Out on a Limb

Today the Edmonton Journal reported that two 12-year old girls had been charged in a series of robberies in the city. According to the article, a group of young girls surrounded an 18 year old young woman and robbed her. This swarming technique was used on 3 different occasions in West Edmonton Mall about a month ago. This story is simply shocking.

What on earth is going on? 12 year old girls? Has the world gone completely mad?

If that wasn't enough of a shocker, there was a small piece in the paper reporting that in Amsterdam, law-makers have passed a law which allows for gay sex in a public park.

Here's a quote:

Paul van Grieken, an Alderman in the Oud-Zuid district of the city, has startled many Amsterdammers, despite their famously liberal attitudes, with plans to allow public sex as part of this summer's new rules of conduct for the country's best-known park.

"Why should we try to impose something that is actually impossible to impose, which also causes little bother for others and for a certain group actually means much pleasure?", he said.

Amsterdam's beautiful Vondelpark in the centre of city draws hordes of summer visitors, families, skaters and joggers.

Here's a thought: What about CHILDREN? How can it be appropriate to allow sex (gay or straight) in a public park, where children are more than likely to see it?

This is pure insanity!

If this is the kind of world that we are living in, it's little wonder that we've got 12 year old girls swarming around people and robbing them! Let me be clear: I'm not saying that viewing public sex is going to cause children to become criminals, but I am arguing that the debasing of morality in our society will have a wide range of negative implications on upcoming generations.

Let me say it again: I am NOT making any direct connection between these two stories. But when we hear about 12 year olds swarming and robbing people, and we ask 'How on earth can this happen?', I think we need to pause and think about the context in which many children are being raised. What level of family support are they receiving? What kind of moral compass are they being given? What messages are they being exposed to?

Maybe I'm going out on a limb by writing all this, and I certainly run the risk of offending some people, but as Richard Simmons used to say, "STOP THE INSANITY!"

Things need to change in our society or else 12-year old girls robbing people at knife-point will seem tame compared to what we'll be dealing with in the future!

Maybe Eliot Spitzer wishes he'd been a governor somewhere in Europe, because he'd certainly still have his job!

"High Ethics"

Today the news broke that New York State Governor, Eliot Spitzer has been linked to a prostitution ring. There is a lot of discussion about this story in the press, especially in light of the fact that Spitzer has been the attorney general of New York who prosecuted other prostitution rings.

Some are calling this a 'political earthquake' and the press is jumping on the fact that he 'preached high ethics', but now has basically admitted meeting with a prostitute in a Washington hotel.

People who knew him apparently are shocked that he would be involved, given his reputation. He was "a crusader who was looked up to by the public".

I'm reminded of the danger that every person faces who is a public figure who ways into ethical issues. Those who call for a 'high' standard of ethical living are always going to be looked at closely, but for the press to say that the public 'looks up to' such a person seems a bit much. Is that why Spitzer won over 60% of the vote in his election as Governor? I'm not convinced that it is.

It certainly does cast more of a shadow on the already tattered reputation of politicians.

All I can say is that for once, there is no connection to the Church.

Too Funny

A friend of mine, Mikaela Hanley passed this on to me.

I loved it:

IKEA has announced its intention to start selling cars.

Politics and Hockey

On the eve of our provincial election here in Alberta, I thought I'd offer some thoughts I've had:

Tonight my friend Scott Reynolds was kind enough to offer me a last minute ticket to the Oilers game again the Columbus Bluejackets (the name 'bluejackets' warrants an entire blog entry of its own....but I digress!)

Scott is far more of a 'student' of the game of hockey and specifically the Oilers and the NHL, than your average 'joe' fan. I guess I fall into the later category myself: I basically read the Edmonton Journal sports page and watch the TSN highlights of the Oilers games and that's pretty much it. Scott is far more aware of the statistics of individual players, the various lines that the Oilers have, as well as those of the opposition team. Trying to talk with Scott about hockey leaves me, well, thinking I need to go to an Oilers version of the Eskimos 'intro to football' course!

At any rate, allow me to develop my thoughts further: Sam Gagner is one of the new Oiler favorites this year. People in town think he's simply an amazing rookie hockey player. He's scored a lot of points this year, especially for a rookie. In spite of this, Scott maintains that the Oilers should have kept him in the minors this year to give him more time to develop, rather than making the jump to the NHL. Scott's main reason is that while Sam has scored many points, he's been on the ice for far more goals against the Oilers than he's scored for the Oilers.

