Why I'm cool

Jason Hildebrand performed at RCS's High School retreat during my first year at the school. But, then, that was before his face was EVERYwhere.

Blue Like Jazz

Well, here I am at Youth Quake, sitting in my host family's home in my room, just before I go to bed. Lucky for me they have a wireless internet hub here, and I brought my laptop along so that I could check up on how the Olympics are going and such.

I just came from one of the coolest performances I have ever been to by an actor from Toronto, Jason Hildebrand. The performance was called Blue Like Jazz. It was an hour-long piece, that would most closely resemble a monologue, but that doesn't evoke the right images. Here is the official description in the YQ handbook:

"A solo theatrical multimedia performance based on the book by acclaimed post-modern author, Donald Miller. It is a raw, personal, humourous reflection on spirituality, God, and community and an honest and unexpected journey - a scrapbook of one man's life."

I had actually heard of this book a few months ago, and have wanted to have a look at it. After seeing Jason's performance of it (I believe he was quoting directly from the book the whole time), it has inspired to buy the book, and so I did tonight right after the performance. But back to the performance - I have never seen anything like this. It was a combination of monologue, music, projected images, and even the live character talking to himself as a projected image. It was fantastic, very funny, very sarcastic in just the right way, and very insightful. It was also way over any highschool student's head or experience (I heard many comments all around me of "this is so random", and "I don't get it"). But it was exactly where I am at. I certainly didn't want it to end.

Two of my favourite quotes from the performance:

"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes. After that I liked jazz music. Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."

And...the character speaking as his twelve-year-old self: "I had found something to live for - Naked Women!"

Good stuff in an unexpected place.

J

PS - Cindy Klassen is now the single greatest Olympian in the history of Canada! Go MB's!

Here's a photo of the cat we found who's wandering about our house right now (much to the distaste of indignant Trudeau).

Speaking of crazy things kids write...

I was just marking my Grade 11 students Math B30 exams on probability, and had some rather ridiculous responses (amazing alliteration, agreed?) to the question "Explain the difference between dependent and independent events, using sentences".

The person that I'm marking right now wrote:
Dependent evens depend on another even.
Independent evens do not depend on one another.

Nice.

Here's a photo of Saffron hiding - so all those internet perverts don't want it.

CBC Sports Saturday

Oh yeah, I forgot that Terry does all the equestrian stuff. That got me thinking about CBC Sports Saturday. I watched Sports Saturday religiously as a kid growing up. It didn't matter what sport was on (even bowling or equestrian show jumping) I watched it to the end. That was my Saturday afternoon for so many years. Because of it I became quite versed in the finer points of all sports. I know all the rules, the strategies, who was hot and who was not. I could name and recognize the top contenders for any international competition and sport (Olympics, Commonwealth Games, World Cup circuit, you name it). In fact, I still recognize a lot of the names in sport from those days. I kinda miss having the free time to watch CBC Sports Saturday.

J

FYI

Terry... yes she is a bit of an odd one. But I have seen her doing horse jumping and swimming and sking and sometimes curling. Although now joan mcusker is doing it and shes great. So yeah I have wondered where she has been.
M.

Crazy Terry

So, does anyone else wonder what the CBC does with Terry Leibel in between the Olympic games? Do they put her away in cryogenic storage somewhere, and thaw her out for the next Olympics? I mean, you never see her any other time, and she never seems to age. Something's fishy.

J

Mennonite Pride

I just got home from youth, turned on the TV to the Olympics, and caught the tail end of an interview with Cindy Klassen, shortly after winning her gold medal today (the fourth of the Olympics - a new Canadian record in summer or winter!). Cindy Klassen is an unashamed Christian and wears her Mennonite heritage with pride. In the interview she was unafraid of expressing genuine thanks to God and to her roots, and solidarity with her "Mennonite Brethren". And CBC was very willing to recognize her faith and its importance to her. Unusual for a Canadian to be unabashed about their faith, and for the CBC to give airtime to it. Refreshing. And Cindy may not be done yet! She has one more race and a chance to do something no one in the world has ever done - be the first female skater to win 5 medals in one Olympics. Go Canada, and Go Mennonites!

