The Pastor’s Blog – O CANADA
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
1y ago
Yesterday was Canada Day. In our church service tomorrow we will sing our national anthem and pray for our nation. It seems so appropriate to celebrate our country and humbly thank God for the privilege to live in this wonderful land. Sadly, there are many people choosing to bypass Canada Day this year, saying the celebration of this day is to celebrate colonialism. They believe that because of the current conversations about residential schools and the damage done by the Indian Act that we should cease to celebrate Canada Day. There is even a movement called “Cancel Canada Day.” I think that ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – THAT OLD BRIDGE
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
1y ago
They tell me that the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is known as the city of bridges. The city was built along the North Saskatchewan River, and many bridges were necessary to connect the various parts of the city. As you look down the river you can see one bridge after another gracefully spanning the valley carved by the flowing water. As we approached this bridge I could see it was quite old, and very solid. The gracefully arches of concrete planted on solid pedestals looked like the aqueducts of the Romans that seem to last forever. The traffic safely flowed on the road that it supported ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – MARKERS
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
1y ago
The climb was steep and the trail was challenging, but the little red markers helped us stay on the right path. My son and I were climbing Mt. Morrow in Jasper National Park, and though it was not a huge climb, it was easy to get off the main trail and follow a game trail or a trail leading somewhere other than to the summit. In fact, before we found the correct markers, I journeyed down a cycling trail for about a kilometer before I realized I was on the wrong trail. Throughout life, God has graciously given us markers to help us keep on the right trail. First, there is the Bible, God’s writ ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM?
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
Recently my wife and I took a trip through Jasper National Park. Everywhere we looked there were amazing views of the mountains. Some were tree covered, while others were bare rock and very rugged. Snow could be seen on most of the mountains, as it was only May, adding to their beauty. God has certainly created a world filled with never ending views that bring wonder and awe. As we drove through the mountains, I was reminded again and again of the 121st Psalm: I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (NIV ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
This afternoon I was walking around the yard and was delighted to see that the rhubarb had started to grow. The leaves were getting large and green, while the stalks were getting tall and strong. Yet it was not the beauty of the plant that excited me; it was what I had to look forward to. You see, that rhubarb plant would soon become rhubarb pie, or rhubarb muffins, or rhubarb sauce (to put on top of my ice cream), or rhubarb crisp … Ah, the potential in that little plant. It was still quite small now, but within a few weeks it would be ready to be used to make any of the delights I was dream ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – LIVING WATER!
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
Last week I pulled out the pump for the fountain that pours water into the fishpond. Sadly it is not a fish pond anymore as the racoons ate my fish! Nonetheless, I love the sound of the running water, and watching as the water trickles down the three levels into the pond. I understand the flowing of the water brings life to the pond, and aerates it for the fish as well as helping to prevent algae build up in the pond. That is nice, but I set up the pump simply because the running water reminds me of a flowing stream or small waterfall. Jesus once told a woman at a well about a spring of water ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – SOMETHING OLD …
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
In 1889 William (John) Blair, architect of the famous Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, built a stone bridge to go over the man made lake in the park. It was designed like a medieval bridge of stone and mortar and has graced the park ever since. Today it is very popular for wedding pictures and tourist photos – like mine! All around the bridge there are trees and shrubs and flowers, each beautiful in its own way. My most recent visit was in March, before most of the trees and shrubs had budded, and before the flowers displayed their colours. A new growing season was just beginning, and life was j ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – SIGNS OF SPRING
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
Not far from my house is a small man-made lake which is a favourite spot for hikers and walkers. Nestled in a forest made up of some older growth trees and some newer trees, it always provides a peaceful, relaxing environment for walking, even when the weather is not good. It is an easy 6km walk around the lake with few hills or climbs. Nonetheless, I still salute those moms who walk their little ones in strollers around the lake. This week, the last week of March, we noticed a turtle had made his way out of the mud and out onto a log. This was a sure sign that Spring had truly begun. Though ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – ENJOY THE SUNSET
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
Watching the sun go down over a lake or watching it slip behind a mountain, I cannot help but feel a sense of peace. It means the day is almost complete and it will soon be time to lay aside all the implements of work and turn my attention to rest. (If you didn’t know, I love my sleep!) As I reflect on the inevitable winding down of our lives on earth, I like the image of the sunset. It speaks of peacefulness, and the anticipation of rest. It speaks of time with unique beauty, and speaks of the completion of tasks of this life. This month we have had back-to-back Celebrations of Life. As I wr ..read more
Visit website
The Pastor’s Blog – CASTLES IN THE SAND
The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene
by Gary Nawrocki
2y ago
It will never cease to amaze me what people can do with a pile of sand, some buckets and shaping tools. From cartoon characters to castles, from animals to famous people, almost anything can be, and has been, sculpted in sand at the Parksville sand sculpting competitions. Until COVID descended on our communities, this was an annual event for my family, to go check out the sculptures. Hopefully this will return again this summer. As I look back through the pictures we have taken through the years I am struck by a thought: these beautiful sculptures are no more. In fact, within a few weeks of t ..read more
Visit website

Follow The Pastor’s Blog – Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR