A New Year's Poem

T'was the night before New Year's In the Lower Mainland
I'm sitting here listening To David Crowder Band

With friends I love dearly And some I just met
On New Year's from my wife A kiss I'm gonna get

I had a great holiday From here to up North
The best trip yet From here and henceforth

Lot's of Skidooing And lots of my fam
Lot's of roast turkey Potatoes and ham

So as I end yet another 365 days
To the Lord up above I give much praise

For a wife who is wonderful For family and health
And, when measured against the rest of the world Incredible wealth

A city to serve in A calling to fulfill
And peace everlasting In the turmoil still

So for 2007 I hope you see pass
Everything you pray for And love that will last

A Christmas Poem

T'was the night before Christmas
And all over my blog
I'm sitting her with
A cup of Egg Nog

Thinking of all of you
Home with your kin
Knowing your Christmas
Is soon to begin

I'm up in Alberta
With Wanda my wife
Where people live
A very different life

-10 is balmy
Snow is accepted
A blizzard is just life
Not ever rejected

And by the next picture
You'll be able to
See that transport includes
Snowmobiles too

But this is the place where
Wanda's family has roots
Even if you can go outside
Without Sorel boots

We'll be soon of to Kamloops
To see all my klan
Stay for a few days
At least that's the plan

Then off to the coast
For a New Year's Eve party
With Nick, Ben, Leanne
Robin and Darcy

And I hear that a few
Other people are coming
That we don't see to often
Won't that be something

So as I sign off tonight
I just want to say
How all of my blog friends
Brighten my day

To Postal and DMac
You guys let me vent
And if I want a good laugh
I go over to Two Cent

Carson & Simone
Always interesting stuff
Kempner and Dehoog
They don't write no fluff

So I bid you adieu
With this poem of letters
I got to go upstairs
And play me some Settlers

The Human Race Has Hit A New Low

Here

I gotta go throw up.

When Bloggers Babysit For Bloggers - Next Time On Jerry Springer

Well we had quite a week actually it was 11 sleeps.

We took care of Gabriel & Grace, who are the children of the C & D Block, whilst C & D were away on plusiness (pleasure/business).

Lots of you know about our journey towards adoption. Having an extended period of time to give care to a 5 year old and a 20 month old taught me some very interesting lessons. Here's what I learned:

1. Thank God for cereal!!!! Only 1 dish dirty per child and they love it. Whoever invented cereal... THANK YOU!!

2. Children who are loved, are lovely children. In 11 days, these kids NEVER cried for Mom and Dad and always were polite with us. I mean the 20 month old was a little terror sometimes but nothing we couldn't handle. Gabriel was AWESOME!!! I think they have been loved well. I mean at their age, you'd think they'd be asking for candy all of the time. Their favorite snack is apples.....APPLES!!

3. I'm very selfish. I couldn't believe how many times I had to catch myself reacting emotionally rather than thinking, "What's best for the child". I really feel like I learned to give more of myself.

4. I love them. I know I'm not their parent, but I feel like I learned how to be one. I feel like I learned how to love someone differently.

5. I miss them. I slept 'till 8:15 this morning. That wasn't happening last week. Children are a real blessing and I understand that more now than I ever EVER have.

6. I can't wait..........

The Bible Either Sounds Like A Tolkien Book or A Metallica Song To Someone Who Has Never Set Foot In A Church Before.

Hope you all can take time to read this article.

If you're a lady, stick through the sports analogy, the article is worth reading!!!

ps - I had this picture as a poster in my bedroom when I was 14 or 15.

The Truth

You may have heard by now, and I'm ashamed that I didn't say anything sooner but I need to set the record straight about something really important in my life.

I'm drinking tea...... and I LIKE it.

You see, when you do something as a job you often lose the joy of this endeavor. You become a drinker only for the purpose of determining if your customers are enjoying a consistently great tasting cup rather than for your own enjoyment.

I've lost the wonder of espresso :(

I've become so obsessed with creating the perfect espresso shot and the best latte art that I've completely abandoned the joy of the bean. Which leads me to my new love..... Yeah I said love! Deal with it.

Peppermint Tea. I really like it. I feel like I'm drinking a good drink and chewing a stick of Extra gum all at the same time. Sometimes (make sure there are no children in the room) I even put 2 tea bags in one cup.