The difference between Scott and the majority of Oiler fans illustrates nicely the reality of the current Albertan political landscape.

Tomorrow thousands of Albertans will go to the polls and vote more on the basis of who they 'kind of like' or 'feel good about' rather than on the basis of thought out, fact based decisions. Which party leaders sounds best in speeches and sound bites. Most of us will base our decision on several 15 second TV clips we've seen in the news of the leaders.

Sadly this results in our democratic process being reduced largely to a popularity contest set in the guise of a debate on political ideas.

Lest anybody mistake what I'm saying as a argument for not voting as the answer to political ignorance, nothing could be further from the truth. People who don't vote infuriate me! As I was discussing with my good friend John Hanley tonight, the Australian system where it is illegal to not vote has great attraction to me! (although, I grant that such a system would do very little to deal with the problem of ignorant voters.)

When you go to an Oilers game, you have 16,000 different opinions about what's right or wrong with the team and what should be done to fix it. It's like sitting in a room full of arm-chair quarterbacks.

While watching tomorrow night's election results likely won't be as entertaining as watching an Oilers game, it almost certainly will end up making me think about the people I watched the Oilers game with!

What is It?

I've been thinking recently about intimacy. Most of the time we think of intimacy in terms of sex. Years ago I heard a great quote: "Sex doesn't create intimacy; it is a celebration of intimacy". So what exactly is intimacy anyway? How do you create it?

As I thought about this, I recognized that I often use the term intimacy in relationship to God (so obviously there is no sexual connection to this use of the term). I also recognized that I'm not sure I can sufficiently explain what I mean by the phrase 'intimacy with God'. This is a problem.

Jason Upton sings about the Key of David being intimacy. It's like it's become part of the Christian 'lingo' but do we understand what it actually means?

It's widely understood that our relationship with our earthly father will dynamically impact our view of God as Father. So here's a question: if our framework for the father-heart of God is impacted that way, then what about our framework for understanding and entering into intimacy with God? How important is the existence (or lack thereof) of intimacy in our human relationships in allowing us to experience intimacy with God?

One would assume that it is, but that creates some difficult problems in my mind: King David is not who I would lift up as a model of human intimacy. You could look at his friendship with Jonathan, but he certainly didn't hit the mark with his marriage or with his kids!

So I'm left with a difficult paradox: how could David have experienced so much intimacy with God and yet have such lousy family relationships?

This brings us back full circle to the original question of what exactly is intimacy, either with other human beings or with God?

Invited

Far away but invited
Distant but sought
wandering and apathetic
It's time to go back
Time to see
Time to hear

If I lie on the beach will I soak up the sun?
Will feel the warmth?
Can I breath in the air?

Will I stand up or will I sit down?
Will I run with the horses or fall in the thicket?

The jug is cracked
water lost
lips parched

And I, I want to be like a tree
planted by the streams of living water
I want to be unmovable
unshakable
let my roots go down
let them go down deep
rooted and grounded

A hand lifted high
yet eyes remain closed

The yearning soul
the longing spirit

A feast of rich food
a banquet of aged wine
a honey pot on the shelf
honey from the rock

What's Missing

I've been watching quite a bit of the American election process. The primaries that will decide who will run for the Presidency of the United States. I've watched several of the debates and countless reports on the candidates rallies as well as the election night coverage, with the self-named 'best political team on television' (words can't express who arrogant that is and how nauseating that is!!)

I know that I'm from Canada and that the political issues are different, and I know that I'm from Alberta and thus I risk offending most people who will read this, however I simply cannot refrain from making this point:

There has been an almost total absence of any discussion on one of the most important issues that impacts not only the United States, but every other country on earth: the issue of climate change.

I have heard NONE of the candidates speak about this issue. I have heard no questions directed to the candidates on this issue in ANY of the debates. I have not seen even ONE news report on the primaries deal with this issue. I have NO idea what any of the candidates plan to do about this issue. Okay, well I guess I do have an idea: they have NO plan to do anything.

