Activities Galore

This week we received a sports schedule from our daughter.  It contained the activities in which our grandchildren are involved - soccer games and cross-country races both in this city and surrounding areas.  We have been excited to be there to cheer for them.

Last Wednesday, many Christian schools in the vicinity held their cross-country races in Bear Creek Park in Surrey.  Our 10-year-old grandson competed with the grade 5’s in a two-km. race.  Of the hundreds of kids in the park that morning, approximately 175 were in his group.  Soon after they got started, the lad received a bump from behind; something like a domino effect, and he fell, landing on his back, with dozens of kids continuing past him.  Many saw him fall, get up and continue.  I ran to the finish line to photograph the winners.  To my astonishment, the first to come in was our grandson.  He had not only recovered from the fall, but overtook and passed everyone and was well ahead.  Soon, he was relaxed and showed no sign of exertion from having just finished his race.  He received many congratulations, especially from his teacher and classmates.

Our 10-year-old grandson will be competing in the provincial cross-country races in Aldergrove Lake Park in a few days, and will be training in the meantime.  His dad will also be running in a cross-country championship race that morning.

Both our 10-year-old grandson and his 8-year old brother competed in their respective soccer games on Saturday.  The younger lad’s team won their game 7 to 5 in South Surrey Park.  For the 10-year old grandson’s game, we drove to Abbottsford.  It was against boys a year older and ended in a tie.  Our team had been ahead throughout the game, until the opponents scored the final goal with a header.  

We grandparents are making an effort to stay in shape too.  We’ve taken the first two of five lessons on how to play pickle ball.  The sport is new to us, and skill will be acquired with practice.  We used to play badminton, and hope to regain some of that agility.  We also attend fitness classes twice a week and walk briskly almost every day on the forest trails; occasionally it’s along the seashore.

Conviction, Determination & Perseverance

Apostle Paul by Rembrandt 1657

Paul was remarkable.  After reading about his adventures in the Bible one can say, “They were exciting!”  He was well educated, and could speak several languages, yet he experienced a complete conversion from what he had been taught and believed.  His new faith redirected him for the rest of his life.  He was certain it was worth giving his life to tell others and he held tenaciously to his commitment, even though he was subjected to cruel punishment that eventually cost him his life.

It was soon after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead, that those who witnessed the miracle, were spreading the word.  They were known as Christians.  Paul, on the other hand, who had been educated in the Jewish faith which taught that salvation was promised to those who kept a set of rules, undertook to eliminate Christians with a vengeance.  His encounter with Christ the risen Saviour had convinced him to change completely, and he devoted himself to preach salvation by faith in Christ; in that Jesus, being God in the flesh, paid the penalty completely, for the sins of all individuals who believe in God’s forgiveness.

Paul embarked by sea and by foot on a preaching tour over thousands of miles of rough terrain, along with a friend, Barnabas.  Later, it was with others.  They gained many followers and often encountered cruel resistance such as being stoned and left for dead.  With determination, they would gather their strength and reenter the city from which they had been cast out.  Beatings and incarcerations did not deter them from building congregations along the way, and they would return to bolster the faith of loyal followers.

During their travels, Paul wrote many letters to his churches.  They are known today as books in the Bible, namely, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus and Philemon.  Paul proclaimed that God inspired his writing.  His letters contain words of great wisdom for us today, just as they did for their initial recipients.

Paul was a brave soldier of the cross, a man of brilliance, bravery, compassion, humility and grace.  He found it difficult to decide whether it was better to live close to Jesus on earth, telling others about His saving power, or to go to be with his Lord in Heaven and enjoy His presence.  As a piper, if I were asked to pay tribute to this humble man, I would choose the hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” written by Isaac Watts, and played to the music of Lowell Mason:

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And throw contempt on all my pride.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Being a Part of God's Plan

After having written my last blog, I’ve been waiting for renewed inspiration.  It came after this morning’s wonderful church service.  I realized that Ruby and I had been part of God’s plan though we hadn’t known it at the time.  I would love to tell you about it.

We chose to sit in a row to the side, near the front of the sanctuary and we moved over to enable anyone to sit beside us.  Before long, a couple we had not met before took those seats.  We listened to a well-delivered sermon on the nature of God, so magnificent yet so intimate and loving that He wants to have the kind of relationship with us that a brother would, who loves us.  The congregational singing was extraordinarily fine and soon we noted how beautifully well the man next to us sang and we agreed to introduce ourselves after the service and compliment him.

When the service concluded, we introduced ourselves and learned their names.  We were told this was their first Sunday, and that they recently moved from Toronto.  I said we loved hearing the gentleman sing and suggested that he might even want to come to the choir practice on Monday.  We learned that their furniture was still in storage and they were staying with their son until their condo was ready.  He said he’d been to Nicaragua, which interested me because I had been there on sight-testing missions.  However, that was the extent of our learning about them for the present time.

