This is our son, Deacon Joel Dolby.  He is almost 11 years old. Deacon has Pans or Pandas Syndrome (auto immune disease that affects the brain). Our world got flipped upside down this past January.  Deacon, one Sunday in January, attempted killing himself several times. That's where our journey begins.

Since the thoughts and attempts couldn't stop, Deacon was taken to hospital in London, ON for answers. We were given some, but still something wasn't right. Through some friends, God showed up and opened some doors. Deacon is seeing the leading doctor for Pandas here in Chatham.  Since then, and many appointments later, Deacon is on a ton of meds; always changing due to circumstances. 

This July we had to call the police on our son because of a 4-hour flare up; that was heart breaking. Deacon was getting better and then we had a setback. Everything around us effects our immune system and for Deacon that much more.  Deacon started school in September and now it is being paused. He is in a zombie- like state and can hardly function. 

He has a very important procedure called IVIG in December. This is a blood transfusion to help bring up his immune system. Please pray that a bed opens sooner, so this can happen sooner.  Please pray for our family. I can't explain all the ups and downs, I can't explain the pain and hurt we have all had. But to watch/listen to your son ask questions about heaven because he can't take it anymore; "Dad my head hurts, it won't stop"; "mom, why am I here, what is heaven going to be like, I want to go soon" -- wow, those moments I can't even begin to explain.  

During this last year our faith has been tested but has not failed; my mental state has been tested and affected, but not failed. We've been affected physically from Deacon, but God continues to give us strength.
We've been tested financially. My wife paused her work career for 6 months to give everything to our son, then figured out a way to start 2 new careers and support our son when he was home. Now we are being asked again to trust God completely as our son and school are being paused, and who knows what the future looks like?

Thank you for all who have prayed and continue to pray for our son Deacon.  Please pray for my daughter Nevaeh too, she has been a champ through all of this, and for Sarah and myself for wisdom, strength, discernment, patience -- for a miracle in Deacon's life, for our financial situation and possible future treatments that could assist him.

God is good all the time!  God bless and have a blessed Christmas season.

If anyone wants a look into our lives, watch "Brain on Fire" on Netflix or "Stolen Childhood" on YouTube.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another,
be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
                                                                                                                                              2 Corinthians 13:11

These final words from the Apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth are simple, but powerful. While we might be tempted to overlook closing words, dismissing them as common conventions in ancient letter writing; typical of Paul's letters, his final greetings offer a summary of key messages within the letter.  Here, the Apostle closes this letter with five commands, to rejoice, to seek restoration, to encourage one another, to be of one mind and to live in peace.  Each command speaks to what it means to do live together in the church.  There is an emphasis on oneness, unity, fellowship and harmony and the promise of God's blessing...the God of love and peace will be with you.

You've heard me say many times, 'we are not perfect', we are an imperfect church led by an imperfect pastor.  There have been times in our fallenness we have not got it right, but despite our flaws, Valley remains a church that seeks to live in unity, to bless, to encourage one another.

Over the 15 years we have journeyed together with you, we have been blessed to be on the receiving end of such encouragement.  More recently we have been filled with joy through the cards, notes, emails and verbal expressions of love, concern and gratitude that you have shared with us.  At a time when I've been wrestling with thoughts of inadequacy, feeling like I have not, particularly over this past year, been able to do all I would have wanted to do because of an on-going health issue, your words of encouragement have touched me and Janice in a way words cannot adequately capture.

To read: We are so blessed to have you and Janice her with us!  You are loved and appreciated. We ae so fortunate and encouraged to be able to call you and Janice our friends. Thanks for all the good things you have brought into our lives. Thank you for your meaningful teaching and for being you. Your calling is a blessing from God! and all the other expressions of kindness has truly encouraged both Janice and me.  I find myself echoing the words shared by one of you, The Lord God has blessed you in all the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Thank you for cheering me on, for sharing in our journey as husband and wife and for the blessing you have been to our family; thank you for praying, for understanding and for the grace you have extended, particularly this past year.  Thank you for walking with Luke and Noah through their journey and for celebrating Charlie's arrival!  Thank you for being so good to us, for being to us the church -- I am so glad we are part of the family of God at Valley!

Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2 - The Message)

The Apostle Paul, as he shares his plans with the believers in Rome, appeals to them (urge is a forceful word, sometimes translated 'beseech') to join me... by praying to God for me.  A chapter that begins with words of encouragement for them to be strong in the faith and to build up one another (see Romans 15:1-2), ends with the ask of them to pray for him.  We see this pattern over and over again in Paul's writings.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19-20)

I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. (Philippians 1:18-19)

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (Colossians 4:3)

Brothers and sisters, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 1:25)

For Paul, prayer is his default mode, both asking for prayer and praying for fellow believers.  To the church in Ephesus he writes:  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)   We see a similar focus in his words to the church in Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica and to Timothy and Philemon.

This need for mutual prayer, to be praying for one another, is not only a foundational theological truth of our faith, it is a practical demonstration of the bond of love we share in Christ.  In my role as a pastor, it is my privilege to pray for you, and it is my joy to know that you are praying for me.  This is a season when the prayers of brothers and sisters in the Lord are providing sustaining grace in my life. 

As I wind down my responsibilities over the next couple of weeks and prepare of my summer break, I ask you to pray for rest, refreshment and renewed strength.  James tells us, Tremendous power is made available through...earnest prayer (James 5:16).   May we experience more of His power and grace as we pray for one another in the days ahead.

Please access the Prayer Corner page to stay up-to-date with the prayer needs of our church family.  If you have a prayer request, contact Janet Armstrong or one of our Elders; we would be pleased to pray for you/ with you.

 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.
                                                                                                                                              Ephesians 2:19-20

As we have been looking at Peter’s story, and finding ourselves within his story, a question was raised from our text in week two of this series, in which we looked at Jesus’ encounter with Peter, in Matthew chapter 16; more specifically, His words, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church… (16:18).
 
The question was asked, what did Jesus mean when He said ‘this rock’?  Is He referring to Peter, or Himself, based on Peter’s confession, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God (16:16)?
 
For me, the answer is not either/or, but both/and.  We know that in calling Peter a ‘rock’, Jesus was using a play on words, in essence saying, Simon, whose name means 'stone', will be more than just a pebble; that He will be a rock, that in part, forms the foundation of the Church. There is no doubt that Peter was given a critical leadership role in establishing the early church -- just read the opening chapters of  the Book of Acts.
 
In writing to the believers in Ephesus, Paul would speak of the church as being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets… (Ephesians 2:20). That foundation is their message.  The church is built on the Word of God, given through men, like Peter. God has always used men/ women to declare His message, to advance His purposes.  We have to see the connection between the message and the messengers. But Paul would go on to add, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). In Ephesians 5:23, he would say, Christ is the head of the church (5:23 - NIRV).
 
So, yes, the church is built on the One, Peter declared to be the Christ, who is the Head of the Church. And yes, Peter did have a key leadership role within the Early Church. There is a place for spiritual leadership within the ‘capital ‘C’ church and local church.  We are called to recognize and honor our spiritual leaders, to pray for them as they, as fallen, fallible human beings seek to do the work of the Lord. But we have to be careful not to elevate Peter,  or any other human to a position they were never intended to hold.  Christ alone is the Head of the Church.
 
I hope this gives us a balanced, Biblical perspective on this matter.
 
Thank you for being a people who are attentive and engaged as we teach the truth of God’s Word here at Valley.  

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.
                                                                                                                                                     Galatians 6:9

We all experience weariness in our lives--not simply a measure of physical fatigue, by which we are strengthened by rest, but also a weariness of the soul that can lead to discouragement; that can cause us to lose heart, to give up, to throw up our hands and cry out, 'what's the use'? 

We understand the exhortation to do good, to engage in those things that align with God's Word and God's ways; works that are rooted in love and faith and established in the strength of our Lord.  But doing good can become wearisome.  There is much to be done and often we encounter misunderstanding, opposition and ingratitude, even when seeking to do that which is virtuous, that which blesses others.

In our day, this sense of weariness may well be the great enemy of our spiritual lives.

To combat this weariness we need to run to the One who gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29); the One who promises...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31).  

