Tim Bits is now on Twitter

For all those that follow my blog and are interested, I just opened up a Twitter account. If you care to follow me there, just click this link, and you'll be directed to my twitter page.

What If: In The Steps Of A First Century Disciple

With it being easter weekend, i thought it would be appropriate to share one of my newest devotionals on the night of Jesus betrayal...So please enjoy one of my devotionals titled What If: In The Steps Of A First Century Disciple I hope it inspires you, Tim bits


What if…

• You discovered a new island, what would you name it and why?
• A classmate asked you for the answer to a question during an exam while the teacher was not looking? Would you give them the answer?
• You were in the bank and somebody started to hold up the bank, what would you do? How would you react?
• You had only 48 hours to live, what would you do?

Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

MATT 26:31-35 NLT

After having a feast with his disciples, Jesus takes them on a walk to the Mount of Olives. Along the way, Jesus tells them he will be captured by the end of the night. The disciples will then run away in fear, and deny any association with Christ. Shocked by this news, Peter pledges to die with Jesus if he has too; and he proves his readiness to die by drawing a sword and hacking off someone’s ear when confronted by the mob that would take Jesus away (John 18:10). Unfortunately for Peter, Jesus was right. Peter denied ever knowing Jesus and ran like the dickens when the rubber met the road. (Matt 26:69-75).

Perhaps you’ve read the same story agreeing with Peter. If you heard Jesus say he was going to be arrested and abandoned by his closest friends, you would promise to die with Him too. Only this time it would be different. You would confirm your alliance with Christ, stand your ground and not run like the coward Peter was at that moment.

The Gospel of Luke says Jesus came to fulfill everything that the Old Testament ever spoke of concerning a coming Messiah or Savior (Luke 24:44). The first century Jews were looking for a Savior that the Old Testament referred to, and Matthew wrote his gospel to show the Israelites that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah the Old Testament spoke of. So when Matthew wrote his Gospel, he mentioned things in Jesus’ life that matched the Old Testament prophecies which spoke of a coming Messiah or Savior. The disciples scattering at the time of Jesus’ arrest is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy proving Jesus to be the chosen one. The disciples abandoning Jesus was one of these fulfilled prophecies. So the likelihood of everyone deserting Jesus at this time is not only definite but certain.

I don’t know what your relationship with God is like today, but maybe this story is tugging at your heart. Maybe you find yourself in the same situation as Peter; feeling remorse for a stupid decision you made recently. If you do, let me say all hope is not lost. Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus rises from the dead and has a heart to heart talk with Peter during breakfast by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-17). After this, Peter’s hope was restored and his faith rekindled. Despite his many mistakes as a disciple, Peter became a great leader in the church. He even became a contributing author to the New Testament as he wrote 1 and 2 Peter. Being restored that morning near the Sea of Galilee, Peter had no idea how God was going to bless his life. All it took was a heart to heart conversation with Jesus. If you find yourself needing the same thing as Peter did, be encouraged to know that Jesus is waiting to hear from you.

Here I am waiting

Abide in me I pray

Here I am longing

For You

Hide me in Your love

Bring me to my knees

May I know Jesus

More and more

Come live in me

All my life

Take over

Come breathe in me

I will rise

On eagle's wings

The Bay of Pigs

The gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus exorcising a demon-possessed man. (Luke 8:26-35) The man Jesus encounters refers to himself as Legion and is indicative of the severity to his possession. “Legion” is symbolic of thousands of demons controlling this man’s every thought, word, and deed. Upon approaching Jesus, Legion blurts out Jesus true identity as Son of the Most High God. He further claims Jesus' ministry is interfering with the demon’s rule on earth. After healing the man, instead of sending the demons into the underworld, he sends them into a heard of pigs. The three little pigs then take a dive off a cliff and drown in the nearby lake

