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.

Hola, Mi Amigos!!!

Hello everyone. We're back in Vancouver and rested up good!!! We had a great trip and I will show you a couple of pictures later. I'm planning to make a short picture video this week so I'll post that as soon as I finish it.
I read 1 2 3 books and Wanda read 1 2 . We also read a book together.
Here's a picture of our usual spot at the beach:














Here's a picture of the dessert the restaurant gave us when they found out it was our anniversary:














Here's a picture of our last sunset in Puerto Vallarta:















Well I'm off to Winnipeg for General Conference. I'll try to post from there but if not, I'll catch you next week.

This Is My 100th Post!!!

I think I'll celebrate by GOING TO MEXICO.

No posts for a while. Check back 2nd week of May.

Lord Of The Rings Europop

Those crazy Euros. Theey'll make a pop song out of anything.

Great Article

A great article from Relevant that I found here:


NOT ONE OF THOSE CHRISTIANS
By Cameron Strang – Relevant Magazine


I need to talk about contemporary Christianity. There’s something that concerns me.
We’ve seen so much abuse of the term “Christian” lately that many of us are now hesitant to be associated with it. We may serve God and be followers of Jesus, but we don’t want to be associated with the bigoted right-wing-extremists who are known only for their judgmental statements and boycotts.
We believe Christians should be known by their love. (I think John 13:35 says something along those lines).
We cringe every time we see Pat Robertson on the news. So, we do everything we can to not be identified as one of those Christians. We try to get outside of the Christian bubble, love others, be open minded and live in freedom. So we drink – but just in moderation, of course. We cuss, but just for humor or effect. We watch movies that our pastor wouldn’t, but it’s because we’re a lot more in touch then he is. We criticize TBN, cheesy Christian music and everything else about the Christian subculture. We hang out at bars and clubs, originally to be “light in the darkness,” but now really just for a good time.
And here we are, without even realizing it, living exactly like the world.
Please hear me, I’m not advocating closed-minded, hate-filled Christianity, and I do believe we have freedom in Christ. Moderation is a God-given right. But truly following Jesus is not found in either extreme. After all, Romans 12:2 does say, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world” (TNIV).
So where does this leave us? It’s not an issue that can be resolved in this column’s 600 words, but it’s one that all of us must personally and deliberately answer, because without clarity on how we need to live our lives and impact the world around us, at best we will be inconsequential and at worst, harmful to those around us.
Stewardship is something I’ve grappled with lately. (Go read Matthew 25). God has entrusted all of us with gifts, material things, a calling and a realm of influence. The question is, what are we doing with what has been given to us?
Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples. How well are we following that challenge in our lives on a daily basis? Are we making the most of the time and opportunities given to us? Or are we worrying more about this debate or that opinion, when there’s a world dying around us?
We look to one side and see Christianity being mocked in the media because of stupid public statements by leaders who make us all look like idiots.
But so what?
We look to the other side and see a free-will, all-paths-lead-to-heaven kind of Christianity that renders our faith completely ineffective out of fear that we might offend someone who doesn’t agree with us.
But, again, so what?
Neither of those need to define us. What other people do is of zero consequence to how we have to live our lives. The decisions we make and the love we show to others are completely up to us. No one else will account for your life but you.
So how are you using it?
Like most of us, I’m tired of being clumped in with stereotypical, suburban, materialist Christianity. But we can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. I believe that God wants us to think for ourselves and follow the Spirit. It’s scriptural, we’ve got to deal with it. But if a man came up with it, I give it a healthy dose of skepticism. It’s called discernment.
We need to not only embrace grace and freedom, but remember that we’re called apart, that what we have in our spirits separates us from the world. We are supposed to be in the world, but not of it. We have a hope and a freedom and a faith that the world is looking for, and they need to see that difference in us. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I want to be known for passion, love and a heart that follows God. I want people to see that about me, first thing. There’s something different about my life, and it will also change theirs. I don’t want to blend in.
Our generation is looking for something to fill the void in their lives. We have what they’re looking for. We just need to bring the truth with grace and love. But we do need to bring it. We each have a sphere of influence. Now what are you going to do with it?