J

Hey Kevin

I'll score your draft!

J

Music, God, and Worship

Last Wednesday I had an excellent time of discussion in the youth Bible studies surrounding the idea of music, God, and worship. We started out with a discussion on the popularity and importance of music in our lives/culture, and then everyone had a chance to play a song for the group to listen to and explain why it was meaningful to them. (If you're wondering what song I chose it was U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - see my previous blog on "Songs that have been meaningful in my life" if you want to know why I chose that particular song.) It was a fantastic night, one which gave some great insights into the minds/lives of the youth that shared a song.

Part way through our opening discussion, I posed the question: "Do you think there is such a thing as "Christian" music?" If so, I asked them to define it. I let them throw around their ideas and opinions, which were often well thought out, and then I gave them my view on the subject. Here is what I think of that question:

This is a bit of a hobby horse for, really the idea of anything in mainstream culture being labeled "Christian" (ie. books, music, movies, etc.). I don't believe that we can label any music "Christian". Here is why:

1. First of all, what makes something "Christian" (in other words, how do we deside what to assign that label to)? Basically it is if "Christians" make it/produce it/perform it, and/or it has explicit references to God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, etc. in it. Does that automatically make it "Christian"? Does that make it morally better than all other music? By placing the label "Christian" in front of it, we are saying that Christ endorses this, and that he endorses it above all other music. It is Christ's music. Do we really believe God endorses one person's creation and expression over another's just because it has these certain characteristics? On the other side, I feel that some of the music labelled "Christian" isn't, whether it invokes the name of God/Christ or not. Sometimes it is not fully truthful, and just plain false at other times. How can anyone claim that Christ is a part of that? Care must be taken not to disrespect the name of Christ by labelling it "Christian".
2. This means that no music created by the great classic composers (Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Handel) would have much merit under this classification. This music was not made by Christians (well, some of them were), nor does it have any references to God (or anything else) within it to let us know where the composer stands on spiritual matters. And yet this music is glorious, and are some of the best musical creations that we know of. How is it that God doesn't endorse this music?
3. O believe that God enjoys all creative acts that are authentic, truthful, and that add something positive to the hearer/viewer/reader (new thoughts, new experiences, challenging ways of thinking and worldviews, lifting spirits, make you laugh, help you express pain and struggle, etc.). God is Truth (Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life), and He seeks Truth and appreciates Truth in any form of expression. There is a whole lot of Truth in music all around us (sometimes I feel there is a whole lot more Truth in "secular" music than in "Christian" music), and that needs to be recognized, appreciated and celebrated. I believe God does. God is in that Truth (if Christ is Truth, than all things that are Truth must be a part of Him) - how can that not be defined as "Christian"? To illustrated my point I used the song "Raven" by the Dave Matthews Band. This song is full of Truth about the gift of the created world given to us by God and our responsibility (and failure of that responsibility) to take care of it and protect it. This song is neither written by Christians nor explicity is about God, yet it is an incredibly Truthful song with a message that inspires and convicts. How dare we say that God is not a part of that, or that it is any less than music by Michael W. Smith, the Newsboys or Audio Adrenaline?
4. God shows up in music all the time when I'm listening to it. And I don't listen to much "Christian" music (basically none). Music that I listen to turns my thoughts toward God, makes me think of life, the pain, the joy, the struggle, love, relationship, creation. I find myself continually listening to music with God, and he speaks to me through it. It helps me express my own thoughts, feelings, emotions, questions, and ideas to God. This is communion with God - this is worship. If Christ is not a part of that, then I don't know what is.
5. I believe very strongly that God wants us to redeem music (and books, and movies, and other art): To look for Truth and goodness in it, and affirm it and call it out. God wants us to partner with him in redeeming the world, and this is part of how we do that.