Plenty could be said about this showdown between Jesus and the demons. The demon's reference to Jesus as Son of the Most High God; show they have a supernatural knowledge of who Jesus is, ask favors of, and obey him. It’s been said that Jesus’ ability to heal the man possessed by many demons demonstrates His dominion over Satan and the other demons (click here). Ink has even been spilled over the Hellenization of the Jews resulting in the presence of pig farms on Jewish land, despite their forbiddance of pork consumption. Something that strikes my curiosity is why Jesus sent this legion of demons into the herd, before they went swimming with the fishes. Maybe Jesus embraced his Jewish roots and was reacting to the presence of the “other white meat”? I don’t know what to think about it, but I welcome your thoughts comments and suggestions. Much love, Tim bits

On The Discovery Channel

If you read any portion of my blog, it doesn’t take much to see that I’ve been on a journey of discovery as of late. Although I shudder at the thought, its definitely true that its been almost a full calendar year of asking, poking and prodding God to find out what He wants me to so with this next leg of my life. I must say so far it feels like I’ve been on a rollercoaster with plenty of dead ends/locked doors, u-turns and loop da loops. Parts of the journey have felt like dragging my legs through mud. Why can change be such a drag? This change isn’t wholly a stick in the mud though, for I have seen many grow ops (that’s my "word" for growth opportunities). I’ve experienced freedom from things that have kept me disabled, rediscovered that the kingdom of God is not only tangible but it is something that I can actually take part in. I also have a newfound joy for worship.

However, it still feels like life (for me at least) is still on the discovery channel. My good friends Erik and Bonnie popped by for a visit this week in response to an email I sent them a few weeks ago. I had asked them a question about leadership as it pertains to my involvement with the Expressions Community. In addition to vision casting about things ahead for expressions, they encouraged me to put feet to the new mission God seems to have called me to: encouraging people with disabilities. I felt deeply encouraged as we dreamed about the possibilities and wrestled with what my new mission looks like.

Together, the three of us figured that encouraging people with disabilities would need to include investing in them somehow. What does that look like? I don’t know, maybe I could buy them all some stock with their maturity date being April 1st. To what extent do invest in these people? No comprende mi amigo, but I do know I want it to be a long lasting one. So if you come across this and feel the urge to pray, feel free to do so. Until next time, this is Tim bits saying over and out!

Tim bits...this is your life!

In the 1950's NBC ran a popular TV series titled This Is Your Life. The show consisted of its host, surprising someone famous, and providing a spontaneous, unscripted and entirely unrehearsed biography of the famed persona. I couldn’t help but play this game with my own life as I searched for a challenge from my past suitable for my theatre group's performance this past Friday. It was quite the joy to rifle through my many accomplishments, recall the challenges that have helped shape and mold my life thus far. Most of the challenges that came to mind were childhood dreams now in fruition. some of these were being part of a band, working as a hired chef, following in the footsteps of local celebrity Gerry Forbes and being the voice behind the mic at a radio station, or working as a DJ...something I’ve gotten to do twice =)

In a recounting of my life, such countenance would be incomplete if you do not talk about the extreme side of Tim bits (and no I’m not talking about a franks red hot donut hole loll). To talk about my extreme side, you'd have to talk about my daring nature and how at one point I would do almost anything on a dare. Such things in this category would include eating salad off a floor or meat out of someone’s mouth (don’t ask). To get a laugh you could mention my fabled stint as a UFC welter weight champion. If the host is still running short on material they could mention my attempt at the extreme sport of hydro bronc.




