui sotto c'è l'immagine nel suo contesto originale nella pagina” On July 2, 2007 I did a posting about my volunteer work at Lang Pioneer Village and had posted an image with that entry of a “Steammonster” – a great steam powered tractor of the old days.

Further… on March 22. 2006, the second month of our posting to this Blog, I had shared with our audience about the Revival of 1857. This revival in communities of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England a year or two later was well Blogged as part of my sharing the Bible Study Notes that some were not able to get at the last meeting. Today someone ‘Telford and Wrekin’ area of the United Kingdom came looking for information on this topic.

For the fun of it I went to my Google Earth Program and searched for Telford, England….and Zoom I was there over Telford, at 6.34 Kilometers above the town, via a satellite image. Take a look with me at the image – you can see the automobiles parked in the parking lot below. Wow!

The other 96 people that have looked in today are mostly in North America at this time – because the rest of the world is sleeping now. When we go to bed – Asia wakes up and reads – so does “Land”.

My world has changed big time. The ministry that I accomplish now is far bigger than in 1974 when I began as pastor of the Walkerton Pentecostal Church, in Walkerton, Ontario.

In 1974 I remember the days that I walked to the Post Office to get our mail. I prayed earnestly for God to show me what I was to do in ministry as a pastor. I was brand new then as a Minister. I wanted to do my best as a pastor and help the community around me. But what was the community’s need? Where would I fit in? My heart nearly burst as I asked this huge question.

Now 34 years later I realize that the community around me is so much bigger than my small prayer and thinking. In one click of something called a ‘mouse’, I send my thoughts and care around the world – in picoseconds (A picosecond is one millionth of one millionth of a second (0.000 000 000 001 seconds).

I would like you to meet “Land” and then pray for “Land” that he will be successful in all that he does. Pray also for his mother…who is a believer in Jesus. From what “Land” told me, his mom is active in church. She was also wondering what churches in North America looked like. Together they viewed my granddaughter’s water baptism on YouTube.

“Land” asked me what our church was like – so I made a video of our church and mounted it on YouTube….now many people are attending our church via YouTube. Already 40 people from all over the world have walked through the doors of our church from this simple video. I made the video for my friends in Africa and Asia. I would like all of them to visit when they can. That has all happened in 24 hours.

Ladies and Gentlemen – This is my friend “Land” – together we are going to do amazing things.

Oh... sorry I have to run now...Mohamed DoDo has just called me on Skype...he is in Algeria and wants to talk to me...gotta run...

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS…
Did I tell you that I love China?!

References:
"Welcome to Northview Pentecostal Church" - http://youtube.com/watch?v=EcfbPhd3Nu4

Emma Lindsay’s Water Baptism Easter Sunday March 23, 2008-04-24
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDZSSy-7JTM&feature=related

National Geographic Video of China
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player?titleID=1496340460&catID=12

Photos of “Land’s” friends
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/china/whats-next/hoffmann-photography
Note: please see “Holiday travelers pack the Guangzhou Railway Station in Guangdong Province.”

The Mouse House

2008-04-23T07:35:00.001-04:00

Honouring the mouse seems logical. He worked hard all winter to survive. As I cleaned away the flower bed I cut the Tall Decorative Grass form its base of roots. There inside was a nest that the mouse had lived in for the past months. Clever little fellow for sure.

There were some obstacles however. Big ones in fact were faced by the little guy through the winter. The Tall Grass was matted over with the weight of the heavy snow bank that formed above it. It fact it was at the edge of the driveway where the snow was shoveled to over six feet deep. This was the last snow bank to go and was actually like a huge chunk of ice when it melted. But the small house was fully in tact when I removed it from the mass of material around it.

The mouse was gone…but had managed to make it through one more year in our garden. A simple story I know – but there seems to be a lesson here for me.

Obstacles – no matter how big they are or how miserable they are will not stop a mouse. In fact he thrives on it. He can make his way through just about any impossibility and still survive.

I need a little of what the mouse has. When buried under tons of problems, the ice cold stuff of poor relationships, the impossibility that may crush me – I need a little of that “I can get through this if I keep at it.”

Maybe I am the only one that faces “stuff”.

One great part of the discovery of the mouse’s house was…he was gone. He had moved on and didn’t need the Tall Grass House any longer. There were trails from the grass house into the neighbour’s yard. He moved on over the winter under the snow actually moving back and forth from yard to yard. In all probability he also raised his family there with a Mrs. Mouse.

Where did Mr. Mouse get his drive from? Where did he collect that “stick with it” attitude? How did he figure out how to make a house and keep on going?

As I ponder these thoughts the resulting thought is one special place. I really believe that the Creator has given him that ability and help him through it all. I know that he has given that to me as well. We will make it through…even though it seems very difficult to do so at times.

Today I am thinking of a small grass house below tons of snow…that survived it all…and a little mouse that is enjoying a nieghbour’s yard now.

“Stuff” isn’t that hard to deal with now. I have to run…there is some “stuff” to deal with today and trails to make.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Reference in the Bible -
1 Peter 5:6&7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Canada’s Collection and Contrast

2008-04-21T09:20:00.001-04:00

I struggled with proper title for this posting… too much was happening as I prepared my thoughts for today… we traveled across Canada to get home again. The best way is to point at the words “collection” and “contrast”.

Some of my Chinese or African friends that read this will have a hard time relating to these words I am sure. Your worlds and mine are very different. But then if you were to try to describe your world to some of us – you might have some difficulties to try and get us to understand.

Start here…
We rose very early to get the flight from Regina, Saskatchewan to Toronto. It was 3:35 AM with the boarding to take place at 5:30 AM. The weather outside was like a crisp fall or spring day in Canada. There had been a light drizzle of rain and the windshield of the car that we were to ride in had some ice on it. Cool but nice outside.

It was cool enough and the rain that was falling was freezing – so they needed to de-ice the airplane… spraying it with a large firehouse apparatus that covered the airplane in a pink fluid. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Then it was off to Calgary. Calgary you say? That is west of Regina. Toronto is east of Regina. Well in order to get to Toronto from Regina with this airline you need to fly one hour to the west at 500 miles per hour, land, change aircraft, then fly back over Regina on route Toronto. Then it is another three and half hour flight to Toronto. And I didn’t mention that this is the cheaper flight. The direct flight from Regina to Toronto via another airline was 50% more money. Duh? Something is wrong with this picture in my mind.

Calgary… wow what a welcome! We landed in a violent blizzard. The aircraft shook as the high winds blew across the tarmac. There was at least 12 inches of snow on the ground! It was the same country, same day as Regina’s fall/spring feeling. But oh so different!

In Toronto… 3 and half hours later… there was sunshine, warm weather, green grass and the weather was almost too hot! Go figure it was Canada.

When we awoke the next day we saw green grass in our yard. When my friends and relatives woke in Alberta the next day there was 20 inches of snow and they couldn’t get their door open! Go figure – it is Canada – we are a country of contrasts!

The greatest contrast is not the weather – it is our people! Let me explain further.

In Regina there were two older men traveling with us. They were likely from the farming/rural area of Saskatchewan. Their language indicated that they had rural accent and probably Ukrainian in origins. These men were fun… and funny. They were fun to watch. Where they were going I had no idea. We parted in Calgary. Maybe they were headed for Hawaii?

In Toronto we dropped into a “Licks” hamburger shop for something to eat on the way home. As we ate our food two tall black guys walked into the restaurant. Their clothing shouted who they were. Baggy blue jeans, sunglasses, long shirts over their pants that were hanging low on the hips…. These were Toronto Black dudes. These guys were “cool” – the way that they walked told the whole story…kind of a “cocky bounce” that shouts out – “Don’t mess with me!”

Now each guy had two cell phones. Each pulled out the cell as they entered the restaurant and were working the people on the other end of the line. Then the second phone would ring… they would at times take that call as well as talking on the other phone. As they lined up to give their orders for hamburgers etc. they had to drop out of line to take another call on one of the cell phones.

