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A Step Behind by Joel Osteen
I talk to a lot of people who have lost hope in life. They are often grieving over past mistakes. They tell me they are sure they have messed up God’s plan so badly that they can never recover and experience God’s favour. On many occasions they have messed up – sometimes badly. But here’s a word of hope for you: God cares more about the next thing you do than the last thing you did. The people of Israel realized they had failed badly (Numbers 14:39 – When Moses reported the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief). But rather than accept God’s judgement and move forward in faith, they tried to undo their previous mistake by acting the very same way that had gotten them into trouble in the first place. They acted on their own rather than listening to God and obeying Him.
People who feel God is distant and unobtainable and people who feel God’s presence and intimacy have one thing in common. Both groups have failed and sinned. But those who continue to experience distance from God are people who conclude that since they have failed already, they might as well settle into failure for the long haul. Like the children of Israel, they continue on the same course rather than trusting God’s way, even if it includes correction and consequences.
Those who experience God’s presence and favour don’t live perfect lives, but they have learned how to respond when God points out their sins and mistakes. They humble themselves, ask for forgiveness, and move forward confident of God’s unlimited mercy. Our experiences in life’s wildernesses often depend on how closely we are determined to enjoy God’s fellowship.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
5 days
In the last five (glorious, exciting) days...
- I have heard from one prospective employer in Kelowna via email, who wishes to meet with me on February the 11th.
- I dropped off a resume (and filled out an application) with another prospective employer in Kelowna, got to meet my prospective boss and talk with him, and have a distinct feeling he is interested in hiring me. He is going to talk to his Human Resources department on Monday, and get back to me.
- Learned that I have a potential "in" with a Christian lady who runs three apartment buildings in Kelowna.
- Got to see my parents' nice, new (to them) apartment.
- Went to my ex's and my daughter's place, to spend time with them, had some pizza and watched Critters 3 on DVD, helped them install Baldur's Gate on their computer.
- Started playing Baldur's Gate myself again; after leaving my game 6 weeks ago and not touching it since I am now back playing!
- Continue to feel that God is getting me to Kelowna, and soon. Blessings coming, doors opening, favor of God going before me. Thank You, Lord!
- I have heard from one prospective employer in Kelowna via email, who wishes to meet with me on February the 11th.
- I dropped off a resume (and filled out an application) with another prospective employer in Kelowna, got to meet my prospective boss and talk with him, and have a distinct feeling he is interested in hiring me. He is going to talk to his Human Resources department on Monday, and get back to me.
- Learned that I have a potential "in" with a Christian lady who runs three apartment buildings in Kelowna.
- Got to see my parents' nice, new (to them) apartment.
- Went to my ex's and my daughter's place, to spend time with them, had some pizza and watched Critters 3 on DVD, helped them install Baldur's Gate on their computer.
- Started playing Baldur's Gate myself again; after leaving my game 6 weeks ago and not touching it since I am now back playing!
- Continue to feel that God is getting me to Kelowna, and soon. Blessings coming, doors opening, favor of God going before me. Thank You, Lord!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Frumpy
frumpy - the art of being partly frustrated, and partly grumpy.
Right now, i do not know how else to describe how I feel right now. Partially calm...but also a bit like I want to weep?
At work, once again i am under attack. One person, let's call him"Simon" (cuz that's his name, maybe?), has accused me in writing of being a liar.
Am I? Of course not. In fact, all my reports, by law, have to proveable as correct and true by videotape evidence. Therefore, if it isn't true, i cannot say it. That's my job.
In an incident about fifteen days ago or more, "Simon" refused to follow company policy, as well as provinical government policy. Re-Fused. I could have reported him then and there. Instead, as I have had clashed with him before on the same thing (and been accused of having something against him personally after that, even though this is totally untrue and unfair), I took the more cautious approach. I documented everything that had occurred, and pulled aside all the video (and audio) evidence and saved it. I then phoned my boss and told him what was going on, and then left even more detailed notes for him about all this.
By law, I had to report that "Simon" had disobeyed the rules. That is in my job description; i have to. There are no other options. But, not wanting him and his co-horts (more on that later) to once again accuse me of having a 'personal vendetta' against "Simon", I waited. After five or six days, my other boss 9second in command) gave me the go-ahead to report this all. In fact, the report was opened and started by her, not me! I put in my information, as requested, being careful to only put proveable facts, no opinions allowed! I wa salso very careful not to point any fingers at "Simon"; very, very careful, although it was obvious that he was in the wrong.