But what of espresso? Shall it be my Ex forever? Not forever but for the forseeable future. I did have an Americano just this morning made by a fantastic barista and it was very good but I found myself wanting the cool tingle of peppermint rolling over my gums instead of the "dark chocolate" bitterness of espresso crema.

This all has got me to thinking about the way I treat the Word of God. Do I lose the wonder of it because I'm "in the business"? When was the last time I partook in the Word of God for me (like, really) and not to pass it on to someone else? Because those 2 things ARE different.

Anyway, now you know the truth straight from the horses (which eat grass) mouth.

Everything You've Ever Needed To Know About Blogs

Here I'm going to attempt to shamelessly pigeon hole every blog in the world:

Mommy Blogs
These are big. They generally are run by (you guessed it) moms and consist of tales from the playground or the last family outing. A good example of a mommy blog is here or here.

Mommy Blogs Plus
Similar to the mommy blog but usually run by a mom who should have been a standup comedian or Jim Carey impersonator. Personality reigns supreme in these blogs. Here is a good example of Mommy Blog Plus.

Musings On Life
These are people who are just giving their opinion on life or telling a story of something challenging or interesting in their day. They don't make any major claims on life but you feel like you're seeing into their life in their blog. This blog and this one are good examples of this.

Chick Blog
This is nasty territory. It's like Beaches, a box of Kleenex, an episode of Dr. Phil and Oprah plus a day at the mall all rolled into one. These are blogs that have the sole purpose of making people cry. I know some blogs that venture into the chick blog realm but have only ever truely been to one chick blog and here it is.

Family Blogs
These are blogs that start out as family websites (usually run by the guy) and quickly degenrate into Mommy or Chick Blogs because the guy doesn't follow through on keeping up with the blog. Here is are a couple of classic family blogs.

The Theology Blog
This is usually an "inside joke" type of blog in that it's a closed group of people that comment. Sometimes these blogs receive no comments at all. Which is generally OK because theologians usually don't like to be disagreed with. I won't list a link to a Theology Blog in fear that I might tick that theologian off.

Honest Dialogue Blog
Or the "HDB" for short. These are usually blogs that bring up good questions and let people "have at 'er". The joy is not in the answer in these blogs but rather, "What's the next question we should be asking?" This blog attempts to be an HDB from time to time but the best one I visit is this one.

Special Interest Blogs
These are blogs devoted to small niche topics like sports or cafe reviews or restaurant reviews or faith and politics.

This really should be a Wikipedia article or a Webster's definition because it's so exhaustive.
Anyway, if I've incorrectly labeled any of you, or if you know of some blogs that fit into any of these categories, I'd love to know.

Did I set a record for the most hyperlinks in a post?

Wet

It's very wet today. Hmmm, it was very wet last week this time as well.

The rain does some really good things, don't get me wrong. It gives our city a really good cleaning when it needs it. It also helps get rid of the dried pee smell that permeates downtown when it's dry for too long.

What I DON'T like is I can't walk around downtown as much, which is my favorite thing about living down here.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend wherever you are.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Coffee + the 80's = Funaaay!!!

Adoption Update #3

Well I just got back from the Adoption Agency and we have officially done all the paper work for our adoption. We've finished the homestudy (with the social worker) and done all the other paper work that China needs. Next steps are sending everything to Victoria to be approved and then off to be translated into Mandarin and then off to China. The next time I update you on our adoption journey will be to tell you that we are officially in the "lineup" in China and just waiting for the next available baby.

So we're still looking at 12-13 months from now until we travel to China but all of our paperwork is done. It's just a waiting game from here on in.

Wanda's gone to her mom's for a week for another "Scrapbook Bender" as I call it So I'm batching it for a few days. Looking forward to a visit from my friend Phil. Love you all.

So Late October

Remember how I said brown is the new black? Well it turns out that light purple is the new brown.

HELP!!! I'M ADDICTED TO BLOG TEMPLATES!!!

New Look

Being the fasionable guy that I am, added to the fact that "brown is the new black", I've updated ny blog look. What do you think??

