Bet They Didn't Expect That!

Someone has been busy.   I read an article the other day that nude pictures of Tiger Woods, Katharine McPhee, Kristen Stewart, and Miley Cyrus have all surfaced and ended up on the internet this week.  I wonder if it ever crossed their minds that having nude digital pictures floating around was a bad idea?  

It’s not unusual to hear in the entertainment world that a celebrity has been embarrassed by pictures or video from their past. So why in the world would anyone think that their embarrassing pictures would remain private? 

How often do people deceive themselves into thinking that they can do whatever they want to do, and that nobody will ever find out?

But nothing remains a secret; nothing.  The Bible teaches and life reinforces the reality that you will get caught.  And if you get to the end of your life thinking you got away with it, remember the words of Jesus in Mark 4:22 "For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light."

The change that Christ makes in our lives is not just in the things that people can see, but needs to be a change in the secret areas of our lives as well.

                                                                                                                       

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Don't Look Now

Another eclipse and again the world didn’t end.  Did you catch the eclipse on Monday?  It was pretty unspectacular in Halifax, certainly not worth flying here to see in your Lear jet.   

On the other hand, we are supposed to enjoy a complete eclipse in 2024. I remember the last time that happened, I was ten and Carly Simon wrote about it in a song. . .the eclipse, not me being ten.

And when you watch the sun being swallowed by the moon in 2024, imagine how frightening that must have been in the past when people didn’t know it was going to happen and then didn’t know it was going to unhappen.

But the sun was still there.  For a time it was simply blocked by something as insignificant as the moon.  And that was the result of circumstances not a testimony to the power of the moon.  The moon was still 430 times smaller than the sun.

God’s love is like the sun.  Sometimes circumstances in life seem to eclipse the love that God has for us, but it’s still there and it’s still so much greater than any moon that might pass between it and you. And regardless of the circumstances, God’s love for you is still powerful and present and eventually the shadow will pass.

                                                                                                                   

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Sobering Stats

Last year there were more Canadians hospitalized due to alcohol than for heart attacks.  Let that sink in for a while. 

According to a recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, there were about 77,000 hospitalizations in Canada that were caused entirely by alcohol.  During the same period of time about 75,000 Canadians were hospitalized for heart attacks.

The Institute said it’s looking at the harm caused by alcohol because it is “a serious and growing concern, both in Canada and around the world.”  Wow, that’s news!  And the cost isn’t just to people’s health, it hits their pocket books as well. 

The economic costs associate with alcohol abuse was estimated at more than $14 billion in 2002, $3.3 billion of which were direct health costs, according to the report titled, “Alcohol Harm in Canada”.  And yet the use of alcohol continues to be celebrated and if the church takes a stand against the use of alcohol it is labeled as judgemental and legalistic. 

And we are told that alcohol in itself isn’t harmful, that it’s only harmful when it’s abused.   But wouldn’t it be easier to not abuse alcohol if you didn’t use alcohol? 

And that is why Solomon warned us in Proverbs 20:1, “ Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.”

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.