Our Father Knows Best

                   

      by Mike Shindruk                                                                                              

Footprints We Leave

 

This past week, a neighbour of ours passed away suddenly. He was a very well-known and cracker jack mechanic. He worked long hours and especially his quarter mile Mustang along with his brother. For the forty-seven plus years next door there must have been thousands of customers come and go, because he was that good, and that fair. Just like my brother-in-law, who passed two years ago, and my dad, almost thirty years, each one of them have left a footprint on this earth. All of them in their own way have left behind the very best of impressions that will be spoken well of for many years. They served others with an unselfish spirit, knowing they always did something good for someone else.

 

I can only keep doing my personal best to do the same thing, as we all should. It would pain my family to think that I left a trail of anything that would disgrace my name. I can only try my best to treat everyone as fair as I can while I’m here. I do not want to be known as someone who dishonored any employer, caused an offense at a church body, or left any bad debts. These are things that we all should strive for in the years we’re given. We could do a thousand things right, but a stumble will by human nature, be what we are remembered by.

 

I point these examples out only to illustrate the human failure to be perfect. Our nature these days seems to be one of easy influence, especially when we’re bombarded with the lure of possessions and privilege. I don’t profess to understand many of the “causes” that people wave their own flag about. I don’t agree with the free reign that some will try and take on our children and grandchildren. I may not agree with some political groups or leaders, but I won’t be baited into compromising my morals and values given to me by my parents. I will do my best to follow the teachings and examples that Christ has given us yet may fail like anyone else. I have done my best, so far to work for and earn what I have honestly and should expect nothing less from those around me. These days, with social media watching every move, it’s getting harder and harder to avoid the microscope of strangers.

 

I wonder what Jesus would think these days if He were in human form? I can only imagine what He carried all those years ago when the earth was in turmoil while He spread the gospel. There was no fake news of the internet then, as His words, deeds, messages were written down as truth. He gave us words and guidance to follow today to live with love for everyone, not just those who agree with us. These days, those very words are being tested and twisted for some agendas. If it’s to make the scriptures fit a life style, or to justify bad behavior then a real reckoning is coming for sure.

 

Let’s not be trapped or tricked into using scripture for personal gain. Rather let’s learn them and apply His teachings in a way that brings honor to our memory. Here we are almost two thousand years after His death & resurrection, and He’s the most famous person who ever lived among us. That should speak volumes about His character. Those are the footprints we should be following before the sands of time erase us from our lives. Demonstrate His agape love as best you can. Lead by example in a good way. There will be a time when we all stand before Him as He asks us to look at the footprints we left behind. Will we be proud of ourselves and the life we lived? Will we have to answer for misrepresenting Him? My best for Him will come on the last day I breathe, because so far, my best has yet to come. I hope the footprints I leave are of a good path, and not evidence of my down-trotting on anyone else to get somewhere.

 

Mike Shindruk

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Beyond Our Finish Line

By the time you sit to read this message, I will have been retired for one week. After fifty years of working in retail sales, my finish line was crossed last Thursday. At the ripe young age of sixteen in 1973, I began working like most other teens at the time. There was no long-term goal, just the prospect of earning my own money to buy a car, and date a girl. I would have never guessed that my first job would be my last job. The money was never enough to dream big, but looking back, it was what I now know, almost enough to provide what I would need. I may have changed employers five times over my fifty-year history, but the fundamental tasks were pretty much the same.

 

Looking back, I do have a few regrets, but I sit today realizing that my life has been blessed beyond those regrets. The circle of close friends I have may not have been, had I not been where I was at any given moment. The faith family I cherish may not have come into my life if not for the timely changes that occurred for me. The communication and labor skills I possess today may not have turned out how they have. My regrets are overshadowed by the blessing God poured onto me.

 

My employment finish-line was always there, yet  invisible to me until God began to reveal it, one event at a time. Over the last eight years these included three shots at knee replacements, my wife’s victory over breast cancer, and the loss of a very special brother-in-law. His passing was the wake up call for me to plan my exit from work, to be home with my family. That one life stopping event was moment I realized that I should never take any day for granted. Actually, it reminded me to enjoy and savor every single day. All of these set me to determine my retirement day. So now for me, a hobby has become a small business where my goals and opportunities are ahead of me. The road will have many curves so each day will be an exploration of life beyond my finish line.

 

My story has been written and planned by God. I acknowledge that now. Yours is also being written so pay attention. As we all go through this event of life, we are all assigned a blank book. The thickness of that book depends on how long we live. The story line and content of the writings depend on the life you live and share. There was a time when God was not a part of my life, let alone knowing Him the way I do now. I came to accept Him twenty years ago and every day I am amazed how He makes Himself known to me. The thousands of little blessings, or signs He gives, were never on my radar when I was younger. I can only imagine the millions of times He was there for me, and I never even knew. Yet, He cared enough for me to provide me with long and winding roads. Now that I know Him, the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 is now my mantra, and I share that a lot.

 

        Looking back, I acknowledge that His provision in my life far outweighs any wants or goals from my youth, and I am content with that. Everything I have, value, love and know are all because He loved me enough that He sent His son, Jesus to die for me. When I think of that fact I am humbled beyond all understanding. Spoiler alert folks, He has done the very same for you as you read this, and for those who have yet to accept Him. That is agape love right there in a nutshell. As for me, He has gifted me with yet another birthday recently. He keeps my body as healthy as I can expect for a sixty-seven-year-old. He has blessed my finances to provide me with enough. He keeps my wife by my side in our advancing years and blesses our family to remain tight knit. Are there some things being worked on that are not perfect yet? Yes, and I will continue to pray that He works those things out.

 

        Our lives here are all on the road to our own finish lines, yet His promise to us in John 3:16 reassures me daily that when He is done with you and me here, there will be life beyond our finish line. What kind, you may ask? Eternal, and we’ll not be alone.

 

Mike Shindruk

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Restoration

 

        My wife and I are fans of restoration shows on television. From, old vehicles, to century homes, to family heirlooms the variety of good quality programming is endless. One of our favorites is called The Repair Shop, from England. The show features about a dozen restoration specialists that are masters in carpentry, metal work, clock repair, upholstery, jewelry, and fabric and furniture. The premise of the show follows customers who bring family pieces that have incredible back stories and history, yet are connected to the emotions of family. Pieces that come in broken, worn, damaged, neglected and forgotten are then mended to evoke precious memories for the clients. Some are made to look new, but most are restored, yet maintaining the historical scars and bumps so their life history is not erased.

 

        These past few weeks and months for myself and my family have allowed me to listen for God’s voice. Lately, circumstances have drowned Him out, which threw a blanket of writers’ block over me. The more I tried to listen for Him, the more the world seemed to drown Him out. A couple of weeks ago an event in our family shook my wife and I to the core. The end result was a miracle for us and immediately, God’s voice was as clear as the water in the lake near our cottage. All of a sudden, the word restoration came to mind and has kept itself in my soul. It’s like God was telling me to share how He restores things in our lives every day.

 

        I have been given an opportunity to really look inside myself for what is the most important to me and my family. God restored a number of things in me in just one forty eight hour period. He restored my sense of worth. He restored my faith in His power of healing a broken spirit. He restored my view of what is really important in my life. He showed me the true value of being faithful and leaning on Him in crisis. To be clear, I had not lost my way, but was shaken enough to recoil into myself because as a human, I took my eyes off Him for a moment. Fear has a way of doing that to all of us. If you are reading this and you feel somewhat lost from Him, it’s okay. He knows your circumstance and He will place Himself in your soul to carry you, even if you don’t realize it.

 

        Like the master restorers of family heirlooms, God will take all of us who have been broken, scarred, scratched, worn down, faded, and yes, forgotten about, and pull all of that out. Then He will impart Himself in us and gently peel back the hurt, the damaged and the ugly, and discard it. He will then gently restore us. He won’t make us younger, but He will give us a faith-lift that will allow us to stand a little taller. We’ll walk a little straighter, we’ll think a little clearer, we’ll listen and hear more acutely, and we will talk with more conviction. He and only He has the divine power to do this. We are not equipped with divination. We are not God, and we are not robots. We are humans, made in His image, yet frail enough to always have the need to lean on Him for everything. We will stumble, and He will lift us. We will have failures, yet He will forgive us. We will stray from Him, yet He will wait and welcome us back at a moment’s notice.

 

        I encourage everyone to embrace God’s ability to bring restoration into your life. Allow Him to permeate every cell in your body and every part of your soul and spirit. His restoration of you and me will be as individual as our fingerprints. No two will be identical and some will take longer than others. Yet, like a vintage car or favorite armchair, we will have enough of us in there to recognize ourselves, and more than enough of Him in us to always be shiny and comfortable. We will have our laugh lines, some hairlines, and yes, some waistlines. We will be our age, but young in the spirit. So let’s not miss the opportunity to be God’s feet on the ground to show Him to as many people as we can. That in itself, may just be the invitation someone needs to accept their turn for restoration in the repair shop.

 

Mike Shindruk

 

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God and Grandmothers

  

One of my sisters was visiting us and enjoying a cup of tea the other day. Our conversation got around to us getting my mom’s Christmas tree up, lit and decorated. She brought an envelope from my mom, which contained a Christmas gift for our daughter and son in law out West. My sister mentioned that mom had a stack of envelopes for all us siblings, our kids, grand kids, and great grand kids, but needed help with all the names. Now as I thought of this, the number was staggering to us. Every year momma makes sure that no one is missed. She may not remember the names, but never forgets that they are there. She is eighty-six, and my wife’s mom is ninety, yet they both make sure that all in their family are remembered at Christmas. Both of their memories are fading and sometimes they don’t remember a visit or what they ate the previous day. Yet when it comes to Christmas and birthdays, well that’s different.

 

We can’t blame them for forgetting names of family members, after all our numbers are high, and they are old. Like most families, time, life, and circumstances lead to grand children and great grand children not visiting their nannies as much as they would like. On top of this, we have pretty much lost the last couple of years due to the “pandemic”. It’s an uncomfortable fact of life that many elders remain with memories of days gone by, as the days slowly pass by. Our mom’s, like many others wait patiently for someone to drop in for a cup of tea, a chat, and a hug. They watch out their windows for vehicles coming up the driveway, and light up when someone comes to sit a while just to get caught up on what’s going on. With family spread out, and may working long hours, it’s just a fact that regular visits don’t happen. Even if they can’t see or hear very well, they are overjoyed that someone came to spend a little time with them.

 

As I thought about our mom’s, I couldn’t help but see the similarity of God and grandmothers. He too, remembers each and every one of our names, birthdays and yes, what He will gift us with at Christmas. Inside His envelopes for every one of us is His personal invitation to visit. It also has His promise that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Each one has our name on the outside, and I can imagine they are unsealed, making it easier to look inside. He also, sits waiting ever so patiently for us to visit. Unlike the human side, He overcomes a fracture in a family, His time is longer than ours, and as busy as life gets for us, He still makes a space to give us His undivided attention. Unlike our elderly mom’s, His eyesight, hearing, and memory are not failing. His hearing is so acute that He can hear what you are thinking. His eyesight is so sharp, He can see your future, because He has designed it. His memory is so good that the only thing He forgets, is our past. Our mom’s will eventually be a memory to us so it’s important to close in with them as much as we can. Their sight, hearing and memory will be restored when they join Him and our dad’s in the Heavens, which is what His card to them reads.

 

The day will come when we replace our mom’s, waiting for that loving visit by our children and grand children. This circle of life will be repeated over and over until we’re all together in eternity. This Christmas I encourage everyone to take stock of their lives, and family and visit with each other. Make and take time to visit the nannies and grampies so they can see your face and hear your voice. It’s a powerful gift that will hopefully be  with them for a long time. Make a commitment to open the envelope from God and read what He has written for you and your future. Reflect on the gift of the birth of His son, Jesus, given to each one of us. Visit with Him more than just at Christmas time. Sit and have a chat and I guarantee that you will find that God and grandmother’s have more to offer you than you could ever imagine.

 

Mike Shindruk

 

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Mistakes

 

        I’d like to believe that I have fairly good carpentry skills. Together with my wife, we built the house we live in almost forty years ago. Within the thousands of pieces there is no doubt a fair number of mistakes. Not the kind that would make our home unsafe or structurally inferior, but let’s just say not perfect. My father told me once that molding and trim cover up a lot of sins. It was just a figure of speech I suppose. It’s funny but fathers always seem to have a pocket full of those. Well, if that is true, then every house standing has hidden a lot of sins.

 

        I’m sure that even on a daily basis, there is not one among us who doesn’t make mistakes. It could be an error in grammar, math, speed limits, or even acceptable social etiquette. Regardless of our social standing, education, or up-bringing, we as humans will spend our life making mistakes, and apologizing for them. In most instances, we will be forgiven, and in some we will slip under the radar. No one is perfect, as we are all human. When we mess up in our life we can usually depend on our parents to assume the responsibility of helping us turn that around. We will be forgiven many more times than we forgive, which is something we should really consider. Scripture tells us that we are to forgive those who do something against us, seven times seventy times. I’m not sure about you but I for one admit that I could not meet that standard. In a perfect world, we could but these days that’s just unrealistic for the human race.

 

        The only person that I know of that could be capable of that would be Jesus. Consider what the Romans, Pharisees, accusers, and unbelievers did to Him. They tried Him, scoffed Him, scorned Him, and crucified Him. Yet in some of His dying breaths, He forgave, saying” Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. How terrible was this mistake by mankind itself at the time to do this to the Son of God. Yet, Jesus died for them, and us for all the mistakes, and sins for eternity. Only God could do that. Heaven knows we need God now more than ever. How much more proof do we need these days when we see leaders of countries like Russia trying to erase their neighbors in Ukraine. We see our children, and grandchildren being preyed upon by those who promote deviant lifestyles at every turn. We are standing on the sidelines as corporations fight for control of every aspect of our lives, as millions of people walk around, fixated on their cell phones oblivious to the world around them.

 

        We are losing our way faster than the speed of the race to Mars. Recently, my wife underwent a major surgery. The day before, we were enjoying a meal and each other’s company. We were cherishing every moment in conversation, as we gazed into each other’s eyes. We spent valuable time walking around the Halifax Gardens, not knowing exactly what the following day would bring. As we sat for lunch we noticed a couple in the booth across the aisle. Each were emersed in their individual cell phones, and never uttered more than a half dozen words in the hour we were there. They had no idea what a mistake they made that day, by not closing in on what was important. It seems like our world is doing the same thing. I would encourage you to take a look at yourself and reset your life. It’s not too late to correct any mistakes that are hovering around you right now. Mend your fences, pay attention to your mate and your children. Keep the world from swallowing them up. Drop any grudges that are keeping you awake at night. Give your employer the best value for their money. Stop chasing temporary trophies, and bowing at the feet of idols.

 

        God forgave the world for crucifying His son, Jesus. He can clean your own slate if you just invite Him in. Look up and just ask, and watch how the mistakes that hold you down, be erased, and forgiven. We all make mistakes. The greatest thing is, we all have a way out from underneath them. Call on His name and see what it feels like to have the weight of the world come off your shoulders.