Closing thoughts: Maybe we should have a "music night" where we get together and share songs with one another. I think it would be fun and uplifting. And along the topic of music influencing our lives, we must get together and watch the movie High Fidelity. It is a fantastic.

J

Crash

Last night I watched the critically acclaimed movie Crash. This movie is up for a number of Oscars this year, including "Best Picture". Don Cheadle stars in it, along with a number of other great performances by lesser-knowns (Sandra Bullock also has a role - which made me wonder "Where has Sandra Bullock gone lately?"). Once again my belief that any movie Don Cheadle is involved in (Ocean's Eleven, Hotel Rwanda) will be excellent was proven correct.

This movie deals with racism and how we are forced to interact with each other, even if we don't intend to or want to. But as the movie suggests, maybe we so desperately crave connection that we will "Crash" into one another, if it's the only kind of connection that we can get. I can see why this movie was nominated for various Oscars (fantastic directing and acting, deals with a powerful subject head on and in a convincing and engaging way), but I am having a hard time thinking that it is a great movie. I know that it is an attempt to portray real life, but I still felt like I needed some more closure on some of the various story lines. Also, the style of the story telling is old hat - it is in the same vein as movies like Magnolia, 13 Conversations About One Thing to name a few (both of which are excellent movies). It starts out with seemingly unrelated people in seemingly unrelated situations, and they converge with each other in the end. The style has been done, and you can see things coming from way off. I hate when I can see things coming from way off. It ruins the movie/story experience for me because I have "figured it out".

Anyway, I would still recommend it as it is a wonderfully real portrayal of people and life, and how we truly need each other, even if we don't want to believe that.

J

Snappy comeback

I'll draft you.



Score!

Why kevin's post appeared in the wrong spot

Kevin I think you saved your post as a draft, then came back to it and finished it a couple of days later. But Blogger published your post on the DRAFT date. To avoid that, next time start a new post and cut and paste the draft post onto the new one.

Good day at work

I didn't want to go to work today but as it turn out it was a pretty good day for a Monday. All my appointments cancelled, this was a good thing today. I had so much 'stuff' to do and no tme to get it done. I hate being behind on paper work and having our back office send me nasty letters saying I need to send 'stuff' in. So i got that done and then I went and watched the Womens hockey game. I watched the entire first and third periods. I watched with my boss to boot, so not like I was sneaking away to do it. Its getting better. Its now 4:30 and I'm going to publish this post and turn off the computer, go to the van and drive home!!
See you later,
Kevins Girl

Crazy things kids write - volume IV

Crazy Things Kids Write - Volume IV.

How did the Renaissance man’s attitude toward life differ from medieval man’s?
- Renaissance man differed from Medieval man was the Renaissance said they were a sharp break with the ignorance and superstition of the middle ages…


Here’s one that helps explain why general opinion is that Christians are closed-minded and unintelligent:
Many Renaissance artists boasted of their talent and ability. What should be the Christian’s attitude toward his talents and abilities? What does the Bible say about this in II Corinthians 10:12 – 18?
- God’s word says we are supposed to be Christianly in every thing we do.


“The printing press was the most important invention of the Renaissance period.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
- [This one is for little chicken liver] I agree that the print press was the most important invention. This is because it allowed Western Culture to develop.
- I agree because it helped out with cost of books and it made things easyer with art all you can do is look at it which isn’t very helpful.
- I agree because without that other innovation certains ones made during the renaissance wouldn’t probably had happened. It made things easier to mass reduce and it was a stop in the direction of positive innovations of the renaissance period. And I also think that they achieved something they would have liked, they became somewhat like the Romans, because the romans were also coming up with new inventions, so they sort of achieved part of their goal to model their lives after the romans (and greeks).

In what ways did Northen European huimanists differ from the humanists in Italy?
- They spoke with a different accent. They had different relatives and beliefs.

Look down

I just spent some time blogging, and for some reason it showed up 3 spots below. Have a look.