During those times when we can easily become distracted, weighed down, burdened by the cares of life and just weary, we need to hear the Lord Jesus say to us, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).  There is a divine strength we can find only in the One who leads us to green pastures and beside still waters, who restores our souls (Psalm 23:2-3).

There is also a renewed strength we find in the love and support of brothers and sisters in the Lord as we live out our faith in community.  Paul would say of Philemon...Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people (Philemon 1:7).

As I write these words, I am finding strength and encouragement in the Philemon's of my life.  One friend and ministry colleague wrote to me this week....Thank you for sharing your journey, my friend. I can read in your message a sense of weariness. Ken, I will be continuing to pray here. 

Another brother and fellow minister gave me these words of encouragement...Continuing in prayer.  Thank you for the update.  This is well-doing…don’t be weary of sharing, we are not weary of praying. 

A close friend, who has walked with me for many years offered these words that have blessed me and lifted my spirits...please be aware we see it as a privilege to pray for you and bring your concerns to the Lord.

I read these words and the burden seems lighter.  I reflect on the love and support of family and friends and a caring church family and I am richly blessed.  

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) 

I share this posting, to simply say 'thank you for your friendship'! 

In writing to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul would say:   Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

He would go on to write:  God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  (1 Corinthians 12:24-25)

This sense of oneness/ unity was and still is the mark of the people of God.  The Psalmist would say of God's people: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm 33:1)  The song writer picks on this truth when he writes:  Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.  (John Fawcett)  In a world that has become increasingly divided, where darkness and destruction abound, the Church united stands as a beacon on light and hope, revealing that God has a better way to those who long to find what we have experienced in the Body of Christ.  Therefore, we must do everything to protect the unity of the Church.  Paul exhorted the believers in Ephesus:  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  (Ephesians 4:3)

Paul's words remind us it takes effort to maintain unity; it often calls for us to surrender our own agendas and to put the interest of others ahead of our own.   Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phiippians 2:3-4)  In the world in which we live, this kind of selfless love and concern for others is counter cultural, but then the Church has always been called to live out a different set of values.

In this continued time of uncertainty, when so much divides us, we remind ourselves we are one in Christ.  We choose unity over division, we choose to love and respect, even when, especially when, we do not see eye to eye, we choose a better way, we choose God's way.  My friends at Valley, thank you for doing your part to cherish and protect the bond of love we share in Christ.  

C.S. Lewis once observed...the church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different, (and He rejoices in their differences and by no means wishes to iron them out) must share the common life, complementing and helping one another precisely by their differences.   Though all different, we are all one in Christ!  Paul reminds us, you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)  How blessed we are to be part of the family of God!  

Recently we looked at the words of Heman in Psalm 88, a unique psalm of lament in which the writer expresses a depth of grieve and sorrow that makes us uncomfortable -- it is a Beth Tanner observes an 'uncomfortable psalm'.  It confronts the ways we pray and the ways we think prayer must be done.  It confronts all of the memories we have of dark and lonely nights in our own lives. It confronts the relationship we have with God. 

Though it may make us uncomfortable, this text reminds us that there is a place for lament in our worship, both private and corporate; it give us permission to grieve and to bring our sorrows to God.  It gives a voice to our sadness and points us to the One who meets us in our sufferings and gives us hope.  

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

We wait because we know in God’s Kingdom, pain and sorrow do not have the last word.  The last word belongs to God and it is always a word of great hope.  Even though the dark night of the soul sometimes lasts a long time, though we may feel isolated, even abandoned, we hold to what we know to be true, that we are never alone, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
 
Our tears are precious to the Father and we worship HIm through those tears, as well as in times of happiness.  When we do express our sorrow, we make room for renewed hope and joy, for we have this promise from God's Word, that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31)  

We remind ourselves that Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant has defeated death and the grave; that in Him we are eternally secure, and we look forward to that day when God will wipe away our tears and there will be no more mourning or crying or pain. (Revelation 21:4).  BUT...we are not there yet; in this world we still weep.

