INTO THE VOIDLESS BLU YONDER

2012

2012-01-07T22:59:00.001-07:00

The above title fills me with a strange mixture of forboding and hope. 2012.
There are so many things we have now, in 2012, that seemed to me so futuristic that they would never be seen in my lifetime. Things like flat screen 3D televisions. (How these have superceded flying cars I don't know... have you seen "The Jetsons"? We have way better televisions then they do, but we sure aren't flying everywhere in spaceships.) Video chat. I remember PeeWee Herman's video chat booth, and thinking that would be so cool. Now I do it all the time and it's almost common place. Siri = seriously futuristic. You just talk and she understands... generally anyway. And gives helpful answers. AMAZING!
Cars that can parallel park themselves! Awesome! But I still wished they at least hovered or something. I just can't get past my disappointment in our lack of flying automobiles.
iPads, Blackberry Playbooks... any tablet really. These things are just getting started and they are pretty fantastic. We are enjoying some technology that even the ever inventive Sci-Fi writers didn't imagine... and many of the things they did.
All that is incredibly cool... however, (Isn't that a horrible word sometimes... However... so ominous.) There are some ways in which are world has changed that I would not, could not, nor wanted to imagine. I thought my highschool experience in the mid 90's was difficult enough. But there are so many new ways for kids to hurt and abuse one another. This makes me so sad. I work with youth, have for many years... in some ways you can see yourself and your friends in each new generation that comes along. But these days there is no rest from "friends" when they go home. They don't disengage, even for an evening, from their peers. Their peers have replaced their parents, when it comes to seeking direction, sharing secrets, and planning for their futures. I think we all are pretty saturated with anti-bullying promotions, so I won't turn this into one of those rants (although, I kind of want to)... so let's move on.
I think all of this new culture, plays perfectly into prophecy. There is a verse, that says... Sin will be rampant everywhere, the hearts of many will grow cold. (Matt 24:12) Don't you see this happening? I do. Take movies for example... the shock comedy, isn't so shocking anymore. It takes more and more to shock and so they give it to you. People, believers and non believers alike are drawn to Vegas, who advertises themselves as a city for secret sin. "What happens in vegas, stays in vegas" and "Sin City" is their brand!! People joke about it... but still embrace it. The internet is rife with porn. I mean, I googled "Christmas" images the other days and tucked in amongst Santas and nativites, and families in sweaters, was out and out nudity. I realized, I had gotten to the point, that I wasn't that shocked. Internet = porn, everyone knows that, right? UGH. And that is just the blatant stuff. I haven't even started on the less obvious stuff like gossip, slander, etc... all "growth industries."
So... back to the hope. My hope is built in Jesus. The author and perfector of my faith. He can "sensitize" me again. He can fill my life and heart up with love again. Love that can be poured out to those around me. His spirit in me can testify the truth. And He has... after a lot of years, of just going with the flow... not exactly stagnating in my faith, but not exactly rushing forward either, He is doing a new thing. My joy is back. My hope is increasing. I see it not just in myself either, but in many of my friends and family. There is a growing excitement for Christ to come again. And to be found faithful when he does. More and more, I see friends sharing verses on facebook and twitter. More and more, I see them asking for prayer and offering to pray. More and more I see them reaching out in love to an increasingly disconnected culture. It's beautiful and exciting... and it's something I want to remain a part of.

On a more personal note. I guess 2012, will also be exciting for my family, as my baby sister is due to have her first baby!! I almost can't wrap my head around it. AND My little niece Adi, keeps growing more lovely. She is such a blessing. So happy and mischeivous. I can't wait to see her again. It's hard to live so far away from my family that are having babies. I think we have been pretty baby starved for so long that now we can't get enough of them. I wish all my siblings would get married and start having babies!

AND, I'm still plugging away on the screenplays. Still blessed with an editor who has challenged me and kept with me, even when it is slow going. I wish, I could quit my day job and devote more time to writing so I could really charge through it... but I would probably miss working in the school too. 2012 - Only God know's what it will bring.

John Lewis Christmas Advert 2011

2011-11-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Such a lovely one... you can't help but smile.

Pure Joy

2011-09-21T00:35:00.001-07:00

I have, with the help of my sister-in-law. Been compiling a list of "Joyisms" aka, stuff my sister says. These are pure gold in my opinion. Little nuggets of pure brilliance. ENJOY!

"I wish I lived back in the coon ages, life was simpler then."

Joy, reading a "humorous" t-shirt. 'A diastolic walks into a bra? I don't get it."
Dave - 'it's "dyselxic"'
Joy - 'What is?'

"Someday I'm gonna buy myself a calendar, so I can stick a pin in all the places I've been."

Joy - How are you this fine day?
Ethan - huh?
Joy (to the group) I speaketh in terms that are unoriginal to him.
(she meant unfamiliar of course.)

To me, Re: the filipino man serving her coffee... "I think it's disrespectful to call them caucasians... it's gross."

J.A. - You have a booger in your nose.
Joy - Naw, I never have boogers in my nose. That's a snack.

"You know those people with only one arm? I think they're called Shriners... they're pretty lucky cause they can do that trick."

"Oh I know how sink holes happen! There are these little platelets under the ground..."

"...So I told her I don't think it's right to get married outside of wedlock."

"That woman changes clothes like she changes her hair!"

Joy - Why do I keep playing with this herpes thing on my foot?!
We all look trying to figure out what she means... it is a donut shaped "hemeroid pillow".

Joy's friend "My brother and I are so much alike, if we were born on the same day we'd be twins." ... she comes by it honestly.

"You may think I'm gross, but that's just science." - yup, she said it... still don't quite know what it means, but I don't think I have to.

Why I'm not writing.

2011-08-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

I really miss blogging... even if it IS going the way of the dinosaur. I miss reading peoples musings and not just their status updates. BUT, lately I've barely blogged a thing and I'll tell you why. I'm writing. Writing in the hopes of getting paid for my efforts. Blogging is great, but if I can sell a screenplay it would be even better. I've finished one. Did I mention that yet? Finished the third draft of a Rom Com actually.
Like most things I do, I probably would have given up ages ago if it weren't for my editor. She is fantastic. I totally reccommend her if you are a screenwriter and are looking for someone to tell you the truth and be "harsh but fair." Not only does she do a great job on the editing, but she has mentored me in a way... suggesting books and movies and screenplays that I would benefit from reading/watching/taking notes on. She also seems to email and offer encouragement at just the right times in the process. So, if any of you out there are looking for a script editor sometime check out Lara Moon. Her site, is ukscriptdoctor and it's well worth googling her.
So, like I said... the third draft is done and I have a little time while it is being edited, so I thought I would send out a quick hello. Someday when this one is done and while I wait with baited breath to see if I can sell and keep myself fed, clothed and sheltered while I write, I will catch up with all my missed blogging and this site will once again be loaded with brand new musings and favorite things. Until then... I will check in once in a while and check up on you ;P
kisses, Gracie-poo.

I want to learn to play the Ukulele.

2011-07-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

So sweet, makes me want to learn to play the ukulele... is that how you spell it?

Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks

2011-02-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's funny because it's true!

Richer by Fire.

2011-02-23T20:57:00.001-07:00

I would never choose heartache and yet I can't deny that there is a certain richness that enters into a relationship that has gone through some sort of hardship, pain or tragedy... a shared knowing; a greater understanding of what it means to love. It is no wonder then, if I can see this in my human relationships, that a heavenly one with a God who knows exactly what will bring a realtionship together and what will destroy it, allows a certain amount of difficulties to enter into the lives of his beloved children. My relationship with my heavenly Father isn't what it was when I was a child, although I loved him very much. Nor is it what it was when I was in my early twenties and I discovered for the first time that I could fall in love with God, that He would be on my mind as I feel asleep at night and as I woke up again in the morning. Because although I loved Him, I didn't understand the depth of his great love for me until I was neck deep in grief and had no one but Him to bring me comfort. It is there, in those moments when I discovered the depth of His love. It was then that I discovered the richness of a relationship that has gone through the fire.

Imprisoned by Choices.

2011-01-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

Choices; I'm starting to despise the word. It seems like one of the greatest problems for someone of my age and culture is that we are spoilt for choice. There are a myriad of things we could do and all of them have an equal number of pros and cons. Because of this, many of us seem to be living life in a holding pattern; uncertain of which path to choose or how long to keep going in the direction we settle on.

More and more often I see people, not unlike myself, trying various courses and careers; staying in them for a year or two and then moving on. Because of our abundance of choice there is no incentive to stick it out when the going gets tough.

This culture of indecision has filtered down into my spiritual life too. Now, I have the excuse of waiting on God to direct me. I can't carry on if I don't feel peace about it... right?

The other day, as I was reading my bible I realized that God DID give me some pretty clear instructions already. I know He wants me (and each one of us) to take care of widows and orphans. We have millions upon millions of them in our world and the number grows. He wants me to be hospitable. Again, I have opportunity everyday to make people feel at home and feel loved in my company. He wants me to love my neighbours. I have neighbours, I live in a community, again I have opportunity. He wants me to pray without ceasing. Something I can definitely aspire to and CAN create time in my day for.
In fact, reading all the red letters in the bible give a pretty clear path to follow.
AND if I give up the right to my choices, if I make myself a slave to Christ, I will gain the ability to walk in His footsteps.
It's quite reassuring. Freeing, in fact.

Thoughts, impressions? I'm curious what you think.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

2010-12-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Awesome! REALLY Brilliant, it made me tear up, I can't even tell you why.
I guess my spirit was just acknowledging how right it is.
Amen.

Fire

2010-12-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's Chanukah. The time when Jewish people everywhere light candles (1 everyday for 8 days) remembering a great Miracle. God in his mercy rescued the Hebrew nation, once again, from spritual slavery. He gave them back the temple so they could worship and at the same time the nation could be rebuilt.
Well, God is rescuing them again at Chanukah.
Haifa, my old "home town" is being evacuated. A huge forrest fire is blazing across the top of Mount Carmel, it's already threatened homes in the druze village of Isfiya and Denya (an affluent subburb of Haifa, very close to Kababir where I used to live) and keeps on blazing. Normally when something like this happens you can trust your neighbours to come to your aid, but what you do when you are basically surrounded by enemies?
Every so often I am reminded of the difficult position Israel finds itself in, and my heart just aches for it. Although God has set them apart as special, or perhaps because He has, they often come under attack from every direction. We see it in the story of Chanukah, not only had the Greeks taken over the land, they had taken over the temple; sacrificing a pig on the alter and defiling the Holy of Holies. But as the Helenistic culture and religion began to spread through the nation God worked in the hearts of men to stop what to Him is an abomination. The men listened to God and became the heroes of a nation.
God works in the realities in which we live. He will use whomever and whatever is available to him in order to carry out His unchangeable will.

Here is an unmistakable truth. "He who watches over Israel, will neither slumber or sleep." Again and again Israel makes it through, and in some cases is even aided by their enemies. It reminds me that no matter what we think of World Leaders, whether they seem to be men that would listen to God or not, He can speak to hearts. He knows them intimately and can inspire them to act with mercy! Such is the case today, when Israels neighbours come to their aid.

I am so comforted when I see how prophecy written thousands of years ago is coming true today. God will accomplish what He wills to accomplish. I can't mess that up, no matter how badly I listen sometimes. I remember how clear that was while I was living in Israel. Somehow it is so much harder to see while living in Canada, but just because I don't see it with my own eyes does not mean it is not happening. God is accomplishing miracles everyday, He is revealing himself through prophecy and signs and wonders. If I turn my eyes on Him and less on myself, I will see these things; and somehow... just in seeing them I feel like I am a part of them. It is quite awesome.

Today, I will keep watch and I will pray. I will pray for my old home and for the safety of my friends (and other residents) there; and I will pray that God will use this fire to shine light on who He is and what He is doing in the land. God is Good; Majestic in Holiness and Awesome in Power!

Learning.

2010-10-22T22:08:00.001-07:00

I have a new "passion" - writing screenplays. I started with one, a mystery/suspense story that I just couldn't get out of my head. I had got about a quarter of the way in when an idea came, fully formed, for a romantic comedy, and so began script #2. Half way through, at page 62, I was told a true story of an amazing, older woman in Africa whose story just begged to be told. And so I have started with number 3.

The thing I love most about the screen play format is that you can cut to the chase. As long winded as I can be when I write, when a story is in my head begging to be told, it's nice to be able to tell it succinctly and without all the pomp and "how-do-you-do" of prose. I also really enjoy the learning experience. With prose I can pretend I know how to write. It's hard to admit my deficiencies because I feel I should have learned it all by now... I should be better. However, writing for the screen requires learning. What is the protocol for subtitles, or splitscreen? How does one introduce a new character? How much description is necessary? Can I really advance the story relying on dialogue? Is the dialogue "realistic" without being boring or long winded. How do I pace the various genres of screenplays that I want to write?

I am amazed that the answers to all these questions really can be found on the Internet. Sure, it takes a little bit of time to really search and find more than a hopeful screenwriter in yahoo.answers BUT if you can spare the time there is a host of resources available free of charge.

So who knows... maybe someday you will go to a theatre and you'll get stuck in your row behind that obnoxious teenage couple that made out the entire film, you'll glance up as the credits roll and there will be my name. Maybe... God willing of course. :)

So that my world revolves around the Son

2010-09-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

I am an ocean away from where I thought I would be this week. I mean that quite literally. I know I haven't posted for ages; between packing, and remodelling, visiting family in the States and saying goodbye, there just wasn't any time. NOW, I have so much time I don't quite know what to do with it.

Last Tuesday, the day before I was supposed to fly to the UK and start a new chapter of my life, I was grounded. I went to the doctor to check out some flu like symptoms and hopefully get an antibiotic and they noticed my bloodpressure was incredibly high.

That was it. Plans changed. Life changed.
They put me on some meds right away, and told me I will be needing a myriad of tests and highly suggested I do that here where I have a family doctor.

A funny thing happened when my life turned upside down... I realized I had been living it the wrong way around. The only thing right, the only thing that made sense for me in the last few days and now... is God. Somehow, knowing that, it's almost like God's turned me the right way round and the upset and the shaking up of my plans and even the way that I thought about my life was exposed as a fake and although it's upsetting I am still much preferring to live a life that is true.

I had thought I was living right by including God in everything I did (or at least most things). But it turns out that isn't right at all... it is to be my future, my family, my friends, my "time" that is to be brought into my relationship with God and not the other way around. It is Him that should be my focus.

The reason fear still often controls me is because I focus on it and then try to bring it to God, if instead my focus was God and fear tried to worm it's way into that focus the incredible love and power of God would repel it and I need not even try to handle it myself.

The last few days I have felt pretty sponge like... I just want to hear things that edify, that speak of God's goodness and draw me close. Despite dealing with a brand new heart healthy diet, and pills and tests and possible tests; I really feel like my life is more the right way up, than it has been for a long time. I am positive that has much to do with what my mind has been occupied with. The medical stuff, although important and not to be neglected, is not why I'm still here right now. I think my spirit is in much greater need of health and healing than my physical self is.

Praise God He is doing the work and I know that HE who began a good work in me, will be faithful to complete it!

MOVING!

2010-08-07T15:25:00.001-07:00

I've been here four years. I know to some people that sounds like no time at all, but it is the longest I have lived in any one place in my whole adult life. When I came back here I had nothing. Well, very little anyway. Most of my furniture had burned in a fire. I left much of what I owned in the UK back in the UK. I had been working as a volunteer, so I had almost no money. In a way I was almost starting from scratch... apart from one very significant thing, family. I came back to family and it has been so good to be living and working with my family and learning from and with them. I am so grateful that during the darkest parts of the last few years I have had family to walk beside me. I am perhaps even more grateful that during some of the brightest moments of the last four years my family were there to walk beside me as well.

I am so blessed to have a family that knows and loves God and are seeking to follow him. That isn't a very popular road to be on, even to some other Christians. It can, in fact, be incredibly lonely... an alien pursuit by the worlds standards. But God, in His goodness, brought me back home and kept me close to like minded people as I grew and healed and hoped.

Somehow, as all that was happening I also acrued a lot of possessions. Vehicle, furniture, clothing, masses of books, linens, etc,etc, etc.. and not just cast offs that were given to me so I wouldn't look poverty stricken, but my own "things." Things that I like, that are my taste... things that somehow represent me.

Since it's the first time in my life that I've had so many "things" of my own; I was surprised when I decided to move the power these things had to hold me. Decisions had to be made on what was to be done with them. What I take with me, what I sell, what I give away. I thought I wasn't very materialistic, but then I found myself not wanting to give everything away. As I went through my belongings I came up with very ligitimate reasons WHY I should keep everything, WHY it would be fine to store all my stuff and decide at a later date what should be done with it. But then... then my mum reminded me again of God's call on us to take of the poor, the widowed, the orphaned. She was doing a clean sweep, selling what she could so she could give the proceeds to Hands at Work Africa (A VERY worthwhile charity, check it out!) and I realized it profited me nothing, nor helped anyone else for me to hide away my possessions.

Well now, here is the very cool thing about selling what you have to give to the poor. You feel free!

I don't have all this stuff to worry about any more. (I still have some, but at least 9 boxes less than I did) I can start fresh (again) knowing that my heavenly Father can, and does, provide for me. On top of that you feel great knowing that this stuff that tied you down is now blessings someone else here in Canada AND the small fee they paid for it will go a long way to helping those in need on the other side of the ocean!

I am so excited to move forward and see just where God directs my path. I am heading back to the UK but this time to a little town called Thame. I'll be joining my cousin Sarah in her catering business, which seems like it will be an wonderful fit. I'm also looking forward to getting involved with the church in Thame; I'm excited to meet my Christian family there and get to know them. I'll let you know how it goes, shall I? ; P

Take On Me: Literal Video Version ORIGINAL

2010-07-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

literal music videos, my new bff

This weeks most shocking/interesting/fascinating Pictures

2010-06-02T17:33:00.000-07:00

Two Volcanoes are erupting in Central and South America spewing out lava, rocks and debris, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

The volcano known as Tungurahua — Throat of Fire — came to life Friday morning, 130 kilometres southeast of Ecuador's capital, Quito, and exploded continuously through the night.

Guatemala's Pacaya volcano, 50 kilometres south of Guatemala City, began erupting Thursday afternoon

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/29/volcanos-ecuador-guatemala.html#ixzz0pkCLzxpZ

Between these two and the Icelandic Volcano it's going to be hard to fly anywhere!
(*see below)

Also...

