Let The Good Times Roll!

It is now time for my first official post-playoff post, now that the bitter tears have dried on my pillow. A while back I shared the following passage, saying that after a year of trials and struggles (this was two years ago, when I was in grade 12), I just felt that God was about to pour out His many blessings on me. Here is the verse:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

I would just like to take this time to share some of the many blessings that God has showered upon me, and express my gratitude to Him because of it. So here goes...

1) He has provided me with a well paying job for this past year at National Oilwell Varco, that has allowed me to save a fair bit of money to go against my tuition. The job may not be glamorous, but it is rewarding to see the influence that I can exert on the other guys in the shop.

2) He has provided me with several scholarships that will completely cover the cost of my first semester this fall.

3) He has provided me with a couple of close friends to be my roommates (Andrew and Tyson) when I move to Calgary in September.

4) He has enabled me to be able to get a week off of work (paid, no less!) in order to counsel at camp this summer.

5) He has provided me with the opportunity to experience Himself afresh as I travel to Peru on a missions trip this August.

6) He has provided me with a strong Christian family and close Christian friends throughout my entire life.

These are just some of the many blessings that I have experienced lately, and I praise God for all of them. The verse I quoted at the beginning of this blog has taken on new meaning for me, as I have experienced both sides of the situation. Its like the song says, "Though the sorrow may last through the night, His joy comes in the morning!" Or, to quote the same line from the modified version that my old band wrote at camp, "Though our hearts may not last through the night, BREAKFAST COMES IN THE MORNING!!!!!"

Thanks For The Memories, Edmonton!

Well, tonight obviously did not turn out as I had hoped, as the Hurricanes managed to hang on in game seven to win the Stanley Cup. So for all of you non-Oilers fans who read my blog, you can breathe a sigh of relief, as this marks the end of my hockey analogies for a while. Surprisingly, I am not nearly as upset as I thought I would be; disappointed, most definitely, but its not the end of the world. In a way, it is a relief that the playoffs are finally over, as I can finally move on with my life. It is summer, after all, and I have so many greater things to look forward to. So for any of you Flames fans out there, I guess we are now even, with both our teams choking in game 7 of the finals to a team from a city that should never even have a hockey team. However, if you're expecting me to say something nice about the Hurricanes, don't count on it. Ok, I guess they do have some pretty cheerleaders, but seriously, this is hockey, and fans shouldn't need any motivation to cheer. All in all, I can say that I am extremely proud of my Oilers, and will continue to stand by them no matter what. HEY EDMONTON, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

FERNANDO!

There was something in the air tonight
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to so the same again
I would my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would my friend, Fernando

*This is an exerpt of the song "Fernando" by the band ABBA, but is fitting in light of recent playoff victories.

Guilty As Charged?

It's been a little while since my last posting, so I figured that I had better write something new so as not to disappoint those of you who read my blog regularly. I wish I could say that I have some new revelations to share with you, but as of late, I have been rather uninspired. Instead, I will share with you something that I learned some time ago, and was reminded of once again the other night while in discussion with a friend. However, I cannot take credit for these ideas, as I first heard them from somebody whose opinion is apparently worth five cents. So here goes...

The topic of the day is guilt. I am not talking guilt as it may pertain to a death row inmate or even to a hockey player charged with a two minute minor for hooking (my only hockey analogy, I promise!). I am talking about those recurring feelings of guilt that so often plague us long after we have sought out forgiveness for our actions. This was something that used to cause me a lot of anguish, and still rears its ugly head from time to time. It is the feeling that even though we have apologized and sought to make things right, that it just isn't good enough.

One night, I believe it was at our youth service, Chris exposed these feelings for what they really are: lies of the Enemy. You see, as long as we are so caught up in feeling guilty and beating up on ourselves, our focus is not on God, but on ourselves, as is all too often the case. "Feelings" of guilt, and I say feelings because once Christ has forgiven us, our slate is wiped clean, blind us so much so that we fail to see God waiting with outstretched arms to welcome us back; blind to the forgiveness that He so freely gives. I believe that when we dwell on our guilt, it is because we are unable to forgive ourselves, plain and simple. The truth is, how we feel does not change the fact that God has forgiven us, but not without a great sacrifice. The very least we can do is follow His example and forgive ourselves.

I am not talking about the conviction of the Holy Spirit here, as that is vitally important in our lives. The Holy Spirit will convict us when we stumble, but once we seek out forgiveness, does not haunt our minds with feelings of shame and guilt. I believe that this is where the distinction must be made, and once we come to this realization, will allow us to move on in our lives as we fix our eyes upon Jesus.