In the vestibule, we introduced them to several other couples, and then asked if they’d like to stay for a short while and enjoy the coffee fellowship, which they accepted.  Other couples were brought into our conversation and we let them know that this couple was new.  Before long, there was a group talking animatedly, causing them to feel welcome.  I learned from the gentleman that he had just been invited to attend the men’s dinner on Tuesday, and that someone had signed him up.  Then, he asked if we’d introduce them to the pastor.

It only took a moment.  I interrupted the pastor’s conversation with a friend, to ask him if he’d like to meet a new couple.  It was a happy time when he spoke with them.  Ruby and I were overjoyed that our pastor was there to welcome them and that so many people had done the same.

It was only after we were on our way home and were speaking to a lady friend, that I realized God had planned this very timely meeting by having us sit where we did.  Of all the places in the church where we could have sat, He had placed us where we could be next to this dear couple who were in need of new and genuine friends.  We reflected that any of us should be ready and available any time, to be an integral part of God’s plans.

Telling this experience is not to gain personal credit, for it should be natural to welcome newcomers.  God in His magnificence desires to draw individuals to Himself in a loving way, and He used us to fulfill His plans.  How blessed we were to be used by God!
    

A Piper With a Purpose

This week I had the pleasant surprise of receiving an Email letter from a piper, a pastor in New Zealand.  He had searched the web to find especially arranged music for the piper who expects to play in church.  He found that I had published thirteen volumes of suitable music for “The Church Piper,” and he wanted them all.  His special desire has been to specialize in hymns, much to the exclusion of secular music.  He had already begun to transpose and arrange hymns, and knew it would be helpful to find a resource where hymns had already been arranged and could be learned.  In addition, he expected to learn the techniques of transposition and arranging from them.

I explained to him that by moving from Manitoba to British Columbia, I had let Hendersons Ltd., in Michigan, have the whole inventory and that he could order his complete set of music books from them.

I expressed my hope that he would find the satisfaction he desired by specializing in church music and that he would pledge his musicianship towards the glorification of God by doing his finest for whatever occasion he would be invited to play.  It might be in church for call to worship, for a funeral, a wedding, a banquet in which a piper is invited to pipe-in the head table or in a pipe band, coordinating his abilities with other pipers.  Always, it would be with dignity and pride that he would not only be presenting Scotland's kind of music, but assuredly, when playing a hymn, it would be with awareness that God wants him to represent Him well in all he does.

The Scripture reminds us that in everything we do, to do it as for God and not for man.  That is the highest standard, not only for all the music we play, but also for our deportment and the Christian example we set for others to follow.

I explained that one should be proficient in both kinds of music, because each style helps the other in practicing certain finger-work.  One benefits from playing before an audience, from the confidence that it brings, and the ability to maintain good timing and perfection in playing.  Finger dexterity is learned from playing secular music as well as hymns.  The ability to count out time comes from playing more than hymns, and to play such pieces as "The Highland Wedding March" and "Trumpet Tune," is gained from hours of practicing music suitable for competitions.  Practice is always with the intention of improvement for the next occasion.  One becomes able to play well before any audience.

From my experience as a band piper, and through the need to prepare suitable music for church services, my entire repertoire grew.  My mother's urging was to share the church’s beautiful spiritual music with pipers in the world and to introduce them to Christ our Saviour, so their music would be made meaningful too.  In other words, she explained to me, that I should ask pipers how they could expound upon the love of Jesus if they didn't know Him personally.

The greatest essential in becoming proficient in playing church-related music is to have more than a book-knowledge of Christ.  That is, we must know Him, and know Him personally -to be able to talk to Him and have love and respect for Him, knowing He is God.  And yet, because Jesus lived on earth as a Man, we can relate to Him just as His own disciples did.  That’s when one’s piping becomes meaningful and qualifies a piper to do as Jesus instructed us; to go into all the world and teach about the love He has for everyone.

A little later, I received another letter from this piper and he agreed that he would be retaining his teacher and be associated with a pipe band where he could learn the techniques of piping which he could apply to his church piping.  He already knew Jesus Christ in a way that he could speak of Him as a Brother.  With such ambition as his, he will be an outstanding Christian piper in New Zealand.

A Family Weekend

On Friday afternoon, our daughter, her husband and our three grandchildren arrived at our place to pick us up.  The two youngest kids with their pillows were tucked into the furthest row along with their backpacks brimming with stuffed animals, activity books and snacks.  My wife and I took our places beside our oldest grandson in the back seat.  It was a good thing we packed efficiently as there was just enough room and not a smidgen more for the two of us, one small suitcase for us to share, and of course a few homemade goodies Grandma made.  Attached to the back of the vehicle were five bicycles.  We were on our way to Whistler, the most famous ski resort in the world, just a couple of hour’s drive north of Vancouver.  However, being summer, it wasn’t conducive to skiing.  Instead, we’d be seeing our grandkids’ dad Jim, participate in The 5 Peaks Running Series and a 10 km Off -Road Race.  It would have steep mountain climbs, sharp descents, craggy wilderness trails and tremendous views, a race up and down mountain paths with a few hundred others.