As sure as I sat there I am convinced they were not talking to people about such as their mothers…these were major drug dealers working from the restaurant that I was sitting in.

Two older Ukrainian farmers and two young black dudes…what a contrast in one day. But this is Canada…. And we are all really different.

Our weather is very different from one place to another – so are our people.

Now on that day two older Ukrainian farmers and two young black dudes probably looked up to see “one old white haired guy” with a funny smile on his face looking at them steadily. I mean I cannot look and not look closely… I suppose it is a stare…. And if you see the old white haired guy –looking at you closely that is me! – I don’t mean any disrespect – it is just that you are so interesting.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

SASKATCHEWAN’S Signs of the Times

2008-04-18T09:42:00.017-04:00

The huge sign dominates the visual of the intersection in downtown Regina. It certainly catches your eye. Whoa! There it is – promising that the Liposuction that the Clinic does will remove the unnecessary fat you have collected over the winter. The most striking thing about the sign is the middle section of the ‘young female’ that is likely 20 feet high covering the whole billboard. Look closely… yikes!

The photo shown here is not that billboard – I would have been killed in that intersection if I took the shot – so this one is from a Liposuction Clinic’s Web Site… same results….super flat tummy…cute navel…and young!

Why in the name of all things correct and proper would a pastor show a young woman’s tummy on a church Blog? Holy Cow – what is this world coming to?

Well it is ‘sign of our time’. Below the giant billboard at the Regina intersection walked at least three very large and overweight people. My apologies to large people for pointing this out…but there was NO WAY that any suction method would reduce what they had hanging around their mid section. (And after the long cold and snowy winter that we have had – my own mid section is in need of a reduction…)

THERE IS NO WAY THAT LIPOSUCTION WILL GET ME TO LOOK LIKE THIS PHOTO ON THE BILLBOARD!

Out front of a very popular garden center in Regina is a prominent sign that states clearly who they are what they believe in…(Closed Sundays – Growing Family Values)

Along the highway north of Regina, while traveling to Craik, we saw the huge metal figures created by a local artist. The one shown with me is a depiction of a Buffalo Hunter in the early days of Saskatchewan – it is an impressive sign.

In a totally different direction in a small town called ‘Sintaluta’ recently two Ontario people came and bought all eight houses that were for sale. Both women that came with the real-estate person bought everything – one woman got 3 and the other took 5. The price was ridiculous according to a local farmer that lives near by. “Who are they going to sell these houses to…the price they paid is unheard of here! It is NUTS!”

It is another sign of the times in Saskatchewan – the price of property is hotter than anywhere in Canada. The house that we bought in Regina for $89,000 in 1994 and then sold for $97,000 in 1998 – is now going for a possible $315,000….at least that is what another one across the street went for last month and it isn’t nearly as good as ours was!!!

In a series of stores locally I collected the following signs and sayings…
“Sing like no one can hear you. Love like you'll never be hurt. Dance like no one is watching.”

Another states the obvious….
“God invented mothers so that someone in the house would know where everything is.”

The most striking sign that caught my attention was that the many friends that I met in Regina are a whole lot like me…they are running out of time and they are doing it at a very rapid rate.

We have little time for the things that we want to do – or have dreamed of doing. I met five old friends this week and all of them are too busy to get time off. Time is slipping by very quickly for them. There is no time for a holiday, there is little time for a day off, and as to the jobs at home – none of us have time to get to any of the jobs at hand…instead we stumble over piles of undone work and our ‘to do lists’.

The last sign that I give you and myself… I took a photo of this one in the Craik Cemetery…. The words inscribed on the top says it all… “At Rest” – the shape suggests comfort and relaxation… but please note it is entirely made of stone. One man recently stated a fairly obvious but unspoken thought… he said… “I am going to take a long dirt nap soon…I want to live a good and long life filled with great stuff…so I have lots to think about in my long dream.. I got to get started now.”

I think that I will do the same – starting now.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS – Thanks Saskatchewan for a wonderful holiday and the wonder of all your Signs of the Times! And a Special Thanks to Jo-ann and Phil Robertson - for your Guest Suite!
http://www.philrobertson.com/

I AM A PRODUCT of SASKATCHEWAN and Proud of It!

2008-04-17T10:24:00.010-04:00

I am not sure how I should approach this posting. There is too much to say and a bundle of emotions involved. Should I begin with…

“You will never guess what happened to us yesterday…
“Nobody will ever believe me…”
“You won’t believe where we were…”
“In all my years I would never have believed this might happen…”

Or simply…

“Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

All of these ‘hooks’ would open this posting easily…

I am from Saskatchewan. I am a “Made in Saskatchewan” boy 64 years old but still a boy! Conceived in southern Saskatchewan and born in Ceylon – a small town south of Regina. To be specific it was a nursing home where one of the Matrons had some midwifery experience and my mom did all the work with my dad holding a flashlight.

I am proud of my heritage to say the least. I am delighted with all of the training and preparation that Saskatchewan gave me. It may be the richest any one could have ever had.

I am prairie,
I am a dust eater,
I am a stubble jumper,
I am a prairie chicken,
I AM A PRODUCT OF SASKATCHEWAN…(and also Canadian)…but the prairie dirt runs deep!

If you have followed this series of postings – you will know that my wife and I are on a vacation in the Regina, Saskatchewan area.

Yesterday Alida and I were invited to attend the session the Saskatchewan Government Legislature held in the Provincial Parliament Buildings. In fact we were Introduced and Honoured by the present Members of the Legislative Assembly. When the Member for the Yorkton riding, Mr. Greg Ottenbreit, rose to introduce us he read some of the things we have been involved with as community members and pastors over these past years to his fellow parliamentarians. Then they applauded us! Go figure – only in Saskatchewan do the highest positions of our government applaud their own.

I was overwhelmed to say the least. They actually showed that they appreciated what we had done over these years!!! I think that I will choose one of my opening ‘hooks’ here…
“Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

I know… I know… don’t let it go to your head dude! They applauded three other people there as well.

One was the former Premier Peter Lougheed of Alberta, a small white haired man that has been a giant in his own right with all that he has done for Western Canada and Alberta. Peter was sitting with Alida and me… “Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

When I got through some of the shock of what happened to this “Made in Saskatchewan Product” – me – I realized that not a whole lot of people from my home province will be introduced to this powerful body of men and women in their lifetime.

As I have been reading more about the place that we were in and the events that have happened in this great room of the legislature – this session we attended also happened 100 years ago now. On April 2, 1908 through to June 12, 1908 the third Legislature Session/Sitting of the first Legislative Assembly was held.

The magnificence of the beautiful building is awe inspiring. The architecture produces a reverence and respect. As we entered the great doors at the front the thought was there of the number of important people that have passed through these doors. It is staggering to my imagination. The heads of state, heads of countries and the monarchy of all kinds have walked where I walked! “Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

Now…if you haven’t been asking yourself the question, “Why were Murray and Alida Lincoln in the Legislature April 16, 2008?” I will point it out that you should be asking that!

It all began in somewhere around 1991-92 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan when a young lady walked into our lives. Her name was Lauretta. She was facing some issues personally and had experienced a “God Moment” where she saw personally the power of very big and loving God. When she told us her story and what happened we were all amazed.

It was from that moment on that Lauretta became an important part of our lives. I guess you could say she was like one of our daughters.
Well you need to fast forward to 2008 – Lauretta is now an Executive Assistant to Mr. Greg Ottenbreit, the MLA for Yorkton. That is one of the reasons it happened…

Now if you are a Bible Reader, you may have caught the Esther and Mordecai story along the way….well…this has some of the same stuff in it.

I want to say thank you to Lauretta for this honor and the introduction you provided for Greg and me. You have a great boss there Lauretta – serve him well. I AM PROUD OF YOU – YOU GO GIRL!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – Next question… "Did we enjoy the Legislative Process that we viewed?” Yah...it was great….the hollering back and forth was cool…not sure what was being said…or what some of the issues were…but it was fun.

