Oprah says that "biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. " I would guess the same is true for fathers. Unless he's shooting blanks, any dude can impregnate. But it takes a special kind of man to be a father. Fortunately, I grew up with that kind of man and for the past 10 years I have tried to be that same man. Trouble is, trying to be a good father is like trying to be in good shape. You know its crucial but all you feel like doing is sitting on your butt and pounding back the Old Dutch .
I have a ton of respect for dudes who can Father. I've already mentioned my own but I also think of people like Wayne McKeage. Wayne's barely 60 but you'd think the guy was my contemporary. He lives his life like he enjoys it and helps everyone to do the same. I think that's why his kids enjoy him so much. They see who he IS.
I also think of Colin Hattrick. Colin is my contemporary but he fathers with the same dedication and love of a 60 yr old. I often joke that Natalia is a magician because at 2, she's managed to wrap her grown daddy around her pinky. Its true, but every time I see the way he looks at her I'm reminded to get up and father for real this time. Angie says I'm a good father blah blah blah, I just rarely agree. Too often I'm too distracted, busy or gone to be at the level of a Wayne, Colin or a John S Close. I realize this. I recognize this. Which is why I resigned.
Yeah yeah, God called me to ministry - but the reality is there are 38 others who could replace me tomorrow and the teens would be just fine. And they will be. But no man could EVER replace me as Maddison, Ethan and Alexa's father. I'm all they got. They're all I got. Which is elementary and profound at the same time. So easy a concept, so difficult a follow through.
Beginning this September, I am taking 10 months off to travel with my family through England, France, Spain, Mallorca, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Egypt, India, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China and beyond. The plan is to work together, learn together, be stretched and challenged and formed together. Most of all, the plan is TO BE TOGETHER. It's always been the plan.
Only now, I'm following through.
John
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, June 06, 2008
With or Without God
I just started reading this important book. This quote about Christianity's core message and the church's funtion - will challenge you I think. Read it slowly, drinking it in. For me, it really resonated.
"Out of the multitude of understandings of religion, spirituality and faith; out of the varying views of the origins, nature and purpose of life; out of the countless individual experiences of what might be called divine; out of it all may be distilled a core that, very simply put, is love.
This core message carries its own authority. It needs no doctrine to validate it, no external expert or supernatural authority to tell us it is right. Love is quite demanding enough as a foundation, sufficiently complex and challenging without the requirement of additional beliefs, unbelievable to many. The church the future needs is one of people gathering to share and recommit themselves to loving relationships with themselves, their families the wider community and the planet.
Such a church need not fear the discoveries of science, history, archaeology, psychology or literature; it will only be enhanced by such discoveries. Such a church need not avoid the implications of critical thinking for its message; it will only become more effective. Such a church need not cling to and justify a particular source for its authority; it will draw on the wisdom of the ages and challenge divisive and destructive barriers. Such a church, grown out of values that transcend personal security, self-interest, and well-being, could play a role in the future that is not only viable but radically transformative and desperately needed."
- Gretta Vosper
John
"Out of the multitude of understandings of religion, spirituality and faith; out of the varying views of the origins, nature and purpose of life; out of the countless individual experiences of what might be called divine; out of it all may be distilled a core that, very simply put, is love.
This core message carries its own authority. It needs no doctrine to validate it, no external expert or supernatural authority to tell us it is right. Love is quite demanding enough as a foundation, sufficiently complex and challenging without the requirement of additional beliefs, unbelievable to many. The church the future needs is one of people gathering to share and recommit themselves to loving relationships with themselves, their families the wider community and the planet.
Such a church need not fear the discoveries of science, history, archaeology, psychology or literature; it will only be enhanced by such discoveries. Such a church need not avoid the implications of critical thinking for its message; it will only become more effective. Such a church need not cling to and justify a particular source for its authority; it will draw on the wisdom of the ages and challenge divisive and destructive barriers. Such a church, grown out of values that transcend personal security, self-interest, and well-being, could play a role in the future that is not only viable but radically transformative and desperately needed."
- Gretta Vosper
John
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Yes, those are people in the air.
This was taken on Sunday in Mexico. The driver of the car fell asleep. Sorry about that biker dudes.
Monday, June 02, 2008
The Lall Family
Sometime last Wednesday, between 8:30-10:00pm, Joshua Lall walked down to his basement and surprised his friend and tenant Amber Bowerman with a knife. Shortly after, Joshua walked back upstairs and entered his bedroom where he cornered his wife Alison and two little girls Kristen and Rochelle before doing the unthinkable once again. Having killed 4 people in less than an hour, Joshua walked down the hall to his one year old Anna lying in her crib. A few minutes later Joshua lay dead. Anna, meanwhile, remained in her crib. Screaming, presumably.
If this sounds like a scene from a horror movie, let me assure you its much worse. For the past 5 days Calgarians have woken up to the Lall family. The first few nights I slept ok, but as the story continued to unfold I slept less and less. It's one thing if you're dealing with a psychopath, a maniac, a sick bastard. But Joshua wasn't any of these. He was a loyal husband, loving father, involved community member, and dedicated employee.
This case has messed with my mind, my sense of what's black white. The grey is slowly making me crazy. How could a loyal, loving, involved and dedicated human being do something so inhumane? Sources say in the weeks leading up, Joshua had been hearing voices . These same sources point to a phone call he had made to his parents only 2 days before, expressing his distress. His parents were concerned enough to board a plane and fly to Calgary, arriving only hours too late. Others say he was overwhelmed by work feeling incredible pressure to maintain his perfectionistic lifestyle. Still others are saying "psychotic episodes of this kind rarely materialize this quickly and so warning signs had to have been missed."
Every day a new theory, email, source seems to emerge as people, press and parents try desperately to find the rational in the irrational, the sense in the nonsense. God knows I have.
In the end though, no matter what is uncovered, discovered, recovered or just covered, nobody will ever know what possessed 34 yr old Joshua Lall to do what he did. His crime will forever lie shrouded in mystery known only to the killer and his maker.
Does this make me feel better? Hell no. What could?
John
If this sounds like a scene from a horror movie, let me assure you its much worse. For the past 5 days Calgarians have woken up to the Lall family. The first few nights I slept ok, but as the story continued to unfold I slept less and less. It's one thing if you're dealing with a psychopath, a maniac, a sick bastard. But Joshua wasn't any of these. He was a loyal husband, loving father, involved community member, and dedicated employee.
This case has messed with my mind, my sense of what's black white. The grey is slowly making me crazy. How could a loyal, loving, involved and dedicated human being do something so inhumane? Sources say in the weeks leading up, Joshua had been hearing voices . These same sources point to a phone call he had made to his parents only 2 days before, expressing his distress. His parents were concerned enough to board a plane and fly to Calgary, arriving only hours too late. Others say he was overwhelmed by work feeling incredible pressure to maintain his perfectionistic lifestyle. Still others are saying "psychotic episodes of this kind rarely materialize this quickly and so warning signs had to have been missed."
Every day a new theory, email, source seems to emerge as people, press and parents try desperately to find the rational in the irrational, the sense in the nonsense. God knows I have.
In the end though, no matter what is uncovered, discovered, recovered or just covered, nobody will ever know what possessed 34 yr old Joshua Lall to do what he did. His crime will forever lie shrouded in mystery known only to the killer and his maker.
Does this make me feel better? Hell no. What could?
John
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Love that Jack Handey
“Instead of burning a guy at the stake, what about burning him at the STILTS? It probably lasts longer, plus it moves around.”
In other news, John and Ang put their house on the market 5 days ago. They have a showing tonight which makes 2 in 5 days. Not bad, for a cooling Calgary market. Now we just need an offer!!!