All in all I’m quite pleased about my life thus far, and like Frodo Baggins on Middle Earth, there are many more pages and chapters to be added to my life ... and THAT’S a money back guarantee lol

Overcoming Temptation

today i thought i would post an old sermon i once preached in college. i hope you enjoy... Tim Bits :)

Promise Of A Lifetime

By Kutless

I have fallen to my knees

As I sing a lullaby of pain

I'm feeling broken in my melody

As I sing to help the tears go away

Then I remember the pledge you made to me

I know you're always there

To hear my every prayer inside

I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime

I hear the words you say

To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime

Will you help me fall apart

Pick me up, take me in your arms

Find my way back from the storm

And you show me how to grow
Through the change

I still remember the pledge you made to me

I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day

Putting my understanding aside

And I am comforted

Our text today comes from Luke 4:1-13. It is here that we find Jesus fasting, and after Jesus’ spiritual retreat he has an altercation with Satan, where Jesus faces some pretty powerful temptations. Satan first tempts Jesus with his most obvious physical need, food. One commentator I read from says the type of fasting Jesus did probably only limited him to consuming nothing but liquids for 40 days. Hence the gospel writers remark; “he ate nothing during those 40 days and was hungry. The second temptation Jesus is faced with is abandoning God and joining forces with Satan. By doing so, Jesus will still be handed over all authority on the earth, which will be given to him at the end of his life anyways.

But if Jesus chooses to join Satan, he can gain all this authority and avoid all the pain and suffering of doing it God’s way. Did you ever see Mel Gibson’s The Passion? That movie just gives us a taste of the suffering Jesus went through. I don’t know about you, but to hear that I can achieve the same results without being beaten and killed the way Mel Gibson depicts; chances are I would have jumped ship right away.

Jesus’ 3rd temptation is perhaps the most difficult. I say this because Satan challenges Jesus to test God by getting him to jump off a cliff. Then Satan quotes scripture himself citing psalm 91:11-2

For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

These 2 verses show that God promises to protect his own. Satan’s premise is, if God protects his own and you are his son, then you can jump and not worry. You can run over the edge and not be crushed. Satan suggests this kind of protection will enhance Jesus’ dependency on God as he flings himself into his caring arms.

As we look at the temptations Jesus faced when confronted by Satan we can see that each one has become increasingly difficult. But the story doesn’t end there. I invite you to join me as together, we not only look at the temptations Jesus faced, but this story is filled with hope. As Jesus overcomes each one of these temptations, he shows us, his church, a body of believers gathered together one thing. Overcoming the desires and lures of temptation is difficult but possible.

The first time we see Satan tempting Jesus after the 40 days of fasting, Satan tempts him by saying: “you have all the powers and abilities that God has and you could take that rock over there and turn it into some bread, then you wont be so hungry. And do you know what? Satan was right!! Jesus does have all the powers that God has and yes Jesus could use those powers to turn a pile of rocks into some food. But Jesus understands that this is a challenge to do things his way, and to neglect what his heavenly father would have him do. Instead he takes a stand and refuses to ignore God. Jesus acknowledges the Heavenly Father’s plan for his life and successfully fights off the temptation as hungry as He is. Jesus’ successful bout with the devil reveals how dedicated he is to God’s will and plan for his life. Jesus will only take the road God asks of him to follow. Jesus will not take short cuts. He knows a successful walk with God only goes where the father leads.

When Satan challenges Jesus a second time, he purposes an allegiance. Satan concocts a deal between him and Jesus. “Pledge allegiance to me and no other. In return, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world and authority over them.” The temptation is not only to join Satan but to take the lazy man’s way out. The temptation is for Jesus to excuse himself from all that lies ahead in his ministry… including all the suffering and rejection involved in his crucifixion.

The bible tells us that Satan does have some authority on the earth. John’s Gospel refers to Satan as the prince of this world and 2 Cor 4:4 calls him god of this world. Even though Satan does have some authority on the earth, he doesn’t have the power to hand over the kingdoms of the world to Jesus. Jesus reply makes it clear he knows Satan is lying. Going Satan’s way is not the way to gain power. That’s exactly how to lose a position of power. The quick and easy way might work in achieving the goal, or completing the task. However this doesn’t always bring glory to God.