At one point the former Premier of the Alberta Government, Peter Lougheed, was leaning forward fully engaged as he listened to the two sides argue a point… I placed my hand on his shoulder and asked if he wanted me to hold him down…to which he chuckled deeply. I mean he was a GOOD POLITICIAN and what politicians love is this banter across the floor!

Too funny…

http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=a2fb3916-8332-4c86-b4ef-17c73b2ceb27

SASKATCHEWAN
SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND THEIR DURATION
Legislature Session Opening Prorogation
1st Legislature ............................................... 1st Mar. 29, 1906 May 26, 1906
2nd Feb. 21, 1907 Apr. 3, 1907
3rd Apr. 2, 1908 June 12, 1908
Dissolution – July 20, 1908

Tour
http://www.legrehab.gov.sk.ca/panoramic/gallery6.html#Additional%20Instructions
Murray Lincoln with Greg Ottenbreit

Press Scrum with Premier Brad Wall Murray Lincoln as Speaker of the Assembly

Saskatchewan Gathering Place

2008-04-16T09:19:00.005-04:00

Have you ever wondered where old farmers gather after they are retired? After there is no more work in the fields and maybe the farms are sold – what happens to them?

That is a Canadian riddle by the way… here is the answer. In Yorkton, Saskatchewan they are at the Mall drinking coffee.

The setting is perfect – open, easy and you can sit for as long as you like with your friends…tell as many jokes, tall stories and fabrications as you want to – and every one will accept you no matter who you are!

The popular TV program of a few years ago called “Cheers” was situated in a bar in Boston with some unusual characters in that setting. The familiar lyrics take you into the scene…

Sometimes you wanna go..

Where everybody knows your name

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

the troubles are all the same.

you wanna be where everybody knows your name

Yesterday I was there again…in the Gathering Place for old farmers. They were a happy bunch – jovial, joshing, telling tales of their latest travels.

One man by the name of Dennis, I have known for a number of years, told of his recent stay in Texas for three months. He loved the warm weather and wanted to stay another month but his wife felt they had to get back home – grandkids and kids – you know…
This man is typical of the fairly large group gathered in the Mall yesterday.

I think it is a ‘prairie thing’ to gather like this. They were ‘Roosting’ while waiting for the next thing to happen in your life or on your flight path.

On the two hour drive to Yorkton we saw literally thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese gathered in the miles of open fields. They were resting and waiting for the signal to be given, the temperature to be right, the good warm westerly winds to come – telling them that they could move on north.
That sight alone of the millions of waiting geese is not possible to portray with a single camera shot…you need a video of the fields as you pass them at 60+ miles an hour, to catch a glimpse of the mile upon mile of sitting geese. In fact at one stretch I caught 15 miles(15 minutes) of fields filled with geese sitting side by side… for as far as you could see – not only that long but that deep. There were geese back in each field as far as you could see into the horizon.

It is one of the Canadian Wonders that you can catch in Saskatchewan. It happens as they feed on the harvested fields with the grain that has fallen to the ground after the combines have moved through the area.

Back in the Yorkton Mall… it is 2:00 PM, lunch is over and we have the same scene – not millions – but dozens upon dozens of men wearing their caps, dressed in dark leather jackets, eating and drinking together. The average age would be around 75+. Many were well into their 80s. They are waiting for the warmer weather to come so they can join their sons and grandsons out on the farm again. Their grandsons and sons now own and operate the farm that was so much a part of their lives for so many years.

What a treat to have witnessed the Saskatchewan Gathering Place again.

Read all the words below of the lyrics…. Now they have new meaning for me….

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Cheers Theme) Lyrics

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those nights when you've got no lights,

the check is in the mail.

And your little angel hung the cat up by it's tail.

And your third fiancé didn't show!

Sometimes you wanna go..

Where everybody knows your name

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

the troubles are all the same.

you wanna be where everybody knows your name

You roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee is dead,

the morning's looking bright

And your shrink ran off to Europe,

and didn't even write.

And your husband wants to be a girl!

Be glad there's one place in the world

Where everybody knows your name

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna go where people know,

people are all the same.

You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

[Repeat]Where everybody knows your name.

And they're always glad you came.

Finding Treasure

2008-04-15T09:29:00.008-04:00

In Saskatchewan, the distance between places is outstanding. It blows the minds of people from outside of Saskatchewan. If you are not from the prairies you will not understand. “Flat, far and wonderfully stretching forever” would best describe what we tried to take in yesterday.

We traveled from Regina, Saskatchewan to the town of Craik – a little over one hour north of Regina.

Alida had traveled to the small town in Saskatchewan to take in a part of her historical roots, along with her sister and Aunt(and the three husbands).

Her dad was born in this community where her grandfather had settled with his family. Grandpa and Grandma, William and Ella Jones, built their life together here after coming to Canada from Stillwater, Minnesota.

There is way too much to tell in this one posting. Where do you start?

One of our goals was to see the Craik Museum – a small grouping of old buildings assembled at the edge of town. In this museum we found ‘Treasure’ – in fact hundred of treasures stored for whoever would like to see them.

In order to get into the Craik Museum we needed to ask someone to open it up. One telephone call found the person in charge on her way to another town for a meeting. She called another friend that lived in a small house near the museum and that had a key. After about a half hour she came to unlock the museum and then others from town arrived to meet the relatives of ‘Bill and Ella Jones’. Our group of 6 was expanded to about 10 then 12 walking around the museum property sharing stories about the people that each knew.

It was like we had been there for ever. What a treasure in these people and the stories.

A Museum Filled with Stories….
The Museum was filled with artifacts from the past. Things that people had collected and then donated to the Museum were now the treasures of Craik.

There is one glass cabinet was Grandpa Bill Jones’ ‘Violin Cello’. The tag mounted on the Cello stated the following….
“This violin cello belonged to Mr. W. R. Jones. He played it in his father’s orchestra at Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1887. After coming to Sask, he played for dances at Craik & neighboring towns. Also his bass violin was given to me by Chummie Jones ~ Mildred Crawford”

Alida and her sister looked into the Cello case together – here was a hint for some of the musical abilities of their own families.

Not far from the Bass Violin Cello was a cabinet filled with some oddities from the long past.

The card on the one item caught my eye. It read….
Bertha Strange…
“Made from the foot of a little girls pet turkey in 1855. The turkey along with others were driven 290 miles by foot, to market. The turkeys were gathered along the way. This match box was made from the leg… given to the Child in Remembrance…”

Bertha Strange had kept this very unusual item until recent years when she contributed it to the Museum in Craik.

I stared at this item for a long time thinking of a little girl that had a pet turkey so far from anyway out on this prairie, that was then added to a flock and walked 290 MILES across the prairie in 1855 to be sold in a market. The father saw the sorrow of his little girl and ‘helped’ her grief by making a tooth pick holder using the turkey leg. And here I was reading the small card 153 years later!

Yesterday – no one in all of Canada found a treasure the way that we did.

As we drove back to Regina through the “Flat, far and wonderfully stretching forever” prairie – I thought about all the people like the little girl of 153 years ago – that gave up so much to make this their home.

WOW!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Celebrating SOUTHSIDE

2008-04-14T09:16:00.007-04:00

In the audience was an unusual mix of people as I stepped up to the pulpit to speak – yesterday at Southside Pentecostal Church in Regina. In front of me were close friends that I have known for many years…mixed with people that I was just meeting.

I was again in the pulpit that I used to preach in as the pastor of Southside Pentecostal Assembly. I was almost overwhelmed with the emotions I was feeling for these special folk.

Now add two more former pastors to the audience and WOW – there were many feelings! Wendy Saunders (her husband is Rev. David Saunders) and her family were visiting as well as Rev. Calvin King and his wife Diane. These ‘old friends’ made the day.

The best part for me was meeting the new pastor, Rev. Robert Thompson and his family. This man is unique and fits like a glove with this church. It was a delight to meet him and his family.

Some will not understand the emotions that a former, visiting pastor(me) has when they return to the church they once served. All of the stories, all of the joys, all of the fears, all of the victories of the congregation that you once knew so very well – swept to the forefront and flood your thoughts. Mixed with that were my thoughts about the other two pastors in the audience – that I am sure had many thoughts as well.