I know it looks an awful lot like the streets of Cold Lake these days, but this 300 foot deep sink hole opened up in Guatemala this week.

(The enormous crater appeared in the Central American country's capital, Guatemala City, as it was being ravaged by torrential rain and mudslides during Tropical Storm Agatha.)

Edmonton seemed to want to get in on all the action as THIS sink hole hefty enough to consume a large truck opened up on Dovercourt Ave and 135th Street

What is it?? Strange looking thing isn't it... Well for all your pest questions check out - http://pestcontrolcanada.com/Questions/pest_photos_201.htm

there is some fascinating stuff, if that's what you're into ;)

AND speaking of insects...

Check out what Mr. Fly has been up to...

A secret that is ready to be shared

2010-05-25T14:13:00.008-07:00

You don't want to miss this!

In a mirror darkly...

2010-04-16T09:38:00.007-07:00

No matter how active you are, or full your life is, there is always going to be a certain amount of time each day spent waiting. This morning I was waiting rather anxiously for the toilet to be free. Then for my toast to pop. Around here we often have to wait for our cars to warm up. Maybe you wait for the train to arrive or the bus to show up. We wait in line at stores. We wait for elevators. Some (like myself) are still waiting for that special someone to make their appearance in their life.

Waiting... waiting on the world to change! (how can you not think of those lyrics when talking about waiting)

I don't know about you, but I am not a huge fan of waiting. I always want to redeem the time- multi-task, or at the very least find something that will entertain me while I wait. A good book, my DSi, blogging.... Right now I am waiting rather impatiently for the arrival of my first niece or nephew.* My brother and sister-in-law even more so, I'm sure. Its exciting, but time, especially these last few days, has seemed to drag by more and more slowly.

That expression, "a watched pot never boils..." I TOTALLY GET THAT!

The more you concentrate on the thing you are waiting for the longer it takes or the more time seems to slow down. And, the more time drags the more weary you become. Which is why the verse in Isaiah 40 is so important... (31).

"But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

It offers a solution to the weariness of waiting.

Recently I was reading a story called "The Great Stone Face," by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In it, the protagonist, an earnest young man by the name of Ernest, waits his whole life to meet a hero from an ancient prophecy; "a man that would be the very likeness of the Great Stone Face." A face that God himself had carved into the mountainside, in the valley where Ernest lived. He loved the great stone face because of the promise that it held. He saw in it noble, strong, perhaps even divine features and thought to himself that a man that resembled it in any way must be as close to God as man could get.

He waited expectantly his whole life for the prophecy to be fulfilled... but he didn't just wait. Though men came and went from the town, men that many thought may be the one... none were. All of them, without exception disappointed. All fell short in some way. As Ernest waited, he contemplated; he spent time getting to know the Great Stone Face. In time that stony visage, and the prophecy of the man that would be like it, became of greater influence to Ernest's education than any school teacher or passing preacher could be. The waiting, with eyes fixed on this mute teacher, became transformational. The more Ernest contemplated the nobility of it's brow and the strength and divinity of those stony features the more Ernest himself grew to resemble them... Until at last the other inhabitants of the valley could clearly see that Ernest himself was the man of prophecy - the likeness of the Great Stone Face.

SO... what does it mean to wait on the LORD? I think it means we have much time each day that can be redeemed. So many minutes, even hours of the day that we spend waiting that can be better spent with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. If we really did that could it even be possible to be weary? If my thoughts are fixed on the one who came to offer me life to the full, doesn't it stand to reason that my strength will be renewed? That I will "mount up with wings like eagles."?

It is inevitable that the more time we spend with someone the more we become like them... Christ is eternal and because of Christ so am I... with that in mind, time loses it's power. Pretty awesome huh?

*note: since first writing this my sister-in-law and brother were overjoyed to welcome into the world their daughter, and my first niece, Adi!! Now I am just waiting for opportunities to see her :D

Home Grown Swiss Spaghette

2010-04-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Rains are Coming.

2010-03-19T23:32:00.004-07:00

Maybe you've been following the ongoing devastation in Haiti, maybe you haven't... but in brief here it is. A new disaster is on it's way for Haiti. It's the rainy season. Many of the temporary camps housing hundreds of thousands of people have already been flooded out after only a couple of hours of rain. But it's only the beginning. With the rains, it becomes increasingly difficult to control the spread of disease. Those who are still in the process of healing are in particular danger.

The actor Sean Penn, along with a woman named Diana Jenkins have started a relief organization and effort to relocate these at risk tent communities as quickly as possible to lessen the effects the rainy season will have on these quake victims.

Although I haven't been a fan of Penn's liberal politics, I am VERY impressed with what I have seen of his organization. You can check it out for yourself here and see what you think.

Not long after the quake Penn was interviewed by Campbell Brown on CNN...

CAMPBELL BROWN: Let me ask you, it's been a month since the earthquake, I mean, first struck. In your mind right now, given what you've seen, what do you think the most pressing concern is?

SEAN PENN: The rain. When the rain comes, it's going to be a public health disaster. They could easily be on the scale of the earthquake itself. Disease is spreading already, tuberculosis, typhoid, tetanus, malaria. The place, you know, which already had incredible hygiene problems within the neighborhoods, now with the earthquake, this is a new disaster waiting to happen.

He was interviewed again tonight by (one of my favorites) Anderson Cooper, speaking from Haiti Penn again reiterated the presssing need for immediate relocation. Sadly politcs seem to be standing in the way and much of the good that was done early on after the quake is being undone by the rains and the petty squabbles of governmental employees.

I don't mean to rant. But I do. I can get easily frustrated by these things. I hate when real people, in desperate need, are treated as pawns in the career advancements of those who are, by all apearances, living a rather sheltered life... I want to go and knock a few heads, tell them to get over themselves and relocate these people already. Worry about more permanent solutions when the immediate dangers are resolved.

Instead I will pray. I pray that God holds back the rain until they are able to relocate. I pray that miraculously and surprisingly the spread of these diseases is stopped. I pray for quick healing for those that are recovering from major surgeries and illnesses. I pray that God prompts those in authority to do what is right for these people. I pray that those with actual giftings in administration will be in place to actively, quickly and effectively moderate the relocation of these at risk tent cities... and further still the rebuilding of homes, hospitals, schools and businesses in Haiti.

Won't you pray this with me?

The Handsome Men's Club

2010-03-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Oh Jimmy, you make me smile!

The Red Cross are making me cross!!

2010-01-19T23:24:00.004-07:00

Where in Haiti is the Red Cross? ... They have now surpassed the $100 million mark in Aid money/pledges for Haiti, but they don't seem to have a presence there... No visibility on any news stations... and some very evasive answers on the BBC as to how that money is being spent. How can we hold them accountable??!!

Newsnight discovered that two years after the tsunami disaster, billions of pounds were sitting unused in Red Cross bank accounts. No joke, here's a link to the video.
Really no laughing matter.

I know they have some people there setting up tents etc... but their presence, when compared with the finances and manpower behind them, is sadly lacking.

Most of this seems due to TERRIBLE organizational skills, policies and red tape.

Perhaps I am biased... My Mother, a nurse/midwife who worked for the Red Cross in Africa, has a plethora of stories of the Red Cross administration's blunders and their poor understanding of what is actually essential in a Crisis.

While working in Africa, and desperately needing medicines and food, they were sent boxes and boxes of tinned food, with no can opener. To aid her in her work the Red Cross "generously" provided her, and those on her team with a kit, no larger than a small make up bag, in order to provide medical care for the people she met... it included bandages (small plasters) a small pair of scissors, and some aspirin... BUT they were given many stickers and badges so that they and their vehicles could be clearly marked.
There were even fur coats generously donated to the African people, who neither needed nor wanted them. That, I'm afraid, is just the tip of the iceburg!

It seems that those "on the ground" working for the Red Cross are talented, caring people who really do want to do all that they can, but the organization of this talent and the provisions given them are so limited it that they are severely inhibited.

I would include Unicef in this rant... they seem to be not much better at the moment... but I have less information on them so maybe I'll save it for later :D
BUT I do pray that there will be more accountability for this organization (and others like them). That they won't withold much needed aid. That the organization will soon be run by capable, level headed, sensible people that really do care more about others than they care about themselves.

HOWEVER.. I do still recommend to you Doctors Without Borders... despite their supply planes continuously being turned away from the Port-au-Prince airport, they have already done thousands of surgeries... even though forced to buy a saw (locally) they are doing what they can! Check out this video from Amanpour... you can hear their frustration... tinged with a tiny bit of joy in what they have been able to accomplish despite these ridiculously terrible conditions.

UPDATE

2010-01-18T09:29:00.003-07:00

At about 3 am... my usual time to be wide awake and wondering what to do with myself... I was watching CNN and the reporter on the ground there in Haiti was talking about the difficulty some of the Aid Organizations are having with communication and also with distribution of aid.

HOWEVER...

He went on to say that "a faith based NGO called WORLD VISION" seemed to have a well developed system, and seemed to not only be highly effective in reaching out with aid to masses of people, but that they seemed the most organized and the people receiving aid from them were much more calm and orderly than at other sites.

SO KUDOS to World Vision. for getting the job done!

LET ME ADD, Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta have sealed their positions in my book of heros this week!! He's a clip of Anderson being BRILLIANT as per usual... and another of Sanjay equally if not more brilliant.

It's heartbreaking.

2010-01-14T20:58:00.002-07:00

I know I have nothing new to say that can make a person decide whether to do something to help out in Haiti or not. I'm not George Clooney, so I can't hold a telethon with my A-lister friends... I'm not a celebrity of any sort, so if I say I would send you a personalized video you wouldn't care.

If you want to do something, you probably will and if you don't ... well no matter what I say you probably won't.

BUT I like to think, that my friends and people that may or may not randomly visit this blog are also the kind of people that WOULD want to do something. SO, in order to make it easier for you, here are a few links to help you to give, support or go.

1. They are in desperate need of clean safe drinking water...Filterpure Water for life

2. I always appreciate how quickly World Vision mobilizes - World Vision Email

3. Doctors Without Borders seem to be Johnny on the Spot, I haven't donated through them before, but there are several people I respect very much who are big fans.

Doctors Without Borders

If you're wondering what to pray for... other than the obvious... The Port at Port-au-Prince was severely damaged, so that although aid is coming in... getting off boats is near impossible... air is the best option, but of course makes for more complications and large cargo planes can't deliver what a cargo ship can. So pray that much needed supplies can actually reach them.

Pray also that the false rumours that are driving people away from their homes, leading to looting will be stopped. Pray that God will give them peace and help them to discern the truth.

1. The situation in Haiti is catastrophic, and Filtepure is responding with clean water. We have heard from our group in Haiti and they are asking for filters. They say this... "Roman, Lubens, Paul Emanuel, Jean claude and families and Seb MP and I all OK. schmiliguen and Rony are in south away from earthquake. nobody hurt at MSH. no internet at house, house cracked but standing. Tell Charles. Roman couldn't get into factory this morning - we will try again this aftn to see if there are any intact ceramic filters we can distribute. Situation is chaotic, terrible number of deaths and severe injuries. Almost all medical supplies are gone, some people already out of water and food and many will be shortly. Pressure your government to get aid in here quickly."
2. "The need is staggering and the situation is getting worse. I see heart-breaking scenes of devastation and need all around me. Children without parents. Parents with injured children. And virtually no way to make them safe or well.
We need your help now—while the Canadian Government will match your donation!

Those who survived the quake need help urgently—food, water, shelter and more. Please give now. (AP)
One of our staff, Willard Metzger, was staying in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit. His hotel quickly became a makeshift hospital.
"Desperate parents tug on our shirts to help their children, but we are only guests here. We're not doctors. But we have bedsheets which we use as bandages. So we are the only ones to give them hope." "

3. "Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical teams in Port-au-Prince have been treating very large numbers of people who come to them with fractures, head injuries and other major trauma from the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti’s capital on Jan. 12. Well over a thousand patients been through the four tented facilities that MSF has set up near the damaged buildings that it used to work in.
The main concern at the moment from the medical staff in those clinics is that the need for wound treatment and major surgery is overwhelming. One of the teams is moving into the major public hospital in the district of Cité Soleil, where MSF has worked previously. There is an operating theatre in that hospital, which will help the team cope with some of those cases. "

Auto-Tune the News #9: Nobel. health care. United Nations.

2009-12-31T17:12:00.001-07:00

Jesus Makes Me Look Good

2009-12-31T00:50:00.002-07:00

I'm a fraud. At least that's how I feel right now. I was visiting a website that a friend of mine suggested... http://andrewkooman.com . She thought I might be interested in his writing and what he is doing with his life as many of the things are what I claim to be passionate about. Civil liberty and freedom. Abolition of modern slavery. True religion, taking care of widows and orphans in their affliction. When I say that I am thinking very specifically about some of those my brother David visited and lived amongst when he was with Hands at Work in Africa this year.
I do care... but there is still a great part of me that is loathe to give up the life I have here.
It is not that it's perfect, in fact there are many things I would change in a heart beat. But I have a job that I enjoy, and love to see the ways some of the children in the school are growing in the knowledge and understanding of God's love for them. I am close to my family. I enjoy close friendships. I have a comfortable little nook in the basement of my parents home... not everyone's dream I know, but the rent is cheap and the company is fantastic :D

It is an easy life.
But I am not certain it is the abundant life that Christ has called me to. I know there are times when I felt really alive. When I knew without a shadow of a doubt I was just where God wanted me, doing just what he wanted me to do. They were exciting times. Fearless times. Times when Jesus had the reigns on what I did and when I did it.

If I were to recount some of the stories... and I do, especially to my students. I come out sounding very brave... very godly even... But here's the thing - It wasn't really me. It was Jesus. Just when I was at my least capable He took over. I'm very grateful He did because I got to experience with Him some extraordinary things. I learned things from Him with words that came out of my own mouth. Wise things that made me look very clever. But they were not my own.

I love that kind of life, so I am not sure what keeps me from living it every day. I love that Jesus makes me look good. I know the way I would act if it were just up to me. In fact I have done too much of that kind of living in the last year. I have done too much 'giving up in the face of adversity'. I have done too much 'how can I do just enough to look like I'm still giving my all to Jesus, while still maintaining some control of my actions, words and thought life'. I have done too much talking. I want to go back to letting Jesus do it.
So that is my pray for this year... I was tempted to call it my new years resolution, but then we'd be right back to what I am going to do. So my pray for this new year is... that He might increase and I might decrease. That I will go with Him wherever He wants me to. That I will do less talking to others and more walking and talking with Him. I pray that I might do all this through Christ Jesus who strengthens me!

NOW... Here's to an exciting AD 2010... and the rememberence that it is THE YEAR OF OUR LORD...

A favorite Christmas poem of mine by John Schienbein

2009-12-12T10:27:00.002-07:00

T'wasn't it the night before Christmas? (A Christmas eve poem)

In the winter as the cold winds blow,

Atop my roof on ice and snow,

No sound is heard, no hooves, no bells,

For Santa is dead, our town crier yells,

At half past eleven this Christmas eve night,

The town gasps and weeps at that terrible sight,

A once jolly fat man with red cheeks, suit, and hat,

Freshly gored by a reindeer is lying down flat,

The sirened cars come, the policemen get out,

They question if anyone’s seen Rudolf about,

A little plump boy with a tear in his eye,

States that he saw that villain, just this moment fly by,

The police call a hunter renowned for his aim,

Quite ironically Chris Kringle the third was his name,

He got out his rifle with a scope he called Mark,

They looked to the sky but the sky was too dark,

That same chubby boy, snot running down on his clothes,

Cried out "That monster can't hide, cause he’s got a red nose!"

They looked for that red glow, surveying the night,

Yet not one could see Rudolf’s red nose’s bright light,

Just then "Not my Johnny!" a mother was crying,

Rudolf's struck again, a fresh body was lying,

This time it was Johnny that same pumpkin shaped boy,

With this message in blood "Snitches die with no toy!"

The message was, without a doubt scribed,

By the tip of an antler, as the little boy died,

"That's gone too far!" roared Chris Kringle in thund’rous tones,

"By dawn Rudolf's pelt will be mine, I shall grind up his bones!"

Chris then picked up his gun and was gone on his mission,

The town mourned dear Johnny and sent for the mortician,

As for the two bodies, the town did agree,

They were boxed up like presents, buried under a tree,

Then at about dawn, there arose such a racket,

Chris Kringle returned in a new reindeer jacket,

You could hear Him cry out, with a deep, "HOHOHO!"

As Rudolf’s ground bones, fell to earth like fresh snow,

That Christmas held sorrows yet joy was still found,

For we had a great feast and roast reindeer abound.

A lesson was learned by the children that day,

That the one who’s a snitch, will most certainly pay.

Keeping up with the Schienbeins...

2009-12-04T19:12:00.003-07:00

Last year we decided to send out a "family Christmas photo" so we bought matching t-shirts on a trip to North Dakota and posed as a human Christmas tree. Great fun. It was so well received, especially by family that we figured we needed to do it again. But we also knew we had to top it. For the last few weeks I have been working on my Norman Rockwell style, family Christmas masterpiece. If you would like to be a recipient of said work of art... please do request one, and add your address to the comments sheet. Who knows... it may be worth something someday. After all there will be a limited number of prints made :D
Above is last years... We topped it!
buh bye... and happy holidays!

Confession time.

2009-10-29T18:32:00.002-07:00

So, I bought a bar of chocolate yesterday... a delicious fruit and nut bar, one of my favorites... but that's not the confession.

I also bought some cleaner for the bathroom. In the bag, the cleaner spilt and covered everything. I really wanted the chocolate so I decided to wash it off instead of throwing it out. Today when I opened it up it looked a little wet, so I dryed it off and had a few pieces. Now I am worried I poisoned myself. AND for no good reason! Just wanted chocolate and didn't want to go to the store again. True story.

New News!

2009-10-02T21:52:00.004-07:00

Well, I have news.... and I know how you like news.

They are filming some scenes for the new A-Team movie in town.