But, "Simon" is an ex-cop, ex-RCMP. He know show to get people on his side, play up the fact that he was a cop, etcetera. Both of our last two General Managers have gotten behind him, and against me. Yup, this new one, too!
Our new GM came up to my department to view the video, and audio (which, by the way, is a breach of procedure right there! my boss was never even asked about this by the GM!), and left saying that it was a "mis-understanding between departments", which is always the first volley fired. Next will come, "personal vendetta", followed by "but 'Simon' was a cop!"
My boss, tonight, phoned the GM and gave him a piece of her mind, and told him to get "Simon" to write up why he did not follow procedures. "Simon's" official report, which was written after being sequestered away in the office with GM coaxing him on what to write, was basically to call me a liar, and say that i did not pass on to him the information that I said I did. He's blaming me, and calling me and my report a lie/liar. Both he and the GM are.
My bosses will support me, both of them will. But how can i effectively do my job, when people keep calling into question my morality and my ethics? They (GM/Simon, etc) are trying to slowly ruin my reputation, because i refuse to bow before them, becuz i refuse to compromise what is the truth.
Good thing God fights for me. Good thing i handled this one so gently and carefully, and gathered all my evidence and got my boss's approval before starting anything. Good thing I can look at this, and know that I am in the right, even if nobody else believes that.
I also have a witness to everything that happened during the original incident fifteen days ago or so. This witness has been kept out of it up until now, but can verify everything that i said and did that night. And nobody knows about her, outside of my department, which is a very good thing.
But it is still frustrating. Knowing you'll win the war, you still take a few dire beatings in the battle to get to the end result. And it hurts.
Right now, i do not know how else to describe how I feel right now. Partially calm...but also a bit like I want to weep?
At work, once again i am under attack. One person, let's call him"Simon" (cuz that's his name, maybe?), has accused me in writing of being a liar.
Am I? Of course not. In fact, all my reports, by law, have to proveable as correct and true by videotape evidence. Therefore, if it isn't true, i cannot say it. That's my job.
In an incident about fifteen days ago or more, "Simon" refused to follow company policy, as well as provinical government policy. Re-Fused. I could have reported him then and there. Instead, as I have had clashed with him before on the same thing (and been accused of having something against him personally after that, even though this is totally untrue and unfair), I took the more cautious approach. I documented everything that had occurred, and pulled aside all the video (and audio) evidence and saved it. I then phoned my boss and told him what was going on, and then left even more detailed notes for him about all this.
By law, I had to report that "Simon" had disobeyed the rules. That is in my job description; i have to. There are no other options. But, not wanting him and his co-horts (more on that later) to once again accuse me of having a 'personal vendetta' against "Simon", I waited. After five or six days, my other boss 9second in command) gave me the go-ahead to report this all. In fact, the report was opened and started by her, not me! I put in my information, as requested, being careful to only put proveable facts, no opinions allowed! I wa salso very careful not to point any fingers at "Simon"; very, very careful, although it was obvious that he was in the wrong.
But, "Simon" is an ex-cop, ex-RCMP. He know show to get people on his side, play up the fact that he was a cop, etcetera. Both of our last two General Managers have gotten behind him, and against me. Yup, this new one, too!
Our new GM came up to my department to view the video, and audio (which, by the way, is a breach of procedure right there! my boss was never even asked about this by the GM!), and left saying that it was a "mis-understanding between departments", which is always the first volley fired. Next will come, "personal vendetta", followed by "but 'Simon' was a cop!"
My boss, tonight, phoned the GM and gave him a piece of her mind, and told him to get "Simon" to write up why he did not follow procedures. "Simon's" official report, which was written after being sequestered away in the office with GM coaxing him on what to write, was basically to call me a liar, and say that i did not pass on to him the information that I said I did. He's blaming me, and calling me and my report a lie/liar. Both he and the GM are.
My bosses will support me, both of them will. But how can i effectively do my job, when people keep calling into question my morality and my ethics? They (GM/Simon, etc) are trying to slowly ruin my reputation, because i refuse to bow before them, becuz i refuse to compromise what is the truth.
