My prayer today…
Father,
I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
- pursuit of god – Tozer
Born to Die.
Today we celebrate Christmas with all of our family and friends.
Today we celebrate the birth of a child .
A child born to a virgin teenager through a miracle.
A miracle that changed the outcome of the world.
A world in desperate need for a Savior.
A Savior who came to show us how to live and love.
A love so great that ended through a sacrifice.
A sacrifice through death on a cross.
A death that didn’t end there but through resurrection.
A resurrection that we can claim and own to have life and have it to the full.
Do not mistake the reason why we celebrate. Christ came on this earth with one purpose. He was born to die. And as harsh as that phrase sounds. I will be forever grateful for that sacrifice.
“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” – John 3:16.
Love you all.
Merry Christmas.
Mersh.
Plan B?
-The Death Star didn’t work out so well. Time for “Plan B”.
I have been thinking alot lately about the way that God provides. And more importantly how we trust God.
I have been looking for the last few months to step into some new direction and enter back into full time ministry and with that comes all sorts of amazing opportunities for networking and meeting fantastic people, as well as some struggles of trying to make ends meet financially.
On one of my past trips canadating for a church I fell asleep on the plane listening to some music and due to the lady next to me having to get up and hit the restroom I woke up to a sermon on my iPod. The pastor asked the question “What do we do when God doesn’t show up the way we expected?” and then further stated “sometimes God will provide opportunities that we aren’t suppose to take”.
For instance.
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: `And he was numbered with the transgressors’ ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied. (Luke 22:35-38, NIV)
Now, most of us know how this ended. Jesus and the boys went to the garden and after Jesus scolded the disciples for napping on the job the Roman guards come to arrest Jesus and Peter being awesome as usual pulls the sword and cuts off one of the guards ears off.
Instantly Jesus springs into action and miraculously heals the ear and demands Peter to “Put the sword away”.
As confusing as this story is, Peter, like most people, did what he thought he was suppose to do.What Jesus somewhat eluded to begin with.
So now, I’m on a plane, groggy, with future plans and hopes and dreams weighing on my mind and my heart. And I hear this message. Something that contradicts the norm of how I think God works, the formula on who He is and how He guides and directs my life.
And I’m left wondering….
What if?
What if I’m wrong?
Days later. I find myself chatting with a friend and the realization hits me that I’m asking the wrong question. Life is not about wondering if the next step I take is the right or the wrong one. Life is not about making conscious efforts in fasting and prayer over if I have the soup or the salad for lunch. Or whether or not I accept the right job offer. Or whether or not I ask that girl or guy out for coffee.
Life is about Love.
Do I love?
Do I walk in accordance to loving on those who not necessarily love me back.
Do I walk in acceptance that regardless of the path that I’m on. If my focus is on Glorifying and Representing Christ through my relationships, through my actions and through the words that come out of my mouth, I can flip burgers for the rest of my life and feel a contentment in being exactly where I need to be.
God is not interested in what you do. God is interested in the heart behind why you do it.
So here I am Lord. Use me the way you see fit. And help my first world problems not get in the way.
Amen.
M
Go get this book. Its fantastic and speaks to the heart of this. Plan B – Pete Wilson
Saddleback Cancels Church.
I’m not a huge Rick Warren fan. I admit. But I do respect what he and his church is doing this holiday season. More churches need to take note and follow suit. If we simply gather for the sake of gathering together we are nothing more than a soical club. The church is supposed to be active and alive day in and day out. Not just a weekend deal. This is what I mean.
In a rare move, the 20,000-member Saddleback Church in Orange County is canceling all of its worship services during the second weekend in December in order to help facilitate a huge neighborhood volunteer opportunity. Rick Warren is Saddleback attenders to take at least a half day on Saturday or Sunday (Dec. 10, 11) to go “serve in the community and love your neighbor as yourself.”
In its 31-year history, the megachurch has canceled weekend services less than a handful of times, according to Warren.
Church officials are hoping to mobilize Saddleback’s base of 5,000 Bible study groups, referred to as “small groups,” to perform their own chosen acts of kindness in their neighborhoods.
Pastor Erik Rees, designated as the pastor of Ministries and Life Worship at the church, is leading the team that is championing the event called, “Good Neighbor Weekend.”
