Driving Distractions

By Gillis Killam –

Recently province laws were put in place to prevent driving while distracted. A sign on the highway says, “Distracted Driving Law In Effect.” We are not to drive our cars while talking on a cell phone, texting, etc. However, we see people everyday talking on their cell phones, and even texting while driving. Surveys have been taken showing that these distractions are major causes of traffic accidents and often fatalities. In 2011 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.

There are many things that take our attention on our journey of life. Sometimes the results cause spiritual and even physical disasters. Solomon warned his son about being distracted by things that would ultimately destroy him. Over and over again he said, “pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words” (Proverbs 4:20 NIV).

“Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble” (Proverbs 4:10-12 NIV).

We can be distracted by the desire to be rich, by discontentment, inappropriate sexual desires, and pride; as well as people who would lure us to the wrong path of life leading to entrapment and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

King David was distracted by Bathsheba and committed adultery. The consequences for him were far reaching, affecting the lives of many, including the generations to come in a negative way.

The Apostle Paul said, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2 NIV).

And Proverbs says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV).

Prayer: Guide me O God, as I journey home; help me not to be distracted by things that will cause me to be side-tracked from Your will.

I’m too Busy!

By Gillis Killam –

Over and over I have heard the excuse, “I’m too busy!” In fact, I have used it myself at times when I didn’t want to attend to something. I think there is a tendency to say “I’m too busy” and feel justified using that as an excuse. It is like saying, “I have a right to be really busy” even when there is something or someone that needs attention; our family for instance. In have read about incidents where people were even too busy to help someone who was dying.

Some people are “too busy”; but this can be an excuse to not be involved with what God desires: helping a needy person, teaching a class, going to prayer meeting and Bible study. This is a very destructive pattern because there is an ulterior motive driving us to prove we are very important. We may feel insecure, and this becomes a way to prove our own significance.

I remember a very busy man who carried many responsibilities in his pastoral ministry as well as outside the pastorate; yet he never seemed to be in a hurry. He had time to stop and talk to a neighbor on the street, when others would have passed by; he had time for his family and the needs of his congregation. I worked closely with him and never once did I hear him say, “I’m too busy.” Yet he accomplished so much in his lifetime. I realized that he took time with the Lord and lived close to God, listening for His voice to guide him in all his decisions.

We don’t increase time by neglecting our time spent with the Lord in prayer & meditation. The Psalmist exclaimed this importance when he said:

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies” (Psalms 119:97-98 NIV).

Prayer: Oh God, thank you for the Bible –the everlasting resource of Your Word.

The Flood in Calgary, Alberta Canada

By Gillis Killam –

Six of us travelled from Calgary to Southern British Columbia for a golf trip. The weather was wonderful for the trip there and we stopped near Kimberly British Columbia for our first round. We then motored on to beautiful Kokanee Springs, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded with lush green trees, flowers, grass and tall cedars.

After a day and a half of good weather, everything changed when heaven opened and torrents of rain came down on the green landscape. Everyone sped their carts back to the lodge where we waited hoping it would soon clear up – it didn’t. We saw on TV that a massive flood had hit Calgary and surrounding towns. Houses were evacuated and businesses shut down. The whole downtown core of Calgary was without power and communication and the response teams moved quickly to get people out of the flooded areas and into dry places. People were rescued from their flooded homes in a variety of unconventional means. It was a disaster of great magnitude.

Deciding to travel back home, we arrived to witness the devastation first hand and were in awe! It was worse than what we imagined. Nearly one hundred thousand people were evacuated. Hundreds of homes and public buildings were destroyed in just minutes.

What came to my mind was Noah’s flood that covered the whole earth: a gigantic disaster. No one escaped except eight people in the ark Noah had built. We don’t know why this flood hit Calgary and what God’s message was, but in Noah’s day people had become exceedingly evil and violent (Genesis 6).

Whenever there is disaster it is time for people to look heavenward and remember the words of the Lord to nations and people that forget God. It is not for me to say that the flood in Calgary was for the same reason, but God does warn of a day of reckoning. In Noah’s time He warned the people of the coming flood, but they thought him crazy and refused to listen. The Apostle Peter wrote about those who scoffed at God’s warning of coming judgment:

“ But they deliberately forget that … By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:5,7 NIV).

Prayer– Lord, I know that you are not willing that any should perish, help me to be a light in these dark times.

Parchments, Books & Coat

By Gillis Killam –

We are downsizing and there will not be enough room for my large library in our new home. I know how I feel about my books. They are like old friends to me and I don`t like the thought of parting with them. I want them to go to a place where they will be read and valued by someone.

The Apostle Paul was in a Roman prison awaiting execution when he wrote his last letter to his prodigy, Timothy. Paul’s words to Timothy resonate with me, “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13 NIV). These are what he missed most.

Think of the changes in the way books are published, and how we acquire them today in comparison to Paul’s time. Books and letters that were written on parchments by hand are now downloaded as digital books and manuscripts on line. The idea that entire books and volumes can be transferred through the atmosphere in a few seconds, to a device that can hold thousands of books would have blown Paul’s mind.

Books were God’s plan to record the way the world was created; and the origin of man. He also chose the written word to have a permanent record of how He sent His Son into the world to save mankind from its sin. God used terms and methods that we can understand. In his vision the apostle John saw God open the Book of Life at the final judgment.

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books”
(Revelation 20:11-12 NIV).

Prayer: Thank you, Lord. Because of salvation through Jesus Christ my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. AMEN

Something Miraculous Happened

By Gillis Killam –

When I came to Christ as a young person at age 12, I was unaware of all that actually happened to me spiritually; but I knew that things were different. My fear of going to hell when I died was gone and I had peace that I was right with God. I had lived in fear, knowing that the Bible said that one day Jesus was coming back to earth; and I was not ready to meet Him.

Prior to my conversion I had a dream in which I was standing at the screen door at the back of our house. Looking up over the trees I saw a vision of Christ with all his angels surrounding the throne. I was afraid, knowing I was not ready to meet Him. I knew little of the Bible except that my parents “made me” go to church and Sunday school. I woke from my sleep terrified that I was too late. I wondered if my parents were still there. They were!

Shortly after this I was in a meeting where our pastor was having special evangelistic services and found myself under conviction for my sin. When the altar call was given I went forward and knelt at the altar and gave my life completely to Christ. The peace of God filled my heart and I went home knowing that my account was settled with God. A whole new world of spiritual awareness came to me and I had a strong desire for the Word of God and to know the will of God for my life.

What happened there was that the Spirit of God came into my spirit which had been dead to God; (Ephesians 2:1-3) and my spirit was quickened and made alive to God! I was born again! (John 3:3). Something so unexplainable happened; and as A.W. Tozer put it, “For that which must happen in the new birth can never be explained by psychology or psychiatry.”(Renewed Day by Day – Feb. 21) The Bible came alive to me and the love for God filled my heart. We describe it as a NEW Heart.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).

Prayer: “Thank you Lord!

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