John
In other news, John and Ang put their house on the market 5 days ago. They have a showing tonight which makes 2 in 5 days. Not bad, for a cooling Calgary market. Now we just need an offer!!!
John
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Now that's a prayer!
This 500 year old prayer is one of my all time fave's. May it inspire you to greater things.
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity and in our efforts to build a new earth,we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes; And to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
- Sir Francis Drake
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity and in our efforts to build a new earth,we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes; And to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
- Sir Francis Drake
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Prayer as superstition
Beyond lucky underwear and ladders, most Christians wouldn't admit to being overly supersticious. It's in the realm of witches and goblins and Harry Potter. That being said, I think we're a more supersticious lot then we don't give ourselves credit for. Especially with prayer.
Ask most to define prayer and they'll say something to the effect of "talking to God." The liberal may say "talking WITH God." Either way, conversation is implied. The problem is, most of our conversation to/with God is done via 911. For example:
"Help me God *puke puke* Oh God please *puke* I promise *puke* I won't ever *puke* do *puke* that *puke* again. Thank you Jesus. *wipe face* Thank you God"
"Please God, help me pass that test tomorrow."
"Dear God, I know I haven't talked to you in awhile but I really need you now. Everything's falling apart. Please God, please Jesus, help me now."
"God, please help my house to sell. My family and I are planning to travel the world and have already booked tickets and accomadations."
Sound familiar?
The problem with these prayers is they're it. Our entire conversation to/with God. Instead of communing with the divine we ingest a lucky charm (they're magically delicious). Weeks, even months go by, meanwhile, we live our lives not giving God a second thought until. . .TRAGEDY STRIKES. Stress becomes too much. Or most often, our moral failings catch up with us and we're forced to deal.
Here's the harsh reality. If we only pray when we're in trouble, we don't want God, we want magic which is why we resort to superstition; closing of eyes, bowing of head, bowing of knee (optional) and mumbling of words to an unknown being. How must this seem to God?
Here's a challenge for us all. Go one week without calling 911. Only talk to God to become more like him or to thank him for allowing you to live in a country free of cyclones and earthquakes. If you're feeling especially eager, pray on behalf of the hundreds of thousands who've lost their lives and the millions who feel like they have. Try it and see what happens. You'll either realize how superstious you really are or you'll be relieved to know you actually care.
John
Ask most to define prayer and they'll say something to the effect of "talking to God." The liberal may say "talking WITH God." Either way, conversation is implied. The problem is, most of our conversation to/with God is done via 911. For example:
"Help me God *puke puke* Oh God please *puke* I promise *puke* I won't ever *puke* do *puke* that *puke* again. Thank you Jesus. *wipe face* Thank you God"
"Please God, help me pass that test tomorrow."
"Dear God, I know I haven't talked to you in awhile but I really need you now. Everything's falling apart. Please God, please Jesus, help me now."
"God, please help my house to sell. My family and I are planning to travel the world and have already booked tickets and accomadations."
Sound familiar?
The problem with these prayers is they're it. Our entire conversation to/with God. Instead of communing with the divine we ingest a lucky charm (they're magically delicious). Weeks, even months go by, meanwhile, we live our lives not giving God a second thought until. . .TRAGEDY STRIKES. Stress becomes too much. Or most often, our moral failings catch up with us and we're forced to deal.
Here's the harsh reality. If we only pray when we're in trouble, we don't want God, we want magic which is why we resort to superstition; closing of eyes, bowing of head, bowing of knee (optional) and mumbling of words to an unknown being. How must this seem to God?
Here's a challenge for us all. Go one week without calling 911. Only talk to God to become more like him or to thank him for allowing you to live in a country free of cyclones and earthquakes. If you're feeling especially eager, pray on behalf of the hundreds of thousands who've lost their lives and the millions who feel like they have. Try it and see what happens. You'll either realize how superstious you really are or you'll be relieved to know you actually care.
John
Friday, May 09, 2008
Junta
I awoke this morning to 6 inches of snow. It's May 9 so that's cool. I thought about complaining but then I remembered my "smack with a newspaper" comment from the previous post so I said nothing. I also awoke to discover the Junta Military in Myanmar has seized the latest food shipment, confiscating it from the UN. That's right, seized. This is the worst example of "biting the hand that feeds you" I have heard of. In the UN's words, "the food is now sitting on the tarmac doing no good." The food was destined to feed 95,000 people.
I barely even know what to say. What military regime is so twisted that it would deny life saving food and medical supplies to thier own countrymen all because "they're wary of outsiders"? The Junta have behaved appalingly and should be ashamed. Part of me wonders when it becomes time for outside interferance, although in saying this, I realize the implications and the thousand cans of worms it would open. For instance, many would argue the U.S. "interfered" in Iraq and look where that's gotten us. At the same time, the Allies "interfered" in Nazi Germany and virtually all would feel good about that.
Bottom Line: Injustice sucks huge.
John
I barely even know what to say. What military regime is so twisted that it would deny life saving food and medical supplies to thier own countrymen all because "they're wary of outsiders"? The Junta have behaved appalingly and should be ashamed. Part of me wonders when it becomes time for outside interferance, although in saying this, I realize the implications and the thousand cans of worms it would open. For instance, many would argue the U.S. "interfered" in Iraq and look where that's gotten us. At the same time, the Allies "interfered" in Nazi Germany and virtually all would feel good about that.
Bottom Line: Injustice sucks huge.
John
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Myanmar. "A la la la"
The first estimate was in the thousands. And then the tens of thousands. Now. . .100,000. Some experts believe the losses could rival The Tsunami from 4 years ago. I can scarce believe it. The storm, the loss of life, the pride of the Junta. Dozens die every hour yet only now are relief planes "allowed" to bring hope. I can't imagine being a Burma resident and knowing the only reason my ailing infant will never get better is because my government is "skeptical and wary of outsiders." The frustration, anger, grief and despair has got to be choking the hope right out these people. Many are probably wondering where God is. He's stuck at the border, that's where.
It's difficult for North Americans to know what to do in these situations so usually we avoid these kind of things. I can't tell you how many people I know who actually refuse to read the paper or watch the news because they don't want to be constantly reminded of "depressing things like this." Amazingly, when these same people experience tragedies of their own no amount of Emails, Facebooks, Blogs or Bulletins could cover their hardships enough. I don't mean to be harsh here, I just don't think closing our eyes, plugging our ears and repeating "a la la la" is what God's Kingdom Bearers are called to do. I think we're called to more.
Here's some of the more:
Prayer is usally option #2 after "a la la la" and it's a good option. We can ask God to soften the hearts of the Junta. We can ask God to blow open the Burma borders so salvation can roll on in. We can ask God to stop the disease from spreading. We can ask God to comfort the heartbroken and bring hope to those in despair. We can even ask God to soften our own hearts so we're available to be his hands and feet.
We can send money. Many organizations, including World Vision, are right now accepting donations. Millions of pounds of food, water, medical supplies and clothing will need to be purchased. You can get involved by helping with that purchase.
Perhaps most importantly, we can live grateful lives. Next time you or anyone you know complains about the "stupid weather" you have my permission to smack them with a newspaper and then tell them to read the front page. Oh the things we complain about in Eden.
Most of you who read this thing live in Calgary or Regina, which means you are living in two of the richest cities in North America. Live grateful lives!. And for God sake, don't plug your ears. Educate yourselves, stay in the know. How can you care if you don't?
John
P.S. You may remember Kori and Lisa went to Myanmar just a few months back. Go here to relive their favorite place. And actually, Kori just penned his own reflections on this tragedy so make sure you check them out. As usual they are thought provoking.