“Saddleback has always been a loving and caring church that gives and gives, so this weekend will continue our commitment to love our neighbors,” Rees told The Christian Post. “The weekend will include a variety of ways to shower our neighbors with compassion, kindness and love. These opportunities include on-campus, in the community, and through our 5,000 small groups.”
SOURCE: The Christian Post
Enjoy.
M
This broke me.
It breaks me that we as a society are forcing our children to grow up so fast.
It breaks me that there is so much sorrow that kids are resulting to cutting to “punish” themselves for feeling alone.
It breaks me that the parents are usually out of the picture in most of these cases.
It breaks me that school systems do not have adequate discipline programs in place to stop bullies and correcting attitudes.
It breaks me that we cannot assume innocence anymore with anyone.
It breaks me that I don’t take the time to love on and come along side these kids.
It breaks me that if I’m not part of the solution that I am in fact apart of the problem. There is no fence.
M
The Presence Thickens.
Being in the presence of the Lord could arguably be considered the single most important part of our lives. While in a sense, it is always with us and we cannot live without it, we find ourselves hungering for it more and more.
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
M
Reading Tozer…
I’m writing today from the Seattle airport where I wait for my connection flight to Philladelphia and then onto Erie PA where I will be leading worship this weekend. Pretty pumped.
Ok so I started reading “Pursuit of God” by AW Tozer and I have to say… the guy is hitting me right where it counts. Here’s my favorite quote as of right now.
“Within the fold of Conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of person whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct “interpretations” of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep from the fountain of Living Water.”
He goes on by addressing the current state of our teaching from the pulpits by saying,
“There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the princilples of doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach the fundamentals of faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is in their ministry no manifest Presence, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. They minister constantly to believers who feel within their breasts a longing which their theaching simply does not satisfy.”
BOOMSAUCE.
Thoughts?
M
Mourning Myrtle…
Today I had the privilege to be apart of a distant relatives funeral. I got to play and sing a few hymns for a lady that I may have only met once or twice in my life.
This whole past week, I prepared and mentioned to friends that I was involved and instantly the “go to” response from people were “Sorry for your loss”. I had to once again reiterate the fact that it was my Grandma’s sister who lived to 95 years old and simply that I didn’t really know her. Regrettably, I thought more about how this was simply one of the various hats I put on as a musician more so than walking into the situation with the mindset that families are mourning the loss of a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. Needless to say, my attitude changed once I arrived at the funeral home.
I sat through Aunt Myrtle’s children give heartfelt testimony on how amazing their mother was. I saw and felt the sadness they held as they began to weep in mourning. I shook the hands of grandchildren with children of their own as they fondly reminisced about how amazing strong, yet graceful of a woman their grandma was.
And I heard the hope and joy that they know grandma’s faith had secured her a spot in line at the pearly gates.
It was encouraging to be in a room and know that even though this life is so fragile and seems to come and go so quickly that we can celebrate a life well lived together, through the sadness.
Psalms 30:5 Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
M
Lest we forget….
Today, Remembrance is a powerful action to stop us in the midst of life and give thought about our vetrans.
Where we stop to think about how our freedom was carried and burdened on the backs of brave men and women.
Brave men and women, who I will never meet, put themselves in harms way so I could enjoy the quality of life I have become accustom to.
Its my hope that through remembering, we feel a sense of responsibility to be a people of peace, justice, hope and courage ourselves.
Lest we forget.
With prayers, thoughts and respect. Thank you Troops.
M
Moments that take your breath away…
Here’s one.
Ps 150:6 “Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord.”
Enjoy.
M
Haiti…blog numero duh. Still the only big white guy.
Haiti.
Over half way through the trip.
It’s still hot.
But at least I am starting to adjust.
The AC in our rooms at night is such a needed refuge from constantly leaking out every pour in my body. This last week has really tested me physically, mentally and even emotionally. I’m stoked at least that there is a number of guys here that I can joke around with and somewhat get my sense of humour.
Over the weekend was especially good. We have now worked 7 days on the wall and have gotten a ton done. But over the weekend we were able to relax a bit working a half day or so and then hopped into some vehicles and went to the beach where we could just sit in the cool ocean. It is so crazy that a place with such poverty and such destruction can still be and feel so beautiful. It honestly felt like I was on a different island.
Right when we got there I had to laugh really hard cause the local Haitian merchants that have their goods out on the sand ready to sell to us “whiteys” quickly followed us to where we set up on the beach and laid down their wares in-between us and the water so we would have to walk by them and hopefully buy something.
