season

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It’s Time To Get My Golf Clubs In My Car

The other day I put my golf clubs in my vehicle for the season … but I still haven’t used them.

We are now into June and I haven’t swung a golf club yet. … I know there are many people who will only play a couple of games this season, but that’s not me.

In fact, I can’t remember a year when I have not had my clubs out by now.

It usually happens like the hand off in a relay race. There is this zone where the two team mates are running and the one hands the baton off to the other.

For me that’s the time when the hockey sticks get taken out of the car and the golf clubs get put in the trunk.

But this year we’re getting past the transition zone and I’m about to be disqualified.

Well, not really disqualified, but I have a golf tournament I will be in this week and I need to get reacquainted with my driver before that date.

One of the biggest roadblocks is finding a little time between the rain drops that keep falling every other day!

All winter long you look forward to doing things outside and then a spring like this comes along and you’re still stuck inside because of the rain.

Golf and rain have never really gone well together, especially if there is thunder rumbling in the distance.

It’s never a good idea to be close to lightning with 13 lightning rods strapped to your back!

… I remember golfing many years ago with a friend and we were down in a valley when the thunder got loud and close.

We took cover for a while, but then decided we should make our way to the club house. As we were walking up the path out of the valley, I turned to say something to my friend.

At that moment the sky lit up behind him, making him a silhouette, followed immediately by a huge crack of thunder.

At that point we started running for the club house; we just wanted to get out of the target zone before we got hit.

But it’s not just the rain and potential lightning that has kept me off the course this year, it’s also the cool temperatures.

I’ve had that feeling of playing golf when it’s cool outside. If you hit the ball a little thin, you get this vibration that starts in your hands and moves up your arms.

You feel like the cartoon character, Wiley Coyote, who just missed the roadrunner with an iron pan and hit a rock instead, leaving his whole body vibrating in mid air.

Well, that’s what it feels like, and I hate that feeling.

But this week I will be playing, whether I’m ready or not. So I better brave the cold and rain and start hitting a few golf balls before that date.

Here’s the thing: There are things that will happen in life whether you are ready for them or not. So why wouldn’t you get ready for them if you can, even if getting ready is going to mean making some changes? Christ is coming back some day. The thing is we don’t know when. We need to be ready for His return, so why not prepare yourself now? Place your trust in Christ alone for your salvation. Yes, it will cost you, but you will be ready for His return and it will make the perfect transition to the next life.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What transition do you need to make right now? Leave your comments below.

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Thank Goodness The Christmas Season Has Begun

In the United States, Thanksgiving is the indicator that the Christmas season has begun. In my house it’s when the Christmas tree gets put up.

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For some people, they start to get into the Christmas spirit when Advent starts – the four weeks when we anticipate the coming of Christ into the world. In churches a candle is lit, scripture is read and someone says something about the signs that Christ was coming.

Some people get into the Christmas spirit when they see snow on the ground. In some places that happens pretty early in the fall.

Others have that Christmas spirit for most of at least half the year. They start their Christmas shopping then too.

But honestly, I don’t think that any of that is really the Christmas spirit. They’re all just things we attach to a time of year. We like tradition.

Memories are powerful so when we see, hear, smell or touch something that brings back a memory, we relive that event. We can see it again in our mind and it brings some great emotions with it.

So the Christmas spirit has more to do with our memories and our emotions than it has to do with the coming of Christ.

All the generosity and kindness and brotherly love, it probably has its root in our feelings and not in the fact that Christ has come to save mankind.

Maybe the Christmas spirit has nothing to do with Christmas. Maybe we don’t need Christmas at all to experience all the good cheer we have at this time of year.

… Well, before we go too far down that road, we should investigate the real reason we have the kinds of memories we have at this time of year.

It’s this time of year that we identify as the time that God sent his Son to earth. That’s a pretty big deal in itself but not an incredibly emotional, memory-producing event.

What does create the emotional memory is why God sent Christ to us. God sent Christ to us as a gift to save us.

Down through the years people have received this gift of Christ and have been saved from their sins.

So when the time of year comes around when we remember Christ’s coming to us, the memories of the gift of Christ have brought all kinds of warm emotions that have resulted in expressions to others of generosity, kindness and brotherly love.

In our time, we have focussed more on the memory of the caring acts and so we respond in kind.

