When Columbus sailed from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean, he traveled in a direction no one had ever attempted before. He was seeking an all-water route to India, or “The Indies” as it was known then. After approximately two months at sea, he landed on an island that is probably San Salvador in today’s Bahamas. He thought it was part of south-east Asia and that he could eventually find his way to fabled Asian kings, securing fabulous wealth for his backers in Spain. On subsequent voyages, he failed to find kings or riches and had little to show for his efforts. Other explorers soon made the same trip and declared the new land as an unexpected continent, not India. But for the rest of his life, Columbus stubbornly insisted he had found the eastern side of the Indies.

I wonder how many people head off in life expecting to find happiness by attaining great wealth, living in big homes and marrying people they expect to be perfect – as if that is the very point of their existence? All too often they find the pursuit of wealth to be full of worry and strain, a big home can often be cold and empty, and the person they married is not perfect at all. Have they put too much weight on others to make them happy, or physical things to fill the void? They have sailed the wrong direction and, Like Columbus, ended up with disappointment.

Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-20. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” The apostle Paul told Christians that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil.3:20).

Know where you’re going in life and make sure the direction you take is aiming for heaven. You will not be disappointed or found to be chasing fables. Where is your compass taking you?

– Tim Johnson 

Nine years ago, a 16-year old Dutch teenager named Laura Dekker left Gibraltar in a small boat determined to sail around the world. At first, the Dutch government attempted to stop her, concerned for her safety. But she eventually received permission and off she went sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific and up the west coast of Africa, arriving home safely. The whole trip took her a year and 5 months. She was the youngest person to sail around the world alone.

Can you imagine the challenges of making such a trip? Hidden reefs and rocks were a threat. Wear and tear on the boat forced her to stop in Australia for repairs. Some of the most frightening moments happened as she approached South Africa where big waves and strong winds shifted the direction of the boat. Her maturity and skill enabled her to complete her journey.

Paul warned Christians in Ephesians 4:14, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” He is urging us to work together with the rest of the church to become mature and strong in the faith, full of the teachings of Jesus Christ and dependant on His strength daily. This will guard us from the tricks and schemes of people who intend to cause harm. Like our young Dutch friend, we can travel through all of life’s threatening dangers and reach our goal.

Determine to sail wisely.

– Tim Johnson

Here we are, Thanksgiving weekend. The Colossian church in the Bible could have used one. They were torn up with debates and doubts, yet God told them to “overflow with gratitude” (2:7). It’s easy to find things to complain about. It’s too hot, too cold, I’m too young, too old, too cloudy, too sunny, too serious, too funny, too much rain, but no! Soon it will snow! Can’t we find things for which we are thankful? I sat down and started a list. I ran out of time at 20 things:

• For God who loves us
• For Jesus who died for us
• Good congregations that encourage us
• For trials that challenge us
• Elders who guide us
• Kids and grandkids who smile at us
• Neighbours who greet us
• An economy that employs us
• An election that empowers us
• Free health care that looks after us

• A magnificent world to interest us
• Pets that sit on us
• Homes that comfort us
• Fall colours that amaze us
• Food that fills us
• Friends who care about us
• Christ’s work that engages us
• The Bible which straightens us
• Our country which protects us
• Clean water that quenches us

Now, make a list of your own. And be thankful.

– Tim Johnson

In Alberta there’s an interesting highway that runs north/south along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It’s been dubbed “The Cowboy Trail” (Route 22) because of all the ranches along its route. Being close to the mountains, wildlife often wanders down into ranchland and causes a few problems. Frequent visitors are bald eagles which you can easily spot soaring through valleys and over meadows.

In Isaiah 40:27-31, Israel was under stress from military threats, and people were becoming worn out. They complained and said that God didn’t notice their troubles and wasn’t concerned about them anymore. Have you ever felt that way?

God heard their complaint and sent a message through Isaiah that is surprising. He said God never gets weary or tired and His understanding of His people is inscrutable (beyond our powers to know). He said that when he sees his people weary, He gives them strength. When they lack might, He increases His power towards them. Even in circumstances that would wear out vigorous young men, God will give new strength to those “who wait for the Lord.”

He ends the passage with a great thought that many have pondered. “They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (v31)        There’s nothing like the eagle’s ability to make difficult things – like flying – seem so easy and effortless.  This is what God promises: life gets a whole lot easier when we turn to Him for help. What a great God who would promise us such tremendous things.

So, what is the secret when we are stressed, worn out and suspect that nobody knows or cares? Remember that God is not ignoring you; He knows all about your situation. Remember that He is always willing to give people strength when they run out of their own. These blessings are for those who wait for the Lord. With help like that we can soar like eagles again.

– Tim Johnson

Perhaps you’ve been to Cape Spear, Newfoundland. There, a simple path leads from a parking lot to a small fence barring your way. This is the end of North America, for beyond it lies the Atlantic Ocean. There is no point of land any farther east than this spot, and for that reason the place is inspiring. For a few moments everybody on the continent is behind you. In fact, you can look directly east and you see nothing but water for 3,000 km; your next port of call would be Galway, Ireland.

The immensity of the ocean is astonishing. One airline has advertised a flight from Saint John’s, NF to Dublin in 4.5 hours, and that’s traveling at 550 mph! For hours you sit looking out that little round window and see nothing but water in all directions. From up there, huge ships look like pieces of floating rice. The average depth of this ocean is almost 11,000 feet – roughly 2 miles. It’s no wonder the remains of shipwrecks are so hard to find. It took over 70 years to locate the Titanic.

Ancient Jewish people were not known as sailors; they made their living off the land. The sea was a fearsome thing, a place into which one could disappear forever. When Jonah wanted to disappear, he chose to flee in a ship. In 700 BC the prophet Micah wrote the following about God: “He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Micah was struck with the capacity of God to forgive. Today, when someone repents and obeys the gospel of Christ, it’s as if their sins were picked up and thrown into the middle of the ocean where they will disappear forever.

And when we make mistakes and sin in our Christian lives? It’s as if God continues to cast them into that watery graveyard where they are simply forgotten. Praise God for his forgiveness.

– Tim Johnson