A decade later

This was a big week for me.  10 years.  10 years that I've been at LIFE 100.3.  I started November 18, 2005 by delivering a newscast at noon just to help cover when someone was sick.  10 years later, I'm still here, and loving it.  If you're a new listener, here's a synopsis of my history at LIFE.  If you've been listening from when I started, well first, thank you!  And for you, this is a behind-the-scenes of my past decade.  (If you don't want to read this whole thing, just skip to the last couple of paragraphs.)

I remember starting out.  I remember my first newscast.  Hearing myself on the radio and thinking, "This is so cool!"  I remember being super nervous and doing the best I could to impress the bosses.  I remember finishing the newscast, and Scott Jackson saying to me, "Hey, could you come in Monday morning and do our news again?"  And so I did.  Then I was asked to come in on Tuesday...then Wednesday.  And for 5 months I literally worked day to day, week to week; Scott would ask me at the end of every week, "Hey, can you help us out again next week?"  Finally in March of 2006, I was asked, "Do you just want the job?"

You would think my immediate answer would be "YES!!"  But it wasn't.  I had to go home and think about it.  I didn't want to do news.  I hated news.  I couldn't care less about it (at the time).  But I also looked at how many doors God had opened for me to get to that point, and it was almost impossible for me to turn down the job offer.  God kept orchestrating one thing after another, and I knew I had to say yes, even if I wasn't super excited about it.

It took some getting used to, but it wasn't long before I start to like news...and no one was more surprised than me.  Even though I still really wanted to be a DJ, I was somewhat enjoying connecting with politicians, attending press conferences, and researching, writing, and delivering newscasts.  I took ownership of the news department and worked hard to make it sound good.  But it was tough slugging.  There were days when I just wanted to quit.  When I just got frustrated and would think, "What am I doing with my life?  I don't mind news, but it's not what I really want to do!".  I would wonder if I would ever get the opportunity to be a full-time DJ, or if I should just move on.  I was subbing for DJ's when they were sick, but that was only a few days to a few months at a time.  I wanted the real deal, my own show.  There were days of arguments with management, and believe it or not, there was even a time where I almost lost my job because my attitude just wasn't right.  But what they say is true - attitude is everything.  I prayed, changed my attitude, and worked hard.  And that was the trigger I needed.

After six years of doing news and sub-DJ'ing, I was finally given my first real DJ shift - afternoon drive.  That's a big show for your first gig.  I also got bumped to News Director.  And after about a year of doing that, I was given the Ministry Relations portfolio as well, which I've really enjoyed.  It's been great to connect with pastors and hear what their churches are doing to reach out, and see how we can work together to spread the good news.

And now for the last year and a half, I've been back to mornings, but this time as a DJ, host of The All New Breakfast Club.  I can honestly say that this is the most fun that I have had at LIFE (and I've been having fun since the beginning, so I'm in a pretty good spot right now).  I enjoy coming in to work.  Todd and I end up spending most mornings laughing, both on and off the air.  How can you complain about a job where you spend half of your 8-hour workday laughing?  The rest of the day is taken up by preparing for upcoming shows, connecting with pastors for Ministry Relations, and overseeing the news department, and as I mentioned, I enjoy both of those.

Over the past 10 years, I've lived my life out on the air.  I've gotten engaged, married, had a kid, then a second, now a third (my wife is pregnant).  I've talked about my personal struggles with temptation, doubt, and feeling far from God.  Listeners, I have prayed with you, cried with you, laughed and struggled together with you.  And you have done the same with me.  I have had the incredible privilege of being part of your lives, and hopefully ministering to you and bringing God into your lives - and again, you have done that for me.  You have made this job what it is - fantastic.  You have made it fun.  You have made it worth the struggles and difficult times.  You have...made it.

I got into radio to do Christian radio.  I'm blessed to have been able to do this for 10 years.  I remember in March of 2006 when I accepted the offer of employment.  I signed the papers in Scott's office, and we ended off by praying.  I specifically remember him saying, "God, please let this be a long-term and fruitful stay for Tim at LIFE."  10 years later, I'd say God answered that prayer.

Thank you listeners.  Thank you Scott and LIFE staff.  Thank you God.  It's been a great 10 years.

God is in control

It's nice to know that God is in control.  Sometimes we get so nervous about...everything...and I think God is up there saying, "Hey.  Breathe.  Chill out.  I got this.  Breathe again.  Relax.  And think about the fact that, really, I got this!"

