Squish the Fish

Well, friends, I've arrived safe and sound in London. This Fish was squeezed in like a sardine on the plane. I had to sit sideways for some of the 7 hour flight because the lady in front of me put her seat back into my lap 5 minutes into the flight. It's great being 6 feet 5 inches tall when you're a basketball player but not when you fly Air Transat.

Tonight I went to Picadilly Circus and had fish & chips at Garfunkel's Restaurant. The mashed peas were different but not bad. I also went to a huge 6 storey bookstore where the new age and psychic section was about 5 times the size of the religion section. Sad!

Tomorrow I'll tour London on a double-decker bus. You can get on and off wherever you want and then get on another one when it comes along. I'm also going to visit the Metropolitan Tabernacle where Spurgeon preached so powerfully. They have rebuilt the church on a smaller scale than the original but I want to see it and check out their Christian bookstore.

I don't have wireless internet access where I'm staying tonight and tomorrow evening so I'm across the road at an internet cafe.

Thanks for your love and prayers.

The Pilgrim

Note - I've taken a lot of pictures but can't post them with this computer. I'll do that later.

45 Minutes 'Til I Leave For the Airport

Guess what? Now that I'm this close to realizing my dream, I'm fretting about the trip, wondering if things will be as "wonderful" as I've envisioned them for over 50 years. Am I crazy?

My flight leaves Toronto at 11:30 p.m. tonight. This time tomorrow I'll be sleeping in my London hotel after having tea with the Queen.

Thanks for your prayers!

Note: This is where I'll be staying for 2 nights while I'm in Bristol.

Heartfelt Thanks

Dear blogging buddies:

Thank you for your prayers, your comments, your best wishes and your kind thoughts as I prepare to leave tonight on my Pilgrimage to England. I've been too busy to respond to your comments but they are greatly appreciated!

Please check my blog daily for updates on how things are going. It has become a jam-packed itinerary but it will be a rewarding journey. Thanks again, dear friends, and please pray daily for me and also for Carol and my family here at home.
Much love in Christ,

David

Something To Think About

• ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.


• I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN "WHERE'S THE SELF-HELP SECTION?" SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.


• IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?


• WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?"


• IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?


• WHY DO THEY LOCK GAS STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?


• CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?


• IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?


• WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?


• HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?


• WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?


• ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.


• IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?


• WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

and, as my friend Larry Andersen always asked:

• WHY DO WE DRIVE ON THE PARKWAY AND PARK ON THE DRIVEWAY?

Just wondering...

Fish's Friends

Too rushed to reduce the red-eye. Thought I'd introduce you to two Zachs and two Justins before I fly away to England. Top row left to right...Justin Caruana and Zach Harnden Bottow row left to right...Justin Soryal gives the "thumbs up" and Zach Bogosian. We all had a great time tonight at MONDAY WE HAVE FISH!

Monday We Had "Real" Fish

Tonight (Monday, February 26th) we had our twice-monthly chapel service with the Peterborough Petes. What an incredible evening! We had the best fish & chips in town from Captain George's.

Every player on the team was there with the exception of one guy who came to me earlier and explained why he couldn't make it.

After a great meal we gathered around the fireplace in the Alumni Room at the Peterborough Memorial Centre and I shared a few verses from Proverbs chapter 3.

After viewing a short DVD on what it means to have a "relationship with Jesus Christ" I prayed with the guys and they were on their way.

Each time we meet I sense the Spirit of God moving in wonderful ways and I praise God for the incredible opportunity He has given me to shape the lives of these young, impressionable men. Thanks for your ongoing prayer support for this ministry.

Note: I tried to add more pictures to this post but couldn't. I'll try again.

Today I Can Say "Tomorrow"

Well friends! Tomorrow is take-off day. I'll board the plane to London, England, Lord willing, just after 11:00 p.m. and head across the big pond.

This is the first time I can say, "Tomorrow I leave for England!" My itinerary is quickly becoming full and finalized. On Friday evening my friend Nathan Betts (who is studying at Oxford) and I will attend a lecture in the Oxford Town Hall (pictured) where renowned Christian apologist William Lane Craig will tackle the subject "Does God Exist?".

Saturday we will tour the home of C. S. Lewis.

I'll keep you posted...literally...with lots of posts as I make my pilgrimage. If those whose homes, gravesites, churches, etc. were to come to life during my visit I would meet Charles Haddon Spurgeon, John Bunyan, William Cowper, John Newton, William Carey, George Muller, John Wesley, Charles Wesley and others. What a Christian Hall of Faith!