Psalm 88 reminds us of these truths and gives us permission to bring our tears to God, it reminds us there is a place in the community of faith to share our burdens and our sorrows, and above al, it reminds usl that there is One we can trust to deliver us.  Therefore, we confess with the Psalmist, Lord, you are the God who saves me. (Psalm 88:1)

I think again of the beautiful words of Carleen Mandolfo, who makes this observation about God and human suffering:  Perhaps God is sitting with His people.
 
Friends, in this season of our lives, we need to learn to sit with each other.  I want to encourage you to make this a time of prayer for; use our Prayer Corner to be praying throughout the week.  Take a moment today to call someone, to check in on them, especially those who are alone and those who are dealing with signifcant health or family concerns; send an message of encouragement, a card or note to let them know you are thinking about them and praying for them; provide practical assitance if you are able to do so and continue to make Valley a safe place for us to share together the ups and downs of life.

Thank you for being a caring and compassionate church!  May God continue to give us eyes to see and ears to listen, that we might be His agents of blessing in a hurting world.

As I write this posting, I am just about to begin my summer break, which has always been a time to rest and renew and reflect.  I anticipate the time off will allow me to slow down and comtemplate the year that has been with all of it's ups and downs.  The familiar words of Psalm 23 speak to my heart...He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  (Psalm 23:2-3)

This has truly been an unprecedented time as we think about the impact of a global pandemic that still presents a world-wide threat.

I think about the impact Covid-19 has had on our family; I don't think I will ever forget the night Scott was taken to hospital, struggling to catch his breath or how scary it was to hear that Riley, at just 4-weeks old was Covid positive -- how grateful we are for the prayers of the saints which saw all of us through that time. 

Thank you for your prayers for Andrea.  Please continue to pray she will be able to carry the twins to tearm.

I think also of the way the pandemic has touched on our church family, the devestating manner in which this virus swept through McKinney Place and then Sunnybank Centre.  I think of friends who have left us during this season, some due to complications from the coronavirus -- how comforting to know that in Christ we will be able to see again, those we could not say 'goodbye' to this side of heaven.

As I look back, I marvel at the grace of God that allowed us to be able to quickly shift from in-person gatherings to an online presence.  Was it just a coincidence that Valley, through Karen's vision, had already began to record our services or Sandra's vision for a website had already been put in place? 

For me this has been a time of learning, be able to adapt and use the technology availalbe to maintain a virtual connect with our people.  We had to, in a matter only a couple of days, pivot to online simulated Worship Gatherings, then back to in-person gatherings, only to have to shift back again to being online for over six months and now back to gahering on-site once again.  We have had to deal with restrictions and limitations and protocols -- how blessed I've been to lead and serve a people who have been gracious and kind and supportive.  Thank you for following the directives of our governing officials, for exercising good judgment and loving concern for one another and our communties!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)  See the Archived Message page for August 1, 2021 for a message on this text.

With all that has taken place over the past year and half and more recently with the wildfires and smoke that has threatend our region, it feels very much like we've been on a never-ending roller-coaster ride, but for me, through all that has happened my faith has more than sustained me.  God's providential care and protection, His grace and faithful love has been the one constant in my life; although I would be amiss if I did not mention how blessed I have been to have a life-partner and soulmate in Janice, who has shared this journey with me for almost 40 years.

In all of this I am reminded of the words from the prophet Isaiah...in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15)  and, those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).

The writer of Hebrews reminds us...We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19)

My dear friends at Valley, may you rest secure in this hope!

The exhortation in Scripture is clear...always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

We cannot escape the responsibility we have to pray for one another. 

On a daily basis, I receive prayer requests, my list seems never-ending and at times a challenge to 'manage'. To complicate matters for me, I have never been a 'daily devotions' person.  While I applaud readings such as Our Daily Bread or other devotional materials and often encourage their use, in my spiritual development I have found a more informal approach has served me well.  I like to read large portions of Scripture at a time and often find myself meditating on particular portions of what I read.  I do use a prayer list and seek to have a daily time of prayer, but I have also found those moments when I am just talking to the Lord to be times of rich fellowship with my God and a meaningful way to engage in prayer for others.