Original Sin

So one of my coworkers sits down at coffee yesterday and asks: " Do you believe that we are born into sin and need to be reborn?". You know how we're supposed to have an answer for everything? I didn't. I know you guys already think I'm a heretic, so I'm going to process out loud again. I think the reason the question caught me off guard because of the first part, because I do believe we need to be reborn. And, of course, we need to be reborn from something dead, right? I guess so, but it sounds so decisive and I think God is more gracious than basing one's destiny on being 49% on the way to being reborn, but if you're not there 52% you're out. I guess what I mean is that our definition of reborn tends to mean a decision followed by prayer and baptism, and a change in life, whereas I'm wondering if God's definition is a little more undefinable, or unquantafiable. As for being born into sin, the problem I have there is those who have no or little chance to be reborn: the miscarried, those who die young or those who have never had a good opportunity to meet God. I know creation gives them no excuse, but that seems a little harsh, you know? The other issue is perhaps that we are created in the image of God, which doesn't include sin, but are we born in the image of God. and do we need to commit a personal sin to be a sinner, or can we be condemned because of societal sin and eventual sin?
In case you're wondering, I sat like a mute while a nurse beside me recited the doctrine of original sin, rebirth, justification and union with Christ. I'm hoping to raise the conversation again today, so please join me in asking God to help me give her truth.

Thanks,
N

A Short History of Nearly Everything

I recently finished reading the book A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. A simply fantastic book. Best book that I read in 2005. It is a very broad, but surprisingly informative look at the history of science: origins of the universe, chemistry, physics, geology, quantum physics, archeology, biology, paleontogoly, you name it, it's probably in there. Bill Bryson is a very engaging writer, and some of the best parts of the book are his little insights into the quirky and fanatical personalities behind the great minds of science. Plus, you'll learn how there are numerous ways we could die tomorrow and never even know it.

Bryson closes the book with some very poignant thoughts about the brevity and delicacy of life. He sees that humans (however we came to attain this level of consciousness) have an incredible responsibility to the rest of life and this planet, and we have done a pretty poor job of it so far. Here are two quotes that I really enjoyed:

If you were designing an organism to look after life in our lonely cosmos, to monitor where it is going and keep a record of where it has been, you wouldn't choose human beings for the job. But here's an extremely salient point: we have been chosen, by fate or Providence or whatever you wish to call it. As far as we can tell, we are the best there is. We may be all there is. It's an unnerving thought that we may be the living universe's supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously.

If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here - and by "we" I mean every living thing. To attain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement. As humans we are doubly lucky, of course: We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better. It is a talent we have only barely begun to grasp.

J

A Day I'll not forget

I've decided to run a series of bloggs about days that seem like they happened yesterday. Days that the colours were brighter, and everything seemed more real than the others. When I think of them or tell them, I can almost see and smell the sights as though they were happening again. Does anyone else have these neo-hallucitory experiences or is it just me who's crazy?

With the Olympics being on it reminds me of a day I spent in Calgary. As a 19 year old I was recruited to push a bobsled for a rich Bobsled Driver (you have to be rich to bobsled, thankfully he always covered my costs). We slept at the park dormitory and I woke up to the sound of thunder in the morning, which was in fact the sounds of the bobsled. It doesn't matter what sport you're in, but sometimes you hear the sounds of the game, and your whole body is called to attention. Nostrils flare, muscles stand to attention, and time slows down a little. That was the morning.

I had breakfast with the Jamaican bobsled team which was very novel considering the movie "Cool Runnings" had just come out. Let me tell you, these athletes were nothing like they were in the movie. Not ironically, they looked like 4 Jamaicans rejected from the national track team, stuck in Canada for the winter.

I went down the hill with my driver (darren) for his first time all the way from the top. For those of you who don't know, it would be suicide to just go from the top the first time you drive. It takes years of practice, in Darren's case 3. Still, you have a 50% chance of overturning your sled the first time from the top. If you crash, you will not walk away without some kind of injury. When you practice you have to wear 100% cotton because polyester, and other materials will melt to your skin from the friction of a 450 lb sled traveling on top of you at 120km/hour.