It's difficult for North Americans to know what to do in these situations so usually we avoid these kind of things. I can't tell you how many people I know who actually refuse to read the paper or watch the news because they don't want to be constantly reminded of "depressing things like this." Amazingly, when these same people experience tragedies of their own no amount of Emails, Facebooks, Blogs or Bulletins could cover their hardships enough. I don't mean to be harsh here, I just don't think closing our eyes, plugging our ears and repeating "a la la la" is what God's Kingdom Bearers are called to do. I think we're called to more.
Here's some of the more:
Prayer is usally option #2 after "a la la la" and it's a good option. We can ask God to soften the hearts of the Junta. We can ask God to blow open the Burma borders so salvation can roll on in. We can ask God to stop the disease from spreading. We can ask God to comfort the heartbroken and bring hope to those in despair. We can even ask God to soften our own hearts so we're available to be his hands and feet.
We can send money. Many organizations, including World Vision, are right now accepting donations. Millions of pounds of food, water, medical supplies and clothing will need to be purchased. You can get involved by helping with that purchase.
Perhaps most importantly, we can live grateful lives. Next time you or anyone you know complains about the "stupid weather" you have my permission to smack them with a newspaper and then tell them to read the front page. Oh the things we complain about in Eden.
Most of you who read this thing live in Calgary or Regina, which means you are living in two of the richest cities in North America. Live grateful lives!. And for God sake, don't plug your ears. Educate yourselves, stay in the know. How can you care if you don't?
John
P.S. You may remember Kori and Lisa went to Myanmar just a few months back. Go here to relive their favorite place. And actually, Kori just penned his own reflections on this tragedy so make sure you check them out. As usual they are thought provoking.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Living our lives
In the excellent movie Stranger than Fiction, the main character, one Harold Crick, lives his life on a watch. At no point in the movie does Harold attempt to live outside his watch or buck societal norms by refusing to board it's conveyer belt. Harold is content to ride the belt, doing the same thing every day, and never pauses to ask "is this really the life I want to live? "
The first time I watched this movie, my heart pounded. While I share very little in common with Harold, as I watched, I realized that I too boarded the same conveyer belt. . .and it scared the hell out of me. I have watched the movie 3-4 times since and each time the pounding returned, as if my heart was trying to tell me something.
It's funny how easy it is to ignore one's heart. For years mine pounded but I listened to conventional wisdom instead. In many ways, coventional wisdom is little more then "security salesmen hocking fear at the cost of our lives." I have written about this before so I will swiftly move on but it's worth noting again as it explains this.
2 months ago we got off. No more belt riding for the Closes. In an act of pure insanity we decided that we would puruse our dreams instead. As long as we can remember we've wanted to travel the world, experiencing other culture's worldviews and beauty. Like most people, our dream was constructed in a pipe, and like most, we never inhaled. Let me tell you, that first drag was amazing. We were dizzy for days. "We're gonna travel the world?!??!?!?!?" I remember wondering "are we even allowed?" Indeed. Conventional wisdom had done its work.
Since then, we've had our heads buried in travel books, maps and monitors. Apparently the world's a big place. A full year's devotion to its exploration only allows the speediest of travelers a brief peek. It's been a mixture of pain and exhilaration saying yes to some destinations and no to others. Just recently we decided the $1500 wasn't worth it to see Paris for 3 days, especially when, for the same money, we could live in Laos for a month. Pain and exhilaration. We've also ruled out South America, Eastern Europe, Africa minus Egypt, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand to name a few.
That being said, we have said yes to some including England, France, Spain, Italy and Austria this Fall and Egypt, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Borneo and Myanmar in 2009. Yes, the same Myanmar in the news right now.
We will spend about 40% of our time volunteering, helping people on their organic farms in Europe and teaching English in Asia. We will school our kids on the road giving them an education that will hopefully change them, and us, for life.
We have 4 months so a lot more planning is still to come but that's the big picture anyways.
We fly out September 20. At this point, we don't have a targeted date for return. One of the things we wish to do is open ourselves up to God and see what he shows us. Perhaps we'll come across a need and wish to stay longer or more permanent. Perhaps not. Either way, we expect this year to change our lives, at the very least forever eliminate life on a conveyer belt.
We'd LOVE for you to join us along our journey, even for a week. Truly, we already have people who are planning on doing just that and we'd love to add your names to the list. Let's experience Planet Earth together!
John and Ang
The first time I watched this movie, my heart pounded. While I share very little in common with Harold, as I watched, I realized that I too boarded the same conveyer belt. . .and it scared the hell out of me. I have watched the movie 3-4 times since and each time the pounding returned, as if my heart was trying to tell me something.
It's funny how easy it is to ignore one's heart. For years mine pounded but I listened to conventional wisdom instead. In many ways, coventional wisdom is little more then "security salesmen hocking fear at the cost of our lives." I have written about this before so I will swiftly move on but it's worth noting again as it explains this.
2 months ago we got off. No more belt riding for the Closes. In an act of pure insanity we decided that we would puruse our dreams instead. As long as we can remember we've wanted to travel the world, experiencing other culture's worldviews and beauty. Like most people, our dream was constructed in a pipe, and like most, we never inhaled. Let me tell you, that first drag was amazing. We were dizzy for days. "We're gonna travel the world?!??!?!?!?" I remember wondering "are we even allowed?" Indeed. Conventional wisdom had done its work.
Since then, we've had our heads buried in travel books, maps and monitors. Apparently the world's a big place. A full year's devotion to its exploration only allows the speediest of travelers a brief peek. It's been a mixture of pain and exhilaration saying yes to some destinations and no to others. Just recently we decided the $1500 wasn't worth it to see Paris for 3 days, especially when, for the same money, we could live in Laos for a month. Pain and exhilaration. We've also ruled out South America, Eastern Europe, Africa minus Egypt, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand to name a few.
That being said, we have said yes to some including England, France, Spain, Italy and Austria this Fall and Egypt, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Borneo and Myanmar in 2009. Yes, the same Myanmar in the news right now.
We will spend about 40% of our time volunteering, helping people on their organic farms in Europe and teaching English in Asia. We will school our kids on the road giving them an education that will hopefully change them, and us, for life.
We have 4 months so a lot more planning is still to come but that's the big picture anyways.
We fly out September 20. At this point, we don't have a targeted date for return. One of the things we wish to do is open ourselves up to God and see what he shows us. Perhaps we'll come across a need and wish to stay longer or more permanent. Perhaps not. Either way, we expect this year to change our lives, at the very least forever eliminate life on a conveyer belt.
We'd LOVE for you to join us along our journey, even for a week. Truly, we already have people who are planning on doing just that and we'd love to add your names to the list. Let's experience Planet Earth together!
John and Ang
Monday, April 28, 2008
Get Bent
It's 12:08am and I've just arrived home after sharing lagers and chicken wings with 4 remarkable 20 somethings. Tyler Butel, Nick Olson, Bonnie Casella, Eric Goud. Take a bow. This time tomorrow these 4 fearless folk will be 30000 feet up on their way to Calcutta. From there Nick is really hoping his buddy comes through because "he might have to work the night shift and he really needs to give us a ride."
For those of you who don't know, for the next 6 weeks, these Fab 4 are heading to a remote part of India to help Ray McMillan and his mission. To me, these guys are living examples of the kind of thing I wrote about in my previous post. Instead of doing the SECURE thing (working) they are using $4000+ of their own money to invest in something much bigger then conventional wisdom. In short, they are living their lives. And I have nothing but respect for each one of them. Nice job guys. I pray dozens follow in your footsteps.
John
P.S. Speaking of security, this morning I announced my resignation to the church. We've decided to follow our dreams and travel the world for a year. We leave September 20! I'll write about it soon.