I am more excited than I should be. Honestly, I found out this morning and have already spent hours thinking about what they would be up to and how I could just happen to bump into someone from the cast. BUT, I'm not alone. It seems like everyone on facebook is posting about this... well, everyone on facebook from Cold Lake anyway. Things like, "Jim Carey is at the highschool, Im a gon see him" why he would be at the high school, I don't know. Or ... "My hubby and I just saw Jessica Biel on the security tapes at his work.", also " Bradley Cooper was walking down the hall at my husbands work." and even, "The cast was at the Beehive this afternoon." What's the Beehive? A second hand store on the airbase. So I know I am not alone in this excitement.

Still... I wish I was alone in... a room with them, I have questions and some comments and a few exclamations. :D

Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be THE day. I'll pull out my biggest camera and be the local papparazzi.. Papparazzi always know where to find them!

Kitty Genovese Syndrome?

2009-09-24T16:16:00.002-07:00

I was reading this article in "intresting thing of the day" entitled Kitty Genovese Syndrome. Also known as "the guilty bystander" syndrome. You I'm sure are familiar with the shocked reports of someone who was killed or injured or mugged, in plain view of the general public and no one stops to do anything.

Some also relate it to lack of care for the homeless, passing by people in obvious distress because we manage to come up with a logical reason why we shouldn't. Or a practical reason why what appears to be distress, may in fact be merely a misunderstanding.

But, more often than not, it isn't... is it? More often, there really is something quite horrible happening. Someone really is in desperate need of assitance.

The article carries on to talk about 'International Bystanders'. The idea that there are horrific things happening in other areas of the globe that we have become desenstized to...

" When I saw the film Hotel Rwanda, I left the theater very upset. The genocide in the early 1990s that left 800,000 Rwandans dead occurred with very little intervention from either those within Rwanda or the international community—a profound example, as several commentators have pointed out, of Kitty Genovese Syndrome. I simply couldn’t fathom that anyone could know what was going on and do nothing. And yet, paradoxically, I can imagine no other response—with so many other people in the world, surely this must be someone else’s problem. Someone wiser, more powerful, or closer to the situation. What could I have done anyway? I have my own problems. But then, so does everyone else.
There’s no cure for this problem. Even knowing about this effect as I do, chances are, I’ll someday be an unhelpful bystander once again. But just maybe I’ll have the presence of mind to realize that the person best qualified to help is the one willing to take action in the face of confusion and doubt. —"

Yesterday I was watching "Hands at Work" videos with my brother David. He was trying to decide what would be appropriate to play in church. The work this group is doing in some of the most impoverished spots in Africa is amazing! Even more amazing is what God is doing. However, I was so convicted that I am a bit of a guilty bystander... I know what is happening there. People, that are my brothers and sisters because of Jesus, are dying horrific deaths. They are starving to death. They are being ravaged by diseases that we have medicines for. Children are suffering the sting of rejection from family members that are terrified of catching the diseases that killed their parents. I cried. Rightly so. But how can I do more. How can I most effectively reach out to my hurting family?

One video Dave played for me profiled a family that Hands at Work was just starting to help out. They seemed excited about the possibility of building a care centre in the area so that the family, and many others like them in that area could have consistent support. Apparently the group that filmed them wanted to do a follow up 12 months later, but were unable to give a good report. There was so much unrest in Mozambique, and the present government is so closed, that although the money was raised to build the centre they are unable to get it into the country. They can only smuggle (literally) small amounts at a time. I know that some people would be disappointed to hear this, and possibly even wonder what the point is. BUT shouldn't this then elicit a different repsonse? It's not enough for us in the west to throw money at the poverty there.

Obviously, they need our prayers. We should be praying that the country opens up in a way that allows this center to be built. Maybe they need more "smugglers". People that would take the time to help bring in the funds... the hard way.

Okay, so obviously I am a bit removed, and don't know the perfect solution, but I know that I can be doing much more than just sending money. I know I can give more of myself, my time, my gifts and abilities. In fact, I must. It is a biblical mandate.

I must not be a guilty bystander, international or otherwise.

A new day...

2009-09-21T20:05:00.002-07:00

Summer's gone. The weather has taken a turn for the colder and the leaves are changing. Work has started again. I hate that it makes me melancholy, but it does. It just seems like I have to gear up for another year of "the same old, same old." It's strange to feel like that because I know that technically the year already holds a lot of changes in store.
I think it probably has more to do with another approaching birthday. I wish I could hold back the years. It seems like there is still so much undone I can't afford another birthday. I want to leave each year brightly... but somehow I managed to wile away my time on silly little things that don't add up to anything great in the grand scheme of things.
I wonder if that disappoints God? I know He loves me no matter what. But... he has given me so much and I feel like I do so little with it sometimes. I know for certain that I spend to much time on myself and not enough on others. I don't want to be like that. I want to give more. Somehow, I end up embracing our culture that says "you need to take more and more time for yourself and what makes you happy." Although, I know from experience that I am happiest when I am thinking of, and doing, less of/for myself and more of/for others. I tell myself I don't have time in the day. That between work and studies I just can't. But the truth is... I have time to paint, and read, and knit and watch tv. So I definitely have time for others I just need to channel it. To choose it.
So... what am I going to do about it?
I need a plan. I need to get involved with people that will keep me accountable. I need to give all my life to God (again) to use as He pleases.

What it's like....

2009-09-08T22:42:00.002-07:00

It's like watching the clouds... seeing one in particular that catches your eye, reminding you of something but you can't quite put your finger on it. It's not a dinosaur, a bunny, a bird, or any of the usual things. Then the wind high above turns, almost unfelt by you... Down below it is just an almost imperceptable breeze - but it pushes and the large cloud moves and finally what you were looking for and straining to discern becomes clear.

You see clearly what it is you thought you saw from the beginning; and you can start to put into words what was once just an idea or a hope. A cloudy dream taking shape.

Water, Water for King David

2009-06-17T11:14:00.002-07:00

2 Samuel 23 :13-17
And three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David in the cave of Adullam, and a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
And David said longingly, Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!
And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.
And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, to drink this. Is it not [the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives? So he would not drink it.
This passage about David has bothered me for a long time. I didn't pay VERY much attention to it to be honest; I just thought it was one of those stupid things David did, that showed how very human he could be. "Acting so irrationally and with such carelessness and yet... God still calls him a man after His own heart." (that was my first thought)

Now I can hardly believe how careless I was with this passage.

Of course David wanted water... a little taste of home in the midst of war, and not as a passing whim but with a type of hunger that homesickness can create for the things you once enjoyed . He did recognize the sacrifice and risk his men took in order to get him this drink -- so why did he pour it on the ground without so much as a sip?

He did it because of it's value. He did it because it was the very best. It was water fit for a King! So he gave what he most desired at that moment to God. He didn't even sample what he would offer to his LORD. There no "two for you, one for me!" in his thinking. He loved God. He had something of great value now in his possession that could be laid before his God.

It reminds me very much of Genesis 22 where Abraham is asked to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac his beloved son! -- a result of a longstanding promise from God! I can understand the passage as it relates to Jesus and the Father, but it's hard to wrap myu mind around the willing sacrifice of a blessing from God.

My immediate thinking when God sens a blessing is that it is for my enjoyment. I do not immediately think, "Yay! God has provided a way for me to give to him the very best!" And so the blessings, although very much a blessing no mater what is done with it, remains in that moment mine alone. BUT, if I were to offer it back to God as it says in Malachi 3, just wait and see... "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Instead I often give left overs... left over time, left over talents... I don't mean left overs as in... bits that have sat around and are now useless, I mean giving out of an abundance, but not when it costs something. Is it as bad as offering second best? Probably, earlier in Malachi it gives a warning to Priests who were not offering "the best". It says in verse 7-9 "You place defiled food on my altar."But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.
"Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"-says the LORD Almighty.

The thing is... God does not demand EVERYTHING, just the recognition that because of His position he should be considered first. If we do put Him first the blessings in our lives, through that right relationship with Him will expand to include not only ourselves but those around us.

In this act of pouring out the water, and throughout his time in the cave David offered praises to God. Leading by example, he showed these men that worship, true worship, picks you up out of darkness and into the Light. It pulls your attention from your own distress and/or depression and focuses it on the one who holds LIFE in his hands.

It makes life in a "pit" not only bearable but joyous! It makes heroes out of mere men. To pour out the water didn't, as I had first supposed, reveal David's human-ness by some rash reaction; but rather, revealed the heart of God in him as he humbly offered the best that he had.

Good Grief

2009-06-16T08:50:00.003-07:00

If I could paint a "living" picture to represent grief, I think it would be an asteroid landing in a lake. There is that initial tidal wave. Emotion that is so completely overwhelming everything around is overwhelmed by it. Immediately following are waves, they come quickly one after the other, with very brief moments of respite. Following this, smaller waves a greater distance apart, but still moving in against the shore, carrying out with them a bit of the soft sand. Later, possibly much later, are little ripples... so far apart they are hardly noticed by those that are not close to the water, but they are there and they still upset the water enough that the calm "glassy-ness" is not yet returned.... maybe it never will.

I was talking with my sister in law the other night and we were talking about this very thing. I know I've written about it probably more than one can bear to read, but I am still surprised that I can randomly cry over a friend that passed away many years ago now. I was sitting in church on Sunday and these waves of grief just kept washing over me. It had nothing to do with anything specific that was said... I just remembered her and missed her. My sister in law was telling me her similar story and we talked about missing family and friends even some that although still alive, for one reason or another are no longer a part of our lives. When the grief again creeps in after so many years it can be a little surprising, don't you think? The larger gaps in between the ripples give you a false sense that things have returned to the way they were before the tragic event that immersed you in a time of grief.

Well, all that said... I know it will sound very strange, but I am glad for the ripples. Somehow it validates once again the stronger emotions that came first. It reminds me that my life was forever changed by someone else being in it. Even though the time seemed short, there are phrases and ways of looking at things that are a part of me now because of that friend... the grief is a sort of reminder of where it came from.
More than that, those ripples remind me of the fact that I miss this person because death in and of itself was not a part of God's perfect plan. He has given us a chance to join Him in eternity. He conquered death, he conquered sin and there will be a day when I can enjoy the fullness of that victory. So deep down under the sadness there is still always a glimmer of hope and joy and perfect peace.

It is in that way... a Good Grief.

Project Natal for XBOX 360

2009-06-06T21:57:00.001-07:00

So amazing!! You have to watch it, it's crazy.
It feels like all of a sudden they've taken things straight out of science fiction and made them fact!

The Dave is in Africa Bilbo Baggins says...

2009-05-07T14:56:00.002-07:00

the title is an ode to my brother Dave :P

He is in fact in Africa, at this very moment... staying in a child headed household*, apparently not very far from the city of Nelspruit.

Working with a group called Hands at Work Africa...

I highly encourage you to check out the website. I really appreciate the mission and vision of

this group. It seems they really throw you right in the deep end though.

David hasn't even been in the country a whole week, but he will be spending the next few days

alone in a village, hopefully with some sort of interpreter as he doesn't yet know the language...

and with a list of jobs that need to be done there.

* a child headed household, is a home where both parents are missing - usually orphaned children with one older (12 year old in this case) sibling taking on the role of both Father and Mother.

I'm sure he would value your prayers and if you would like to follow his adventures he has a blog that he will update as often as he can.

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

2009-04-16T00:36:00.001-07:00

beautiful... I love how an entire audience was called out...
she really is somehow entrancing.

LIFE

2009-03-18T23:37:00.003-07:00

It's fragile isn't it?

This week I was talking to someone who is struggling through a rough patch. I noticed how much of the problem is caused by a desire to control ones own circumstances. But it's all an illusion. We don't really control anything, except perhaps our choice of reaction. Things happen that are so outside our control that it's almost laughable that we could ever even imagine we have control even for a moment.

I always watch the news, especially Hollywood news, and I was surprised to hear they were covering a story about Natasha Richardson who, by all accounts, suffered a very minor accident. But tonight, they reported she has passed away. A freak accident on the bunny slope. It is tragic and sad. Completely beyond her control... beyond even the control of the physicians attending her.

Another friend is applying to Universities, but seems to have been living too long elsewhere to still be considered in State.

We have a several students moving on, and now wonder the direction the school will take. What the future holds is not within our control.

None of us knows with certainty the days marked out for us.

Knowing this... what is my role? How, now, shall I live to make the most of each moment. I was reading through an excerpt with one of my students, "Markheim" by Robert Louis Stevenson. In it, Markheim, asks a miserable looking shop keep, why do you not live? Why don't you treat each second as a fiery precipice? You have no friends, you spend your holiday alone reviewing your bookkeeping. There is no life in that living. Take a chance, stand on the edge...

It's so easy to "take control". It's so safe. Or at least that is the illusion. I don't want to live this way, but I realize that more and more the last few years I have allowed myself to be controlled and managed by my culture. I have been seeking out a living, I have been saving my monies, I have worked hard, and taken time for myself... and I have become a product of that. It has become a much greater effort to abandon myself to God. It has become harder to give joyfully without counting "the cost".

But in the span of eternity, what does it gain me.

What am I really in control of? Whether or not I die to myself daily. Life is really to short, to not live with eternity in mind. The only way to live in a way that effects eternity, is to abandon my life to God, the one who has created time and eternity, the one who has created me and knows just what I am fitted for. The only one who can direct my life in a way that has maximum effect.

You want to talk about control - He's got it.

There is a verse... that says that he keeps everything in place... He sustains all of creation by His Word.

There is nothing that happens that God is unaware of. Not one sparrow falls to the ground that he doesn't know of. He knows every hair on our heads. He searches us out. There is no where we can go that He is not there.... Before we took our first breath He knew us... all of whom we would be.

Knowing this, (and liking the feeling of some sort of control) why would I live a life in any way separated from the one who knows what's next. The one who can change hearts and lives. Why would I let my lazy or selfish pursuits put up barriers between us?

I am so glad that despite the fact that I can be... have been, at times unfaithful... God is always faithful. Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. (Rom 3:3,4)

"But now, God shows us a way to be made right with Him.....

.... by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Jesus Christ when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as a sacrifice for our sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith...." Romans 3

Father, help me to abandon myself to you. Thank you for saving me, I pray that you give me the strength to accept the abundant life you have for me. Forgive me for trying to take control away from you... it is so proud and so foolish. I pray that I will really live, and not waste this precious time you have given me. Father, please do bless those that have become aware this week of their lack of control. I pray that they will soften their hearts towards you. That they will accept you and the good plans that you have for them. Plans to prosper and not to harm... plans to give them a future and a hope. Father please be their peace, when life feels like it's falling to pieces. Surround them with the warm and inviting light of your love. Please Father, I pray that though some may try and whisper lies, they will see the truth of Your word... in Your Word made flesh.

Be'shem Yeshua, Amen!

Kunio Kato 2009 Oscar's Speech

2009-02-23T17:58:00.001-07:00

My favorite speech of the evening!! He is an absolutely genius...

Peace! Peace! But there is no peace - A conversation

2009-02-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

This is written by a man named T S*, a former Muslim PLO Sniper who fought for Yasser Arafat following the '67 War. He was born in Gaza and this is what he writes about the war, on the website onceanarafatman.com
"Now, onto the current war in the Gaza strip...it is so amazing to me how many people suddenly become experts about the Middle East. I am not, by any means, an expert. War, any way you look at it, is an ugly thing. One thing I must say, the world is becoming so "anti-Israel" because of the lack of understanding of the real conflict. Let me say this, the real conflict is spiritual and not political. If Hamas could get their hands on the same capabilities the Israelis have, they would have erased Israel off the map a long time ago. The casualties of war that we see is horrified and expanded by AlJazeera and the like because of their being so "biased". Don't take everything they show you as truth. Their goal is to win sympathy for people like Hamas.I feel horrified by the loss of innocent life in Gaza. Yes it is ugly, it is mean, it is vicious, but Hamas is the one to blame for all of this. They put their people in the line of fire and they hide underground. Karen and I have been there. We lived there. We have seen what Hamas is capable of and what they do when they fight with Israel. They are not as brave as what AlJazeera wants us to believe. They are ugly, mean spirited evil people and many are demonically possessed.Let us pray for the victims on both sides of this war. Pray that God will bring Hamas down to save their own people from their evil government."-T A S

E-There's no way you can justify killing of innocent life… war is always an ugly, horrible thing. What also can't be justified, though, is the undeniable fact that Hamas is intentionally sacrificing its own women and children, basing their operations from schools and from civilian homes to maximize collateral damage and to garner the world's sympathy. By having the men 'warriors' or 'soldiers' cowering behind a human shield of women and children, or worse, hiding out safe in Damascus like the leaders of Hamas are doing now, they are going against all moral rules of warfare and giving Israel no choice if they want to save their people from being pounded by rockets as they have been for the last 7/8 years. It's a catch-22 situation, and it's escalated into a madness, yes, but we need to look at more than the numbers and see why so many innocents are being killed.

S - this is not a classic warfare because the palestinians do not have a state and consequently no legitimized army. I do not support Hamas' actions and use of force. But since the disengagement from Gaza the palestinian in Gaza have been under siege. {my note: this is only after they themselves have started an assault against israel – they have always been the first to break a ceasefire agreement} Control of export, import, basic resources. Sadly enough resistence without violence does not seem to work in a sum-zero conflict. Israel has a right to defend its citizens, but as a state it also recognizes its duty to reducing innocent casualties. yet it did not succeed in that.

A - What would you do if you were the Prime Minister of Israel about Hamas was shooting rockets into to Israel?

S - Habibi, i am not the prime minister. It’s like me asking you what would you do if you were a gazan, would you join Hamas and shoot rockets or not?

A- That's easy, habibti. I would not join Hamas nor would I shoot rockets. The problem is that many people are criticizing Israel for her actions, but they offer no other solution.

S- You have a point there. I would say it's because neither side will talk to the other. Both sides don't trust each other and the international community is not mediating. It's hard to find a solution when neither of them wants to compromise. It's obvious that Israel is stronger militarily, and that is why the criticism is on Israel. With power comes responsibility, you know?

A - Ya, it's too bad Hamas didn't realize that before they murdered Fatah and took power. So, how do you deal with them? You talk? How do you talk to someone who doesn't recognize your right to exist and wants to wipe you off the face of the earth and drive you into the sea? How do the leaders of Israel protect their citizens to whom they are first and foremost responsible?