 

Mike Shindruk

 

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Our Father’s Forgiveness

 

        As I worked this week on an artist’s studio for my wife, I was to the framing stage of assigning window openings in the walls. A good friend of mine gave of his time to help me, which was a huge gift, as the walls were heavy to lift into place. Friday came and we finally got to stand the last wall, just as the daily heat hit. Just as we finished and I was showing him the old windows I was to use, I noticed they seemed much larger than the openings we made. Sure enough, in my haste and in the heat, I had made a mistake. As I dug in to fix the error, it occurred to me that we humans err every day, and we literally spend our lifetime trying to make amends for our mistakes.

 

        None of us are without fault, or sin for that matter, yet we can all take comfort in knowing that each day, our Father’s forgiveness is poured onto us. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments for all humanity to follow, yet if the truth be told, they are almost impossible to follow to the letter. Unlike the days of the Old Testament, where the religious leaders of the day would never show mercy, the New Testament flips that on its ear. When Jesus came, He offered unabashed love, grace, and forgiveness for our shortcomings. He taught and showed all of us that our Father is a loving God. He gives us all the freedom of choice to believe in Him or not. We are to revere Him, rather than fear Him. That does not mean we are to run amok with our lives. What it does tell us is that He will be available in our daily live, all the days of our lives to help guide us to His arms and our days end. He knows that we will make mistakes every day, yet He forgives. He gives all of us the opportunity to accept Him, even to our dying breath. In that alone, there is ultimate forgiveness. Even those who mock Him or his followers will still have that last chance to repent. That is our Father’s forgiveness. He even tells us to forgive each other seven times seventy times if need be, knowing we are most likely to fail, yet He forgives.

 

        You see it is in His forgiving nature and spirit that we are all worthy of His love. None of us are without fault, yet He practices what He preached. When we’re too weak to try, He does. When we’re too blind to see, He guides, and when we’re too stubborn to change, He waits. We’ve all heard about the patience of Job. Well I can imagine how much patience God has to put up with the mayhem and disobedience of the human race. His agape love for us is beyond understanding, yet we try. We err, then we repent. This is a lifelong journey on a road well travelled.

 

        Our world will always want to keep us under thumb for every action. There always seems to be someone out there just waiting to pounce on us for a mistake. It could be our boss, our banker, our neighbour and even strangers. Heaven forbid we bump into someone’s vehicle or cut in a grocery line. To live our lives on guard every day is stressful, yet when we close in with Jesus we can separate ourselves from this. These days, if we followed His commandments, to love our neighbours as our selves, we would all find life easier. If we all just tried a little kindness, then our mistakes would be less frequent. Will we still make them? Yes, but I for one take comfort in knowing that God loves me so much that His helping of forgiveness is unending. Perhaps it will be nice to know that when we meet Him face to face that the greeting at the gates will be hugs rather than history.

 

Mike Shindruk

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We All Need Him

 

        These past two years have played havoc on everyone. Those of us who are members of a ministry can tell you that not being able to meet in person for church services has been a tough go. As restrictions loosen and more and more things open up, there begins a long road back to what we thought was normal. Our ministry group usually gathers at a local funeral chapel, and due to provincial guidelines, we are still on hold to meet. We know that there will be a time where we can gather to celebrate Jesus, and to be together as a complete faith family again. For now, we are business as the new normal by online messages by our pastor, bible study, weekly written messages and even a scripture for each day, all by way of social media. It is working and we are thankful for that.

 

        That being said, our congregation is another two years older and some have gone onto Heaven. A few of us meet when we can to stay in old voice so when we meet again, the worship will even more special than before. We are all doing what we can to stay plugged into each other, and to God, but there is still something missing. That missing element is live fellowship. We are realizing more and more just how much we need God. That one-on-one experience of being together in church has such a healing and uplifting quality that just cannot be replaced. We are hoping that absence does truly make the heart grow fonder as we look forward to the day when we can drop the masks and offer the hugs without fear. Some may argue that covid is just one of those things we will have to live with. Well, I can respect that point of view, yet scripture tells us to use the wisdom that God gave us, along with the knowledge of those we trust. That combination will allow us to regain some lost time and ground as we get ready to get our faith boots back on the ground.

 

        I do applaud those congregations that are meeting responsibly, as they know the joy of in person fellowship as it should be. Our ministry has no owned meeting place and I’ve even been told that we are a church without a steeple. That is true, but Jesus never had a steeple or even a place to call home. Where we gather is not as important as when we gather, so many groups like ours have been in good company all along. We are free of earthly responsibilities of a building, and that allows us to pour our tithes and offerings into our community as needed. We have been blessed by a group of volunteers who  use our time, treasures, and talents to bring glory to the Father. Do we need Him? Oh yes, more than anything. As we come into the third year of this thing called a pandemic, we will continue to do what we can, and will always look to the future when we can gather in person, sing to the King, and hug each other with reckless abandonment. That time is coming, soon we hope.

 

        Until then I encourage everyone to stay connected with your faith family. Don’t allow yourself to drop of the faith radar, as it is very easy to do these days. Maintain your financial faithfulness as you can, stay in the word and don’t allow the world to pull you into the rat race. I need Him, you need Him, we all need God, so remember He is as close as the whisper of His name. Until we all meet again, let’s keep on needing Him. Soon we will get to celebrate in person, and what a day that will be.

 

Mike Shindruk

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My He Shed

 

        After years of loosely planning and dreaming, I finally built myself a workshop. I have decent carpentry skills, and for the past year and a half I have been creating rustic cottage decorative pieces, mostly from used wood. My little workshop holds my tools, supplies, a wood burning stove, and a place for me to just, be. As I sit or stand with a cozy crackling fire and a cup of coffee, I am surrounded by old wood, saw dust and my tools. What makes it complete is the presence of God. I have no distractions of a phone, music, or internet as I just soak and create.

 

        If this sounds like a dream, it is not. It is real and I am blessed to be doing something with my skills that I am still discovering. This season I will be building my wife a she-shed for her to have as her own place of tranquility as she once again picks up her artists paint brushes. She now affectionately calls my workshop my he-shed. As I think about this, I see something much deeper. Yes, my shop is a realized dream where I can go to turn old and new lumber into something creative, useful, and meaningful to others. Many sentimental family pieces have already come from there, and my hands. It is important to me to have a bit of “Uncle Mike” in some of the pieces for my family members. God gives me the space and peace to take something that is discarded, and transform it into a piece of art. I haven’t yet figured out why, but He’ll let me know in His time.

 

        God has shown me the parallel of Him and my shop. He has given me, and you, a secure, quiet place to go as He invites us into His presence. Each one of us can retreat from the world and into His arms whenever we need or want to. He will take all of the damaged and discarded pieces of our past, throw them away and help us to transform into something and someone brand new. We all dream of peace, like I dreamt of my shop, so He offers us the opportunity to make those dreams His reality. We need only say yes to the invitation. It’s easy to do. Just take your cuppa, sit and soak and just talk to Him like you would your dad, or dad figure. He will settle inside your soul so deep that before you know it, a new creation will come out.

 

        My first pastor told me that our past has no place in our future. What a prophetic statement that I still carry with me each day. If Jesus chose twelve disciples that were certainly not perfect, to carry His message, then we must surely be special because He chose us. Even when He was on the cross dying, He chose us over His own life. Just consider how much He loves you and me as individuals to want an intimate love relationship with Him. He comes to our door and knocks, waiting patiently for us to open and allow Him in. It is that easy. We don’t even have to speak out loud, as even a thought or a whisper of His name is all that is needed for Him to hear us.

 

        I encourage everyone to close out the noise of the world and your past and head out to the ultimate He-shed. That would be God’s arms. He has a reserved seat, a warm fireplace called His heart, a warm cup that is overflowing for each of us, and a safe room for us to just, be. My little workshop is my hobby sanctuary, my withdraw space. My He-shed is my Heavenly Father’s arms where I can retreat to recharge my soul. It’s where all of us can go whenever we want. It costs nothing, yet the value is priceless, as it’s been paid for. So whenever I want or need, I will just unplug. I won’t be far away as you will find me just hanging out with my Father in my He-shed.

 

Mike Shindruk

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What’s In a Song

                I have been playing guitar and singing for about fifty years now. As a young lad growing up my favorite entertainers were Johnny Cash, Elvis, and The Beatles. Pretty much anyone my age would play guitar because of these three and a few more. We enjoy the music of our youth, and we learn to play because of the songs and the way they make us feel or think. I even had aspirations of being an entertainer, and actually co-fronted a local band for about twenty years. Then a change came about when I had my own epiphany almost twenty years ago.

        I was introduced to something called worship music. Something grabbed me by the soul one Sunday morning at a chance attendance at a church service. There was a feel, a vibe, a washing, or something stronger than I had felt in a long time just come over me. Songs about God were presented in a way I had never experienced, and I was immediately hooked. Eventually I found myself discovering songs I never knew could make grown men weak, and everyone else raise their hands without hesitation. I was suddenly soaking up lyrics, and melodies that took me to a place I didn’t know existed. A place of total peace was given to me when I needed it the most.

        I never knew so many songs were written about one man, Jesus. Each one unique, yet familiar, calming, yet fresh. I am the worship leader for Master’s Hand Ministry, and I never tire of presenting songs about our Lord. Like many people, I have certain songs that get me to the core, where I weep inside. I’m sure we all have those. Maybe it’s the melody, and maybe it’s the lyrics, or both. The point is they touch us. Dr. Spencer Barclay, who is with our worship group, is quite knowledgeable regarding the origin and background of many songs. When he brings the details out in his “something to think about” segments, we all leave with a greater appreciation for what we sing than when we started. Many songs like Amazing Grace, I Can Only Imagine, and Lord of the Dance are deeper than most people realize. We just need to pay attention to the messages to be amazed at what we can learn. For example, Lord of the Dance, a Maritime favorite by John Allan Cameron, has been around forever, and regardless of the venue, he would have everyone clapping and singing along. I wonder just how many knew it was about Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection? I could go on and on, but perhaps the reader could look into a few of their own favorites and maybe they will discover why they are touched the way they are.

Currently, we are not able to gather in person, but our service messages are on-line. For now, myself, my wife, son, our pastor and her husband sit around our kitchen table each week, singing to stay plugged in. We’re preparing for the day when we will be able to safely gather and share with our friends in service. We are all still amazed how sitting around with a guitar and a coffee and a few songs of praise, can elevate our day and our mood. This is not by chance, but by design. Only God could inspire so many songwriters and musicians to keep His name and message alive and relevant. He never goes out of style, and His Word is never dated. He knew what our world would be going though these past couple of years, and He also knows what He has planned for us Jeremiah 29:11. He knew when to grab me, and He knows what He is doing to keep us plugged in and connected to each other, and Him. He is using this wonderful tool known as music and song to carry us. So what’s in a song? It could very well be the gateway to breaking a chain that’s been hold you down. If it’s the melody, fine and if it’s the words, even better. Either way the rest of your life will be better by having a listen, or singing along. After all, He loves it when we sing.

Mike Shindruk

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God’s Workshop

 

Last year while I was recovering from knee surgery, I began the process of building myself a small workshop. For many years it was on my bucket list, so I finally began. Having limited mobility and strength, the process has been long, slow and challenging. I was fortunate to have it dried in before the winter came, yet I still managed to tinker inside whenever I could. With limited resources I got creative and began covering the walls and ceiling with boards form discarded crates and pallets. As I would enjoy a cozy crackling fire in my wood stove, I would dismantle the pallets one board at a time, de-nailing and selecting each piece to fit just so. I took pleasure in using materials that others would casually toss aside. Yet I saw the goodness that was left in those many pieces. I spent hours cleaning, sizing, sanding and installing bits that would eventually reveal a tapestry of beauty.

 

Occasionally, I have posted pictures of my progress, and was surprised at the comments from people who thought it looked so good. I’ve injected some coloured pieces that have special meaning to me, as reminders of how God has been with me on a journey only He could arrange.

 

As I look at my work, I see every board, every grain, every color, every scar, and chip. They have been affixed to their permanent home and together with all their defects, serve as a reminder that perhaps, this is how God uses and sees us. There is not a one among us who came out of our mother’s womb, holy enough to be worthy of praise. Each one of us, through our lives will be wounded, scarred, chipped, cracked, broken, bullied and yes, discarded like one of my used shipping pallets. I would like to tell everyone that God sees in us, what I see in those dirty used boards. He sees our lives as I see my workshop, a work in progress. He takes us, broken and gently disassembles the parts of our lives that keeps us weighed down. He cherry picks the good in all of us and pulls that out. Our individual grains, sizes, thicknesses and colors will then be placed on His walls to make the tapestry of His imagination. He gathers us and puts some of us along side each other so we may all compliment one another.

 

He wants us to know that whatever burden we have carried in the past, is not in our future. He wants us to know that if we have been beaten down, bullied, ignored, or discarded that He sees the value in using us. If you have thoughts of being worthless, useless or invisible, I want to tell you that you have been lied to. God sees in you, what you may not see in yourself. We are all used pallet boards, yet in His eyes, we are the finest oak or mahogany that money can buy. I encourage everyone to let Him pull the nails out that have pinned you down. Let Him unload the weight of life that has held you down.

 

 Simply look up, and invite Him into your heart, and you will immediately feel the weight of the world come off your shoulders. Allow Him to clean you, trim your edges, sand your rough surfaces, and place you in His workshop. If you have children who are trying to find their way, or their identity, bring them to God’s table and introduce them to a Heavenly Father who will lift them higher than they can imagine. Give them hope for a better future. You deserve it, they deserve it, in fact we all deserve it. God wants nothing short of the very best for all of us, so He says we are deserving.

 

My little workshop will someday be complete, and I will remember many of the thousands of pieces that made it. God’s workshop has been under construction forever and will continue into eternity. The difference is, He will remember every one of us that He has placed in a special place. Unlike the discarded shipping pallets, we will never be thrown away because God has a purpose and a plan for all of us.

 

Mike Shindruk

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What’s In a Prayer?

This past week I saw statement by an atheist, or atheist organization that said this. ”Prayer is only a demonstration of doubt in the power of God”. As I took a few minutes to allow my initial reaction to settle down, I actually chuckled inside, as I thought it quite odd that an atheist acknowledged the very God they don’t believe in. Perhaps it was just someone who really wanted prayer for a situation, or someone who was wanting to get a reaction. Either way, the statement gave me this message.

For me, prayer is an intimate conversation between us and God. Period. It is a total vocal reliance on the power of our creator. It tells Him that through everything, good and bad, that we trust Him. We either do or we do not, as there is no in between. Prayer is a deep communication of our needs, and yes, our wants. God listens to every word, and to every heart for sincerity and from there on takes the lead. He grants, or He does not. It is not immediate in most cases, which can lead us to question or doubt God. That’s our human reaction as these days we want instant gratification and results. I don’t mean to burst anyone’s bubble, but that is how God works. We must be reminded that He is not the mean old man in the sky, like written about in the Old Testament. That understanding changed when Jesus made a new covenant as told in the New Testament. Yet we all must have a reverence for Him as our Father. God does not play with us like a pet with a toy, rather He waits for us to realize how perfect a Heaven He has for us if we want it.

