Inner versus Outer Stress

Stress is one of the most common words of our modern culture. This really is nothing new. 50 years ago people experienced stress too. They experience stress in Africa and Asia, not just in Canada. Why then do we tend to feel so stressed out so much?

Part of the problem in Canada lies in the fact that we live so much of our lives in our heads. We live in a knowledge-based world. E-mail, media, phone calls, text messages, and much, much more.

Actually stress is a good thing. We would be demotivated and bored without it. I recently read a book called "Just Enough Anxiety" where the authors proposed that for maximum effectiveness in our business we need an optimum amount of stress (enough to keep us going, not so much that we are overwhelmed.)

Lately in my own life, I have been differentiating between inner and outer stress. When I experience stress in the circumstances of my life, I see that as generally positive (or at least somewhat out of my control). When I experience stress within...well, that is a problem. Inner stress seems to me to be more about worry, anxiety and a lack of trusting God. The Bible speaks often about rest as a good thing. I think there is an inner rest we can experience even though we are busy on the outside. In fact, I think the word 'busy' illustrates this well. When I am busy on the outside that is one thing...but when I am busy within, that is a different matter entirely. Have you ever been in a hurry when you really had nothing to be in a hurry for (while driving perhaps)? That is because we are busy within.

Jesus seemed to be very, very busy without, but never busy within. He seemed to work on the outside and rest on the inside. He seemed to be always engaged in important work but never in a hurry. If there is one word that I think described Jesus' inner disposition it would be "TRUST".

Even When it Hurts

Doing what we believe is best for others, even when it hurts us, is tough. It is emotionally exhausting. But in the end, it is always worth it.


We can try to impress, finesse, play games and manipulate people's trust. Or we can simply earn it.

To be God or not to be God

It's okay that I am not God. It's okay not to have everything figured out. It's okay to be left with questions that I don't have all the answers to. It's okay that I am not God.

Psalm 131:1-2 "My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me."

My advice? Find joy in being God's child. Don't try to be His advisor. Find rest, my soul, in Christ alone. We all long to have the simple childlike trust that Psalm 131 calls for. Try it out, lean back on Him...you'll like it!

The Difference Between Christianity And Every Religion In The World

The difference between true Christianity and every religion in the world is how it's spelled.

Religion is spelled, "D-O." Do. If I do enough good, then God will be pleased with me. He will accept me. I will get into heaven (or nirvana or whatever version of heaven that religion has). Most people in the world and many who claim to be Christians abide by this philosophy of life.

True Christianity is spelled, "D-O-N-E." Done. It has already been done on your behalf. There is nothing you or I can do to make up for the sin we have committed. Even the best person in the world could not do enough. But Christ has already done it; He died on the cross for you to pay the price for your sins that you could never pay. Our role is not to do enough good deeds, but to accept what has already been done for us. We gain access to God and we please God by receiving Jesus Christ, not by being good.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says it like this, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

Maybe you have been leaning on your own good deeds, hoping that they would be your ticket to being right with God and going to heaven. Trade your good deeds in today for Christ's work on the cross. Leave religion behind and enter into a relationship with God through Christ. You can do this by changing trusts. Exchange your trust in your own good works for a new trust in Jesus Christ's finished work.

Do vs. Done
Works vs. Grace

Great Friends

Great friends are rare indeed. Finding people who you connect with, trust, aren't worried about weird things with, and can be real with, is not an everyday occurrence.


When I think of the great friendships I have, I feel like a very rich man indeed. I believe true friendship is one of life's richest blessings. I am so thankful for each one of them.

Here are some of the things to look for in a friend:
1. Mutual desire for the friendship
2. Trustworthy
3. Something to connect about (same interests, stage of life, faith, job, etc.)
4. Mutual respect for each other
5. They will tell you if your fly is down or you have food in your teeth
6. Know your faults and love you anyway

And by far my favourite...
7. When you spend time with them it is life-giving. This is really the mark of a great friend. They are selfless, wanting to serve you and be a blessing to you. It's only a truly great friendship, though, if the selflessness is in both parties of the friendship.

Here's how you get great friends:
1. Be a great friend.
2. That's pretty much all.

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly." Prov. 18:24