We made it down 3 times, everytime exhilarating. Once we went a little high on a turn and made some sparks ( steel runners on cement ) but that was it. After that this guy from San Francisco (I recognized him later on Cool runnings-he got a little face time on the movie) asked me if I would go with him a few times. This guy had a very fast sled and I reached a personal best 137km/hour on the sled and produced 5 g's on the 270 degree turn after the straightaway. The fifth time down I was so tired I couldn't breath all the way around the turn. I also got my first, and probably last look at my own ass without a mirror as my head got pushed down between my knees and beyond from the pressure.

Afterwards he tryed to recruit me to push for him, but I said no almost exclusively for the reason that he was a jackass. I really should have given it a second thought.

After that was done I helped out with the movie "naked gun 33 1/3" I pushed down a sled that appeared for about 3 seconds on the movie. You know, the part where the vehicle emergency light is on and they go through a whole bunch of different places on their way to a crime scene. I didn't show up in the credits or anything, but I've just begun litigation for the royalties I'm owed.

Afterwards, we went out for supper with Darren's old chum, a DJ for the BEAR radio in Edmonton, a bit of a big wig it turned out. He brought these two Australian women so it appeared I was a fifth wheel. To make things more uncomfortable, we went to a very fancy restaurant. I had not been to anything like this as a 20 year old and I was feeling everybit the Mennonite farm boy. I ordered this appetizer dish that I didn't even know what it was. I got this plate full of these black clams (mussels of course) and I just sat there looking at it because I didn't know how to eat it. One of the Australians had mercy on me and showed me what to do.

All the while the sixth game of the world series was on. Every now and again I would ask the bartender (he had a small tv tucked under the bar) what the score was. As the game continued on into the late innings I became more and more annoyed with my companions who didn't seem to care at all about the most exciting sports event since the rider's won the grey cup in '89.

When I asked the bartender what was going on he told me it was the bottom of the ninth, Ricky Henderson was on first, one out and the score was tied. My feelings of insuperiority vanished and I stood up and announced to the table that I needed to get to a TV immediately because Toronto was about to win the World Series. To my surprise, and I think theirs, everyone jumped up threw money on the table and followed me outside. We walked over to Melrose place on 17th Ave. As I walked in, I looked over a guys shoulder, and looked up in time to see Joe Carter hit a home run and win the world series. The city went electric.

In the celebration I met a girl from back home whom I hadn't seen in several years. Actually, she was THE girl, you know, every school has one. In high school I do not believe the thought would have crossed her mind, but she offered me her number very enthusiastically so we could "go out sometime". The experience was very gratifying, but no, I never called her.

It was hard to fall asleep that night.

Random interesting sites

One of the fun things I get to do with my computer science kids at school is show them a cool new website/web service every now and again. For no particular reason, other than the fact that everyone seemed to enjoy it when I shared the Pandora site, here are a couple of neat (and free!) sites:

1. Springdoo -- allows you to send "voice email" instead of text email. All the hard work is done by their site, so it's outrageously easy to send a voice message to someone. I'm sure this type of service will continue to develop, but it's a pretty cool idea.

2. Ma.gnolia -- a really nifty new social bookmarking service. If social bookmarking is new to you, think of being able to access your favorites (bookmarks) from any computer. That's just the beginning. Then imagine being able to join a group, say of people interested in "gardening" or whatever, and being notified whenever someone in that group finds a cool new site/resource related to gardening. Add to the mix the fact that any website you bookmark will automatically be saved to your profile, so that even if the site goes down (ie. off the web for some reason or another), you still have a copy of it. Pretty nifty stuff.

Just some random stuff. Hope someone finds a use for it.

