Thursday, October 20, 2011

not in church either...

I should've started the post with this last week - I had skipped out on chapel and was feeling guilty myself about not being there. It was a simple sound issue - the sound was harsh and so I left.

All things being equal the chapel was not designed for modern instruments, but this week it was MUCH better. :) Perhaps it was due to them tweaking the sound a little, maybe it was the songs they chose, maybe it was the different spot I chose to sit.

Sooooo....I only asked because I have been there. At the cottage we didn't always go to church, but my motivations have also changed. I used to go to church because I thought I HAD to be there. Now I go because I want to praise and worship God with his family!

Any thoughts or comments?

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

not in church

I must begin with my apologies to the person who took this shot - I forgot to find the source. If you find it (or own it and want it removed) please let me know.


So how do you feel about skipping church - or just not going at all? This isn't a guilt trip - this is a real question and it's open to anyone whether you grew up in church, go most Sundays, or have never been. But since I brought up the concept of guilt - does it make you feel guilty?

I am going to ask one other question too: why don't you go? Is it the music, the people, or something you just can't quite put your finger on. I must admit that there sometimes seems a world of difference between church life and the rest of our life. So tell me - what do you think?

Oh, and one more question if you don't mind. Do you think Christianity may have anything to add to your life if church was different - would you be more interested? (ok so I cheated and made that 2 questions...) Looking forward to hearing from you!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Funky Christian Tunes!

Just a quick post since I am still swamped! Sorry!

Here is a video I found on youtube - great idea and kudos to the person who came up with this idea!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Not some cute bunny video...

Happy Easter!

No silly bunny stuff here this time around. This Easter season I am more aware than ever of how much we gloss over the reality of Easter and try and cutsey it up with bunnies, eggs and lovely spring stuff. That's all good stuff and there are messages of new life in each of them.

Easter means nothing without Good Friday though, and that's where this video comes in. Let me give you a warning up front: this video has images from The Passion which are disturbing. Good Friday was like the end: it was the end of Jesus' earthly ministry - it was the end of his life. At least for 3 days.

 I have been troubled by Leonard Cohen's sad, depressing song Hallelujah, but Kelley Mooney rewrote this song to give the Easter message (with rights and permissions!) and it is a nice folky sounding version with a great message! I had some people in the church send me a live version of this song with a choir that backed her up, but when I saw one with images I decided to post this to give people a chance to reflect on this.

I know it's sad, but I think we need the reminder of what Jesus went through and how great his love was for each of us that he would do this for you and me. Takes some time to reflect on the true meaning of Easter and may the sacrifice of Jesus - and his offer of new life - move your heart this week.

Peace.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

pre-blessed food

You better have a sense of humour for this one. Actually if you didn't have a sense of humour it's unlikely you would be checking out a site called faithplant, right?

Thanks to my son for this delightful poke at the "inconvenience" of saying grace...

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Where'd The Music Go?

This is just more of a note about the changes at the top of the page. Instead of having buttons to click and several pages, I have decided to streamline things by posting them here and leaving a few more comments.

I have been a fan of Avalon but when I came across this music I loved it. The song could use one more remix part way through I think but overall it's pretty good. It's about how God sustains us like oxygen - his Spirit can indwell us bringing us into such an amazing relationship with him.

When you take the first breath and open your heart to him, he will come into your heart and you will never be the same again. Never abandoned, never alone. He breathes life into us that sustains us through hard times and brings a new level of appreciation for all of the good stuff (blessings) that he surrounds us with.

Avalon - My Oxygen

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Hide and Seek

(This is lifted from an old blog of mine - still all true and a great song. Unfortunately the video I used is not available, so I used the one below.)

Imagine playing hide and seek and no one came to find you. Life can feel that way at times – and after a while maybe we forget that we are hiding, maybe we even forget the reason that we went to hide in the first place.
Or maybe the reason that we are hiding is still very real to us – fear.  Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of loss.  But whatever those fears that keep you hiding, God is waiting patiently for you to come out.  He has not forgotten you and he cares that you are hiding.
When kids play hide and seek they curl up with their knees to their chest and huddle with arms over their knees and heads down – if they can’t see, then maybe others won’t see them.  If that’s you, look up and you will see the light of God’s love at your feet, lighting the way to Him and leading you out.  You don’t have to hide.



