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Hi everyone!

“How’s the weather?” It’s a question I’m sometimes asked by friends from overseas. The answer is always the same - a bit of rain, a bit of sun. It’s Vancouver – beautiful, changeable.

“How are you doing?” That answer can vary from ‘fine’ to ‘under the weather’. Right now, my wife is under the weather, I think she caught it from our grandkids who seem share various cold bugs back and forth with abandon. It’s (grand)parenthood – beautiful, changeable.

I had my turn last week. After attending the CBWC Assembly in Calgary with Pastor Ken, Sandra Sharma, and Ken Davis – where we caught up with many old friends in the denomination and learning a thing or two, I was marvelling at how punctual my flight back to Abbotsford was. In an age of delays, postponements and even cancellations, I was feeling the blessing of travel mercies.

And then I got sick on the plane. I could feel it coming on quickly and hard. I don’t know about you, but when I’m under the weather and feeling sorry for myself (in a uniquely male sort of way!) I tend to reflect on my relationship with, and the characteristics of, God. Perhaps it’s that enforced time to be quiet and still. It’s led me all the way to last night’s Bible Study with the 20/20 Community (no, you don’t have to be in your twenties to attend! It’s ‘hindsight is always 20/20’ … we look back on our lives to discover afresh that God has always been there, with us. It’s reflected in our lives today and in the ancient Word).

Last night’s study considered the stages of following Christ: Believe, Receive, Become.

A bit like my plane journey home. First, I have to believe in aviation, that planes actually fly. Second, I have to receive the ticket and boarding pass. Third, I can arrive and become part of the family at home once again.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” - John 1:12

Believe: This is the first step. Examine the evidence for Christ - His existence, His ministry and miracles, His substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection. And believe, usually intellectually at first. One compelling reason to believe is that we cannot imagine the apostles willing to go to their deaths on wishful thinking alone. It doesn’t happen. Only when it is the truth do we witness such things.

Receive: Having believed the Word of God, have we received? What’s stopping some of our loved ones from receiving Christ, asking Him into their hearts? Sometimes it’s the word “sin”. It can be an emotional word and it may be difficult on our own to admit that we are all sinners and that we need a Saviour. Sometimes it’s fear – a reticence to give up our lives, abstain from this and that, and generally follow rules and try to ‘earn’ our way into heaven. In all cases, we have to have the courage to wait upon the Lord as He strengthens us. To wait upon the Holy Spirit’s friendship, guidance, and counsel. For us to finally and fully able to declare that “Jesus is Lord”.

Become: Then, and only then, do we receive the right to become ‘children of God’. Part of the family. Sitting around the table and eating together.

My prayer is for you to have a blessed week, pondering the Lord’s plan, love and invitation to you and your loved ones. So that you may be able to look around your dinning table and see children of God, much like we can do at church this Sunday, during the meet and greet, fellowshipping with other children of God.

God bless and cheerio for now, family. See you on Sunday.

Neil