Let me explain further…
The church building we were sitting in yesterday was not the only one that we all knew.

Rev. Calvin King had been the pastor when Southside built its new building on the south end of the city of Regina. The first phases of the wonderful new church were built and served the congregation well.

Rev. David Saunders had followed the Kings as the next pastor of Southside. It was during the Saunder’s ministry at Southside that the vandals had broken into the new Southside building and set the place on fire. The first fire was put out – but then it was relit by the same vandals and the entire building was burned to the ground.

The Saunders led the church through the next years as they bought the present building and then carried out many renovations.

Today the old school that has become the church’s home…has been completely renovated under the leadership of Rev. Wes Dyna. Now Rev. Robert Thompson is the new leader.

Yesterday…
To have the two pastors that once were in such huge transition times in the same church – at the same time – after all these years….was …simply amazing. Add to that the new pastor… and WOW!

I was flooded with emotions.

Let me say it again – Southside Pentecostal Assembly at 41 Birchwood Road in Regina, Saskatchewan is a GREAT CHURCH. It is a jewel that will be used to reach its community with love and care. Now its new local name that is catching hold is “The SPA”. Check out their Web Site at the end of this posting.

The Tomorrows…
Pastor Robert you are the MAN for THIS HOUR. There is no one that will pray for you more than ME. I know your task at hand. I perceive your ability and see your care. Nothing but good stuff will come from this special ministry that you and Carolyn will provide here.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – YIKES… now add one more emotional happening to yesterday – it was my 64th Birthday – I now have 52 Sundays left until my Retirement…whatever that means… oh boy time is flying by too fast….

http://www.sparegina.com/

The Thompson Family

Celebrating Bobbie McCaslin

2008-04-12T10:41:00.004-04:00

The group of friends waited in the large room in anticipation for the special guest to arrive. Bobbie was on her way. After three months of careful planning by her husband Dave; this gathering of friends were going to see this one special person honored in a few moments.
Bobbie is my wife’s only sibling – younger sister.

It was April 11, 2008, and Bobbie was celebrating her special B-Day today with her husband Dave and her son Jon and his gal friend Chandra – at this restaurant – so she thought. Little did she realize that friends and family from across the country would make this trek to her party. Oh boy was it a surprise!

Following the initial shock and after we were seated we all listened with great interest as different ones shared how Bobbie had touched their lives. They wove story after story together to build a wonderful collage of Bobbie’s life in their different communities.

Bobbie is a great gal – and as her brother-in-law I brag on her a lot. She has accomplished a huge amount over these short 60 years she has lived. She created a home that has always welcomed all of us. She has raised two great sons that have now set sail into their career world with great potential. And Dave, her husband, has also accomplished great things with Bobbie at his side.

Person after person shared the many different ways that Bobbie has encouraged them. The stories were hilarious and touching at the same time.

I want to say loudly for all to hear – Bobbie – you are G-R-E-A-T.

A special treat for both my wife Alida and Bobbie was the fact that their Aunt Bobbie arrived from Victoria to celebrate this special evening. Aunt Bobbie is their father’s last sibling who has become a special part of the girls lives in this last few years.

The evening was like a wedding reception – mixed with a graduation together with a retirement party… all the elements of celebration.

As I have been thinking of the happening I have come to realize that we all need to do more of this. Sadly we wait far to long until sometimes time has swallowed the opportunity.

Hey – grab some friends together and celebrate someone’s life! It may be the greatest blessing you will every know….or that they will ever need.

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – For our Friends…. the last posting had us traveling to Saskatoon was an inaccurate one on purpose – okay really it was a L-I-E... Bobbie had caught wind of our trip to Saskatchewan…she had found out that Great Grandma Lincoln had gone to Saskatoon…and no one had told Bobbie…and her own sister who usually tells her everything…kind of had missed telling her this…something MUST VERY WRONG….! And this BLOG is a PUBLIC POSTING… Too funny…

In Transit...

2008-04-10T17:09:00.003-04:00

Hummph! Heavy suitcases... Saskatoon... here we come....

What did she pack in these suticases anyway?

PML

Grandparent Dating

2008-04-09T21:20:00.003-04:00

There we sat in a Montana’s restaurant – miles from hustle and hurry. It was a regular date except for the fact that we are not young anymore. We feel young sometimes…but really are not young. In fact we had just placed my 87 year old mother on an airplane for her holiday. Alida and I were slowing down considerably…can you imagine a date together – it had been a long time.

We sat at a table in the center of the restaurant. Alida had her back the window to the outside – I faced it. We were the first people in the establishment for lunch. Nice setting and great food – together – a ‘great date’.

It was about the time the warm glow of our date together washed over me that the two young ladies walked in to find a booth right behind Alida. My guess is that they were in about their late 20s or early 30s. They sat together on one side of the booth’s table – apparently waiting for some one to join them. The side glances they tossed at the window confirmed the expectations.

In a few minutes their guests arrived. The first guest was about their own age – male, taller, dressed in a cool shirt and his hair spiked. His style was a wee bit younger looking than the gals. A few steps behind him was another fellow that walked slower – with somewhat less company than his leader. As the fellows came in to join the gals – the gals came alive. Their quiet talk on the one side of the booth while waiting for their company was changed to an upbeat giggle, laughing and rapid talking, asking, mixed with kind joking. The second man was introduced to the gals – but he was far more subdued.

This was a date where two people Gal #1 and Guy #1 were connecting. The Gal #2 was along with her close friend to meet someone new – the possible blind date with Guy#2 – who was scared skinny at this point. He smiled awkwardly as he met Gal #1 and Gal #2 – but never said much after that point. He listened to the banter and the joking, but ate quietly. Gal #2 was across from him. She tried a few run ups with possible interesting topics that Guy#2 might grab on to – but she was hitting a wee bit of a wall.

The conversation zeroed back to Guy#1 – with two Gals talking to the one Guy.

Sitting off at the distance that we were made it impossible to hear the content of the conversation. Guy #1 was entertaining, he was also presenting some sort of personal problem that the two gals were engaged in a search for more information. The eye brows of Gal #1 and the facial concern was trying to convey to Guy# 1 that she may care deeply, that he should/could see her as a possible deeper relationship for days to come. Guy #2 was in pain emotionally as he choked down a huge hamburger that would take nearly 30 minutes to chew. I am sure at the point he saw the size of it – he wished he had order a few Shrimp….

The tension, the courting dance, and the strategic word crafting that took place with ‘the booth group’ was fascinating to watch. A super sized date opportunity that was going no where for the Guy #2 and Gal #2 – and then Gal #1 seemed to be hitting a few well pitched balls by Guy#1…

Dating. Yikes – maybe even double yikes. Here I am sitting with a grandmother of six grandkids… enjoying the sharing of hot wings… licking our fingers unceremoniously – and carefree if we had food stuff on our upper lip or not. In fact Alida asked me if she had orange sauce around her mouth like I did.

Grandparents on a date – are different than 20 or 30 something-s that have to struggle with their relationships – like fishermen trying to land the elusive trout.

Grandparents not only landed the trout long ago – but now just sit in the boat and glow with orange sauce on their upper lips.

Grandparent dating is slower and more satisfying – relieved of all pretense and just enjoying what we have. Talk about the grandkids and the funny thing they are doing, have done or may do someday filled our table talk. That is how the warm glow arrives so neatly to our table – quicker than the ketchup.

In recent times I have watched with great interest some friends of ours begin again. They are older – both widowed. They connected and now are happy with a new life before them. The dating happened along the way, mixed with giggles and laughter and story telling… then the glow. But it was easier than the first time around.

This posting is somewhat odd I suppose. With it I recommend that people like us reconnect with each other. Get out there and mix with those that are trying hard to impress each other. Then slowly but surely realize that YOU have something special as grandparent – not just grandkids – but each other.

Mmmmm Mmmm it is good to be old(er).

