Trade Thoughts

It was interesting yesterday to be sitting at our regular staff meeting in Starbucks and have a complete stranger come up and tell us the news that Ryan Smyth had just been traded by the Oilers. (I'm starting to get a complex about that table!) :)

It's been interesting to experience the outcry. To me it seems like the ripples of that trade are being felt all across the city. Virtually everybody knew within hours of the trade, and the response has certainly been massive. Two sides have emerged: responses that are quite emotional (and very upset) and responses that are much more muted and unemotional. Some feel betrayed and others see it as simply a business move; regretable, but nevertheless, a business move that had to be made.

I'm somewhere inbetween. Yes, I see the business side of it. But there is a dimension of that business side that is hard to quantify: the impact on the city. For the first time in my life, I decided to join the throngs of people who are writing comments to the Journal (and the Sun). I don't know if it will get published or not, in their sports rant section, but either way, I thought I would share my thoughts here as well:

"A major piece of this trade that seems to have been missed is that Ryan Smyth WANTED to play and live in Edmonton. For years we've watched our best players leave either because we were too small a city to pay them or because they simply didn't like living here, and I think it has given our city a bit of a inferiority complex. David Staples' Journal recent article (Feb. 25) made the point that in the 'new NHL', it is critical to factor in 'player perks' in trying to keep players around; given that players like Chris Pronger simply don't want to live in Edmonton, what 'perks' can the Oilers offer to entice players to come here and actually stay? That's what makes the Smyth deal so painful: He liked Edmonton, which, in this 'new NHL' is apparently a major issue! I agree, Smyth wanted too much money, but how do you put a dollar sign on the leadership and enthusiasm that Smyth brought to the locker room about playing in Edmonton? How can a trade ever replace that? Perhaps we should have given Smyth the money he asked for, simply because we desperately need a visible and vocal player who says 'Hey, Edmonton is a great city to live in and play in.' The image of a city is important, both around the NHL and also within the city itself. The Smyth trade is a significant blow to that image on both fronts."

So there you have it. Some of my initial thoughts. I have many others on this topic as well, but I want to work them out a bit more in my head first.

Too Fruity for me!

When I saw this I simply had to post about it. Pomegranate anointing oil!!! Only $19.95? Please, give me a break. I've actually got a pretty high tolerance for weirdness, but this just pushes my buttons. Talk about a gimmick with no Scriptural basis at all.
Here's the write up on the product:

"This is the most incredible anointing oil! The pomegranate represents healing, prosperity and overcoming. The pomegranate was early cultivated in Egypt and was highly esteemed by the Israelites. Carved figures of the pomegranate adorned the tops of the pillars in Solomon’s temple. Pomegranate fruits in blue, purple and scarlet, ornamented the hem of the robe of the High Priest, representing fruitfulness, blessings, favor of God. Pomegranates are one of the seven species the spies brought back with them to show how fertile the promised land was. It speaks of God's favor exhibited, in making fruitful."

The implication that Pomegranate anointing oil is somehow more effective or more 'anointed' than any other kind of oil is simply insane! The power doesn't come from the oil, it comes from GOD!

This kind of product just gets to me, because it feeds into crazy church culture and somehow people (literally) buy into it!
Oh well, at least the people anointed might smell a bit better, and at least people get an actual product!

Maybe I should look at the other side: you can spend at least that much on plain jane oil at any Body Shop near you!

Who knows, maybe they can make it smell fruity for you as well!

In the mean time, remember Paul Cain's admonition: "Don't be so open minded that your brains fall out."

Why is there a boy?

This past Saturday night, Pam and I went to the ballet. Yes, for those who have previously read my blog, you will no doubt have a sense of deja-vu! Indeed, just when the images of 'Row C' were nicely fading from my mind, my calendar beeped at me last week to notify me that we had tickets to, of all things, the Ballet! When I checked the tickets I was surprised to find that they were for a performance called "Dancing Joni". So I was off for an evening of men in tights and yellow taxis!
To be honest, this was the best ballet I've been to (not that I'm subscriber or anything!). This was a brand new ballet performance; a collaboration between the Alberta Ballet and Joni Mitchell. It featured music and art by Joni Mitchell with dance by the Alberta Ballet company. It was very political, the songs, art and dance all speaking about major political issues of war, child slavery and environmental abuse. (I admit that it's rather funny to think of a major commentary on the environment being initiated here in Alberta; somehow I doubt very many Alberta government officials were in attendance!)
I am virtually totally ignorant of Joni Mitchell's music, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The music and the photography were very powerful and the dance certainly added a significant layer to the presentation.

Now before you start thinking I've been converted to the ballet, let me bring you to the humorous 'high point' of the evening:
Pam and I were seated in the 1st balcony (no 'row c' this time!) and next to us was a woman and her young daughter. The little girl was dressed up like a princess and was very beautiful. She couldn't have been more than 3 and a half. I was very impressed by her behavior; she watched and listened very well through the 2 hour production.
The evening opened with George Balanchine's Serenade. This piece was virtually exclusively danced by young women, much to the delight of the young princess seated to our left. Mid-way through Serenade, a male dancer came onto the scene, to which she whispered loudly to her mother: "Why is there a boy?"
Pam and I nearly burst into laughter! What a great comment, and at least from my perspective hits the nail on the head. Why IS there a boy in the ballet! For myself and many other men, this must be the central question regarding the ballet. As I have said before, men in tights simply are NOT a good idea. EVER! I don't care how ripped and toned they are: the world simply doesn't need to see that!