S - I could say the same about Israel's attitude towards Hamas. That's what I mean about no compromise on both sides

A - What could you say about Israel's attitude toward the Hamas? That Israel doesn't recognize their right to exist? They are an internationally recognized terrorist organization. I think they have terrorized the Palestians as much as they have the Israelis, especially if you take into account how many Fatah were killed in the Hamas take over. I once heard them say, before they took over Gaza, that the PLO was their main enemy, and attacking Israel was just a way to get at the PLO

S - I don't think bringing up the international norms in relation with Hamas is adequate. Internationally Israel was condemned for their attack on Gaza. {my note: but why? This seems to me entirely hypocritical, what western nation would allow terrorists to pound their land with missiles and then roll over and play nice?} There is a possibility they might be referred to as an equivalent to terrorists themselves with the way things are going. {Also, only because of the global communities complete lack of understanding in the stituation}In the 90s PLO i.e Fatah persecuted Hamas members as a way to rid of their opponents. This policy was created by Fatah themselves. Just because Israel doesn't like Hamas we are told of these inner conflict, and even raising sympathy with palestinians. However, Arafat did the same after Oslo but Israel didn't mention it because the served their interest. Because Hamas refused to abide to Israel's demands, they are unrecognized. In Israel we have inner conflicts and the claim that the government dafka chose to attack Gaza now is for political parties to gain more votes before the elections. So, they were using Gaza to get at their opponent political parties. How is that different?

A – S*, thank you for the info about the PLO's activity against Hamas. I was unware of this, but not surprised. However, there is quite a difference between the international community recognizing an organization as terrorist organization and condemning a country for actions they took in defending themselves. I am familiar with the claim that Olmert, Livni and Barak started the war for political gain (even though Olmert is on his way out and has already destroyed his party), but unless I am mistaken, grad rockets were falling in Ashkelon before Israel started bombing in Gaza. And I think this is the reason why Israel decided "enough is enough." Sadly, I think if the Hamas had only continued to fire kasam rockets on Sderot, Israel would have continued to wait. It was also Hamas who broke the previous cease fire that led to the way. Shadia, I have to admit, I am a bit surprised that you are defending Hamas.

S - I am not defending Hamas. I was trying to show you that they too have a rationality to their actions, whether we like it or not. I think Israel does have the right to defend itself as a sovereign state, but proportionality has to be taken into account. This brings another issue whether the means of the Isareli strategy have met the ends or no? If not, who is going to be held responsible? I am not siding either one because I do not want to. I want this situation to end, and not postponed. I think the only solution possible is one that will have to force both sides to compromise for the benefit of their people.

A - Hi S*, I have a hard time calling what lies behind their actions "rational," I think hate, might be more appropriate, but I understand what you're saying. As far as the proportional bit, I don't get that. I mean, what should Israel have done, every time they fire an unguided rocket on Israel, we fire an unguided rocket on Gaza. Taking into consideration the lack of population in the South and the population density in Gaza, they would probably hit nothing most of the time, and most of the time we would hit civilians. I heard a clip from Al-Jazeera English where they asked a British expert on international law about this and he gave an example of someone running at you with a knive on the street. He said, you don't have to wait til the person stabs you in the heart to defend yourself. Needless to say, I don't think he will be invited back to Al-Jazeera.

Now, your next question is very interesting, especially since some Israeli politicians are saying yes and some no. The problem with saying no, is that Hamas can use that to say that they won. Now, within the Western world that doesn't really matter, we know that nobody really wins in war, but in the Middle East, when Israel always feels like she has her back against the wall, or the sea, she has to have a deterent so that others will not attack her. Now, what I think, I'm not sure. I would have to say, not really. The israeli leaders did not make known any goals about the war, so that Hamas could not hold them to them and say, "You didn't do this, so we won." I think we would have to ask ourselves a couple of questions: 1) Is the south of Israel a safer place to live? For right now, yes, for the long run, probably not. So, there is a temporary victory. Is Hamas still in power? there's another good question, by aparently so, or partially. Not much victory there.
Even though I don't think getting Gilad Shalit back was ever part of the plan, the fact is that Hamas still holds him. So, no victory there either. Perhaps more importantly I believe Israel got back much of the deterent that seemed to be lost after the 2nd war with Lebanon. That may be more important than any of the other goals. Especially if it prevents possible wars in the future.
How do you see the two sides compromising?

S - That sounds like an even use of collective punishment. Palestinians who happen to live in Gaza became casualties, and Israelis who happen to live in the Negev became potential targets. i can see the similarity but i don't accept it because in the Palestinian side the misguided rocket caused more than a 1000 lives. I would be as upset if these casualties were on the Israeli side but they aren't. {my note: Again Israel is not placing their people purposefully in the way of danger as the Hamas do so of course the number of casualties witll be different}Israelis have the choice to temporarily move from the 'war zone' until safe again. Gazans couldn't, why? because Israel controls the borders. So, Israeli knew innocent people will die because it's not our own. This shows how Israeli perceive Palestinian lives, cheap and disposable. it's ok because it's a war, right? Al-jazeera is like any other network. They have specific audience and I am sure that guy won't come again either. I totally agree with you. Israel, in order to maintain the deterrent had to prove it’s might once again. They did that also knowing with what they were facing. Hamas is not like Hizballah. it's less dangerous and that is why the risks were lower. i see the two sides compromising only through external pressures and Economic growth. Both sides lost trust a long time ago and that should be restored first. How? if it worked in the 90s in the midst of suicide bombings and targeted assassinations, there is a possibility now. We need to broaden our options.

A - I was suggesting that as a supposed use of proportionate force, I personally don't believe in proportionate force. If Israel had the choice/ability to only kill militants, they would have done it. If Hamas had the choide/ability they would kill us all. I am very sorry that so many innocent palestinians died, but how do you expect Israel to "fight" Hamas when Hamas hides. Even when Israel tries to just kill the Hamas leaders, shooting their cars etc, innocent people usually get hurt. Don't forget that Israel killed more of her soldiers than did Hamas. I don't think Israel did that on purpose (although there is one case of Israel bombing a house where Hamas was holding a supposedly badly wounded Israeli soldier).

Twilight

2009-01-16T13:31:00.002-07:00

I heard a piece of news so shocking today that I had to look deeper.
At youth they posed the question. “Would you give up your soul, for the kind of love described in the Twilight.” The overwhelming answer was yes. Not just from the girls who are non believers or come from bad home situations... which shocked me even more.
I have never read Twilight, it is one bandwagon I have NEVER felt the urge to hop on. So I thought I would read a few reviews and find what the hype is about... the first review I read gave me all the answer I need to understand where the girls are coming from.
She said...
“Look, this book is bad. Shockingly bad. But it's bad in that epic, unselfconscious sort of way that makes me kind of obsessed with it, in the same way I'm obsessed with other ridiculous cheap thrill type novels. Although it's bad, it's not that surprising that it's popular. It's full of romantic grandiosity and shoots straight to the heart of teenage girl fantasies about being special and unique and being loved madly by a dreamy bad boy...
... If someone had told me that this book was written by a 15 year old who'd never kissed a boy, I would have said "well, that makes perfect sense. The tone and writing level is pretty much what I would have done when I was a 15 year old who'd never kissed a boy." It's the fact that it was written by a grown-up mother of 3 with an English degree that amplifies the WT* factor.”
I can’t speak for men, but I know girls/ women. There is something in us that desperately desires to be desired, to be desirable. We long for someone to come along that thinks we are extraordinary, that will lead us on adventures and say we are brave and strong and beautiful. We want that someone to be strong, to protect us... to know what we are feeling and still encourage us to talk about it. We want someone who will tell us how beautiful we are and show us how proud they are to be a part of our lives. We want someone who makes us the best version of ourselves, just because we are around them.
To be honest, what we are looking for is God in the body of an attractive man.
Twilight paints that kind of a picture. Here is an amazingly handsome, strong, eternal being that wants to be with one girl, for the rest of eternity. How lucky is she!!
I hate what these books do to girls. Not only does it create unrealistic expectations of what men should be. It is a form of idolatry. These young girls were so in love with the character... if they could find anyone close to that, they would give their life, their body, their soul to him. It’s so dangerous.
Unfortunately, it becomes a very short leap to, giving up your life and even your faith, to have a relationship with a man/boy who fulfills only a very small fraction of the “list.”
I can’t even tell you how my heart hurts for the MANY women that I know that settled, they married a Non Christian because of how he made them feel at the beginning. Because of how he loved them... Only to find themselves a few years down the road desperately lonely and wondering why the man is not filling the God shaped space in their lives... After all, he managed to do it in the beginning didn’t he... What changed?
I wish I could just help them see, before any life changing acts take place. HOW MUCH God loves them. I would share testimony of how God has protected me AND led me into adventure. How He has made me feel beautiful and cared for and loved. How I am the best version of myself, the more I spend time with Him. I wish He would reveal to them his strength, his power and majesty, his mercy and meekness. I wish they could see clearly that God, who knows every detail about them, still longs for them to talk to him. He wants to hear everything they have to say. He knows just how they feel but wants them to express it with words. He would never tell us to shut up, or leave him alone. He wouldn’t go out with the guys and leave us at home.
A husband IS NOT GOD, A boyfriend IS NOT GOD... we need to allow them to be men, on their own journey with the Almighty. We need to allow God to show His love to them through us and recognize when God is using a man to that same purpose for us... Never accrediting God’s love, power, strength, humility to the man himself. He is not God -I don’t think I can say it enough. You will NEVER know true undefiled love from anyone other than him.
But how can we encourage anyone to think this way, when it is so hard to do ourselves?
Oh Father, please reveal your heart to these girls. I pray they never trade their heart and souls for a weak imitation of Love. Protect them.
Be’shem Yeshua, Amen.

Shady

2009-01-13T17:01:00.002-07:00

I know I've said it before, but I gotta say it again.

Vladimir Putin is one shady character. There is just something about him that worries me. It seemed strange that he would come into power on New Years Eve 2000 - under the radar, this guy appears on the global political scene. A former KGB man, no less.

Everything he does seems hidden in the shadows of a larger world event.

More recently it was Russia's attack on Georgia during the Olympics...

This past week, they cut of the supply of gas to the Ukraine and by default the Eastern European countries surrounding. Sure it's back on now, but rerouted in a way that makes it difficult for the Ukraine to send it on the the surrounding countries. All this while the tensions in the Middle East have captured the medias attention.

I was watching a show - worlds best dancer, or something to that affect, and the Russian judge said something very telling. He said, "that was wundafull, so amazingk (he's russian so "ing" ends with a k) I think I will write to the president and ask for everything station to play this dance again and again, it was beautiful."

ASK THE PRESIDENT!? Wow, I mean round here we would never expect the President or our Prime Minister to control what is put on television... we would petition heads of Networks, but not government...

Telling wouldn't you say?? Seems to me Putin is a powerful, powerful man, and is used to doing things under the radar... just what else is he up to?

We Are The Reason

2008-12-16T00:07:00.001-07:00

that he gave his life...

A clever slip up..

2008-12-15T23:53:00.003-07:00

The other day I was in the office with my sister Joy and she asked me, "how does that saying go again..? Something about why we celebrate Christmas... oh yah... 'We are the reason for the season'."

I laughed so hard... but it also struck me immediately that it was a completely accurate slogan. It sounds really pompous but it's true that if we didn't exist there would be no Christmas, there would be no reason for it. Christmas celebrates the fact that Our Reedemer was true to His word, He came and He saved us. We celebrate Jesus, but we are the reason that He came. We were lost without Him. So in a very real way... "We are the Reason for the Season"

We Were The Reason - David Meece

As little children

We would dream of Christmas morn

Of all the gifts and toys

We knew we’d find

But we never realized

A baby born one blessed night

Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason

That He gave His life

We were the reason

That He suffered and died

To a world that was lost

He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live
As the years went by

We learned more about gifts

The giving of ourselves

And what that means

On a dark and cloudy day

A man hung crying in the rain

All because of love, all because of love

I’ve finally found the reason for living

It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him

In all that I do every word that I say

I’ll be giving my all just for Him, for Him
He is my reason to live

What to do..what to do...

2008-12-05T13:22:00.001-07:00

I got this email from an old schoolmate that seemed fairly informative so I thought I would pass it on...

Last night I attended a workshop on the state of the Canadian Economy. There was some very interesting economic data presented that supports the forecast that Canada will only suffer a “Technical Recession” (no growth in GDP for two quarters) and that we will be able to hold our own and weather the world economic “crisis” you are reading and hearing about. This is very good news for Albertans who see unemployment at 3.9%, the lowest since they started keeping track, and Canadians (not just the West) who saw 9500 new jobs created last month).

Then there was discussion on the current Coalition Government (Liberal, Bloc and NDP) “bloodless coup” that is in the works right now. The outlook was not pleasant. Right now Canada’s economy is poised to lead the world out of the recession. Should this coup be allowed, it would decimate all investor confidence in Canada and deter investment capital. This would significantly affect the future of our country as it would not only eliminate the word “Technical” from our recession status, but it would also make Canada look like a joke globally. This political fiasco is nothing but a butting of egos and these three men are seriously endangering the stability of our country.

This does affect you. We have jobs, a stable economy, a strong dollar, low inflation and we are a leading nation in a global time of need. If this government coup is allowed to be executed it will surely mean rough times ahead. I only send you this as the coup will definitely affect your bottom line. I encourage you to educate yourself on this and take action. You can sign an online petition at the following website:

http://www.canadians4democracy.ca/

It only takes a couple of minutes but it could be instrumental in saving Canadian Democracy. Please take 15 minutes of work time today to read up and choose (Bill it to 1168 under the heading “Canadian Democracy”.

The Liberals and NDP seem poised to form an alternative government by joining forces in a coalition -- supported by the separatist Bloc Quebecois. This unholy alliance is saying they simply want to spend more money to stimulate the economy, but when asked for details, they don’t have an answer. Apparently they’re prepared to take the "ready, shoot, aim" approach to spending and sign blank cheques to bail out industries in financial trouble without even knowing what will actually help specific industries, without knowing what Barak Obama has planned, and without working in concert with the other G-20 countries. It's a recipe for a fiscal disaster.

More importantly, it's a democratic disaster. During the campaign, Liberal leader Stephane Dion said he would not and could not have a coalition with the NDP, because their policies would destroy the economy. Apparently that principled position has now gone out the window. Now we have the prospect of the Liberals (with 77 seats) joining with the NDP (with 37 seats) to unseat the democratically elected Conservatives (with 143 seats). Of course, the only way to do that would be with the support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois, who bring their votes to the table in exchange for their separatist agenda. The three left-leaning parties in Parliament are willing to risk it all in order to gain power through the back door, power that was denied to them in a general election.

An organization called Canadians for Democracy has put together a petition urging Members of Parliament not to change governments without an election. Given the speed at which the Liberal/NDP/ Bloc coalition is moving towards their goal of overthrowing the duly elected Government of Canada without an election, the petition should probably be addressed to the Governor General. But the coalition is moving very quickly and I urge anyone who would oppose the potential coalition to sign this petition:

Bloodless Coup?! How dare they!

2008-12-02T09:11:00.002-07:00

It seems like three losing parties bandied together to decide that Canadians don't really need any democratic process and have decided to mutiny and take control.
How dare they even suggest this has the support of the people?

Would someone voting NDP have voted for a coalition party with Bloc Quebecios? or the Liberal party for that matter?? What about someone voting BQ? Wouldn't they have viewed their party as 'selling out' to the Libs?

In case you are as in the dark about all this as I was yesterday (I was travelling for 6 days, no tv, or internet and came back to hear that our newly elected government has a bunch of bullies trying to take over and position Dion [most of whom considered to be an inept leader, even within his party] as Prime Minister!!) here is part of an article from CTV.ca news to get you started.

Heritage Minister James Moore said Canadians are shocked by the recent developments, which follow the Conservatives' election win less than two months ago.
"I think Canadians are pretty stunned that Stephane Dion, a guy who entered politics in a byelection in 1996 fighting against Quebec separatists, is now prepared to hand over power to Quebec separatists to become the prime minister of this country after Canadians and his own political party rejected him," Moore told CTV's Canada AM.
Under the accord, Dion would serve as interim prime minister until May, when the Liberals will elect a new party leader who would then become prime minister.
Moore said the Conservatives "still have some options left on the table" but wouldn't go into details of what those options are.
CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Tuesday that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may try to prevent the vote from happening by forcing Parliament to take a break.
"There's very little wiggle room for the prime minister but what he could try to do is to prorogue Parliament before Monday's vote and bring it back with a throne speech and a budget inside that, and take his chances after a bit of a cooling-down period and hope maybe this coalition will fall apart," Fife said.
Harper is also likely to step up the public relations campaign in an effort to rally Canadians against the coalition. There is word of demonstrations in support of Harper taking place outside 24 Sussex Drive on Tuesday morning.
"The other thing he can do, and I believe he will do, is make an address to the nation this week to try and appeal to Canadians to put pressure on the gang of three," Fife said.
Additionally, there is a slim chance Harper could ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call another election.
The coalition is "strange to say the least" Fife said, pointing out the Liberals have always opposed the NDP's financial policies, and Dion has always fought against separatists. But now the three parties have banded together to form a common front.
It's the first time since 1926 that Canadians face the possibility of changing governments without an election.
"I'm pleased to announce we are ready to form a government," said Dion on Monday, adding that the new alliance will "effectively, prudently, promptly and competently address these critical economic times."
Dion said the coalition will include a pared-down cabinet with 24 ministers plus the prime minister. Six of those spots will go to the NDP.
"Canadians elected 308 members of Parliament in October, not just Stephen Harper," said Dion, noting the new government would "promptly" implement an economic stimulus plan.
Dion was clear that he would step aside when the Liberals elect a new leader in Vancouver on May 2.
Layton said the agreement represented "enormous optimism" and represents a new way of governing, where parties can put aside their differences for the greater good of Canadians.
"I think it's likely to produce very good government. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be here," he said.
On Monday, Liberal leadership candidates Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc met and agreed unanimously that Dion would act as interim leader of the coalition until May.
"We are at one, the three of us, that the only person who can lead the party is the duly elected leader of the party Mr. Stephane Dion," Ignatieff said.

Scary - wouldn't you say?

Happy Christmas friends... we shall dance for you!

2008-11-21T21:42:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Fair Warning

2008-11-19T17:19:00.002-07:00

I have this plan for my holiday shopping this year. I want to only buy presents that also benefit charities. I thought it would be fairly easy because there are already quite a few charities that I support that "sell" some very cool items. However, just because I find something cool, doesn't mean that everyone will. It has taken quite a bit of time, but I'm happy to share a few with you, in case you are in the same place I am... wanting to show love to friends and family with gifts "a small token of my affection", but realizing that we already have so much, and wanting to benefit those that have not...