For those of you who don't know, for the next 6 weeks, these Fab 4 are heading to a remote part of India to help Ray McMillan and his mission. To me, these guys are living examples of the kind of thing I wrote about in my previous post. Instead of doing the SECURE thing (working) they are using $4000+ of their own money to invest in something much bigger then conventional wisdom. In short, they are living their lives. And I have nothing but respect for each one of them. Nice job guys. I pray dozens follow in your footsteps.
John
P.S. Speaking of security, this morning I announced my resignation to the church. We've decided to follow our dreams and travel the world for a year. We leave September 20! I'll write about it soon.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Fear sucks. So does security.
15 days. This thing's not the easiest thing to keep current. Sorry to my 4 readers.
Anyways, I've had some thoughts running suicides in my head as of late so I figure its time I got them out. They'll be disjointed. But so is your mom.
Fear
Growing up I feared my own shadow. Sure it was my size but it was dark and juxtaposed, plus it followed me everywhere. It wasn't just that though. One time some friends of mine convinced me there was a midget living 1000 yards from my house in some old pipes. The midget was small but mean as the dread pirate robert. Even worse, he was always listening, which meant if I told my parents he'd slit my throat while I slept. I wasted two weeks living in mortal fear until one night I couldn't take it anymore and I burst. When I awoke the next morning I realized the midget couldn't read thoughts or. . . my friends were lying bastards. The midget was never found, so I'm pretty sure it was the latter. Paul Quilliams was a mean little man. But I love him now, especially his drawings.
As I grew up and became a man I disobeyed the bible and didn't leave childish things behind me. I still lived in fear, although, now I feared injury, illness, needles and heights. As a result, I was ineffective at hockey, a wimp with the flu, I couldn't donate the blood that was apparently "in me to give" but even worse, I never experienced the pleasures of balcony life. If you think those are silly, I also feared other people's opinions of me, never finding a girlfriend, and my walk. It was a silly walk. Still is for the most part. "For the last time, no, there is not a broom up there."
Time passed, as time does, and I finally met a girl who fancied my nose. I felt like the luckiest man alive, still do actually. I was in my 2o's now so you'd think fear would have been a forgotten part of my youth. But it managed to keep following me. Manifesting itself in other more "adult" ways. Rides at the midway for instance (ok, so not so adult), walking home in the dark, getting in a fight, dying of a heart attack. The list goes on. At least I was funny. Yeah, that's about all I had going for me. Because the truth is: I was a timid, yellow bellied coward. Courage was NOT my middle name. It was George. Like the monkey.
I turned 28. As the year began, something was different. Like my brain had suddenly realized 30 was no longer a lifetime away. The next few months were dominated by conflicted thoughts. The thoughts grew in intensity until finally they burst. One night, I had a full blown panic attack and the attacks continued on and off for 2 months. At the time, I thought I was dying, that my heart really was being attacked - just as I had feared for so long. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't think. I even checked my blood pressure on the machines at Safeway every day fearing the end was near. I was trapped. Caught up in a fear box. And it was quickly being nailed shut. As scared as I was I finally realized my life literally depended on my getting it together. So I did the unthinkable.
I looked fear in the eye and didn't avert. In that moment, I think for the first time, I saw fear for what it was. A scarecrow. Mean veneer, nothing inside. I realized I had lived my entire life fearing straw.
Since that realization I've made a life, literally, by confronting my fears. Embarassingly so, sometimes. To cure my fear of needles and nausea, I actually went to the hospital ER and just. . .walked around. I booked a doctors appointment and requested that they take blood. I went to the carnival and went on all the rides. I went to highrises, road up to the highest floor and for the first time enjoyed the pleasures of balcony life. Last month I went SKYDIVING in South Carolina which for someone with my FEAR history, was a miracle.
The point is, I no longer live in fear. In fact, most of the time I live fearless. I'm convinced half of the 4 people who read this thing, live in fear of something. Don't do that! You have 1 life to live and have never been assured it'll last 90 years.
I am convinced the god of this age is not money, but SECURITY. Financial, physical, emotional, spiritual. We work and live to be secure and why do we do that? No where in scripture will you ever find Jesus living to be secure. If anything, his lack of security is what got him killed. Jesus was fearless KNOWING he did not have 90 years. So he lived his life for today.
Besides, what would you gain if you secured the world but in the end lost your soul?
John
Anyways, I've had some thoughts running suicides in my head as of late so I figure its time I got them out. They'll be disjointed. But so is your mom.
Fear
Growing up I feared my own shadow. Sure it was my size but it was dark and juxtaposed, plus it followed me everywhere. It wasn't just that though. One time some friends of mine convinced me there was a midget living 1000 yards from my house in some old pipes. The midget was small but mean as the dread pirate robert. Even worse, he was always listening, which meant if I told my parents he'd slit my throat while I slept. I wasted two weeks living in mortal fear until one night I couldn't take it anymore and I burst. When I awoke the next morning I realized the midget couldn't read thoughts or. . . my friends were lying bastards. The midget was never found, so I'm pretty sure it was the latter. Paul Quilliams was a mean little man. But I love him now, especially his drawings.
As I grew up and became a man I disobeyed the bible and didn't leave childish things behind me. I still lived in fear, although, now I feared injury, illness, needles and heights. As a result, I was ineffective at hockey, a wimp with the flu, I couldn't donate the blood that was apparently "in me to give" but even worse, I never experienced the pleasures of balcony life. If you think those are silly, I also feared other people's opinions of me, never finding a girlfriend, and my walk. It was a silly walk. Still is for the most part. "For the last time, no, there is not a broom up there."
Time passed, as time does, and I finally met a girl who fancied my nose. I felt like the luckiest man alive, still do actually. I was in my 2o's now so you'd think fear would have been a forgotten part of my youth. But it managed to keep following me. Manifesting itself in other more "adult" ways. Rides at the midway for instance (ok, so not so adult), walking home in the dark, getting in a fight, dying of a heart attack. The list goes on. At least I was funny. Yeah, that's about all I had going for me. Because the truth is: I was a timid, yellow bellied coward. Courage was NOT my middle name. It was George. Like the monkey.
I turned 28. As the year began, something was different. Like my brain had suddenly realized 30 was no longer a lifetime away. The next few months were dominated by conflicted thoughts. The thoughts grew in intensity until finally they burst. One night, I had a full blown panic attack and the attacks continued on and off for 2 months. At the time, I thought I was dying, that my heart really was being attacked - just as I had feared for so long. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't think. I even checked my blood pressure on the machines at Safeway every day fearing the end was near. I was trapped. Caught up in a fear box. And it was quickly being nailed shut. As scared as I was I finally realized my life literally depended on my getting it together. So I did the unthinkable.
I looked fear in the eye and didn't avert. In that moment, I think for the first time, I saw fear for what it was. A scarecrow. Mean veneer, nothing inside. I realized I had lived my entire life fearing straw.
Since that realization I've made a life, literally, by confronting my fears. Embarassingly so, sometimes. To cure my fear of needles and nausea, I actually went to the hospital ER and just. . .walked around. I booked a doctors appointment and requested that they take blood. I went to the carnival and went on all the rides. I went to highrises, road up to the highest floor and for the first time enjoyed the pleasures of balcony life. Last month I went SKYDIVING in South Carolina which for someone with my FEAR history, was a miracle.
The point is, I no longer live in fear. In fact, most of the time I live fearless. I'm convinced half of the 4 people who read this thing, live in fear of something. Don't do that! You have 1 life to live and have never been assured it'll last 90 years.
I am convinced the god of this age is not money, but SECURITY. Financial, physical, emotional, spiritual. We work and live to be secure and why do we do that? No where in scripture will you ever find Jesus living to be secure. If anything, his lack of security is what got him killed. Jesus was fearless KNOWING he did not have 90 years. So he lived his life for today.