This is similar to last week's post, but I suppose this my my stage in life right now.  I think God has just been reminding me, "Hey Tim, relax.  I got this."  And even though I know that, I still have nervous moments.  It's funny that we know that God is in control, we can look back and see how He's worked in our lives in the past, He reassures us that He is STILL working...and yet we still get nervous or anxious sometimes.  I suppose that is just our human nature, but that is the wonderful blessing of grace - that God understands our human weaknesses, and He walks with us and comforts us anyway, and tries to remind us along the way that yup, He's in control.

So, hey you, relax!  Oh wait, that's just a mirror.

More Faith Please

This past Sunday, I lost my cell phone.  The last place I remember having it was at the grocery store after church.  Since then, I looked EVERYWHERE for it.  I called it over and over, searched my house, my car, my office at LIFE, even went to the grocery store and all the neighbouring stores to ask if anyone had turned anything in.  Nothing.

I talked about this on the radio two days ago, and got lots of helpful calls and tips...but still, no phone.  Then a friend emailed me this:

Tim, I know someone who knows where your phone is......

God does!!!!!!....He will show you!

I saw the first line of that email and I was so elated!  Finally, someone who knows where my phone is!  Then I saw the second line...and I wasn't too happy.  In fact, I was irritated.  I thought, Urg, I know God knows where my phone is!  But a lot of times I pray and nothing happens, so is He really going to bring my phone around?  Besides, I've looked everywhere in my house, I can't hear it vibrating, and it's two days later and no one has turned  it in.  So let's face it.  It's lost.  And I was literally 100% sure nothing would happen.

A couple of hours later I was sitting in my office and I thought, "Okay, I really should pray.  My friend is actually right."  (I had been praying about it since Sunday, but not as intentionally as I decided to do it at that moment.)  So I prayed then, and when I got home from work, I talked to my wife and mentioned the email, and we prayed again, intentionally.

That evening, my wife walked past our couch and stepped on something that was under it...and lo and behold, the phone!!!  I could not believe it.  I couldn't believe that it was in my house.  I couldn't believe that we'd actually found it.  And I couldn't believe that God actually heard our prayer and brought it to us.  I felt so much joy...and a bit of shame for not trusting God to answer my prayer.

It served as a great reminder for me that yes, God is in control, and yes, He does care - even about the small things.  I actually have something else in my life that I'm a bit nervous about right now, so this phone incident has served as a reminder of God's presence, and because of that presence, I have a lot more peace.

I hope this helps you out if you're nervous about something.  Pray!  God does care!

Contentment

I've been wresting with this issue for the past few years...actually probably all my life.  What is contentment?  What does it mean to be content?  Is there a certain level where we should all be content?  Is there a different level of contentment from person to person?  (This discussion is specifically about finances.)

Let's start in the bible.  Philippians 4:11-12, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Paul clearly was content.  Despite being shipwrecked multiple times, beaten, whipped, starving, on the run, cold, imprisoned, etc., he was content (1 Corinthians 11:23-28 for Paul's struggles).  He had God, he lived for God, and that's all that mattered.

Now in the 21st century, is the same?  Can we be that content through all circumstances?

Let me elabourate a bit.  If you make enough money to pay your bills, put food on the table, and stay out of debt (with wise budgeting and spending), but you can't afford to put your kids in swimming/skating/music lessons, you can't afford to go on vacation, and there are no extra frills in life...should you be content in the fact that your bills are paid and "that's good enough"?  Is it okay to want more money to do the things mentioned above?

What about if you can't even pay your bills?  The point where you are relying on God to meet your daily needs, and help you pay your bills at the end of the month?  Is it okay to want more then?  Or should you rest in the fact that God is providing for you and "that's good enough"?

Then there's the other end of the spectrum - you make enough money to pay your bills, and then some.  You can take a vacation each year, put your kids in sports, fix up your car, go out to dinner once in a while, etc...  Is that contentment?

There are missionaries who have nothing and yet are the happiest people you'll ever meet.  And there are wealthy individuals who have everything, and yet have nothing.

I know that the answer is God.  We find our contentment in God and not in worldly things.  Yes, thank you.  Good Sunday School answer...that is annoying but true haha.  But I guess the question comes down to this - when is it okay to want things?  If someone is in one of the first two scenarios, is it wrong to want more money so that you can live a little bit more comfortably, or so that you can give good things to your kids?  I can't imagine that there's anything wrong with that.  And yet by wanting more, does that mean that we're not thankful for what God has already given us, and not trusting Him for the rest?

I don't know.  I see both sides.  What I do know is that we should be content in all circumstances.  The 'want' part is where I'm confused.  Any help is welcome.

