We MUST Remember

This week we celebrate Remembrance Day to remember the men and women who served or died to buy our freedom here in Canada and those who are still serving.

Why Remember? If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada.

  • In the same way, we were bought with a price by Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:20.
  • For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
  • He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25

Our freedom is not free! Too many brave men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to earn us our freedom. Remembrance Day isn’t just about war and those we’ve lost, but about ideals and what we stand for. It’s about respecting our past and looking hopefully forward, and more than anything, thanking those who have served.

Buy a poppy an wear it proudly to remember the many men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for us!

Cool Facts about #Widji17

Despite troubling events at the start of the summer, 2017 was simply epic. Our Camp Director, Moose, went on an unplanned sick-leave, and it takes a toll on staff to not only recover from losing the direct input of such a significant leader but also to launch a summer program with many moving parts. God is gracious and amidst the storm provided some fantastic young leaders to guide the program and lead campers through 9 weeks of epic fun. Here are some cool facts about #WIDJI17

Did you know that…

  • We gave away approximately 60 Bibles
  • Widji Had 498 campers
  • Started a new SALT arts-based program
  • Welcomed DAISY back to the Widji kitchen this summer
  • Blessed almost 300 kids from at-risk communities to a week of camp
  • Had 63 individual staff work at Widji this summer, including 8 Adult volunteers (we can always use more! Applications will open soon, more info here)
  • 96.25% of campers thought their leaders were awesome
  • 76.8% learned something new about God
  • Camp had waiting lists for all of its programming except Sizzle
  • Morning Monkeys shared “words of wisdom” from Widji tower 70 times
  • Mudwrestling followed by a shower without rinsing off renders a girl’s shower into a “hot tub” experience according to one camper
  • Evening games and Swimming activities were identified as the most common memorable camper experiences

-Guest blogged by Heyoo-

Do you have anything that you learned this summer? What was your memorable experience from camp this summer or a summer past? Share in the comments below!

Things I Never Said

things-i-never-saidThings I never said, but I should have!

A good man passed away in our church, everyone said what a great guy he was. I thought so too. Eldon, I looked up to you, consider you an example, even a mentor of what it looks like in this day to be godly, but never told you, I meant to tell you, call you, write a note, but I didn’t. And I’m sorry about that. 

Nehemiah greets the incoming Brothers from Jerusalem and first asks about the people, then the place.

Jesus focused on the people around him whether it was the disciples, the woman the well, tax collectors or children. I cannot find any record of Jesus talking about the weather, controlling it yes, but not idol chatter. 

We spend too much time talking weather, sports, news, gossip, etc. And not about the people. We can do better. “How are you” needs to stop being a greeting and become a way of caring about and listening to our friends, family and even strangers. Be in the moment, talk to and listen to the people in front of you. Put your phone down. 

Kids and teens especially need our attention and to be listened too. Almost no one cares about what they think. Be that person. 

Finally, write that note to the person you need to thank or encourage. Call them, send an email, go for coffee or dinner. Don’t text, unless it’s to set up going for coffee. 

Marriage: What Does a Good One Look Like?

Marriage isn’t the paper. It’s not the rings or the ceremony either. It’s the relationship of husband and wife each giving 100% of themselves to make it the best relationship they have. It’s hard work and commitment. It’s about love, respect, trust, understanding, friendship and faith.

Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods, Magnum P.I.) says, “Jillie and I have a pretty good partnership. We don’t do anything or make any decisions without consulting each other. And if one of us makes a decision involving Hannah, the other parent completely supports that position, even if you disagree. It’s important to nurture your marriage. I think wanting time away from work has been good for that.”

Vice President Mike Pence, who famously does not have meetings alone with women who are not his wife. Pence, by his own confession, abides by this policy because he is a Christian man who wishes to honor God, protect his marriage, and not put the women he works with in a compromising position.

