Larry Hehn - author, speaker, illustrator - "Christian in the Rough" eNewsletter Archives 2010

No Excuse for Not Knowing God - February 2010

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. - Romans 1:20

Earlier this month my wife and I vacationed in the city of Vancouver, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. It was the first time in almost 20 years of marriage that we travelled together on an airplane, the first time that I had seen the Rocky Mountains, and it was also the longest holiday we had shared in years. It was wonderful!

Though I would never normally use them in a conversation, words like "grandeur" and "majesty" came to mind as I marvelled at the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Mere photographs cannot capture or convey the scale and impact of the scenery we witnessed.

Words cannot describe the sensation of an anemone at the Vancouver Aquarium grasping my finger with its tentacles. I could have watched the playful and charming sea otters for days! We were awestruck by the inspired design of the fish, mammals, plants and terrain we encountered, from the near-microscopic jellyfish to the towering trees and yes, the majestic mountains.

We captured many of these moments with our digital camera. Although the photos do not deliver the intensity of viewing these things firsthand, hopefully they will give you a glimpse of the wonders we were honored to view. Click here to open the gallery page for a few images of God's incredible handiwork.

I simply could not gaze upon such creativity, such genius, such complexity and harmony, and think for a second that this all was the result of some cosmic accident or gradual assembly of random elements. It is too perfect to be chance. It is simply the evidence of an intelligent and loving Creator. No wonder in 1860 Charles Darwin wrote, "The sight of a feather in a peacock's tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me feel sick!"

Yet for a long long time I missed it. I got so caught up in head-down, monotonous daily living that I ignored the grandeur that God has gifted and entrusted us with. Have you ever stopped to think about the miracle of creation and the awesome privilege we have as its stewards?

Whatever you are allowing to distract you, STOP! and look around at the glory of God. It is all around us. We have - I have - no excuse for missing it. We have - I have - no excuse for not knowing God.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
      The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
      night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
      their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world. - Psalm 19:1-4

Life After Coffee - January 2010

Are you a coffee drinker?

I started drinking coffee about 20 years ago out of boredom. At the time business was slow; my employer had assigned some novel yet tedious tasks to keep me occupied. I spent hours applying double-sided tape to sample chips of anodized aluminum, peeling away the backing and sticking them into brochures. It was a mind-numbing task that quickly became unbearably boring. To break the monotony I had to find a reason to periodically leave my desk. One of the few distractions I could find was pouring myself a cup of coffee.

I am fortunate that (to me) coffee does not taste as good as it smells. Otherwise I'd probably drink several pots per day. Perhaps that was the initial allure, the enticing aroma. I enjoy the smell of coffee brewing, but I am much less enthusiastic about its flavor.

Still, strictly as a way of alleviating my boredom, I soon fell into the routine of drinking three to five cups of coffee per day on weekdays. With no reason and no desire to make or drink coffee on weekends, I started to experience intense headaches every weekend as my body went through caffeine withdrawal. Once I recognized the source, I dramatically cut down on my consumption. Yet the habit stuck.

I continued to drink coffee for the next two decades without actually enjoying the flavor, but more enjoying the "coffee experience".

But no more.

While there is some research that suggests there may be beneficial properties to coffee, I find that coffee upsets my stomach, dehydrates me and puts me on edge. I do not enjoy the flavor. In fact I can't think of a good enough reason to continue drinking it.

So, as of January 1, 2010, I no longer drink coffee. And I'm already amazed at how much better I feel! Now, instead of drinking coffee, I drink water or occasionally green tea. My stomach is no longer upset, I am no longer dehydrated, and I find that I am not as likely to "snap" from being tense.

In his book Addiction & Grace, Gerald May defines addiction as "any compulsive, habitual behavior that limits the freedom of human desire." He asserts that "the psychological, neurological, and spiritual dynamics of full-fledged addiction are actively at work within every human being." After reading his book, I agree with him.

Can you think of anything you may be addicted to that is affecting your well-being? I highly recommend Dr. May's book to understand "the relationship between addiction and spiritual awareness." I did not quit drinking coffee through my own willpower. I quit through God's grace.

What's your poison?

New Year Resolutions: Let's Get Realistic - January 2010

(Below is a copy of a newsletter I sent out six years ago. In a culture that seems more and more obsessed with speed and instant results, I believe this message is quite necessary and cannot be stressed enough. I hope and pray that this "gently used" message will be a blessing to you in 2010 and beyond. - Larry)

My friend Mano Watsa is more than a basketball player. He was a four-time OUA Conference All-Star, two-time All-Canadian point guard and captain for the University of Waterloo. In 1999 he toured with the USA Athletes In Action team, was awarded the National TSN Award for combining excellence in athletics, academics and community involvement, and was named University of Waterloo Male Athlete of the Year.

Mano is not a big man. He only stands 5'10", yet he has a vertical of 42 inches. Was he born with a tremendous ability to jump? Hardly. Mano explains, "In grade 9 I could not touch the mesh. In grade 12 I could not touch the rim. But, I was determined to dunk!" He developed a series of exercises to improve his agility. In his usual giving fashion, Mano has posted the 'Above the Rim' jump program on his website so others may benefit. Be sure to visit www.morethanhoops.com.

Before you start the Above the Rim program, you are asked to measure and record your current jumping ability. Once you start applying the program, you are asked to measure your progress every three months.

Wait a minute...every three months?

Yes, in this age of instant oatmeal, instant coffee, instant cameras, instant weight loss and instant oil changes, some things still take time.

We've all made some worthy New Year's resolutions over the years. But how often have we made achieving them impossible by forgetting where we are starting from, and by attaching unrealistic timelines to them? How often have we grown discouraged and dropped our resolutions altogether?

This year, be sure to make those lofty New Year's resolutions again, but give yourself a reasonable time frame to achieve them. Mano couldn't touch the mesh in grade 9. He couldn't touch the rim in grade 12. But today, he can dunk with the best of them.

Ask yourself...

What are the three most important things I am committed to for this year and beyond?
What are the realistic, long-term goals I have set to plan and carry out these commitments?

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. - Ecclesiastes 7:8

Have a blessed 2010!

Get "Rough"!

Click here to receive your own free "Christian in the Rough" email newsletter.

Privacy Statement | Terms Of Use