Cameron Strang, 29, is the president and founder of RELEVANT Media Group.

Ha Ha Ha

Making fun of George Bush never gets old.

Happy Easter From Paul and Wanda!!!!

A little Easter humor to cap off the season of Lent.

Puerto Vallarta Here We Come!!!

So we've been thinking about going on a holiday to celebrate our 10th anniversary (May 4th). We were looking around for cheap vacations online. We found some to Puerto Plata and then to Cuba but settled on Puerto Vallarta. We leave on the 22nd and we're going to be gone for 14 days. Comparing it to other deals available to this resort, we pretty much got the second week for free. This is a nice 4 star.

So hey we're looking forward to going to Mexico!!!

Colour Change

So I thought we needed to brighten up the blog so I changed the colors a little bit. What do you think.

My Crazy Week

Well my week started as most of my weeks do, on Monday. Went to work at the Well and was feeling kinda funny. Didn't know why but was feeling weird. By about 2pm I had a full blow flu. My coworker made me go home. By 6pm, I'm wearing 2 layers of clothes and inside my bed covered up because I'm freezing. Had NO nights sleep and took Tuesday off to recouperate.

Tuesday night I went to a meeting to investigate the possibility of starting a community group for our neighborhood. Wednesday I was becak to work (probably should have waited another day since I just about passed out). Thursday I worked at the Well and then to Delta Church and then to a meeting regarding Christian ministry initiatives during the 2010 Olympics.

Friday I had coffee with a new/old friend and then helped my friend Jaz with his project NO BOUNDARIES which is an intentionally multy ethnic worship event. I came home pretty tired but I got to play with a couple of awesome musicians.

Saturday, we had an AGM for our condo building. It was mildly stressful but always good to hang out with people from the building. Then we went to pick up groceries which turned into a 3 hour ordeal because of traffic and lots of people at the Superstore.

Sunday, it seemed like the whole church forgot the timechange. Not actually but it did feel like we were all still missing an hour of sleep. Great to finish our week with our Living Room Church crew. That's always restful.

So there's an update from our life. I've got to go.... to work!

Ode To The Yellow Pages

(On Saturday, Wanda and I made the hard decision to get rid of our phone book and Yellow Pages. We never use them because we look everything up on the www. Here is a tribute to the social icon that is the Yellow Pages.)








Oh yellow pages yellow pages
You're big and yellow
Oh yellow pages yellow pages
Can only be lifted by a strong fellow

All of your listings
Are in very small print
If I want to see them
I really have to squint

14 CD's
Or a bowl of bon bons
Will fit on the bookshelf
Now that you're gone

Oh yellow pages yellow pages
In the recycling are ya
Oh yellow pages yellow pages
I bid you sianara

Surveys, I Love Surveys

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Paul
Birthday: August 19, 1970
Birthplace: Grand Falls, Nfld
Current Location: Vancouver
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown (grey??)
Height: 6'4''
Right Handed or Left Handed: Lefty Loosy
Your Heritage: Newfie
The Shoes You Wore Today: Asics
Your Weakness: Blogs
Your Fears: Bad Coffee and out of tune guitars
Your Perfect Pizza: Meat. Lotsa meat!!
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Finish my business plan
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: g2g
Thoughts First Waking Up: My back hurts
Your Best Physical Feature: Facial hair
Your Bedtime: 11pm
Pepsi or Coke: Diet Pepsi (I'm from Nfld)
MacDonalds or Burger King: MMMcD's.
Single or Group Dates: Single dates with Wanda or group with DMac and Le
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Snapple
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: Cap unless you're at Starbucks then coffee
Do you Smoke: No
Do you Swear: Heck yeah
Do you Sing: for a living
Do you Shower Daily: yep
Have you Been in Love: I AM
Do you want to go to College: been there done that sort of (WPBC)
Do you want to get Married: I AM
Do you belive in yourself: Not as much as my wife does
Do you get Motion Sickness: All the time. Especially on the bus
Do you think you are Attractive: No
Are you a Health Freak: No
Do you get along with your Parents: Better now than ever
Do you like Thunderstorms: I live in Vancouver of course I do
Do you play an Instrument: A few
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: Yes
In the past month have you smoked: No
In the past month have you gone on a Date: Yes
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Not of my own free will
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: No
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: 6 (YESSSS!!!!!)
In the past month have you been on Stage: At Church????
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: some would say that I got Wanda to marry me would imply some sort of felony.
Ever been Drunk: July 1st, 1987. That will be the last time
Ever been called a Tease: I'm much to blunt for that
Ever been Beaten up: Been over 6 feet since grade 7. You figure it out
Ever Shoplifted: no
How do you want to Die: In bed cuddled into Wanda
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: A Coffee shop owner/pastor
What country would you most like to Visit: South Africa
Number of Drugs I have taken: None
Number of CDs I own: 209
Number of Piercings: None (and probably too late to start now)
Number of Tattoos: None
Number of things in my Past I Regret: I was mean to my sister when we were growing up.

