Friends

Well last weekend I was able to get away to Prince Edward Island to visit my brother and his wife for a few days. It was such a nice weekend and I really wasn't ready for it to end. One of the major reasons being the time spent with friends. On Saturday night, a whole bunch of my friends from PEI came over to Ben's place for a BBQ. It was so much fun to share, eat and laugh together. We hung out all evening until we finally all had to retreat for a night's sleep. The next day after church a bunch of us (slightly different bunch, and I mean that in every way!) went out for lunch and shared the same kind of fellowship. What a great time.

I was reminded of a post I read on Lily's blog this past summer. It was all about friends and the significance they hold in our lives. Especially the friends who are our brothers and sisters in Christ we hold a special bond that stretches onto eternity.

When I got back from PEI on Monday, another event reminded me of the significance our friends hold. I praise God that I have friends who call me out when I am in the wrong and who have graciously accepted rebuke from me when it was warranted. Although not always fun, that's what friends are for.

Either way, I say time and time again that blessings fall on me like rain and they do. Thank you God for my friends.

Gifts

On Tuesday I went out and bought the new Relient K CD, Five Score and Seven Years Ago and it is incredible. When I got the the Lighthouse, our Christian book store, they had two versions of the CD. The regular one and a limited edition one that came with a DVD. I couldn't resist! The CD is unbelievable, once again the songs are so smart, fun and really speak to me. The DVD for the most part is the video of them recording some acoustic stuff that will probably come out on an EP later.

As I listened to the CD and watched the DVD, I pondered how amazingly gifted these young men are and how great it is that they are using their gifts. I joke sometimes that I wish I had Matt Thiessen's voice but it is definitely better that he does! Sometimes we find ourselves in weaker moments like a spoiled child at a birthday party. Instead of being happy for the one with the gifts we are jealous, wishing we had what they did or even had them instead of them. Rather we should be glad that God has blessed them and given us the ability to find enjoyment out of the gifts of others while blessing us with our own.

RRRRRRRoll Up The RRRRRRRRim to Win!! or not.

After a rather busy week, I am actually glad that it is Monday! Weird eh? March break has its way of slowing things down which is a nice time to catch up and hopefully get a jump on things. We'll see. Either way, on the way to work this morning I treated myself, as I often do, to a large double double from Tim Horton's. Have you been buying more coffee than usual this past week? Well I have and we both know why, Roll up the Rim to Win is back!

Up until this morning I was 0-6. So with great anticipation this morning I rolled up my rim to become 0-7... oh well, as my friend Graham says, "You are always a winner when you drink Tim's coffee." Seems to make him feel better anyways!

I never get too upset about not winning, not even after seven coffees! Roll up the rim is not a guarantee. It wouldn't be wise to bank on the new hybrid Toyota Camry, the Panasonic Plasma TV, the thousand bucks or even another coffee. As my record indicates the odds are not really in your (or my) favor.

It does make me glad however, that my trust is placed in a guarantee. The Lord has promised a perfect and eternal life simply for acknowledging what he has done. Almost as easy as roll up the rim! On that one I am 1-0! I have already won and the prize is better than any car or wide screen TV... even though it would be cool to win at least a coffee before this thing is done!!!!