Keep or Toss

Last weekend I was in saskatoon and finally got around to going through some old things of mine that have been taking up space in the garage (dad couldn't park in there). Why dad didn't just pitch most of it in the first place I don't know but it sure was interesting going through it. I brought home a Easy bake oven, still in the original box, with original cake mixes. Guess I was saving them for a special occasion. A light bright, with pegs. Didn't have any sheets left but I think you can purchase them still. I brought home two doll houses and furniture - one Barbie, one not. I found my Strawberry short cake - still smells like berries. When I showed Micah she was thrilled. "Oh mommy - a Short Cake!!!. thanxs you, thanxs you!!!" I also showed my niece, Sydney, she couldn't believe that it was once mine, I mean how could they have had cool things back in theses days!. For those outside of the loop, strawberry short cake and my little ponies are Big, Again.
I got some other non-toy related items as well. An old churn and crock, but I left the crock cause the van ran out of room!. Some books, some items from my great anties. My great Aunt Molly traveled the world. She never got married and had her master's in Education. She spoke 4 languages. She's my 'favorite'.
Some of the things that Ithrew out included, my school binders from elementry school, hundred of notes from friends, erasers (I had a collection), perfume (it was given to me by my great aunt Molly, I think Iwas about 5).
M

This is me playing the banjo

The other guy's name ... I forget, but he taught me a couple of chords to play while he picked stuff. I can't even remember what state this is, but we're somewhere between North Carolina and Regina.

J pees

That's not a golf club he's holding.

definition

Definition of Extinction: the death of birth.

Modern day Parable

I'd asked bunruh once about where all the modern day parables were. In the Biblical sense - the short, poingnant story designed to be easily understandable for someone in the culture of the time, which teaches a spiritual lesson of some sort.

I'm still looking for a book or a website that does that. But it's been suggested that movies (and other entertainment media) fill that void for our current culture. Probably true. But I wish someone would compile a bunch of short ones.

Anyway, the LP roported on a show at the U of R called The Good Person of Szechwan, and called it a "modern parable". If anyone goes to see it, tell me about it.

Crazy things kids write volume 3

Late Slips: Reason for lateness:
- It was cold
- Don’t know
- Playing in puddles
- In Saskatoon
- Eating cookies
- Running too slow
- Button Broke off
- Attacked by gun-toting aliens
- Just late
- I’m a loser
- Getting golf clubs

Who is called the “Father of Humanism” because he led the way in reviving interest and study in classical literature?
- Francesco Petrarch was him.

What new course of study became popular in Europe during the Renaissance and what disciplines were included in this course of study?

- The new course that is became popular Europe durning the Renaissance is Humanies. Science, history, for doctors and lawaryers.

Blessings

I really enjoyed reading Bono's speech at the prayer breakfast and know that I will have to read it again. One thing that really stuck out to me was the idea of God's blessing. Bono shared that he often would ask God to bless what he was doing until an old friend flipped that idea on him. He suggested that instead of asking God to bless what we are doing we need to find out where God is working because that is already blessed. God has been speaking to my heart about this and again in my quiet time this morning this thought reappeared. When the people decided to build the tower of Babel they did this so that their name would be great, and in the end they received no blessing. Then one chapter later in Genesis you read the story of Abraham who took a journey of faith and obedience and was blessed beyond measure. It made me think about the path that I want to choose. "Efforts focused on building ourselves will profit little, but energy focused on deepening our relationship with God will produce lasting results." How have I been wasting my time pursing things in my life that are only of personal interest to me and then asking God to bless this? And how have I been meeting God where He is working and blessing things already? This is a constant thought process that I go through as I seek to be most effective in this life that has been given to me.

Bono's Speech at the National Prayer Breakfast

While Naomi and I were going to play hockey today at the rink by the Unruh's, we were listening to CBC, and heard the last bit of a speech that Bono gave at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. It was one of the most compelling addresses that I've ever heard. Both Naomi and I said to each other afterwards that his speech had more impact on us than the entire church service that morning. I won't attempt to give a run-down of what Bono says, as I simply can't do it justice (ha ha). Anyhow, you really need to check it out. Here's a link to a page that has an video and mp3 of his speech, as well as a transcript of it if you prefer to read:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/bononationalprayerbreakfast.htm

Evidence of My Geekery

Well, I was showing this to Jason earlier, so I thought perhaps I should share it with the group. Here's a link to the latest WotD (Word of the Day) quiz for the past week. Don't hate me 'cause I'm geekier than you.

borderline schizophrenia

Bunruh,

I read that article and noticed that line. I don't remember if I saw it at the time, but at the moment, I'm not sure just what the schizophrenia refers to. What is the school torn between ... mission and isolation? That must be it. Certainly there something about "our private schools" that's loathable.

