tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49786381499029531062012-01-01T13:04:39.046-08:00Christian Speaker and Pastor Chad Fisher from Edmonton. Faith, Healing, Pastoral and Youth Ministries are my main subjects to blog about, but every once in awhile I throw out something else. I don't ask you to agree with me, I just ask that you think about what I say.PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-59580004402220136112011-10-18T13:56:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:56:25.227-07:00

Hello...  I am letting you know that this blog is coming to an end.  I have my main ministry blog on with my designated domain, and I feel it time to put this one to bed.  So I will leave this up for awhile, but I would encourage you to head on over to www.inspireonline.org and follow me there.   Thanks.  Skofti - aka Chad Fisher

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-42235229351870639192011-09-01T13:47:00.000-07:002011-09-01T13:47:48.627-07:00

I am taking time out from my regular posts to talk about the suicide of former NHL player Wade Belak.  The reason for this post is this photo I added below of Wade and his young daughter. It’s a stunning picture of a young man joyfully playing with his little girl.  It appears like the ideal life and situation.  A strong young man making a great living playing a game he loves, living

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-56779502001280914722011-08-18T22:27:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:03:20.497-07:00

I have been thinking about my recent posts about the ambiguous or grey areas of Christianity.  Can a Christian practice yoga?  Can Christians drink or get tattoos?  Can I gamble as a Christian? I have come to the conclusion that more often than not, when it comes to these areas, we are asking the wrong question.  The question shouldn’t be “can Christians” but rather “is it beneficial for me as a

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-12322975740330255002011-08-18T14:52:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:02:24.129-07:00

In yesterday’s post I looked at the origins of yoga, it’s basis in the Hindu religion and also what we see within North America. Today I want to simply look at the spiritual and biblical side of practicing yoga. The foundation for our beliefs and what we participate in as Christians must come from the Bible. I believe it’s very clear yoga is, as quoted from Yoga Life Studios, “much more than

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-28514389894726680422011-08-17T10:52:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:02:47.618-07:00

It seems the latest exercise craze to hit North America is yoga. What is interesting is how this fad has found its way into the lives of the church and Christians. It’s very common to hear of Christians regularly attending yoga classes and I have read about churches offering yoga groups as a means of fellowship, exercise and outreach. What I don’t see a lot of is examination as to whether or

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-29610145808831124852011-08-16T12:21:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:03:04.871-07:00

Recently I had a great discussion on facebook regarding Christians participating in yoga.  I really appreciate all the input people gave.  It got me thinking and so I decided I should blog about some of these “grey” area topics.  So over the course of the next little while I am going to write and give some perspective on yoga, tattoos, social or moderate drinking, dancing, masturbation, music,

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-15283680709836309632011-06-16T11:41:00.000-07:002011-06-16T15:46:47.367-07:00

So I admit I am going to rant a little today…  I was reading today in John 13 about the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. John 13:4-5 … so he (Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:12-17 …

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-52434991439298211212011-06-15T09:28:00.000-07:002011-06-15T09:28:53.197-07:00

Alysha and Chrissy (they grow up so fast) As a dad of two teenage daughters (shortly Alysha – 17, Christine – 14) I have some experience in this area.  My wife and I have been blessed with girls who love and respect us and whom we love and respect as well. I wish I could say we never made any mistakes in raising our kids, in fact sometimes for fun we talk as a family of our blunders. 

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-83529496483657763882011-06-14T09:21:00.000-07:002011-06-14T09:32:59.932-07:00

Here is a great article you can use as a resource to help spur you on in your life en devours and goals.  It comes from a leader of leaders, John Maxwell.  I trust you will enjoy it, but more importantly that you will use it. Here is a little preview......Commit to Grow Daily...Value Process more than Events...Don't Wait for Inspiration...Sacrifice Pleasure for Opportunity...Dream Big...Plan

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-37904791513157740292011-06-13T11:12:00.000-07:002011-06-13T11:17:39.424-07:00

What does honor have to do with integrity?  I believe that if we are going to be men of integrity, we will be men who honor others. Now before I talk about being a man who receives honor, I want to look at being a man who gives honor.  I don’t believe being someone of integrity only means that people will honor us, but that in our integrity and character we will honor others.  Without honoring

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-5317837158122355842011-06-10T08:53:00.000-07:002011-06-10T08:53:55.051-07:00

Being a man of integrity includes being a man that is reliable.  Therefore our family, friends, business associates and others around us will be able to look at us and see someone who is consistent, dependable and predictable regardless of situation or circumstance.  It is easy to be reliable when everything is going right or all the circumstances favor us, but men of integrity are reliable at

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-75985586367285457792011-06-09T08:19:00.000-07:002011-06-09T14:00:00.082-07:00