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Timing Time for Yourself

2008-04-08T22:20:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Murray!

I love it… a birthday party – just for me! WOWWee! Okay – Okay – I know that I am not a boy any longer – but a mature older man that has an image to keep up and guard…just so I can maintain the IMAGE of PASTOR… at least that is what they tell me.

Tonight I received an early Birthday present from my wife.. a huge dragon fly that I can fly and control to go where I want it to go. When my wife gave it to me at dinner… I was so ready to run out side and try it out. So I charged it a little and away I went.

My friend across the street had bought one as well…. So we intend to fly together. He is now retired with a little more time to fly than I do.

As the two of us talked about the kites, dragon flies and the techie stuff that we like so much… he wondered – why it was that just us… and not our wives that were interested in these marvelous machines? Why is it primarily men that like this stuff?

The answer may be – I hate shopping for clothes and ‘she’ loves it…. I don’t like shopping Malls and my wife loves them. But give me a good technical thing I can watch for hours.

The train display was a good example – my wife sat down while a poured over every inch of the tracks and the trains shown.

All I know is that we are really different after these many years of marriage – no we did not become like each other – in fact maybe we are less like we personally were than any thing else – poles apart.

Being different isn’t bad…if fact the space that we keep from each other is a help I am sure. We both need our space… lost of it.

One man I know retired from his management role at the large factory. He had been retired for about 3 months when I saw them again. She leaned closely to me and said in my ear…”Can you get him something to do OUT THERE? He is driving me crazy in the kitchen, in the family room and everywhere. For 35 years of his working career I have had the house to myself all day if I want it that way…now he follows me everywhere – advising me what to do and which way I should go next. Find him something to do or might commit MURDER – PLEASE?!”

She smiled sweetly – but then her eyes pleaded with me… “DO SOMETHING SOON – PULEASE – before I kill him dead?!”

Thank you to my wife Alida for my space. Thanks for so many years of loving me and letting me love you – by not being there… and for the space.

Now for younger couples that have the idea that they must be in each other’s face… I may shock you by saying this…leave him alone… let her be… find solace in the quietness of aloneness.

Jesus was perhaps the busiest man that I have ever read about. He picked 12 men that needed lots of training and teaching – yet they never seemed to get the main concept… then he did it all in three short years… launching a pilot project that would grow to be one of the Biggest Corporations in the world – with offices on almost every corner in some cities… with the clientele flooding into these offices often… on and on we can go with amazing results shown. Jesus was amazing!

His secret – every day he got alone… in a quiet place… to think…receive…contemplate…and reflect….

Alone is okay when we need it. You need it and so do I.

Now flying a kite with some one is a ball – but doing it alone is therapy.

Where and when is your quiet spot? How do you get a way?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

My Dragon Flyer…
http://flytechonline.com/dragonfly_index.htmlhttp:/flytechonline.com/dragonfly_index.html

My Train Video….
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a8bfqZE4u7k

The Test of Timing on Decisions

2008-04-07T07:28:00.004-04:00

John Maxwell is an amazing author and leader. His writing grab your attention in every way.

Today I share his thoughts on “Timing” and "Decisions". Maybe it will be a help to you today as you deal with certain “timing” issues in your life.

The Test of Timing
Make sure that each decision you make stands the test of timing. To help determine if it is the right time to seize an opportunity, consider the following…

1. The Needs Around you
When you keep a finger on the pulse of your people’s basic needs, you will always find an opportune time to lead.

Get in touch with (your)people’s needs. Then make a point to continually ask: What is their mood? What do they desire to accomplish? What do they need from me, their leader?

2. Opportunities Before You
You find right opportunities only by looking for them. When you take time to spot golden opportunities, they start to stick out.

(Often we are too caught up in the nothingness of life and we have no time to look around. A game on the internet came consume valuable time researching what could possibly be.)

3. Influences Behind You
Before you make an important decision, ask your key influencers what they are feeling. Do they see the same opportunity you do? Are they discerning the same timing? When trying to discern the right time to take action, you must get feedback from your key people.

4. The Success Under You
Experience provides practical advice, so take a minute to recall your successes. Have you done anything like this before? Is it reasonable to expect the same outcome from this decision?

5. The Courage Within You
Leadership requires courage – the courage to risk, to reach, and to put yourself on the line to seize an opportunity. The word courage comes from a French word that means “heart”. Taking advantage of an opportunity at the right time requires heart.

Fear will try to get you to back down and it will also try to get the better of you. Good leaders understand that ripe opportunities never come without fear. They move forward despite a moment of hesitation.

Side Thoughts
Now place this ‘grid on an idea’ over your own life. Say you are a mother… you are the leader. How does it fit into your life with your kids? You are their ‘manager’ and ‘boss’.

What if you are going to change jobs right now? How do these words fit into your life?

What if you need to launch a new business at this time?

The words of wisdom, offered in solid thoughts by John Maxwell, came to me came as a result of a study he offered on the lady named Esther. Esther saved the Jewish people from potential extinction by the valuable use of Timing.

Did you catch the five points and what is being shown here?

Did you see the Around you, Before you, Behind you, Under you, and Within you?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Have You Got Your Homework Done?

2008-04-05T07:36:00.003-04:00

Most ‘seniors’ or ‘middle agers’ will not have a clue about what is happening in this area of the average home with kids in school. We are so far removed from what is happening or only occasionally get a glimpse that we don’t really care. We read a tiny bit about it – but for the most part it is not in our world…so we don’t really care.

We should all care. We should all be aware. It is all about our grandkids and the pressure that they face – or the lack of care that they have about a huge issue called HOMEWORK.

On April 3, 2008, The National Post(one of Canada’s Newspapers) reported on the issue of ‘Homework’ and the amount that students in Toronto are required to do each day. Wow! It was a new issue for me. I never realized that the present policy.

Students are expected to do 10 minutes of homework each night – increasing each year as they progress through school. For example a Grade Six student would be doing 60 minutes – 1 Hour of homework per night. Some one in Grade Twelve should be doing 120 minutes – two hours per night. And that is to just meet the bare minimum to get by…not even looking at what an ‘ace student’ might be doing.

Natalie Alcoba reports in The National Post that the Toronto District School Board is considering a new policy for the students of that city. She stated that
“The degree to which homework helps students do better in school is disputed. Some researchers contend its effects are positive, other studies say it does more harm than good.

A national survey of Canadian attitudes toward learning found that while most people believe homework helps develop good work habits, nearly three-quarters of parents say it is often a source of stress in their homes.”

So there is stress at home with Homework. I agree. Speaking with parents that have kids in the system of education – you will quickly hear that it can be a contentious issue at home.

I feel deeply for the family. It is one more thing to pull them apart. Yet I feel deeply for the kids that are propelled through a system of picking up all that they will need in 12 short years in order to enter a University or College or Work Force that says “This is what we require of you – now deal with it!”

If students, my grand kids included, don’t pick up some solid habits of assimilating as much information as they can into their minds over these short and fast moving 12 years, they will not be able to cope with what they will face up ahead. A University Prof or an Employer will not really care what the stress level is in your family – they just expect you to deal with it.

There is a new policy being considered and it is before the TDSB now.
“The new policy advocates for a customized approach to homework expectations -- the amount assigned should vary according to grade, learning ability, or proximity to upcoming tests or exams, for example.

"Time spent on homework should be balanced with the importance of personal and family wellness and the wide array of family obligations experienced in our society today," it states.”

Changes proposed in the Toronto District School Board's homework policy include….
-Homework should not be assigned on holidays or on "days of significance"
-Whenever possible, teachers should give students blocks of time to complete their homework so they can plan around other extracurricular activities
-Reduce homework time across the board (the current policy suggests 10 minutes per grade)
-No homework in kindergarten
-Mostly reading in Grades 1 and 2, and interactive activates like cooking or building with the rest of the family
-Independent work in the late primary and junior grades
-No more than one hour in Grades 7 and 8
-No more than two hours in high school

As I read more about this hot topic I have thought about my own grandkids a lot. What is happening now? What stress are they facing and are they coping with that stress? What about later? Will they be adequately prepared for what they face ahead? Or is dropping out easier – you know get a guitar and fantasize about being a rock star.