By Jesus’ third temptation, Satan got smart and tried to use scripture to manipulate Jesus into a sinful trap. Satan tries to get Jesus to jump off a cliff. While quoting psalm 91:11-12, Satan reminds Jesus that God sends angels to protect the ones he loves. Satan is correct in saying this. Unfortunately, Satan takes that verse way out of context. According to Michael J. Wilkins, the original context in which this scripture is used, it does not imply that God will send protective care for every harmful thing situation. Realizing this, Jesus counteracts with the following scripture:

Do not test the LORD your God.

After this Luke’s Gospel tells us that Satan left him for an opportune time; so what? What difference does that make? How does this apply to us, a group of believers gathered here, today in 2006 AD? I think its: when temptation comes our way, it is POSSIBLE to overcome temptation. notice what I didn’t say. I DIDN’T say it was going to be easy, I said it was possible. Overcoming temptation is never easy, but then again sometimes the quick and easy way out steals the glory from God.

So what can we do when temptation comes our way? One thing we could do is to pick up our bible and start reading and don’t stop until the desire to sin is gone. I have to admit I’m not the best example at doing this, but the times I do it, it does help. Another thing we can do is stay away from whatever avenue there is to feed those desires. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight and you have a craving for something sweet, stay away from bakeries; or if you’re trying to quit smoking, throw your cigarettes into a rose bush. This way every time you crave a cigarette you’ll want to stay away from the cigarette because you eventually you won’t want to get pricked by the thorns every time you want to smoke. 1 cor 10: 13 says:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Another thing we could do to over come temptation is cling to this promise and ask God to show us the way out of the risky situation, whatever that may be. Pray asking God to help us stand under tempting moments they arrive.

I’d like to close by reading Psalm 91 from the New Living Translation.

PSALM 91

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

nor the arrow that flies in the day.

Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,

nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

Though a thousand fall at your side,

though ten thousand are dying around you,

these evils will not touch you.

Just open your eyes,

and see how the wicked are punished.

If you make the Lord your refuge,

if you make the Most High your shelter,

no evil will conquer you;

no plague will come near your home.

For he will order his angels

to protect you wherever you go.

They will hold you up with their hands

so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

You will trample upon lions and cobras;

you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.

I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue and honor them.

I will reward them with a long life

and give them my salvation.”

Tim Bits number 27!!!!

So tonight I got curios what would happen if I googled Tim bits where my site would show up. It’s tough to pin point exactly. I googled it 3 times and this blog showed up somewhere between 35 and 25. But the last time I checked it was ranked 27!!! Sweet deal! I knew life was always better with a bit of Tim's lol!

More Writing Oppotunities

Last week I was attending a special needs ministry collaborative in Calgary and got to share what God has been doing in my life the last few months; which I divulged to you in the last two entries. One of the people attending this collaborative was my good friend and ministry partner Erik.

A side note about Erik...
Erik has his own blog, and is one of the founding pastors of Expressions Community (the other of course being his wife). It is a small group movement in SE Calgary whose focus is seeking expressions of Jesus as Lord in everyday life and community. (For more info check out their website).

On Saturday I was attending Re:Genesis, a ministry of expressions and afterwards he offered me the opportunity to write for the expressions website. providing commentary, reactions to the ministries of expressions. After giving it some thought, it DOES help promote me as a writer so I’m going to start doing so. My first writing for them will be on their grey cup party this Sunday. Rumor has it, their will be chili at this party so don’t be surprised if you see the food critic in me come out in that post.

Also a friend of mine involved in the theatre community here was telling me his theatre group is looking to hire new actors. Part of the gig would involve writing stage plays in addition to putting on shows. I haven’t quite decided yet but they do work with the disability community and it is another place I would be able to practice my writing and hone the craft.

I'm also thinking about attending this next week.

I'm not sure how it'll benefit me yet, but it's something I'm thinking about. well thats my bit, whats yours?

Once It Began ...

Last night I told you how I began writing devotionals in March of '09... This is its continuation

During this time I was still in college heavily focused on finishing my internship and graduating Bible College. I started out the internship with a plan to bring people with disabilities to my local church. However, at the end of the first semester it was clear my first idea was a no fly zone. Fortunately the college and I came up with an alternative plan for the final semester.

