Thursday, August 30, 2012
Flight of the Conchords - Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That) [NEW]
Believe it or not... all the lyrics come directly from conversations with children. Check out the full length video with kids interviews... TOTALLY brilliant!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
The Lost Race - V.Rough Draft Chapter 1 - By Grace Schienbein
Six months ago I would have told you it is true, that in this modern age, there is no land on earth that is undiscovered. Satellite mapping has revealed to us even the smallest islands in the vast oceans.
However, there is much land that has yet to be explored, and that is my work; I am an exploration scientist and anthropologist-- A modern day explorer. I studied at Harvard and went on to teach exploration science in Oxford.
Six months ago I taught that, in regards to humanity, there are no more surprises. There is nothing left to discover. Based on location, and topography, the anthropologist can accurately hypothesise on the nature, language group and culture of newly discovered tribes on any continent.
But that was half a year ago. A lot can change in half a year.
It was a Thursday, which for me meant a light class load. And like many Thursday afternoons I was playing with google earth. That particular Thursday I was "exploring" islands in the Pacific when I noticed an anomaly. There was an area of water that looked distinctly different from the water surrounding it. I could tell by the scale that it must be a stretch of at least 200 miles, east to west, and almost perfectly square; Unlike the water surrounding it it had no white caps, in fact, seemingly no waves at all. At first I thought that perhaps the page didn't load properly, and so I refreshed it. In fact I did that several times and each time the same patch appeared. Then I thought that perhaps Google had a faulty image and had created a patch, Although, why they would patch with a piece that so clearly didn't match made no sense. Unable to leave it alone, I went to my colleagues office and found the location on his program. (One he had developed while working for NASA) There was the same square in the waters of the Pacific with no waves. Curious, I emailed the photo to a friend, who in turn sent it on to a friend and so on. No one could adequately explain to me what could be the cause.
I had a large amount of vacation days and a fat bonus from my book, "The Known World", and my itchy feet got the better of me. Even if it's nothing, I told myself, a few days soaking up the sun in the South Pacific would be good for me. And so I embarked.
I had thought the trip to this "glitch" on the map was an adventure. Nothing seemed to go right, from cancelled flights and emergency landing, to a fire in my hotel... but that was nothing compared to what awaited me when my boat nearly reached the spot. It wasn't still waters, or an oceanic fresh water lake that greeted us, but land. Land with what appeared to be a glistening city. How it could be missed by the satellites confused me. The buildings, built right up to the Sandy shores glimmered in the midday sun.
My mouth dropped open and my heart pounded. I turned to my guide and Captain, practically jumping up and down with excitement, and saw that she too was dumbfounded. She stared, unblinking, and let our boat run aground.
It is hard to describe what I saw, because it is so unlike anything I have seen or experienced before. I would like to say that it was like all the buildings were made of stained glass, because they had colour and form and even substance, but were also transparent. And yet, on later inspection we found that the substance was neither hard nor soft. The buildings had no doors or windows because you could move through them freely at any point. I would perhaps say that they were like force fields out of science fiction. They did provide relief from the sun. And the air, although it could move through the substance, was slowed to the gentlest of breezes.
We could immediately see the land was populated, although, at first glance it seemed as though it was inhabited by shadows. A shiver ran up and down my spine. The shiver gave way to relief when a man approached. Yes, a man, not a ghost or a shadow as I first (irrationally) supposed, but a living, breathing, human being. To be honest, I was not altogether certain he was human at the beginning. I was never one to believe in aliens, but I had never met a human being with purple skin and red hair. I say purple and red, but neither of these colours are accurate descriptors. His skin was dark, very dark, and leathery; like many that spend much of their lives in the sun. I would even venture to say that he was tan, but his skin was also almost the colour of eggplant. (Perhaps more red or mahogany than a true aubergine but it was not any shade of brown.) And his hair, cropped short and very curly was almost a flame red. His nose was wide, much like and African nose and yet the nostrils were narrow and made me think of the delicate features of the Scandinavians. He was tall, at least four inches taller than myself (I am six foot, four), and slight but muscled.
His clothing was loose and light, but cut close to the body, and had an iridescent quality, much like a black pearl.
He observed us almost as long as we observed him, and then he started to sing. The song lasted only a few moments and when he finished he looked at us expectantly. Katherine, my guide, whispered to me that I should say something. As soon as she spoke he sang again; only this time the song had a quick nervous rhythm and seemed to be about something surprising.
In a low calm voice, and for some reason in English, I introduced myself and Katherine. And she, awkward and uncertain or how to react or what to do, curtsied.
However, there is much land that has yet to be explored, and that is my work; I am an exploration scientist and anthropologist-- A modern day explorer. I studied at Harvard and went on to teach exploration science in Oxford.