You can't have it both ways...

The story out of Moncton, New Brunswick this week has been absolutely devastating.  Three RCMP officers killed, two others severely wounded, and an entire town gripped by fear and locked in their homes.  No individual, family, or community should ever have to go through that.  My heart goes out to every person affected.

As I've been watching this story unfold over the past couple of days though, something odd has jumped out at me.  On the news, I've been seeing signs on businesses and store fronts.  I've seen it all over facebook and twitter.  I've heard it said in conversation.  "Pray for Moncton".

I 1,000% agree.  I think we all would.  What strikes me as odd, though, is that people are turning to prayer.  It's a great thing.  But our North American society - generally speaking - has become anti-religious, anti-God, anti-prayer...anti-anything to do with religion.  Laws are passed to keep religion and God out of our schools, workplaces, public places, etc.  Those who do speak up about their faith are often ridiculed and laughed at...or at risk of being suspended or losing their jobs.

Then a major tragedy like this hits, and the first thing we do is turn to prayer.  And I don't mean Christians, I mean our society.  "We offer our thoughts and prayers to the families affected".  How many times have you heard a politician say that?  People post on Facebook reminding others to "Pray for Moncton".  It's the big message everywhere that everyone is echoing.  But give it a few weeks.  Once this tragedy fades from our minds, it'll abruptly be back to "no religion in our society, thank you very much."

If we as a human race instinctively turn to God in our pain and weakness, shouldn't we also turn to Him when things are good?  Wouldn't a God who created us want to know us at ALL times, the good and the bad?  We can't just call out when we need Him, take His help to work through the pain, and then ban Him from our lives when we don't need Him anymore (or think we don't).  Talk about an abusive relationship.

Sorry God.  That's pretty mean of us.

God's love

I had a conversation with a friend two nights ago who said that he believed he had 'gone too far for God'. We chatted and I shared that that's actually impossible - we can NEVER go to far for God.  Look at Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can't be separated from God's love.  It's a simple as that.  No matter what we've done, how many times we've done it, and how bad 'it' is, God will take us back.  In fact, one of my favourite things about God is that HE'S waiting for US to come back. Look at the prodigal son.

Whether it was before you accepted Christ or after, I think we've all been there.  Before we come to know Christ, we can think that we've done too many bad things.  We can think that God would never take us because we're too 'bad'.  "God could never love me, I've done awful things."

After we accept Christ, it can be the same type of denial, but in a different way.  It's often in the form of a sin we struggle with.  We know we shouldn't do it, and yet we keep falling back into it.  And when this becomes a pattern over days, weeks, months, years, we think that God can't still love us and forgive us because "I know better and yet I'm still sinning."  Yes, it's not good, and yet He knows us better than we know ourselves - He knows we are human and that we will fall.  That's why there's grace.  (*This is not an excuse to sin or fall into grace-abuse.  It's simply a reminder that we can't out-sin God's forgiveness.  We can incur His discipline, but we can't get away from His love.)

I realize this is a generalized statement, but if you're to take one thing away from this blog, it's this - that if you're feeling far from God, it's not because He won't take you back, it's because He's waiting for you to return to Him.

Hurricane Sandy

The past week I've been watching a lot on Hurricane Sandy.  It's been tragic to see the damage and destruction caused, and yet it's left me in awe.

It's funny how we think we have it all together.  We think we've come so far with our infrastructure, our technology, our weather-predicting systems, our safeguards, our advanced systems and thinking and buildings and procedures.  We have it all under control.

Then a hurricane hits.

Something WAY beyond our control, that no matter how much we've planned and prepared for, we have absolutely no chance against.  It takes us years, decades, to plan infrastructure and create streets and buildings and neighbourhoods and get everything just how we want it.  Then a hurricane/earthquake/ tsunami/tornado hits and those decades of hard work are washed away in seconds, and we realize how truly infinitesimal we really are.  And that while we delude ourselves into thinking we have an ounce of control over anything, the truth is that have absolutely none.

And then...think about it in the larger scale.  The amount of destruction that a hurricane does - and realizing that a hurricane covers maybe 1/10 of the earth's surface at a time, which means the earth is SO much larger.  And the earth is tiny compared to other planets.  And it's a dot in our solar system.  And it's a grain of sand in the milky way galaxy.  And it's a spec of dust (if even) when realizing that there are millions of galaxies, each with millions of stars and planets.

And the hurricane that caused all that damage is 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000...1% the size of our universe.

And we were blown away by the hurricane.  We are tiny.