Anyway, all attempts at humor aside, this was a really good event. Oh, and by the way, here's a note of advice: if you're planning to go to a cultural event and the Jubilee and are thinking of going out for dinner before the performance, do yourself a favor: DON'T even try to go to Earls on campus. We've tried the last two times and the line up has been out the door. This Saturday, we ended up going to Chianti's on Whyte; a good standby, as long as you don't mind slightly overcooked pasta, and the chocolate mousse dessert is fantastic!

Interestingly enough, as I was reading a bit on "Dancing Joni", apparently, the performance got reviewed by the press all over North America and even from London, England! I don't think they were disappointed, and I think it's great that it started here in Alberta!

Adventures in Listening

Last night I had a great time with my kids, putting them to bed and doing some listening prayer with them. I admit that it's something that I've not been terribly good at doing with them, but have been stirred recently to try and teach them about listening to Jesus. It's so much easier (at least in theory!) when they are young.
So Josiah was listening, but also being himself and goofing around a bit; I tried to be patient; after all, he's only 4!
At first, Josiah saw some snow falling and then described that he was at the north pole. I admit, my faith was stretched! He then saw lots of penguins, which stretched my faith more, as there are no penguins at the north pole. (only the south!) I hid my own doubts and soldiered on. "Let's ask Jesus where he is" I suggested. Without being led, Josiah did just that. Jesus was beside him and wearing a yellow outfit. "Why don't you ask Jesus why he's wearing yellow?" Quick response: "He says it's his favorite color!". I was pretty impressed. Maybe it's not deep theological revelation, but to a 4 yr. old, I think Jesus would want to talk about his favorite color. I think I'll wear something yellow to church on Sunday!
After a bit more with Josiah, I moved to Rebekah's room.
Rebekah's stomach wasn't feeling great, so Pam was giving her some medicine just as I came in.
Rebekah and I began to listen and I asked her what she saw.
Response: Her stomach.
At this point, my faith took a plunge. Her stomach? Please! It had to be her. Afterall, she'd just taken medicine. I clarified that she was actually seeing her stomach. Yes. Okay. I carried on. "What does it look like?" She used her finger to describe it and said there were tubes coming in and she should see the medicine coming into her stomach.
Jim: "Why don't you ask Jesus why he's showing you your stomach?"
Rebekah: "I see Jesus. He's in my stomach, near the tube where the medicine is coming in.'
(Jim's faith continues to flicker!)
Jim: "Why is Jesus in your stomach?"
Rebekah: "I think he's healing my stomach."
Jim: "REALLY?" (faith grows)
Rebekah: "There's shiny stuff coming from his hands."
Jim: (now very excited) "What does it look like?"
Rebekah: "It's like the sun."
Jim: "You mean it looks like light is coming out of his hands?"
Rebekah: "Yes"
Jim: "That's incredible. How are you feeling?"
Rebekah: "my tummy feels better."

What was blowing my mind was the fact that Jesus was showing her something that she couldn't possibly have made up! There's a verse in Habakkuk 3:4, that has been a favorite of mine for several years:

"His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden."

I've enjoyed that verse because several people have, historically, seen visions of Jesus with rays of light coming out of his hands to heal them!

I left the room amazed that Jesus had spoken to Josiah and Rebekah in a way that not only made sense to them and built up their faith, but mine as well! I'm still pumped about it! I mean, light coming out of his hands...that's awesome!
I've had my share of doubts about whether I could effectively lead my kids in listening prayer. Rebekah is very analytical and Josiah has a hard time being still. However, we've had some really great times this week and it's building my faith a whole lot!

Here's to Jesus showing up in our stomachs and to the color yellow!

Dolled Up

This weekend, my daughter had her 7-yr. birthday party. She invited several friends from grade 2 and everybody had a great time; chaos and noise ensued! My wife is a master at planning these things and organizing a variety of events, all carefully timed and planned so as to keep the kids constantly active and entertained. She's very good at it, and every year, Rebekah wants mom to do the 'pop demonstration' where Pam makes pop, using vast quantities of dry ice and causing ice cream buckets to explode all over the place. It's great fun and should Pam ever need a side-line job to being a teacher, I'm sure she could entertain multitudes with her 'pop' demo!
When it came time for the presents to be opened (Rebekah's favorite part!) all was going well, and at one point, she opened a present that was a 'my scene barbie' doll. Now, for the masses who are not up to speed on the latest in children's 'doll' fashion, allow me to bring you up to speed: Many dolls these days are marketed at a 'Toys R Us' near you, looking like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, or perhaps a very slightly more covered up version of the Pussycat Dolls or Britney Spears.
My friend Eric was at the party, with his daughter Elisha, and he and Pam had some awesome commentary! Here's Pam's version of the comments:
"Oh look it's 'Hootchie' and you call also collect her friends 'Skank' and 'Ho'." To which Eric replied "You can also get 'My Pimp Ken' and the whole collection of 'Johns'."
Now before you all write me off as a hopeless uptight conservative, let me say this: I hope that my daughter will NEVER dress like some of these dolls that are being marketed to her to play with. I think you could shoot off my toes one at a time, and I'd still say NO! Don't get me wrong: I'm not wanting Rebekah to dress like Anne of Green Gables or like the girls on Little House on the Prairie, but let's be honest: there are limits!
Recently there was a news report, that looked at the trend in young girls fashions toward 'sexualizing' girls at an earlier and earlier age. I didn't get a chance to see the whole thing, but I wonder if they looked at the fact that such images and impact are included even in the dolls that kids play with?
Years ago a friend of mine commented that when you see a picture on a magazine or tabloid cover or anywhere else, of a young woman looking overly sexualized, you need to remember, "that's somebody's daughter". That comment has always stuck in my brain, and now that I have a little girl of my own, it has even more meaning.