Six months ago I taught that, in regards to humanity, there are no more surprises. There is nothing left to discover. Based on location, and topography, the anthropologist can accurately hypothesise on the nature, language group and culture of newly discovered tribes on any continent.
But that was half a year ago. A lot can change in half a year.
It was a Thursday, which for me meant a light class load. And like many Thursday afternoons I was playing with google earth. That particular Thursday I was "exploring" islands in the Pacific when I noticed an anomaly. There was an area of water that looked distinctly different from the water surrounding it. I could tell by the scale that it must be a stretch of at least 200 miles, east to west, and almost perfectly square; Unlike the water surrounding it it had no white caps, in fact, seemingly no waves at all. At first I thought that perhaps the page didn't load properly, and so I refreshed it. In fact I did that several times and each time the same patch appeared. Then I thought that perhaps Google had a faulty image and had created a patch, Although, why they would patch with a piece that so clearly didn't match made no sense. Unable to leave it alone, I went to my colleagues office and found the location on his program. (One he had developed while working for NASA) There was the same square in the waters of the Pacific with no waves. Curious, I emailed the photo to a friend, who in turn sent it on to a friend and so on. No one could adequately explain to me what could be the cause.
I had a large amount of vacation days and a fat bonus from my book, "The Known World", and my itchy feet got the better of me. Even if it's nothing, I told myself, a few days soaking up the sun in the South Pacific would be good for me. And so I embarked.
I had thought the trip to this "glitch" on the map was an adventure. Nothing seemed to go right, from cancelled flights and emergency landing, to a fire in my hotel... but that was nothing compared to what awaited me when my boat nearly reached the spot. It wasn't still waters, or an oceanic fresh water lake that greeted us, but land. Land with what appeared to be a glistening city. How it could be missed by the satellites confused me. The buildings, built right up to the Sandy shores glimmered in the midday sun.
My mouth dropped open and my heart pounded. I turned to my guide and Captain, practically jumping up and down with excitement, and saw that she too was dumbfounded. She stared, unblinking, and let our boat run aground.
It is hard to describe what I saw, because it is so unlike anything I have seen or experienced before. I would like to say that it was like all the buildings were made of stained glass, because they had colour and form and even substance, but were also transparent. And yet, on later inspection we found that the substance was neither hard nor soft. The buildings had no doors or windows because you could move through them freely at any point. I would perhaps say that they were like force fields out of science fiction. They did provide relief from the sun. And the air, although it could move through the substance, was slowed to the gentlest of breezes.
We could immediately see the land was populated, although, at first glance it seemed as though it was inhabited by shadows. A shiver ran up and down my spine. The shiver gave way to relief when a man approached. Yes, a man, not a ghost or a shadow as I first (irrationally) supposed, but a living, breathing, human being. To be honest, I was not altogether certain he was human at the beginning. I was never one to believe in aliens, but I had never met a human being with purple skin and red hair. I say purple and red, but neither of these colours are accurate descriptors. His skin was dark, very dark, and leathery; like many that spend much of their lives in the sun. I would even venture to say that he was tan, but his skin was also almost the colour of eggplant. (Perhaps more red or mahogany than a true aubergine but it was not any shade of brown.) And his hair, cropped short and very curly was almost a flame red. His nose was wide, much like and African nose and yet the nostrils were narrow and made me think of the delicate features of the Scandinavians. He was tall, at least four inches taller than myself (I am six foot, four), and slight but muscled.
His clothing was loose and light, but cut close to the body, and had an iridescent quality, much like a black pearl.
He observed us almost as long as we observed him, and then he started to sing. The song lasted only a few moments and when he finished he looked at us expectantly. Katherine, my guide, whispered to me that I should say something. As soon as she spoke he sang again; only this time the song had a quick nervous rhythm and seemed to be about something surprising.
In a low calm voice, and for some reason in English, I introduced myself and Katherine. And she, awkward and uncertain or how to react or what to do, curtsied.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
2012
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.
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!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Pure Joy
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.
"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.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Why I'm not writing.
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.
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.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
I want to learn to play the Ukulele.
So sweet, makes me want to learn to play the ukulele... is that how you spell it?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Richer by Fire.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Imprisoned by Choices.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!
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.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Fire
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!
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.
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!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Learning.
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. :)
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.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
So that my world revolves around the Son
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.
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. 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!
Saturday, August 07, 2010
MOVING!
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!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
This weeks most shocking/interesting/fascinating Pictures
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)
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.)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1283066/Guatemala-sink-hole-Tropical-storm-Agatha-blows-200ft-hole-city.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0pkCw0olV
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...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
In a mirror darkly...
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).
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
Thursday, April 15, 2010
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