Musings with PWC

A funny thing happened to me twice in the last two months.  It happened first at the annual United Way train pull.  This is an annual event sponsored by the local United Way, as a fund raiser.  The local pastors were asked to put a team together--which we did--and off we went to pull a train.   This train is actually a train caboose which weighs 100,000 pounds.  Each team gets a chance for two pulls, with a little breather in between.  After our one pull, the MC for the day laughlingly suggested we take a break and go over to the beer tent and have a brew--before we pull again.  The comment was made in jest and simple fun.   The second time something similar happened was just last week. I was at the local radio station and was asked by the manager if I was going to attend the annual St Thomas award night.  He described the night, location, time etc. and then, tongue in check, said something like, 'Oh and remember, there will be a wet bar!" ...

I 'like' hockey--even like the Maple Leafs--but how zealous a fan am I?  Well, I'm unprepared to pay $250.00, or more-- to go watch a game.   I 'like' sailing--even spending some cash.  My buddy Pete Deboer and I spent a huge $120.00 on our sail boat--and we sail about three weeks a year--not all that zealous.  So my zealousness is lacking. Let's talk about my zealousness for Jesus.  Now, that's different--at least I hope. I think I'm pretty zealous.  You know, I do the right things, the spiritual things, and the righteous things.  I'm feeling pretty smug--oops--good about myself and then I read Numbers 25 and it's down hill from there. Here's the scoop.  (Warning- rated a little on the PG side!) The enemies of Israel--the Moabites--rather than attacking Israel with swords--use a covert method--worship and sex.  In the worship style of the Moabites, there was a lot of feasting, partying, and sex.  God is ticked off with the whole a...

The Year of Jubilee Buried in the pages of Leviticus you will find an interesting command.  God tells His people, the Israelites, to practice what God called 'The year of Jubilee'.  Basically here is how it was to happen. First, mark off every 50 years and call it a year of Jubilee.  During that year have fun--don't work.  Celebrate being God's chosen people.  Don't plant crops, work the fields or gather a harvest of any kind.  Just party! Second, cancel all debts.  If money was owed for things--the debt is cancelled. Third, if for certain reasons property had been sold some time during the previous 50 years, the land was returned to the original owner.  Every 50 years the land allotted to a family would be returned. Wow!  Hardly capitalism! Here's the reasons why an Israelite was to celebrate the year of Jubilee: First, he does not own anything.  God owns everything.  The Israelite is just a stewart.“ The land shall n...

     If you are a hockey fan you have offered your two cents on this already--that is, the David Clarkson suspension. For those unfamiliar with the finer points of hockey, here is what happened. In a pre-season game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres' tough guy (meaning I'll punch your lights out), a person by the name of John Scott, decides to go after Leaf's star Phil Kessel. Scott explained he was just doing his job, punching out the closest person--no offense intended. Kessel is staring at Scott's belly button and Scott decides to take a shot at Kessel. There is almost a foot difference in size between these guys. Well, this is too much for the teammates of Kessel. Carter Ashton was the first to the rescue. But in the mayhem that followed David Clarkson jumped off the bench and into the fray.       This is where the no-no occurred. David should not have done that! David, as a matter of fact, broke Rule 70.6 that stat...

David Demoor preached last Sunday at our church.  He preached about the soon return of Jesus.  Interesting that we keep coming back to this same subject--Jesus is coming soon.  He told the following interesting story. Frank Stronach--the big cheese from Magna was set to visit the plant here in St Thomas.  A certain day was placed on the calendar for Mr. Stronach's appearance.  Prior to his arrival, the employees worked hard at cleaning, painting, and making everything look perfect.  They even shut down some production lines for house cleaning purposes.  Everything was now perfect, and Mr. Stronach was to arrive in his private jet at the St Thomas airport.  But, when the time came for his arrival--he was a no show!   Apparently, he was too busy or involved with other activities.  It was not until some months later that he actually made the visit. David explained the following.  'Although he didn't come when we expected him, we were s...

That long?      Joseph, prior to his death, gave a prophetic announcement in Genesis chapter fifty. As you perhaps recall, Joseph became the prince of Egypt due to his ability to interpret dreams. His own dream became a reality after seventeen years. He dreamed that his brothers would bow down before him--and true enough, seventeen years later, that dream was fulfilled.       Joseph had all his family move down to Egypt to escape a 7 year famine. The Bible tells us seventy people moved down. Joseph, as the second youngest, was probably one of the last of his twelve brothers to die. He gave this prophetic word just prior to his death: Genesis 50:24-26  And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from...

I am again thinking about Jesus' return.  Our adult Bible class teacher, just this past Sunday posed a question to us.  Here it is.  "When are the last days?"  Immediately, someone responded with the usual, 'oh, the days just prior to Jesus' return.'  I suggested that the last days began in Acts 2.  Peter, if you remember quoted from the book of Joel to describe the events of Acts 2.   The outpouring of the Spirit, according to Peter, was a fulfillment of the Joelic prophecy of a last day outpouring.  Acts  2:17 ... In these last days ... So, the last days are days that occur from Acts 2 until the end of time as we know it.  These days will be climaxed with the coming of King Jesus.  Hebrews tells us that Jesus will appear a second time.  Hebrews  9:28 "so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." Jesus is coming again, ...