The following “recipe” for a happy marriage was given to us as part of a cook book when Elaine and I got married. Thanks Anne!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of consideration
  • 2 cup of courtesy
  • 2 cups of flattery, carefully concealed
  • 2 cups milk of human kindness
  • 1 gallon of faith in God & each other
  • 2 cups of praise
  • 1 small pinch of in-laws
  • 1 reasonable budget
  • A generous dash of cooperation
  • 3 tsp. of pure extract of “I am sorry”
  • 1 cup of contentment
  • 1 cup each of contentment & encouragement
  • 2 children at least
  • 1 large or several small hobbies
  • 1 cup of blindness to each other’s faults

Directions

  • Flavour frequently with portions of recreation and a dash of happy memories.
  • Stir well and remove any specks of jealousy, temper or criticism
  • Sweeten with generous portions of love and keep warm with a steady flame of devotion
  • Never serve with a cold shoulder or hot tongue!

Thanksgiving Should Be More Than A Weekend

This past weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada. It is often about family and friends getting together. It’s the one day or weekend we pause long enough to remember all the things we are thankful for. It seems obvious that we should be thankful more than just one day a year. And we are. We give thank for meals, we thank people for holding a door, lending a hand, a nice compliment or some advice. Here are a few of mine…

  • God; for salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Spirit for daily guidance.  God is good: his character; that which disposes him to be kind, full of good will, benevolent, gracious, slow to anger, inclined to bestow blessings, the happiness of his people.
  • My family! My wonderful wife, Elaine, who has loved me for over 31 years in spite of and some times because of my quirks. My three girls (Nicole, Carolyn & Melissa) who are all amazing women accomplishing great things. My two sons-in-law (Tim & Ben) are great guys and are bringing up the male ratio. For Olivia and Logan, our grand kids who have made our lives so much fun. For my parents who chose to adopt me and love me. For my brothers and their families, Greenfield Christmas is coming up soon! 
  • Camp Widjiitiwin and MBC, where ministry happens that changes lives forever, where kids can hear about Jesus, make friends, try new activities, have fun, grow; where staff grow up, lead campers and each other, become leaders
  • Friends who are there for me, steady, faithful. 
  • Canada, were we are free to worship, pray, vote for our leaders, free health care! We live in a free country (earned my many lives on the battlefield) We get to vote
  • My church, where the Bible is preached faithfully, we reach out to our community, people have value, small groups for support and encouragement, prayer support, a big focus on missions, something for everyone. 
  • The beauty of creation. It is a marvel of God’s creativity. The Grand Canyon was breathtaking as we walked up to the south rim a few years ago. When I see Olivia or Logan and their smile, they rock my world. 
  • Good coffee. Preferably strong and black in a large mug. Currently enjoying my morning Folgers and of course some Green Mountain Dark Magic for later. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Moose Is Back!

After being off for the summer on sick leave, as of today, I am 73 days without dizziness. This hasn’t happened for over three years.

I am VERY excited to announce that I came back to work on Monday, October 2nd. It was great and a little strange at the same time. And, I get to go back tomorrow too.

I will be working at 60% time to start. This will be done as 4 half days and one full day a week. We will monitor things for the first few weeks and adjust as needed. My stamina and energy have been increasing over the last month and I am ready to go back to work. I am coming back into the planning season for 2018. 

Thank you to Heyoo, the Widji summer leadership team and the summer staff team for all their great work this summer to serve our many campers. 

Your continued prayer for my healing is appreciated.

Moose

Give in Secret, Pray in Secret, God will Reward

Notes from a sermon by Tim “Tetness” Beckner @ King Bible Church
Matthew 6:1-8 give in secret, pray in secret, God will reward
Discipline: taking ownership over personal regimen. Not punishment.
  1. Always results in progress
  2. Is beneficial regardless of your attitude. As long as you follow through with your plan.
Giving: vv 1-4; there is a reward, WHEN – that you give is expected; God wants our trust to be in Him, so he disrupts our money flow, when we surrender our wealth back to God, we show our trust in Him; God deserves our first dollars.
Prayer: vv 5-8; when you pray; pray in secret; it’s about time alone with God; private!
Picture this: in their (Tim & Carolyn) long distance relationship while dating, they didn’t see each other sometimes for months. If he only texted when he was waiting for class, or at the doctor’s office or walking, she would get the idea that he only had time for her between the other things of life. In the same way, God deserves our first minutes.
What if you really believed that God saw our private moments, heard our prayers, saw our generosity and rewarded us for it. How would that change what you did?
Discipline requires prior decisions. Pre-decide for a month to give God our first $ and minutes. Trust God not our time or money.
Check your agenda, calendar and alarms to see where God fits in.
Discipline becomes a habit and then a passion.
Fasting: apply previous lessons

Worship Without Wonder is a Waste

When Elaine and I first crested the hill from the parking lot and the Grand Canyon came into view we had an overwhelming sense of awe and wonder. It was jaw dropping, stop you in your tracks, take our breath away amazing (you have to see it first hand, pictures do it no justice). 