I picked up a machete for $15 and a few others picked up some paintings and whatever else. The coolest part was that there were lobster fishermen who had their traps set out offering for $11 (which we bartered down from $27) that they would bring them in, season and cook and then bring out to us on a tray with a fork. It was honestly the best and literally the freshest lobster I’ve ever had.
On Sunday after church we went to a different beach and swam around. I got stung by a jelly fish… It was pretty much the best thing ever having to pee on myself to ease the stinging. Good times all around.
For those of you who are wondering. I am working down here in Haiti for a organization called Haiti Arise. What Haiti Arise is, is a school, church, technical institute and orphanage (soon) . We have now spent 8 days working on a wall surrounding 13 acres of land that will be used to build orphanage homes, a new school from grade 1-12 and a new church building. Currently they are cramming alot on a much smaller property with an open air church building (more like a roof on some 6x6s and really shady looking branches from a tree holding it up. Regardless, there is amazing worship and preaching coming from the building 3 times a week for the locals to come and form a church community.
Today (Wednesday) we got to walk out to the open air market and experience true Haitian culture. It was astonishing how people would sell and buy their goods. It is very different than the Superstore. Only necessity items were there to be sold. Often pre-used and the food sold was very unsanitary. Later on in the day we did some home visits where we got to meet with some people in the community with a translator and enjoy each others company. The locals are amazing and call me “Big Boss” or “Big Marcel”… Makes me laugh. Also the children around here are astonished that humans come in this size. I had a good walk to the job site with a small school girl who just wanted to hold my hand and smile at me while we walked. She was cute and I was flattered.
Today was also especially great day as we completed a large stretch of wall that was under much conflict by some locals who are opposed to Haiti Arise. Thankfully we completed and rounded the corner with no opposition while we were down here.
Now on the home stretch we are gearing up to head back home and I have to say that my experience has been one of both eye opening and revelation. To see and experience the culture that is in direct opposition to the one we live has been life changing.
For those of you interested in the work done out here please check out www.haitiarise.org for more information.
Canada I’m home soon… can’t wait to be home.
I will have to save uploading pictures for when I get a better internet signal.
M
Haiti so far.
Haiti.
It’s hot.
Too hot.
So hot that I could cook an egg on my forehead hot. (I wish I was joking)
But.
God is good.
I am alive… well, somedays only half alive.
Here’s what I’ve encountered so far and what I am up to. I left for Haiti with a group of men from the Saskatoon area with the purpose to work for 9 days on a wall surrounding 13 or so acres of land. This wall is being build so that they can then begin to build housing units, and various other buildings to support their orphanage. The organization that we are working for is called Haiti Arise. It is run by a Haitian (Marc) and his American wife (Lisa) who currently run the only semi-public school in the area, just finishing building a medical center as well as have church services on almost a nightly basis.
When we left the Miami airport I was sitting next to a Haitian man and got to chat in broken English about Haiti and he (who lives in America) was telling me how Haiti is his most favourite place to be and how beautiful it was. I began to think in my spoiled Canadian way of thinking that maybe Haiti won’t be so 3rd world after all. That was my first mistake. When we landed the airport was chaotic at the best of times. But luckily we had a police escort and amazing Haitians who work for Haiti Arise there who knew what is what and how we need to conduct and move through that. Did I mention that I am completely out of my element. First time in a 3rd world country… (Haiti I was told was actually deemed a 4th world country before the earthquake….)
We hopped in vans and started our 60km drive through Port Au Prince to Grande Goave…. It took us around 3 hours. If we weren’t dodging cars or motorcycles we were dodging school children in uniform or dogs and goats. Haitians are probably the best drivers I’ve ever seen. BC drivers need to take some lessons from them. The fastest car or the car with the loudest horn rules the road. We drove past the collapsed parliament buildings where they have not begun to clean up and in fact had it barricaded off so people couldn’t go near it. There was still large remnants of the earthquake, pot holes the size of a small car, rubble lining the streets and very few pieces of heavy machinery in operation. As we were driving I prayed “God give me your eyes and break my heart for these people.” As we were driving I saw things that will shake me up for a while. A man with no left leg at the knee hobbling around begging for change. A man who in the middle of the street slapping a woman and dragging her towards a shack. Children playing in the sewers and thousands upon thousands of people living in tin shacks and slums. Street vendors and children running up to our van and begging for money. People living in an abandoned ambulance. UN soilders with M16 rifles. Men with air compressors and torches to refill tires on every corner. People riding on the roof of dump trucks as they drive 60-70 km/h. I thought this only happened in Slumdog Millionaire.
