Remarkable Living . . . A Fire Eater? (by Peter A. Black)

A couple of days ago our friend Donna turned up at our door with a well-presented 50-page, perfect-bound book. May and I were delighted, since we knew that this work was now published and a copy would be coming our way.

Todd, Donna’s son, is the author and he calls me his editor, although I don’t claim to be an editor, per se. However, I was honoured to work with him collaboratively on his manuscript, and to write the foreword.

Todd managed a food processing plant of a major Canadian meat products company. But in July, 2010 he suffered two massive aneurism ruptures in his brain and also a stroke, requiring intricate emergency brain surgeries.

He and his family began a long, long journey of adapting and coming to terms with a new reality. The simplest task can be excruciatingly difficult, for he remains completely paralyzed down one side. Thankfully, his speech is clear, his intellect intact and his humour sharper than a tack.

Remarkable Living in an Unremarkable World is Todd Charter’s personal account of his journey into those medical crises, through to his current stage of recovery and present focus in life.

The idiomatic language, humour and voice are all his, but so are the passion, commitment and expression of faith in Jesus Christ.

A photo in the book shows Todd, intense concentration written all over his face, indicating his extreme difficulty in taking every ponderous step, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of walking the first of his four daughters down the aisle—at least the last part of it—to meet her groom at the altar.

Nothing could hide the sheer joy and delight rising from his heart, as beaming from ear to ear and glowing cheeks, he embraced his firstborn in a Father and Bride dance at the reception.  (One down—three to go!)

Incidentally, Todd’s wife, Ange, is a niece of Cal Bombay, who served for some years in missions related ministries with (the now late) David Mainse, founder of Crossroads (CTS) and 100 Huntley Street media ministry.

Todd Charters’ desire is that people experiencing trying circumstances will receive encouragement and find hope in trusting God and His unfailing love to lead them through their trials, and that their lives will have deep meaning and purpose.

Volumes, the publisher of  Remarkable Living . . .  doesn’t have the book’s page up yet, so my utilitarian shots of the cover will have to do for now.

The front cover pictures Todd as though he were eating fire, but the back cover hints at an explanation of the front. The caption is in capitals:

WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVE, DO THE FLAMES CONSUME YOU, OR ARE YOU A FIRE EATER?

Good question.

Todd, a Christ-follower, has come to understand that by God’s grace:

“. . . suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5 NIV).

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If you or a friend could benefit from a copy of this inexpensive humour-tinged inspirational story,

Todd Charters can be contacted at:

• toddc640@gmail.com 
• Facebook . . . Todd Charters

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Peter A. Black is a retired pastor  -  well, sort of  -  and lives in Southwestern Ontario. He writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column, P-Pep! and is author of Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart, and Parables from the Pond. ~~+~~

The Powerful Three Letter Word-by Heidi McLaughlin

It’s difficult for me to ask for anything. After all I was raised in a German family where my father helped me build character by telling me to “figure it out.” I didn’t have Google and YouTube to guide me through unknown minefields so I learned to become self-reliant and resilient. 

My first husband taught me to use words and “ask” when I wanted him to vacuum or help out in the kitchen after dinner. It was a magical revelation that saved me lots of frustration and angst. But, I always thought if someone loved you enough they would just know that you need help; why should you have to ask?

The Bible tells us to ask: “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14: 14).  I will never fully fathom the depth of God’s love for me or understand the mystery of prayer.

But if God loves me so much, can’t He just read my thoughts and make it happen?

In the last two months after the sudden death of my beloved second husband, my self-reliance and “figure it out” belief flew out the window.  I needed help with my raw and fragmented life. I had to learn to ask.

“God please help me find someone to shovel my driveway.” God sent a mysterious angel and then a young man who shovelled my driveway all winter.

“God, where is that beeping noise coming from and how do I make it stop?’  God led me to the thermostat that needed new batteries.

“God, please heal my flu so that I can get me onto that plane this Christmas.” God nudged me that I needed to go to the Emergency Ward to discover that it wasn’t just the flu. God sent neighbours, friends and a great Doctor to uncover a more serious health condition that needed to be resolved quickly.

“God, how am I going to start cooking alone in this kitchen?” God sent a friend to stay with me for 3 days to help me organize some meals and renew my desire to create my own meals.

I asked and asked and asked.

“God, how do I find this? How do I fix this?  God help me figure this out.” I still don’t understand why I have to ask, but I know that I do.  Maybe He is trying to teach me that He has the whole world at my disposal, but like a huge bank account, He doesn’t want me to spend it all at once. Maybe He wants me to trust Him so that He can unleash my life in the way He designed me in my mother’s womb. Maybe, He wants me to let go of my stubborn, prideful self-reliance and learn to relax in His perfect plan for me life. 

In this lifetime I will probably never understand why I have to ask.  But I’m glad I do, because I know the One who holds the answers.

Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. Heidi has been widowed twice. She is a mom and step mom of a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her family and special friends.

Her latest book RESTLESS FOR MORE: Fulfillment in Unexpected Places (Including a FREE downloadable Study Guide) is now available at Amazon.ca; Amazon.com, Goodreads.com or her website: www.heartconnection.ca

Conversation . . . How Did We Get To Here? (Peter A. Black)

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Quite often when sitting down to a meal my mental wheels begin to grind along with my teeth and I muse about one matter or another. My Beloved isn’t so keen at such times to put up with my ponderings about current affairs, national concerns and international tensions. She’s especially disinclined to get drawn into theological discussion. “Why can’t we just eat and enjoy our meal without all that serious stuff?” she’ll say.             

One morning recently we were doing that, enjoying breakfast and chatting ‘light-duty’ about ordinary things. Somewhere in course of conversation I slid into serious talk about life, delving decades back, recalling my approach to romance as a young adult.

I was interested in good looks, so attractive appearance played a part. Qualities I’d hope for in a girl included pleasant personality and her holding certain interests in common with me, as well as sharing an active Christian faith. (My wife of almost fifty years sat there, yet amazingly didn’t try to get me off this historical, serious stuff!)

She listened (perhaps politely humouring me), even as I shared how the things I’d valued in a potential life-partner had begun to change. (I wasn’t quite twenty years old at the time!) Did I still hope for those qualities? Physically attractive features? – Yes. Friendly, engaging personality? – Yes. Common interests? – Yes. Committed Christian girl who loves God and trusts in Jesus? – Yes, definitely. These still featured firmly in the desirable mix.




Ca. 51 years ago. Where does the time go?

Breakfast was almost over, yet we (mostly I) chatted on. I mentioned that before we met several specific factors became really important to me. For example: Character . . . character that evidenced wholesome values and a lifestyle that demonstrated them – honesty, diligence, practicality, spirituality, wisdom and grace.

I hadn’t made a list, but harking back I realised that these things and more featured on my radar of hoped-for qualities. (Admitted, I might sound like an arrogant jerk, since in my senior years I’m still no paragon of virtuous maturity; but still she listened.)

My Beloved and I first noticed each other in 1964 in a crowded auditorium – a church youth event. Some friends and I were guest speakers and musicians. I made a point of getting acquainted with her and that led initially to several group event dates.

She was pretty. She laughed and smiled and appeared at ease among her friends, and when engaging with me in conversation I detected a hint of shyness; even that seemed attractive.

Several years ago.

But those other desirable character qualities and values – were they active in her life? During this breakfast conversation, almost 52 years after our meeting, I said, “And that’s what I saw the very first time I was in your home; I saw those qualities in you.” Right then as I told her that, I felt an emotional tug at the corners of my mouth, my eye-rims moistening, and yet I managed to pull a wide grin.

She smiled too, perhaps bemused; maybe slightly uncomfortable. Laughing at the situation, I asked what we’d been talking about that got me onto this candid reminiscence. How did we get to here? Brain-scratching pause . . . Oh – we’d been chatting about neighbours who’d moved away that week, on a sweltering hot sticky day!                    

The non-air-conditioned truck was finally loaded, and May had invited the weary, perspiring family and a couple of helping friends over for lunch and dessert, before they headed out on their five-hour journey. They came and we enjoyed a lovely time of fellowship around the table.

That was quite a circuitous conversational route, yet May’s special qualities featured in our journey.

They still do!

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~ Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart 

~ Parables from the Pond

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The Beatitudes of Christian Writing

Our writing arises from who we are, our character. As Christians our character reflects our commitment to the Christian virtues. Among passages outlining these virtues, the beatitudes occupy a prominent place. Upon reflection, they seem to call me as a Christian writer to:

• Poverty of spirit, the true humility that leads me to admit my imperfections and thus embrace critiques and suggestions for improvement

• Mourning, anguish for my own sins and the degrading influence of evil on the gentle world that God created

• Meekness, a commitment to reject blatant, manipulative self-promotion for a patient, hard-working and open trust in the Lord’s ability to accomplish his will in my life and writing

• Hunger for righteousness, a motivation to write in such a way that readers will themselves long for the wholesome holiness reflected in courageous, sacrificial and kind characters—people who follow the Master—and in articles of a similar nature

• Mercy, an empathy for those who suffer that moves me to do all I can in my writing to inform the indifferent and lift the fallen

• Purity of heart, a single-minded focus on the glory of God and the extension of his kingdom

• Peace, a commitment to promote respect and reconciliation on every level without compromising truth through meaningless appeasement

• Accept misunderstanding and persecution. The patient, humble, godly life (and writing) God calls me to does not insulate me from disappointment, controversy, resentment, outright opposition—and yes, unanswered questions.
  

Obviously, I’ve got an Everest of unfulfilled qualities yet to climb, with God’s help.