Just Being Straight With You

If you come to Vancouver and come to downtown..... and DON'T call us, I'm seriously questioning your walk with God. I mean, let us show you around, let's go for a coffee, and ESPECIALLY if you're going to a game or concert, DON'T PAY FOR PARKING!!! My visitor parking is free and it's closer to the stadiums than most of the pay parking. If you're gonna pay $20 for parking, THAT'S SILLY!!! Come on!!!!


p.s. - you know who you are!!!

Time Out

** IMPORTANT NOTE - This Post Is For Christians Mainly**

You know how in church how they teach us that tithing is something we should do even if we can't afford it and that if we do, God will bless and take care of the rest?

Why don't we teach evangelism the same way? It's every bit the biblical imperative that giving is. What if everyone of us MADE time to spend with people who don't know Jesus?

I've heard a lot of people lately vent frustration about not knowing any unchurched people or people who aren't a part of their church. What if we just cancelled something in our church sched and got in to our community? What would happen? Would God forsake us and our lives fall apart if we spent time with people in our community? I doubt it. But what do YOU think???

The Beard Is Back

(If you choose to sing it, sing it in Db, the saddest of all sad keys)


One morning I arose
And thought, "No need to shave"
Much to my wife's chagrin
This way I would behave


And a mere 2 weeks later
Look what's on my face
It's a full on scruffy beard
Instead of a baby face


I hard to put into words
The way a beard makes me feel
More manly, more animal, more wild
Like I'm made of steel


But alas it won't last long
Maybe 'till December
These things are itchy as heck
Much more than I'd remembered

Turkey Recap

Well we had a great weekend in Kamloops. Hung out with family and friends and had lots of great turkey. Came back on Monday and had ANOTHER turkey with our Delta Church staff. So we had lots of turkey.

I hope your weekend made you more thankful, for your family and friends and the many blessings God has given us.

A NEW Blog!!

I've started a new blog. It's www.vancouver-cafe-reviews.blogspot.com. Basically I figured since I go to so many cafes and drink so much coffee, I should begin reviewing these cafes. I'll put a link in my links section as well.

Finding Family In A Greek Restaurant

So last night we had the WIERDest experience. There is this great couple upstairs, Greg & Gillian. We've been getting to know them this year by going out to dinner at various ethnic restaurants, Thai in February, Indian in May, Japanese in August and Greek last night (Mexican in November is the plan).

Somehow we got on the topic of Mennonites. Greg pipes up and mentions that he' s got Mennonite heritage (I hadn't already realized this because we do all our correspondence through Gillian, who uses here maiden name still). So I ask him his last name and he tells me. And then I say "Wanda's mom has an uncle with the same last name". IT'S THE SAME GUY!! Wanda and him are related on different sides of the family. Then it turns out that Greg's brother married Wanda's mom's cousin. So there's actually 2 family connections. Wanda has stayed at Greg's brother's house (which Greg and Gillian helped build).

Hence the title of my post. It got me to thinking, is my view of the world getting smaller or bigger, and which is more preferable? Are there people close to me that should be (or, in this case, actually are) like family to me?

The first part of Hebrews 13 says:

"Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! " - The Message

In this case we entertained FAMILY without knowing it. The crazy thing was, realizing someone so close to us (geographically) was so close to us (in family relations) was like receiving a visit from an angel.

Help A Brother Out!!!

With the help of the Misfit, I uploaded our church site last night. I need some help. If you could add a link to our church site to your blog or website, that helps with the Google searches. I'd really appreciate it. It's www.livingroomchurch.com.

THE Question

Thanks for all the good dialogue on the last post (especially Jer and Sam dB). It caused me to want to back up a bit and do a definition or maybe a re-definition. What is a Christian? I'm sorry to implement this rule but, if you read this you must respond.

More Elvis

Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.

- Rob Bell

What do you think?

Where Have I Been?

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Here's my quote of the week:

A Christian doesn't avoid the questions; a Christian embraces them. In fact, to truly pursue the living God, we have to see the need for questions.

Questions are not scary. What is scary is when people don't have any. What is tragic is faith that has no room for them.

- Rob Bell

Any thoughts???

Try This Again

I tried a different photo and here's what came up.

I Look Like Elton John??

Our Fall Newsletter

Funny & Fun

Funny!!!


Fun!!!

Notice Any Thing??

This picture is creating quite a stir. I don't really get what all the fuss is about. Do you?