As we got closer to the compound more and more little villages and “farm land” of sugar cane began to appear on the side of the road. And then it hit me that I am literally in the boonies. Haiti was described to me as being 90% Christian and 100% Voodoo. Which means people over here are extremely spiritual but have a tough time understanding the Monotheism of 1 God only. The first day we arrived we got to walk around the compound and see the new property where the wall was going up. There is just under a km left to build. And the tricky part is that there are locals who are constantly muddying up the boundry lines where we need to build so we are trying to work in the conflict areas as fast as we can to get it done with.
Haitians are really awesome. I think the children that come to school on the compound have never seen a white guy as big as me before. They point and laugh amoung themselves which I find is really funny and some of the brave ones say “You, You You You” at us as we walk by. We play along and banter back and forth. There are some really cute kids. Kids my nephews age who would sprint full speed barefoot over broken glass and in jungle settings chasing chickens or each other. Or simply running away from the white monster. Working with the Haitians is interesting. They have their specific way of doing things and their ingenuity is amazing. They can make something out of nothing and remind me of black McGyvers. We found out the first day working with them the first day that if we let it, it can get frustrating working at their pace and competency of efficiency. So we try our best not to bully in our North American way of thinking. We are hand picking stones and digging holes with broken shovels and pick axes. Its rough. Did I mention it was hot yet? Ya, well let me reiterate. I sweat lots when I am in Canada. Now add 15 more degrees and 100% humidity . Every step is a chore. Every breath is wet and gross. And I think I might be about 20-30lbs lighter by the end of next week. (Which isn’t a bad thing)
The food and water on the compound is great. They have everything filtered and culligan bottles for drinking water. I drink way too much… about 8 liters a day. Plus 1 or 2 cokes. I am looking forward to the day we get to go to the beach or the open air market in the village here. Apparently the market really opens your eyes and the lines at Superstore then isn’t so bad after all. Lots to process. Lots to take home and its only the 3rd day here. The count down is on however. I miss my bed and not having to power lift concrete slabs all day. I also can’t wait to give my sweat glands a break. First world problems I know…
Prayers again for the team for health and safety. The local conflict can very easily turn ugly as well as there are all sorts of things that bite do some nasty damage. If you want to know more about this mission organization you can go to www.haitiarise.org. There is a huge need for some donations as they live on credit with various supply stores and what they can make due by. Everything is really expensive over here too. I heard a 2×4 costs $12 US… So that can get pricey. Right now there is a need for around $1000 or so to get the wall finished, buying concrete and tools ect. So if you can donate and designate the funds to “Supplies for Cornerstones wall building team” that would be amazing.
Thanks so much for reading this long.
I’m sweating right now.
That is all.
M
Off to Haiti…
I am currently sitting in the Toronto Airport waiting for my connector flight down to Miami then off to Port Au Prince and Grande Groave in Haiti where I will be for the next week and a half. Which means few blog posts from me for the next 10 days.
Prayers are covetted and appreciated.
Much Love.
M
Can anybody find me??
Somebody to love…
Ok, so by now if you haven’t heard this you need to. Marc Martel from the band Downhere, posted an “audition” tape for the Queen Extravaganza contest. Essentially the drummer of Queen is holding auditions for people to be apart of a tribute band. Now, Marc is a bit of a ringer being the seasoned veteran who has seen his share of accolades and successes with his Christian Rock band. But what he has going for him is the fact that the guy can mimic and take on the vocal style of the late Freddy Mercury so well that if you close your eyes you feel like you are listening to the 1976 album “Day at the Races”… Plus the perv stash is a nice touch.
Now, the video has gone viral in 3 short days hitting well over 1,600,000 hits and counting. Voting for the contest doesn’t open until November but Marc has now hundreds of thousands if not a million fans in his back pocket to use at his disposal…
Not too shabby for a fellow Briercrest alumni like myself. Maybe one day I can find my million or so somebody’s to love…
Enjoy.
M
Hopeless Fighters….
Yesterday news hit the hockey world once again that one of the NHL’s tough guys passed away, alone, with as the press say “with no foul play suspected”.
Wade Belak, Rick Rypien and Derek Boogaurd.