Prayer is a link to the promise of an eternity of peace and love. It gives the believer (you and me) a hope for something far greater than we can imagine. God asks only that we truly believe in His son Jesus, as written in John 3:16. When we read this scripture with a clean heart, we cast out any doubt whatsoever. Prayer is not doubting the power of God, rather it is an outward demonstration of our belief in His power. We pray for healing. We pray for recovery. We pray for health. We pray for others, and yes, we can even pray for ourselves.  Don’t ever allow anyone to try and convince you otherwise. Those of you who have ever fervently prayed for anything, know that you always feel better afterward. Why? I suggest it is because you know in your heart that God was listening and will answer in a way that will always amaze you.

These recent weeks of watching the news has made a lot of us wonder about the future of our planet. The Russian invasion of a sovereign country like Ukraine is unfathomable. Yet, I see thousands of people all around the world kneeling wherever and praying for peace. Will God answer? I believe He will. Do I say that because I am in the safety and security of my home here in Canada? No. Those who read this should feel blessed that God placeD us where He did in times like this. As someone who’s Ukrainian grandfather fled the same thing in the first world war, I ache inside thinking that this could happen today. My bloodline to Ukraine ended with the elimination of my ancestors on my grandfather’s side, yet I am sickened by the way one man has caused terror to so many for personal gain. You, me and everyone else who believes in God, must be praying daily that He will somehow cause a change and have this end. Prayer is a powerful weapon, so let’s us it for good. Pray for Ukraine, pray for each other, pray for ourselves, and pray for our planet. What’s in a prayer anyway? The same power force as it was when Jesus prayed to the Father when He was on the cross, with no hint of doubt in sight.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

 

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Just Look Up

        Psalm 121:1-3 NCV says this. I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. Who made heaven and earth. He will not let you be defeated. He who guards you never sleeps. I have shared, used, relied on, and practiced this scripture many times. I’ve shared with people who expressed despair in their situation. I’ve used it to encourage someone who felt they were at the end of a rope that had no knot to hold onto. I’ve relied on it when my own fears and shortfalls took up real estate in my head. Most importantly, I’ve practiced it, knowing full well that God had me and my situation under control. When we get to that point, we need the reassurance of this scripture to re-tie that knot in the lifeline He has thrown us.

        I’ve looked up many times in my sixty-five years. The first time was probably into the eyes of my parents as they held me for the first time. Many more times as I was growing up, I would be looking up, to my father who taught me thousands of life-lessons and skills. To my mother a thousand times for lessons of the heart. To the many people that invested time and energy into teaching me so many other things during my working career. I am still looking up to those who helped guide me to Christ, and regularly to my own Pastor as she always encourages others in Christ. One of my most memorable looking up moments was when I awoke from having knee surgery to see my wife’s face. That is one of those moments that does not need to be shared with anyone but her.

        We all have times when we need someone to come along side us and remind us to look to the mountains, both figuratively and literally. No one can get through this life without someone to reach down and pull us up from where we lay. No one is strong enough to figure this thing called life, out by themselves. So, let’s rely on this scripture and so many more to pull our boots up and get the laces tied. Our country and our world, is in such a turmoil right now that we can hardly breathe after watching the news. One protest after another, with thousands of voices trying to drown each other out. Countries trying to overtake another for resources or power. The rich are holding power over the poor, while we all try and not die from the next virus. It’s enough to make one want to run to the hills we’re looking up to.

        Yet, there is hope. If we just think about our own situations, we can at least start to climb out of whatever hole we think we’re in. The world’s blaring horns are meant to drown out common sense and courtesy and to pound us into submission. Let’s not allow that to happen. We can still love our neighbours even if we disagree. We can still wake up tomorrow if we didn’t watch the news or zombie ourselves on our phones and computers. I can only imagine what the world would look like, if even for a day, we just sat and looked to the mountains. Can you imagine what God’s voice sounds like to each of us when we listen? Can you imagine feeling your blood pressure drop, as a sense of peace and calm washes over you? This is not sticking our heads in the sand, but rather placing our hearts in His hands. They are the hands that can cradle our faces so we may look for His and cover our ears so we listen for only His voice. Wouldn’t anyone like or deserve this right now? I believe we do.

        My friends, as we gain two to three minutes of additional daylight with each sunrise, let’s draw a breath, give a little thanks for what we have, and use some of that extra time to simply look to the mountains. You will be amazed at what you may see.

Mike Shindruk

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All That And A Bag Of Chips

 

        The title of this message is, perhaps a little off-the-cuff sounding, yet there is a deeper meaning if we think about it. We all have so many different little sayings, yet never know where they originated. Still, we can use them and apply them at will. I am about to take you into this one, from my perspective.

 

        Each time I have a visit with my mom, who lives next door, she greets me with, “what’s going on”? After we set the kettle on for tea and coffee, we settle in. I catch her up on the week, and she offers me a sweet with my hot drink. As we sit and chat, I am always amazed at how easy it is to share and learn something new about her with every conversation. At almost eighty-six years old, she can still conjure up something from her past that I didn’t know. These days, like many her age, she is unsteady on her feet, hard of hearing, and does forget some things. Yet I am pleased to still have her in our lives. As she turns the television to mute, and we share some time together, we laugh, watch the birds outside feeding, and sometimes have a little cry as we miss people who have gone on before us. It’s amazing how quick an hour can fly by when you spend time with someone you love. As I prepare to leave, she always walks me to the door, and as I give her a guaranteed hug, kiss, and I love you mom, she says, “oh just a moment”. While I pause at the door, she hands me a large bag of chips. She always told me that as a baby, she would offer me a cookie, or a pickle, and I would always choose the pickle. It’s the salt thing. Think about it, we can enjoy the chips as we sit with a loved one, and even lick our fingers to get every morsel.

 

        Now here is where Jesus comes into my message. Like our elderly parents, Jesus waits patiently until we come knocking on His door to sit and visit. Like my mom’s door, His is always open for whenever we can “make time”. He never admonishes us for being late or busy because He already knows why. He always has a place prepared for us to just sit and chat, whether we come for a laugh, a lesson, or a cry. When we visit with Him, either in a service, or just in our thoughts, we have His complete attention. His hearing, sight, and memory are all perfect, so we need only whisper and He hears us. Like our parents, if we just listen to Him, we will always learn something new about Him. He will never fidget in His seat and will always wait for us to make our exit before He walks us to the door. As we leave our chat, we know we have been given the gift of a lifetime in every conversation. His bag of chips to me, or us, is what He leaves with us. It’s the treat for later that we can enjoy and share with a loved one. In each visit with Him, we are assured of another at our leisure. Just like with my mom, I can unload my fears and concerns. I can soak up what He wants to tell me. I can catch up on the week and days, and I can leave till the next time with all that and a bag of chips.

 

        As I write this message, I am enjoying the sounds of my wife preparing food for our Ukrainian Christmas dinner later today. Perogies ready for cooking, turkey and cabbage rolls are in the oven. The smells are permeating our home on this cold snowy day, yet I take comfort in knowing that we will gather today to share a wonderful meal. Our numbers are smaller, yet the importance and gifting of our gathering is just as valuable as a crowd of many. At then, end of the day, we will all say our good-bye’s with hugs and doggie bags. As for me, I will give thanks for the blessings in my life. Most important, is God’s presence in our lives is all that, and a bag of chips..

 

Mike Shindruk

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Missing You

 

This past Sunday, my wife and I enjoyed a visit with my wife’s mom. She fell and broke her hip a few months ago. Between her recovery, rehabilitation, and Covid restrictions, I had not been able to see her in person for quite a while. My wife has been able to make frequent visits, but I wasn’t. The rules have only recently changed to allow more visiting. As we entered her room, she lit right up and offered me the biggest hug ever. In an instant, she went from lying alone in her bed, to sitting up enjoying a nice cup of tea and conversation. Her voice absolutely lit up the room as we caught up on family things and general chit chat. It was so good to spend some time with her, to hear her voice and see her face in the flesh. That in itself was a healing moment. My point is this. We never know or realize just how much we miss someone until they’re not in your immediate life for a while. The visit was as good for me, as it was for her. My heart was warmed just by being there with my wife and her mom.

 

As we drove home, I could not help but draw the comparison to our church family, and to Jesus. Since early 2020 when Covid-19 heated up, our church body has not been able to safely meet in person for services. As we meet in a rented space, the past and present restrictions keep our church family separated in the flesh. Our congregation is elderly, so we continue to be diligent in keeping them safe. Our pastor has adapted well to offering on-line sermons and is in constant contact, at least by phone with our friends. Just like my mother-in-law, we miss being together in person, yet we stay connected. We do miss each other and wait patiently for the day when we can meet with a better degree of safety.

 

Now, not gathering for service has created a small disconnect, but our thread that binds us together is Jesus. We may be apart from our friends right now, but we have never been separated from Him or His presence. We need only open our eyes and draw our first breath to realize He is with us. When each day dawns, take a moment, and offer up a little prayer of thanks for Him giving us one more day. The fact that we have not been able to gather for church, has done nothing to diminish His attention to our lives and circumstances. With Jesus, there are no Covid restrictions, threat, or barriers. He gives all of us at least two things to hang onto these days. First, He gives us faith in His healing power, but not blind faith. He also gives us wisdom to follow the advice of our doctors, scientists, and leaders, both pastoral and government. Some may not agree these days with some of these things, but I will follow His lead. Will He protect me? Yes, but He also expects me to avoid throwing caution to the wind and to be responsible for myself, my family and friends, and my neighbors. He has sent us doctors, and He has given them the knowledge of how to look after us. Let us all just hang in there for a while longer. Let us look out for one another, and not be divided by difference of opinion.

 

Christmas is quickly approaching, and we should be reminded that Jesus came as an innocent child to be the one who would save us all. He came at a time of great division, fear, darkness and uncertainty. Covid has set the earth into some of the same, so look to the mountains for help. (Psalm 121). Let’s be our brothers’ & sisters’ keepers. Let’s not lose our connection with common sense and courtesy. Instead, let’s look forward to this next year where we can hopefully remove restriction of movement, restriction of gathering in person for church, and fear of each other as we pass in the grocery aisle.

 

Keep connecting in any way you can, keep Christ close to your heart, and keep believing that we will all get through this together. Keep missing each other so we can all enjoy a cup of tea and a hug when this is over.

 

Mike Shindruk

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Remember Me

 

        As we come into another Remembrance Day, I can’t help but think of those in my family, and friends who served. I had five uncles who served in WWII. I also had a dear friend who served over thirty five years in the navy, who passed away last year on Nov.11^th. I will surely miss our coffee at his home this Nov.11^th. My uncles and my dear friend are now all passed on, yet they left footprints on my heart and soul that will remain. Along with friends and family who currently serve, they made the decision to stand on guard for all of us. Most of us know someone who has or is serving, either in our military, or police services. They did and do this because they feel a sense of duty to complete strangers. For this, we must always remember them.

 

        I also wish to remind everyone that over two thousand years ago, Jesus stood up to the world to serve. He, like my uncles, went willingly into enemy territory to stand and defend what we call freedom. He came and lived as a human man, no doubt with human fears, emotions, compassion, and yes love. He faced His enemies knowing that he would be killed, simply for defending the truth. He sat and shared what He was going to do with His disciples, and told them He was going to prepare a place for them. He told them that He would come back and take them to be with Him. He left this message for all of us who choose to believe in Him. He knew He would be killed and yet He went. Like those who served in previous wars and conflicts, He went willingly to give His life for us.

 

        We mark the sacrifices of our veterans by gathering and acknowledging their service by remembering them once a year. I would like to encourage everyone to remember what Jesus has done for all of us. Yet, let us remember Him more frequently than perhaps we do. Keep Him in your hearts daily when you say grace for a meal. Remember Him each day you open your eyes and fill your lungs with air. Remember Him when a loved one passes on. Remember Him when you look into the face of a new-born baby in your family. Remember Him in everything. Say a quick prayer of thanks that you are given one more day to love and be loved by someone. Wear a poppy with pride for our veterans, and wear your heart on your sleeve for Jesus.

 

Remember that He died, so we could live forever in eternity with Him. Simply put, let us all remember.

 

Mike Shindruk

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You Never Know Your Limits

 

        Many, I mean many years ago when I was in high school in Ontario, track and field was quite a deal. I remember our gym teacher having us run track for what seemed to be forever. It wasn’t really, but when you’re fourteen everything seems to be more than your limit. When we all finally stopped, and all of us were wheezing, he said okay guys, one more lap. After our groans he gave us something to think about. He said none of us never really know how much we can do, or take and when we think there is nothing left to give, there always is. For some reason, that has stayed with me for over fifty years.

 

        There have been times, even this year when I thought, I have nothing left to give. I’m sure we’ve all had that thought, yet here we are. Last month as my wife and son were making crab apple jelly, my son commented on the thousands of holes in the bark of our crab apple tree, most likely from woodpeckers gorging on insects over the last few years. This years’ crop of apples was the largest in the trees’ twenty year life, despite the holes. You would think that the damage to the tree would prevent it from even throwing leaves, let alone apples. Goes to show that even a tree that seemingly should be dead, can still contribute and give.

 

        We as people are a lot like that tree. Over our lifetime we will be rained and snowed on, have holes poked into us (figuratively), be ignored, abused, broken, and starved for many things that should sustain us. Yet, when a friend, relative, son or daughter, pastor, and yes, God, ask us for anything, we always find something left in the tank. Again, we never know our limitations. Death of a loved one, a health scare, financial challenges can all be the plug that gets pulled as our life force wants to drain out of us. When all seems hopeless, God shows up. We may wonder why He waits until then, or seemingly never shows up, but He does. The human in us cannot see or fathom how he works, and we get blinded by the light of the train in the tunnel when our world crashes. It’s hard to get around this I know. I’ve watched a family this year being tormented by the death of a husband and father. They are trying to cope and live, but even now, months later the agony of being drained is quite evident. I watch this daily trying to encourage and lift as I can, yet it’s not enough, not yet. I have worn the shoes and tied the laces, so I know their pain. Even through this, they give. They help each other, they lean on one another, laugh a lot less, and cry a lot more. Yet, they don’t give up.

 

        God does see this. He sees how the grief is drilling painful holes in them every day. He also has a plan to lift and carry them through this. It will eventually get better, but it never goes away as my mom would say. All of us will be faced with this unfair endurance race, and the devil will bark at us saying, give me one more lap. Well God will give us all the strength for one more, then another, then another. We need only lean on Him. That is hard to do when pain and suffering is on your doorstep. Yet, one day you will hear Jesus knock on the door to your heart, and will patiently wait for you to open the door from the inside. His knock may come in the form of someone offering to simply pray with you, cry with you or just sitting while you pour out. Listen closely for the door as He knocks ever so gently. Open the door and He’ll tell you He knows your limits, even when you don’t know them. Let Him in and allow Him to give you what He has to offer for just one more lap, or a thousand. God has a plan for your life, and it’s only by faith that we can let Him unfold it, even through the tough days.