A Challenge And A Query

On Saturday, while relaxing in Deep Cove I reread part of The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. I've found Manning to be quite liberal in his theology to the point where I've totally disagreed with him, maybe even written him off. But my Amazon order wasn't in yet and I needed something to read. I was so struck by what I read in the first chapter that I feel like I need to share it with you:

When I get honest, I admit I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and get discouraged, I love and I hate, I feel bad about feeling good, I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. I am trusting and suspicious, I am honest and I am still playing games. Aristotle says I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel, with an incredible capacity for beer.


He goes on to say:

And though it is true that the church must always disassociate itself from sin, it can never have any excuse for keeping sinners at a distance. If the church remains self righteously aloof from failures, irreligious and immoral people, it cannot enter justified into God's kingdom. But if it is constantly aware of it's guilt and sin, it can live in joyous awareness of forgiveness.

That rocked me. How 'bout you? Any thoughts?

OK now here's my query. Have you ever noticed how almost every book in a Christian book store is either between 200-225 pages or it's a little book which means it's between 100-110 pages. What's up with that? There may be a perfectly good reason for it but it just seems ODD.

Adoption Update 2.1

I forgot to tell you:

1. Our adoption worker told us that a lot of people adopt from China because the children are in good physical condition and

2. that the orphanages in China offer a lot more one on one between the workers and the children so they don't have as many bonding issues when they are adopted out.

Both things are very reassuring.

Adoption Update #2

Well, tonight we had our first appointment with our adoption worker, Colleen. We spent an hour or so with her at her place in the west end and she asked lots of cursory questions about our life and why we want to adopt. We have 3 more of these interviews before she writes her report and recommends us (or not) for adoption. The next appointment is at our place. We've got to get medicals, criminal record checks, financial reports, and (I found out tonight) we have to write an essay.

So we'll let you know when there's more to tell.

My Week In Pictures

Here are some pictures of our week:

My birthday party @ the Well. "Hey slow down Dawn"



There were red and blue baloons on my cake. Guess who got those pieces?



My friend Mitch took my father in law and I fishing in the Fraser River and we caught a couple of nice salmon. Let me tell you about the one that got away..... no really. I'll tell you later.



Then we went to the football game where the Lions won!!



Wanda's parents were cheering for the Eskimos....

All in all a fabulous week we had. Thanks to our wonderful family who came to visit, our awesome friends who made my party extra special.

See you in a few days.

By Popular Demand

I guess some of you have never seen some of my work:











A Leaf














A (lopsided) Heart














A Special Order

Hope summer is grand. Ill post soon and tell you about my fun birthday week.

Book Tag

Here's a little game we can play. I'll tag a person and then they have to tag a person and so on with these questions:

1. One book that changed your life:
The Bible, Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

2. One book that you've read more than once:
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

3. One book that you'd want on a desert island:
Though I've never read this 32 page long book and it is written by someone I've never heard of, I'd want this one.

4. One book that made you laugh:
Flashbang - How I Got Over Myself by Mark Steele

5. One book that made you cry:
tie - Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom - God In The Alley by Greg Paul. Actually read them back to back in Ukraine summer of 05.

6. One book that you wish you had written:
The DaVinci Code cuz that guy's stinking rich!!! OK, OK, how about Organic Church by Neil Cole

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
"Left Behind one, two, three..."

8. One book you are currently reading:
Decision Making & The Will Of God by Garry Friesen and J Robin Maxon

9. One book that you've been meaning to read:
A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren

10. One book that you wish had been written:
2nd Song Of Solomon

11. One book that you got for free:
I Am Not But I Know I Am by Louie Giglio. Read it in one sitting with a venti dark coffee in a for here mug while waiting for my oil to be changed.

12. Favorite Book this Year:
tie: The Secret Message Of Jesus by Brian McLaren, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Hey Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland

12. Since I'm dying to know what he reads and I think he reads my blog, I'll tag the self proclaimed (although I'm not buying it for a minute) Misfit.

What I'm Learning From My Friends

I'm learning a lot from my friends. One of my friends is Rob. He and his lovely wife Jaime are on a very interesting journey. Read his last post it's fantastic.