Besides, what would you gain if you secured the world but in the end lost your soul?
John
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sam Harris
This is what sets Sam Harris apart from other Athiests. He doesn't allow his hate for religion, and he has a lot, to deny the possibility of the sacred. In fact, in this speech he encourages his fellow athiests not to make the same mistake. He recieved a great deal of flack for saying what he did - from athiests.
While I don't agree with many things Harris says, I do find his quest for reason admirable and I believe Christians, if they can grow thicker skin, stand to learn a lot from the things he says.
John
While I don't agree with many things Harris says, I do find his quest for reason admirable and I believe Christians, if they can grow thicker skin, stand to learn a lot from the things he says.
John
More Smatterings
* The Calgary Herald weather dude called for Sunny and 18 today. Right now it's a whiteout and Angie actually had to turn back from driving the kids to school because as she described it "I was driving through 2 feet of snow, sliding in and out of lanes, and I can't see a thing." Now I understand that weather is subject to the elements, hell, weather is the elements, but how can a guy whose life calling is to report the weather - be that far off. I'm thinking he phoned today's forecast in.
* Water treatment plants are crucial to insuring that the water of every village, town and city is safe and most importantly, drinkable. Calgary's is consistently the best in the biz but nothing prepared it or anyone else for what they found 2 days ago. Go here to find out.
* If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins the most? I’d say Flippy, wouldn’t you? You’d be wrong, though. It’s Hambone.”
* The Calgary Flames won last night, beating the Sharks 3-2. For the third year in a row I've picked the Sharks to win it all and I've even gone so far as to bet money on it by choosing half Sharks in my hockey pool. They lost though. To the Flames. *$%$*.
* New Kids on the block are making a comeback. They want their posters back hanging tough.
* For the fifth year in a row, the teens and I are participating in World Vision's 30 hr Famine. Every year we've increased our funds topping out last year at $5000. Our goal this year is to beat that, and we're off to a good start. One of the participants has already raised $1000 himself.
* Sara and Josiah, funniest friends ever, are coming over tomorrow night to watch There Will be Blood. Every time they come over they get lost somewhere in Martindale Gate. Seriously, it'll be like 27 minutes past they time they were supposed to arrive and the phone will ring, "hey John, this is Josiah, we're soooo lost, I think we're in Martindale Gate or something." The funny thing is they say that every time, as if it's the first time. Well, forget this getting lost business. Here's the directions:
1. Leave the down town core.
2. Take Memorial to Deerfoot North.
3. Take Deerfoot North to McKnight Blvd East.
4. Take McKnight Blvd East to Falconridge Blvd.
5. Take Falconridge Blvd past Pizza Hut. Go through the Lights (assuming they're green)
6. Turn left at the next Lights.
7. Continue till you pass a school on your right. O.S. Geiger.
8. Take your next left after the school. Castlebrook Way.
9. You are now on the street where your friends John and Angie live.
10. We're at the end, on the corner. #87.
11. If you happen to get lost, please feel free to call us at 207-1966.
12. See you soon.
John
* Water treatment plants are crucial to insuring that the water of every village, town and city is safe and most importantly, drinkable. Calgary's is consistently the best in the biz but nothing prepared it or anyone else for what they found 2 days ago. Go here to find out.
* If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins the most? I’d say Flippy, wouldn’t you? You’d be wrong, though. It’s Hambone.”
* The Calgary Flames won last night, beating the Sharks 3-2. For the third year in a row I've picked the Sharks to win it all and I've even gone so far as to bet money on it by choosing half Sharks in my hockey pool. They lost though. To the Flames. *$%$*.
* New Kids on the block are making a comeback. They want their posters back hanging tough.
* For the fifth year in a row, the teens and I are participating in World Vision's 30 hr Famine. Every year we've increased our funds topping out last year at $5000. Our goal this year is to beat that, and we're off to a good start. One of the participants has already raised $1000 himself.
* Sara and Josiah, funniest friends ever, are coming over tomorrow night to watch There Will be Blood. Every time they come over they get lost somewhere in Martindale Gate. Seriously, it'll be like 27 minutes past they time they were supposed to arrive and the phone will ring, "hey John, this is Josiah, we're soooo lost, I think we're in Martindale Gate or something." The funny thing is they say that every time, as if it's the first time. Well, forget this getting lost business. Here's the directions:
1. Leave the down town core.
2. Take Memorial to Deerfoot North.
3. Take Deerfoot North to McKnight Blvd East.
4. Take McKnight Blvd East to Falconridge Blvd.
5. Take Falconridge Blvd past Pizza Hut. Go through the Lights (assuming they're green)
6. Turn left at the next Lights.
7. Continue till you pass a school on your right. O.S. Geiger.
8. Take your next left after the school. Castlebrook Way.
9. You are now on the street where your friends John and Angie live.
10. We're at the end, on the corner. #87.
11. If you happen to get lost, please feel free to call us at 207-1966.
12. See you soon.
John
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Playoff talk and a smattering of other things
I just got off the phone with Kirk Roberts. Kirk was "hoping to talk to Kelly but since he's not here, ok, I guess I'll talk to you John." Kirk is as passionate about his Canucks as I am about my Oilers. We consoled each other for awhile and then that was that. Kirk is my cousin and apparently reads my blog so I figured if people like Kirk take the time to read my blog, perhaps I should update it.
Although I'm pained about my Oilers I have moved on enough to enter into some hockey pools. Today at lunch I picked my 10 and 1 goalie. We alternate picks based on the number we drew so each person picks every 10 players or so. Yep, the good players get scooped up real quick. That being said, I'm the man and was able to still snipe some good ones. Here they are:
San Jose (my pick to win it all)
- Thornton (my first pick)
- Cheechoo
- Michalek
- Roenick
Anaheim
- Selanne
- Pronger
- Niedermeyer
Washington (my dark horse)
- Backstrom
- Semin
Rangers
- Jagr
- Lundqvist (my goalie pick. anyone with 4 consonants in a row deserves a shot)
Sorry Habs fans but they all got scooped up before I even had a chance. Oh, and sorry Flames fans, the day I pick you for anything will be the same day I start lactating.
Speaking of lactating, anyone see the NCAA final last night? Memphis shot like 2% on free throws and in the end it cost them the game. They were leading by 9 with 2 minutes left but Chalmers hit a CLUTCH 3 at the buzzer tying it up and sending it to overtime. The rest is history. 2% is an exaggertation but it went well with my lactating joke.
Besides sports, we finally finished our kitchen cupboards. We ordered them last year, painted them 6 months ago, then took a break before finally putting them up Saturday. I love home renovations, which is why I took so long to put them up. Some things are meant to be savored.
A couple weeks ago we took the family to "the big giant mall" in Edmonton. As I arrived I was greeted by the classic "City of Champions sign." Sometimes irony hurts.
What didn't hurt was seeing my 7 yr old son slide down the 100 ft screamer. Braver boy then I was at that age. When I was 7, I was screaming and banging "help, help, oh daddy please help." I had locked myself in the Grandma Lee's Restaurant bathroom and couldn't turn the door because my hands were too slippery from the soap. (Note: I couldn't rinse my hands off either because I couldn't turn the taps because of the said soap. Later it occured to me that I could have rinsed them off in the toilet.) We stayed in the Igloo room complete with our own jacuzzi and adult movie options, a must for every Family room. I remember the Mall feeling magical when I was younger, now the magic is seeing it in my kids.