 

Mike Shindruk

 

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Targets & Levels

 

        How amazing it is to use your hands to build something. My blue collared father taught me how to do just that when I was in my early teens. I always looked up to him and would literally soak up every nugget and morsel he would show me. From levelling out a lawn with new topsoil, to a driveway with fine gravel. At twelve years old I could handle a rake pretty well. He had the patience of Job and would just keep telling me,” just look at the way it lays, and you’ll feel the level”.

 

        He also taught me what seems to me now as a million carpentry skills and tricks. Some of which I am using still today. Both of my sons are great carpenters, so I think maybe dad may have slid that into their genes as well. I remember when we moved to Nova Scotia, almost fifty years ago now, and we built a garage in our yard in New Glasgow. We used railway ties and gravel for the foundation and he broke out a line level and a four footer. So, with rakes and shovels we prepped the site, then began to lay the beams. We must have checked the line and level a thousand times, and each time he would be fussier than the last. Eventually I heard those golden words. Okay, now it’s close enough. I never forgot those lessons, as they remind me of how we need to conduct our lives.

 

        You see, when we begin our journey and relationship with Christ, we are all over the map. We get introduced to God and we are taught the basics. As we grow older, His presence in our lives becomes more grounded, then, like my earthly father, our Heavenly Father puts tools in our hands as He teaches us, again with the patience of Job. Our rake and shovel would be our pastors, mentors, and scriptures. At first, they all feel new and awkward, but the more we use them, the better we get at levelling out our lives. There will be times when we think, well I’ve learned enough, then we will back slide and become off kilter, but we need to continually make adjustments along the way. After all, we’re building the rest of our lives. Then we dive back in and things will get smooth and plumb. I think there are times that all of us kind of slide a bit and think, well that’s close enough. The past couple of years have been like that due to the events in our world. Most of us cannot yet meet in person for faith gatherings, so we are now relying on technology to keep us connected. For the most part, it works, but nothing can replace the face to face with your faith family.

 

        I am fortunate that my Pastor has been in my “bubble” since the beginning, so my home is blessed with constant weekly physical interaction. We have not felt like we have backslid, but really miss the rest of our peeps. I am looking at these days as just another version of my father saying, just keep moving and raking, and micro-adjusting that level. Eventually it will be close enough to build on. Well, I believe we all will constantly be adjusting ourselves and will see the bubble perfectly between the lines just before we are called home.

 

        I’m hoping for a long life of raking and adjusting, yet I am willing to accept whatever days God has for me. I am currently building a little backyard workshop with one of my sons. As we toil on uneven ground to make all the foundation targets level and square, I am reminded of the great teacher I had as a young teen, and also of the great teacher that I have now for simply living. My building will stand soon, close enough for my eyes. My hope is that as I stay plugged into God, through the people He has surrounded me with, and that like my earthy father, my Heavenly father will one day say to me, welcome child, your level is close enough.

 

Mike Shindruk

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I’m In Good Hands

 

        For as long as I can remember, this iconic slogan has been a part of our culture. “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” How amazing it is, that a few simple words, can have such an impact with generations of people. As I write this article, I am at home, recovering from knee surgery. It was an extensive revision of the knee I had done a few years ago. A fairly common scenario, yet when it’s on your own doorstep, it doesn’t feel that way. Over the last number of months as I anxiously waited for the call and tried to mentally prepare myself, I kept hearing “in good hands” over and over. Not so much connected to my situation, but those few words kept popping up in conversation. Whether I used them to encourage someone who was going through their own nightmare, or in idle conversation as people spoke well of my surgeon, I heard it over and over.

 

        As I went through my pre-op stages a few days before my surgery, so many people, who recognized the surgeon’s name, spoke quite highly of him. Now, you need to understand that I had no fear, anxiety, hesitation or trepidation, yet they didn’t know that and were perhaps trying to reassure me. I quietly chuckled to myself, as they didn’t know that I had God in my corner, and He had me in His hands. You see, through all of the hundreds of little things to prepare myself for, like the next few months off to recover and heal, my financial well being for my home, personal health, and yes mental state, I never once shouldered any fear. I knew I was in good hands. My families, both faith and blood were and are a constant source of care, empathy, emotional and financial support. They also, held me up through their own struggles and problems. With all of them, I was in good hands.

 

        But I want to get back to God and His hands. When we are being pulled through a challenge, loss of a loved one, or a surgical wait, we are all on edge. Every time the phone rings, we jump a bit, thinking only of the worst. Well, I had to wait month after month for a call I knew would come, but just not knowing when. I chose not to panic. Yes I waited on each call, but I knew it would come and I knew I was in good hands. God’s. With every day that passed, I realized that God had me booked, He just didn’t need to let me know. Finally, my date was given and a weight was lifted as I knew I had tangible information to plan around. Winding my tasks down at my workplace, last minute home repairs, and even some bank responsibilities were all in alignment. I spent more time with my family, and more private time with my wife. After all I am sixty five, and if God saw fit to take me or send me back, I was prepared. Even in these things, I was in good hands.

 

        So came my surgical date. I spent as much face time with my wife with private conversations and thoughts, and I was wheeled in. The technician who was getting me ready recognized the surgeons’ name and said, yup, you’re in good hands. I agreed, again, knowing who put me there, who would be guiding the doctors, and who would wake me when all was done. My stay was an expected 3-4 days, but all went so well, I was released home the next day. You see, went through this entire challenge without fear, without doubt, without sweaty palms and woke, knowing who had me. God did.

 

        My friends, He does that for each one of us. We just need to let go and believe it. Look up when you’re down, reach up when you fall down and never allow self-doubt or the devil to creep in and rob you. If you’re facing something like this right now just take in the sunsets like they’re not the last one. Tell Him you trust Him, and when someone says, oh you’ll be in good hands, just agree, and say yes, God’s.

 

Mike Shindruk

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Choose Wisely

 

As our province experiences continuing successes with knocking our Covid numbers down, it’s good to be able to breathe. To have something positive to look forward to is both refreshing and reassuring. As more and more people accept being vaccinated, we will soon be able to put this demon behind us. With the newness of the science and the obvious rush to develop this life saving vaccine, comes the usual hesitation and outright denial of its effectiveness. It is human nature to first doubt something unfamiliar to us, so there will be the hold outs that say they don’t believe. For those of us who do accept and believe, we will rest in the assurance that the Covid demon will be defeated. If it takes an annual booster, then so be it.

 

        Now here is where I can clearly draw a fair comparison of how we accept or deny God. When Jesus presented Himself as the Son of God, He was treated like the Covid vaccine. He offered people a way to God that they were hoping for, yet many rejected Him. Human skepticism, denial, disbelief all got in the way of His gift to them of eternal life. The world as they knew it at the time was in turmoil. There was no hope, no quality of life. There was no freedom of movement, no freedom of commerce, and really no freedom of “religion”. Then along came this man named Jesus, who spoke of a loving Father in Heaven, God. He spoke of God’s grace, love and forgiveness. He even performed miracles of healing, provision, and even life restoration. Still, people did not believe, or accept Him. It wasn’t until His crucifixion did some finally realize that it was true. He was the true son of God, he came to save the world, gave Himself for us, and has promised that He waits for us to come to Him, and is coming back.

 

        Our Covid vaccine is pale by comparison, yet it is the one saving grace, and ray of hope for us right now. People will always reject it, like some will reject Jesus in their lives. They will deny the vaccine will save them and deny that there is a heaven. We will have loved ones in our life pass away, leaving us behind to wonder where they went. We are naïve to think that what we live here is all there is. We all need to grab onto the hope that there is life eternal after our death. It does not end with our last breath, rather it continues for us, up there. Up there, is where a room in our Fathers’ mansion will be made ready for when our bodies give out. It is there for the taking, and all we need do is accept it. God’s promise is in John 3:16. Heaven is a place where we will be reunited with loved ones that have gone on before us. We can see God’s majesty and His stairway in every sunrise, and sunset. We need only look up.

 

    We all need to overcome the limit of our own understanding. The doctors and scientists have been put here to help us in the physical. Jesus has always been here to help us in the spiritual, for when our physical expires. We are not meant to live forever here on Earth, and it is painful and crippling to our hearts when death comes knocking.  We are meant to live forever in the heavens, and that can be our future if we just believe. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God that will welcome us when it is our time.

 

        Just like I have accepted Christ, I have accepted this vaccine. Why? Because I choose the best shot at a longer life here, and an eternal life…up there. Make your choice today and choose wisely. I will see my loved ones again. Until then, I will not waste any days on hate, denial, or prejudice. Peace, hope and love and my daily booster shot of Christ are what will carry me until my own room is made ready.

 

Mike Shindruk

 

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Lessons Learned

 

        Growing up, I have made so many mistakes that it would be impossible for me to count that high. I take comfort in knowing that I’m in pretty good company. My childhood into adulthood recollections of lessons learned seem to always center around my father. When we’re little children, we’re not wired to take every little lesson into our memory banks. We’re supposed to just be kids and have fun. As we approach our teens, then a new phase of maturity creeps and clicks in. At about age twelve, I remember my father teaching me masonry, carpentry, music, and even gardening lessons. I just wanted to be around him, so the blue-collar classroom wasn’t punishment. Whenever I made a mistake, he would never admonish, or criticize. He would just say, well that’s a lesson learned. He was like that with me and my siblings.

 

        Into my adulthood, I worked with my dad. He had only a grade six education, yet he seemed to be able to put his hands to anything. He could resurrect any small engine back to life as if the brand name was Lazarus. He passed that knowledge and tenacity onto me and my brother- in- law. He left his farm home in Manitoba at age seventeen, so he didn’t learn it there. To me it had to have been God given. When dad became terminally ill with cancer, he shared even more of his teaching. He didn’t allow the cancer to define who he was. He never cried about the raw deal he was given, nor blamed God for having to leave all of us too early. He kept teaching in his own way, so we would always carry what he left us. He walked through Heaven’s gates, into the waiting arms of Jesus, turning once more to show us his tanned face and broad smile. He had graduated into the Heavenlies, lessons learned.

 

        God carries each and every one of us through the life He has given us. Most of the road is going to be rough, yet there will be stretches of his highway so smooth, you won’t feel the rubber beneath your wheels. We will be faced with terminal sickness in our family and friendships. The separation from our loved ones, Beit our mate, parents, or even children, will be heart wrenching. It will even cause us to doubt God, or even that there is a caring God and that’s okay. He knows that. He also teaches us, without us knowing that He holds us up when we fall down. He did it for me and He’s doing it for you. We need to lean on Him when we are hurting and praise Him when we are not. It was hard to thank Him for a long time after my father’s passing, yet He waited. He did show me my dad’s purpose, and that was to pass on his lessons.

 

        Jesus did the very same thing. He came to live with us as a man, taught us what He need to, and left. Even that was God’s plan. The disciples mourned and scattered as they didn’t understand why He had to leave. What He left was his lessons learned. From that, His word has been taught and will never stop. That is His legacy. Jesus told his followers that He was going away, to prepare a place for them, and that he was coming back. That place would be in His father’s house, a mansion with many rooms. There is a room for each one of us, if we accept it. We will only go there when our room is made ready. When God’s plan for us is complete here, then we will take the same walk as my father did. Just like Jesus, what we leave behind is what we are building now.

 

        This past week I turned sixty-five and had an opportunity to look back on my own life. God has given me, not what I expected in my youth, but what He knew I needed. I’ve had heart aches, health issues, grief, glory, yet He has shown me that even when I didn’t know Him, He had me in the palms of His hands. I’ll graduate someday into the heavenlies, and when I follow those who go before me I will clutch a life diploma. On that page will be all my lessons learned. Then it can hang on the wall of my room in my Fathers’ house.

 

Mike Shindruk

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 Anticipation

As I sit to write this, I am bursting with pride and wonderment at the arrival of a new granddaughter on Mothers’ Day. Her arrival was the first for our daughter and son in law, and the anticipation for them and both families was electric. With every ping of our computer, or ringing of our phone came the expectation of the wonderful news. When the message finally came, our home exploded with joy. With the thousands of miles between us, we can only wonder what she looks like. What would she feel like in our arms, and what would be the first words we would say to her. We remember the sheer joy of those experiences with our own children, all now grown. We know what her mom and dad are feeling right now, as we have been blessed with those emotions three times. We, as grandparents will now wait with anticipation of the first time we meet her, the first time we hear her voice, and to watch her walk and grow up in her parents care.

Events in our lives will always give way to many forms of anticipation. A wedding day, an unexpected illness, a needed surgery, a new job, or even a retirement date. All of these will evoke different emotions, some of joy, and some of sorrow. I cannot help but draw a comparison to Jesus here. I can imagine Mary and Joseph’s anticipation when they were waiting for Jesus to be born. Can we all imagine the people at the time, hearing of a King, their Savior that was to be born as prophesized? The waiting, the signs, all strong enough to draw Kings to travel long distances to meet Him. Then came the elation of His arrival, and the joy it brought. Their faith in God strengthened by the news, gave hope. Not many years later, sorrow as He was crucified by the very people He came to save. Yet, He rose, and the anticipation of His return, was, and is even stronger than ever.

Our lives will be a journey of joy and sadness, yet, when we accept Jesus as our very own, and acknowledge Him as our Savior, then our anticipation of meeting Him face to face is immeasurable. Just like our grand daughter so far away, we know we will see her. We know also that we will also see Jesus, look into His eyes, and hear His voice. The anticipation of that very moment will help us in the human as we face mortal challenges. As I approach the age of sixty-five, I feel blessed to have my general good health. I also know that friends and loved ones around me share in the same joys and fears as I do. I’m sure that many who read this are wearing the same shoes. I encourage everyone in these troubled times in our country to reset. If you have already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then continue to believe that He will pull you through anything. If you haven’t allowed Him into your life, then today is the day to look up and give Him the invitation. I would like you to have the same anticipation of meeting Jesus some day, as we did waiting for our grand daughter to arrive.

We will see her some day, and will welcome her and tell her how much we enjoyed waiting to meet her. Jesus will meet us someday, and He will look into our eyes and say welcome my child, I have been anticipating your arrival.

Mike Shindruk

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Answering the Call

 

        Each, and every week, I receive a phone call from our Pastor. Without fail, she includes our home on a long list of almost sixty people, just to keep that spiritual contact intact. She never misses a single person, and many are people who never attended a church service. Every conversation is tailored to each person, and always ends with lifting a prayer for the needs of each household. This commitment is nothing new for her, yet this past year it has become even more relevant. She does this along with holding down a full time job. It takes a special kind of person to do this week after week. God calls on people like this to be our mentors, our leaders, our advocates, our shoulders to cry on. Yes, they are our Pastors.

 

        As we just finished Resurrection weekend, I cannot help but to draw some parallels to what I believe Jesus would do. In His short life, I’m sure He never overlooked an opportunity to speak to every person He met along His way. I can only imagine the conversations He would have with people of all backgrounds and situations. Whether Jew or gentile, man or woman, rich or poor, and healthy or afflicted, He called on everyone. Just think of the conversation He would have with you today, if your phone rang, and it was Him on the other end. He would ask how you were doing, and already know the answer. He would just want you to answer the call and chat. He wants to hear our voices as much as we want to hear His. Each conversation would be special for your ears, and every prayer would be for you and you alone. He would always lift you to the Father and remember you to Him every day. He asks only that you remember Him to those you meet. Wouldn’t that make you feel special and loved? Well this is how we should feel when our Pastor’s call us. After all, they were appointed and anointed by Him.

