A new definition of us Specialists came to my mind today: A Sergeant is 1/4 of an Officer and 3/4 of a Storeman. With pride we lead, SISPEC!

"These words are not enough to tell You just how truly good You are. These words are empty if my heart is hardened to who You are."

 - So Good, Wayne Kerr

A Biblical response to bad times

Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,

I'm singing joyful praise to God.
I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Saviour God.

Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain!

 - Habakkuk 3:17-19, The Message

Psalm of the week

Psalm 139
For the choir director: A psalm of David.


1 O Lord, You have examined my heart
and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me.
You place Your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from Your Spirit!
I can never get away from Your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I go down to the grave, You are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there Your hand will guide me,
and Your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night -

12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.
To You the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to You.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvellous - how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment was laid outbefore a single day had passed.

17 How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!

18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, You are still with me!

19 O God, if only You would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!

20 They blaspheme You;
Your enemies misuse Your name.

21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate You?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose You?

22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for Your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 Point out anything in me that offends You,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

A Christian's Possessions

A tax officer came one day to a poor Christian to determine the amount of taxes he would have to pay.

"What property do you possess?" asked the assessor.

"I am a very wealthy man," replied the Christian.

"List your possessions, please," the assessor instructed.

The Christian said:
"First, I have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Second, I have a mansion in Heaven. (John 14:2)
Third, I have a perfect conscience & peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
Fourth, I have joy unspeakable. (1 Peter 1:8)
Fifth, I have divine love which never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Sixth, I have a faithful wife. (Proverbs 31:10)
Seventh, I have healthy, happy obedient children. (Exodus 20:12)
Eighth, I have true, loyal friends. (Proverbs 18:24)
Ninth, I have songs in the night. (Psalms 42:8)
Tenth, I have a crown of life. (James 1:12)"

The tax assessor closed his book, and said, "Truly you are a very rich man, but your property is not subject to taxation."


I pray that all of us will have this kind of tax-free "wealth."

 - Anonymous

"Let them do the wrong thing; you just do the right thing." - Don Hogan, Come What May

The Balance Sheet of Life

Our BIRTH is our OPENING BALANCE
Our DEATH is our CLOSING BALANCE
Our PREJUDICED VIEWS are our LIABILITIES
Our CREATIVE IDEAS are our ASSETS
Our HEART is our CURRENT ASSET
Our SOUL is our FIXED ASSET
Our BRAIN is our FIXED DEPOSIT
Our THINKING is our CURRENT ACCOUNT
Our ACHIEVEMENTS are our CAPITAL
Our CHARACTER & MORALS are our STOCK-IN-TRADING
Our FRIENDS are our GENERAL RESERVES
Our VALUES & BEHAVIOURS are our GOODWILL
Our PATIENCE is our INTEREST EARNED
 - Anonymous

Dear God, a poem for You

Dear God,


I'm writing to say I'm sorry
For being angry yesterday,
When you seemed to ignore my prayer
And things didn't go my way.

First, my car broke down.
I was very late for work,
But I missed that awful accident.
Was that Your handiwork?

I found a house I loved,
But others got there first.
I was angry, then relieved
When I heard the pipes had burst!

Yesterday, I found the perfect sweater,
But the colour was too pale.
Today, I found the sweater in red.
Would you believe, it was on sale!


I know You're watching over me
And I'm feeling truly blessed,
For no matter what I pray for,
You always know what's best!

I have this circle of E-mail friends
Who mean the world to me.
Somedays I "send" and "send",
At other times, I let them be.

I am so blessed to have these friends
With whom I've grown so close.
So this little poem I dedicate to them,
Because to me they are the "most"!

When I see each name download,
And view the message they've sent,
I know they've thought of me that day,
And "well wishes" were their intent.


So to you, my friends, I would like to say
Thank you for being a part
Of all my daily contacts.
This comes right from my heart.

God bless you all is my prayer today,
I'm honoured to call you "friend".
I pray the Lord will keep you safe,
Until I email you again.


 - Anonymous

When I say I am a Christian

When I say "I am a Christian", I am not shouting that "I'm clean!"
I'm whispering, "I was lost but now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say I am a Christian, I do not speak of this with pride,
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say I am a Christian, I'm not trying to be strong,
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say I am a Christian, I'm not bragging of success,
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say I am a Christian, I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say I am a Christian, I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say I am a Christian, I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

  - Anonymous

If God Is Sovereign, Why Pray?

We are responsible for our lives. That is stewardship. But God is sovereign. How is that possible? How can we be responsible for that over which God is sovereign?


When a large business deal I had worked on for six months looked like it wasn't going to close, I asked my wife and son to pray about it with me.


When it was my turn to pray I basically begged God to let the deal go through, then concluded, "God, you already know what's going to happen. In fact, you have sovereignly decided what is the pleasure of your will. Give us wisdom not to miss the way."


When I finished, my son asked, "Dad, if God has already decided what's going to happen, why pray?" Good question.


God is sovereign but we are also responsible. The Scriptures lay down these two ideas side-by-side, without apology, and without much explanation. In fact, we see this principle throughout the Bible. Here are a few examples. You probably know of others.


"In his heart a man plans his course (our responsibility), but the Lord determines his steps (God's sovereignty)" (Proverbs 16:9).

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle (our responsibility), but victory rests with the Lord (God's sovereignty)" (Proverbs 21:31).

"Unless the Lord builds the house (God's sovereignty), its builders labor (our responsibility) in vain" (Psalm 127:1).

David wrote, "I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies" (Psalm 44:6). David didn't trust in his bow, but in God. But neither did he throw his bow away! He used it with all the skill he could muster.

Paul writes, "To this end I labor (our responsibility), struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me (God's sovereignty)" (Colossians 1:29).

Paul wrote, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it (our responsibility), but God made it grow (God's sovereignty)" (1 Corinthians 3:6).

On top of all this, God invites, even instructs, us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18).


This idea that "God is sovereign but we are responsible" lies at the heart of stewardship. At its core, stewardship means receiving all our abilities, resources, love, relationships, spiritual gifts, possessions, and places as "gifts on loan" from a sovereign God. It means to keep an attitude of accountable responsibility tempered by profound gratitude.


Frankly, why would we want to pray to God for help unless He is sovereign? Because He is sovereign, it actually means something when we pray.



Yours for changed lives,
Patrick Morley, PhD