Way To Go Blog Posse

I noticed many of you linked from your blog to my friends website as I asked a few posts ago. It worked!! Now her site comes up #1 when you Google her company name. Thanks. The power of the blogosphere is a mighty thing.

PoMo Cartoon

You either get this or you don't.

Mid Summer Checkup

Hey everyone,
Been away for a few days at Cedar Springs Retreat Centre. Just took some time to pray and reflect on the next year. I'm pretty excited about what God has in store for Wanda and I. When I'm away, I tend to power read so here's links to the 1 2 3 books I read while I was gone. All very good. All very challenging and helpful in where I am in life.

Don't Hassel the 'Hoff

I know this has been on a lot of blogs but I just gotta say it's really impressive to see a man embrace his own pathetic-ness.

An iPod Tract

Thanks to http://wittenbergs.com/carson for this.

Help A Sister Out

My friend is a great photographer and has an awesome website. She is having problems getting her website to register on a google search. I was trying to help but all the stuff I read on search engine optimization went right over my head.

So, being the old Reformer that I am, I thought I'd try a grassroots approach. I was hoping you would all consider adding a link to her website to your blog. I know that helped my traffic and helped my google search optimization.

If you know anythingthing about search engine optimization, you can talk to her hubby over here.

Got Mac??

Here's an article by Apple. It outlines all the reasons I've switched to the good guys. For all my friends who don't understand why I've switched, read on.

Do you have a MAC yet? NO! What are you waiting for? Are you tired of searching for drivers, or scanning for viruses? Life is easier with a MAC. Below are 14 reasons for you to buy a MAC as your next computer.

1. It just works.
How much time have you spent troubleshooting your PC? Imagine a computer designed by people who hate to waste time as much as you do. Where all the hardware and software just works, and works well together. Get a Mac and get your life back. More

2. You can make amazing stuff.
Every Mac comes with iLife ’06, a suite of software that transforms your photos, music, and video into all kinds of projects. Make high-quality websites, photo books, DVDs, songs, slideshows, music CDs, calendars, cards, prints, podcasts, music videos, documentaries, and more. More

3. Design that turns heads.
You won’t want to hide your Mac in a corner of the den. You’ll want it front and center in your life. The Apple style shows in every detail, from its sculpted surfaces to its gorgeous Mac OS X graphics. More

4. 114,000 Viruses? Not on a Mac.
Mac OS X was designed with security in mind. Windows just wasn’t built to bear the onslaught of attacks it suffers every day. A Mac offers a built-in firewall, doesn’t advertise its existence on the Net, and isn’t compromised within an hour of being turned on. More

5. Next year’s OS today.
Since Mac OS X engineers aren’t busy damming a flood of viruses, they have the time to think up amazing new technology. Like Dashboard widgets, mini-applications offering a world of capabilities just a keystroke away. Or a built-in RSS news reader. More

6. The latest Intel chips.
Intel Core Duo processors put you on the cutting edge. In fact, a Mac with an Intel chip is so fast it surprises even longtime Windows pundits, who keep running benchmarks again and again. Results? Fast. Fast. Yup, still fast. More

7. Instant video chats.
Setting up a video chat with the people next door — or across the globe — should be as simple as picking up the phone. On a Mac, you just click an icon to have a four-way video chat in a full-screen window with amazing clarity and special effects. More

8. More fun with photos.
On a Mac, you don’t need any extra software to make a photo book. You don’t have to leave your photo software to visit a separate website and wait for forms to load. All you need is a camera and a Mac. More

9. One-click websites.
How long does it take to post a photo or video to your blog on a PC? On a Mac, you can shoot a picture or a movie with the built-in camera, then post it on the web in a few clicks. Pontificate, preachify, and publish. The hardest part is coming up with something to say. More

10. Amazing podcasts.
Want to get your message out to the world? Podcast it. A Mac makes it simple to create professional podcasts, complete with artwork. Add sound effects and jingles, even use the built-in radio engineer to make it perfect. So you can be a talk star in seconds. More

11. Rock star tunemaking.
Musicians get all the girls (or guys). And a Mac has the software to turn you into the musician of your dreams. Choose from hundreds of cool riffs and instruments to create your own songs. Get good enough and you could be on iTunes. More

12. Hollywood-style movies.
Connect your DV camera and turn your movies into spectaculars. Add graphics, titles, and sound effects in minutes. Then use your Mac to burn a DVD or post to your website. More