 

       In these times as we enter the second year of restrictions, lock downs, and hope in a vaccine, we should all remember that God is still in the business of looking after us. The proof is seen every Sunday on social media as church bodies live stream and record their services to the world. God is allowing us to use today’s technology to reach out and share His message through those He has assigned to care for us. I see friends from coast to coast in service, and I know they keep contact with their congregations. So, some of us cannot meet in person yet but God’s phone call to us still comes in many forms.

 

        We are into the first few weeks of Spring, and as our weather improves, and the grass green’s up, we should be looking forward to what God has in store for us. Our freedom to worship Him has not been taken away, only some of its forms. Keep the faith, rather keep your faith that we are all in the palm of God’s hands. Let each day be a Sunday and worship Him in some form all the time. If you think you are too busy when a phone rings, remember it could be your chance to say thank you to someone who is thinking about you. It could even be your chance to be His feet on the ground for someone else. Your Pastor will call you this week, so do yourself a huge favor, and answer the call. It may just be the one you’re expecting.

 

Mike Shindruk

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I’m Not the Person I Used to Be

 

I’ve heard it said, and I have also used the term “I’m not the person I used to be”. Well, none of us are. For some, that is a hard pill to swallow, and for others, it’s a profession of faith. If we just sit still and think, we can all replay bits and pieces of our life. I remember some of my first jobs, and as I roared through my twenties, I recall a short temper. Yes, most of us know everything by the age of twenty-five, right? Well as the years flew by I found myself slowly mellowing and now that I’m in my sixties, I probably have the patience of my parents.

 

I discovered that once I became “saved”, that is began following Christ, that I have been changed. Christ changed me. He kept knocking on a door that I never realized was closed to Him for a while. He patiently waited on the side of the door with no handle, as He does for everyone. He kept knocking in ways I did not recognize, yet He never gave up. He does that for everyone, and that includes you, who may be reading this article. He cares not about your past because He knows it anyway and is only interested in sharing your future with you.

 

I know these things, because it happened, and continues to happen to me every day. Some changes are subtle, and some are an epiphany. All we need to do is let Him in. Speak it, think it, or pray it. God hears you just the same. Keep it simple, just say” Lord, I need you today. I hear you knocking, and I am opening my door, please come in. It is that simple. In that instant, you will not be the same person you were before. That will be your moment, and only yours. All our moments are unique only to us because Jesus comes that way. He has no cookie cutter speeches, or sermons. He knows your name, and your unique situation, so He sweeps into your heart with that in mind. He will open you up to a world you may have never known existed. He will put people in your life that He planned, long before you were. They will be His feet on the ground, and His arms around your heart. Some will come and go, yet He will remain in all of the ones to come. He will allow you to temper your temper. He will gently massage your person, and personality. He will give you new eyes to see the world He has for you, new ears to hear Him even in your sleep time. He will give you a new heart to know empathy and compassion. He will even show you how to like, and love yourself, if you don’t right now. He sees in us, what we do not see in ourselves. He has a plan and a purpose you each of us. He also has a promise of eternity with Him if we want it.

 

My question to you now is this. Are you ready, willing, and open to His knocking? If the world has disabled you, He will enable you. The world has disabled a lot of people over the last year, yet He remains the same. A church building or service may have been suspended, closed, or halted, yet He is still alive in all of us. God is not dead, He’s alive, He’s real, and He’s still in control.  Do you want to be a different person a year from now? If you answered yes, then simply look up, reach up, but don’t give up. Take the hand that will lift you up, and remember the day that you became a different person than you used to be.

 

Mike Shindruk

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The Devil Screams, But God Whispers

 

        It takes me a mere seven minutes to drive home from work each day. During that time I can have the greatest conversation in my head with God, and still listen to the calming tunes from a local radio station. You may ask, how is that even possible? Well, it’s easy, neither one of them are screaming in my ear. If you’ve ever been scolded in school, at home, on the job by anyone who barked at you, or even endured a pulpit message that bellowed to the rafters, then you know that what ever they said probably did not register, let alone sink in. In fact, my parents would probably say it went in one ear, and out the other. I guess they were right.

 

        Yet, whenever anyone leans in, speaks with you, not to you in a calming voice and manner, that is when you soak up. For me there are two calming voices that can decompress me in an instant. One is the welcoming voice of calm of my wife, and the other is the voice of wisdom of my mom. You see the way a message is delivered may be more important than the message itself. If I am stressed, or fearful, my wife can instantly bring me back into alignment just by her presence and demeanor. This is so important to me as I have many unknowns to face in the coming months.

 

        Now, during my drive home, my workday, and while I am doing some hobby projects, God is always whispering while the devil is busy screaming. Satan will do that to us all. Yes, my friends, there is a Satan. He has one and only one agenda. It is to get in your head, have you doubt, and then kill, or claim you for his own. He does that with noise. He screams doom and gloom by way of your own doubt of self worth, social media, lies and your own past. He has to because that’s all he has. He figures he can distract you with static noise, fear, hate, and prejudice, so you lose hope. None of us are completely immune to this.

 

        Yet, we have something he cannot and will not offer. We have God. Yes friends, there is a God. He has numbered all of our days, He opened your eyes, and gave you your first breath, and He has a wonderful plan for your life. He whispers into yours’ and my ears every day, and those whispers have the power to drown out the devil, if we let it. This is where His gift of free will and choice come in. He has gifted us with the choice to accept Him, whereas the devil demands as he screams. God gently holds us up as He whispers His love into our hearts, all the while encouraging us with hope. I mentioned last month that hope is gold, well that’s because it is something we can see as so valuable. He has planned a life for us, and that life, at times will be difficult, but it is life. What He has promised in return for choosing and believing in His son, Jesus, is life eternal, with Him. John 3:16. That, to me is a pretty easy decision to make. It takes work and effort, but worth the journey.

 

        Perhaps now is the time we should all take stock of our lives. Have a good hard look at where you are in your faith walk. If you have a faith walk, then step a little higher, if not, find someone to take a stroll with. Let them introduce you to God who never yells, scolds, embarrasses, demeans, or harms. Let Him into your home, head, and heart, and allow Him to whisper goodness back into your soul. Give Him permission to drown out the devil’s screams and replace it with the love and peace He wants for you. Drop your guard, and raise your hands, close your eyes, and open your heart. Tomorrow is a new day, planned for you by the One who made you. It’s time to know that the devils screams can be drowned out by the Father’s whispers.

 

Mike Shindruk

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Better Days Ahead

Hello friends. It is so good to be back, and to again being able to submit to the Faith page of the New Glasgow News. To begin, I extend my sincere thanks to the editor for the space, and to those of you who can begin to read these once more. I have missed sharing messages of encouragement these past number of months. For me, I believe the temporary disruption of our lives was merely an opportunity from God to reset. I must admit that for a time, God’s voice was being muted by the despair of the last year. The static of chaos in our world was, in itself, deafening. Yet God remained faithful to His children.

        Personally, I can admit that I too began to become luke warm, yet never cooling off from God’s word. The immediate uncertainties of the past year forced me to stop and re-evaluate the things that are truly the most valuable in my life. I realized how much I missed gathering for weekly church service. I miss the wonderful people who are my faith family. I miss the elderly residents at Shiretown Nursing home, to whom we would sing to every month. I miss our family supper’s at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I miss the freedom of sitting in a crowded restaurant listening to the sound of other people. I miss not being afraid of another human in a checkout line. I miss going to a concert, or movie theater. Like all of you, I miss the good things we all took for granted.

        What I was given was even greater. I was given time, precious time. Time with my wife, at my cottage on a lake. I was given no lost time by my employer. I was given time to clear the world’s static, so I could hear God’s whispers. He gave me time to think of what His plan for me might be, Jeremiah 29:11. He gave me time to look up, ask for help, and wait for an answer, any answer. Psalm 121. He gave me time to hone some carpentry skills. He gave me time to rest a weary mind and body. He never gave me more time, just enough of the quiet to appreciate His gifts and grace.

        Even now, as we cannot gather for church as usual, He has made a way, where there seemed to be no way. Our Pastor now video records a weekly sermon that reaches across Canada, and also writes a weekly message in print. Dr. Barclay gives us something to think about in print, and also records a weekly Bible study. Peter MacLaren gives us Peter’s Picks, a scripture to read for each day of the week. Our good friend Pastor Todd MacDonald in Sundrie Alberta sends us his written message weekly. Covid-19 arrived, and will be gone, yet Christ was here and will always be here. The world stopped turning for a bit, but God’s church is alive and well and is not going anywhere. It is alive and well, and thriving.

        I encourage each and every one of you to receive and believe that better days are coming and coming fast. If you are reading this, then you are alive and well. Give thanks today that God has placed you in a safe place. Thank him, for Nova Scotia and the low numbers of illness and infections. Thank Him for the credible leadership from health authorities thus far. Nothing is perfect here, and we had a tough year. But compared to many parts of the world, we are in paradise. I was reminded a while ago from my friend Dr. Spencer Barclay, that if our ancestors had the intestinal fortitude to endure six years of world war in the 1940’s then surely we can put up with orderly lines and face masks for a year or two.

        My friends, life is good, hope is gold, fear is false, and tomorrow will be better. Breathe, even through your mask, see using your eyes and your heart, and believe with your soul that God’s got this. Enjoy your days, as we have some great ones coming.

Mike Shindruk

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The Value of Loss

          Well to say these past few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement. With coronavirus dominating all news reports, it is easy to forget about a lot of things. The list of things either set aside, cancelled or postponed is endless. We went from warnings to pandemic in the blink of an eye. We went from daily reports of expanding wildfires in Australia and California to a spreading deadly virus around the globe. Who knew that something so microscopic could shut our planet down in a matter of weeks?  Social media, which can and has fueled fear, doubt and misinformation, has suddenly become a most useful tool and ally.

         With the order across our country to isolate and practice physical distancing being the new normal, we have lost something very precious. The simple handshake or hug for our friends has for a time, slipped from our grasp. What we have taken for granted in the past is now behind Plexiglas barriers and surgical masks. That is the human contact through touch and speech. The threat is real and so is the human fear. Perhaps God is hitting a re-set button of sorts. He is not a God of making or allowing His children to suffer, yet, He has put in place the ways and means to get us through this. We just haven’t discovered that yet.

         This Covid19 will cause many to test their faith, scream their fears, and realize the value of face to face contact. When one or more of these is tested or taken away, we will rediscover the value in what was lost. Even the people who denied and crucified Christ soon realized what was lost when He was taken away. This pandemic will be conquered by our scientists and doctors. Then and only then will we know the true meaning of loss. When our fundamental freedoms are restored we will realize how important it is to love and care for each other. Only when our economies begin to rebound will we know the true value of our employment. Only when we gather again for church services, school classes and hockey games will we know how precious our freedom is.

          Just like these things, only when Jesus comes back will we truly know what was lost when He was crucified. Today I encourage everyone to honor our government by adhering to their direction and orders. We have an advantage to learn from history, and not repeat it. This crisis will pass, and when it does, I hope more people will see how the Father carried us when we were too weak to breathe.

Mike Shindruk

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What a Glorious Day That Will Be

          Each month, myself and other members of our ministry worship team visit a local seniors’ care facility. We bring a banquet of Gospel songs and spend time with our friends there. Regardless if the songs are traditional or contemporary, there is one constant. That constant is God’s message of love and salvation. We sing of His amazing grace, and acknowledge that what we have has been paid in full at the cross. The songs tell stories of how great our God is, and reaffirm His peace in our valleys and the view from the mountain top.

          We have come to know our friends, not so much by their names, but by their faces as we see how God causes them to revisit a good time in their life. We see how He transforms aged bodies into young spirits as they go back in time with the lyrics of the prayers of days gone by. This effect warms the hearts of us that go and share His praises. He returns them to their youth if only for a few minutes. Forlorn faces become glowing smiles and tapping feet as they sing with us note for note, and word for word. The memories and promises of the songs allow each of them to rest and sleep in God’s peace.

          Many of these friends, who are in their eighties, were no doubt instrumental in raising many of the church buildings and congregations we know today. Many served on church boards, and in our armed forces. Some are widows and widowers who are alone, yet surrounded by friends. The common denominator is their love and faith for the Lord.

       Who else but Father God could cause such an effect like this? Who else but Jesus could make such an impression on them with this power? Who else but Holy Spirit would be as faithful as to remain within them every minute of every day, of every year? No one. Deuteronomy 31:8 NKLV promises this.” And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed”. We see this belief in this promise, each time we visit our friends. They are the elderly, not alone, and not forgotten. Their experience in keeping the faith speaks volumes to those of us who now follow. We should all take notes from these great teachers. Let Jesus cause the same in us, allowing His everlasting effect to remain. Someday we will sit and listen to a visiting worship team, and be taken back in time. What a day, glorious day that will be.

Mike Shindruk

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Just Breathe

          While chatting with a co-worker this week, about all the different threats in the world, we just had to stop and breathe. If we hang onto every post on social media, watch the depressing news each night, then pile onto ourselves our own ails and woes, we may just stop breathing. Every day we are bombarded with images of injustice, protests, violence, corruption, and yes the latest pandemic. Our need for speed with technology has made us addicts to the gloom of our world. We are being so distracted by all of this that drawing a breath is like sleeping with a rock on our chests. Just breathe.

          Now I’m not saying to stick our heads in the sand, but what I am suggesting is that we take a step back from our screens, allow ourselves to decompress, and breathe. Take back time with our families and friends, face to face, not Facebook to Facebook. Pay attention to the world, but not be consumed by it. The latest virus, Covid19 is something to be aware of, yet we can use common sense to combat the fear. I admit to having a human fear, or concern with this invisible threat. I am trying to lean on my faith that God will protect me and my family, yet we have to take responsibility for our own well-being, and for those around us. It has to start with owning our personal hygiene practices, staying informed, and yes, relying on our faith that God will guide us and carry us.

          We need to first undo the fear that has a grip on us. Once we do this, then we can breathe, once we can breathe, then we can concentrate on the human and physical. So, let’s start with prayer. Pray for strength and resolve. Pray for increase in faith, belief in God’s healing, and clarity of mind. Lean on His promise that He will watch over and protect us. He tells us this in Isaiah 41:10 NCV” So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.” God has promised good to us as in Jeremiah. Yet he does not give us permission to throw caution to the wind. He has given us the gift of free will to use our minds to discern when to help ourselves. That time is now. Lean into Him, wash your hands and just breathe.

Mike Shindruk

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No Other Gods

          Growing up in the sixties exposed me to my passion for music. Like any other young person then, I was among the millions who idolized The Beatles, Johnny Cash and Elvis. I play and sing today because of their influences all my life. Now you may have noticed my confession. That’s okay, because my God has forgiven me as only He would know that I was void of understanding when I was eight to ten years of age. These past seventeen years of truly understanding idol worship by the masses has matured me in the Lord. I realized many years ago that all of these people mentioned, were just people. Each of them had fame and faults, made history, and had heartache. Each of them came from humble beginnings and longed for a time when the world would just leave them alone. They knew they were not gods, but were trapped and treated as such.