Early the next morning, Jim rode the gondola to the peak of Whistler Mountain and joined the mass of 450 athletes.  Not long after, we followed, and enjoyed the spectacular view from 6000 feet above sea level.  At first, we watched them from a distance.  Soon they were racing down the mountainside, passing us seemingly unfazed by the steep alpine terrain with its rough surface.  We made our way to the finishing stretch where the incline required an extra burst of energy by each runner.

Jim came 1st in his age category and 6th overall.  It is absolutely amazing the condition one has to be in to run in this race.  Jim didn't appear to have been running hard all that way, yet he must have been, and it would have been extremely taxing.  He said the first 3 kms was a steady upward climb and he thought he'd quit somewhere along that part of the race, but soon after, he found his second wind.  He has trained every day for years and is lean and muscular.

Rather than return to the Fairmont Whistler Hotel immediately after his race, Jim asked if we’d all like to go for a walk along one of those mountain paths.  Where does he find such energy?  We took a steep and rocky path downwards, which finally led along the edge of a small mountain lake and then turned upward on quite a steep trail.  For most people like us, this would be an exercise in itself, but for Jim, it was like a walk in the park.

Returning to the base of Whistler village, we rode in an exhilarating open-air chair lift.  At the hotel, three pools afforded us a good swim.  One was for kids, another for those of us who like to do lengths, and a hot tub.

We enjoyed our favorite holiday meal at The Old Spaghetti Factory, which was the Manager’s Special, a choice of spaghetti with Mazithra cheese and spaghetti with tomato sauce.  The meal was topped off with Spumoni ice cream.

Accommodation was excellent, and with two big beds in each room, the two boys could stay for one night and their younger sister the next.  Their parents appreciated having their kids safe with grandparents next door.

Our daughter’s family never lacks energy...the 5 bicycles which had been attached to the carrier of their SUV provided excitement, entertainment and exercise early on Sunday.  Breakfast was an extra special meal, with omelets made to order and every culinary delight you could imagine from waffles covered with caramel sauce, to chocolate croissants and fresh fruit.

Riding home on Sunday, after a stroll through the village with an ice cream cone, we continued to enjoy being up in the mountains, appreciating their majesty and height that assures snow in the peaks even in summer.  The Rocky Mountains offer a supreme challenge to athletes whether they come to ski in winter or run a race in summer.  The mountain scenery was superb and the weekend with family was one to remember.

Changed From The Inside

Recently, I have been contemplating how God changes Christians, transforming them to be exemplary in the things they do.  One can accept this kind of transformation and allow God to change him or her from the inside out.  Christians are not to let the outward pattern of the world be their standard for renewal, but allow themselves to undergo a process of metamorphosis, which changes the quality of their lives, beginning from the inside.

Kindness and consideration are qualities God has given us to be used in humility to encourage one another.  We are not to think of ourselves as better than anyone else but to live for one another, building each other up by every good example.  We learn to take a genuine interest in others and try to avoid trouble, knowing it is best to live at peace with everyone.  It is good news that we can live peaceably among others and be able to show genuine kindness, and not react by using evil against evil.

It is God’s position and not ours, to direct punishment where it may be due.  Ours should always be a “respectable response.”  We cannot improve our characteristics by using only our own strength.  Instead, we need the strength of God to enable us to react in a respectful way.  It is good news that we can surrender to God’s strength, and enjoy the renewing of our minds and be good examples to our neighhbours.  It is of special significance that we can overcome evil with good.  As the Scripture says, “I urge you brothers and sisters, …let your bodies be a living sacrifice to God.  This is your reasonable service.”  It is the logical way.  Allow yourselves to be transformed by God so He can lead you into a victorious life.

It is not that we are trying to do our best on our own, to improve ourselves, but that we must allow God to change us from the inside out.  As the example to illustrate this lesson, there is a story I heard along with some other people, of an individual who responded quietly to provocation, then dealt with it in his own way, which most people would consider fair:

A truck driver was about to enjoy his big juicy cheeseburger in a restaurant popular to truckers and other travelers.  No other booths were available when a motorcycle gang entered.  Seeing the trucker sitting alone, one of the gang members demanded that he must give him his booth.  There was no response, so the biker reached out and grabbed the cheeseburger and ate it in spite of the trucker already having taken one bite.