Several years ago I read The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence; it revolutionized by approach to prayer.  Brother Lawrence, struggled with set times of prayer but found his informal times of just talking to God as he served in the kitchen to be most meaningful to him.  My set times are an important discipline, as I work through a prayer list that includes my family, friends, our church family and ministry colleagues and partners, but so too are those moments throughout the day when I just share what's on my heart and mind with God.  In this, I have often been able to incorporate the prayers requests I receive from you and from our mission partners.

I always look forward to reading the updates and emails from our partners and often they will include times of prayer. To honor their ask for prayer, I will often pray as I read their updates or a specific email.  And very often I will respond, 'I have taken this matter to our Lord'.  I also find it encouraging when the Spirit of God brings these matters to mind and prompts me to pray again or to follow up on those things for which I have been praying.  This dynamic strengthens the bond we have in Christ, the partnership we have with our missionaries.

I think of the number of times over the past years when a note has come in from Asher or Don or Mike or Ken or the Baker's or Unger's or Duncan's; times when I have read with great interest what is happening in their lives and I have taken the opportunity to pray for them.  There have been seasons when these friends have faced enormous challenges as they work in a sometimes hostile environment.  It is both a responsibility and a joy to pray for their protection, for God's gracious provision, for a breakthrough or for strength to endure.  I have known the joy of praying for these servants of our Lord and the blessing of knowing they are praying for me.  I have seen God respond in answer to prayer and have had my own faith strengthened in those moments of simply whispering 'thank you, Father'.

In this season of our lives, as we recognize we may not have the physical strength and energy to do all that we once did, we can still pray for and encourage one another. One of the greatest joys we will know as we walk by faith is in doing just that, praying for the people we care about, cheering them on and sharing in the blessing of answered prayer.

Therefore, my friends at Valley...pray for each other. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  (James 5:16)  And take the time to let them know you are praying for them.  A simple, 'I'm praying for you today', just might be that which gives them the courage to go on, to move forward with a renewed sense of strength and hope and joy.  Remember, we never know when or how God may break through in answer to our prayers, but we do know He is faithful and good!

If you hang around Valley for any length of time, you will no doubt hear a phrase that is often repeated, 'doing life together.'   We were created to be in a deep and abiding relationship with our God and with one another.  The community of God’s people is a cornerstone of our faith.  Even a cursory glance at the New Testament will reveal the centrality of the local church, and as you study the early church you will quickly notice that they were committed not just to worshiping and serving together, but to doing life together. 
 
In Acts 2, we are given this description of the early church:  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. (Acts 2:42-44,46-47)   And in Acts 4:32, we read: All the believers were one in heart and mind.  The early Christians understood there was a dependency on one other that created a powerful bond of love and unity in the church.  Sharing life together was not an option, but a necessity for survival.  
 
But how do you do life together in the midst of a pandemic, when physical-distancing and restrictions are designed to keep us apart for our own safety?  I have missed the face-to-face interaction that has been an essential part of who we are at Valley, but I have been blessed as we have found ways to stay connected. 
 
I think of the number of times people have shared what’s happening in their lives as we talked on the phone, texted or emailed, and the times we have prayed ‘together’ even though we can’t be physically together.  I have been blessed in the past few days to have had such interactions; it is a blessing to pastor a people who want to share what is happening in their lives.
 
Those times have been a rich part of this past year.  While there have been some ‘safe’ gatherings/ meetings, we have also had physical-distanced visits and Zoom calls and video connections to stay in touch.  Earlier this week, I had the joy and privilege of sharing in an online ordination and I participated in an online chapel service.  We had gone ‘old school, with cards and notes and long-distance phone calls, all a means to doing life together.
 
As we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic, as we do our part to keep one another safe, and seek to find ways to stay connected, I want to thank you for being the church to me and encourage you to keep doing what you have been doing to minister to one another.  Let us continue to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  (Hebrews 10:24)

​I was just sitting here reflecting on how covid has changed me. What am I going to learn from Covid and keep, as we move forward, and what will I embrace from pre Covid days? There is one scripture that seems to have stayed in the forefront of my mind throughout the pandemic, so I’m going to write from that perspective.
 
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fuelled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.  (Romans 12:11-13 - The Message)


Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fuelled and aflame. ​ The world had come to a stop, and I had more than enough time to stop and smell the roses. I needed outside contact, I needed motivation and purpose to keep going. How was I going to do this?

Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. It was time to set priorities and discover how to bloom where I was planted. It was a challenge.

Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.  This is what I did as I’m sure you did as well. We drew on our inner strength, found ways to be helpful, and learned some awesome creative ways to do those things that were important to us.

I looked up the cliche, "Stop and smell the roses." There were seventy-seven ways listed to say the same thing. I chose seven I could relate to; achieve fulfillment, amuse oneself, appreciate the beauty of life, appreciate the good things in life, be at ease, be at leisure, be in the moment.

My goal became achieving fulfillment while smelling the roses. I’m keeping this goal after the pandemic. Pre pandemic I think I was caught in a vicious whirlwind of achieving fulfillment no matter the cost. It’s more of an attitude change than anything else. My work ethic will be the same but I’ve come to realize that if God gives me a job to do, He will also give me the time and resources to do it. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  (Colossians 3:15-17)

Seems to me that sounds like “trust Me and take time to smell the roses”. I came to a much better understanding of what the church is during the pandemic. I saw so many in Valley choosing their area of interest and making a commitment to make that part of the bigger church continue to function. What we can do is find that small group that we fit into and know that there are other small groups within the church contributing their special attributes to make Valley unique and whole. We don’t have to do everything. In fact there are others, who because of their particular interest, are far more capable than I of doing certain things. We all need to find our passion and bring it to God for his use. Team up with others with similar interests and see what God will do. You don’t need to labour where your heart isn’t. The church has many hearts and everything will get done without you burning out.

The picture will vary for each of you individually. For me, here is what I have learned and where I am headed. I believe we all need personal, close relationships within the church where we can contribute our individual talents. We also need a way to incorporate our Christian values into our daily living so we are constantly evangelizing to our spheres of influence. In my case that would be my family, my church family, my friends and neighbours, and my internet connections. This last one seems strange but I feel it is very important. It is new and it holds great potential for evangelizing and supporting people from a distance. This will be my post pandemic priority.

The Tender Loving Care group (TLC) has been a learning process throughout the pandemic. We tried a variety of formats and it was frustrating at times. However, despite the fact that we did lose some members, we gained new ones. We learned that daily contact and bible studying daily together was a good combination. In fact so good we will keep this format post pandemic. There is a need for a better understanding of the computer and we will teach each other once we can meet in person. We will be ready to reach out to all parts of the world, no matter where we are planted. Isolation is not a part of our future.

Essentially, TLC morphed into what I believe is a small group; a group of people with common interests who meet together to support, encourage and pray for each other. In addition, the group is part of the church and we look forward to being able to join the larger body of Christ each Sunday. Your idea of what the church should be may be way different than mine. Whatever it is, there are others like you. Find them, join with them for support and encouragement and bring your passion into reality. There is room for all personalities and the church is richer for our differences.

I have to admit, I am a bit of a 'news junkie'.  When there is something of significance happening I tune in to get the latest updates; on election day or during times of upheaval or major world events.  So with the declaration of global pandemic and now months of ever-changing dynamics around this health crisis, and with all the drama in our nation and particularly south of the border, I have watched a fair amount of news coverage. 

Perhaps it is a symptom of months of restrictions and the 'powder keg' of social issues we have seen erupt, but it seems to me we live in a culture of complaint.  There is so much negativity, so much criticism and bickering, it's almost depressing to watch the news anymore.  Policticans are tearing each other down, special interest groups are demading their rights, and no matter what positive news comes along, somebody finds some reason to criticize or declare 'it doesn't go far enough'.  And what is perhaps most troubling is how easy it is to get drawn into this almost toxic environment.

From a faith perspective, we who serve the Lord Jesus are called to live life on a higher plane.  The Apostle Paul writing to the church in Philippi exhorts them:  Do all you have to do without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be God’s children, blameless, sincere and wholesome, living in a warped and diseased world, and shining there like lights in a dark place.  (Philippians 2:14 - J.B. Phillips translation)  Eugene Peterson in The Message captures the last part of this text with a call to be a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.