          These days, some fifty plus years later, the world has a new breed of idols. Too often we bow down to actors, athletes, singers, television personalities and even politicians. The world goes into auto-mourning to the max when some individuals pass away. Yes it is sad to see anyone that we look up to die, yet we must be reminded that they are just people with families like you and I. I am not disrespecting anyone here as I acknowledge the good that many celebrities promote and leave when they graduate to the heavens. What I am reminding all of us is that they will not be there to greet us when we leave here. Jesus will. For those celebrities that followed Him, they have a room in God’s mansion. When we get there, our room will have been made ready. We are told throughout the entire Bible not to worship other gods. These gods may be riches, possessions, addictions, and include the list of people previously mentioned.

        We can appreciate the material things we work for to provide for our families, we can appreciate those who keep us entertained, and we can appreciate the mentors in our life. I would just encourage people to discover the fine line of idol worship, and stay on this side of it. Deuteronomy 6:13-14 NCV tells us” Respect the Lord your God. You must worship Him and make your promises only in His name. Do not worship other gods as the people around you do.”

Mike Shindruk

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A King’s Kid

          I am a king’s kid, rather I am The Kings’ kid. Our pastor tells us this quite often, and because I trust her, I believe her. For those who may read this, and want proof, well here you go. First I will pose a couple of questions to you, so answer in your heart, truthfully. Are you having a terrible time right now, with no visible hope or relief in sight for your situation? Have you honestly stopped to simply sit and speak with God about it, or just continue to lament with no let up? Well we have all been there and done that.

         This past week I took my wife for a medical appointment in Halifax. The day was one where my mom would say the sun was splitting the rocks. Dry conditions made the roads perfect for driving. My thoughts were distracted by the possibility of gridlock in the city. To my delight, as I exited the bridge over Halifax harbour, there wasn’t a vehicle in front of me pretty much until we arrived in front of the VG Hospital. For us, we saw God’s grace for clearing a path. As we made our way to register, again with no delays, we had care and compassion from the doctor. She spent the next hour methodically answering every question and concern, without a hint of urgency to get to the next patient. Again, a sense of peace was given, we believe by God. We ventured to the appointment with uncertainty, yet left with a relaxed spirit filled assurance that the coming year would be better than the last one. Who else but our Father could arrange such things? Who else but our God can wipe away any fear, trouble, anxiety, stress, or even doubt? No one else is the answer. If we look to the mountains, as in Psalm 121, and stand on the promises that He gives us in Jeremiah 29:11, then regardless of our situations, we will be given peace.

    We cannot expect an answer to our prayers and fears if we don’t cling on to the gift of hope that Jesus gives us. Our human bodies will get sick, be broken, be addicted, and fail. We are not designed to live in our skin forever. Yet, the closer we draw to God, the easier He will make our life journey. He is my Father, and He is your Father, the King and we are His kids, so that makes us King’s kids. Lean in and ask Him for a clear path. He gave us one this week, and He’ll do the same for you.

Mike Shindruk

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And The Reward Goes To…

          I must admit that I did watch the last hour or so of the Oscars. To see so many talented individuals being recognized for their talents was rather interesting. Actors of all ages were to walk the infamous red carpet, primped and adjusted prior to the world zooming in on them as they sat and applauded. As cameras panned the audience, for me anyway it was nice to see seasoned veterans just being themselves. I reminded myself that they are ordinary people like you and I. They just have a different job. As the presenters read scripted intros and jokes, and the recipients each took a few moments to thank everyone, I noticed how much of a hurried assembly line there was in the interest of time. It pretty much went like this. Here’s your trophy, say thank you, exit stage right, and then…next. Now don’t get me wrong, they all worked very hard in order to touch the hearts and souls of the public like you and I, so a reward for their efforts is fitting.

     As I sat listening for God to give me a message for this week, it came to me. You and I are perhaps, not so different than these entertainers. We are looking for approval for a job well done. Each of us will spend countless hours and days, and many years learning scripture, you know our dialogue lines. That’s our talk. We will learn to walk our God walk hoping people will notice and follow. Our goal is to be recognized at the end of our season. The approval we strive for is from our Father, God, not the adoring public. There will be no calculation of tickets sold to our life, no media hype, yet along the way there will be unqualified critics.  When the curtain falls and our own credits roll, there will not be any handlers or custom designer dresses and suits.

          Where we are going, there’s more. We’ll walk through gates of pearl, not on red carpet, but on golden stairs. Our trophy will be a room with a view of eternity with Christ. Our presenter will not be a flavour of the week, yet our Father we have been waiting to meet. Our name will not be on a gold plate to fade, yet written in permanent blood in the book of lambs. So, come along for the epic journey of our lifetime. We’ll not hear…and the award goes to… What we will hear is, My reward goes to you my child and faithful servant, well done. I have been waiting all of your life for this moment.

Mike Shindruk

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We All Spread The Gospel

          As I sat and listened intently to our guest speaker’s message last Sunday in church, one particular statement stuck with me. Our guest made a comment, or rather a question of how is he qualified to stand up and give the message. He also encouraged us to just let God be God. In an instant I was given the perfect answer. Anyone who believes in, follows, leans on, and praises our Savior Jesus, is qualified. In my opinion, no one need be ordained, or trained in theology to share an encouraging word from God. Sharing and spreading the Gospel never requires a person to be an expert. They can be male or female, young or old. Required is a love and a passion for God in their life. Each and every one of us can and will see God each day if we look. We will feel His presence and influence if we yes, just let God be God.

  In Matthew 4:19, and also in Mark 1:17,Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee and saw Simon, Andrew, James and John who were casting nets. He called out to them saying” Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men (people). Jesus was choosing His followers and selected ordinary, unqualified people, knowing that they would be the perfect evangelists to share His word. Again, none were ordained, as at that time there was no such thing as a pastor. Actually, even Jesus was not “ordained” as we know of the term. He had no steeple, no credentials, and no theological training. What He did have was the wisdom of our Father, His Father, God. What better tool and gift to possess, than the spirit of God in the heart of a servant?

  Now I am in no way trivializing the formal education and training of today’s pastors and church leaders. I can only imagine and respect the complex learning commitment of today that is required in order to lead a congregation. What I am saying is that God puts a passion and spirit into the hearts of each and every one of us who welcome Him into our lives. So when we have an opportunity to share our own personal experiences of God with those around us, we should. 

People we know and trust carry immense credibility with us. Ordinary people are given extraordinary gifts and opportunities to share God’s word. So yes, let’s let God be God, allowing Him to qualify us to stand up and share him everywhere, including our own church services.

Mike Shindruk

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It’s Just a Conversation

          No doubt there are some of you reading this that can relate to what’s about to follow which is based on my experience as a young Christian “growing up in the church” (the denomination is not important). What is important is the final outcome of many years of personal and spiritual reflection and biblical study on how to be a verbal witness to people about Jesus and a personal relationship with God our Father without any pressure or fear.

Before going to heaven, the command of Jesus is very clear about telling people about Him. Mk. 16:15 NLT. And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone”.

For many people this is intimidating and not easy to do. We’re not all evangelists and we don’t have to go out making cold calls or knocking on doors to spread the gospel. Those who are gifted in this have no issue. When a person makes to decision to follow Jesus they are given gifts by God’s Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:11 NLT. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

We don’t have to have any degrees in biblical studies, a title or even have all the answers. Certainly formal teaching is good yet our own individual study of God’s word is also vital and as we absorb that word it becomes a part of our essence. That is what proceeds out of us as we engage in conversation with people.

So here we are at the crux of all this. I recently had a random conversation with a man at the grocery store that started as we met at an aisle and I let him go ahead of me. I commented on the price of certain foods as he was staring at the shelves. From there, to my surprise, within just a few minutes we had exchanged personal family information and here we are, total strangers; no thought on my part of being ridiculed or told to mind my own business. It just seemed to happen naturally. We spoke for only that few moments and moved on. Afterward I really understood what my wife has said many times that most people are quite comfortable talking to me and how easy it was to walk through that open door of opportunity with no fear. It was as natural as breathing.

John Spicer

c/o Master’s Hand Ministry

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Savour Every Moment

          This week will mark twenty six years since my father passed away. For a long time I was unable to crawl out from under the grief stone that weighed me down. Watching him slowly fade away, helpless to stop the inevitable was a pain I can’t even put words to. It wasn’t until a particular church service that I was given release. It was the service, but God’s almighty presence and power of healing that allowed me to let go. He chose the time to reveal that yes, He was listening to the cries of a child’s heart. That day, I knew that dad was in the presence of greatness, God Himself.

     This past week I read at least six obituaries of people that I knew. Some were older, and some younger than me. I saw, through the words printed, the love of family and friends and the impact they made on a little part of the world around them. In that, I saw celebration of a life well lived, yet the mourning of a loved one who had to leave. I also had a long-time friend have to endure the passing of a brother. She watched for many months, as he slowly slipped away into the heavens. I had never met him, yet somehow got to know him through her. The same helplessness and grief that I knew, is now within the households of his family. Time, will bring healing, and God will be there every step of the way. It may not seem like it now, but a revelation day will come and they will get an understanding of some of the purpose that their loved ones had. There will be an encouragement for the family to move forward.

  I thought of these people while reading Genesis 49, where Jacob called all his sons to his side to tell them what God had shared about their future. He shared good and bad things that were to come, yet I’m sure his sons savoured every moment of their father’s wisdom and teachings. My encouragement is for all of us to do the same. Share your love with each other daily. Tell your friends and family how much they mean to you. Be with them in grief, and in glory. Share a laugh and a cry, a meal and a coffee. Listen to God when He speaks to your heart, and don’t cast Him aside when tough days come knocking. The life banquet we have been given is to be enjoyed. Savour every moment, until we meet each other again, upstairs.

Mike Shindruk

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Ask Your Father

          I’m sure that most of us growing up were told just wait till your father gets home. When we misbehaved, that was the ultimate weapon of choice by our mothers to scare us into line. For the most part it worked. As we got older and requests got a bit more complicated, we would often hear ”ask your father”. Now this was either a way to say no, or share the responsibility of a household decision. It could be a daughter asking to go on a date, or a son asking for a few dollars. Ultimately there were times when we had to go dad. Depending on the father of the house, this was either easy and comfortable, or intimidating and fearful.

          As I began reading the Bible through this month, beginning with the Old Testament, I am already seeing where God has had to bring serious correction to His children who disobeyed Him. Many of the scriptures portray God as a father to be feared, always. As I read I can understand the mindset, as I poured through Genesis 6-7 about Noah and the great flood. Those times were tumultuous to say the least. It wasn’t until the New Testament and the new covenant with Jesus that we see that our Father is a loving God. Don’t get me wrong, He’ll bring swift correction just like our earthy fathers, but for the most part we can ask Him for anything.

          It is our invitation to have a relationship with Him that makes it so easy to come to the Father with every need and want, without fear. God showed us how much He loved us by sacrificing His son, Jesus so we may be free. I feel just as comfortable going to Him as I did to my earth father for anything. There wasn’t anything I couldn’t ask for or speak about with my dad, and there isn’t anything I can’t ask for or speak to about with my Heavenly Father. I encourage everyone, that if you’re beginning this new year with wants, needs, troubles, questions, then just go ask your Father. Speak to Him as you would your own dad, or our pastor. He’s left us an instruction manual to use as a study guide. He’s put people in our life who are willing to teach us where to find answers. He’s also given us His toll free number to call whenever we want or need to. So, if you are in need of something today, go ask your Father.

Mike Shindruk

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Breaking Bread, Not Tradition

          I am re-purposing this message, initially published here in the News in Jan.2015 and is included in my first book. It is so relevant this year that I just have to share again.

          On the first Sunday of each year, my family gathers, as we have for many years, to celebrate “old” or in my case, Ukrainian Christmas. This year, 2020 it will be on Jan 5th, as that’s when will be able to gather as a family. By this, I mean we enjoy a family supper at my mom’s home, sharing traditional Ukrainian food. We will not have the twelve meatless dishes that represent the Apostles, but we will prepare perogies, cabbage rolls, and borsht, using very ordinary and basic ingredients, guided by original family recipes from my paternal grandparents. This get together is part tradition, part time to give thanks as a closely knit family, and it also serves as a celebration and reminder to remain proud of my heritage, and a time of fond remembrance of my earthly father, Stan.

          As I thought of this, I could not help reflecting on the parallels as we gather to share communion. When Jesus gathered his disciples for what we know as the last supper, they shared food. It also was very ordinary and basic, bread, and drink. In Luke, 22:19 NIV. And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying “This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me”. They would only realize much later, just what He was telling them. Whenever we gather to share food, may it be a reminder that this too, is communion. As we speak Jesus’ name in all things, let us be reminded to give thanks for the heritage He has gifted to us, and always be in fond remembrance of the presence of our Heavenly Father.

        As we begin 2020, please take a few moments and give thanks in your own way to the blessings of the previous year. Some of you have suffered through your own health or financial crisis. Some have had their heart broken by the passing of a loved one. Some have married, and others welcomed a new addition to the family. Through all of this, if you are reading this message, you are alive. That is in itself a gift from God. It should tell you that He has a wonderful plan for your life, Jeremiah 29:11. Start your own tradition of thanks for everything that comes your way, and share that with everyone. Break bread with friends and family and let God provide as He always has.

Mike Shindruk

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Christmas, Christ for the Masses

          This year, my wife and I are later than usual at decorating our home for Christmas. It was just this past week that we managed to retrieve our decorations, including out pre-lit tree, to make our home cozy and welcoming to our family and friends. We have been in the throes of all things, repainting our kitchen. Like every other home, this room is one of the most occupied this time of year, so having it disassembled was quite a decision. Well, through the failures of a heat pump, a clothes dryer, and vehicle issues our world just kept on turning. Yes we’re persevering to make our home Christmas ready. We do not fret over gifts and lists, but the reality of appliance break-downs had to be dealt with. Instead of throwing our hands up in frustration, we simply raised our hands to the Father with thanks that we have a home.

    Christmas will come and go as the calendar dictates, and we will still be rich because we celebrate God’s blessings on us. This has been a challenging year for health in our home. Yet, He carries us. Things break and wear out, yet He carries us. Tree lights may or may not work, but they don’t make Christmas and I realized that regardless of the lights, the trimmings, or the stress, Christmas will come. Our home will be a place of celebration marking the birth of Jesus, a baby, and our King.

          So here we are, some two thousand plus years later, and our world still celebrates this birth. Yes, we decorate with bright lights and festive trimmings, and it is our way of shouting that our King was born, Luke 2:11, and we are sharing Him, Emmanuel, God with us. Our home like many others will be decorated, and we will remember the true reason. When we open the door to our friends and family, they will know that Jesus is alive and well within our home. Regardless of the grandeur of the tinsel, or the number of working lights, we will be reminded that a most precious gift was given to all of us. In a couple of weeks, all of this will be again, set away for another year, yet Jesus will remain.