ALSO, for anyone interested ...

According to Wikipedia, the UN has consistently reduced it's world population projections over the last 10 years DOWN from 10 million. At present, it is believed that population will "stabilize" at 9.1 billion in 2050.
Thats another 3 billion. Hard to imagine people saying that's not enough.

This One's For You Roscoe

In a recent MB Herald article entitled Cofessions of a Perfetct Christian, (in which the author rambled on and on about the imperfections of the church to the point that he negated his point), he had one line that I loved. He was talking about the things that get in the way of him loving the church that he so wants to love and one of those things he listed was:

the borderline schizophrenia of our private schools

I laughed out loud. Reminds me of a school I know.

J

Snappy Comeback

Roscoe, I'll dib you!

Dear N

I call dibs on borrowing your book when you're done.

Heathen Schellenbergs

Oh My...... Perhaps your bible school should contact Tommy Nelson. Obviously the husbands in question are not 'letting' there wives have children, likly for fear that they will plump up like a ball park frank. Perhaps some chastising from God will improve the situation, I mean we wouldn't want any christian man exurting his rights when god is capable of punishment himself. In any case we must devote ourselves to pray for Dan and Naomi, the entire existance of christianity is on there shoulders cause they not only have to have the 8 - 11 children of there own, but they will have to make up for the short fall in the other house holds as well. Oh my.....
In response to your thoughts on hell. I think if you have 8 - 11 children you would pretty much be living there daily so you would realy hope that Gods grace is bigger than any condemnation.
But seriously, I'm not so sure that we shouldn't be slightly frightened about the prospect of spending eternity in 'hell' what ever or where ever that might be. Shouldn't there be a flip side to the after life? Don't get me wrong I don't think that there is a pit full of molten lava and flames and a little guy with a pitch fork and pointy tail. I do think that there must be a "place" or "state" that isn't good. I don't know..........
Good topic to start the day....
Well better get to work.
M

Good Morning

So, here I am. This is a great idea Marnie- thanks for setting it up. My thought of the week has revolved around hell. I don't think any of us actually believe in Eternal Conscious Torment when it comes right down to it, but some would think we're supposed to. What's the point of evangelism if we're not trying to save souls from Hell, and really, why should we bother being good if we're not afraid of, in the end, actually going to Hell?? What actually defines salvation, what are we saved from if it isn't just ECT? These are not really original thoughts; I got the third McLaren book for Christmas and this is the topic. What he says is that grace is bigger than Hell and that God is incongruent if he is bound by a justice higher than Himself which forces people to Hell when they haven't said the right prayer or attended the right evangelical church. He is also incongruent if grace is actually limited by our weakness. Instead, perhaps it is "Salvation by grace; Justification by works"..... and so on. This is definitely a social and environmental gospel that actually works toward justice and wholeness worldwide where grace is always the last word.

So I lied, there is another thought: I recieved a little newsletter from my Bible School last week and according to what the president wrote, Dan and I are in deep trouble. We have been bound by cultural expectations and financial restrictions, not following what God is obviously calling us to, by not having children yet. Do you know that Canada today is not following God's command to go forth and multiply- the only reason our nation's population is not declining is due to immigration. Plus, most Christians are born and raised in Christian homes- if Christians are not having children (the way God desires of us) then who are our next generations of Christians going to be???? At least most of you are trying, but even two isn't enough. The poster families have 8 and 11 children.

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Can View Page.