We attach the memories more to presents, festive happy gatherings, and acts of kindness to one another … but that is pretty superficial and temporal.

The real Christmas spirit should come when we realize that Christ is God’s gift to me, and that by receiving this gift I am forgiven of my sin.

That’s the real Christmas spirit. And that can influence your life and actions all year long. So actually, the Christmas spirit is not part of a season but part of who you are.

Here’s the thing: God sent His gift. If you’ve received this gift, then act like every day is Christmas. If you haven’t received the gift of Christ, do it now . . . Christmas is coming!

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What gets you thinking about Christmas? Leave your comments below.

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Why Barbecues Don’t Last

I know it’s getting late in the season – I’m talking barbecue season – but things are starting to fall apart, literally … and what’s falling apart is my BBQ!

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There are all different shapes and sizes of BBQs out there, ranging in price from around $100 to $2000. But no matter the price, they are all going to last basically the same length of time. In three to five years you will be looking for a new one; it’s just how they’re made.

I’ve had my BBQ for five years now, and it’s actually in pretty good shape. If you looked at it with the lid down you’d think, “You don’t need a new Q; what you’ve got is just fine.”

But when the lid is lifted, and you get to see the grill, let me tell you, that thing is disintegrating!

It’s a cast iron grill and don’t get me started on the maintenance that’s needed to keep these grills in good working order! You need to devote about 40 percent of your spare time just to “season” the grill so that it won’t rust and start to flake off.

I can’t begin to guess how much canola oil I have put on that grill, painting the grid over and over, only to need to do it the next time I pulled back the cover.

I really need a new grill. But when you look at the size of the grill in comparison to the overall size of the BBQ, though it’s a small part, it costs a lot of money.

I would have to spend about $100 to replace it … that is, if I could find a replacement grill!

You see, all the manufacturers have different grill sizes. There is no standard, making it impossible to find your exact size anywhere.

The only thing you can do is get those universal grills that supposedly adjust to fit your size. But I don’t think that’s the answer, either.

The one guaranteed thing about barbecuing is that the grill takes a bit of a beating. You scrape it with wire bristles; you use a spatula to flip meat on it … that grate gets moved from side to side.

Those universal grills they can’t take the workout. They don’t hold the size you adjust them to. After about one use, your universal grill falls onto the burners just because you tried to scrape a bit of stuck on chicken off the grill.

Then there are the burners – they rust out too.

But yesterday I had to roll my barbecue out to the road for our annual street BBQ … one of the nuts on the lid came off and I lost a bolt.

… I may be looking at the season-ending sales on BBQs in the next couple of weeks. I’m just letting you know in advance, Lil.

Here’s the thing: The Christian life is not meant to be started and then left that way. What I mean is you can’t expect your time with God to remain the same without changing. Your involvement in the church will also need some changes over time. Certainly your relationship with God, and how you follow Him will change as you journey with Him. If these things don’t change, you will start to rust and your Christian life will start to decay. We continually need to allow the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into us, and that will mean making changes along the way.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: Have you noticed any rust in your Christian life? Leave your comments below.

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My Hockey Season is Finally Over

We just celebrated Canada’s birthday, and this morning I finally hung up my skates for the season.

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That’s Canada … hockey till July! No wonder some folks down south believe we live in igloos. Those same people probably think we are still skating outside in July.

This is actually the latest I’ve played hockey in several years. There are other things that get in the way, things like golf and mountain biking.

I only have time for so much; something had to give.

I will tell you though, it’s kind of nice showing up to the arena wearing sandals, shorts and a T-shirt … and I’d much rather come out of the arena to temperatures of +25 C with the sun high in a blue sky than -25 C with the wind howling and the snow flying.

It was time to stop; the numbers were getting low. I guess people have other things to do on a Saturday morning.

We only had three aside and two goalies yesterday. It was like playing overtime in the NHL, except we did it for an hour and 10 minutes!

We even made a trade part way through the game, and my team acquired my son in a one-for-one trade.

We made a killing on the trade, and improved our team and chances by a considerable amount.

For the last game of the season, it was nice to be on the same side as my son and set him up for a few goals.

Normally, we are on opposite teams because he refuses to put a white jersey in his hockey bag. … The teams are usually chosen by light and dark sweaters, so he’s on the other side most of the time.

Before I even had kids, I remember dreaming about being able to play hockey with my children when they became adults.