The reporter Ms. Natalie Alcoba, states…
“The policy encourages parents not to keep children up past their bedtime, even if the homework is not complete. Ms. Wong said the policy also places "a lot of guilt and responsibility on parents who can't speak English."

"I know parents who are going broke because they're trying to pay for tutors," Ms. Wong said.”

I am of an old school that believes homework still is the best alternative to get stuff into my head. Application to getting the Homework done is important. Yet there are studies that have found that evidence is divided on this issue – sometime homework helps and sometimes it is useless.

A long time ago someone stated that “Readers will be leaders; and Leaders will be Readers” (or must be readers).

Sadly or happily it is at a very early stage that the family influences the child to become what they will be. When they see reading at home – they will become readers. They don’t become that because some one tells them to be a reader.

In the TDSB’s dilemma the issues likely revolves around more of what is happening or not happening at home by example. Living with a parent that has no value in learning something more will produce kids that are the same…but then trying to live without parents will produce some sad results as well.

Parents need not be living away from home to not be there. I have watched with amazement many parents that are just too tired to care – they moved out long ago – these kids are all alone already.

Upon my retirement I would like to help some learn to read. Simple goal – but a powerful one for me.

I came across an interesting story of a 70 year old man in St. Joseph, Missouri that is now in Grade One.

When I listened to the story on TV about Alfred Wlliams my heart was moved. Here was someone that never had the opportunity to do homework…instead he had worked all his life to support his family and never attended school. (his photo is at the beginning of this post)

One of his statements made to his Grade One teacher, was, “When I go to the Grocery Store now I can read the words on the signs telling me what is on the shelves…I don’t have to walk all over looking for it.”

What I know…
It takes me about two to three hours per day now of reading in my work. My reading is the most powerful part of me. When and if my eye sight fails – I will count on all that I have read up to that time. At that time I will get myself a reading machine to read for me…I cannot stop reading and gaining more.

I suppose that is the advantage of Homework in my early life.

Today I watch my 87 year old mother read, she reads hour on hour, gobbling great books week after week. She loves reading. I watched that all my life. What an example.

Summing up today… policy will never accomplish what example will offer.

Young Families hang in there… we are pulling for you!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resource:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/toronto/story.html?id=418766
http://www.newstin.com/sim/us/51070689/en-010-001601996
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=84068
http://www.humsurfer.com/view/70-year-old-first-grader-man-promised-mother-he-would-learn-to-read

More Information Than I Needed

2008-04-04T15:42:00.001-04:00

It was early to arrive at the Doctor’s Office. I had brought my mom up to see her doctor and we were both sitting quietly in the waiting room. I mean it was QUIET. There was no one else there at 9:00 AM.

Then things changed.

A man walked into the waiting room, looked around and then his eyes fell on me. Maybe it happened because I was the only other man sitting there…maybe the two older ladies that sat close to the desk were not looking like they would be a good listener, maybe it happened because I look like a good listener… I dunno…? It just happened.

Within seconds he leaned closer and whispered that he was in the office to get the doctor to help him with his “water works”. Already it was becoming hot in the waiting room…sheesh!

In the next few moments he related how he was in Florida up until Feb 26 at which time he came home – “water works” problems….darn! It cost him $1100 Bucks for 45 minutes in the Florida hospital for the “water works” problem and they never even fixed the problem!

Then the conversation rolled over to the houses he has built, north of Bowmanville, in Peterborough and now in a small town south of Peterborough. But now the “water works” were acting up and he may have to move again…. Whoa!

That all took place in the course of 7 minutes. Mom came out of her doctor’s office and I escaped the “water works” stuff.

Okay, okay… I know I should be ready as a pastor for just about anything…but… “water works” …sheesh!

What I wasn’t ready for was a very lonely man that needed to talk. In those few moments the 75 year old man poured out some pain and I listened until mom came for me.

When the waiting room is full of people all looking at some invisible place in the room…avoiding each other’s eye contact… there are many lonely people.

His name was “Ed”. “Ed” needs a friend. “Ed” needs help.

I am convinced that one person could turn the world upside down if they would only listen.

Pondering “Ed’s” “water works” problem….and listening….

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Standing Shoulder to Shoulder

2008-04-03T13:17:00.004-04:00

By Bruce Lindsay

My son Clifford loves to play football. In fact he was nominated as Defensive Player of the Year for his league last season. You’d better believe I’m proud of him. He plays Defensive End mostly. (For all you ladies, that’s the same position that the tall graceful football player plays, who is currently on “Dancing with the Stars”.)

Each play the defensive players quickly gather together into a huddle. They clap, grunt, then move to the line and stand shoulder to shoulder. They know that no-matter where the ball is coming on the next play; they will be able to stop it if they stand together.

It reminds me of a couple of other stories. The first, I should tell is from my experience as a Civil War Re-enactor. Before every battle, our soldiers would line up with our rifles. An officer in front of the men would have us count off in 2s. Then the command would come to - RIGHT FACE! When executing that command, the ‘2s’ would take a step to the right as they turn to the right. Then the command would come - FRONT! With that command, everyone would turn back to the officer, only now we would be in 2 rows. RIGHT DRESS would be the next command. Everyone would crowd to their right, where the flag was being held by the “Colour Sergeant” until each soldier was standing shoulder to shoulder. “Touching Elbows” is how officers liked to put it. We were in 2 ranks, because if somebody got shot and fell, a man from the second rank would step up and fill his place. We’d still be shoulder to shoulder.

A group of men, standing shoulder to shoulder, with rifles coming toward you at a slow steady pace will strike fear into the heart of any enemy. Knowing that when they all fire together, you are in-for a hailstorm of bullets - will quickly make you look for cover, or lay down. As the company gets closer, the enemy will see that each man has a bayonet on the business end of the rifle. (A bayonet is a sharp knife, usually a foot long that attaches to the end of the rifle.) Rarely in the war of 1812 or the American Civil War were soldiers found with bayonet wounds. The reason is simple; by the time the troops were close enough to their enemy to bayonet them, and their enemy had skedaddled.

Some of my youth was spent on the Manitoba prairie. A common story there, that was shared to me by my Uncle, is one of the early settlers who tried to “make a go” of farming in this desolate place. It’s an old story about how cattle act in winter storms.

Sometimes the winter storms would take a heavy toll. They would start with freezing rain and snow. Then the temperature would plummet far below zero. The bitterly cold wind would pile up snow in huge snowdrifts. Most cattle would turn their back to the icy wind and move downwind until they came to the inevitable barbed wire fence. In the worst storm, they would pile up against the fence and die by the score.

But one breed always survived. Herefords would instinctively head into the wind. They would stand shoulder to shoulder, heads down, facing the blasts. As my Uncle put it, “You most always found the Herefords alive and well. I guess that’s the greatest lesson I ever learned on the prairies – just face life’s storms.”

I’m thinking of everyone in our church as I write this, including you Pastor Murray (“Dad”), and many others that have prayer requests both spoken and unspoken. I know sometimes you feel alone, but you need to know we’re with you, and praying for you. We’ll stand together, shoulder to shoulder and face the enemy.

Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice

2008-04-01T06:10:00.001-04:00

Quotes that blow me away…

You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do.

It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing Prison or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!

A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it.

All the above are from Henry Ford…

I wonder if Henry lived today….if he could make ‘a go’ of it. I know his car still sell and the product line of his factories are certainly different. In my musing – I wonder if he would be able to cope with what we have around us today?

I have a feeling that he might lock horns with his/our community.

In our area – it is easier to not work than to work. My neighbour has a youngster living out of his house from time to time. I see him in the driveway from time to time as I drive by. He is a boyfriend of my neighbour’s daughter. The ‘kid’ has fathered a baby, smokes lots of cigarettes, and eats my neighbours food free.