When the biker finished the cheeseburger, the trucker relinquished his table and proceeded to the cashier to pay his bill.  Then, he quietly left.  Later, when the biker was paying his own bill, he commented to the cashier, “He wasn't much of a man, was he!  He didn’t put up an argumemt.”  The cashier responded, “That’s true, and he wasn’t much of a driver either.” “Why do you say that?” he asked, and to which she replied, “He just drove over a whole row of motorcycles."

The reaction from the listeners was spontaneous, as most people would expect.  Everyone laughed, thinking fair punishment had been administered, and the bikers got what they deserved.  That is exactly the point being made.  The listeners were acknowledging that justice had been served.  God however, would not consider it so.  

Christians are ones in whom Jesus makes changes from the inside out and they know that God said, “Vengeance is Mine.”  Scripture tells us that when someone offends you, to turn the other cheek.  Then, there will be no continuation of hostility and the animosity will be forgotten.  Jesus gave us the example in His prayer on the cross:  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  That is the way a Christian should respond.  Many people would consider that the trucker acted justly and the bikers received what they deserved.  However, one can imagine the bikers’ reaction, which would be to retaliate.  Getting even would be their obsession.  If just one motorcycle was left to operate or if a car was commandeered to enable a biker to accost the truck driver, he would be in a predicament.  Letting God handle this situation would have been the wise choice.  We would have admired the truck driver if he had acted as a Christian and had driven off carefully, demonstrating how God had changed him from the inside out.

Making New Friends

                                                        
Late last summer we decided to prepare for the years ahead when our large home in which our children were raised, would become an encumbrance.  We would move to British Columbia.  The house sold in a week and after a month, we were looking for a smaller, compact home in BC, not far from our daughter, grandchildren and son-in-law.  For two months we lived in a bed and breakfast suite while we searched for our new home.  It is now where we live, adapting to a style of life that’s new in many ways.

It sounds very simple just to say we moved from Manitoba to British Columbia, but it amounts to much physical and mental strain; -more than most people would realize.  The problems to overcome are the loss of what was familiar, -one’s friends, church, the entire community, organizations, and projects on which one had been working.  Those were anchors that added stability to life and it was necessary to replace them.  But how?  The answer was, by prayer.

Often, I ask our Lord Jesus Christ, to help us to adapt to our new locality in whatever way He will.  He has said, “By prayer, ask anything in My name, believing you will have it, and it shall be given to you.” I have accepted His promise, which is that of God, for Jesus was both God and man, and definitely has power behind His promises.  He has power over both life and death.

Over a period of time, I have been witnessing the answer to my frequent prayers, in that God is enabling me to adapt to our new home and community.  The people in our small community as well as in White Rock Baptist Church, are friendly and welcoming.  We belong to a weekly Bible study group, which is the core of our circle of friends.  Several times, I was invited to play the bagpipes in church, and we look forward to Sunday services to hear a well-prepared sermon and partake in the worship service.  I joined the Seniors’ Choir.  We’ve performed for Christmas and Easter services as well as for those who live in seniors’ residences.  We were both involved in the week of Kids’s Summer Fun.  We like to take bus tours that are offered, to see the country round about where we live and to make new friends.

We’ve attended events of importance to our grandchildren…Science Fair, their Christmas concert, a presentation by school choirs in which our grandchildren had leading parts, their piano and Highland dancing recitals, their block party, as well as their hockey and soccer games.  They’ve been here for sleepovers and we’ve enjoyed family outings together.  The thrill of seeing our grandchildren singing a solo in concert or winning first in a track meet or soccer tournament have been answers to prayer.

Each week, I participate in a pipe band practice, and The Surrey Public Library has been a distinct asset.  Regular walks in the evergreen forests along the multitude of trails are invigorating.

Recently, we took a bus trip to Steveston to tour the Gulf of Georgia Fish Cannery, established in 1894.  It is now a museum.  Periodically, we’ve ridden on the church bus to tour certain sites such as Vancouver’s beautiful parks.  Once, we went to Deep Cove, a quaint, scenic village, where people were swimming and boating.  The mountains and surrounding forests were astoundingly beautiful.

At a picnic, I had the pleasure of conversing with our pastor.  He mentioned that a study showed that the stress level experienced by people who have moved, is equal to that of having undergone a separation, a divorce or death of a spouse and that such persons need the Spirit of God to help them in those enormously stressful times.  I am thankful, as I think about the many ways in which God has helped us to adjust from the familiarity of our home and friends in Winnipeg, to our ability to make new friends and enjoy satisfactions in White Rock British Columbia.  

A poem reminds us that it is Jesus, with whom we walk every day, and that He’s the one who enables us to adapt when we move from familiar surroundings to unfamiliar ones.  We learn from Him, that the closer we walk with God, the less room there is for anything else to come between us.                    

To walk in fellowship with Christ
And sense His love so deep and true
Brings to the soul its highest joy
As nothing in this world can do.
                                               -D. de Haan