World Vision Gift Catalogue is pretty fanatastic but I also always want to give a little extra to the person... well here are the sites I found that let a person give twice in one fell swoop.

Invisible Children - is working primarily in Uganda working alongside to children to provide them with education and a hope for the future. Check 'em out, a worthwhile charity with some very cool duds.

Ten Thousand Villages is committed to selling fair trade items and have all sorts of interesting and unusual items and food stuffs from around the world.

Watoto - you may remember them because of the Watoto Childrens choir that came to Cold Lake last spring. They are an organization specifically reaching out to Orphans and widows. It's worth checking out there story, and this link to their web store, which features very cool t-shirts, hand crafted jewelry, and instruments etc...

Tearfund - an organization based out of the UK has something similar to world visions gift catalogue called living gifts, they also have a large "tearcrafts" site which sells quality ethical products. "Now here’s a novel and sensible way to give a gift to a friend or family member, and at the same time express our love and concern for someone in the developing world. A Tearfund Living Gift voucher really could result in changing someone’s life for the better. It’s a great idea and I wholeheartedly recommend it!" - Sir Cliff Richard.

That should get you started if you are interested...

Let's make a difference, shall we ! :D

Wisdom

2008-11-06T09:35:00.002-07:00

I've been reading in Proverbs lately and these verses have compelled me to hold my tongue and let God move in some frustrating and hurtful circumstances.... so I am posting them here to keep them fresh.
Proverbs 22
3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it

Proverbs 20
3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Proverbs 19
2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way

Proverbs 18
2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

13 He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

17 The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.

Proverbs 17
7 Arrogant [eloquent] lips are unsuited to a fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! (Makes me feel secure in the knowledge that God can vindicate me)
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue

The Beauty of the Bomb Shelter.

2008-10-28T23:55:00.006-07:00

I recently was listening to a sermon online that was attempting to make a point about the need to live sanctified lives that still are a part of your cultural context. This is something I have wrestled with as a missionary in a foreign land, but also as I returned to my homeland.

Is it really right to try and fit into a culture of a place, knowing full well that life as a Christian is alien to the unbeliever. Do we need to “know the language” to effectively reach the people?

To be honest I had just as many successful discussions before I understood the language and culture of my foreign home, as I did after language and culture study. I believe this is because God’s Holy Spirit in me could testify truth effectively no matter my weaknesses. I would go so far as to suggest that those conversations may have been even more effective because they were seasoned with much more prayer and much less of myself than, later conversations , when I felt I had a grasp on the language and the people.

As I thought about this, a picture came to mind that I wish I could paint. Hopefully my words will paint it for me.
Imagine a New York from above. Moving closer toward the crowded streets you see masses and masses of the living dead... “Zombies” to the lay person. Scattered amongst them here and there are perfectly healthy people. Color in their cheeks and a spring in their step they walk with purpose. Some of them however, not as easily noticed, are imitating the strange and halting lumbering of the zombies. Some are applying make up, dirtying their clothes and painting themselves to look like the dead around them. Some are so successful that they are almost indistinguishable from the dead but for the eyes, that just can’t quite look that vacant.
I’m sure you can already see where this is going. We are alive in Christ! He has transformed us, we are no longer “dead men walking”. Why would we then would we feel it’s right and acceptable to dress up and act like the rest of the world... even in part?

As a missionary in a foreign country it was my differences that attracted a crowd. I could show up in a village and get swarmed by people. Why was I there? Who was Jesus? Opportunities arose because I stood out from the crowd. Opportunities that believers in those tiny villages had longed for... but they were so much like everyone around them that their voices were often not heard, or even appreciated.

I’m reminded of the missionary Nate Saint. Maybe you know of him. He went as a missionary to along with 4 others (Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCulley, and Roger Youderian) to the Auca Indians in Ecuador. Sure they attempted to learn the language, they thought or ways to reach out to these tribes. What eventually worked to reach them? Their martyrdom.

These men were killed by the very tribe they were hoping to eventually reach for the gospel. God chose to use this tragedy for his own glory, and as these men died the tribesmen report seeing someone that could only have been an Angel, amongst them. God worked in the hearts of the killers. God transformed their lives. God spoke conviction and truth into their hearts before the missionaries even reached them in person.

Okay, let’s look closer at the zombie painting shall we? There just in the corner, on a side street – Zombies doing what they do best, swarming the healthy man, and attacking ferociously... further down the street, is that a baby? Still in diapers? Crawling through the dirty streets toward the ferocious mob?

There is an unhealthy push in the western church to make friendship evangelism the only viable form of reaching people in our society with the gospel. I’ve seen youth not only encouraged but pushed to spend as much time as possible with their non-believing friends. With the question ringing in their ears. “How else will they hear the gospel.” I felt the same pressure while a teen... I must witness, I have no idea how, but I must. I was a strong believer, since the time I was a baby I believed with my whole heart and soul that Jesus is God, that God loved me. That I could have eternal life and a relationship with the Creator of the Universe... all that separated us was my sin. I could repent, and be his child. It was simple and I embraced it. I have not looked back.

God has been my best friend, and most trusted parent for as longer than I can even remember. I had an intense desire to share this with my peers (it was easier in Kindergarten than it was in High school, but I never gave up.) That said it was incredibly challenging, there was temptation from all sides, despite “strict” and involved parents. By Jr. High my friends already were dealing with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and pregnancy scares!! I was abnormal I stood out. Already by Jr High, I had teachers that would call me “idiot”, “goody two shoes,” under their breath, because of my Christian beliefs and I didn’t even have classes with them! Once when I challenged a teacher in gr. 7 for speaking about Jesus in a derogatory way, my church attending classmates looked embarrassed by me and only one person, a non-believer, stood with me to say that these are not things that should be taught in the classroom. It was an incredibly lonely time, I thank God that we had a strong and healthy youth group by that point, but was it enough? I daily walked through all sorts of temptations. I would liken that time of my life to the baby crawling up to those attacking Zombies. I had so much to learn still about who God is and just what he is capable of. I had a lot to learn about how "God would fight for me, I need only be still." (ex 14 vs 14) I was fighting to fit in while still retaining my relationshipt to the Saviour. Very confusing for a 13/14 year old. Even one that had already been walking and talking with God for a decade.

I thank God for parents that chose to protect me as much as they could from what really is an increasingly depraved world. I am astounded now (although at the time I thought they were more normal than my own) by parents that willingly let their children attend parties with non-Christian friends? Do they feel there is an acceptable amount of temptation for their children? Don't they realize that, at these parties, no matter how nice their friends are, they will be faced with temptations to drink excessively, or smoke, or do drugs, or engage in heavy petting, or watch pornography, or .... fill in the blank.

Even parents that let their children go to movies without checking the rating surprise me. Is it alright for them to be exposed to so much sex, violence, and vulagrity? Are they really so much stronger than the common person, that these things will not stay with them in their minds? How much temptation should we willing embrace!?

Those same parents of my christian friends were okay with their children experimenting a little, after all, everyone does, don’t they? So how much sin is appropriate for the Christian? How much baggage is good to carry into your marriage?

I would suggest that to allow ourselves to fit into "our culture" makes us lose our real selves. We lose sight of the masterpiece that God is working on. We have to admit, that as Christ followers our western materialistic, sexually charged, self serving, independent culture doesn’t fit... it can’t fit. When we are clothed with Christ, it’s a perfectly tailored ensemble, there isn’t room under there for the world.

After several months of living in a foreign land, things changed for me. A lot of my friends that had been from North America had left back home, and I had found new friends amongst the locals. I really loved it. I loved the people, I loved the land, I loved the work... but there was something missing. People that knew and understood me, without interpretation.

I could have looked for more friends from North America, but that was hard work. I had friends that I enjoyed being with and that enjoyed being with me. I was surprised to find loneliness increasing. I came to a point where I was so desperately lonely, I warned God that I would do something incredibly drastic and He wouldn’t like it!! I was tempted during that time, like you couldn’t believe... It was incredibly dark. I felt lost. I didn’t know who I was and my understanding of who God is, was getting a shake up as well.

God in his mercy met me where I was at, saved me from that loneliness and provided me with friends that could speak to me in my native tongue. That could understand me because they understood my culture!

Christians have a culture... some think of this as something that hinders the spread of the gospel... that it could be offensive to non-believers. But guess what!! The gospel, which is the good news about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and his redemptive power... is offensive!! It’s part of the battle we are in. No matter what words we dress it up in, and no matter what media we now use to present it, the gospel in and of itself can offend. How many times I tried dress up the gospel to fit the culture and was shocked to find that depite hearing the truth and being interested in Jesus they were content to carry on just as they had been. But why was I surprised, I hadn't offered them anything really different!
Our culture, believe it or not, is fascinating to those that are searching!

Have you seen the movie ‘I am Legend”? In it, Will Smith’s character is living a solitary existence. He is the only healthy man amongst a city of diseased, zombie like, people living in darkness. Will’s character lives in the light. He travels around in the day, gathering supplies and making a plan of attack. He created a bomb shelter and lab in his home and works diligently in a cure. He is at war... not against the zombies, but against the disease that is ravaging them. He would not effectively have found a cure if he had decided to move in amongst them. In fact when he does venture into their “home” in order to rescue his dog that ran towards them the entire audience holds their breath knowing he is in danger every moment he stays in that place. The danger is becoming one of them.

Which brings me to the title of this, somewhat lengthy, blog. Bombshelters.
In this same online sermon the pastor preached about the danger of Christian’s who are so focused on Christ’s return that they are in effect say “to Hell with everyone else”. He called them bombshelter Christians, those that build walls around themselves to keep the world out. But wait a minute. Isn’t a bombshelter a good thing?? Doesn’t it protect us from certain death! I lived in a country full of bombshelters. You were foolish to build a home and not consider incorporating the safety of a bombshelter. Are we not supposed to live lives that are focused on Christ? Are we not supposed to live with an expectancy of Christ’s return?

I have found that the more focused I am on Christ’s return the more eager I am to share my faith, the more aware I am that the life I live now is not for myself but for Christ. The more I recognize my sanctification, that Christ has set me apart with a purpose, the more I devote my thoughts to searching after God, my love for the lost INCREASES! The opposite is true when I embrace our western culture. The more I live like those around me, the more selfish and self centred I see myself becoming.

Many times in my life I have had to separate myself from my non-believing friends because I was allowing sinful thoughts and temptations to have my attention. I needed to build walls, as this pastor put it, in order to refocus and once again strongly desire their salvation. His point was that the walls separate us. I find that the lack of walls, the increasing lack of boundaries create a separation between myself and God. Which is more dangerous, a seperation from God and an understanding of Him, or a seperation from this culture and an understanding of it?

I was reminded of Ezra and Nehemiah... the work of building walls to protect the city of Jerusalem had come to a stop. Marauders were stealing and breaking in, carrying off treasures from the temple. God placed in on their heart to see that the work of rebuilding the wall was finished and that the law was restored to the people. As they built these walls the people turned back to praising God, they turned back to prayer. Was there opposition? Yes! From within and without! But despite the opposition they carried on. What rejoicing there was when the wall was in place and the city began to be returned to it’s former glory. It pleased God and the people knew it. The temple and the city could now be repaired without the risk of their enemies stealing and destroying it. The walls lead to a security and to a country finally returning to the people promised it. It allowed for MORE peace within the walls and even with the people OUTSIDE the walls.

Is it wrong for us to build some walls to protect our churches, our families, our children, ourselves??

Is it wrong of us to embrace protection?

But we always try and figure things out for God in the context of the culture we understand don’t we?

I was reminded of Lot... he welcomed the Angels, sent to rescue him and his family into his home. When the townspeople came beating on his door, demanding he turn over these “men” so that they might have sex with them, Lot in an attempt to protect these messenger’s of God and still appease the townspeople instead offered up his daughters to be raped by them!! I believe Lot’s heart was right. He was trying to honour these men and honour God, but in the context of the culture he lived. He could offer up his daughters and that would be a little less loathsome. Did God need Lot to do this? Of course not. In fact, in the end none had to be given up to the lustful desires of the townsfolk. None of them were expected to give themselves over to the depravity of the town.

Have we done this? Do we give ourselves over to a little depravity in order to appease people and protect God’s good name? Do we find that we do embrace an “acceptable amount of sin”?

Even if only in our thought life and conversation? Jesus didn’t.

He says that we should be one with Him even as He and the Father are one. It is by this unity that people will know we are his disciples. Our likeness to Christ and difference from the world, will be enough to bring those that are seeking, to question us... and it says that we should then “always be ready to give and answer for the hope that we have.”

It will also be enough to invite persecution... I don’t know about you, but when the bombs are dropping I’m happy for a bomb shelter – which in this case I would call the full Armour of God! The armour is our protection and our weapon is the Holy Spirit.

Obama Claims He's Visited 57 States

2008-10-25T21:13:00.001-07:00

That Obama - such a smooth talker

More THINGS THAT FASCINATE ME in random order.

2008-10-24T12:06:00.004-07:00

1. Dentures: ever since I first saw my grandma take her teeth out...and even today - what would it really feel like to have absolutely no teeth in your mouth?? Not that I want to know just yet.

2. Plastic and Metal - can make such a large variety of amazing things. Computers - plastic and metals, Telephone -plastic and metal, Toy car - plastic and metal. See what I mean? But the WAY that it's used makes a huge difference in what it can do.

3. Restaurants that still put a small glass vase and a fake flower in the center of the table.

4. Fire

5. The feeling of excitement and anticipation that comes from opening a new journal and writing that very first word in the pristine pages.

6. Contact Lenses - a piece of plastic you put in your eye that can make you see better than 20/20. The craziest part is that they all look pretty much alike size-wise, but if I used my brother or sisters contact lense instead of my own I woudn't be able to see properly. How did they know to make adjustments in such tiny increments!

7. Birth - in my imagination it is a very long journey (probably because it can take such a long time) but in reality, they travel less than a foot... crazy.

8. Time

9. Brains

10. Communes - I love the idea of them. I like to think of what would be the perfect commune... (basically just good friends living in the same community and sharing resources) and if it existed how could we keep out the people that would turn it into something weird. As we know communes tend to attract weirdos.

11. Digital- digital everything!

12. Language - that sounds and squiggles, facial movements, gestures etc. can be given meanings so that when repeated with "agreed upon" rules and patterns we can understand one another clearly. I also wonder how dependant thought is on language... how would we think if we had no "words".

13. The three ear bones.

14. Emotions and their origins...

15. Miracles

Weezer - Pork And Beans

2008-10-16T19:02:00.001-07:00

youtube favorites al la Weezer

An Excerpt.

2008-10-15T22:42:00.002-07:00

I am currently reading a book called "Speaker for the Dead" by Orson Scott Card. Maybe you know it?

In it there is a story shared by one of the characters that I found fascinating. Maybe you would too.

"A great rabbi stands teaching in the marketplace. It happens that a husband finds proof that morning of his wife's adultery, and a mob carries her to the marketplace to stone her to death. (There is a familiar version of this story, but a friend of mine, a speaker for the dead, has told me of two other rabbi's that faced the same situation. Those are the ones I'm going to tell you.)

The rabbi walks forward and stands beside the woman. Out of respect for him the mob forbears, and waits with the stones heavy in their hands. "Is there anyone here," he says to them, "who has not desired another man's wife, another womans husband?"

They murmer and say, "We all know the desire. But, Rabbi, none of us has acted on it."

The rabbi says, "Then kneel down and give thanks that God made you strong." He takes the woman by the hand and leads her out of the market. Just before he let's her go, he whispers to her, "Tell the lord magistrate who saved his mistress. Then he will know that I am his loyal servant."

So the woman lives because the community is too corrupt to protect itself from disorder.

Another rabbi, another city, He goes to her and stops the mob, as in the other story, and says, 'Which of you is without sin? Let him cast the first stone.'

The people are abashed, and they forget their unity of purpose in the memory of their own individual sins. Someday, they think, I may be like this woman, and I'll hope for forgiveness and another chance. I should treat her the way I wish to be treated.

As they open their hands and let the stones fall to the ground, the rabbi picks up one of the fallen stones, lifts it high over the woman's head, and throws it straight down with all of his might. It crushes her skull and dashes her brains onto the cobblestones.

"Nor am I without sin," he says to the people. "But if we allow only perfect people to enforce the law, the law will be dead and out people with it.

So the woman died because her community was too ridgid to endure her deviance.

The famous version of this story is noteworthy because it is so startlingly rare in our experience. Most communities lurch between decay and rigor mortis, and when they veer too far, they die. Only one rabbi dared to expect of us such a perfect balance that we could preserve the law and still forgive the deviation. So, of course, we killed him.

- San Angelo, Letters to an Incipient Heretic, trans. Amai a Tudomundo Para Que Deus Vos Ame Cristao, 103:72:54:2"

from Chapter 16, The Fence, 'Speaker for the Dead', by Orson Scott Card.

Shana Tova - here's to a blessed new year.

2008-09-29T21:47:00.003-07:00

It's Rosh HaShanah.... did you know? I thought I knew a fair bit about the holiday, but today as I was teaching about it in School one of my students asked me answered a question I should have asked :D

Rosh Ha Shanah, the new year, starts with the sound of the shofar - someone blows a ram's horn at sundown and the people are instructed to listen and then come together to pray. The holiday is supposed to remind us of creation when God called the world into existance. It's a time for celebration and reflection... time to repent and determine to live differently... better. I was thinking how similar it is to our own New Years Celebration. We often have a big party and blow noise makers and make noise to welcome in the new year... in my family we also took communion together, which also reminded me of their welcoming the Jewish New Year with prayer and repentance.

Rosh Ha Shana is also a time to look at God and worship Him as King.... now here's what I learned today as I was talking to my students about Rosh ha Shana. I asked, why do you think they blow the ram's horn, it was my youngest student that was eager to answer and explained. Well it's to remind us that Jesus is coming again!

I don't know why I never made this connection before. Of course, the Jewish holidays are ripe with Messianic prophecy, but I'd never thought about this as pointing to Christ's return. BUT the Creator of the world will return as King, He will come in glory and to the sound of trumpets.... ushering in a whole new age.

Kinda of a cool connection don't you think? I love when I learn something new about God and in an area I thought I was familiar with.