Thanks for your prayers and your well wishes. Please pray for Carol and the children while I am gone.

Blessings!

Great Game

On Thursday night the Senators lost 6-5 to the Sabres in a shootout in Buffalo. Tonight we turned the tables on them beating the Sabres by the same 6-5 score in regulation time. Mike Fisher picked up two assists and played his usual strong game.

Nathan had a great time in the private box of the Senators' President Roy Mlakar. Here are a few photos from the box and from the game.

The "excellent adventure " continues. Stay tuned!

Note: # 36 for the Sabres is my friend, ex-Pete, Patrick Kaleta.

We're Back

Nathan (10) and his dad are here in Ottawa today and we're looking forward to catching the Senators' game tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. We'll keep you posted as we continue our "excellent adventure". Now we're off to Kelsey's for our pre-game meal.

Go Sens Go!

P. S. My friend, former Peterborough Pete Patrick Kaleta, (pictured) is suiting up again tonight for the Sabres after a smashing NHL debut on Thursday night. There'll be some mixed loyalties if Mike Fisher and Patrick are on the ice at the same time but, as they say, "Blood is stronger than water!"

More later!

Weekend With Little Fish

Wow! I spent the last two days in our nation's capital, Ottawa. On Friday I conducted a chapel service for the Ottawa Senators and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the players. Following the service my friend David Kennedy and I were treated to lunch by my nephew Mike Fisher (Little Fish) at our favorite Ottawa eating establishment, Baton Rouge. Their ribs are incredible!

This afternoon (Saturday) we watched the Sens beat the visiting Atlanta Thrashers 5-3 with Mike playing a strong game and scoring an empty net goal to put the game out of reach (see picture of the team congratulating Mike). We enjoyed the game from the Senators' private box courtesy of the Sens' President, Roy Mlakar. Roy has become a good friend over the last few years.

I commented to David during the game, "I'm almost feeling guilty that "ministry" can be this much fun." Seriously...it was a joy to be in Ottawa and to serve the Lord through the outreach provided to the hockey world through Hockey Ministries International.

God is good!

Mining the Archives

Greetings, my friends! This morning I went digging in the Pilgrim Scribblings archive mine and came up with a post that evoked more response than most of my other writing. As I read it I realized that I am still "there". I still haven't learned to trust Him more implicitly. I'm still edgy as I "wait for the salvation of the Lord".

During these uncertain days I'm cast upon the Lord like never before. May I learn to trust Him more, the One who is completely trustworthy, the One who changes not and always keeps His word.

Here is that post. May the God of all grace use it to challenge you today!

I wrote:

Time and time again I go back to a book, Bright Days, Dark Nights, penned by a favorite writer of mine, Elizabeth Skoglund (see my links). She writes on subjects such as confidence, depression, anxiety, change and transition using the writings of the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, to illustrate her point.

The following quote by Spurgeon mirrors a statement that I used to make quite honestly and quite often. But now, I must confess, I don't know that I'm able to truthfully say it any more. The ravages of uncertainly, the stresses of being "down to the wire", the scariness of "not knowing" have played havoc with "all I once held dear".

Admitting this is difficult! What I once declared may have sounded very "noble", very "spiritual", very "right" but the years have taken their toll.

Let me give you Spurgeon's quote before I continue... "If I might have any choice between having abundant wealth, or being brought to absolute dependence upon daily supplies, if, in the latter case, I could have greater power to exhibit and to exert faith in Christ, I must confess that I should prefer the mode of living which would give me most room to enjoy the luxury of depending upon my God. I believe it is more happy and more divine a life to live from hand to mouth, dependant upon the provinces of God, and having the confidence to trust Him, than it is to have all the abundance of this world, but to have nothing about which faith may exercise itself." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

There it is! As I said, I used to echo these thoughts although not so eloquently. Do I want to trust God implicitly? Of course! Do I believe that He can provide all I need? Absolutely! Do I want abundant wealth in a worldly way? Definitely not!

So, as I find myself in uncertain waters, I am crying out to God to be the Great Provider. He has been that in the past for me and He will never change.


Living on the edge has made me edgy and that can be a good thing.

For example...