13. No hunting for drivers.
Just plug in your stuff. A Mac includes USB drivers for mass storage, digital cameras, input devices, iPod, and more. It can see Bluetooth cell phones and headsets, as well as FireWire cameras. No rebooting. More

14. Awesome out of the box.
Other computers include software, it’s true. But once you start using that software, you find that you’re hobbled in some way or another. Software included with the Mac, on the other hand, is critically acclaimed as best in class. More

Thanks Friends

Thanks for all your well wishing and prayers as we enter this adoption process. We're taking the first cheque to the adoption agency tomorrow morning. We officially start counting then. That's when the "gestation" period begins.

OK I better stop there before I say something silly.

The Big News REVEALED!!!

OK well I guess there are 2 things:

1.
I made a fantastic Mango Lime Chile Sauce to go with our barbequed salmon last night. I'm really coming along in my cooking skills, especially if I get to try something exotic.

2.
OK OK Here's the real big news. Wanda and I have decided to take the plunge and register with an adoption agency for the purpose of adopting a child. Many of you will already know the journey we've been on for the last 9 years (not a typo) trying to get pregnant. We feel the time is right to adopt. Waiting until today to tell you was because yesterday was our first appointment at the adoption agency. The process is that we'll have a home study done (which takes three months) and then we'll wait up to 1 1/2 years for a baby.

Another exciting part is that this agency specializes in adoptions from China. There is a strong likelihood we will adopt a girl from China. To tell you why China is a good fit for us would take a while so if I actually see any of you in person I'll explain it. We'll have to travel there to pick her up but they have an incredibly organized program and it's almost like having a short holiday in China and picking up your new child at the same time (that might be a little crude but these people really know what they're doing). I can't really tell you how excited I am right now. Even talking (writing) about it gets me to another level of glee. Please pray for our future child.

Think about this; if we adopt from China, our baby may be in her mommy's tummy right now. And the crazy thing is that they don't even want her. I promise to update the blog everytime we have something new to tell regarding this process. Our first and next step is to fill out the application (done) and send in the first cheque to start the home study. The home study is what freaks me out the most because it can feel quite invasive from what I've heard.

A ball park figure is that the whole process from today until we're home with our child may take anywhere from 12-16 months. Stay tuned for more.

Next Week

Well we hope to have some big news to report middle of next week so I hope you all had a great weekend. I'll post on Thursday to let you know our news.

Wow.....

I didn't think I'd post again so quick but I read this and was astounded.

Who is Reading Books (and who is not)

One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. Many do not even graduate from high school.
58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
42% of college graduates never read another book.
80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
57% of new books are not read to completion.
--Jerrold Jenkins.

http://parapublishing.com/sites/para/resources/statistics.cfm

I'm Back

In true Po-Mo Blog Boy fashion, here's what we've been up to in our absence from blogging :
822 kilometres to Kamloops and back
0 good cups of coffee in Kamloops
39 degrees Celcius each of the..
3 days we were there
2 waterfights with our nephew, Kyan
1 new God-daughter visited (picture to follow)
102 booths visited at Kamloops Canada Day celebration
THEN......
3 nights that friends spent with us at our place after we got back
1 game of Settlers of Catan

So yeah that's about it. Hope yer'all getting the summer started right. Come visit us!!!!!

Rick Warren Article

I thought this article was interesting. Sorry it's a little long. Say what you want about the whole purpose driven thing, Warren is helping establish the Kingdom.

Regarding the Previous Post

After talking with Corrie, husband of Dawn and Jaz husband of Leslie, about the excerpt from McLaren's book that I quoted in my previous post, the comment was made "That's great for describing the mysterious things of the Kingdom but has terrible implications for ethics."

Thoughts?

My Latest Read

Here's what I've been reading lately. It's probably the most cerebral book I've read in a long time. Now I'm not sure I buy McLaren's view on everything, but right now it's helping me decide I need to have an opinion on things. Here's an excerpt that sent chills up my spine.

Is it possible that Jesus was intentionally keeping his message of the kingdom a secret so that it wasn't obvious, wasn't easy to grasp, wasn't like a simple mathematical formula that can quickly learned and repeated? It is possible that the message of Jesus was less like an advertising slogan - obvious and loud - and more like a poem whose meaning only comes subtly and quietly to those who read slowly, think long and deeply, and refuse to give up?