Shana Tova!! I pray God abundantly blesses you and keeps you from evil in this New Year!

The Garment of Praise for a Spirit of Heaviness

2008-09-29T00:06:00.004-07:00

It's been a tough week - a very tough week emotionally, and as one that doesn't "do" emotional I am always surprised to find how physically draining it is. Anyway, this week it seemed like one thing after another was bombarding me (not just me of course but also those around me); sorrow over the loss of old friends which then also reminds me of past losses and past grief, job stress, illness, more job stress, someone trying to charge something to my credit card I had never authorized - also known as money worries... etc..etc.. all of it combined has kept me on the verge of tears... and yet, God gently bekons me to the crook of his arm, to be protected from this latest storm and to know comfort. This morning in church they sang "blessed your name", just as they did at the funeral on Wednesday. It reminded me of the horrible time when Faye passed away and I was sitting in airports trying to get home... and God kept asking me to praise Him and "Blesses Be Your Name" became my anthem. As I praised my understanding of His love for me grew. As I chose to offer a sacrifice of praise... the heaviness eased. I am constantly surprised that no matter what state my emotions are in, when I choose to praise God and focus on His attributes, there develops a deep and abiding peace. I don't know why I'm surprised, it's exactly what He says will happen, but it still surprises me. To steal from C.S. Lewis, I guess you could say, I'm "surprised by joy". How, when grief and hurt are still strong; can peace and contentment, love and hope also be dwelling in my heart? Tonight, my younger sister sent my mum to talk to me... it was nice. I am so used to just taking everything to God, and trying to shelter those I love from my own pain, that I can forget that they want to be a help and comfort. My mum, who has not had they easiest of weeks either, shared what God had given her at the beginning of all the trouble. So much like myself she quoted the verses, that I always remember from the old song....

He gives us beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

It's so true. I know it may sound strange... but I find there can be a certain poetic(?) beauty in grieving the loss of a friend, and I have experienced joy in the midst of mourning, and I can testify that Praise releases me from feelings of heaviness.

And so once again...

Blessed be His name when I'm found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness... blessed be His name.

And blessed be His name, when the sun's shining down on me, when the world's all that it should be, blessed be His name.

Life Cycle

2008-09-21T21:19:00.003-07:00

I wrote a blog a couple years ago... I could probably write the same one word for word today... "Life Hidden in a Tent"... the particulars match almost exactly. A friend of the family for many Years (in fact since I was a baby), Bud Elford passed away a couple of days ago... the next day (yesterday) a friend gave birth to her first daughter, today another friend of the family, Lorraine Scott passed away...

it reminded me so much of 2 years ago that I thought I would post an excerpt from that blog as kind of a reminder of what God was teaching me then...

"A couple of days ago a friend from church had this lovely little baby girl, early... she'd come for a visit and we'd been talking to her ealier in the day, and that evening she delivered their daughter. What just amazes me every time is how the space of a day changes your life so drastically. Just that day, a man we have known since I was a baby passed away, his funeral was today. His life will never be the same. In a good way :D

One life, I have just met, she was hidden from view; although no less alive the day before birth than the day after. The other one has since left the tent/body he was dwelling in and is now more alive than he had been while here, although I can no longer see him he is in fact more alive today than he was the day before.Fascinating don't you think.At the funeral today, the pastor was talking about our body being a tent, it is imperfect, and it is only temporary. That instilled in me so much hope. I started thinking about all this mess with whatever is causing me pain - that obviously isn't my appendix! And I thought about all those little aches and pains you can feel (...after bowling, which we did last night) - and then about how quickly a body heals and how much it can stand up against. I got really excited (in this funeral, hahaha) to think that if this is the temporary body, the shelter not built to last. That although knit together by God in the womb, is not anything close to what he has been preparing for me in heaven. Well that's just incredible don't you think. Also, just as I was thinking about writing this blog, that verse came to mind (that I haven't looked up, and don't know off the top of my head where it is). Our life is hidden with Christ in God!! It reminded me how this baby was hidden. Her life was there but hidden... and the real living begins outside the womb. Right now my life is hidden with Christ in God. I am living, definitely - but this life compared to the one lived in heaven when I shed this "tent" (maybe almost like a womb)is not really living..."

That is what I need to remember today, as we say goodbye to these friends (for a time)... Their real living has just begun! What a comfort when the pain of missing loved ones threatens to close in. Someday we'll be reunited with those that went before us and enjoy a life more abundant that one could ever dream.

On a day like today...

2008-09-10T19:49:00.002-07:00

Today

I remembered..

God is Good.. and He loves me very much.

I'm his little girl :D

*sigh*

I needed that

Just For Laughs - Demetri Martin

2008-09-06T11:15:00.001-07:00

one for the ladies... Ladies.

The King of Voice Over

2008-09-03T10:05:00.001-07:00

so long Don LaFontaine... "I'll miss your face."

The Salesman and the lady

2008-08-19T20:56:00.004-07:00

Once upon a time, as the summer sun was just beginning to warm our cold northern surroundings, and birds where once again chirruping in the trees, a friend asked a favor of me. To return a rather costly item to a little local business. The hadn't intended to buy it really... it just sort of happened. This friend a notorious sucker to clever salespersons, just couldn't face returning said item so soon after purchasing it, and begged to employ me - the calm callous shopper to take it back and get their refund.
I set out, self assured. No matter how good this salesman was I would not bend! I would return the item and demand the refund.

I entered the store and along with my brother (who came along to carry the large cumbersome item), marched right up to the counter and rang the bell, as per the sign request. Slowly, very slowly, the bent form of an older man came to the counter. "I am here to return this - it was all a mistake, _______ doesn't really need this, nor can they afford it just at this time."

He wasn't pleased. He was borderline angry in fact, "Return it? Why? Have you even tried it?"
"That's not the point." I countered, holding strong, "it is an unnecessary expense at this time, and I need to return it."
"But it is very good quality!" he insisted.
I realized at this point that honey rather that steel was needed to make this return.
Changing veins I asked, "Your accent, is it Scandinavian, or German, or..."
He paused for just a moment.. "I'm from Norway orginally.."
"Norway, how nice, it's so beautiful there, a good friend of mine is from Norway, I went to her wedding there it was so nice."

It worked; his posture changed, a smile lit his face, making him, quite possibly, one of the cutest old men you'd ever lay eyes on. We chatted comfortably about his latest trip there, my trip there, what he'd seen, what I'd seen. His home town that I had happened to visit. After a while he sighed and said, "well I better try and refund this for you then, you have the receipt?"

I did and I produced it promptly... and offered up my friends debit card to credit back the amount of the purchase. He took it awkwardly. Not awkwardly in the sense that he was loath to give a refund, but awkwardly as if debit cards were wholly unfamiliar to him... almost with a sense of awe attached. He shuffled closer to the machine and lifted his glasses to try and see the small screen. "Now let me see, if I can figure this one out.." he punched random buttons to no effect. He pulled out the user guide.

The callous part of me wondered if this were a stall tactic... an attempt to make me say - 'oh this is too much trouble never mind.' I waited.... he adjusted the book trying to focus on the small print. "I just got this machine, this week, " he smiled, "so I'm still just a beginner." I melted a little. My brother John, who was there watching this whole exchange, melted a little. "Do you know anything about these kind of machines?" He asked me helplessly.
I assured him I had used them before and I could possibly help. so he handed me the user guide, which i quickly read, and showed me his passcode (again my armor weakened) and I completed the refund transaction... all the while dying inside to think that I quite possibly took away his big sale for the week. He stood there partly in awe of my technological wizardry, and partly pityingly... "it's such a shame... it was such good quality. It's what I have at home... it is the very best... it's just so sad." I could have cried at this point. Gone was the angry old man in his place was a sweet man, who pitied me and my friend... we couldn't afford it... maybe someday...

John and I left that tiny, quiet store heads down, shamed... intent on someday going back and buying 3 of the very best, top of the line, quality pieces. I was so glad now that we could at least leave him a little money for his trouble... but I wished I could have wrapped him up and put him in my pocket, and care for, cook and clean for, him and his wife (who I can only assume is equally as old and sweet as he). By the time we got home we were in agreeance. He is quite possibly the best salesman in the world. By the end of the visit, I, a stingy and careful shopper, almost walked out with an item I couldn't afford and didn't need. If he isn't a millionare it can only be because there is a lack of foot traffic in his tiny shop... because John, myself, and our friend are all agree... it is nigh impossible not to want to buy something from the cute little man in the shop around the corner.

Airport hotels exist only in the State of Limbo

2008-08-05T13:23:00.002-07:00

There are over 2 million people flying commercially everyday. You would think that the odds of having your flight delayed overnight would be relatively small...right?? Well, the odds change considerably when you travel with my sister. She just can't seem to leave Britain on her scheduled flight - so as I was joining her....
It was interesting though. I really didn't mind the delay that mauch - at least not compared to some people. The last time I had delayed flights I was flying home for a funeral, and I was so alone. It was almost a pleasant experience in comparison. So they put us up at the Hilton - which as it turns out is no great shakes. We had a nice dinner - I enjoyed an incredibly lengthy hot shower... and woke up at 4 am to catch a flight to Glasgow (where we ran into the Celtic's FC - oh yes we did) and then waited around for 6 hours until our next delayed flight :D
really could have been worse. Oh sure we had to get the horrible seats right next to the toilets so everyone hangs out at your seat and dead cat like smells ocassionally waft in our direction... but again, I've had worse flights. And sure they broke the wheels off my new suitcase, and made us pay for extra luggage only after they also made us check carry-ons - but again, I've had worse flights.

At least all our luggage arrived in the end. It didn't on our flight from Rome to the UK. It seems that whenever I fly mine is the luggage that gets lost. So poor Christina, travelling with me had hers lost as well. It's always something.

Yep, over 2 million flying commercially everyday, and somehow we get all the adventures... ever feel like that?
Here's the other thing I noticed...Airport hotels... are the same the world over, as are airports. Once you are inside you could be anywhere, and nowhere. Spending so many days in an airport reminds me of that man that lived at the Airport - you know the one they based the movie the terminal on... what a life. What a strange world it would be to live your life in. It's so intense and so dull all at the same time. Crazy.

Italia!

2008-07-12T15:40:00.002-07:00

I just got back from Venice a couple of hours ago... back to Lido di Jesolo, not Canada or England. (of course)
It was amazing! Hot and steamy and crowded and... just amazing. How does one live there? How do we not? I've been to a lot of ancient places. Have felt awe at the sights and wonders, but somehow Venice was very different. Like being on the set of a movie. how can it be real life. How do people REALLY live there? What would it be like to grow up in this place and that be what is normal to you! It's fascinating.
It was so nice being there with family too. Dave, John, and Joy, joined Christina and I in Jesolo and we all travelled there together by water bus. I love that I have people that are really a part of my life, that I could share that with. I already have too many memories that are mine alone. My goodness - I can't even explain to you the blessing. But here are a couple pictures, worth thousands of words!

Summer Dreamin'

2008-06-30T16:30:00.002-07:00

The Lord works in mysterious ways...
So a couple of months back I remember thinking, I would LOVE tofigure out a way to have a bit of a summer holiday and get to England again, and visit Italy and... well the usual. But it seemed a bit beyond me financially, just a beautiful dream.
Well.. here's a funny thing. I'd forgotten who my Father is and what he can do. Around that time I got a second job, so now I was bringing in almost twice what I did, although this still leaves me far from wealthy it definitely opens up a few avenues of opportunity. THEN, I find that a course I need to take this summer is offered in Venice. VENICE!! How amazing is that. In a relatively short time my whole summer was planned for me, and wouldn't you know it.. it includes going to England and Italy - and as the icing on the cake, a good friend I haven't seen in years will be in England at the same time, and planning a trip to Caperwray AT THE EXACT time I had been planning to travel there.!! AMAZING. I still can't get over it. I leave tomorrow for Calgary and fly out on Wednesday. All very exciting... and such a gift.

Here's a real answer to prayer. Just before all this started, I had been thinking about the prayer of Jabez... and I know everybody has all sorts of opinions about it... but I think there are things in it that ARE good to pray. We should ask for God to bless us shouldn't we? And we should ask that he keeps us from sinning against him, against others...etc... and is it wrong to ask him to Expand our territory?
Well, I had just prayed these things for my family and within a few days we had this huge job opportunity that will allow us to work all over the province and hopefully be a blessing to a lot of parents. People started stopping by the school during lunches for a bit of a chat, a bit of encouragement, which also blessed us.
The Watoto Childrens Choir was something that blessed my entire family to be a part of, as God did something amazing in our church and community through it. The list could go on and on. We are busier than ever, but in a good way. It's exciting to be included in something grand that God is doing.
So... I hope to see some of you this summer :D
those of you in England, Italy and beyond!
xx's Grace

it's been a while

2008-06-23T00:48:00.002-07:00

I love stupid quizzes

2008-06-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

Which Office Character Are You?
	You are part Jim. You are personable, easy-going, and always socially aware. Your great sense of humor and impishness soften the blow of what might otherwise be a dark, cutting cynicism.
	You are part Pam. You are sweet and likable, but your shyness makes it hard for you to express yourself sometimes. Regardless, you are always there for your friends and will usually come out of your shell to help anyone.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

one word

2008-06-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

What one word embodies you?
	I am the embodiment of Beauty. You are a person that views the world as this magical place, finding beauty in almost everything. You find beauty in the most simple and fundamental things, as well as in more complex things such as people. You're not one to look for beauty, you just see it. You understand things for what they are, and expect nothing more.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

The Cat's In the Cradle

2008-06-18T18:39:00.003-07:00

RULES:1. Put Your iTunes, WMP, etc on shuffle
2. For each question write down the title of the song that is playing, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS, this is no joke...this works out amazingly!!! (for most)

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? "East of the sun and West of the Moon"
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? "Miami"
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? "Rock DJ"
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? "Fragile Eyes" (that is so funny, allergies have made my eyes hurt so much today! Prophetic? You decide!)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? "Seekers and Dreamers"
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? "The Sound of Laughter"
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? "The Fool" - *sigh*
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS? "It's all in the Game"
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? "Port of Lonely Hearts"
WHAT IS 2+2? "Low"
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Funks Your Brother"
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? "I Need a Man" - hahahahaha
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? " When You're Next to Me"
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "You Think it's a Joke"
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? "Oh, Lonesome Me"
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? "The Ketchup Song" - very romantic.
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? "Polk Salad Annie"
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? "Rockability"
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? "Since U Been Gone"
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? "Hurting Each Other"
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? "Fell For It"
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? "Cat's In the Cradle"

(p.s. The other one of these worked much better....)

PASSION

2008-06-03T23:43:00.002-07:00

I went to Y.C. for the first time this year. It was really interesting actually. It was just what I had expected in some ways, but my reaction surprised me.

Firstly, I had goosebumps; sitting in that auditorium, gazing out at the masses. 16,000 (ish) people gathered in a single large room. The main lights were out, and only the stage lights, spot lights and glow necklaces highlighted the many shapes of humanity. Many with arms outstretched, heads bowed... waves of people moving with the rhythm of the music... it was somehow really beautiful... awesome... and literally sent shivers up and down my spine to think that not one of these thousands could escape the mention of Jesus. Each one has now, very definitely, been introduced to him and is without excuse.

One thing that frustrated me no end, however, was the choice of speakers. In this place with thousands upon thousands of ears listening and eyes watching, I saw the 1st speaker manipulate God’s word... taking things out of context, misquoting, and in the end manipulating an emotional response from the audience. It seemed very much like the purpose of his talk was to pad his “speaker” credentials. (I gave a talk at Y.C. and thousands upon thousands of youth stood up and responded to the alter call. I would estimate 80%) After the heinous “alter call” he quite unabashedly hocked his book. ( a great deal just for us. $30, instead of the regular $50). I can’t tell you how upset that made me and maybe even a little afraid for him, after all he has to give an account for that to the one with whom it really matters.
Various speakers throughout the weekend seemed to fall victim to this same temptation. I wished someone organizing the event would have been bold enough, and strong enough to call them on it, right then and there. To apologize and set things right. To say to them “be quiet, be still” and stop that mighty “wind”. Really that’s what it seemed to be, a lot of smelly hot air, dressed up as a prophetic word, or a timely sermon.

Today, I was reading in Jeremiah (ch.28) and it reminded me of the YC situation.
...Hananiah ... a prophet from Gibeon, confronted Jeremiah in the Temple of God in front of the priests and all the people who were there. Hananiah said:
2-4"This Message is straight from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel: 'I will most certainly break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Before two years are out I'll have all the furnishings of God's Temple back here, ................ God's Decree. 'Yes, I will break the king of Babylon's yoke. You'll no longer be in harness to him.'"

5-9the Prophet Jeremiah stood up to prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people who were in God's Temple that day. Prophet Jeremiah said, "Wonderful! Would that it were true—that God would validate your preaching by bringing the Temple furnishings and all the exiles back from Babylon. But listen to me, listen closely. Listen to what I tell both you and all the people here today: The old prophets, the ones before our time, preached judgment against many countries and kingdoms, warning of war and disaster and plague. So any prophet who preaches that everything is just fine and there's nothing to worry about stands out like a sore thumb. We'll wait and see. If it happens, it happens—and then we'll know that God sent him."
10-11At that, Hananiah grabbed the yoke from Jeremiah's shoulders and smashed it. And then he addressed the people: "This is God's Message: In just this way I will smash the yoke of the king of Babylon and get him off the neck of all the nations—and within two years." Jeremiah walked out.
12-14Later, sometime after Hananiah had smashed the yoke from off his shoulders, Jeremiah received this Message from God: "Go back to Hananiah and tell him, 'This is God's Message: You smashed the wooden yoke-bars; now you've got iron yoke-bars. This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's own God: I've put an iron yoke on all these nations. They're harnessed to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They'll do just what he tells them. Why, I'm even putting him in charge of the wild animals.'"
15-16So prophet Jeremiah told prophet Hananiah, "Hold it, Hananiah! God never sent you. You've talked the whole country into believing a pack of lies! And so God says, 'You claim to be sent? I'll send you all right—right off the face of the earth! Before the year is out, you'll be dead because you fomented sedition against God.'"
17Prophet Hananiah died that very year, in the seventh month.
Scary huh? What Hananiah said sounded, like something God might say or do... but it was false. He wasn’t listening to God. It seems to me like he was looking for a way to gain fame and recognition and to do so credited God with his own words.
I am happy to report that most of our youth (and the youth from various churches where I know the leaders) were particularly bored during these particular speakers talks and didn’t listen overly well anyway... but what a shameful waste of an amazing opportunity to just speak clearly the truth of God’s word. Who are we to dress it up, and act as if it isn’t enough on it’s own.
AND ... praise God for those brought in to lead worship. Tim Hughes was excellent, and his workshop on worship was so good. Really blunt, real truths, real life examples and testimony. The crux of it being, who are we to lead public worship, if we fail to engage in private worship.
Leeland also had some really good things to say about our need to worship and give God our focus ... food for thought; and a welcome reprieve from all the stale air wafting from the stage.