Good thing God fights for me. Good thing i handled this one so gently and carefully, and gathered all my evidence and got my boss's approval before starting anything. Good thing I can look at this, and know that I am in the right, even if nobody else believes that.
I also have a witness to everything that happened during the original incident fifteen days ago or so. This witness has been kept out of it up until now, but can verify everything that i said and did that night. And nobody knows about her, outside of my department, which is a very good thing.
But it is still frustrating. Knowing you'll win the war, you still take a few dire beatings in the battle to get to the end result. And it hurts.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Me?
What is going on in my world?
I'm glad you asked!
Just finished playing Dungeon Siege (the first one) yesterday. A simple game, but highly enjoyable (like me!).
Need to work no my resume this week, as I plan to apply at another casino in Kelowna...
Very disappointed in the government. Specifically, the family mainenance portion of it. They were wanting to recalculate my child benefits that i pay. So, they requested a bunch of information by a certain date, and I faxed it all off to them the day before said date. Then i get a letter in the mail, informing me that SINCE I DID NOT GET THEM THE INFORMATION BY THE SAID DATE, they have filed without my tax information a court order, mandating my payments go up by ten percent. And the onyl way to fight it, is to file with the courts and go before the judge and argue it. How stupid is that!? I even have the fax receipt, proving that i faxed them 18 pages of documents, and on what day. They LIED. They lied about me, knowing i do not have the money to fight it in court.
It isn't the money that bothers me. Yes, i willl be overpaying slightly...but not enougbh to get upset about. What upsets me, is that the governemtn slandered me and lied about me to my face, knowing that i have proof that they are liars, and they didn't even care...they are just a bunch of bullies, and since my ex is on disabilitgy, all they care about is wringing every last penny out of me. Cheats, frauds, bullies. I pray that they DO NOT get what they deserve from God! Lord, bless them, cuz you said to bless my enemies...
Other than that, not much. 40th birthday went by, and I am STILL smiling. All is good. Life looks good.
See ya in the funny papers!
I'm glad you asked!
Just finished playing Dungeon Siege (the first one) yesterday. A simple game, but highly enjoyable (like me!).
Need to work no my resume this week, as I plan to apply at another casino in Kelowna...
Very disappointed in the government. Specifically, the family mainenance portion of it. They were wanting to recalculate my child benefits that i pay. So, they requested a bunch of information by a certain date, and I faxed it all off to them the day before said date. Then i get a letter in the mail, informing me that SINCE I DID NOT GET THEM THE INFORMATION BY THE SAID DATE, they have filed without my tax information a court order, mandating my payments go up by ten percent. And the onyl way to fight it, is to file with the courts and go before the judge and argue it. How stupid is that!? I even have the fax receipt, proving that i faxed them 18 pages of documents, and on what day. They LIED. They lied about me, knowing i do not have the money to fight it in court.
It isn't the money that bothers me. Yes, i willl be overpaying slightly...but not enougbh to get upset about. What upsets me, is that the governemtn slandered me and lied about me to my face, knowing that i have proof that they are liars, and they didn't even care...they are just a bunch of bullies, and since my ex is on disabilitgy, all they care about is wringing every last penny out of me. Cheats, frauds, bullies. I pray that they DO NOT get what they deserve from God! Lord, bless them, cuz you said to bless my enemies...
Other than that, not much. 40th birthday went by, and I am STILL smiling. All is good. Life looks good.
See ya in the funny papers!
Monday, January 10, 2011
What A Day
What a great day to be alive.
It’s January the 9th, 2011, as I write this. Tomorrow is my fortieth birthday – no worries.
This has been a great year so far, hasn’t it? I mean, here I am, turning forty, and I really do feel like my life is turning a corner; and not one of those winding-road-late-at-night-after-an-allnite-bender-party-crash-and-burn-type of corners, either.
Things are definitely looking up. I can feel it in my spirit. Revival. An awakening. Blessings.
On a day when many people would be depressed, faced with thoughts of their own mortality, I am in great spirits, having the time of my life; I feel like nothing can bring me down. My Facebook status for the last several days has been “Life begins at 40”, and I really feel like, for me, that is truth. Everything is optimism and sunshine for me. My future looks bright.