When my neighbour talked to the ‘kid’ about getting a job – the flat out answer was “NO way! If I worked I would lose my benefits and health care package that comes with the disability that I have.” My neighbour rolled his eyes with that statement.

If the ‘kid’ lined up to ask Henry Ford for a job – even Henry would have a problem with that one. But then he likely wouldn’t line up for a job – he would want a car for free.

The ‘food bank’ folk in our area have problem distributing food to these kinds. They see the ones that could work and don’t – or won’t. They see the ugly stuff that none of us know about – yet they still stay at the job of helping the less fortunate.

Oh I know that many people really need the help. I am not objecting to that group getting help…but I do have a problem with the guy that is useless. For that guy… I say…. “You don’t work you don’t eat”.

Or as Henry Ford said, “Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.”

In our world… the ‘kid’ is looking for a government worker to come and chop his wood for him.

I started working when I was 15. Sounds like an old story from long, long ago doesn’t it. Well it was only 49 years ago…and everyone of those years has been a delight. At the end of good work you feel alive because you were able to do something.

Flash back…
My first job was with my Uncle Neal in that summer I was 15 - 49 years ago. I was able to drive a tractor and follow Uncle Neal around – almost as his shadow. At the end of each day we were tired and the bed felt great.

At the end of the summer he paid me. WOW! Was I ever rich….I had made $5.00 a day. Looking back now…Uncle Neal couldn’t really afford the money he paid but he paid it anyway. He believed in me and I was the beneficiary of his kindness.

The best part wasn’t the pay – but rather the work. There is nothing like being able to work.

Henry, if you watching us to day and maybe you get a chance to read this Blog… I want to say that some of us still have some old fashioned value left. We are working to show those younger than we are – that working is good…and you feel good when you work.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resource
http://www.great-quotes.com/cgi-bin/viewquotes.cgi?action=search&Author_First_Name=Henry&Author_Last_Name=Ford

Car Number 4704

2008-03-31T08:20:00.003-04:00

What a huge difference in the crowd on the return train compared to the going out train – returning us from our trip to Ottawa. If you have read the “Car Number 4203” of last week (a few posts back) – you will remember the two older ladies in the center of the car. You may also remember that they spoke to everyone that came by.

Whoa! Guess what? Car number 4704, Sunday night to Toronto was way different. Alida and I were the two old people sitting in the middle of the car – EVERYBODY ELSE WAS YOUNG!

In the “Car 4203” posting I had said….
“I think the ladies in the middle of car #4203 have the right idea. They are out to make a difference where they are seated.

When the taller one of the friendly two looked at me and smiled, I smiled back. She wanted to talk…but I had an important book to read. I missed the opportunity for sure.”

On car 4704 – I tried to make a difference…but the others were very busy cramming for the finals. I think someone must have not told me this was the 'Return to University – Return to College Car' – not just 4704. Every seat was filled with young, beautiful, vibrant, young adults with books open – or lap tops humming. It was like being wisped back to my University days.

Mixed with the young University students were the Military Guys also cramming their home work. The bald fellow across the aisle from us was an airman stationed on the Trenton Military base. His intent reading of the military documents and the flying papers pretty well gave him away as well. Other airmen were on the car 4704 as well…in fact there were four more all with their young families with little kids in tow. All of these guys were a tad older than the University Crowd – but very sharp guys.

Remember Mr. Chris that I told you about on Car 4203? Well Mr. Chris was replaced by Mr. John – who was almost the same age as the University passengers. He was tall, sharp, and clean looking. He moved quickly about his duties without any limp. His own vibrancy was very evident. What a contrast from Car 4203 of last Thursday!

In a short few days my world had radically changed from being the younger one on a fast moving car through the Ontario countryside…to being the oldest guy sitting with an elderly lady who was busy doing crossword puzzles and very glad she had no homework.

It was like being “Rip Van Winkle” who fell asleep for many years and then woke to find the world different. ‘Hokey Mokey’ – that shift was too fast. I went from wondering at the verbosity of two older ladies on Car 4203 a few days back – to wondering why no one will talk to me as well…? Oh Boy!

Well if they won’t be able to talk to me with all of their cramming I decided to be like them. I pulled my lap top out and attempted to hook to the WiFi connection on the fast moving train. Got through with no problem as I gave my Credit Card Info online… then advanced to the Log In stage…put in my username…then the pass word that I had given myself for this connection…then waited….NOTHING…. just a blank white screen. Argh! They took my money…$8.95 for 24 hours of Internet use on the train…. THEN IT WON’T WORK – double ARGH!

I checked the Networking of my machine and found that “PhillipCutter” was sitting not far away and was on the same car “LAN”. Not sure that "PhillipCutter" knew I was looking into his machine or not…buy I knew he was nearby. As a Computer Technician I can do some things that the rest of the world cannot do with computers…after all I have been doing this for a lot of years!
Unfortunately all I could get was the “LAN” of Via Rail Car 4704.

First thing I did was get up and walk down the aisle of the fast moving train to look for the students that had their laptops on and also to see if any of them had their browsers open and were surfing the Internet. It is very easy to see what they had open. All of them were working on documents in either MS WORD or WORD PERFECT. As I walked by them I could even read the sentences that they were typing rapidly. I had walked by 12 open and fast working lap tops. None were on the connection “Via Rail WiFi”

Immediately behind me were a guy and gal with their laptops humming. I stopped and had the thought to ask them audibly if they were on the Internet. The reply was, “No.” – with a grin. I couldn’t figure why they reacted that way. Then the guy said, “You know that you have to get connected by going through your Browser – right?"

I replied, “Yah…I did that…but I can’t get by the Log In stage. He just grinned at me….and said no more. Didn’t seem to want to help…and I couldn’t figure why… I thought that he of all people, my close seating friend…just behind me…would think he could maybe contribute something in my Internet connection dilemma. But he just grinned…

When Mr. John came by, tall, sharp, and clean looking; I figured he might have an answer. He grinned at me and said loud enough for all to hear, “You can get your money back if it doesn’t work…” He continued that, “Via Rail has had some big problems with the Internet on its car service. It may be something to do with the atmosphere – or weather…or something.”

No Mr. John that isn’t the way it is… ‘MR. SWAMMY’, the guy that I called on the Internet Help Line on my cell phone….had told me that it was true "PhilipCutter" was online as well…but there was a problem on certain cars and that a note had been registered to have it repaired. 'MR. SWAMMY' had apologized deeply in his heavy accent.

I wanted to shout – ‘YOU DON'T KNOW EITHER! YOU DUMB LITTLE UPSTART!’ – but I didn’t. The guy behind me was grinning and the gal across the aisle was smiling too….this old guy(me) was in a stew with technology…poor old geezer(that’s me again!)!!!! – “He just doesn’t understand computers. It is so quaint…there he is trying to get on to the Net – with his new laptop…cute little white haired guy…kind of reminds me of my grandpa…” – they were saying as they GRINNED AT EACH OTHER!

‘Listen ‘PhilipCutter’ or whatever your name is… you are on my Network and you can see me as well…don’t treat me like a stupid old fool! I know more about computers than you do… “You silly University Student with a ‘poor old senior citizen’ nodding smile on your face”!!!! I was working on computers when your parents hadn’t even considered conceiving you! DON’T PATRONIZE ME ‘PhilipCutter’ – or I will be forced to snap your lap top shut on your soft little fingers!’

All of that raged through my mind – BUT I did not say it!

So to get some satisfaction and get my $8.95 worth of NON Internet service… I clicked the Wireless Feature OFF and then turned on SIMCITY – one of my computer games that is COOL. It has all kinds of neat sounds and sights as I build cities, repair water lines, meet natural disasters head on… as the ‘POWERFUL MAYOR of LINCOLN CITY’ – I AM IN CHARGE!

So they want to study…. and grin and think funny thoughts about the old guy with the lap top – struggling with the fact that he should know he needs to connect through his browser….I WILL SHOW THEM!

The sound was louder than I expected….and as I played…my wife said, “Can you turn that game down?” But she didn’t understand….sound was what I needed to let them know I was okay. The SIMCITY sound is unique and penetrates a rolling train car – like Car 4704.