In some ways this isn't exactly shocking, but what is shocking is that this issue simply isn't on the radar of the candidates, the American media or the American public. This is utterly appalling.

Do you know what the main issues are? The economy and the immigration problem. Both are major issues at every turn because the problems with both are interfering with the pursuit of the so-called 'american dream'. Of course, the same basic pursuit certainly impacts our Canadian populace, but the issue is at least of real concern to many Canadians.

This issue of climate change is very complex and there are no simple answers, but the absolute silence on the current campaign trail is more disturbing to me than I can express. At a time in world history where such a global problem exists, we need the sharpest minds working on solutions and we need the very best in world leaders to be giving genuine leadership to this issue.

At a time when cynicism about government and political leaders is at an all time high, I am saddened to say that this issue is having that effect on me: I too am becoming cynical about what really drives these candidates and whether they will actually act as leaders and make difficult decisions, regardless of whether those decisions are politically popular or not.

I've often wondered how committed to 'democracy' I really am. Well, let me put it this way: I am NOT into 'populism'; meaning that I do NOT believe that leaders should simply do the will of the people. That's not leadership. The role of leaders it to have a more in depth understanding of the issues and be able to make judgements about what decisions are needed, regardless of whether they are 'popular'.

So as we watch the unfolding of the American political process, I invite you to watch and listen with me to see if the issue of climate change even is raised in the coming months.

An Inconvenient Service

I've been thinking about the nature of voluntary service. Like cleaning a house, helping people move, stepping in to help out with short notice, doing things without being asked.

There are times when we are willing to step up to the plate and times when we are not. There are times when it's convenient to serve and times with it is inconvenient. Most people are willing to get involved when it's convenient because it makes us feel good; but things change when it becomes inconvenient. I want to say that being willing to help out in spite of inconvenience is a sign of maturity but while that is often true, it isn't always the case.

I think our present day culture of being served, being entertained, and being entitled has led to a culture of convenience. (I'm continually amazed that the 'convenience store' near my house is able to stay in business, but I certainly am willing to occasionally go there and pay $1 more for a jug of milk simply for the 'convenience'!)

I see examples of both all around me: some who will jump in and help and serve regardless of whether it's convenient or inconvenient, and others who mostly just step up to the plate when it's convenient. Yet I'm left with the realization that I need to assess how tied I am to convenience. I am becoming more accepting of inconvenience or less? Some days I'm not sure. Some days it changes. I guess I hope that in the overall picture of things, that I'm moving in the right direction. Can't blame the culture. At some point you have to suck it up and get some maturity!

A few years ago, one of my favorite worship leaders, Paul Oakley wrote a song entitled: 'It's all About You'

One line from the song goes,

It's all about You, Jesus And all this is for You For Your glory and Your fame
It's not about me, as if You should do things my way.

One of my friends, Mike Tkachuk does a humorous version on this line, to make a point:

It's all about me, Jesus and all this is for me; for my glory and my fame
It's not about you, because you should do things my way.

One of the reasons why Paul Oakley's lyrics in this song have struck a chord with people (pardon the pun!) is because we know (or should know) that the gospel of Jesus is a gospel of service, and very often that makes it a gospel of inconvenience!

just some things I've been thinking about.

Remembering

This weekend, Irvin Reich died when the Golden Arrow bus he was driving slammed into a flatbed truck that was carrying metal pipes. Irvin used to be the owner & operator of Brightwood Youth Ranch. I was sobered to hear of his death. While I really didn't know him, I do have several memories of him from my times at Brightwood camp. Many of my favorite retreat type memories are from Brightwood. The McKernan College and Career group went there several times for winter retreats. I remember Irvin from the orientation times to the camp, from the winter horse drawn hay ride, and bringing countless amounts of wood into the main lodge where they had an incredible wood burning style stove/fireplace.

Tonight I watched his wife on the 6 p.m. news and remembered her working away in the Brightwood kitchen, cooking many meals.

Even though I barely knew Irvin, there is something jarring about knowing a person who was killed in such a horrific accident.

So today has been a day of reflection and remembering. It was a good time in my life... those days when we went to Brightwood. Lots of prayer and conversations and RISK games and eating. We saw the Holy Spirit come in power and start a spiritual fire in many lives, the effects of which are still being felt today!

It's interesting to think back to the time when the Spirit came in power... since I've lately been thinking so much about the 'honey glory'!

I pray for the Reich family, and honor the work and life of Irvin Reich, who loved Jesus and now is able to see the One who he served for his entire life.

One for the Dogs

Today I woke up to a very cold, snowy day with wind gusts blowing snow everywhere. We've been told for a while that this week coming up would be brutally cold and it's here!

Today it's was about -23 outside and about -30 with the wind chill factored in.

But it's Sunday, so, you guessed it, I went for my weekend long run. I actually was pumped up about it, just because it was so cold out and it seemed like a badge of honor to be running in such conditions. (others would say it's a badge of insanity, but that 's another story!)

If the idea of running in -30 seems nutty to you, think of it this way: at least I was running, and thus keeping myself reasonably warm! I honestly didn't expect to see anyone else on the Mill Creek path today, but I did. Quite a few of them actually. DOG WALKERS. People out in -30 walking with their dog. Now that's hardcore! I even saw one couple walking where the woman had the dog and the man was reaching into a snow bank to retrieve the dog's poop! Believe you me...I appreciate pooper-scooper-uppers, but that's going above and beyond the call of duty!!! WOW.

Speaking of poop, there was an article in yesterday's paper about police finding a pipe bomb in the bottom of a port-a-potty. It happened in north Vancouver on Friday morning. How would you like to have been the poor sap who had to remove the bombs!! If they had gone off, it would have given new meaning to the phrase 'the &*^% hit the fan'!! Ha Ha.

One final thought on the topic:

Every so often I end up feeling like *&^% on a Sunday afternoon, having preached with energy but without much anointing. Or so it seemed today. It reminded me of the Canada Dry Ginger Ale that's been sitting in our fridge for a few weeks: FLAT!

Who knows, maybe everyone was so cold from the drive to church that the blood never really got flowing again. Who knows. The whole thing is, admittedly, subjective, given that I'm basing it primarily on how I read the congregation. Listening, but not much response. At least people were listening. That's got to count for something.

Tonight I'm staying in! We've got the wood fireplace going, for the first time this winter and it's great. I love real wood fireplaces. My grandmother had one in her lakeside house in Ontario, so I've been in love with them ever since.

So with hot chocolate in hand and a fire burning, I will bunker down and let the cold wind swirl away outside, while I stay warm on the inside!

Honey

"The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Ps. 19:9-11

Things I Wonder About

It's been so long since I blogged that I wondered if I had forgotten my password! Evidently, I was able to remember it!

It's 9:30 p.m. and I'm watching the American Idol auditions with Pam. Given that I feel guilty about it, I thought I'd try to redeem the time by doing something productive and important (lol) like blogging! HA!

Right now there's an insane woman who wants her son to be the next American Idol and she actually said that American Idol is her biggest dream in life; that it's the reason for her entire life!! It was incredible.

Do these people actually think they can sing? Or are they trying to be so funny and so bad that they get on the auditions episodes? They can't be serious. Maybe it's scripted somehow.

A friend of mine commented to me once that American Idol is popular because it plays to the current young adult generation's obsession with themselves and with fantasies of fame.

So here are some things I'm wondering about lately:

a) Heath Ledger died today. Who would name their son 'Heath'?

b) Fred Thompson dropped out of his bid for the American Presidency today. I wonder if he'll go back to being on Law & Order? I hope so!

c) Bees have been dying in record numbers for the past several years and nobody knows why. I really like honey, so I hope they can discover what is happening. Here's to swirlin' in the honey!

d) I've been watching a lot of the U.S. Presidential primaries (much to the confusion of Pam, but she forgets that political science was my minor in University!) I love it. I'm not sure if Barak Obama or Hilary Clinton will win the nomination, but I do wonder if either of them like honey!

e) It's fascinating that for most Americans, the Iraq war has fallen way down their priority list. Right now the economy is most important to them. I understand why. Given the complexity of the Iraq conflict and the current U.S. economic crisis, I wonder why anybody would want to be President. It's the most brutal job around!

f) I wonder where I can get more honey.

So there you have it.

The Beginning of New Things

Last night I was at the fireworks downtown and was able to say so-long and good riddance to 2007, and here's hoping for 2008!