As far as what I'm reading, watching and listening to. . . I'm no J bandura but here it goes:
Reading: The End of Faith; Guns, Germs and Steel, Pillars of the Earth,
Watching: The Gilmore Girls Season 6 (I really want to be embarassed here but I can't, that snappy dialogue had me at hello); There Will be Blood, Sam Harris on Youtube
Listening to: Juno Soundtrack, My wife, The Fan 960am
Speaking of my wife, she's pretty much my best friend. Greatest girl ever. To show my love, I tried to Michael Cera serenade her Juno style but apparently it was awkward, which is sooooo un Michael Cera.
I preach April 20 on a topic I have a lot to say about but am hamstrung by the 20 minute rule. I'm speaking on the role the church must have in the Kingdom of God. And no, they're not the same thing.
I have an Elders meeting in about 23 minutes. Apparently they discovered the true identity of the plants growing in my office.
John
Although I'm pained about my Oilers I have moved on enough to enter into some hockey pools. Today at lunch I picked my 10 and 1 goalie. We alternate picks based on the number we drew so each person picks every 10 players or so. Yep, the good players get scooped up real quick. That being said, I'm the man and was able to still snipe some good ones. Here they are:
San Jose (my pick to win it all)
- Thornton (my first pick)
- Cheechoo
- Michalek
- Roenick
Anaheim
- Selanne
- Pronger
- Niedermeyer
Washington (my dark horse)
- Backstrom
- Semin
Rangers
- Jagr
- Lundqvist (my goalie pick. anyone with 4 consonants in a row deserves a shot)
Sorry Habs fans but they all got scooped up before I even had a chance. Oh, and sorry Flames fans, the day I pick you for anything will be the same day I start lactating.
Speaking of lactating, anyone see the NCAA final last night? Memphis shot like 2% on free throws and in the end it cost them the game. They were leading by 9 with 2 minutes left but Chalmers hit a CLUTCH 3 at the buzzer tying it up and sending it to overtime. The rest is history. 2% is an exaggertation but it went well with my lactating joke.
Besides sports, we finally finished our kitchen cupboards. We ordered them last year, painted them 6 months ago, then took a break before finally putting them up Saturday. I love home renovations, which is why I took so long to put them up. Some things are meant to be savored.
A couple weeks ago we took the family to "the big giant mall" in Edmonton. As I arrived I was greeted by the classic "City of Champions sign." Sometimes irony hurts.
What didn't hurt was seeing my 7 yr old son slide down the 100 ft screamer. Braver boy then I was at that age. When I was 7, I was screaming and banging "help, help, oh daddy please help." I had locked myself in the Grandma Lee's Restaurant bathroom and couldn't turn the door because my hands were too slippery from the soap. (Note: I couldn't rinse my hands off either because I couldn't turn the taps because of the said soap. Later it occured to me that I could have rinsed them off in the toilet.) We stayed in the Igloo room complete with our own jacuzzi and adult movie options, a must for every Family room. I remember the Mall feeling magical when I was younger, now the magic is seeing it in my kids.
As far as what I'm reading, watching and listening to. . . I'm no J bandura but here it goes:
Reading: The End of Faith; Guns, Germs and Steel, Pillars of the Earth,
Watching: The Gilmore Girls Season 6 (I really want to be embarassed here but I can't, that snappy dialogue had me at hello); There Will be Blood, Sam Harris on Youtube
Listening to: Juno Soundtrack, My wife, The Fan 960am
Speaking of my wife, she's pretty much my best friend. Greatest girl ever. To show my love, I tried to Michael Cera serenade her Juno style but apparently it was awkward, which is sooooo un Michael Cera.
I preach April 20 on a topic I have a lot to say about but am hamstrung by the 20 minute rule. I'm speaking on the role the church must have in the Kingdom of God. And no, they're not the same thing.
I have an Elders meeting in about 23 minutes. Apparently they discovered the true identity of the plants growing in my office.
John
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
My Oilers
Man what a difference 3 minutes makes. The Euphoria I felt when Glencross scored was nothing compared to the heartbreak I felt when the buzzer sounded and it was still 3-2. Even after Nolan scored I totally believed we were going to tie it up, we sure had our chances.
The hardest part for me was knowing we were the better team last night and because of that, I felt we deserved the win. Tanguay said in today's paper "the Oilers dominated us." I agree.
Hemsky's injury was unfortunate but after a year of 350 man games lost to injury including our Captain, Goalie, Top Defensemen and Scorer, not all that surprising.
In the end, life goes on. Sigh. 2 years, no playoffs. Sigh. And so, I look to the brightside "all the players get to go home to their families." That was Angie's way of trying to brighten my mood this morning. Thanks dear. I feel loads better.
So. . .as promised - Go HABS!
John
The hardest part for me was knowing we were the better team last night and because of that, I felt we deserved the win. Tanguay said in today's paper "the Oilers dominated us." I agree.
Hemsky's injury was unfortunate but after a year of 350 man games lost to injury including our Captain, Goalie, Top Defensemen and Scorer, not all that surprising.
In the end, life goes on. Sigh. 2 years, no playoffs. Sigh. And so, I look to the brightside "all the players get to go home to their families." That was Angie's way of trying to brighten my mood this morning. Thanks dear. I feel loads better.
So. . .as promised - Go HABS!
John
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter Meaning
Once again Easter has come and gone. Last year I wrote a treatise on its meaning so I guess I'm off the hook for this year. "Good" Friday "celebrates" one of the more depressing events in our planets history - the good guy dies in the end. Because of this, I've always felt the need to watch ridiculously depressing movies to remind myself just how depressing Good Friday really is. Not much logic to it I know, its just something I do. In the past I've watched The Passion of the Christ or Jesus Chainsaw Massacre (as Brian McLaren calls it) as well as a movie called Nine Lives.
This year I changed it up a bit and watched Magnolia. I had seen it 3 times before which is why I chose it. Magnolia is an emotional Everest complete with the difficult breathing. It's directed by the brilliant Paul Thomas Anderson who was like 28 when he made it. It stars Tom Cruise who plays a crazed lunatic intent on controlling people - a role that narrowly won him an Oscar. Based on his latest Scientology videos and unauthorized autobiography, I now know why he lost. All craziness aside, Mr. Cruise was very effective in this role as well was his supporting cast. For 2 and a half hours, the movie follows the lives of broken people, chronicling their dysfuntion and despair in heart breaking fashion. Many times I found myself begging for a life preserver but P.T. shook his head and kept filming. This is where his brilliance lies. Most directors would have thrown the life preserver long before and then entertained you until you reached shore. Not this director. He never throws it. He forces you to feel their pain. In the end he allowed a whisper of redemption but the damage had already been done.
As the words came on Angie said something to the effect of "thanks for a great Easter." I felt pretty bad so all I could think of to say was "we'll watch something super happy on Sunday." And we did. Rory got together with Logan on Gilmore Girls Season 5.
So there you have it. Friday sucked, Sunday was Super Awesome. All in all it was a meaningful Easter.
John
This year I changed it up a bit and watched Magnolia. I had seen it 3 times before which is why I chose it. Magnolia is an emotional Everest complete with the difficult breathing. It's directed by the brilliant Paul Thomas Anderson who was like 28 when he made it. It stars Tom Cruise who plays a crazed lunatic intent on controlling people - a role that narrowly won him an Oscar. Based on his latest Scientology videos and unauthorized autobiography, I now know why he lost. All craziness aside, Mr. Cruise was very effective in this role as well was his supporting cast. For 2 and a half hours, the movie follows the lives of broken people, chronicling their dysfuntion and despair in heart breaking fashion. Many times I found myself begging for a life preserver but P.T. shook his head and kept filming. This is where his brilliance lies. Most directors would have thrown the life preserver long before and then entertained you until you reached shore. Not this director. He never throws it. He forces you to feel their pain. In the end he allowed a whisper of redemption but the damage had already been done.