Positively speaking:

1. I could be on the edge of another God-thing...another miracle that has no explanation other than that God did it!
2. I could be on the edge of a breakthrough where I experience deeper intimacy with God than ever before.
3. I could be on the edge of a new career path...a new vocation where God continues to be at the center.

Or, in a negative sense:

1. I could be on the edge of financial ruin.
2. I could be on the edge of unexpected grief or pain.
3. I could be on the edge of something that could shatter hope.

So, as I begin a new day with my hand held firmly by a Sovereign God I will say, "Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid." - Isaiah 12:2

Yes, the unknown is scary! Yes, I want to truthfully say what Spurgeon said! But, for now, I will say this, "Moment by moment I'm kept in His love."

I'll choose to look at the positive "edges" and "expect great things from God."

Thanks for your prayers during my bumpy pilgrimage!

Transparently,

David

February 15th, 2007 note: I trust that you will be encouraged after reading this post in which I bared my heart and soul. Step out by faith and trust Him wholly. Because... "those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true" as the hymnwwriter has so ably written.

Trust Him today!

No Go...Much Snow

Well, dear friends, I'm back home after a fruitless trip to Buffalo to catch my flight to Ft. Myers, FL. The bad weather in the northern states canceled many of the flights out of Buffalo and they couldn't even guarantee that I'd get out tomorrow.

So, after battling the snow, I'm home again! Both David Shantz (pictured on the right) and I are disappointed. We were looking forward to getting together and getting caught up on things. Last year he played for the Peterborough Petes so we were together a lot. This season he's playing for the Florida Everblades so I haven't see him since last summer.

Oh well, the Lord must have something really good in store...down the road. He does all things well.

Thanks again, Terry, for rallying the troops to pray. Yesterday I was feeling so sick that Carol had to drive me home. Today I drove to Buffalo and back and felt great! God really does answer prayer!

Be encouraged, dear friends!

P. S. And, by the way, Terry and Debra, I waved as I drove by!

Thanks For Your Prayers

I just came downstairs to my computer to check my e-mails and found several "get-well" notes plus a number of comments on my Pilgrim Scribblings and "the Barnabas Blog" sites. First of all, my heartfelt thanks to my dear blogging buddy and sister in the Lord, Terry from Canadian Blogger. What a special friend! She got on my case about my blogging disappearance over the last few days so I told her that I've been "sick as a dog". If I showed you my passport picture you'd think I was a dog.

Anyhow, it's Monday night and I'm going back to bed in a few minutes to get more sleep. My CPAP machine that Terry mentioned hasn't been helping much so I'm going to try sleeping without it tonight. Early tomorrow morning I will make the decision whether or not to drive to Buffalo to catch my flight to Ft. Myers, FL where I will visit my dear friend David Shantz. David, who plays hockey for the Florida Everblades, has been the subject of many of my posts on Pilgrim Scribblings. I'm trusting that I'll be feeling much better in the morning. Please join me in praying that this will be the case. It's a quick 3-day trip. I'll be back, Lord willing, on Thursday evening.

The flu and colds have been running through our household and I had hoped that I would be immune after taking so many vitamins. NOT! Matthew and Carol are still battling it!

So, I'll be posting again as soon as possible. If I travel to Florida I'll have my two trusted friends with me, Mr. Sony and Mr. Toshiba, so I can post pictures on my sites.

God is good and He has blessed me already today through your prayerful concern. THANKS!

P. S. I'm certainly praying that I'll be feeling 100% on the 27th when I fly to England. It certainly is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

Also - please pray for me this Friday as I travel to our nation's capital, Ottawa, to speak in an Ottawa Senators' chapel. Of course my nephew Mike Fisher and some teammates will be there.

Trying Again

Some of you couldn't see the picture of Brodie on my earlier post. I couldn't either on my computer at home.

I'm trying again. Hopefully Brodie will appear this time. He has disappeared far too often recently. Let me know if he doesn't show up.

He's usually pretty good at keeping his appointments, especially when I am buying lunch! Thanks!

I Wrote, She Wrote

Back in October I wrote a post entitled Dreaming. Terry (Teresa or Canadian Blogger) wrote a comment concerning that post and I've included it below.

I wrote:

A guy can dream can't he? Earlier last week I stood at one of the easternmost parts of Canada and looked across the Atlantic (by faith) to Bristol, England. One of these days I'll hop on a plane, fly to London, rent a car and drive to Bristol. ' Til then I'll continue dreaming of the day I arrive on Ashley Down in Bristol where George Muller's orphanages stood. Praise God for the legacy Mr. Muller left!