I have looked up some words that can be used as synonyms for the word integrity and this is what I found: honesty, truth, honor, reliable, uprightness and veracity.  In this post I want to talk about truth. Truth…  Some may see honesty and truth as the same and in many ways they are.  I want to separate them in this way.  Whereas honesty is being truthful with the things we say, truth is living

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-42372979208100331972011-06-08T10:09:00.000-07:002011-06-09T14:00:28.334-07:00

John Maxwell says “Image is what people think we are; integrity is what we really are.” Being a man, a man that our wives can have complete confidence in, a man that our children can model their lives after, a man that our business associates trust, a man our friends can rely upon, requires that we are men of integrity. Just look at what the Bible says about integrity. Proverbs 10:9  He who

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0Richfield, Edmonton, AB, Canada53.471394102837785 -113.4600166256103653.466756102837785 -113.46798912561036 53.476032102837785 -113.45204412561037tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-30437507021409941682011-06-02T12:48:00.000-07:002011-06-02T12:49:29.115-07:00

I’m back…  Just returned from Montreal this past Monday.  It was a great time to see and be with family and friends.  It was also the first time our entire family (my daughters, my wife and myself) were able to go to Montreal together. So rather than write a whole bunch, I thought I would show you what we did.  So here are some pictures from Montreal.  Yes, it’s a beautiful city with lots of

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-55232617294780698222011-05-09T14:01:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:05:25.751-07:00

Matthew 8:23-2723 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-46623830770745120712011-05-03T13:40:00.000-07:002011-08-16T12:34:30.102-07:00

Sunday night I was sitting and watching TV with my family when we were rudely interrupted with a late breaking news story.  I thought OH GREAT!   What’s so important to disturb my moment of relaxation?  Then it came, the news that the US had found and killed Osama Bin Laden.  WOW!  This wasn’t the news I was expecting, this was huge.  The history of all that happened during 9/11 raced through

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-28939230785703699812011-04-26T13:48:00.000-07:002011-06-09T13:56:10.421-07:00

Ok…  I am going to try to answer a question that often comes when the subject of healing arises.  It has to do with God’s will to heal and examples of people who are sick or disabled and God using them despite their problem.  Which leads people to say, maybe God caused them to be born that way, or to get sick like that in order for Him to use them as He is.  This I call the Nick Vujicic Question.

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-71151404916604613202011-04-26T12:41:00.000-07:002011-04-26T13:49:13.560-07:00

Well winter is finally over...  YES Finally!  This year winter seemed to last forever, but the last bit of snow is almost gone.   With it comes the fun of spring and sumer and I for one am looking forward to it.   My last update came in February and so I thought I should share a little bit of what's been happening in the Fisher clan.   So here we go. Well first off - I am now 40.  Yup I hit

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-38320707961244248032011-02-01T09:01:00.000-08:002011-08-16T12:44:17.891-07:00

So it’s the new year and I believe a new season. I have started into many new years before but this one has an unusual feel to it. Something about 2011 tells me this year is going to be different. I am not one who gets into the whole Biblical numerology thing about “what this year means” so I won’t, but I am sensing something taking place in my life that I can’t explain. It feels like I am

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-70968247688385864962010-12-13T12:04:00.000-08:002011-08-16T12:43:53.156-07:00

Wow I can't believe the last update I did was back in September.  I have been very busy during the fall and it feels like so much has happened.  God is wonderful. It has been and is an exciting time.  I don't know sometimes how to describe everything that God is doing and saying.  I have come to realize that the more He does and shows Himself, the more I have to find out about Him.  I liken it

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-5892489756354269842010-10-13T12:35:00.000-07:002011-06-09T13:50:54.460-07:00

In ministry there are dangers (minefields) that can derail and destroy our ministry lives if we are not careful.  Here are a couple to look out for.  I cannot claim originality, these ideas are taken from a message I heard by Jeanne Mayo several years back. Minefield 1 - Exchange Spiritual Passion For Obligation This happens when we: -gradually change our love for people to a love for position

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-16642181518223920072010-09-27T13:55:00.000-07:002010-10-13T11:47:25.859-07:00

So I haven't done an update since early August.  Part of the reason is it's been a very busy time with alot going on.  This update includes the fact that on the long weekend in September we celebrated two milestones in the lives of our daughters.  Alysha (black shirt) turned 16 and Christine (white shirt with heart) turned 13 this past summer.  We waited until the long weekend when school was

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-32957292083629850262010-09-15T10:31:00.000-07:002011-06-14T09:15:38.229-07:00

"Not everyone will appreciate an effective ministry" - this statement may surprise some, but it's very true.  You would think people getting saved, healed, unsaved coming into the church, people with problems being helped would make everyone in the church happy and excited but think again. The context of the story is a little different, but Jesus ran into something similar when He delivered the

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-66875300062237964202010-09-10T12:46:00.000-07:002010-09-10T12:46:59.257-07:00