Some people have said that the number 8 in the Scriptures means or signals 'new beginnings'. I don't know of any evidence to prove that, but after 2007, I'm more than willing to "take it in faith"... I'm more than ready for some 'new beginnings'!

In many ways, 2007 was about as low a valley in ministry as I've experienced. In the midst of virtual continual turmoil I found God teaching me some hard lessons about myself, exposing and peeling away encrusted ideas and mindsets, along with certain paradigms and identity issues. It was a year where God brought some people into my life and then moved them out; many others were moved (or chose to leave) to different churches and/or places to live. In some ways, there was so much relational transition that I have gotten used to it and to a degree have numbed out to it. After a while you're so used to people 'moving on' that you just say 'well, here we go again' and you just keep on going.

In the midst of it all, I have experienced God sustaining me and somehow keeping a sense of hope about the future. I'm actually being serious about that; I'm not spewing pious Christian platitudes. I don't understand it and I certainly can't explain it, but in spite of all that 2007 threw my way, I feel closer to God and responsive to His Spirit. I don't feel particularly depressed; certainly there are times of significant discouragement, but they seem to pass reasonably quickly. I can't totally explain it.

As I said, I also recognize that God has been teaching me a lot and has been shaping me through all that has happened in 2007. James says that I should 'rejoice' in these trials and Paul says that such things are but 'momentary light afflictions' that can gain eternal weight in glory; I have focused a lot on those Scriptures.

So what now in 2008?

There are things happening in me that I can't articulate right now. I can sense it in my spirit, but my mind can't understand it. That's okay. God is working in me, and I'll just try to relax cooperate as best I can.

In some ways I'm not really thinking a lot about what God will do or may do in 2008. I just don't have energy for that right now. I need to focus on what God is saying to me and wanting me to do in the present moment, and let God do whatever He chooses in the bigger picture.

For January, I believe that God is inviting me to re-dig some old wells in my spiritual life. Not to go back to the past, but to rediscover some dimensions that have been covered over a bit. (sounds vague, but I'm intentionally not being specific... guess I'll have to discuss it more in the future! :)

2008 will not be a year to sit back and passively watch for what God will do. I don't know what He will do, but I do have energy to re-discover and re-engage in some ways in my own personal life.

I hope that I will be able to put some of the lessons of '07 into practice and see some fruit in '08.

At any rate, to all who read this, I wish you a Happy New Year and hope that 2008 will be a year of new beginnings for all of us!

Why Benazir Bhutto's Death Matters

Just in case anyone reading this has had their head in the sand recently or has been away from any media over the holidays, Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan was assassinated yesterday.

Sadly the importance of this event will likely be lost on most Canadians.

So why does the death of Benazir Bhutto matter?

First, let me tell you a bit more of who she was:

She was the Prime Minister of Pakistan twice during the years of 1988-1996. While both her terms in office were brief and plagued with problems and numerous accusations, she was a leading voice for change in Pakistan. In her own words:

"I am a female political leaders fighting to bring modernity, communication, education and technology to Pakistan." May, 2007

Human history has been littered with the assassinations of numerous leaders, and people are dying and being killed every day in the world; what makes Bhutto's death any different?

Firstly because she was a leader fighting for major changes, including democracy, for Pakistan, which is a country fraught with religious and political extremists which causes continual instability.

Secondly, she was a woman leader, and in Pakistan, that is a BIG deal. She was the first woman to become the leader of a Muslim nation. There are very few women Presidents and Prime Ministers in the world in modern times, let alone in a Muslim country!

She was also surrounded by controversy and probably made many mistakes, but the fact that a Muslim woman who was educated at Oxford and Harvard, was able to rise up, stand for change and become the Prime Minister of a major Muslim nation such as Pakistan, is amazing.

The final reason why I think that Bhutto's death matters is this:

She knew what she believed in and was unashamed in voicing her beliefs, even in the face of continued threats against her life. In the end, those threats were realized and she paid for her beliefs with her life. In that sense, she was her own kind of extremist: she stood for and voiced opinions that were quite unpopular, that ran against the cultural grain of her country,in a non-violent fashion . She remained unwavering in her commitment to her belief in democracy and freedom.

Obviously the strongest people in the world are those who stand up for what they believe in, even against those who promote their own beliefs through violent intolerance.

I am inspired by people with such courage and I think that her death should matter to all of us.