From January to April my internship was to be a research project on the needs of people with disabilities in the city and how the church is currently responding to those needs. After the college and I decided this was the next course of action, we pooled our resources, developed an action plan and off I went.

Four months came and went and at the end of it I was juggling classes, homework, devotional writing and the extra demands that come with being a graduating college student. It was tough but at the end of April I was holding my college degree and a 12-15 page research paper on how the church at large can minister to people with disabilities in Calgary.

In May I had a real difficult time writing my devotionals for Got To Be There Ministries in Australia. After some prayer, we realized the Lord wanted me to pursue some healing in my life. During this time, my involvement in ministry (of any sort) was to temporarily cease. So off I went on a personal retreat.

In the midst of my pilgrimage, God was still at work. A friend of mine quite passionate about the church's need for inclusion of the special needs community, read my research and wanted to include it in an eBook he was writing. He contacted me during my retreat and asked if he could publish it as part of his eBook. Despite my reluctance and silence toward the topic, he took the initiative to include my research as part of his publication. (I should probably clarify that I don’t harbor bad feelings toward his actions but am rather grateful he did this).

Though my voice was silent and in seclusion, God's voice was loud and active. When I was trekking through what some called a "winter season" God was at work on my behalf. Because of it, I’m now a contributing author to One Table: A New Social Gospel

And now, at the end of my winter season, I stand with a better understanding of what my next chapter in life will be. Still possessing a heart, desire, (or as some may call it), a gift to minister to the special needs community in my city, and I’m going to seek out ways and opportunities to do so. Encouragement seems to be a predominant gift the Lord has blessed me with, accompanied by a newfound gift of writing. With these I’m going to seek opportunities to write, hoping that my use of language with inspire those who come across it.

Those are my two bits; I’m curious what are yours?

In The Beginning God Said: YES!

Well hello world, I am Tim or Timbo or backwards mit or even hey you works sometimes... just make sure your not talking with the guy next to me lol. I am the author and creator of Tim Bits: Better then a Tim Horton's donut hole, nourishing your mind and soul.

For a number of months now I’ve been encouraged (both by God and others) to pursue writing. It started in early 2009. I was lying in bed one night frustrated with my relationship to God. . I went through a period of going to church with sin in my heart, asking for forgiveness, and, walking out the doors of the congregation-free and forgiven. that night I would be tempted to lust after someone I had absolute ZERO interest in, and end up exactly where I started the day: with sin in my heart. I’d then start out the next morning the same as the previous day. The only difference would be my geographical location.

This pattern became such a regular thing for me; you could almost guarantee that I’d be repeating it no more then three days later. I knew I was experiencing a lack of growth and my bible was just a dust collector; so something needed to change. One night I was laying in bed thinking up ways to break my religiosity toward sin. Reflecting on some of the things that have helped ward off my "fleshly desires", I recalled anytime I’ve interacted with God's word. The times I’ve been asked to preach or prepare a sermon have been the greatest times of growth. These were also the longest time I’ve gone without a craving for sin, or have had the wherewithal to ask for help during the temptation.

After rifling through the countless ways I could study God's word in the same fashion, I settled on sending people a weekly devotional via email. The only problem was I didn’t know anyone I could send them too. But I figured if scripture says the earth is God's footstool, and He created it and knows all and sees all then he knows people I could send these devotionals too. So I asked Him to hook me up and open a door. Take my bible study email idea and make it a reality.

2-3 weeks pass and an msn friend informed me she was starting a new ministry based in Australia. She was looking to put together a team to write weekly devotionals that would get sent out via email to a list of contacts she has, and offered me a spot on the team.

I was shocked at the offer as I had been praying about the same thing almost verbatim for roughly two weeks. I told her yes and began writing weekly devotionals in March of this year.

The story continues another day ... in the meantime check out Got To Be There Ministries International this is the group I write devotionals for.