I'm Addicted To Blog Surveys

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Leave a Comment

In reference to the church, I heard a great quote last night:

"It's not WHAT WE DO together, but WHO WE ARE together." - Mark DeHoog

Any thoughts??

I Don't Get It

There's something about this picture I don't understand but it really draws me in. i'm not sure I even know what it is. What do you think?

WORD OF THE WEEK (for me anyway)

Lately I have found great comfort from these words. It makes sense to share them with you, my friends:

Lamentations 3:22-25

NIV
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;


MESSAGE
22 GOD's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.

23 They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!

24 I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.

25 GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.

Coming Clean

At Conference On The Ministry I made the following statement:

"When you start something new in ministry, you measure success differently"

A friend asked me to unpack this statement a little bit and I thought I'd address it through a post just in case someone else heard me say that and needed an explanation:




I'm not sure why I made that comment because in retrospect I actually don't measure success any differently. I was probably saying it to make myself feel good.

OR, I have always measured success improperly. Maybe I've always cared about what I think success is. Maybe I've been too caught up with "closing the deal" with an unsaved person.

OR, success is a term that is totally incongruent with the gospel. Maybe the heart is not a measurable thing.

Or maybe I'm afraid of failing. Maybe I'm so consumed with the need down here that failing will absolutely devastate me.

I'm not sure.

A Word Picture Of My Mission Field - Part 1

The smell of dried urine / Suits / Canuck fans sad / Lions fans drunk / No sunlight / Beautiful mountains / "Hey baby, do you want to party?" / Good sushi / "Can you spare 40 cents" / "Nice place you got here" / Close to everywhere / 15 minutes to drive 3 blocks / "Hi how are you? Fine. How are you? Fine." / "Hey buddy watch where you're going." / Good coffee / "Where do we store this?" / Pay for parking / No grass / Justice for the oppressed / Faith for the faithless.

What Have We Been Up To??

Well We've been around. We went to Alberta and helped out at a youth conference that some of our old youth put on in Slave Lake. Of course that meant we got to spend some time with family which is always good. We got back and headed right into a couple of conferences. We lead worship at Timeout which is a relationship first conference for next generation leaders. Then I was a presenter at our denomination's Conference On The Ministry. I got to talk about our downtown ministry and how life looks different for us.

Tonight I'm sitting at home and reflecting on the last 2 weeks. I'm not really awake enough to draw too many conclusions but here's a couple:
1. God's only measure of success is faithfulness.
2. The church needs to embrace it's community and investigate other ways of "GO"ing.
3. We are so blessed with great friends.

Posting Video

Video Sharing at DropShots.com

I think I found out how to post video. Here's a short video that tells a little bit about what Historymaker does. Thanks to Dawn Block for the tip.

Whew!! I'm OK??

You Are 16% Abnormal

You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at low risk for having a borderline personality. It is unlikely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at low risk for having a social phobia. It is unlikely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

How Abnormal Are You?