God is looking out for me. I am looking at getting completely out of debt this year, and for the first time in two or three years, I actually see the light at the end of tunnel, and I’m understanding that I actually CAN get out of debt this year – what a blessing that is! I am awaiting changes at work, whether it is where I work, or my job description, or my rate of pay, or my job title, or my hours; or maybe all of the above! I do not know WHAT is going to change, but something IS going to change, and it is all God doing it, not me, and I feel pre-blessed because of it. I’m looking very hard at changing towns, moving back to Kelowna this year, and feel like this is a move that I need to make, and I know that if God wants me in Kelowna, He will open a door and get me there. My daughter got baptized recently and has been showing a real interest in God, and that is a blessing so huge I cannot even describe it. Two days ago, my ex-wife and daughter took me out for a pre-birthday celebration, bought me dinner, watched a movie with me; what an incredibly great time I had! Just last night, I was chatting with a musician friend from Vancouver about his newest project while on Facebook, listening to his rough samples and encouraging him and giving him his just-deserved kudos. Plus, thanks to one of my online friends from the States, who has a successful website and who recently posted a link to one of my websites, more and more people are getting interested in what I am writing online, broadening my scope of influence and just totally encouraging me and making me feel important – how amazing is that!?!
I dunno; this feeling, it is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s…expectation. The held breath right before something truly amazing and wonderful happens. I feel…alive, without knowing why I do. I just feel loved, and blessed, and on the right path for the first time in a long time, and life is truly good. God is good, and God is good to me, and I love Him even more for it.
This is an amazing year so far, and this is an amazing day to live in. You know, the worse the world gets, the more evil it becomes, the more doom and gloom is out there, the more encouraged I am, the more I remember that all these things shall pass and God is returning soon for His people! Great days are ahead, don’t let your light go out while you are waiting! God is active and alive, and His Word predicts His second coming! Be encouraged; God is your Saviour, your friend, your counselor, your comforter, your God and your Lord. He is my all in all. I live in Him.
It’s January the 9th, 2011, as I write this. Tomorrow is my fortieth birthday – no worries.
This has been a great year so far, hasn’t it? I mean, here I am, turning forty, and I really do feel like my life is turning a corner; and not one of those winding-road-late-at-night-after-an-allnite-bender-party-crash-and-burn-type of corners, either.
Things are definitely looking up. I can feel it in my spirit. Revival. An awakening. Blessings.
On a day when many people would be depressed, faced with thoughts of their own mortality, I am in great spirits, having the time of my life; I feel like nothing can bring me down. My Facebook status for the last several days has been “Life begins at 40”, and I really feel like, for me, that is truth. Everything is optimism and sunshine for me. My future looks bright.
God is looking out for me. I am looking at getting completely out of debt this year, and for the first time in two or three years, I actually see the light at the end of tunnel, and I’m understanding that I actually CAN get out of debt this year – what a blessing that is! I am awaiting changes at work, whether it is where I work, or my job description, or my rate of pay, or my job title, or my hours; or maybe all of the above! I do not know WHAT is going to change, but something IS going to change, and it is all God doing it, not me, and I feel pre-blessed because of it. I’m looking very hard at changing towns, moving back to Kelowna this year, and feel like this is a move that I need to make, and I know that if God wants me in Kelowna, He will open a door and get me there. My daughter got baptized recently and has been showing a real interest in God, and that is a blessing so huge I cannot even describe it. Two days ago, my ex-wife and daughter took me out for a pre-birthday celebration, bought me dinner, watched a movie with me; what an incredibly great time I had! Just last night, I was chatting with a musician friend from Vancouver about his newest project while on Facebook, listening to his rough samples and encouraging him and giving him his just-deserved kudos. Plus, thanks to one of my online friends from the States, who has a successful website and who recently posted a link to one of my websites, more and more people are getting interested in what I am writing online, broadening my scope of influence and just totally encouraging me and making me feel important – how amazing is that!?!
I dunno; this feeling, it is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s…expectation. The held breath right before something truly amazing and wonderful happens. I feel…alive, without knowing why I do. I just feel loved, and blessed, and on the right path for the first time in a long time, and life is truly good. God is good, and God is good to me, and I love Him even more for it.
This is an amazing year so far, and this is an amazing day to live in. You know, the worse the world gets, the more evil it becomes, the more doom and gloom is out there, the more encouraged I am, the more I remember that all these things shall pass and God is returning soon for His people! Great days are ahead, don’t let your light go out while you are waiting! God is active and alive, and His Word predicts His second coming! Be encouraged; God is your Saviour, your friend, your counselor, your comforter, your God and your Lord. He is my all in all. I live in Him.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thanx!
