blognick

“Second Chance”
Luke 13:1-9

There’s so much going on in the world these days. First we were devastated to see the destruction in Haiti. Then there was the celebration of life and unity in the Olympics. Then as the Olympics wind down, another huge earthquake. The biggest in recorded history hit Chile.

The earthquake in Chile was so big it, so much of the earth’s crust moved, it tilted the earth off of it’s axis by about 3 inches and shortened our days by 1.26 millionths of a second. (more…)

“Please Take A Number”
Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

What a difference a day makes. Last week critics were bemoaning the state of the Canadian Olympic team results at the Vancouver games. Too few medals were being won for the amount of money we put into the “Own the Podium” campaign. The campaign where the government pumps millions of dollars into preparing athletes for the games.

But about mid-week all that changed. Women brought four medals home on Wednesday. Our hockey teams were winning. All of a sudden pride and hope flowed from everywhere and many of the critics were silenced. Then even more medals, especially golds! And now we’re on the brink of winning more golds than any other country ever in a winter games! (more…)

“Some Time Away From It All”
Luke 4:1-13

Interesting video, no? Going without food for 40 days. Could you do it? How would you feel at the end of it? Or even at the end of the first day! (more…)

“Shine”
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-36

Every year about this time we read about Jesus walking up the mountain with a couple of disciples, becoming brilliantly white, meeting with Moses and Elijah and hearing the voice of God say, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Then Jesus, Peter, James and John make their way back down the mountain and continue on their way to Jerusalem. (more…)

“What’s Your Worth?”
1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

There’s a time in everyone’s life when they sit down, probably with their spouse, maybe thinking of their children, they might have some bank statements, bills, a spreadsheet and wonder where it’s all heading. Where is the money coming from? Where’s it going? How much will we need? (more…)

“What’s Love Got To Do, Got To Do With It?”
1 Corinthians 13:1-13

“What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love but a second hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?”

These are the words of for the chorus of Tina Turner’s hit song “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” from 1984. The song sings of a cautious woman entering into a relationship. Not sure how to react to this new love, as one who’s probably been hurt by love before. (more…)

“That Giving Spirit (continued)”
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

I was talking with someone one time about what I like to do for recreation. I told her I liked to play basketball, softball, and volleyball. She asked if I liked to run. I replied, “Not really, I prefer teams sports.” To which she replied, “I get it, you need help!” (more…)

“That Giving Spirit”
1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

This is one of those weeks where I wonder where to start. Do I talk about what I had originally planned to talk about, or do I address some obvious topics that have arisen in the last week.

Originally, I intended to talk about spiritual gifts based on our reading from 1 Corinthians. It’s a topic I love to talk about as I’ve led a number of workshops on spiritual gifts.

But gifts and giving have have a whole new meaning today than they did a week ago. The pictures we see in the news, on the internet, newspapers… reality sinks in. Given what has happened in Haiti, giving and gifts are on the minds of many people. (more…)