As the words came on Angie said something to the effect of "thanks for a great Easter." I felt pretty bad so all I could think of to say was "we'll watch something super happy on Sunday." And we did. Rory got together with Logan on Gilmore Girls Season 5.
So there you have it. Friday sucked, Sunday was Super Awesome. All in all it was a meaningful Easter.
John
Saturday, March 15, 2008
My Skydive
So here's how it went down. I had just finished preaching and was talking to people in the lobby. My dad came up and said - do you know who you're talking to - to which I replied, uh, I think he said his name is Kyle - to which my dad said - yes, but do you know what he does for a living - I didn't. He's a professional skydiver. Seriously? Seriously. I've always wanted to do that. How bout this afternoon. My face went white. Uh, maybe. Kyle began to laugh, that's usually what happens, people are all brave until they are actually given the choice. Damn. Let me just go talk to my nephew. Luke - wanna go skydiving? Yeh man. Sweet, we're going in 3 hours. Cool. Kyle, we're in. Seriously? Oh, I'm serious Kyle, no cowards here. Allright, let me make a few calls. 6 minutes pass. Ok, we're set for 330pm. Go have lunch and then we'll meet at the Burger King just before Chester. Allright man. Oh and John. Yeah? It's on me, my gift to you.
Fast forward 3 hours. Luke and I arrive at the site. Hey boys, are you ready, it's a beautiful day to jump out of a plane. We both nod, all cool like. Ok, well follow me, we have some forms for you to fill out and you need to watch a video. The video begins. "The activity you are about to engage in is highly dangerous. You could die." You hear that Luke, we could die. We start to laugh. Better then soiling ourselves. We sign the forms. No I won't sue you if I die. I figure that's a safe enough thing to promise.
Lets get you boys suited up. We get suited. The uniform fits snug, like an unwelcome hug from a creepy 46 yr old. Looking good boys, follow me. We do. Next thing we know we're in a hanger full of other crazy people just like us. We get our gear on. Literally, not in the cool sense of the meaning. A guy films me, peppering me with questions. I try to be natural. Oxymoron. The gear fits even tighter then the uniform. I remember not minding under the circumstances. Tight usually means secure which usually means safe - which means I live. The plane pulls up. Time to load up. We walk to the plane in slow motion.
It'll be about a 20 minute flight so sit back and relax. haha. The twin otter is full, my legs have become chairs for the people on the left and right of me. We take off. I feel at peace, very excited. As we fly I try to talk to Kyle but we can't really hear each other. The camera comes out again, I act natural. Smile and what not. It's almost time now. I sit on Kyle's knee so we can hook up. Rephrase that. I sit on Kyle's knee so he can hook up to me. I don't mind since he's the one with the parachute. Plus, he's paying for it so its the least I can do. The people on my left are jumping out of the plane. It's almost time.
I walk up to the opening with a grown man strapped to my back. I squat. He squats. He says ready set, like we rehearsed. I never hear Go. I look and leap before I can freak. I expect my body to react, punish me for not consulting with it first. No punishment comes. I'm Tom Pettying at 120mph. It's the most intense, euphoric, freeing feeling I've ever felt. The camera comes out again. I try and look at it but its difficult while plummeting towards the earth at 120 mph. The wind is forcing my mouth open so I just yell and stick out my tongue. It feels like I'm flying. Truly. It's not like when you go down a mammoth roller coaster or even the free fall at Kenosee. It feels more like floating. I remember thinking, I hope this never ends. Then I feel a tug.
The parachute says hello. We float for 5 minutes until we touch down. As we float Kyle and I chat about this and that including the mountains to the west, and city to the north. We even cover the proper way to land. Whoa, the ground's getting closer I say. Kyle laughs. We're still 1000ft away. I'm dumb. We keep floating. Now we're close. I lift up my legs so I don't snap them in two as Kyle says and we touch down skidding on my heels and buttocks. I feel thankful for all the padding back there, but most of all I'm glad I'm alive. I feel 10x the man from the hour before.
6 days have passed. Not an hour goes by without thoughts skyward. As amazing as it was the best part was waiting 3 days to tell my wife what I did. I get home and say "here's some highlights from the weekend." She thinks its me speaking so she tunes out. Wait, what, what are you doing? haha. I'm the man.
John
Fast forward 3 hours. Luke and I arrive at the site. Hey boys, are you ready, it's a beautiful day to jump out of a plane. We both nod, all cool like. Ok, well follow me, we have some forms for you to fill out and you need to watch a video. The video begins. "The activity you are about to engage in is highly dangerous. You could die." You hear that Luke, we could die. We start to laugh. Better then soiling ourselves. We sign the forms. No I won't sue you if I die. I figure that's a safe enough thing to promise.
Lets get you boys suited up. We get suited. The uniform fits snug, like an unwelcome hug from a creepy 46 yr old. Looking good boys, follow me. We do. Next thing we know we're in a hanger full of other crazy people just like us. We get our gear on. Literally, not in the cool sense of the meaning. A guy films me, peppering me with questions. I try to be natural. Oxymoron. The gear fits even tighter then the uniform. I remember not minding under the circumstances. Tight usually means secure which usually means safe - which means I live. The plane pulls up. Time to load up. We walk to the plane in slow motion.
It'll be about a 20 minute flight so sit back and relax. haha. The twin otter is full, my legs have become chairs for the people on the left and right of me. We take off. I feel at peace, very excited. As we fly I try to talk to Kyle but we can't really hear each other. The camera comes out again, I act natural. Smile and what not. It's almost time now. I sit on Kyle's knee so we can hook up. Rephrase that. I sit on Kyle's knee so he can hook up to me. I don't mind since he's the one with the parachute. Plus, he's paying for it so its the least I can do. The people on my left are jumping out of the plane. It's almost time.
I walk up to the opening with a grown man strapped to my back. I squat. He squats. He says ready set, like we rehearsed. I never hear Go. I look and leap before I can freak. I expect my body to react, punish me for not consulting with it first. No punishment comes. I'm Tom Pettying at 120mph. It's the most intense, euphoric, freeing feeling I've ever felt. The camera comes out again. I try and look at it but its difficult while plummeting towards the earth at 120 mph. The wind is forcing my mouth open so I just yell and stick out my tongue. It feels like I'm flying. Truly. It's not like when you go down a mammoth roller coaster or even the free fall at Kenosee. It feels more like floating. I remember thinking, I hope this never ends. Then I feel a tug.
The parachute says hello. We float for 5 minutes until we touch down. As we float Kyle and I chat about this and that including the mountains to the west, and city to the north. We even cover the proper way to land. Whoa, the ground's getting closer I say. Kyle laughs. We're still 1000ft away. I'm dumb. We keep floating. Now we're close. I lift up my legs so I don't snap them in two as Kyle says and we touch down skidding on my heels and buttocks. I feel thankful for all the padding back there, but most of all I'm glad I'm alive. I feel 10x the man from the hour before.
6 days have passed. Not an hour goes by without thoughts skyward. As amazing as it was the best part was waiting 3 days to tell my wife what I did. I get home and say "here's some highlights from the weekend." She thinks its me speaking so she tunes out. Wait, what, what are you doing? haha. I'm the man.
John
Friday, March 14, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tales from Sowth CarolIna
Hey Loyal Readers. Sorry for the non posting, I've been in Sowth CarolIna since Friday. For years I've been telling my brother to bring me down to speak so I could hang out with my family. That sly fox finally did. It's been a great time. I spoke 4 times this weekend including the sermon yesterday. My dream came true when I read this passage of scripture at a proper Southern Church:
"How beautiful you are and how pleasing, O love, with your delights! Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, "I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit." May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, and your mouth like the best wine."
