Time to just sit and let the week melt away as its again Friday, I gather everyone had a good week and you are all accounted for. As always the close of the week brings about thoughts and the trials and blessings it has given.

Please gather around as the Canadian cold is starting to close in and stake its territory for the next few months, snow to follow and that my friends is a guarantee in this country. So welcome to yet another fireside chat and I look forward to hearing your comments.

As I look at this fire I come to see the real peace in simply sitting and listening to what God is speaking into all our lives. I suppose the one word that would sum up this past week "HEAVY" and not from lifting or work load but the burdens that have been brought on. They were lightened considerably by much prayer that you had lifted to the Lord and I thank you as I felt those prayers. A point to consider again as I think of it, we have the best prayer warriors right here in our midst, its all of us combined.

One fire that we have here tonight is simply a few logs tossed one on top of the other and it gives comfort, it gives warmth and it brings peace. I love the fact that I can use this setting to share my thoughts and feelings and all the while be toasty warm.

But the fire that is to the right took place this summer at the Bible Institute where I work and do ministry with students and staff who come from all parts of the world to be trained up for their own ministries some day. 

The student are the greatest asset we have on campus and it is our priority to see they have the best of the best tools to work with. Living accommodations and basic needs are my number one priority.

Yet we were tested in June beyond what any of us could ever imagine to attempt to get the facility back into operation. The fire itself took out all of our power distribution as well as the five boilers the building housed. Devastation was complete and well beyond any hope of being saved.

It has turned into an emergency situation right from the first day this happened and yet the process has been painstakingly slow in getting all that is needed back into place, but I might add it is getting close to being completed. Ha sit happened in an orderly and well planned out way, well that is the question that I have been struggling with for sometime. 

It all belongs to the Father, one moment its here and the next its gone. Can we find humor in watching something like this happen, we need to make the humor happen. If not we loose it completely in frustration, followed by bitterness and anger.

A smile has the power to melt a heart, words have the power to harden all hearts. Many hearts have been hardened over what needs to be done and the order it needs to get done in. Yet we carry on, one way I have learned to be the servant that God has called me to be is to make light of things. The picture you see was part of a mass emailing on campus and it brought many a smile, and lots of laughter when you look closely at it. A great mid week eye opener for everyone that we are far to serious.

Love has a way of showing itself in the hard places, tough love sometimes needs to be demonstrated to get a point across. That was a dilemma that reveled itself the other morning where I had to hold a brother accountable. At first hard to hear but honesty and love go hand in hand, a line needed to be drawn in the sand and it was drawn. The end result I pray will be a better working relationship with the many people affected. 

Look at us all as the world passes by and dumps on us and we do the "Poor Me" thing over and over again. Soon we become like a broken record, try as hard as I do it happens far to often in me.

Can we make a difference, why of course. Remember we have the best coach in our corner. When I look at this picture I see an canned "Air Horn" you know the ones that are banned from sporting events and Churches alike. We need a camera close by as we pull the trigger as this fellow is about to transform. No pun intended but do you get the picture...!

Humor and Love are traveling partners, we need to have them with us at all times. Can they hurt yes of course unless they are used in respect and with caring hearts.

I guess what I have attempted to say here through all this rambling is that we are all faced with the tough stuff in life. We struggle and others struggle, you may be further ahead in your walk with Christ than I may be. That maturity will reveal itself in how well we accept the task at hand. It will certainly show where our true giftings are and hopefully we will be able to see them in others and reach out and ask for help.

By the way when you look at this sheepish yet lovable character imagine in your mind that he is up to something. Look closely and I would not be surprised if he has a air horn hidden somewhere. Well at least that is the way I see it in the mirror.

God bless all of you fellow hubbers, the fire is slowly dwindling to ashes as this past week has, be aware and be on guard....things to happen that changes lives...has anyone seen that dog...