                  I encourage everyone who may read this to look past the lights, push past the gifts, and focus on the gift of love from God. Share love with your family, friends, and yes, strangers. Remember, Christmas is not a string of lights on a tree or a newly painted kitchen rather it’s a time to thank God for the lifeline to Him that Jesus represents, a gift in the birth of a baby.

Mike Shindruk

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I Can Only Imagine

          Well, we are one week away from the day we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. I was thinking about that, and imagined that this would be the week (timeline) where the order was given from Caesar for everyone to return to their place of birth to participate in a compulsory census. Joseph and Mary, expecting a child would now be on their way to Bethlehem. The distance, by today’s standards, is short. Yet back then, on foot, through terrain and dangers would seem such a daunting journey. All of this while being guided by God, and obeyed by a couple who would live forever in the history books.

          Over this next week, I encourage everyone to think, and reflect on how all odds were overcome. Herod gave orders to find this King that was foretold. God ensured that he would never succeed. A king, The King, would arrive, right under the nose of the enemy, hidden in plain sight. Please take a few minutes to read Luke 2:1-20. As we close in on what we call Christmas day, let’s share this with everyone. Wish all you have contact with, a Merry Christmas. Please do not take offence when someone posts, or wishes you a happy holiday, or season’s greetings. Instead, thank them and wish them peace. Let the groups who find it necessary to expel energy on choosing to not believe, to muddle through as we celebrate. For those who scoff at the Bible, let them then pray for them. Yet, show them by your actions, that Jesus, this little baby, can make a difference in your life, if you only let Him.

          You see, we who believe will walk through this hectic season with anticipation of a miracle. The pressure of the gift race will have no effect on us, for we will celebrate in a week that God thought so much of mankind that He sent His son to be born among us. Who but God, could have planned that one baby would be born, and change the world forever? This gift, unmatched in history was, and is, to be given to all mankind, so please share Him with everyone you meet. Prepare your home, your heart, and your spirit to receive Him. I can only imagine how this unfolded so many years ago.  I can only imagine.

          Mike Shindruk

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Making Room for Jesus

          During our church service this past Sunday, a video and song was presented to us that asked the question. Have you made room for Jesus, and is there room for him?  The song writer, toward the end of the song, states that yes, they have indeed made room for Him. This simple request set my mind in motion, and my heart in gear. I’m sure those in attendance left that evening answering that. It is a simple, yet challenging question. It is not made to make us feel bad, yet it is intended to have us take honest stock of ourselves. The message in the song, I’m sure is to try and reach those who have yet to have Jesus in their life.  As well it boldly challenges those of us who profess our faithfulness to Him.

        Regardless of the season, whether it is Christmas, Easter or even a time when we’re in a valley, there should always be a chair at our table for Christ. To ask Him into our lives and world, only when we’re in crisis is worse than the time of His birth when Mary and Joseph were told there was no room at the inn. At least during that time, with all the mayhem of the census in Bethlehem, no one knew he was to be born among them. We, in our modern age have the advantage of the history of truth that He was born our Savior. The very Bible we read tells us that fact in Luke chapter 2. Simply put, we know better.

      We need to make room in our lives for Jesus. It’s easy to do. Plan to attend a Christmas concert, a church service. Give a little of yourself to someone who needs a pick me up. Talk Him up to anyone. Remember that Christmas means Christ for the masses, everyone. Yes we all have lives, some busier than others, yet there can always be a place of honor in there for the very one who was sent to us as a perfect gift. I remember watching The Walton’s in the nineteen seventies, and regardless of their circumstance, or numbers, there was always room for one more at their table. There was never a meal taken where a prayer of thanks wasn’t offered up to God. Some of the best life lessons were shared during that series, and good lessons never become outdated.

     I encourage everyone to examine themselves this Christmas season. Set aside the activities that keep us busy as we celebrate the very one who we may not have readied a space for. Make room at your life table for the same Jesus that we honor on our Christmas morning.

Mike Shindruk

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Bring On the Peace

          As I chatted with a friend this week at work, we were commenting on this thing called Black Friday and how it seems like people are already conditioned to spend money on gifts for no apparent reason. I recounted to her about purchasing a couple of large containers of water from a local big box store. As my wife and I entered, we were immediately bombarded with the static din of aggressive shoppers, all armed with shopping carts. As we waited patiently in line for what seemed to be an eternity, not really, we felt the stress of everyone around us as they clamoured and jockeyed for position so as not to miss something. We were finally able to breathe once we retreated to the quiet and sanctuary of our vehicle.

           My co-worker, a great spiritual ally and teacher preacher, reminded me that it was like that in Bethlehem when the census was ruled to happen, in order for the Romans to flush out the messiah. She described that the confusion of people from everywhere were trying their best to make it back to their birthplace, Bethlehem in order to comply, out of fear. Can you just imagine the noise, confusion, stress, and worry that would be taking place? Instead of shopping carts and short fuses, there would have been donkey carts and Roman soldiers.

          Yet in the midst of all the chaos, Mary and Joseph and their meager possessions were able to find peace and quiet, once they removed themselves from the mayhem. Now just imagine, there they were, alone. Only they knew who she was to give birth to, Jesus, Emmanuel, our King, The Prince of peace. It was all to happen in perfect peace. That, is the peace we need to carry everywhere with us. In this time of misguided values of gift purchases because the world says so, we need that peace. I encourage everyone to extract themselves from the stress of expectation that going into financial debt to show love for someone, is what Christmas is. Resist the deception that Christmas is a time for gift giving.

           Let us all realize that the true gift is the peace we have already been given by the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Bring that peace to your workplace, your dinner table, your family and friends, and to your church body. Love your neighbors, family, and spouse, as yourself, knowing that true peace, His peace will surround you if you let it. Count those blessings, instead of your leftover pocket change. In other words, bring on the peace.

Mike Shindruk

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The Sum of Many Parts

          As I write this, I am cooling down from a concert that our Gospel group presented at Salvation Army Corps, Westville. We have sung there many times over the years and have a special bond of fellowship and friendship with this body. We have been honored to have presented the Gospel in song at many other churches throughout the county. I mention this, only to demonstrate how we are the sum of many parts. We are all a reflection and a piece of the people we have contact, fellowship, and live with. We may meet in different buildings, yet we belong to one church, God’s. As we go through life we are all massaged into the person and people that Jesus wants us to be. He does that by His messages from the pulpits, through the music of every worship team, and by the face to face interaction between us all.

          Just as in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 where the scripture talks about the body of Christ working together, each of us are made up of the parts of others in our make-up. The traits we acquire are a result of who we hang with. My dear mother taught us a saying from a very young age. She said “show me your friends, and I show you your future”. This is so true, even today. When we connect through Christ if one gets a cut, another bleeds. When we pray, someone is lifted, and when agree that Christ is our only Savior, than we are all a part of the body of Christ.

       Some of us will be pastors, some will be singers. Some will lead Bible studies, and some will be prayer warriors. Some will greet at the door, and others will be content to work behind the scenes. When this is assembled, regardless of where we fellowship, then church happens. Church is not a building, rather a gathering of like- minded believers. When all of us allow our hearts and heads to get beyond man made religion, and into God made faith, then all of the parts of the body of Christ come into alignment.

          We are the sum of those parts. I am part of you, just as you are a part of me. We are all separate and unique, yet woven together like a fine tapestry. So, when we attend a concert, or church service, look around. Look closely and you will see how God has put you together, one part, one person at a time.

Mike Shindruk

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Incomplete, Ineffective, or Inconspicuous

           If you feel that you’re incomplete, ineffective, or inconspicuous, you’re in good company. If we were all brutally honest, we are but that’s okay. We are all incomplete because God is working on molding and shaping us into what He sees us to be. Each of us, are in a uniquely personal place in Christ. Although we follow Him, we are separate in our walk and understanding of His purpose for us. I liken it to a masterful jigsaw puzzle where the box doesn’t tell us how many pieces there are, or show what the finished image should look like. Regardless of age, when we think of our journey with God, having a feeling of being incomplete should bring us some degree of comfort. It tells us that He is never finished with us.

   As far as being ineffective, I’m sure that feeling comes and goes like the tides. When we wonder if our own efforts and contributions really matter, we are both tempted, and rewarded. Satan would have you think that believing in a God that we can’t see is pointless, let alone serving Him. Yet, God rewards us with the peace of knowing that Satan has to fight every day for any victory of our failing. That my friends’, is where we are most effective. Whenever we come along side someone and lift them up, God wins. When you are lifted up by someone’s prayers, you win, and when we do what we can to feed our “spirit-man”, we all win. I believe that those who signed up to serve our country to fight for our freedom, went knowing that even one person’s effort would make a difference. So you see, regardless of how or what we do in service for the Lord, we are never ineffective.

     Feeling inconspicuous may not be so bad. God allowed Jesus to arrive that way in order to evade Herod. He lived as a human, relatively inconspicuous, until God’s chosen time for Him to begin His ministry. God’s plan was to have Jesus be one of us, among us. His ministry was never self-serving, it was God-serving. In this age of social acceptance and self-admiration, it is easy to be offended when we are not noticed by the world, so be inconspicuous is uncomfortable to most people. We’re not the Pharisee, so anonymity in serving our King should feel like a warm blanket. So now I hope you have a better understanding of how the thoughts of being incomplete, ineffective, or inconspicuous may in them-self be a blessing in disguise.

Mike Shindruk

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The Needs of the Many

          As we come into the month of remembrance to those who served, and are now serving for our country, I am reminded of why. My understanding is that they enlisted and went to serve so that we would have a better life and future. I had uncles who fought and served both overseas, and here in Canada. I have friends and relatives who also served, and who are now serving, and I never take that or them for granted. We should all feel a sense of pride for those who have chosen to stand between us and any enemy Beit foreign, domestic or spiritual. Each of them made a decision to serve and protect those who they don’t even know. They were and are, willing to sacrifice themselves for us. It’s the greatest gift that anyone can offer another. If you ask yourself why, I believe the conclusion you will come to is simple. It would be for the needs of the many.

          I am reminded also of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. Jesus knew what His destiny was. He knew what would befall Him as He spoke God’s truth even though it flew in the faces of the Pharisees and the Roman law. He rose to the call from the Father willingly and never wavered in His obedience. He had no military uniform, yet wore the full armor of God. He lived Ephesians 6:10-18 long before the book of Ephesians was even written. Jesus had no officer giving Him orders. He simply obeyed Father God’s instructions to come to live and die among us and for us. Like those who we honor in remembrance, He obeyed the Father and went willingly into battle and to the cross for the needs of the many. This selfless act of love has been unmatched in history and I’m sure it has been the model for many who have signed up to serve.

          I draw a comparison only as an illustration. As noble as the sacrifices of our military, police, firefighters and all who serve our community and country is, we must never forget Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. He died, so we may have life eternal. Those who have died in service for our wellbeing, I believe have been given their reward in heaven. So my friends, as the sun goes down let us all remember them. And as another day dawns let us also remember Jesus’ sacrifice for all of us, who are the many.

Mike Shindruk

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When God Isn’t Enough

          Sometimes, our situations and challenges are just too much to carry on our own. We endure personal setbacks in our health, finances, relationships, and yes even our faith. When we attend church service, are surrounded by our faith family, then encouraged from the pulpit, we leave with a full cup. We should always come in empty, and leave full, come in broken, and leave healed. Most of the time this happens, yet there will be times when one service isn’t enough to heal everything. In reality, it’s not meant to be. It’s important that we repeat, repeat, repeat.

          Lately, our family, like many others have been attacked in our health and other ways, and it seemed like praying to God is just not enough. Perhaps, it’s not. I believe that is why He has sent us our faith family. We are encouraged to ask God for everything, as He is, and will always listen. I believe that with every fiber, yet our faith family are the tangible beings we can call on. They are exactly who we must run to, fellowship with, and pray with when we are overwhelmed. God has given us the gift of fellowship and He encourages us to meet with one another in good and bad times. In Hebrews 10:24-15 NCV, we are encouraged this way. Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming.

       My family was blessed these past weeks as our pastor, fellow prayer warriors, and all of our faith family obeyed these scriptures. The elements of our situations are many, yet our people have surrounded us, like they do for everyone. We have been blessed beyond measure, and know that you will also be blessed in your situations.

  Continue to look to the heavens for help, and believe that God has surrounded you with His gifts of people who will lift you in His stead. Please understand that He listens to the cry of your heart, and has warriors in place to be with you. They happen to be sitting beside you in the church service you attend. Perhaps there are times when we think that God is not enough. In these times, call on your brothers and sisters in Christ. The hand they lend will be the one holding you to the Father.

Mike Shindruk

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Prayers and Promises

          As I sat to write this message, my ears could not help but pick up the sounds of play by play federal election results. As our country sat and waited for whatever changes would be un-vailed, my mind kept offering up a little prayer. I was simply asking God to keep His hands on everyone. As my wife and I voted in the early hours, I asked God to simply guide my conscience. I had to put my faith in a Father that would oversee an event much larger than any of us individually. Unlike the Bible days, we are now governed by elected representatives.  Regardless of individual beliefs or parties, we must pray for the office of, as encouraged a few years ago by a guest speaker. There is a time when we have to hold in prayer, the very ones who would hold office on our behalf.

          These are complicated tumultuous times with many man made obstacles and problems. Jesus, in many places has been removed from the equation. Faith in God is being replaced by science, politics, addiction, and idol worship. Our world seems to be so preoccupied with self-promotion and a feeling of entitlement that the word of God, or the name of Jesus, is unrecognizable. Yet, I believe that all is not lost. Small church bodies like ours are dotting our landscape and as the worlds trappings let people down, God’s voice is becoming stronger. He is winning hearts of people, one soul at a time. We will always have instances where our faith will be put to a test, yet if we remain steadfast in the power of the Christ, then Satan and the world loses.

        Jesus’ ministry began when He was about thirty years old and lasted a mere three years. During that time He made more of an impact on the world than any elected official could ever do. He had no social media to rely on getting His message out. God knew that coming to earth in human form to live and die among us and for us would be a message that no politician could ever deliver. God’s promises to us are more than words in a book or on a stone. He gave us John 3:16, and John 14:16. Simple yet challenging if we embrace these scriptures, then we have already won more than any election promise could ever give. Let’s make Canada great again. Pray for the leaders of our country, and put God back in His rightful place, front and center of everything.

Mike Shindruk

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I Was Hungry, And You Fed Me

          This past week, my wife and I had to be in Halifax for a medical appointment. Heeding the standard instruction to be registered about thirty minutes before, we calculated a departure time from our home. Armed with gas and a cup full of coffee, we set out. As we traveled, we noticed that everywhere we went, traffic was in our way. Other than navigating some unfamiliar streets to find a parking space, we made it in perfect time. We were looked after immediately and the appointment, only took five minutes.

          As we were exiting the hospital, a young man, who was sitting on the sidewalk called out and asked if we could buy him some food as he was hungry. Without hesitation, we stopped, turned to him and said yes, as no one should be hungry. I must admit that the look of surprise on his face, and the quick response by him shocked us both. I don’t know how many people ignored or passed by him, but when God says do something then we need to do it. His age may have been around the same if not a bit younger than our own sons. He held a bundle which was probably what he owned. After spending a few minutes with him as he hastily chose a few items, we exchanged first names, a quick handshake and we were gone.