The glass is half full - of course.

2008-05-16T10:26:00.002-07:00

I realized just the other day, as I was faced with the new challenge of learning and presenting some material on mediated learning, that I am a definite optimist. I rarely think something can't be accomplished with a little bit of effort. I might not always want to exert the effort, but if I do, I assume I will be successful. Maybe you think this is being arrogant... but I can promise you it's just optimism. I would assume the same about you. Sure you could probably do it, if you gave it a try, why not?

In fact I am surprised when I try something and don't succeed! Like golfing, I was pretty sure, by observing golf for a short time, that I could in fact be a pretty good golfer, if I tried... I was horrible. :D Granted, I have only tried once, but a couple things got in the way of "success" and I am positive they always will. hahaha ;)

So now, I am to learn all about "mediated learning", which is fascinating, and I encourage everyone and everyone to look into it. Mediated learning teaches learning processes, alongside traditional subjects. It creates bridges between real life and text book study. I love it. It has enabled so many people who were considered to be disabled, letting them function at higher levels than were thought possible. One of the first things they teach in mediated learning is to create an atmosphere of optimism. Focusing on areas of ability, rather than failure. Something I have unconsciously done most of my life... Of course I can. Of course I can make this artichoke dip... of course I can paint my own Mona Lisa... of course I can learn to speak farsi. Well, you get the idea.

Prof. Feuerstein, the man who developed Mediated Learning, has this motto for living.

Have faith, because there is hope.

Have Faith, because there is hope, is a very Christian attitude wouldn't you say? With God, nothing is impossible. So... Have faith, because there is hope.

I don't know what that means for you. Areas you feel a failure in, or tasks that seem beyond your capabilities, or circumstances you have no control over... but you can choose to hope. To lay aside fear and frustration and admit, because of God this is not an impossibilty.

I have faith because He has given me hope.

p.s. the picture is Prof. Feuerstein with one of his students... isn't he just the cutest old man??

Summer day dreams

2008-04-29T12:42:00.003-07:00

from here...
to here...

and then to here...

wouldn't that just be marvelous?? *sigh*

April 22nd 2008

2008-04-22T14:59:00.002-07:00

Three days ago the snow was all melted and summer looked like it was on it's way. The weekend before last we hit 20C ...today... we are off school for a snow day, just like we were yesterday. It's delightful :D I don't mind because I know it won't last forever and the break is just what I needed, but I'm sorry for those that are made miserable from it.
Believe it or not Cold Lake was the hardest hit in all of Canada - crazy huh?

It's that time of year.

2008-04-19T15:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Passover or Chag Pesach Sameach!!

I feel sad we haven't celebrated the Passover yet... but hopefull this week will be less busy and I can get my act together and we can celebate the Passover maybe together if you're around.

After all... the Passover is for everybody!

I knew it was coming...

2008-04-18T00:22:00.002-07:00

I thought it last night. Things are going really well. I can see God working in and through us... it seems like me and the people around me are really refocussing and are seeing such growth and change and blessing. So the obvious conclusion... get ready for some trouble. It seems we are really on track right now, which means a bit of spiritual opposition. Sure enough, it's been a really difficult day, with seemingly all sorts of things going really wrong. But somehow, knowing it was coming changed my reaction to it. I can rejoice... because it really does mean that we have been following God in obedience and it's showed. So I trust that God will care for me and my friends and family right now, and carry us through to the other side, where victory awaits.
Anyway... feel free to pray for us if you think to. We need it. There's a lot going down.

And have it to the full!!

2008-04-07T11:53:00.002-07:00

It seems like there is a lot going on right now. Life is getting busier, but somehow less stressful at the same time, which makes me think that it has to be God's hand at work, bringing all these things together. School is almost three quarters of the way through and some courses are wrapping up, and tests are imminent, which means preparing them. BUT at this point in the school year, it seems like the students are all alot more open than they have been previously. Some trust has developed, shich has allowed a lot more ministry oppourtunies with them, and it makes me really excited about what Gos is doing in their lives, and humbled that He chose me to be a part of it.

At church we've had a number of new people come lately, and it seems like those of us that have been there "forever" have this new drive to be welcoming and hospitable, then we were previously. It's been so nice to get to know new people and see how God is able to use us to show what unity in the larger church is about. Also in the church we are planning to have the

Watoto children's choir come (http://www.watoto.com/) and I'm excited to see different people wanting to get involved in fund raisers and outreaches in order to bring their story to as large a part of the towns population as we can. I love that because of this, we have a great opportunity to take care of the "widows and orphans in their distress", just like Christ called us to.

Also with the girls in my small group, I have been able to see such growth and there is a bond growing that is special and so encouraging.

In our photography business, my brother John and I keep getting work, even though we aren't at a point where we have started to advertise. Which is fun, and exciting - now if we could only find a way to really make it pay, so we could invest in equipment faster :D

there's so much more, but this post would become a novel.

Basically, I just want to say... God is good, and I am greatful that He has pulled me out of my self induced funk, and into this light of hope.

AND.. spring is on it's way, I can tell because I've been sneezing. Isn't that great?

OOPS!

2008-04-02T21:24:00.003-07:00

I'm obviously too believeable, and not everyone looks at comments... that was all a ruse, an April Fools Joke, but now I see people believed me, and didn't see my comment... I am the one feeling foolish. :C

I could hardly believe it myself...

2008-04-01T10:25:00.003-07:00

I was offered a job. A job I don't think I can refuse. It pays about 40x what I'm making now! Crazy right? I never seem to hold a job for more than a year at a time anyway so I've decided to become a surrogate. Before you get upset or start shouting, let me say, that I've given it a great deal of thought. The couple that first put the idea forward to me, couldn't be sweeter or kinder, and I know they'll make great parents. They are presently living in the middle east, but would move here for the duration and would even let me see the child as often as I want later. Yes, my parents have a bit to say about it. But I think that when they actually meet this couple, they'll understand. Also, this gives me a chance to finally get on my feet financially. Move into my own home. Get my photography business started and all it would really cost me is a year of my life! Well a year of my life and some serious lectures perhaps.

Anyway, that's my big news!!!

Yay, right?

A strange thing happened...

2008-03-31T00:19:00.002-07:00

I normally love holidays so much and make kind of a big deal of them. I like to celebrate any and all that I can... but this year, something happened. Starting with last Thanksgiving, they have all kind of caught me by surprise. Easter was no exception.
Most people wouldn't care, or even think it important, I know that... but for me... I kind of need that time. It's usually when I slow down think about what it all means, where God is in it... why it's still good to celebrate.

Although I told myself all through the month of March, that Easter was coming quick, I still felt unprepared. At least on the inside. I know it's probably because I've made myself too busy. I know that I made myself busy on purpose... not that busy is bad, I think it keeps me from watching to much television actually... But I hate, that when it finally comes to a holiday time, I crash. I switch off almost completely and all the stuff I put off until the next school break remains undone. I'm not talking about work... I mean devotion time. I have all these excellent intentions of really taking time to pray and seek God, and read and worship, and somehow that all falls by the wayside... I continue to make myself busy with errands and chores and social life and all sorts of things. AND YES! I know these things aren't bad things either, but really... when I look back on my life, or when I meet God face to face, what will I value most... the time I spent at Wal*Mart looking at electronics (that was for Joy's benefit -LOL), or the time I spent investing in my relationship with Him.
The thing is, every single time, I have purposed and set aside for God, have been quality. Many of them life altering in fact. So after these holidays have come to an end. ( Just like they do tonight) I feel a bit like I robbed myself of a really special gift. Kind of a horrible feeling. *sigh*
anyway.... it is now 1:30 am and I should probably go to bed, I've got work in the morning.

something for our good friday service.

2008-03-25T23:55:00.002-07:00

“Never to be forgotten”

Yeshua Me Natsaret
Of the Tribe of Judah,
Of the House of David
Beloved son, brother, friend and teacher

“He was lead like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep before the shearer is silent, so He did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

Yeshua Ha Mashiach Me Natsaret ,
(known as Jesus by his English speaking friends)
Leaves behind
his mother, Mariam, also of Nazareth
His half brothers and sisters & many close friends and disciples
He is predeceased by his adoptive father ,Joseph of Nazareth & his cousin John, also of the Galilee region.
Funeral arrangements have been delayed until after the Pesach “Passover” Shabbat.
This memorial, will continue on in the upper room, where friends and family are encouraged to share memories and stories of how
Yeshua has touched their lives and changed them.

Communion
I take the bread as you tell me to
I think as I eat it, of what you did do.
My heart feels to me, like it’s tearing
Can people see that in the face I am wearing?
I can still almost see you hung, dying there,
and see Your face, loving, my heart fills with despair
I know it’s because you did it for me.
My heart blackened by sin, you cleansed and set free.
In a moment upon yourself, you took sin
And then your pure soul became troubled within
Once innocent of evil, and pure of heart ,
You lost this innocence by doing your part.
The bread’s a reminder to all who believe
That You bore our sin, to this truth we must cleave.
I take the wine as you tell me to
I think as I drink it of what you did do
A shiver of joy flows over me
And I rejoice that your death wasn’t Satan’s victory.
I’m reminded in Communion of not only this
But also, as I put the cup to my lips
You live! And you have triumphed over sin
You gave me real life and now dwell within
You broke your body for me, oh please Lord, use mine
And the blood that you shed was more than a “sign”.
The life blood of Jesus was given to me.
The life of Jesus, now lived in and through me
The Life of Yeshua Me Natsaret
Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea. His parents, Joseph and Mary moved with him to Egypt while he was still an infant to escape the Herodian order to kill all the Jewish male infants in that day. They returned from Egypt after Herod’s death, a short time later, moving back to Mary’s home town of Nazareth where

Joseph continued his work as a carpenter.
Yeshua excelled in his studies, often challenging the thinking of his Rabbi. He stayed at the top of his class and surprised everyone when he didn’t immediately take up the role of Rabbi and teacher. It had become clear to everyone that Yeshua was no ordinary young man, but it wasn’t until he was entering his thirties that he embraced the life of a Rabbi, teaching, instructing and gaining a wide following. His ministry has been marked by controversy. Healing the blind, the deaf, the lame, the demon possessed, calming storms and raising the dead, many have wondered where his power and authority have come from. But we, his disciples and friends acknowledge that it is from God and that Yeshua is the one who was promised to us. The very Messiah the Prophets foretold in the Scriptures. Many of us have witnessed with our own eyes Yeshua performing “wonderful works”, Miracles! It’s safe to say that if we compiled a list of all the miracles of Yeshua during these three years of his public ministry , we would not be able to manufacture a scroll long enough to hold it!
Shortly before coming to Jerusalem, and this recent uprising against him, Yeshua predicted his death. He has also promised to return from death. So in this memorial let us remember his promise. Let us live with the hope that more prophecies will be fulfilled in this Son of Man. Let’s pray with expectation of an answer.
Many of you gathered here today may have witnessed the inscription above his head on the cross. “Yeshua, King of the Jews.” God will work all things together for good, for those that love Him. So have faith, The King of the Jews, will return, just like he said.
Let’s not forgot the Prophecies:
The Messiah will rise from the dead!! (Ps 16:10; Mk 16:6; Acts 2:31)
Ascend into Heaven (Ps 68:18; Acts 1:9)
Will sit down at the right hand of God. (Ps 110:1; Heb 1:3)
Born of a virgin (Is 7:14; Matt 1:21-23)
A descendant of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:18; Matt. 1:1; Gal. 3:16)
Of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10; Lk. 3:23, 33; Heb7:14)
Of the house of David (2 Sam 7:12-16; Matt 1:1)
Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matt 2:1; Lk 2:4-7)

Taken to Egypt (Hos11:1; Matt 2:14-15)
Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Is11:2; Matt 3:16-17)
Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist)
(Is 40:3-5; Mal3:1; Matt 3:1-3)
Would preach good news (Is 61:1; Lk 4:14-21)
Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matt 9:35)
Would minister in Galilee (Is9:1; Matt 4:12-16)
Would cleanse the Temple (Mal3:1; Matt 21:12-13)
Would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to

rebuild Jerusalem (Dan 9:25; Matt 21:4-11)

Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:4-9)
Would be rejected by Jews (Ps 118:22; I Pet 2:7)
Die a humiliating death (Ps22; Is 53) involving:
rejection (Is 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48)
betrayal by a friend (Ps 41:9; Lk 22:3-4; Jn 13:18)
sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12; Matt 26:14-15)
silence before His accusers (Is 53:7; Matt 27:12-14)
being mocked (Ps 22: 7-8; Matt 27:31)
beaten (Is 52:14; Matt 27:26)
spit upon (Is 50:6; Matt 27:30)
piercing His hands and feet (Ps 22:16; Matt 27:31)
being crucified with thieves (Is 53:12; Matt 27:38)
praying for His persecutors (Is 53:12; Lk 23:34)
piercing His side (Zech 12:10; Jn 19:34)
given gall and vinegar to drink
(Ps 69:21, Matt 27:34, Lk.23:36)
no broken bones (Ps 34:20; Jn 19:32-36)
buried in a rich man’s tomb (Is 53:9; Matt 27:57-60)
casting lots for His garments (Ps22:18; Jn 19:23-24)

Anderson Cooper Charlie Rose Punch UP!

2008-03-20T15:48:00.003-07:00

Okay so I was watching Anderson Cooper interview Barak Obama the other night and noticed he had a scratch or something under his left eye. Odd, I thought, that they didn't or couldn't cover it with makeup. Unusual really.

...Well! About an hour later I was flipping through channels and stopped on Charlie Rose, and his face was all beat up, big black eye and a bandaged cut above it. Weird right? I immediately jumped to the conclusion that perhaps the two were connected. what are the odds after all that both would have damaged faces on the same night.

I ran through to the boys room, to verify with them and make the suggestion, that there was perhaps an accident, or even a fight. If it came to fisticuffs, I am pretty sure Anderson could take Charlie...

Curious right?!

Anyway, I just couldn't let it go, I just had to look it up.

According to a representative of Charlie Rose, "he tripped on a manhole while holding his new MacBook air." It was a choice between saving face or saving the computer... he of course chose technology. Then I looked up Anderson Cooper and found this little tidbit...

On his blog, the “Anderson Cooper 360” host revealed he had a “small spot of skin cancer” removed from his face.

“I’ve been off for the last couple of days. I had minor surgery on Monday. A small spot of skin cancer was removed from under my left eye. I hadn’t planned on mentioning this, but I still have stitches and you’ll no doubt notice them tonight,” Cooper wrote on his blog.
Cooper, who has also been on the campaign trail with Sen. Barack Obama, ended his blog post with a jab at one of his fellow TV personalities.

“Don’t want you to think I got into a fist fight with Charlie Rose,” Cooper joked.

... really!! how did he know?! Hahaha

Spartan

2008-03-14T01:50:00.001-07:00

Burning marijuana

2008-03-13T17:58:00.001-07:00

the "hazards" of news reporting

hairmixer+joy+me = a barrel o' laughs!

2008-03-09T23:21:00.004-07:00

so we found this hairmixer application on facebook, which is basically photoshop for dummies.. but it's so fun and easy... we spent hours just mixing things up. I was going to make it into a little game and get you to guess which celebrity body we have taken, but blogger only let me upload these three pictures, it's being a bit poopy right now. *Sigh*

ah well... if you have facebook, I suggest you give it a try :D

"Those Guys"

2008-03-04T22:12:00.003-07:00

"Those Guys" make me so angry. You know them... the ones with the big truck and a quad on the back that drive 140 on the highway and pass on solid yellow lines up hill and around corners with no thought or care for everyone else on the highway. When we were coming home from Edmonton last Sunday, exhausted from a very busy few days we had to avoid a few of "those guys". One passed us, cutting right in front making us slam on the breaks so he didn't clip us, and making the entire line of oncoming traffic swerve onto the shoulder out of his way. I just think it is so wreckless, so irresponsible, so arrogant... so....GGRRRAUGHHH!! makes me so mad. I probably wouldn't have cared as much if we didn't know so many people killed this year on the highways around us. Too many to mention without breaking down. That road has already made me nervous enough to travel since Fayes death... but this year has set new records on number of deaths... adding selfish drivers like that to the road only exacerbates matters. Maybe their truck can handle it and react quickly, maybe they have a good set of winter tires, but what about those that don't? What about just a little bit of care for your fellow man? A little bit of thought for someone other than yourself on the highway. Come on, is someones life really worth the saving of a few minutes in your journey?

Winston the water fountain

2008-02-25T12:25:00.001-07:00

A boy in Liberian, Chris Seay shared this one at Breakforth

The Kindness of Strangers.

2008-02-24T22:13:00.002-07:00

I was so embarrased. I was at the cash register and although I was sure I had money in my account it kept saying "insuff funds". I couldn't believe it, but we tried it three times. I knew my account was low, but I has just put a check in. I had enough to pay for the gas for my car...didn't I? I had 5 dollars in my pruse, so I forked that over and figured I'd put the rest on my card. Nothing! "Insuff Funds" i couldn't figure it out... I tried to figure out a way to pay... but they weren't so keen on me leaving a check and running home to get money. You needed to leave photo id, but not a drivers licence... really, what average person has photo id, that isn't a drivers licence - they wouldn't even take my birth certificate. Just as I was getting to the point of frustration and not just embarrassment, two random strangers offered to pay. One didn't even know how much... it was 12 dollars but he was imagining 80 and STILL offered to pay. I don't know why I am surprised by the kindness of strangers. I would want to do the same thing if I was on the other side... but I was really shocked and I almost wanted to refuse. But I was in such a tight spot I knew I couldn't. I was SO grateful... and humbled and prayed for God to bless them so much. So nice. So good. I'm still a little surprised and embarrassed... probably will remain so. Anyway, God provided when I needed. I still don't know what happened to my account. It is wiped out without me touching it. I need to go to the bank and get things sorted on Monday, but still, God knew better than I did what I needed when, and put people in place to help me out just when I needed it.

