Friday, April 25, 2014

The road to freedom... a way to deal with the gas situation

Okay many who know me know I have my ride, my bike, as my dad once said "I didn't know I'd have a biker for a son...!" :) But what kind of bike do I have? One that was bought when we first came to Angus almost 6 years ago now as a means of transportation to and from work at Pinewoods Chapel as I had been called there as Associate Pastor that fall. So what kind of "hog" do I have? Look at this baby...!

Yep... that's it! A Volt Spyder - electric bike (e-bike). Does a whopping 40 km/h max. Great for in town. Since that time I've seen more and more of these around, and with the gas situation? This might be the answer for a lot of people until it gets cold again. it looks like a gas powered one, but it's all electric, no licence needed, no licence plate needed, no insurance needed, just a helmet and the bike pedals to show any police what the bike is. It really is freedom.

I've had reactions from the "REAL" bikers... some wave in approval, some glare like I need to get a "REAL" ride. Whatever. I like it. I'll be getting out on the road soon and just having fun! 

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Easter celebrations

So here's something that many debate about... Easter. Do you partake in egg hunts and do things like maybe give a gift? Many will argue back and forth about this... here's what my family and I do...

Since I was a kid my parents had always given us kids a small gift at Easter and some chocolate to help celebrate the fact of Jesus dying on the cross and then rising from the dead. Today my wife and I do the same for our kids, we'll set up an egg or treat hunt in the house and will give a small gift to the boys. Why? The hunt is like what Jesus talked about in Scripture about how someone will search for the ultimate treasure and pursue it, and that's how it should be - how we should pursue the kingdom of God. It's also fun for the kids. Jesus gave us the ultimate gift of His sacrifice on the cross and rose again on the third day to give us eternal life if we simply believe, if we simply name Him as Lord of our lives. We give a gift to our kids in honour of that to remind them how Jesus gave to us, and so we give in honour of Him. Nothing huge, just something that represents our love to our kids just as Christ loved us and gave His life for us. 

Some will say we should avoid doing any Easter things like that, in fact some will say we shouldn't celebrate it at all because it wasn't commanded to, and that all the symbols derive from pagan rituals. Fine. We don't decorate with bunnies and chicks and eggs, but with crosses and empty tombs. Scripture says in Romans 14:5 that, One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. So in my mind I am convinced that we still honour Jesus in what we do, from the attending of the services, to watching Christian Easter specials, to a treasure hunt, to gifts. 

The point is, are you convinced in your own mid about what you do?