          Upon leaving the hospital, a driver waved me out into traffic, then we drove almost six blocks without a single vehicle in front of us onto the bridge. The sun was out, and the temperature was warm as we both breathed a sigh of relief from being so well looked after. On the way home, we stopped for supper, and was seated immediately, and waited on, just before a tour bus landed. As we shared our meal, we chatted of God’s grace on us that day. We were blessed by a friend’s prayer for safe journey, given perfect traveling weather. The appointment went better than expected and we were able to show God’s love to a stranger. We’ll not soon forget his name, or his face, just as Jesus cannot forget our names or our faces. When we ask Him for anything in a time of need He will respond. When He responds immediately, we too will have the reaction of that hungry young man. We’ll jump to attention and never forget where our help came from.

          Today, listen as He leads you and prepares your day. Pay His grace and kindness forward without thinking. After all, it may be Him that you see sitting on a cold sidewalk one day.

Mike Shindruk

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He Has You Covered

          Last Sunday I received an e-mail from my pastor, and she was marveling at the early morning frost that covered everything. With the stillness of the air, and the sun gleaming down, she likened the view as if God had sprinkled diamonds on everything.  She said it reminded her of how God covers every single square inch of the earth, and our lives with His care and love. As I listened to her message in church that evening, I just could not release that image from my minds’ eye. How true, that frost does indeed cover every imaginable surface, but for a short time. As each day warms up, the frost will simply disappear without anyone giving it a thought. What fascinated me about this is that frost eventually melted and the earth would absorb the gift of water.

          I likened this to how God indeed covers us. Each day we wake, He has given us another chance at life. He has clothed us with His armor, and covered our day with His protection. He gives us a thousand things each day to view as His message, that He is real, and not dead. It’s up to us to look for and recognize them. When we do, we will find that His influence will soak into us like the frost does to the ground. And like the frost, His soaking in will be gentle, and for the most part, un-noticed, yet it will still happen.

          When we are in any struggle, we should ask for His presence. In Luke 11:9-10 NCV, Jesus is answering a question of how to pray. He says this” So I tell you, ask and God will give to you. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. When we know and understand this scripture, we will see how God will cover us just like the early morning frost of last Sunday. And just like the melting, His assurance will soak into us.

          The days of autumn will give each of us a reminder of His covering. His word, as in Luke, will confirm what He pours into you. So watch now for the next frosty morning and be reminded of just how much He has you covered for that day. Then as the sun warms your face, let His presence soak in.

Mike Shindruk

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When Jesus Calls, We Should Answer

          In this day of instant communication, it’s pretty easy to accept or ignore a call from someone. Social media has created the tools of instant connection, and connection avoidance all wrapped up in a neat little bundle. We crack open our Facebook page at the crack of dawn, just hoping someone out there on our friends’ list will be chomping at the bit to chat. A private message or a friend can be ignored or deleted without them knowing which allows us to build a wall around us, and for what? We can watch the promises of political candidates, or scroll by if we don’t like what they’re offering, then be mad at them when we cast a ballot being uninformed. We can send a birthday wish to people we don’t know, hoping our list will get longer, and yes, place the never ending selfie with bathroom fixtures in the background.

           My point here is we are losing our ability to connect with each other intimately, face to face. Time spent just having a coffee and conversation is being eroded and replaced with tired eyes and sore necks from staring at screens. I am as guilty as anyone at times when it comes to this as the internet is as powerful a drug as any script for the flu.

          Now here’s where Jesus comes in. He needs no internet to call because He’s right now sitting next to you. He sees and knows what you post, and what you think. He’s sitting with your elderly parent who is alone, and if you are the elderly parent, you’re not alone. Each week I write about His being ever present with us and each week He gives something new and different. He whispers His encouragement in our situations, and is the very first to sing our praises to God when we please Him. He needs no page to spread His gospel, just ordinary people like us. He has no ego to be constantly asking for admiration from strangers, yet He offers himself completely when we call. He answers every message, in His own way and will never ignore a request or prayer. He has no selfies, because, well, He doesn’t need them anyway. We’ll find out what He looks like when we meet Him.

          You see friends we may crave the attention and adoration of the world, because that is what is fed to us. Jesus craves only our love and affection, because He offers us a banquet beyond all understanding. The communication systems we use are not all bad, but can be if it’s the addiction we’re on. Try and curb the appetite for self-promotion, and answer Jesus’ calling. After all, He’s just sent you a private message, don’t ignore it.

Mike Shindruk

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His Words, Their Voice

          As I write this message, I am struggling with the aches, pains, and loss of energy of fighting cold/flu symptoms. What started with a sore throat quickly became a fight for every breath, and the continuous coughing has robbed me of any meaningful sleep. It’s interrupted my life this week. Yet, even in this I have heard the sweet sounds of God’s voice, or rather the voices He used to tell me I am His beloved. From the house call of a physician friend to examine me late at night, to the prayers and phone calls from my church family, He tends to me. From my wife’s tender touch of a scalp and back rub and a home cooked meal, He covers me. In the sweet voice of my mom who called just to check in offering soup for the soul, and ending a phone call with the words that she loved me very much, He will heal me.

         I tell you these things because He does that for each and every one of us. I just happened to pay attention to the many ways He tells us we are loved by Him. It seems to me that God is forever trying to communicate His love and care for us, but in our own situation we don’t always hear Him. The busyness of our lives, the volume of the world, and yes a heath issue have a tendency to deafen us to His care. I am reminded that it is exactly in times like this that we look up and search for Him. He already knows what our situation is and is waiting for the invitation to settle in and surround us. Look for him in all things, not just the good things. Don’t worry about what anyone else says or thinks when you give thanks.

        You may even have somebody ask you if you really believe what you’re speaking or praying about. Plant your faith feet and say yes, absolutely. I had an earthy father who I can speak to any time. All I have to do is picture him in my mind’s eye and memory and he’s there. Even though I don’t know what he looks like, I can do the same with my heavenly Father. I know that when someone calls to pray for me, that it’s His words to me that I hear. When I am tended to by my wife, I know it’s His healing power that is in her hands. So you see that even the simple thing like fighting a cold or flu can bring you closer to God. The breaths you take in between the coughing are the ones He sent you to say my child, I too love you very much..

Mike Shindruk

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The Greatest Thing

          In our church services, we sing a song entitled, The Greatest Thing. It is a chorus piece where the main line goes like this. The greatest thing, in all my life, is knowing You… then Loving You… and serving You. It is a very soft melodic repeat that allows the singers and listeners to close in with Jesus. Once you hear the choruses, and pay close attention to the lyrics, you can clearly get a most powerful message. If you get to know God, you will get to love Him, and then you will want to serve Him. It is such a simple song to follow, yet it draws you near to the Father in ways that defy explanation.

          This week, I viewed this in action. A friend had to let her mom’s hand go to be with Jesus. Her room was made ready, and He came to take her to her new home in our Father’s mansion as promised in John 14:2-4 NCV. Jesus says,” there are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so you may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. She had a faith walk, and as her time drew near, she told her family she wanted to go to heaven. This was a clear message that she knew Jesus. She knew where she was going and her love for Him was enough for her to go with Him. She expressed love for her children and for a close companion friend of over twenty years, and a son who both were waiting on the other side. She left behind a legacy of kindness and a spark for life that showed she was a true and faithful servant.

   In this, I saw the greatest thing, in it’s entirety. My observation was of many ways that we all can know, love and serve the one and only true God. Watching a life well lived with family and friends around us we should have us believe that God is well pleased with His children. It’s a simple phrase in a simple song yet gives such a wonderful message. Ask yourself if your life fits into these words. Would you like to know Jesus? Answer yes and you will fall in love with Him. That love will open the door to wanting to serve Him. Yes, such is the greatest thing in all my life.

Mike Shindruk

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Where There’s Hope

          This past weekend, Eastern Canada experienced a significant storm. Hurricane Dorian rolled directly over Nova Scotia like a well- placed dart on a dart board. For almost two weeks we watched from the relative safety of our homes as it ravaged our neighbors to the south. As it made land fall here in Nova Scotia as a category two storm, it quickly lost its’ bite and within a hundred miles it was mere tropical storm with high winds, some rain, and moderate personal damage. Our county experienced power failures, but they were really a mere inconvenience compared to others in our provincial capital of Halifax.

          One could only wonder, why? Those of us who pray at times like this will credit God for calming the storm. Others who are less faith-filled, or sceptical will credit geography as breaking it up. Regardless of opinions or belief, the reality is, not a single fatality occurred in our Maritime Provinces. To me that is God’s grace. Regardless, we should give thanks that we lost nothing of real significance.

          I believe in God and His grace and mercy. I see evidence of His existence, power, healing, and promise each and every day. I have been given a gift of hope by Him. My hope comes in many forms.  My spiritual hope is that there is someone and something waiting for me when I leave this earth. My emotional hope is that my marriage will endure the uncertainties of tomorrow. My physical hope is for mine an my wife’s health to sustain us into our old age, so when we are married over sixty years the simple touch of each other’s hand will have the same effect as when we said our vows. My mental hope is that God will gift us with capacity to love one another and never fall victim of dementia. You see, having a faith walk with God is a matter of believing in someone we have never seen. It allows us to pray about storms that will come and go, whether it is weather, or life. A sense of hope for a place in my Father’s mansion keeps life alive in me.

    There are those who will rely on science and physical proof to make their own determination if there is anything after our time here. I respect that, yet I wonder why our human body is so complex, like the world around us, without having a creator that designed us. These questions will go on forever I suppose. If there is eternity, we believers win, if not, we still win, because we lived a life with hope. Without hope, we will surely fear every future hurricane in our life. Where there’s hope, there’s life and where there is a lack of hope, perhaps there is nothing.

Mike Shindruk

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Faith Over Fear

           As my wife and I sat waiting for a follow up appointment with a surgeon this week, the minutes seemed like hours.  A procedure in the future related to her healing of her breast cancer was on the line, and as we watched for the door to open, a small amount of doubt and fear began to arise.  Was she a candidate, or will they move forward? Until the surgeon actually said yes, we could not help but be tempted into doubting, then it happened. I simply said that God did not arrange the meeting and bring her this far just to allow her to face disappointment. In that moment, we realized that Satan was trying to plant seeds of doubt, but he failed. As the appointment went on, the remarkable details of what we can look forward to emerged. All fear was swept away.

     We felt faith overcome fear. We relied on God to fulfill His promise to be with us always, and we were not disappointed. He allowed us to escape being a slave to doubt. His healing power is much more than anything that the body can face on its’ own. We firmly believe that when we fully and completely rely on His grace, that He rewards His children. We prayed, not for the wants of a human, but for His touch on my wife’s situation. There will be a fairly long lead time for the next part of her journey, yet we know that He alone will shorten that timeline. Psalm 16:1 NVC says, protect me God, because I trust in You. Psalm 86:2 NCV : Protect me, because I worship You. My God, save me, your servant who trusts in You.

      We are not alone with challenges like this. There are friends who are right now in the midst of health and welfare crisis. It is in times like these that our human frailty will allow us to take our eyes off God, and cry out, why me.  Regardless of status or standing, we will all face the realities of fear. Our spouse may fall into a medical issue, our parents will age and be called home before us, and some will experience the shear devastation of losing a child. These are all things that we cannot control, but what we can do is allow our faith in God the Father to carry us through these things. We have to believe that there is life, after our life here. We will suffer through things, but fear does not have to hold us hostage. If you are locked into a mindset of fear of tomorrow and what the unknown will bring, then I encourage you to read the book of Psalms. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you believe in faith over fear. Keep doing that and watch how God shows you just how right you are.

Mike Shindruk

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Life Will Be Different

          As I spoke to a friend this week whose wife had passed away recently, he began to share his life now without her. He shared that out of habit, he goes home and as he opens the door, he calls her name to share with her. Then, in an instant reality sets in that she is gone and he is now alone. His voice trailing off he says that life has changed, and will be different. This statement speaks volumes to the heart. It was only a few months ago our home faced a health challenge and in a micro-second that same thought crossed my mind.

       Yet, God has a plan. When one life, lived well has come to the end here as we know it, we are promised something greater than we can imagine. It’s natural and human to be fearful of the reality that half of us will face being left alone and knowing loneliness when our mate is called home. What we do to prepare along the way will somehow ease the hurt. Knowing where we will be, and who we will be with will give comfort at the most critical time. Yes, life will be different. Those left behind will mourn, and celebrate if we know that Jesus is waiting on the other side of the door. A life of ill-health will be replaced by life eternal, where chains of affliction are gone. Age will no longer be a burden, as age will not exist.

      Also, when we witness someone accepting Christ into their lives as Lord and Savior, life again will be quite different. A new-ness will take up residence in your mind, body and spirit that only you can experience. Holy Spirit will occupy your soul and the remainder of your life will be a daily transformation. You will still face the ails and problems of human frailty, yet, God’s promise of eternity with Him for believing in His Son and accepting Him will allow you to view the world from a mountain top.

      Psalm 121 tells us where to look for help. Look this scripture up in your own Bible, and stand on that. Our lives can be so much more while we’re here, and our life will be so much more when it’s our time to go. We are never left alone if we have Christ, and although our health will fail, as we hope to grow old, please know that we are only going through a life change. That will give all of us the hope we are looking for.

Mike Shindruk

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Those Two Little Words

          This last weekend culminated in the marriage of our daughter to a wonderful son in law. Our family acquired another son, and his family acquired another daughter. Preparations for the wedding began many months ago, and my sideline observations were of a constant hub of preparation activity. As my wife crafted a mountain of various decorations including the bouquet and halo for our daughter, the groom’s mom was on the other end organizing church and reception details. Our daughter, some three thousand miles away, spent countless hours coordinating things she could not touch. Outside this nucleus were many friends and family members planning their own accommodations and travel.

      All of the preparations would come down to a mere twenty minute ceremony, and ultimately two little words. I will. This statement, although simple in delivery is one of the most personal and important that any of us will make. We are announcing to the world, and God that we are now totally committed to our spouse. My father advised me that when I said the words, that I should mean them. I carry that with me even today. Marriage takes work, and we are given whatever lifetime God has planned to celebrate being husband and wife. Through that journey we will be coached and supported by many people who have gone before us, so we should always learn at every opportunity.

          Choosing Jesus as our personal Savior is very much the same way. When we spend time in our life with Him, we establish a very personal relationship with the one we will spend our life with. In the beginning like our life mates, we know very little about Him. Yet, the more we seek Him, the more we find Him, and the more we find Him, the more we love Him. We sing these lyrics that I borrowed, and they are so true. God has given all of us the gift of His Son. When we fall into a love relationship with Him, we will begin our lifelong preparation to be with Him. Our family and friends will help and guide us, just as in our marriage, and He will choose the day to have us say, I will, to being married to Him. As a bride prepares herself for her husband, so should we prepare ourselves to be the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7 NCV, Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come, and the Lamb’s bride has made herself ready.

     So, just like we prepare the details for our human marriage, so should we be preparing to be the church married to the Lamb, Jesus. Our lifetime of preparation will ultimately come down to those two little words. I will.

Mike Shindruk

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