One Team. One Country. One Hope. 💙

Go Jays Go!

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly sit still. The Toronto Blue Jays — Canada’s team — are in the World Series, and suddenly we’re all on the same side! Across this beautiful country, people are digging out their jerseys, flying their flags, and staying up far too late because… how can you turn off the TV when your heart’s pounding like that?

There’s something about this team that brings us together — strangers high-fiving in coffee shops, neighbours chatting across fences, families gathered around the screen, holding their breath with every pitch. For a few precious days, we’re united in blue.

And maybe, just maybe, there’s something holy about that.

Sports have a way of reminding us about life and faith. There’s courage in every player who steps up to the plate after striking out. There’s perseverance in every inning that doesn’t go as planned. There’s hope in every fan who whispers, “Come on, you can do this.”

Doesn’t that sound a bit like our spiritual lives?

We’ve all had seasons when we feel like we’re swinging and missing. When life throws curveballs we didn’t see coming. When it feels like we’re down by three runs and the bases are empty. But that’s when faith calls us to dig in, take a deep breath, and trust that God is still in the game.

“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” — Hebrews 12:1–2

Or maybe, in baseball language: Keep your eye on the ball, and remember Who’s coaching from the dugout.

One of my favourite things about this moment is how the whole country rallies. We may be divided by time zones, but right now, we’re one big cheering section. From Newfoundland to Nanaimo, from farmers’ fields to downtown condos, we’re all shouting the same thing: Go Jays Go!

And there’s something so beautiful about that unity — that shared sense of joy and belonging. It reminds me of Psalm 133:

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

Maybe that’s why it feels so good — because we were made for this kind of togetherness.

Whether the Jays win it all or not, there’s something sacred in the journey. The effort, the grit, the community that forms around hope — that’s the stuff God can use.

So as we cheer, may we also remember:
When life feels like the ninth inning and we’re running out of strength, God is still with us. When we face setbacks or disappointments, God’s promises still stand. And when the world feels divided, we can always choose to rally around something good, something joyful, something that reminds us who we are — a people of hope.

So let’s keep cheering. Let’s keep believing. And let’s keep remembering that the same God who gave us the joy of a walk-off home run is the One who walks with us every step of the way.

Go Jays Go — and thanks be to God. 💙

How to be optimistic in a topsy-turvy world

Have you noticed how loud negativity has become lately? Turn on the news—wars, division, outrage, fear. Scroll social media—criticism and anger. It’s exhausting. But as followers of Christ, we don’t have to drown in the noise of negativity. We are called to something higher—hope.

Biblical optimism isn’t pretending everything is fine or ignoring reality. It’s not blind positivity. True optimism is the unwavering belief that our loving God is working in every situation for our future good (Romans 8:28). That means even when life feels heavy—sickness, strained relationships, financial pressure—God is still at work behind the scenes. Nothing is wasted in His hands.

The battle for optimism begins in the mind. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us: “As a person thinks in their heart, so they become.” If our thoughts are filled with fear and worry, our lives will follow. But if we choose to anchor our minds in God’s promises, hope begins to rise.

So how do we stay optimistic in a world gone sideways?

1. Feed Your Faith

Don’t just read scripture—live in it. Let it reshape the way you think. Like Paul in Romans 8, remind yourself:

• “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ.”

• “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory to come.”

• “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.”

• “God works all things together for good.”

2. Starve Negativity

Limit the endless news cycle. Step back from toxic voices. Refuse to dwell on worst-case scenarios. Whatever we feed grows—so feed hope.

3. Trust God’s Purpose in Your Pain

You may not like what you’re going through right now—but God is using it to grow you. Today’s struggle is building tomorrow’s strength. Nothing is wasted in the hands of God.

I’m optimistic—not because the world is perfect, but because God is still on the throne. God hasn’t abandoned us. God is working—right now—for your good and His glory.

In a topsy-turvy world, we don’t panic—we trust. We hold onto hope. We choose joy. We walk by faith, not fear. Because we have a BIG God—and with God, all things are possible.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” – Romans 8:28

Stay hopeful. God is working.

What if you knew then what you know now?

Ever look back at old pictures and think, “Why on earth did I choose that hairstyle?” (Perms, anyone?) Or maybe you’ve thought, “If only I had invested in Apple back in the ’80s, I’d be retired on a beach by now.”

Hindsight is always 20/20, isn’t it? If we knew then what we know now, we’d probably make a lot of different choices.

But here’s the amazing thing: Jesus actually gives us insider information about the future. In Matthew 25, He tells the story of the master who entrusts his servants with talents (money, gifts, abilities) before heading off on a journey. Some invest wisely and see it multiply. One hides his talent out of fear and ends up losing everything.

The lesson? God gives us everything we have—time, resources, abilities—and asks us to steward them well. Not just for today, but for eternity.

Here’s the kicker: how we live now impacts what happens then. Jesus is basically saying, “I’m giving you the blueprint for heaven’s economy.”

So how do we live with that kind of eternal focus?

1. Remember God owns it all. Your money, your gifts, your time—it’s all on loan from God.

2. You’ll give an account. Not to a harsh judge, but to a loving Father who’s cheering you on, longing to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

3. Choose to invest, not just spend. Netflix binging is fine now and then, but mentoring someone? Praying for your kids? Serving others? That’s investing—and the return lasts forever.

At the end of the day, the stuff we obsess over—our shoes, our cars, our gadgets—won’t carry over into eternity. But the people we love, serve, and point to Jesus? That’s eternal treasure.

So maybe the better question isn’t “What if I knew then what I know now?” but “What am I doing now, knowing what I know about then?”

Live open-handed. Invest your life. Run your race well. And one day, imagine hearing God say, “I’m so proud of you. Come and share my joy.”