Pastor Sam and his wonderful wife Sally (not their real names) have a ministry in an undisclosed church somewhere in North America. It seems that a week or two ago Sam got a really encouraging e-mail from some first time visitors to their undisclosed church. The e-mail praised the power of his preaching and the warmth of the congregation. Pastor Sam could not contain himself (he rarely can) so he sent the e-mail on to his lovely wife, you know, to encourage her as well. Now here is where the story gets interesting.

Sally wrote back to Sam trying to figure out who the couple may have been. She wrote something almost identical to this: “Hi dear, is that the couple where the husband was short, bald and dumpy-looking and the wife looked like so-and-so?” Now, please note, that there was not even the minutest shred of malice in that description. She was just trying to place the couple in her mind and she chose some familiar words meant only for her husband’s eyes. Unfortunately, rather than sending her reply only to her husband, she also sent it to the short, bald, dumpy looking guy as well.

Praise God that the man understood the spirit in which the e-mail was written and he was also a Christian full of grace and mercy. He replied something to the effect that while he had never quite considered himself deserving of such a description, he nevertheless could see how someone else might use those words! All is forgiven and they are still sheep in Sam’s fold.

Now I share this story with you, not only to entertain, but to also inform. What happened to Sally could very well happen to you. Not only do we have to worry about our real shoes being planted with tongue-in-cheek, we also now have to worry about our cybershoes as well. I, for one, have had an anxious moment or two as I have had to scan my sent box to make sure I sent what I sent to the right person. Has that ever happened to you?

Often we are told that technology is our great friend and helper. Technology is here to save us time and make us look good. I suggest to you that while technology is useful, it is also dangerous. Technology may empower us, but it also gives us new ways to screw up! At one point in our history we thought technology would rid the world of all its evils. Now we understand that technology can be used for good or bad. You see, while technology keeps improving, the human heart doesn’t, it stays the same. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23).

Technology won’t save us, but I do know Who can! The technology of the cross may be two thousand years old, but, believe me; it will never be improved upon!

I’ve had a lot of weird and wonderful requests made of me in my forty-something-years, but one of the best came my way a few months ago! Let me see if I can put it into context for you. If being asked to sing Handel’s Messiah underwater rates a ten on my wacko scale, this request was a solid seven.

One of the most popular features at “Graceland” is the “Heavenly Top Ten.” It’s a common occurrence to get requests to use the lists in Church newsletters and so on. But the young man that requested permission to copy my lists this time around, had a use for them that was a little more imaginative, to say the least! Seems that he thought it would be a good idea to print them and post them in the men’s washroom in front of the urinals so that the men would have something to do while they were otherwise occupied. I have to admit that I laughed for quite some time after reading that email! In fact, my emotions and imagination ran the gamut of human experience as I contemplated my reply to this earnest young man.

At first I was flattered that my admirer was interested in enshrining my lists in such a splendiferous porcelain palace, but then my pride became a little “flushed”. I mean did I REALLY want my words to be in such a place? And did I REALLY want people to read my list while there were . . . well, you get the idea. The honour conferred on me with such a request certainly wasn’t akin to winning the Pulitzer — or was it?

But, then again, this young man was 18 years old; working the summer as the janitor for his church. Could I fault him for wanting to go beyond the realm of Spic and Span? He wanted to do more than was asked of him. He wanted not only to do his job, but also to minster and encourage the congregation. How could I possible blame him for going the extra mile?

Ok, so now you’re wondering, what did Grant do? Did he say yeah, or nah? What else could I do? I thanked the brother for his interest and commended him for his imagination. Then, I sent him off with my blessing. Ok, so what’s the point?

• God can use what we give Him in wild and wonderful ways that we would never even dream of, or even consider.
• No matter what we do in this life, as followers of Christ, we have a sacred calling to go beyond what’s expected and serve everyone as if we’re serving Christ himself. You may be a housewife, a doctor, an accountant, a ditch digger, or anything in between, it doesn’t matter — God wants you to give your best and then some. If you’re getting paid to clean a washroom, be the best washroom cleaner you can be and go beyond what’s expected to reach for that which is excellent.

Praise God that He’s able to use my meager offerings in so many wonderful and diverse ways.

Toronto isn’t exactly the kind of environment in which you expect to be accosted by wildlife as you walk down the street (at least of the nonhuman variety). True I was bitten by a dog a month or two ago, but dogs aren’t wildlife; they may be dangerous to clothing, leg and limb, not to mention shoes, but that doesn’t make them wildlife.

Well, this morning a Mutual-of-Omaha-moment literally dropped from the sky.

There I was, early morning, walking to work. In my hands were my lunch, a book, and more importantly, a coffee that had yet to touch my lips.

I was walking, head down, semi-conscious; greeting the day with my usual enthusiasm when it happened. Out of the corner of my eye two grey forms descended with the considerable speed that only open air and gravity create.

The two greeted the ground with a loud thump. Then, after a momentary mental adjustment, they ran in separate directions. It seems that two squirrels fell out of the tree above my head. They missed landing on my head by no less than two feet.

I was briefly startled and then greatly amused. It is not every day that you see the lords of the urban jungle fall out of their vertical homelands — especially so close to ones head!

Once again, even in the dim reaches of my pre-caffeine shuffling, I was made aware of another world, another drama, another reality, if you will, going on around me. What caused gravity to override the nimbleness of squirrel feet? I have no idea, I didn’t hear a scuffle, but maybe I just wasn’t tuned into the fight.

Life is happening all around us. Battles are ragging unseen around us — some far more substantial and life-threatening than a couple of squirrels. Just because we walk through our days and lives, numb to their reality doesn’t mean they aren’t there. All we have to do is wake up, or better yet look up!