Since I was in my 30’s before we started, I wondered if I would still be able to skate by the time they reached an age where we could play on the same level.

Well, it’s kind of nice now. I just turned 60, my son is 25, and we were able to dangle some moves together that hypnotized the goalie.

Lily has mixed emotions about the end of the season.

On the one hand, I leave to play at 6:30 in the morning so it’s no hassle for her because she’s still sleeping. But on the other hand, now that the last game has been played, I just added all my hockey sweaters, socks and underwear to the pile of laundry … laundry just increased by a few loads this week.

Without hockey on Saturday, I’ll be able to get at things earlier on Saturday mornings – Lily should be happy. She’ll have more of my time to coerce me into projects and tasks around the house.

Then there is some vacation time up ahead and there’s not much room for hockey when the beach is taking up most days.

It’s a good time for a break, to focus on some other things, and do some dreaming of next season.

Here’s the thing: Different seasons or times of year bring different schedules and commitments. In the changes, your time with God can get put on the shelf. As one thing stops and something else starts, be sure that you keep your time with God – that season never ends.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What seasonal activity has impacted your devotional time? Leave your comments below.

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The Season Is Over!

It’s been a long season, but now, in mid April, thoughts are turning to new things suited for warmer temperatures.

That’s right, the hockey season has come to an end for me.

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You might think it’s the end because the NHL’s regular season is over and the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t make the playoffs again this year. … The only good thing about that is that none of the other Canadian teams made the playoffs either, so I’m not hearing the usual spring jokes about the Leafs hitting the golf course early.

The real reason hockey is over for me is that the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs were ousted from the playoffs tonight in the second round.

I’ve been the chaplain of the team for the last two years, so I’m pretty attached to this group. I’ve met with them weekly and attended most of their home games. I know how hard it is for them to be done after having such a great season.

As a team they set several records. They finished first in their conference and also had a decisive win in the opening series of the playoffs.

Now a few guys who have completed their junior careers will have to move on to new chapters in their lives.

In September it won’t be “pick up where we left off”, it will be “start all over and try to prove ourselves once again”.

For me, it’s no more chapels, no more trips down to the arena to chat, no more Friday night games, and no more pizza for the guys … well, at least until next season.

It was a long season but I was willing to go for another month or so. I’ll be out in Calgary in May and I understand the Memorial Cup is in Red Deer this year. I would have gladly driven the hour and a half from Cowtown to see the boys play if they had have made it.

Not now though. It’s all over. I’ll probably have a few more games of pick up hockey before I dry out my equipment for the year. And unlike some people in Canada who will not be watching the NHL playoffs, I will.

I don’t just watch hockey because I like a team; I like hockey, therefore I will watch it.

I just find this year a little tougher to let go than other years. I had such high hopes for the “Fronts”. I really care about those guys and I know they must be feeling pretty low.

I just hope I get a chance to say goodbye to them before they all disperse to their home towns. I’m so proud of them and all they accomplished this year. … Get your sights fixed on next year!

In a couple of weeks, I will be playing golf and mountain biking and this hockey season will be long behind everyone. We will move on; reset for the fall.

Here’s the thing: You can work really hard for a long time, and then stumble. In the moment, it seems like there is no way forward, that all is a loss. But the Lord is a forgiving God, and He longs for you to come to Him and reset your soul. Don’t stay discouraged; run to God and get moving on a new season.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What do you need to run to God for right now to get moving again? Leave your comment below.

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How To Save Money On A New BBQ

I made a very big mistake three years ago when I bought my last barbecue. It came with a cast iron grate.

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At the time, I didn’t know the difference between the cooking surfaces. I just thought I got ripped off with a cheap grate that wouldn’t last long. My grate needed some help, and by that I mean some oil (not 10W30) spread on the surface to keep it from rusting.

I wished I had a stainless steel grate, or porcelain-covered grate – nothing sticks to those surfaces. As for my cast iron, everything stuck to it.

And this year when I popped the top on my BBQ, the grate was all rusty. I figured it needed to be thrown out.

But not so fast … I learned something that not only saved my BBQ, but may save yours as well.

You see, you can’t just go out and buy a new grate for your BBQ. No – the manufacturers have plotted together –  the best you can do is get an adjustable, fit-all-sizes-of-cooking-areas grate. … They are useless; don’t bother buying them.