Martian Child...

2008-02-24T22:05:00.003-07:00

An adoption story really... I didn't know that when we rented it... So lovely, so sweet. A feel good movie. I love that this man commits to giving this very different child a chance at family, at being a son. By doing this, a sad scared little boy can heal and feel safe living with humanity. all very interesting.

A challenge...

2008-02-21T15:33:00.003-07:00

Adoption....I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and no...not because of "Bragelina". I have always thought about adoption. When I was a kid I tried every so often to encourage my parents to adopt... as I grew older and they grew older, I figured maybe someday I would adopt. There was even a time several years ago when I looked into it a little. But I was really unsettled just then and it seemed absolutely impossible.... so I just gave it up completely and to be honest I hadn't thought about it for a long time.

Lately however, I've been looking around me and seeing just how much we have. we're pretty spoilt.

Technically, based on my income this year, I'm living below the poverty line. But I am by no means poor. I have a roof over my head. A room all to myself in fact. I've been able to buy new clothes and shoes, eat out at restaurants, have parties, go to the movies, make payments on my car, pay for petrol that is ever increasing in cost. I've even been able to save money for things I've really wanted... like my beautiful new laptop. I've had money I could designate to chairties without being a charity case myself. I'm rich!

Then I look at those who can't even imagine a room as large as mine for only one person. It could definitely fit a family...maybe two smaller ones :D

They couldn't imagine a person paying a months worth of wages for a meal they don't even finish... and they may count themselves lucky that they have some sort of work... and their children aren't actually dying of starvation. They can afford the tin needed to fix their roof and their children are able to attend school!

So what about those with even less in these countries? What about the orphans and widows? What about those that suffer from not only estreme poverty, but extreme neglect. Children in orphanages in Romania, China, Russia, Etheopia...

Last night I watched a program on feral children. Children who, due to neglect, were unable to live normal lives.... they would never be able to speak because neglect affects the area of the brain that enables speech. They showed a cross section of the brain in a normal 3 year old child, and one of a 3 year old feral (extremely neglected) child -it was shocking. The feral childs brain had areas so affected they literally died.

We have become callous don't you think? That we have provided a way for ourselves to be unaffected by stories and images of children who have nothing, not even attention. We argue our way out of an emotional response. We pat ourselves on the back for giving $35 a monthto a foster child or two and forget that we spend $100 a months on our own entertainment.

Some of us are proud of the fact that we have a relationship with Christ, but managed not to become 'religious'. But here's the thing. If we love God, if we gives our lives over to Him, His will, His leading... then we need to be religious as He defines religion.

"True religion and undefiled is this, to take care of the widows and the orphans in their affliction."

I am positive this does not mean we give when asked, but rather, that we seek out ways to take care of them. Not only offering them some financial assitance, but making sure they are not neglected on a relational level as well.

Adoption, I believe should be playing a bigger part in this. A caring orphanage is no substitue for a caring home. It's fine and good for us to be giving to these charities, making sure that they have immunizations and food, and shelter. What about compassion, what about love, what about a sense of belonging... what about an understanding of a father and/or mothers love?

For many there are policies in place to ensure they have enough to sustain their lives, but for a variety of reasons, including overcrowding, a shortage of workers, etc... they still suffer from neglect.

At Breakforth, David Nassar, in the last talk of the Conference gave this challenge. 'If you have a spare room, a spare part of a room, a spare space in your basement - consider adoption. For many children in these places your worst is a huge step up from their best. If adoption is impossible for you in your present situation find out if there is someone who could adopt if they had a little financial assitance and assist them!' It was strange but he wasn't the only one saying these things that weekend. In so many of the seminars I attended it seemed to be a common theme...and I think it has been a common thread throughout my life. Now I feel I need to address it. I need to spend some time in concentrated prayer asking God how He wants me to be involved in this. I put the challenge to you too! Think about it. Pray about it.

www.adoptionstogether.org/international/

www.adoptioncanada.com

Worship Painting

2008-02-13T21:54:00.001-07:00

here's one from yourtube... there's actually quite a few on there. I saw one at the conference that was even better. Really beautiful.

THE STORY

2008-02-13T17:42:00.005-07:00

It was one of those “I’ve heard about it, but I never imagined I would witness it with my own eyes” type situations. I attended, at Breakforth, a worship painting seminar. Wait... that’s not the funny bit.
It was one of two electives I’d remembered signing up for –yes, it was my choice. I’ve got to admit, I did have certain expectations going into it. I had seen a video on youtube (see post below) with a worship painting that really intrigued me, and I assumed that this would be a sort of “How To” class. How to implement this in your service. How to find inexpensive materials/paints. How to use these techniques to maximum effect. How to keep focus on God, instead of the artist, and lead people into a closer communion with their creator.
It was one of those ‘-30 with a -45 C windchill’ Canadian winter days, and I fought my way through high winds and blowing snow over 5 city blocks to the hotel venue. I arrived a few minutes late, since fighting blizzard conditions tends to slow me down a little.
I should have known upon entering the room, glancing at the other participants and passing by the teachers own art pieces by the door, that this class wasn’t quite what I’d bargained for. But it took me a whole minute longer than that, as I got settled into an open seat at the very front of the class, before I really paid attention to what was being said.
“Have any of you ever felt, something or maybe someone, is blocking your creativity?” every hand in the room shot up, including mine –I definitely didn’t want to be left out of whatever she was up to. :D
She went on in a smooth, comforting voice...” I’m going to lead you in an exercise shortly, and we are going to break down those barriers... YES! We are going to break them down right here today!”
People clapped.
“You’ll see on the table in front of you a popsicle stick” (It was a tongue depressor actually, but that’s neither here nor there, just something I noticed) “And in a moment I’m going to ask you to pick up those popsicle sticks that represent that barrier between you and your creativity, and we are going to break them!” It was probably just the sound of triumph in her voice as she made that speech, but she was starting to look a little like the last living descendant of William Wallace.
“First, however, I’m just going to minister to you in song...for just a little while...(insert soft background piano now) and then I’m just gonna pray for you..” both of which she did, for several minutes. “Now, I’m just going to ask you all to pick up those popsicle sticks that are the barrier to your creativity, and we are just going to break them now in Jesus name...” more fervent ministering in song ensued until she was certain everyone’s barriers were broken. “Now...”
I tell you... WOW, that ‘now’ was almost sultry and that music...so....soothing...
“I’m just going to invite you to come and pick up some paint from the table in the centre of the room here. You’ll notice there are some normal acrylic paints, a few water colours and here...right in the centre of the table, some of my favourite paints as I worship through painting, are the glitter paints, aren’t they beautiful (they did sparkle, those lovely vibrant crayola glitter paints), they just add another dimension don’t they?”
Well the person beside me who looked normal, and dressed normally, unlike the ‘artistically’ dressed crowd all around us, seemed in no hurry to grab some glitter paint, and I was in no rush to join the excited mass around the table, so I “people watched” – I bet you would have done the same, it was fascinating.
My favourite was a woman across the aisle from me. She was one of the first up to the table and seemed to have a solid idea of what she wanted to paint. First a tree, much like you might see hanging proudly on refrigerator doors the world over. That happy little tree found it’s home in the bottom right corner of her paper. She dipped her brush into the yellow glitter paint and I braced myself for a happy little sunshine in the sky. To my delighted surprise, the yellow became a large lightning bolt in the bottom left. Next came my favourite part. She took the ‘popsicle stick that is the barrier to creativity’ straightened it out, and wrapped it gently with the napkin ‘for clearing the paint from your hands and brush’. She fished for a moment in her purse, and came up victorious. A bandage –perfect! The now repaired barrier with napkin was then cleverly affixed to the page with the bandage. Of course! Genius.
I was distracted then by the person next to me who had discreetly grabbed a pencil from the table with the paints, and started tracing her hand...just what was she up to?
All too soon, the way to the table was cleared and it was our turn to go and pick paint for our worship piece. I must add that all during this process our instructor ministered to us in song, both personally and with a mix c.d. of her most loved worship songs, most of which she and her husband had written and recorded themselves. Favourites like: “A free bird,” “healing waters,” “The little bird” and much, much more ...available for purchase at the back of the room.
Since I don’t have glitter paint at home, I’ll tell you now, I didn’t pass up the opportunity to put some on my palette. I noticed my closest neighbour also filled hers with glitter paint exclusively. Unfortunately, by the time I got back to my seat we only had about 5 minutes left. *sigh*
Now I know I’ve been far from serious most of the class, but I did want to at least try worshipping through art, so I thought I would sketch out something I’d started at home but hadn’t finished. Kind of thinking along the lines of fixing our eyes on heaven, rather than earthly things. So I painted this rather impressionistic/surrealistic “baptism of Jesus”. I’ll explain it in a minute. It was fun and it made me think, and all in all a pleasant experience, although not overly different (apart from the glitter paint and cardboard canvas) than what I do already at home.
As I was finishing my little paint sketch the instructor started to invite the participants to share their paintings at the front.
I can’t lie, it took A LOT of will power to not grin like a mad thing when the lady with the broken popsicle stick painted got up. I LOVED it... this was the type of class I had only heard about in legends. The instructor put her arm around her as she explained, “I’m not an artist by trade (really had to hang my head then, my grin felt like it would split my mouth open) I’m actually more of a writer, so I decided to use symbols to tell my story.” She went on to talk about brokenness and pain, wounds and healing. Really sweet...the instructor hugged her.
Next came someone from the back, with their painting of a broken egg and dark glitter paint surrounding. More brokenness, another hug.
Several more, including my neighbour, stood to tell their tales of woe..I mean, their personal stories. I don’t mean to be callous, but this didn’t seem much like worship, but rather and outlet for revisited teen angst. I’m glad the class was good for them and let them express and get in touch with these emotions in a healthy way, but really It should have been called “painting as therapy.” Rather than “painting as worship”.

During this sharing time, I had started to feel uncomfortably misplaced, rather than gloriously out of place. I pushed my painting to the side and kept my eyes down.
“We have time only for one more...” Ahhh the relief. I looked up smiling and feeling like I’d escaped the execution, and she got me! Coming right over to me she said, “I was watching what you were doing and I would love it if you would share.... please?” I wanted so much to get up there and either invent some story to rival theirs or shock their socks off with some wholly unspiritual explanation like “I found my inspiration in the works of Antony Gormly and a friend of mine named Michael...shout out to Michael!” I did neither...I just couldn’t...for some reason I told the truth.
I said, “I know it doesn’t look like this, but I intended this to be ‘the baptism of Jesus’ through eyes fixed on heaven, this is why there is the Dove, and the mansions, and the crowd of witnesses. It may be hard to see, but on the heads of the people is a drop of blood, because although they didn’t realize it yet – the people bearing witness to this act of obedience, we already covered by the blood of Jesus, who would shortly obey in an act that was, that day, represented by the baptism itself... death. I was thinking about how all the prophecies about the Messiah were written in past tense because it was the unchangeable will of God... it was as if it had already happened... it was on my mind so that’s what I painted.”
I know you won’t believe it, but I didn’t get a hug! No comforting, “uh huh’s” “oh, I know’s” or “hallelujahs”... All I received for baring my heart was an, “Oh, okay...well...thank you.” And I sat.
I learned a little something that day.
No. 1: I learned that I really am a strange egg... I just didn’t fit...and I’m okay with that.
No. 2: I learned to stick with the deeper stuff at these kind of conferences. All the other lectures were so good, so thought, provoking, even challenging. I found myself very disappointed that I had in effect wasted a session, even if it makes for a funny little anecdote now.

a new dawn a new day

2008-01-28T21:30:00.001-07:00

So I went to Christian Conference... and I liked it! I really wasn't sure if I would. But it was great, even the weird stuff :D
When I get it all sorted in my brain I'll blog more, for now let me just say - I walked away a lot more hopeful and a lot more joyful than I have been in a long time, and that's despite the masses of really sad news I've heard lately.
it will take a long time to blog, but maybe if it's minus forty again tomorrow, school may be closed and I may have a chance to write.

until then... let me just add, that I'm also very excited about a new business enterprise! My younger brother has agreed to assist me in setting up and running a photography business. I had my first paying gig/photo shoot last week, a "maternity shoot" which was loads of fun and I think quite lovely. and now - I guess we'll see how it all goes.

A plea.

2008-01-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

My Aunt, sent me this prayer request that I thought I would share. She and her family lived in Kenya for a number of years and I know they are worried about their good friends there, literally in the midst of the fighting. Please pray with us!

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and turn away from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive them and will HEAL THEIR LAND." ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ).

On January 25th 2008 , we are asking Every Kenyan, Every Friend of Kenyans, Everywhere to take time to make a concerted prayer for Kenya.

We want EVERY Kenyan and Every Friend of Kenyans in EVERY CONTINENT on the face of the earth to be praying together on this one day on behalf of our country.
How to participate: · Spread the word: send this message to Every Kenyan and Every Friend of Kenyans all over the world that you know, Everywhere – txt, SMS, e-mail, phone call ·

On January 25th, make a point of setting aside time to pray for Kenya , it does not have to be a long time but it must be a deliberate effort to pray for specific things about Kenya · You can pray individually, or get together with a friend or friends, workmates, someone on the street, your priest, pastor, congregation, youth group.

What to pray for: - PEACE,, PEACE

- Whatever else you feel in your heart to pray for concerning Kenya

'Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.' St Francis

A MESSAGE TO FRANK

2008-01-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

JOIN FACEBOOK!!!
you won't be dissapointed, I promise!

American Idol Memories sigh

2008-01-16T10:01:00.001-07:00

Ahhh memories... still quite possibly my favorite video still from American idol - good old Keith
very interesting and unique *sniff*
This year has already had some interesting ones - like the guy in the yellow shirt last night.
:D

So... I'm in Detox.

2008-01-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

I've done it once before with a friend and I thought it might be a good idea again. I probably wouldn't have thought of it actually if a student of mine wasn't doing the detox with her family. But I've felt ill and run down for so long now I figure this definitely can't hurt... and getting toxins out of your system could only help it right.

Anyway, I love all the kinds of food they reccomend on the diet, so how could it be bad...

The bad part? It just seems to take so much extra effort. I'm a roll out of bed, just in time to dress appropriately and get to work sort of person. Preparing lunch before work seems a little insane, it's so much easier to grab a microwave burrito, know what I mean. Ahh well. I figure it's also good discipline, I always can get more done when I've planned everything out in advance.

It may also be good for business. I've been looking at starting a Photography business... discipline will definitely help advance that, especially while I'm still also working at the school.

wow... this is rather rambling - a lack of blogging practice. Facebook steals almost everyone's blogging time, including mine usually.... I'm glad there's a few that have held on to blogger though - it seems that bit more personal somehow... Hope you're all well.

x -G

Back to the Start - Happy Christmas

2007-12-25T21:30:00.001-07:00

Many Blessings this year and in the one that is just about to begin! I know God has big plans for you this year - I pray that you can recognize his hand and his pruposes in them :D and the same goes double for me :D

MY favorite things episode

2007-12-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

There's something about making a list, and checking it several times...it's one of my favorite things to do, especially at Christmas time, when in the spirit of giving I attempt to introduce friends and family to some of my favorite things. Since I am not rich enough (financially) to get everyone the things I would like to - just like Oprah I plan to give you some of my favorite things in this blog episode.

The first favorite thing isn't so much a thing, but a situation...

I really Love lighting some candles, putting on some Christmas music, laying a tartan blanket out on the floor and enjoying some of the lovely German treats I encourage my German friends to send me, whenever possible.

next on my list... and speaking of German treats. Lebkuchen, I can't even tell you... this spicy little lovecake is the scent of the holidays.

Ah yes, the scent of the holidays...Fruits and Passions has this soap and hand cream combo that not only leaves your hands soft and smooth, but also smelling of cinnamon and cloves, a warm spiciness.

And now we're talking about warm and spicy. Long Underwear! How would I get by without it. The school where I work is always on the chilly side and I day without long underwear is like a day with hypothermia... Yep, long underwear keeps things a very pleasant WARM. Oh and the new style of ear warmers...no hat hair but warm ears, how can you go wrong.

mmm...warm....

On the occasion when long underwear just feels a little too bulky, well my next favorite thing saves the day. Leg warmers... really... I wouldn't say I'm young enough to wear them like I did as a child, but I often wear them under my jeans... keeping my legs warm without adding any bulk around the midsection - and I know of no one who wants to add a little bulk around the mid section, so let me suggest to you - the leg warmer :D

Another fashion accessorie that I have recently become a HUGE fan of is the Espe collection of purses and wallets. They are so cute, but in a slightly older way I think, with some Japanese

influences...we all know how trendy are the Japanese, right Gwen Stefani?

Also, are you familiar with the Samaritan's Purse gift catalog? It's perfect for the person who has everything. In their name, you can give to someone who has very little. Goats, chickens, agricultural packs, warm clothing..and so much more. And then the person who has everything will get a lovely little tax deduction....and let's face it, if they really do have everything they could probably use the deduction, am I right?

There are so many other things I could post, but I think the really greatest one has no real picture. It's that warm feeling... that delicious rightness, that even if things are going very wrong, we have this hope. Christ came and is coming again. This one thing I know, for he loves me so... He gave his life up for me. For me! and it's all because he loves me... he loves us. It's a beautiful thing to be loved with an ever lasting love...dare I say - my very favorite thing :D

Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet

2007-12-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

Beautiful isn't it? Faith I mean. This man who's halting, off key and trembling melody carries the weight of his years...his life, touches the heart with the beauty of his simple lyrics. The truth that has carried him when seemingly all else failed him. Jesus can be trusted. "this one thing I know, that He loves me so, Jesus blood never failed me yet!"
for the whole story about how this man even came to be recorded check out http://www.gavinbryars.com/Pages/jesus_blood_never_failed_m.html

ye canna beat an egg

2007-11-21T15:27:00.001-07:00

I find this guy so funny... His songs are hilarious... yes he writes them himself. He's got hit's like... "We play Ludo on a Saturday night" "Midges Everywhere" "I was born in Fraserburgh Toon" and many many more.... I warn you now they get stuck in your head!

Uh-OH!!! moments

2007-11-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

I found these all laugh out loud funny :D Thanks Basia....