I love leadership principles.  One of the greatest influencers in my life regarding leadership is John Maxwell.  So today I thought I would post his 17 laws of teamwork.  This is simply a list, to get more information check out his material.  It is good stuff.  So here it goes and I hope it makes you think... 1 - The Law of Significance - "One Is Too Small a Number to Achieve Greatness" 2 -

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-88169234781646232892010-08-25T10:41:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:04:32.831-07:00

The question is not will you be criticized or not? That is a given - criticism happens. Someone won't like what you do or how you say something. A parent is going to be unhappy with an event. A pastor or church leader will find fault somewhere. Everyone is an expert, everyone has an opinion. Crazy thing, criticism will come even when you are doing a good job. Thing is, I am not a fan of criticism

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-56053764473532584672010-08-17T09:17:00.000-07:002011-06-09T13:52:08.234-07:00

I thought I would look at Parents...  Friends or Foe   I decided that I would think on it a little more and do it another time.  I want to look at the area of developing and maintaining relationships with our young people. An article published in Group Magazine revealed after surveying 10,000 Christian teens the two most important things these young people looked for in the church or youth group

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-88879397655224998722010-08-11T10:16:00.000-07:002011-08-16T12:33:41.006-07:00

I believe longevity is a missing link in today’s youth ministry.  I am reading that the average tenure for a youth pastor is anywhere from just over 12 months to 18 months.  That is amazing... Think about it, a young person entering a youth ministry at age 12/13 years of age could possibly have 3-4+ different youth pastors by the time they graduate from that ministry.  I know that sounds absurd

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-4299201448044767792010-08-09T20:41:00.000-07:002010-08-23T12:15:01.204-07:00

Since beginning my health updates, many of you have asked, what happened to you?  It is now 2 years ago, when in August of 2008 I had an attack of sickness.  This is that story... Some background: In late 2007/early 2008 God started working on my heart to preach/teach on the promise of healing. I also said, "When I get healed I will do it." Yet God challenged me to begin to do it even though I

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-47671494262567730622010-08-09T14:49:00.000-07:002010-08-23T12:14:16.562-07:00

MCing our family reunion "talent show" At our recent family reunion, seeing family I haven't seen in 15-20 years Well I am back from one weeks holiday.  This year we had a big family renunion in southern Alberta.  It was fantastic to see relatives we haven't seen in 15-20+yrs and some we haven't even met before.  What a fantastic time. As for me, I am going to continue to post ongoing

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-28558076018412917442010-08-04T14:22:00.000-07:002011-08-16T12:34:02.536-07:00

I am often surprised at the number of people who ask me, "do we really need to have vision, or plan for ministry?"  "Shouldn't we just follow the leading of the Holy Spirit?"  Some actually mean well and I can tell their question is honest and sincere, others - well let's just say - spiritual arrogance is clouding their thought process. I am in total agreement that we are to follow the leading

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-11004521031143787712010-07-27T10:10:00.000-07:002011-06-09T13:53:27.018-07:00

Last week I shared on Self Matters...  Today I want to talk about being a TEAM player. I am in an interesting ministry stituation which either usually works really well or fails miserably.  My senior pastor and "boss" is my father.  It makes for interesting dynamics at times, but I will be honest, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I have come to realize this though - whether you work/minister

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-3000770260207234592010-07-19T20:00:00.000-07:002011-06-09T13:53:41.170-07:00

I am the assistant/associate pastor at http://www.richfieldchurch.ca/ in Edmonton, Alberta.  My primary roles of responsibility include youth and music ministry.  I love what I do - even though I am one of the more "mature" (that just means I'm old) youth pastors around. So I thought I would do a series on youth ministry perspectives - answering the question, what I wished I knew before entering

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-59477445422854790032010-07-08T22:48:00.000-07:002010-08-16T14:20:36.767-07:00

I haven't posted for awhile, so I thought I would just drop in and give a little update to how I am doing. My wife is currently in Montreal and while there someone approached her and asked her how I was doing. This person told my wife that they had heard I was in a wheelchair. WOW! News to us. The good news I am not in a wheelchair. I think the confusion may have come out of some statements I

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-56413676936048803472010-02-18T20:34:00.000-08:002011-06-09T13:57:49.737-07:00

That’s a name that seems to scare or make many people nervous. It has taken a couple months to come to a point where I can finally write on this subject. I tried to express my thoughts on it a couple times, but my attitude was not correct and I was writing out of malice because of something that happened. I don’t want to focus on what happened, it’s over and immaterial. I simply want to put

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978638149902953106.post-41243035489476312462009-12-21T22:06:00.000-08:002011-06-09T13:58:02.543-07:00

I was watching today the memorial celebration of Oral Roberts. It's interesting that over the years there has been criticism of his ministry and what he has said or done. I have sometimes thought looking at some of these ministries, I would never do that, I would never say that, I wouldn't ever go that way. Then I had this thought and I got the sense it was one of those God inspired thoughts..

PChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449219888771882525noreply@blogger.com1