She wrote:

Dear David..

You have such a longing in your soul to go to Bristol to see where George Muller's orphanges stood. Maybe it will happen someday and it would make us so happy for you. I wonder how Mr. Muller would feel if he knew how much you have always admired him? Sometimes heroes come and go in a person's life but this love of yours has never gone or ebbed! One thing is for certain though that you WILL meet him one of these days in heaven. Oh boy, David Fisher.. That will be even better than Bristol, England, and it WON'T be just a dream....Christian love from Terry

David:

George Muller's legacy WILL live as long as there are people like you who are telling everybody about it!

Terry

So, as I reported earlier, the dream will become a reality. I leave Toronto for London, Lord willing, on Tuesday, the 27th of February. I won't rent a car and drive to Bristol though. I'll take trains or buses on my pilgrimage. First it will be to Olney to see the Cowper & Newton Museum, then over to Oxford to visit my dear friend, Nathan Betts, who's studying there. Then I'm off to Bristol.

Am I excited? Yes! Thanks for your encouragement, Terry! I'll be vicariously enjoying the trip for you!

God is good!

NOTE: If you haven't paid a visit to my George Muller site, please drop by for a look. It's at: http://www.georgemuller.blogspot.com

Note: The first picture is taken at Ashley Down in Bristol where the orphanage building still stand. They are now used by the City of Bristol College. The 2nd picture is of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. This is NOT the original structure where Charles Spurgeon preached but it's a smaller replica. Peter Masters preaches there now. I hope to visit this church for two reasons. First of all, because of its historical connection and secondly, because there's a great Christian book store there.

Old & New

Here's a photo (I took today) of The Old Colonial Weaving Building where my office is located. Yes, I DID take it today.

Actually there's a large picture of the building hanging in the main lobby. I took my SONY in there and took a photo of the photo.

This afternoon the lobby in my corner of the room got a nice addition. A print of a painting of our building done by Peer Christensen, a friend of mine...a local artist here in Peterborough.

Mine is the corner office between the post and the door. I'm not sure when that original picture was taken.

What a privilege to share the corner of the building with colleagues who are Christians! Our landlord loves the Lord and we often pray together in my office.

Needless to say...I'm blessed! Thank you Lord!

Glad To Be Back

Rejoice with me! Brodie is back! The Hope of His Calling is active again! Wow! Our campaign to raise Brodie from the dead has been successful!

Brodie and I had lunch together today. Carol and Matthew joined us so it was actually David, Carol & Matthew plus Brodie. Just like my 15 readers plus Brodie, eh! Check out his latest posts on The Hope of His Calling! Welcome back, my friend! P. S. Here's a picture of Brodie leaving Calvary Church when I went to pick him up. Looks like he's glad to be alive again!

Note: I've removed Brodie's picture from this post because it wasn't appearing on everyone's computer. Check my more recent post entitled Trying Again for the picture. THANKS!

We Miss You

A concerted plea for the resurrection of Brodie MacLeod former blogger and host of The Hope of His Calling.

PLEASE COME BACK, BRODIE!

Please go to The Hope of His Calling and leave a comment for Brodie, telling him that you miss his posts.

THANKS!

Changes

Here I go again. I've changed the format of PILGRIM SCRIBBLINGS again. The column with the posts in it was too cramped and narrow for my liking so I'm trying this template.

One of these days I'll pay for a professionally designed site but until my readership reaches 20 people, I'll stand pat with this format.

It's been a great Lord's day! Tomorrow I visit my family doctor in Toronto again. He wants me to get another series of tests. I'll keep you posted concerning my health issues. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement, dear friends.

Keep looking to Jesus!

Leaving Soon

Well friends, I did it! I bought my ticket for London, England and will fly February 27th, Lord willing, to Gatwick airport to begin 8-9 days of reliving history.

I've dreamed of this for over 50 years and now it's coming to pass!

One of the highlights will be a trip from London to Olney to see the Cowper/Newton Museum. Of course John Newton wrote the famed hymn, Amazing Grace and William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper")wrote There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood, which is in my top 10 of all time favorite hymns.

Thanks for your prayers as I plan this trip. I'll be blogging throughout my travels to keep you up to date on what I'm experiencing. Hopefully you'll vicariously take the trip with me.

Stay posted!