Prince of Peace

At this time of year it's common to hear the name 'Prince of Peace' to describe Jesus.

Yesterday I was thinking about how important inner peace is in our lives... well, in my life! I was thinking about how much the enemy does to take away our peace and I got to realizing how important our inward peace must be. Far more important than most of us normally think.

Somehow I'm used to hearing people talk about how stressed out they are, how busy they are, and how worried and anxious they are. The result is that we end up living with an absence of peace in our lives!

Understanding that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, it's more than Jesus valuing peace or even bringing peace to the world; the question is more HOW Jesus brings peace to the earth.

Watchman Nee wrote that

When the Holy Spirit is working, He needs to be carried by the human spirit. The electricity in an electric bulb does not travel like lightening. It must be conducted through electric wires. If you want to use electricity you need an electric wire to bring it to you. In like manner, the Spirit of God employs the human spirit as His carrier, and through it He is brought to man.

How will Jesus, the Prince of Peace, bring peace to the earth? I believe that it will be through US as His people. It will not be independent of us, but through us.

Not only am I to be at peace for my own benefit, but also for the benefit of others around me. I am to be His means of bringing peace to earth! This is very powerful to realize!

Usually one of the stressful times of the day for me is right in the morning when I'm trying to get the kids off to school on time! There usually isn't very much peace in my life at that time, and it's the start of my day!

I've known this for a long time, but the way I handle things in the mornings has a direct impact on my kids and how their day will go at school. I felt yesterday and today that God was reminding me that He wants to use me to bring peace to their lives each day of the week. That's powerful! (it also feels like a pretty tall order sometimes!)

So I'm feeling challenged and inspired today.

Black out

Society loves to see people fall.

Today in papers around Canada and the U.S., stories tell the sentence given to Conrad Black and also to Michael Vick.

So here is some more various thoughts I've had as I read today's Journal:

1) I'm glad that the Conrad Black thing is over, simply because I just didn't care. I'm sure he's an arrogant guy, but I don't care whether he goes to jail very much.

2) Disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to nearly 2 YEARS for his involvement in an illegal dog fighting operation. Look, I think what he did was wrong; he broke the law. I also like dogs but come on....lets get real! 2 YEARS for dog fights and cruelty to animals? There are drunk drivers who get WAY less of a sentence.... So let's see here: dog fighting or DRUNK DRIVING....which is more serious? If Vick deserves 2 years, then drunk drivers deserve a LOT stiffer a sentence than most of them get!

3) On the front page was a story of a young man who got a car insurance renewal notice for $104,000. He had 10 speeding tickets and 3 accidents on his record. Sure, nobody can afford that amount for insurance, but THAT'S THE POINT! The guy shouldn't be driving. AT ALL! The guy is 19 for crying out loud. Thankfully the young man is moving to B.C. At least I won't have to worry about being on the same road as the guy!

4) There's a crappy story about a retired school teacher who got trapped inside a toilet at a lawn bowling club for 4 DAYS!!! The door jammed and the handle fell off on the outside. He had no cell phone with him. I would have gone completely insane!


So not too many deep thoughts this time; sometimes it's nice to keep it on the lighter side of things!

wonderings

So yesterday was "tree day" in our house! When I arrived home after church, Rebekah and Josiah informed me that that it was tree day and it was my duty to go and get a Christmas tree. We usually get our tree from Save On Foods and this year, and I was really pumped at how the tree actually turned out. It's hard to get an idea of how it will look when its all bundled up at the store. But as you can see, we have a beautiful tree this year. We're all quite proud.

Yesterday was a pretty good day. After setting up the tree, I settled downstairs to cheer on the Patriots as they kicked some Steeler butt!



In the midst of it all there, here are some of my latest wonderings...

Why do psycho's like Willie Pickton always seem to quote the Bible? Is it just because Christianity is the foundational religion in the West? I suspect there's more to it than that!

Why did the shootings over the weekend not make Monday's Edmonton Journal? I know there are lots of shootings (sadly) but this was a man shooting 4 people at a YWAM missionary base outside Denver! Plus, the man escaped and is (was?) on the loose!