Buy the album - Joy Williams

Friday, February 11, 2011

getting all sore...

I have mad skills at falling down. Really. I think I go above and beyond many people when it comes to clumsiness. Last night after visiting with a couple for pre-marriage counselling, I walked outside in the snow, stepped carefully around the front of my car, took one step a little less carefully and...

BANG!!!

My feet had gone out from under me faster than I knew what was going on. I came down hard right on my tailbone. I laid there next to my car on my side for half a minute, semi-numbed from the waste (lol! "waist"- not "waste") down and thinking of the irony that the gal just inside is a paramedic.

I was way too embarrassed to want to have drawn any attention to myself and I was glad the door was shut and they didn't see anything - or hear anything.

Don't ask my guardian angel if the first thing that came out was pastorly or not.  I am still a little grumpy towards him anyways. ;)

Okay, not really - it could have been worse - a lot worse - it could have been a case of banarma (the explanation is on the link - not that I believe in karma, but that's a link you really should read. Darned funny in a way..)  At least I landed where there was some cushioning - my son would tell you that there's plenty of cushioning...funny guy.

So I managed to get up and into the car and drive home. I was concerned that shifting gears would be uncomfortable but it was okay. I was hurting but only 10 minutes from home. When I got home I told my wife of my failed attempt to fly and she expressed sympathy and kindly offered to look after me.

But (pardon the pun) what do we do when we are hurt? What should our reaction be? We can milk it for all it's worth - complain and agonize over it - or we can admit that it hurts, try not to focus on it and carry on with life. I am trying to do just that - to try to be a grown up about it. If you know me, you will realize that takes effort. :D

The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
What if it's our feelings that are hurt?  Maybe we need to be grown-ups there too. I love the "wisdom" of Pumba in the Lion King where he says: "It's like my buddy Timon always says, you've got to put your behind in your past." 

Too often we carry around these hurts and milk them for all they're worth - bringing them up time and time again. Maybe it's time to let them go and "leave our behind in our past" or as Timon really meant: "leave our past behind." Not the past that makes us who we are, but the past hurts that can only be healed when we let them go.

In the Bible we are commanded to get "rid of all bitterness..." (Eph. 4:31, NIV) It's funny that the best thing sometimes for aches and pains is to work through them and not to favour them. In the same way when we stop favouring these old emotional hurts, not only is it better for everyone else, it's healthier for us too!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

you were marked...

Sometimes I get attacked by my kids.  I usually see it coming by a twinkle of mischief in the eye just before it happens, but once in a while I get attacked with no warning - kinda like Hobbes leaping on Calvin...

The other night, after my daughter had attacked, she decided that the weapon of choice would be the markers lying nearby in her pencil case.

Vainly attempting to defend myself (amid gales of laughter) I got the marker from her for long enough to "tattoo" her arm with a nice big happy face. At the same time she grabbed another, wrote a quick "Hi!" on my hand and then proceeded to "decorate" my face.  After the battle was done, I didn't worry about cleaning it off right away - I wasn't all that concerned since I figured it would wash off in the shower the next morning.  Hmm....WRONG!!!




The Essential Calvin and Hobbes

Much to my dismay, although the marker had faded it was still quite visible.  So regardless of the state of my face, I still needed to head out to the church for office hours, and prepare for Sunday and youth group.  Shortly after I arrived people started coming in for Bible study and by that time I had forgotten about my "new look."

I was talking with one of the ladies as they were getting settled in for Bible study - just merrily chatting away - totally forgetting the marker on my face. A look of mild amusement came to her eyes after she pointed out that I had something on my face and I in turn explained where it came from.  I had totally forgotten to hide in my office until this had faded. Oh well... :s

In the Bible - the letter to the Ephesians - we see another indelible mark...
"When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..." (Ephesians 1:13b)
The author was speaking to some Christians who had heard the gospel message and reminding them that God had marked them too. God placed the Holy Spirit in the believer as a seal - a sign of us belonging to Him.

I was marked by something that will fade with time, but the mark that God places in us will never fade away. His presence guarantees us of things to come - our inheritance as His adopted children.