Thoughts?

Dang

My FINAL Oiler Poem Of The Season

It makes me very sad
I'm not so very happy
The 'Canes have won the Cup
But I won't get sappy

My Oiler poetry
Will now be put to bed
Untill next winter when
It will come to my head

If It Works

Close

This will be my second last Oiler poem:

I can't believe we're in it
I feel like I'm 11
I'm so excited for Monday Night
Stanley Cup Game 7

From Vancouver where I live
To St John's (I've lived there too)
The red flag flies over Canada
But on Monday's it's Oiler blue

I Think I Need To Go To The Chiropractor

I feel a little woosy
I think I need to sit
I've jumped back on the bandwagon
And it hurts a little bit

I never left my team alone
I've always been a fan
But if I had watched the game last night
You'd have to call me "Ulcer-man"

I really really think now
The series will go seven
And if it goes all the way
Hockey fans will be in heaven

From Raleigh North Carolina
To Edmonton A-B
On Saturday night true hockey fans
Will be in front of the TV

I'm Not Watching Tonight

I'm not watching tonight
Cuz I won't be alright
It won't be really fine-ah
If we lose in Carolina

I'm not watching tonight
But I think I might
Go out for Indian food
Cuz I'm not in the mood

To lose to Carolina, tonight.



PS - It was a great run

Tonight We Tie It Up

Continuing my series of Stanley Cup final poetry. This one is definely a dramatic reading. With sound effects in the background and maybe a good car chase scene towards the end.










Tonight we tie the series
Tonight we tie it up
Tonight's the night we're halfway home
Halfway to the Cup

We've got to get some goals
From Hemsky, Horcoff and Stoll
We've got to get you going
Get you on a roll

Keep the puck in their end.
Away from Jussi Jussi
Because if they get too many shots
It may just cook our goose-y

Tonight we tie the series
Tonight we tie it up
Tonight's the night we're halfway home
Halfway to the Cup

The Juss Is On The Loose

My Third Oiler Poem. This one could actually be sung as well. Sing it in Db - the saddest of all sad keys.








Jussi, Jussi, Jussi
You played in the big game
You played too "loosy-goosy"
You're driving me insane

You flop around like Flipper
We're in a 2-0 pinch
We need to win one for the Gipper
No 5 hole - don't give an inch.

You need a shut out Saturday
At home in Rexall Place
You need to shut the lights out
To help us in this race

We need to win 4 out of 5
And you're just the man to do it
Unless of course you aren't
And then you'll be the man who blew it

Jussi Jussi Jussi
Play big - big as a Moose
May it be said the Oilers won
And that "The Juss is on the loose"!!!

For All You Switchfoot Fans Out There

Here's an article that leaves me thinking "WHAT THE HECK?"

Oh No!!

The second installment in my Oilers poetry:








Oh no Rollie
My superstar goalie
Oh no Rollie oh no

Holy Holy Moly
No more Rollie
Up in the pressbox you have to go

A great deadline acquisition
Who plays a very important position
And you have been on a roll I must explain

You're no longer called a child
Glad we rescued you from the Wild
The Mighty Oilers goalie named Dwayne

Oh no Rollie
You've a few games you've stole-y
But now it's up to a guy
Named Ty......NOT GOOD.

My Team Is In

At times like this I feel very poetic. I feel like expressing my inner most feelings through rhyme. And so I bring to you the first in what will be a series of poems focussing on the most poetic of all things..... THE MIGHTY EDMONTON OILERS!!!!!!


My team is in the finals
The first time in 16 years
My team is in the finals
It's enough to bring me to tears


I grew up in Gretzky's era
With Kurri and Messier too
With many a cup parade happening
Going down Whyte Avenue


It all seemed so improbable
Just a few months ago
When "the Oil" was sitting in 9th place
With only 10 games to go


So I guess the people to thank for this
Isn't the Wings the Sharks or the Ducks
But the team who choked so we could get in the playoffs
Thank you VANCOUVER CANUCKS!!!!

From One Newfie To Another

Leave it to a Newfie to bring a little bit of wisdom to our current hot button topics. Enjoy!!!!