Why did it bother me so much this morning when the piano tuner came to our house and because I had forgotten about the appointment, the house was still a TOTAL disaster... why is my pride so strong that I wished that the floor boards would suddenly open up and swallow me up? (the good news was that I was highly motivated to clean feverishly while he was here!)

Whatever happened to the great moves of God in the 80's and 90's? In the 80's God established the Vineyard movement and in the 90's there was the renewal of the Holy Spirit that swept around the world. Those people who never liked them will delight in their essential disappearance, but what is God doing these days?

Why is God's activity these days so much more subtle and difficult to identify? Sure there is lots that God is doing, but not really anything on the scale of what He did in the 80's and 90's. At least not in my eyes.

What needs to be done to correct the pervasive notion in the church that it's God's job to make our lives work out all the time? Maybe we need more preaching on the book of Job!


I'm not particularly dwelling on any of these questions... they are more of a snapshot of some of the thoughts and internal dialogues that I've been having lately. Some are here today and gone tomorrow, while others seem to reappear every once in a while.

So that's what's new... for those who are wondering! :)

Tragedy in Denver

Word just came in that there was a terrible attack at the Denver YWAM, where a gunman went onto the missions base and started shooting people. At least 2 people are known dead and 2 are critically injured.

The reports are that a man came to the base seeking a place to stay, but when he was told that it wasn't possible because the base was already at maximum capacity, he started to shoot people. At this time, the gunman is still being sought by police.



Unbelievably, 12 hours later, (this morning!) a gunman went to New Life Church in Colorado and started shooting in the parking lot! Reports are currently that only the gunman was killed and that possibly 2 people were injured.

Police say that the 2 incidents are not connected.

Obviously there are more details that will be coming in the next few days, but as of right now, that's what we know.

I think it's very important for us to pray about these events and the people who are impacted by them.

What Happens in Vegas...

I'm currently watching an episode of CSI, which is one of my favorite TV shows. The fact that it takes place in Vegas motivated me to blog a bit more about my recent first visit to Las Vegas.


Las Vegas is primarily about gambling, drinking and sex. At least that's what I thought before I went there. Now I'd say it's more uniquely about gambling, entertainment shows and over the top hotels, and more commonly, about drinking, sex and shopping.


The hotel below is one of the best on the Strip and it's also one of my favorites: The Bellagio


This is the Wynn Hotel. It's arguably the best hotel in Vegas. It cost 2.7 billion to build, has 2700 rooms, an 111,000 sq. ft. casino and an 18 hole golf course.


Going to Vegas and thinking about the group that I'd be there with, I assumed that they would be reasonably into 'partying'. One of the main surprises about the trip was that I was wrong about the party dimension. They just weren't really a wild party group. There certainly isn't anything wrong with that; I mean, let's be honest: I'm definitely not a 'party person' myself!

I was also surprised that virtually none of the people in the group were particularly interested in running the Vegas marathon again next year. Usually in the hype and excitement of a trip cause people to say something along the lines of 'we HAVE to do this again next year!' It was just interesting because we all had a really great time, and we all ran really great times, so you would think that people would want to 'do it again next year'.

Despite that fact that, spiritually speaking, it is a very dark place, I still enjoyed it a lot. I really enjoyed the show that we went to, and I also loved looking at these incredible hotels. I loved running the race along the strip and being part of such a huge race. I only wish we'd been able to go to more shows and spend more time in the better hotels.

So would I go back again to Vegas? Yes I would. I hope to.

1:48:35

Well, I'm back from Las Vegas and running in the Vegas Half Marathon!
It was unlike anything I've been part of before!


It was a fantastic experience and I ran it in 1hr. 48min. 35sec. (my official chip time!) My previous best time was 1:57 for the half, so I took off about 9 minutes from my previous personal best time, so I am VERY happy with my time.

There were 8166 people who finished the half, and my overall place was 659th (529th among the men)




There were about about 20 people from our clinic who trained for the event, and I knew between 12-15 of them. (some were training for the walking half and full events, and others rarely came to the clinic runs)

The weather was pretty good on race day. I was a bit worried on Saturday when we arrived because it was very windy, but on Sunday, there was no wind.



I think that nearly everybody in our group was really pleased with their times in the race. It was too bad that because of the size of the race, we couldn't see most of our friends arrive across the finish line.

I'll have more to say on the whole experience soon, but for now, that's how the race went!