The University students were still smiling. Okay – Okay I know – “SIMCITY” is OLDer…. And all of this crowd plays “World of Warcraft” with its own unique sounds and sites…..

At the Cobourg train station we departed car 4704 and the young students. Some looked up as this older couple sped to the open door. They grinned at the old guy with the red face pulling the two rolling suitcases… “Somebody should help them…” was likely running through their thoughts.

Man of man…a lot happened from Thursday to Sunday. The world had become much younger and I became much older.

Oh Boy!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

One Click Too Many

2008-03-29T00:08:00.001-04:00

My friend Tim shared this story with me…

“Barb, my wife, was babysitting our niece. She's 2. Avery loves to play with buttons. Yesterday, she got up on the chair by the computer and began to play with the mouse. In just a matter of a few unsupervised minutes, she managed to change the orientation of the screen so that everything was turned on its side. Barb didn't want to call and break the news over the phone so she waited until I walked into the house and let me discover this little surprise all by myself.

Here's the amazing thing about VISTA. A 2 year old can change the orientation of the display with a few clicks of the mouse, but it takes an adult who spends most of his day on a computer the better part of an hour to undo it. Actually it took Zack holding the monitor on its side while I did 3 Google searches to find the fix. Not surprisingly, you don't actually change the orientation through the monitor icon in control panel. You access it through sounds and something. Ahhh yes.... VISTA. Makes me wonder why I didn't buy a Mac...”

Can you imagine with Tim and me how fast it happened? One 2 year old discovered something that I didn’t even know was possible – your monitor’s orientation rotating.

This small story is so much like life. One moment can change every thing – when we least expect it. Some times the results are reversible – other times it is not so. It is permanent – nothing will change affect that ‘innocent click’.

I met a man that discovered another woman that was hurting. She poured out her heart to him about her bad relationship with her own husband – he fell for it…hook line and sinker. His own life was ruined and so was his new encounter. “One too many clicks” destroyed every one involved.

Then there are the people that have to take oodles of time to get the “orientation back” to the place that you can make sense of what is happening. In my friend Tim’s situation he needed help to get it right and it took time – lots of time…more time than it took to get the problem.

Unfortunately for the other man – everything was not able to be changed back the way it was before. He was hurt, his wife was hurt and the other lady along with her marriage went down the tube – affecting two teenagers and even the dog.
The Bible is clear in encouraging a man or a woman “to guard their heart”. We can take that further and suggest that we guard everything that may be connected to our person.

The old fashioned idea of walking/keeping a “holy life” is for today. The old fashioned idea is as new as March 29, 2008…or the day that you read this.

There is nothing wrong with living right. Can I shout that out on this page....There is nothing wrong with living right! The world seriously needs to see some strong right living – it might well blow everyone away. A new standard to start all of us on a new road.

But… the really important part…
If you have messed up ‘your monitor’ – there is hope – God cares even for stuff that everyone else condemns. We need only come back and tell him about it – ask forgiveness and then get it right. God loves people that start over… and when they don’t know what to do… he is there to assist them.

Hey… we are pulling for you today and praying too.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Car Number 4203

2008-03-28T00:42:00.001-04:00

The train lumbered through the cool, spring, Ontario country side. The white fields and dense bush swept by us as we sped to the city of Ottawa. It was all interesting for us as we take a break and travel to our Canadian Capital City.

But the most interesting part of the train trip is the collection of fellow passengers on car #4203. From seats 12A & 12B we were centered in all the action.

Are you a ‘people watcher’? I am – I love watching what people do and listening to what they say. They give some marvelous hints of what they are all about.

The gal sitting across the aisle was a ‘legal person’ of some sort. For three hours she poured over a huge pile of typed paper sheets. With her pencil she made note after note in the columns. She was dressed well. Heading to Ottawa from Toronto – hmmm? Maybe in Politics too?

Three seats up in the aisle seats across from each other were two older, sociable ladies. They talked to everyone. People walking by or people sitting near them were their new friends. They talked to each person. They seemed to be the welcoming committee for car #4203. The University student that paused and allowed them to catch his eye – was caught. The look on his face as he tried to get away was priceless. There he was, caught by two sharp old gals that were simply interested in him. In a short few moments they found out more about what and who he was than he ever wanted to them to know.

At the back of the car #4203 there was the two young musicians, strumming their guitars. These were electric guitars with no AMP. They kind of made some sort of sound – but no sound really. They were proud of their guitars for sure…and likely had them out so we could see. Maybe they were part of a new 16 year old band…who knows? They were avoiding the two older ladies in the center of the car. They saw the ones that they had caught.

Car #4203 was managed by “Mr. Chris”, a tall man with greasy hair and a limp. He wasn’t too interested in car #4203 – tolerating us all – but not interested. Mr. Chris worked for Via Rail and charged $1.75 for the pop. His dry sandwiches were not selling well.

Almost all the seats were full of interesting people, unusual people and people like me – watching people like me.

As we were propelled through Ontario we were together and yet apart. The thing that connected us was the train car #4203. It was home to us for a little over three hours.

As I sat watching and listening I thought about a bigger car – something like #4203 – but much bigger. It is my world. I am situated on it and moving a tremendous speed – Earth. Wow what a car.

But in reality my part of the ‘Earth car’ is small. I am fastened to my seat and stay alone for the most part of my life. I go out only to get my little job done and then quickly run back to my small section of life again. Just like everyone else.

On car #4203 there were many people moving quickly through the country side. But none of us came close to each other – except maybe the two older ladies that knew more about everyone before their ride was up. In away that is sad – we got off the train at the end not knowing any of our fellow passengers.

That simple glimpse for me is so much like life. Speeding through my life on the ‘Earth car’ I can remain isolated and alone – never having met anyone the entire ride. Or I can chose to do something different about it and meet someone.

As Alida and I walked through the streets of Ottawa we met most everyone heading home after a long day’s work. Many were young adults walking alone or standing at bus stops. Few were smiling and all were alone.

Alida looked at me and made a statement that struck me with the weight she was feeling. She said, “You know I bet there are a lot of people that go home from these jobs with no one to talk to.” It was so true. Here they are from many other places, working at important jobs and getting somewhere and no where. Just lonely people all riding on a big, fast moving car.

We stopped in a Shoppers Drug Mart to buy something. In front of us was a lady fumbling with a plastic sandwich bag filed with pennies and nickels and a dimes. She bought some lip balm and some candy then left. She was likely a street person paying for something with the money she had begged for.

In another strip mall we walked through there was a lady laying in the walkway between the stores. She was completely gone as she laid on the hard floor. Dozens of people walked by her and looked without stopping. Most of the people were well dressed and moving quickly.

The streets of downtown Ottawa have many people begging for money. In one block we were stopped by three people and asked for spare change. It is quite an experience to watch these folk.

Reflection…
What will I do with my time today? Will I watch or will I connect with other around me?

I think the ladies in the middle of car #4203 have the right idea. They are out to make a difference where they are seated.

When the taller one of the friendly two looked at me and smiled, I smiled back. She wanted to talk…but I had an important book to read. I missed the opportunity for sure.

Today will be different. I will meet at least two new people and interact….in a meaningful way.

How about you?

What would Jesus do if he was on car #4203?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

11 PEOPLE ON A ROPE

2008-03-27T23:42:00.000-04:00

Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, because otherwise they were all going to fall.

They weren't able to designate a person, until the woman gave a very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because as a woman, her role in life is complete. She married a nice, genuine man, gave him four healthy children and raised them to be the strong, independent young adults they are today. She also said that she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, and that this last sacrifice is just a symbol of the many sacrifices she has made for her family and friends throughout her life.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping.

SEND THIS TO AN INTELLIGENT WOMAN SO THAT
SHE HAS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT TODAY, AND TO
INTELLIGENT MEN WHO APPRECIATE THE JOKE!

My wife and I are in Ottawa at the moment attending a Conference. Thanks Brenda for this Great Filler.

~ PML ~