Creating false Idols

How easy it is to do this, even when you don't think you do!

This has been spoken into me the last week as I spent one night in Mississauga at the Leadership Training time through our church. We all think this would be easy to follow as there is only one god and should not idolize others. We do however do it in our everyday life and may not realize it until it is brought to our own attention both intentionally or not. The message Wednesday night was not made for me, but was obviously given to Chris to speak about because someone there needed to hear it.

The Victoria day long weekend, I participated in the Canadian National Championships in ten pin bowling. I realized that those there were there because they are some of the best in Canada, but what I did was put them above myself even though I deserved to be there as well. Yes some of these guys have been seen on TV which may have helped me think they were more deserving of the attention, but my dreams that I see have me winning tournaments against some great bowlers. I believe that by allowing my self to think that these bowlers were more important that myself, I went against the plan of god. Then as I was unable to clearly think I made many mistakes on the lanes which caused me to miss the cut and ultimately the National team.

We are given dreams by god, he wants us to have to dreams to see what is possible through him, if we try to make our own dreams based on others successes we are trying to do things on our own strength not his strength. We are worshipping what others have or have done not what we have or can do ourselves with faith. This could be something as simple as a friend who has a better house, you want to be as good or better than them instead of finding what gods has for us. I now know that my dreams are his dreams for me, he knows what I am capable of and instead of looking at what others have done and accomplished, I need to only remind myself that what I am going to do will be far better than that.

If athletes are thinking, I want kids to say I want to be just like so and so, they need to see that yes they have a great talent, but people need to see themselves as themselves, that is they way god created them and that is how he will see them. He will not give Pro Athletes a better version of heaven as there is only one. He will not give them more attention because of status on earth, he loves all his children.

Tune up or Tune Out

I was not going write anything today, but something has been on my mind for most of the night and throughout the day. As anyone who knows me knows, I am an avid bowler and with plans to bowl at the end of May in the Canadian National Championships and join the Canadian National team. I don't just plan on showing up that day and expecting to win. I am going to head over to the lanes tonight to work out some things I have been having issues with lately. I will continue to work at this as often as possible until I feel I have made the right corrections and preparations for when the time comes.

This also had me thinking that I need to spend more time preparing mentally and emotionally to face the challenge of 36 games of bowling over 4 days. I thought of many ways I have heard or used in the past for preparing, but that voice in my head told me to read the bible and I found a good scripture to encourage and remind that I can do all things through him. In Isaiah 40:29-31 he says that he will give power to the weak and strength to the powerless but also that the young become exhausted. but those who trust in the lord will find new strength and soar high like eagles. Also, since this month we have been doing a study on Philippians I remembered 4:13 for I can do everything through Christ, he gives me strength.

So in the end not only do I have to tune up physically and be prepared for this potentially life changing tournament, but I also have to tune up spiritually to become the leader of many in what will determine Men from boys in Canadian Bowling.

Men's Weekend away

Most of my recent trips away from home never had me longing to get back to my own bed, as i was usually staying in Hotels with decent and comfortable beds. This weekend I attended a Men's retreat at Muskoka Woods Camp and had a great time playing sports and fellowship with the Men from our church. Unfortunately, we probably over sported ourselves and as a group have more sore muscles and joints than the average Pro sports team. Not to mention we slept on Bunk beds which had about 2" thick mattresses (nothing like the Hilton). I am sure for everyone there were different highlights of the weekend, but for me seeing someone choose to give their heart to the Lord tops all, especially when that person is soon joining your family. Although some who I would really like to see have to same change of heart were distracted I know that some of the message got through.

When you think of all the games and activities that were played, amazing not one serious injury. From volleyball to Basketball and Hockey to Murder Ball not one injury that required first aid, with the guys we had I thought someone would have been hurt Friday. The food was great from Breakfast to Dinner and snack. I look forward to next years trip.

But now back to home life and being sore and tired and having two children who have missed you for two night jumping all over you is a good feeling if you weren't so sore. I am sure many other fathers who were there this weekend experienced the same thing. I now put the fun and games of the weekend behind me to prepare for upcoming bowling tournaments. People may think they are pipe dreams but these dreams were put in my head by God so I know that they are possible.