Thought I would try again and looks like I just needed to wait a few hours!!??
Roscoe - tried your tip about the printer being on to upload my pics from the camera to the computer and that worked. Odd. So as a reward here is a picture. LCL - Sorry I have been referring to you as Chicken little rather than Little Chicken Liver, which is no doubt, considering the photo.
Kevins Girl

Can't view page

Well I don't know if this is my problem or what, but I can't see the page. A message keeps coming up saying that the page I'm trying to reach is unavailable. Hummm. Not sure what the gig is about? I can still do all of this so I'm really confused.
Here is my list of jobs in order:
1. Babysitter @ Forest Grove Church Tuesdays and Thursdays for an aerobics group. Paid very well about 20/hr. The best part was I was with my friends and it was more money than I knew what to do with. Loved it, did it till I graduated.
2. Taught caneoing and Mountain Climbing at Columbia Bile Camp in BC. I had soooo much fun. I also was a camp counselor. I always got a 'look' when I said I was from Saskatchewan and was there teaching climbing. Best time. Meet my great friend Cindy the second year I was there. The camp is now called something else I can't remember.
3. Cook at Earls. Hated it. It was hot, greasy and had my first encounter with drugs. Let me rephrase that, I first became aware that there were drugs. I later realized that I was inadvertently was a drug runner. Some guy came to the back door and asked me to give a piece of paper to some one. There was nothing on the paper. Some time pasted before I realized it was acid.
4.Customer service person at Eatons. I sometimes think I single handedly caused the destruction of Eatons. I always told customers that they could get an item cheaper at Sears or some where else if they could. I can't help it if I was so customer focused that I lost focus of the fact that the store needed to turn a profit. It was a great gig threw unni and paid way better than minimum wage. I was laid off in Jan of 98. I was very bitter. They gave me a serverance package that paid me till May. That was great. It was based on my last months hours, which was December (Christmas hours) so I was working all the time. I got paid more in the package than I normally would have if they had me on the schedule till May!
5. Summer Camp coordinator with athletes in Action. Sounds cool but was really an exercise in hitting my head against the wall. I hated raising funds for the organization and Iasn't going to see a dime of it. This experience made me never want to work for a christain organization again. The positive thing was it introduced me to some cool kids from Parliament Church. I thought, if these kids are alright, then the church mustn't be so bad either. The rest is history.
6. Director at Katepwa Baptist Camp. This would have been way more fun if
I wasn't also getting married at the end of the summer. Its hard to plan a wedding while your out of town. I put kev in charge of one thing - to rent a limo. We ended up borrowing Larrys mini van. Camp was a blast. I loved being with the kids and staff and at the lake all year. A really great Board of director's too. I can't really say I was working for a Christian organization cause I wan't getting paid. I was doing my internship for my degree. Unlike other faculties where you can earn a living during your internship, PAS wanted to prepare you for the real world where your degree wouldn't make you a dime.
7. Regina Housing Authority.
I don't remember my title. I was doing a 6 month mat leave cover. I liked the old guys I dealt with, always had something to say. Mainly to complain about, but it was a good job. We were able to buy our first house cause I was working there.
8. Babysitting My nephew.
9. Sask Broomball Association
To tell you the truth I have no idea what was doing there but I tried to stay busy for the 4 months I was there. I just wanted a job so I could reapply for EI at the end of it, which I didn't do by the by. Alos my only experience with sexual harassment.
10. Employment Network. Started my career thanks to them. 3 years as a 'temp' working at RBC. See Next.
11. RBC. The best job I have ever had. The best boss I have ever had. The most I have ever learned about my self, work ethic and finding a place to call your own.
12. CIBC. My own office, My name on the door, business cards, the ability to sink some ones life savings into a shitty stock at the push of a button. Ironicaly I don't qualify for a few of my own lending products cause my yearly income is too low, but yeah, who am I to complain. Not sure how I got here, but I am.
Kevins Girl

Courier vs Driver photos

Maybe you've seen this. Check the photos at www.citynoise.org of the fight that ensues between these two when the driver throws garbage out of his window, and the bike courier picks the garbage up and throws it back into the car.

The newspaper picked up and published the photos without permission.

Some other neat photos on the site also.