Thanks to two of my favourite young ladies, for taking me out for an early 40th birthday bash!
Good fun was had by all - went to The Great Wall for chinese smorg, then to Tim Horton`s for coffees, then watched 1985`s best movie, Critters, then had a quick game of cards and, alas, I had to travel back home.
Maybe we`ll do it again in another 40 years! lol
Good fun was had by all - went to The Great Wall for chinese smorg, then to Tim Horton`s for coffees, then watched 1985`s best movie, Critters, then had a quick game of cards and, alas, I had to travel back home.
Maybe we`ll do it again in another 40 years! lol
followers of Christ, should follow Christ (but most don't)
The lady behind the cash register at my local grocery store is a nice enough person, if a little ‘mentally simple’. And in telling this little story, in no way am I meaning to pick on her.
There she is, pushing my groceries over the scanner, when she tells me that I should get an air miles card. She then goes on to tell me how she just bought some CDs for her daughter, using her air miles. “Yeah, CDs by that singer, you know the one…she’s really popular…” I am looking at her blankly, of course. I’m thinking, “geez lady, can’t you just bag my groceries and grunt, like everybody else at this store does?”
“You know the one,” she says, looking to me for help. “She’s popular…not April Wine…” I almost exploded into a coughing fit at that remark…not April Wine…oh boy!
She goes on…”Oh, she just got out of rehab again!”
I shake my head. “Sorry, I don’t know, and I don’t listen to that sort of music,” I say to her.
“Oh, Lady Gaga!” she says, grinning, not paying any attention to the fact that I DON’T CARE! “Yeah, she’s a bit weird, but she is really good,” she says to me.
Now, here is the part that I don’t understand…
Why would you brag to a total stranger, about buying CDs for your daughter, when your moral compass is so broken that you would buy her CDs featuring a spoiled millionaire sex-addict drug-and-alcohol-addled singer? Why would ANYBODY want the lyrics their children are listening to and being influenced by, to be written by a singer whose greatest talent is acting like a total prostitute? Then, top this off with the fact that this singer is addicted to chemical substances…
Okay, I get it, this lady And her daughter probably aren’t Christians.
The problem is, you can’t tell a Christian from a non-believer anymore. The churches are full of wolves in sheep`s clothing, people who think they are believers, but do not have Christ within them. And these people, they are influencing the believers, causing them to become more and more like the world, to the point where there is no differenced anymore!
Congratulations, Christians. You`ve failed. All this, shown by a ga-ga lady talking about Lady Ga-Ga…
There she is, pushing my groceries over the scanner, when she tells me that I should get an air miles card. She then goes on to tell me how she just bought some CDs for her daughter, using her air miles. “Yeah, CDs by that singer, you know the one…she’s really popular…” I am looking at her blankly, of course. I’m thinking, “geez lady, can’t you just bag my groceries and grunt, like everybody else at this store does?”
“You know the one,” she says, looking to me for help. “She’s popular…not April Wine…” I almost exploded into a coughing fit at that remark…not April Wine…oh boy!
She goes on…”Oh, she just got out of rehab again!”
I shake my head. “Sorry, I don’t know, and I don’t listen to that sort of music,” I say to her.
“Oh, Lady Gaga!” she says, grinning, not paying any attention to the fact that I DON’T CARE! “Yeah, she’s a bit weird, but she is really good,” she says to me.
Now, here is the part that I don’t understand…
Why would you brag to a total stranger, about buying CDs for your daughter, when your moral compass is so broken that you would buy her CDs featuring a spoiled millionaire sex-addict drug-and-alcohol-addled singer? Why would ANYBODY want the lyrics their children are listening to and being influenced by, to be written by a singer whose greatest talent is acting like a total prostitute? Then, top this off with the fact that this singer is addicted to chemical substances…
Okay, I get it, this lady And her daughter probably aren’t Christians.
The problem is, you can’t tell a Christian from a non-believer anymore. The churches are full of wolves in sheep`s clothing, people who think they are believers, but do not have Christ within them. And these people, they are influencing the believers, causing them to become more and more like the world, to the point where there is no differenced anymore!
Congratulations, Christians. You`ve failed. All this, shown by a ga-ga lady talking about Lady Ga-Ga…
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