The manufacturers just want you to buy a whole new barbecue. We should all be buying stocks in Weber, Napoleon or Broil King – it’s a good racket.

Actually, I found out cast iron grates are arguably the best. But wouldn’t you know it, the guy who doesn’t like maintenance gets the grill that needs the most maintenance.

The instructions called for my grate to be seasoned. My first thought was to sprinkle Montreal steak spice all over it. But that’s not what they meant.

I found a youtube video from Ballistic BBQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8sRDwbYra8) that showed me what to do and why. The video is 13 minutes long but worth it for me.

I found out the oil needs to bake on to the grill like a protective coating. And to get that coating, you have to apply the oil many times.

So I scraped, washed and towel-dried my grate. Then I started to apply the oil. I used peanut oil like the guy in the video suggested, but you can use canola oil another high heat oil.

It took me two and a half hours, keeping my BBQ on low heat and applying the oil every half hour. When I was done that grate was black and looked totally coated.

… Except I’m not really done. I now have to keep it up! When I finish cooking on my grill, I have to put some oil on it. And when I go to grill the next time, I have to burn off the stuff I put on last time and put a fresh coating on again.

The nice thing is the meat doesn’t stick. It’s like trying to catch a greased pig; the surface is all slippery-like. For a guy like me with an aversion to maintenance, this is a challenge but one that I think I will try to maintain, if you know what I mean.

Here’s the thing: There may be times when you think that you have failed so badly that God would have no recourse but to get rid of you, like a rusty grate. But God can recondition you and season you for ministry, if you’ll let Him. Why not allow Him to apply His treatment to you?

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What has kept you from letting God recondition your life?

I’d really like to hear from you; leave your comment below.

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What To Do When Life Becomes Frustrating

 

This time of year is a little frustrating for me. This past week was the start of the spring hockey session and so they have reduced the ice times available for me to play.

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That’s not all that bad because I have been eyeing my mountain bike lately and getting the itch to get out on the trails. The problem is the trails aren’t ready to be ridden, and they won’t be in the foreseeable future. With the amount of snow we got this year, it’s going to take a month to get rid of it all unless we have some really warm weather in the next week or so.

So I’m stuck right now; I can’ t play as much hockey and I can’t do any biking yet. That means more TV watching … which could be a good thing because the NHL playoffs start soon.

But since my team isn’t making the playoffs this year, my interest in watching will be less than riveted.

This spring is like a perfect storm for me.

I might have to get out my trainer and do some pre-season biking on it. If you don’t know what a trainer is, it’s an apparatus you hook the rear wheel of your bike to that let’s you pedal your bike with resistant … all in the comfort of your basement, without actually moving.

It’s not that fun. If my wife would let me buy a rowing machine, that would be more helpful. But she keeps wanting to purchase new furniture for our home, so getting a new piece of exercise equipment isn’t happening soon around our place.

Not that I really need to exercise at all. If I gain ten pounds having to watch the Montreal Canadians in the playoffs while drinking Dr. Peppers, I’m sure that’s no concern to Lily as long as she finds the right end tables for the living room.

I know this in-between season will end at some point, but being right in the middle of it gives me no real encouragement and hope at all.

All I can do is watch the buds on the trees start to break forth into leaves. But you know what watching tree buds is like – it’s like watching paint dry; it’s that exciting! Or it’s like watching water boil; it never happens while you’re watching.

Right now would be a good time for a trip somewhere. There are lots of places I would like to go. I saw bits of a travel show the other day to Key West, Florida – that looked like a nice spot to visit.

I do have a trip I’m taking this week. I have meetings in Toronto – well, almost Toronto. The meetings are actually in Whitby. It’s no Key West but at least it’ll take my mind off the frustration I have here.

And my weather app says it will be a few degrees warmer there than here. Whoopee!

Here’s the thing: We all get frustrated at times. We can be frustrated at work; we can be frustrated on the home front. It might even be that we are frustrated with our recreation or hobbies. That’s when temptation will raise its ugly head. You will find yourself tempted to serve yourself with some kind of pleasure. That’s when you need to seek the Lord for strength and protection against falling into temptation. Be aware and protect yourself, because it’s in that frustration that temptation will come calling.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: How do you deal with temptation when you’re frustrated in life?

I’d really like to hear from you; you can leave a comment below.