My heart breaks for these men and their families. Where they are surrounded by people who love them yet feel utterly hopeless and alone. These are men that the world looks at and associates such attributes as “Tough”, “Stong” and “Fearless”. Truth is, they like us all are frail, weaka and scared sh!tless at shadows in the darkest parts our souls. The press also stated in these cases that these men have been battling their “inner demons”. And they couldn’t be closer to the truth.
1 Peter 5:8 says “Be alert and sober minded, the enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour”
We all have our “inner demons” that we deal with, that we ignore or frankly deny we have active in our lives. And if the story ended there where would we be. But the story thankfully doesnt end there. We have hope. We have Joy. And we have Peace in the fact that through Christ we have abandoned our slavery to hoplessness and despair but found a kinship and love that surpasses every possible “inner demon” that we run into…
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Amen.
M
While you were sleeping.
A stunning night-time time lapse sequence done overnight in South Dakota.
Enjoy.
M
Love, Lust and Laugh…
I’ve been spending a lot of time on my own lately. Lots of time to think, to read and to write. Mainly incoherent thoughts. So enjoy.
The more time that I spend alone I have forced myself to shut off the outside sources that are craving for my attention. Shutting off the iPhones and the Cable, the internet and the radio. And the only thing left, still screaming for me to listen to is my head and my heart.
You see, we all long for true contentment in our relationships. We long for the desires of our hearts to be fulfilled and satisfied. We desire to be the prom king and to date beauty queen or the other way around. We all search to live out loud the love songs that only Boys II Men could sing. To be courted and dated like it was a scene out of a Jane Austin novel. To be told how big and strong, how much we belong in each others arms.
And like an elementary child we pass notes to one another in our secret conversations in our over analyzing minds.
(Check) if you like me, (check) if you don’t… (Check) if you love me, (check) if you won’t.
We express ourselves to one another like its a grandstand, we walk around holding hands, hugging and kissing like its something we’ve always been missing.
How quickly do we grow together and how quickly do we fall apart.
You see I believe that in relationships you can Love, you can Lust and you can Laugh. Most will only find one or two but when you find yourself with all three, its magic.
All three are found in the perfect relationship.
All three can so easily be misplaced….
There is something in the water man. A virus that seeks to kill relationships and marriages. Spreading from household to household, knocking on doors and being welcomed in with open arms. Apathy, Jealousy, Business and Discontent. Tools used against us in the good fight for Love, Lust and Laughter. Where our words and our word get twisted and turned, our hearts get blistered and burned. It crushes me to think that the words “till death do us part” only truly mean “until I loose interest”.
Truth is, falling in love takes a pulse. But staying in love takes a well mapped out plan.
I find hope in the fact that my long standing singleness has given me the opportunities that I have had. To see what I have seen and experience what I have experienced. And when that perfect lady comes my way, I plan to fight hard to Love, Lust and Laugh with her.
It will be pretty nifty.
M
Divine Appointments?
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16
This afternoon something rad happened.
The other day I was driving home to Kelowna and a chorus of a new worship song in my heart found words. I quickly recorded it on my iphone as I was driving through the mountains. These were the words to the chorus.
“Release the sound, shine your light, and change the atmosphere around. Release a noise, from shouts of joy and may Your glory God be found.”
Needless to say He did just that.
So I sat down this afternoon to flush out some chordings and the musiciallity for the tune and as I was simply worshiping God with this new tune a knock came to my door. At first I thought I was being a bit loud because I tend to give’r when I play and thought it might be my neighbor. So I quickly put the guitar down and went to the door. As I opened it there were 3 young ladies standing outside my door.
Instantly they were asking if what they heard in the hall was real or if it was a cd. I told them I was just playing around and practicing. They went on saying how I sounded like the lead singer of the Counting Crows or whatever. I laughed and said thanks. Then the question was asked, “What are you practicing for?” and so I saw the door open and I stepped right in there. I told them that I am a Worship Leader in the city and play in the various churches in town. I told them about this weekend coming up at Trinity Baptist and that they should come. They said that they might check it out. I don’t know if they will or not, but I pray that they do.
I’ve never been great at taking compliments. Primarily because I feel that they are so undeserved, what little giftings I have are only magnified by my passion to point them upward. Its what I am about. Its what I want to be known for. So that people will see this simple prarie kid who plays his guitar and sings to his Lord and in turn looks upward themselves.
God you are good. And you constantly make good things happen.
M