Worship without wonder is a waste. I first saw this on a friend’s Facebook post and I had to think about it for a while. Shouldn’t the majesty of our God create in us the same kind of reaction? The God of the universe, who spoke and the world was created, the God who sent His son Jesus to die for our sins, the God who loves us! 

Consider some definitions of wonder: as a noun

  • a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.
  • the quality of a person or thing that causes wonder
  • a cause of astonishment or admiration
  • marvel, a miracle
  • Synonyms: awe, admiration, wonderment, fascination

As a verb

  • desire or be curious to know something
  • feel admiration and amazement; marvel
  • the quality of exciting amazed admiration
  • rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience
  • synonyms: ponder, think about, meditate on, reflect on, muse on, puzzle over, speculate about

Isn’t this the way we ought to approach God in our worship? I think it should be! 

My Girls Wrecked Me

It used to be “my way or the highway”. It used to be “suck it up”. It used to be “its okay if you want to be wrong”. 

My girls and now my grand-kids (Olivia, Logan & Liam) have wrecked me. I’ve become soft. They’ve made me mushy. I almost don’t know how to handle it. My eyes well up at commercials, Christmas movies, while re-watching “Field of Dreams” and a wedding on NCIS. I get a lump in my throat way more often than I’m willing to admit.

Something changes when you become a dad. It’s like in Gary Allan’s song Tough Little Boys. But when tough little boys grow up to be dads, They turn into big babies again. You feel a paternal instinct to protect them at any cost. I’ve also been told that I will also almost always side with the girls in any argument. 

My leadership style used to be more autocratic for sure. I thought that was the way it had to be. My staff might still tell you that I’m a tough guy. I trust they also see me as fair. What really happened? My leadership has become much more collaborative. I now place a greater value on raising up others to be the leaders they can become. I want to hear what staff have to say and allow them to try things and make mistakes, even fail with dignity. That being said, I have certainly been about doing work along side my staff. 

If I was a bear, I’ve gone from grizzly bear to teddy bear. But, I’m Moose. 

Knight’s Honour Code of Chivalry

The Code of Chivalry was the honour code of the knight. Each of King Arthur’s Knights swore the Oath of Chivalry which included lofty ideals such as: protecting the weak and defenseless, obeying those placed in authority, and always speaking the truth, bravery, courtesy, honour and great gallantry toward women.

A knight was expected to have not only the strength and skills to face combat in the violent era of the Middle Ages but was also expected to temper this aggressive side with a chivalrous side to his nature.

  • To never lay down arms
  • To seek after wonders
  • Not to attack one another
  • To injure no one
  • To fight for the safety of one’s country
  • When called upon, to defend the rights of the weak with all one’s strength
  • To give one’s life for one’s country
  • To seek nothing before honour
  • Never to break faith for any reason
  • To practice religion most diligently
  • To grant hospitality to anyone, each according to his ability
  • Whether in honour or disgrace, to make a report with the greatest fidelity to truth to those who keep the annals

The large round wooden table in the Great Hall at Winchester (Camelot), reputed to be King Arthur’s Round Table, is made of 121 separate pieces of oak and measures 18 feet across, is nearly 3 inches thick and weighs nearly 1.25 tons.

Scientific studies have also revealed that a painting of a King was added to the round table around 1522. The King depicted bears a striking resemblance to the Tudor King Henry VII! The Tudors claimed lineage to King Arthur as justification for their reign and their claims to both the Welsh and English thrones!

As described in the Code of Chivalry (De Casibus Virorum Illustrium)