In a culture of complaint, we are called to be a people of gratitude.  Yes, we recognize there are times when we must raise our voice to express constructive criticism of those things that do not align with the principles we hold to in the Word of God, and it is okay to be troubled by some of the things we see in our world today.  But we must be careful not to get swept up in this 'complaining for the sake of complaining' mindset that seems to dominate our society.

Instead, we are commanded in the Bible to give thanks in all circumstances (I Thessalonians 5:13).  Colossians 2:7 exorts us to be overflowing with thankfulness and a chapter later we are told to:  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

Over and over again, we are told to express our gratitude to our God.  The psalmist invites us to give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)  When we pause and reflect on all the blessings we have experienced from the hand of God, our most natural response should be that of worship and thanksgiving.  

As we move this week into the season of Lent and toward Easter Sunday, lets make this a time in which we consciously raise the bar as we choose to give thanks rather than complain, to offer encouragment rather than criticize and to lift up rather than tear down. May we be shining lights in the darkness of our day.

                                          Lights...camera...action!  Well, not exactly. 

With restrictions in place around in-person gatherings, we've had to adapt to provide a virutal presence as a means to stay connected.  I'm grateful that so many of you are accessing our Online Gatherings.  I've heard stories of those in a 'shared bubble' watching together and many of you have taken the time to offer encouraging comments.  

Some have asked about the 'behind the scene' workings of preparing for our simulated worship experince.  If you have been on-site when we record, you already have some insights into how we prepare, but for those who may wonder, let me in this posting, walk you through the processs.

As is the case if we were gatheirng in-person, our worship planning begins with an order of service draft; songs are chosen and other spoken parts such as prayers, readings and annoucements are identified. I have tried to put the same level of thought into the prepartion of these drafts, whether online or in-person.

I've been blessed to have a team of willing helpers with these tasks.  Each piece is recorded separtely and then edited into a larger file that includes the songs you see each week and the message.  John Unger has faithfully served as our 'camera man' -- thank you, John, it has been fun working with you, and we don't have tell anyone about all the 'bloopers'!

The preparation of the music is the most time-consuming part of the process.  Time is spent searching online for songs/ videos that we can use, that also comply with copyright laws.   Most of the videos need to have the words added, which we do through a software program, timing the words to appear at appropriate point in the video.  Some files are created using PowerPoint and converted to a video format.  Each song takes 45-60 minutes to create. I want here, to express my appreciate to my daugher Lisa for her help.  She has created dozens of songs for us -- and she's much quicker than her dad!   We have been able to do more over the last few months as I have learned about what resources and technology is available to us.  We now have a library of 130+ songs .

After creating / pulling songs from our files and recording the various pieces you see each week, I cut and paste and edit each song/ clip to create a video file.  This file then needs to be reformatted using another software program to reduce the size of the file in order to comply with size restrictions on our website.  From this same video file we also create an audio file to be posted.  Once the video and audio files are ready, I upload them to our website and YouTube.  This whole process takes a minimum of 2 hours.  

I understand as we all do, that the gathering is central to who we are as a people of faith and we all look forward to that time when we can worship together again.  As that may not happen for a few more weeks, I want to invite you continue to share in this online experience.  Thank you for adapting with us and for staying connected to each other.  Please pass along a picture or video greeting that we can post online to encourage one another and if you would like to stop by when we record, you're welcome to do so -- just follow our Covid protocols and don't all come at once!!

Please post a comment to let us know about your experience in embracing this 'new way' of connecting.

Let me begin this posting by saying 'thank you'!  Thank you for doing your part to practice good Covid protocols in order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.  Thank you for you support and kind remarks regarding the recent interview I gave on Global BC in which I was seeking to present a more balanced perspective with regard to honoring public health orders, orders which have limited our ability to gather in-person.  I do understand that the gathering is fundamental to who we are as a church, that we are missing the joy that is ours to worship and fellowship together face-to-face.  Thank you for the sacrfices being made for the greater good.

In talking with many of you, I am encouraged and grateful for the way you are staying connected and seeking to support one another.  Some of us are feeling a measure of Covid fatigue, but we must continue to do the right thing until we are able to gather safely -- we need to continue to pray to that end.

