Durocher's Blog

" Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings..." Rejoice? When is the last time you "rejoiced" when a fiery trial came upon you? It hurts... Text message: Him: "Hey brother if you could spare the time could you pray for me? Under attack again by the enemy--very tiresome. Can't wait for Christ to come back". Me: "Remember. You're not a loser. You're not a liar. You're not abandoned and you're never alone". Him: "I keep praying so hard and feel better for a while then spiral down again. It makes me feel my faith is not strong enough at times". Me: "Exactly. You don't need faith when you are on top. The devil comes prowling when he sees you down". Him: "So God is waiting for me to crumble to my knees? I have every night. I start...

The Chief Shepherd Take a look at this photo. What do you see? A shepherd--some sheep--and what? The sheepdog! The trusted old sheepdog. If Jesus is the good shepherd and His sheep know His voice, then how can anyone else be a shepherd of His flock? Peter left us with this instruction, " So I exhort the elders among you... shepherd the flock of God that is among you , exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory". The sheepdog Within the bible we find many illustrations about shepherds and sheep, but there is much variation in how the comparison is used. Here is an example that Jesus used about sheep: ' Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves'.  I thin...

Life is pain The world is a difficult place. The world takes no prisoners. The world prowls around seeking who it may devour. The world will abandon you. The--world--will--abandon--you. " Life is pain, Highness, anyone who says differently is selling something ". Dread Pirate Roberts If you are human, you have surely felt abandoned some time in your life. Sure, some have it worse than others, but let's not kid ourselves, we all feel it some time or another. It might be by a family member, or a friend. How about a teacher or a co-worker. A parent or a government. We all feel it. When you feel it, what exactly does it feel like? REJECTION! That's what it feels like. It feels like rejection. Do you know why? Because it IS rejection. When we are abandoned, we are left in favor of something else. We are rejected and that other thing, whatever it may be, is chosen over us. When we are abandoned we desperately want to feel loved, to feel accepted,...

Freaky Pentys--Which stands for Freaky Pentecostals  Ben was intently looking down at the maintenance log for the helicopter. Ben was our new mechanic. We had just recently moved to a new state and I began a new job. I found out that Ben was a believer so I wanted to know where he gathered for church meetings. "Ben", I said. "You go to an Assembly of God, don't you"? "Yes", Ben replied while never lifting his eyes from his work. "Do they......um...do they roll around in the isles and bark like dogs"? Awkward pause. Ben lifted his eyes then quickly dropped them back to his work and replied, "Do you want them to"? How many of you have had this conversation? Or a conversation similar to it? "Are you one of those Calvinists"? "Are you charismatic"? "Are you dispensational"? We love labels.  " You're Presbyterian? I know about you. You are the 'Frozen chosen'. God chose...