A Pop Tart Spits Straight In Our Eye
REX MURPHY

Madonna is on tour again.

Nothing new. More of the vulgar same, that tired mix of rough raunch and glitz, laced as always with some overt and unfailing crude manipulation of Christian symbols. Madonna is as predictable as Tim Hortons, but Timmy's is at least always fresh.

This time, it's a scene of Madonna wearing a crown of thorns and being "crucified" on some massive stage cross. The jeer at Christianity by one of the world's most successful and hollow talents is blatant -- as is everything this star does -- deliberate and crude.

It comes, whether by design or by luck, on the tail of the whirlwind publicity of The Da Vinci Code film.

There is, of course, no sense or point in challenging Madonna's "artistic" efforts, and even less than none at all in trying to mount some protest over it. The over-the-hill hipsters who still find some buzz in whatever Madonna does, those who have bought the ridiculous and endlessly repeated estimate of her skill at "reinventing" herself, will only find the factitious thrill of her "transgressiveness" validated by the response of the rubes and the righteous.

I am sorry to see that the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has issued a condemnation. Not because it was wrong to do so, and not because Kabbalah's most celebrated convert doesn't deserve a condemnation, but simply because on the current understanding of religion in this predominantly secular culture it is so useless for the Catholic League, or any other church organization, to be doing so.

Every official mutter from any Christian group will merely sell another cluster of $350 tickets and give oxygen to the success of the Madonna tour machine. Take a jab at the Cross, the central icon of Christianity, accessorize with a crown of thorns, the bitter emblem of the Christian Saviour's suffering, and the cash registers will keep on ringing.

But I do hope that the serious Christians who are watching this latest instalment of free hits against their faith are measuring it against the far greater caution, deference and respect that is being shown to a religion far less common in the West, that of Islam.

Since the horrors of 9/11, we have seen from governments in the West, the media, civil agencies, school boards and political parties a conscious, elaborate and -- let me stress this -- wholly commendable effort to afford Islam and its adherents all manner of respect and sensitivity.

The turmoil over some caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed provides the most recent illustration of delicacy in the matter of a people's religion. The Danish cartoon episode was remarkable, to a degree that has still not been sufficiently acknowledged, by how many of the Western media declined, in the name of sensitivity to the religious faith of Muslims, to publish those cartoons.

But it has not escaped the attention of those who hold the Christian faith that this same sweep of deference and respect is not extended when the tenets or icons of their faith are treated as fodder and, worse, for the cultural grinder. A fading pop tart crucifying herself hardly qualifies as a genuflection.

Are Christians less sensitive than Muslims? Does Christ not occupy a centrality in Christianity more or less equivalent to the Prophet Mohammed in Islam? Is an insult to one faith any less an outrage than an insult to another?

So Madonna's Vegas-style crucifixion will serve as yet another reminder to serious Christians that a double standard of immense differential is operating on the terrain of religion. Her tour might just be the cue for those accommodating and docile religionists to start asking for at least a portion of the respect that their fellows in another faith receive as it seems by right.

I don't think one has to be religious to see the elementary justice of this. We are a society that calibrates rights to the millimetre and recoils, as from the darkest sin, at the thought of one group being "privileged" over another. And nowhere will you find a more hypersensitive social conscience than in the great altitudes of pop entertainment. Some of these deep hearts actually wear rubber bands to signal their devotion to good causes. Such sacrifice.

Madonna is a high emblem of that set. This Confessions tour of hers might just trigger a call on the massive hypocrisy of it all. If only that were so, her vulgar crown of thorns and her vulgar crucifixion, and the more vulgar crass impulse behind them both, might actually do some good.

Rex Murphy is a commentator with CBC-TV's The National and host of CBC Radio One's Cross-Country Checkup.

Historymaker '06 In The Books

Thanks Darcy & Leanne for another great year. It was "wicked awesome" serving with you. NEVER STOP MODELLING!!!

Our Holiday Video

Here's a link to a video I made of our vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Check it out. We're at Google video!!!

Hank Looks For A New Church

Check this video out. It's quite humorous. As a comment thread, let me know what you most enjoy about your current church. What are they doing well. Hope to post some more photos or footage from Puerto Vallarta real soon.