This sense of feeling isolated, being tired of the restrictions in place and wanting to return to some semblance of normalcly is very real.  I look back over the past 10 months and would never imagined that we would be unable to gather for almost half of this time.  I think of friends who have gone home to be with the Lord and lament the inablity to have been able to come alongside them in their final days; in the inabitly to celebrate and honor their lives in community.  I think of friends who are even now dealing with health concerns or are just feeling lonely and while it is good to talk or pray with them on the phone, it's not quite the same as being able to sit with them.

With the current outbreak at Sunnybank, Janice and I are being extra-diligent, staying close to home, only being out when necessary. Even though I have worked from home for years, there is a sense of feeling cooped up a times.  And there of times when I lie awake a night thinking about and praying for the safety of my wife and children and for you, my church family.  I have watched, as I'm sure many of you have, all the events that have been unfolding in our nation and in the United States and sometimes I find myself angered by the blatant disregard for common courtesy and decency, the spirit of defiance I am seeing to often on the nightly news--there is just too much criticism and complaining, opposing and protesting; something within longs for a better day.

In all of this, the Word of God continues to bring rest to my soul.  There is great comfort in hearing God say in His Word...in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15)  There is a peace we experience in hearing Jesus say...Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

When wonder, how can we find our way forward, God says to us...Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105).  And so we pray...Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:4-5).

I share all of this with you, to encourage you to stay the course, to hold on to the vision of that day when we can gather again, take off our masks, sing loudly with great joy, take the hand of one another and bow together in prayer and hug one another!  Until that day, lets keep doing our part to lift up the spirits on one another, to comfort and encourage and support each other and above all to pray for each other.

I am so very proud of all of you!  In all that we have had to endure, I am seeing the character, the strength, the very heart of Valley; you are an amazing group of friends, caring, compassionate and generous and I guess I just wanted to say 'thank you' -- I thank God for you.

I received a call late last night from our son.  Scott had just finished a 16-hour shift, Tiffany and Riley were asleep when he got home and he just needed to debrief.  The ICU unit at the hospital where he works was at capacity; Covid patients who would normally be in the ICU were being sent to the Covid unit, which was also full, over-flowing to another floor, and a make-shift unit has been set up in the parking lot. That staff would feel overwhelmed would an understatement.  Adding to the burden of caring for these patients was a phone call to a family member to inform them their loved one was near death.

With the rising death count at McKinney Place and across our province, the alarming numbers south of the border and the staggering case counts and deaths globally, it's fair to say that Covid-19 has dominated our world in 2020.  Add to this pandemic the injustice, violence and unrest we have witnessed, it is no wonder we are eager to put this year behind us.  As we anticipate a New Year and pause and reflect on the year that has been, we have to work extra hard to identify the blessings that have been mingled with all of this sadness.

As we do just that, pause and reflect, to do as the hymnwriter exhorts, to count our blessings, there is much for which to give thanks.  While many have lost their jobs and have struggled to make ends meet, because of the faithfulness of you, the people of Valley, my salary has not been affected and we have been able to meet all of our expenses and obligations. Janice as an essential worker has continued to work throughout the year, as have all of our kids.  We have a roof over our heads, clothes on back and food on the table, the very things we should never take for granted.

In March we celebrated the arrival of our grandson, who we were able to visit prior to all the travel restrictions being put in place.  We have know the grace and favor of our God as we have called out to Him when Scott was hospitialized with Covid.  We have experienced the love and support of family and friends and in many ways the bond we have in Christ has been strengthened through all that has happened.

For many 2020 will go down as the year of Covid. For those of us who walk with God, this has been a year in which we have seen His great faithfulness, mercy and love. As we dwell on this truth, His Word reinforces just how blessed we have been.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in him.  (Nahum 1:7)

He is the God who leads us to green pastures and still waters, who restores our our souls and renews our hope (Psalm 23:2-3; Isaiah 40:31).   He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).  The Lord watches over all who love him (Psalm 14:20).

Friends, for we who know God, who are in a covenant relationship with Him there is always a reason to give thanks, to praise our God for HIs abundant goodness.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says...in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

May you rest in the shadow of the Almighty as we journey together in 2021.

Happy New Year!