The initial silence in the room was the greatest high of my life but finally somehow couldn't stand it and burst which caused everyone else to burst too. It was one of the rare moments where you know God is in the room. Ha Ha. One lady came up to me after and in all seriousness informed me I should perform at the local comedy club "tomorrow night." I'll think about it, I said. I decided no.
I've really enjoyed my stay. Last night I played football with my nephew Luke and all his ex college players. When I went to get out of bed this morning my right leg said to my left "so I guess we're doing this", to which my left replied "yeah dude, master needs breakfast." Such obedient legs although they're still pretty sore at me.
One of the highlights of the weekend was serving 300 hotdogs to the homeless. When we first showed up there were only 2 homeless people. I was disapointed -"what kind of city only has 2 homeless people. Pfff." Thankfully the word got out and dozens more arrived. I told the group this weekend that I feel closest to God when I'm talking to the homeless. This was no exception. One guy was a dancing machine. We had the windows open and the music going and my man was gone. I watched in awe as he moved and grooved. Later he told me he had taken 18 years of modern dance in NewYork and had even danced backup for MJ, Janet and Soul Train. I believed him, I've never seen such rhythm. After all the hotdogs were eaten and no more dancing was to had, my brother and I drove 6 of them to the shelter, filling up his little truck. When we arrived one of the girls asked me for a hug. It was cool.
I'm only here till Wednesday so I imagine the next few days will be spent smoking, drinking and hugging strange woman. My dad loves being in charge. Speaking of my immoral dad, the time we've spent together has been amazing. One of the truly special things about getting older is how your father also becomes your friend. Speaking of friend, my brother is the best and I can't think of another guy I'd rather spend all my time with then him. Very few people can go toe to toe with me and my. . .oddness like he can. We usually spend 87% of our time together laughing at things innapropriate and pulling our parents chains. Nothings better. My poor mom has had to miss out on the whole thing. While I've been here, she's been in Regina, of all places, for a board meeting. When she found out the date I was coming she experienced a pain on the level of birth. She flies in tonight at Midnight so I'll get a whole 36 hrs with her before I fly back.
We're heading out for lunch, as soon as dad gets out of bed. The last two nights he's stayed up past 3am watching movies. What a guy.
John
P.S. The Oilers just won't let me grieve in peace. They keep keeping hope alive by going 6-1 in their last 7. Part of me wishes they would just throw in the towel because for them to keep this up and then finally lose and miss the playoffs by 2 pts, I just don't think I could handle it.
"How beautiful you are and how pleasing, O love, with your delights! Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, "I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit." May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, and your mouth like the best wine."
The initial silence in the room was the greatest high of my life but finally somehow couldn't stand it and burst which caused everyone else to burst too. It was one of the rare moments where you know God is in the room. Ha Ha. One lady came up to me after and in all seriousness informed me I should perform at the local comedy club "tomorrow night." I'll think about it, I said. I decided no.
I've really enjoyed my stay. Last night I played football with my nephew Luke and all his ex college players. When I went to get out of bed this morning my right leg said to my left "so I guess we're doing this", to which my left replied "yeah dude, master needs breakfast." Such obedient legs although they're still pretty sore at me.
One of the highlights of the weekend was serving 300 hotdogs to the homeless. When we first showed up there were only 2 homeless people. I was disapointed -"what kind of city only has 2 homeless people. Pfff." Thankfully the word got out and dozens more arrived. I told the group this weekend that I feel closest to God when I'm talking to the homeless. This was no exception. One guy was a dancing machine. We had the windows open and the music going and my man was gone. I watched in awe as he moved and grooved. Later he told me he had taken 18 years of modern dance in NewYork and had even danced backup for MJ, Janet and Soul Train. I believed him, I've never seen such rhythm. After all the hotdogs were eaten and no more dancing was to had, my brother and I drove 6 of them to the shelter, filling up his little truck. When we arrived one of the girls asked me for a hug. It was cool.
I'm only here till Wednesday so I imagine the next few days will be spent smoking, drinking and hugging strange woman. My dad loves being in charge. Speaking of my immoral dad, the time we've spent together has been amazing. One of the truly special things about getting older is how your father also becomes your friend. Speaking of friend, my brother is the best and I can't think of another guy I'd rather spend all my time with then him. Very few people can go toe to toe with me and my. . .oddness like he can. We usually spend 87% of our time together laughing at things innapropriate and pulling our parents chains. Nothings better. My poor mom has had to miss out on the whole thing. While I've been here, she's been in Regina, of all places, for a board meeting. When she found out the date I was coming she experienced a pain on the level of birth. She flies in tonight at Midnight so I'll get a whole 36 hrs with her before I fly back.
We're heading out for lunch, as soon as dad gets out of bed. The last two nights he's stayed up past 3am watching movies. What a guy.
John
P.S. The Oilers just won't let me grieve in peace. They keep keeping hope alive by going 6-1 in their last 7. Part of me wishes they would just throw in the towel because for them to keep this up and then finally lose and miss the playoffs by 2 pts, I just don't think I could handle it.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
God and Empire - Your Thoughts Please
Amazon finally ding donged my door Saturday - bringing forth my boxful of books. I was at a Retreat with a whack of teens so I didn't get to peruse until Monday. Guns, Germs and Steel - The End of Faith - God and Empire - I am America and So Can You - The Road -plus a book about coffee - all grinned up at me as I tore open the box. I've had my face in God and Empire ever since.
The premise of the book is Jesus came to innagurate his Kingdom but civilization tends toward Empire. It always has. The book's subtitle is: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now. Crossan has always maintained that it was the treasonous claims of Christ that lead to his crucifixion not God's divine plan of substitutionary atonement. Feel free to switch over to Dictionary.com or Wikipedia at this point. I know I had to. In other words, Jesus didn't die because it was in the cosmic cards - aka "God's plan" but because of his claims of Lord and Savior of the World. Caesar alone could make these claims and anyone who opposed him would suffer unspeakable tortures, as Jesus eventually found out. One can debate the implications of this understanding of the death of Jesus versus the traditional view that he died to save us from our sins but for the purpose of this post, I wish to go in a different direction. Perhaps I'll return to the other at a later time. FYI - Crossan would say Jesus didn't die for our sins but because of Our -humanity's - Rome's - sin of Empire and injustice. Perhaps it was some of both.
One of the things Crossan's book has made me question is the present state of God's Church. Do we funtion more like Caesar or Jesus? My guess is it probably depends on the church. That being said, perhaps the first question that needs to be asked is, what's the difference?
Crossan would argue that the difference in Jesus' day was between a dictator opearating a system of control and a leader ushering in a new way of life. Rome exercised military, political, economical and worst of all - ideological control - over most of the world. Caesar Augustus, the greatest Caesar of them all, was said to have "brought peace to the world" - which he did of course, although his chosen method was force and intimidation.
Peace as the result of control lasts only as long as the control.
Jesus' method of attaining peace was quite different. "I'm not like you" he said to Pilate a few days before his death. "My Kingdom is not of this world." Jesus didn't come to build an Empire. If I did, "my people would fight for me." He came instead to usher in a Kingdom, one where God was King. The followers of this Kingdom would not be coersed into joining then controlled once they did. They'd be invited and then allowed to choose for themselves. Either way they'd be loved, as a Father loves his own child.
With that in mind, let's return to my question. Does today's Church function more like Caesar or Jesus? Empire or Kingdom? Control or Love?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. After 7, I'll offer up my own. Not that I'm coersing you into commenting. . .
John
The premise of the book is Jesus came to innagurate his Kingdom but civilization tends toward Empire. It always has. The book's subtitle is: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now. Crossan has always maintained that it was the treasonous claims of Christ that lead to his crucifixion not God's divine plan of substitutionary atonement. Feel free to switch over to Dictionary.com or Wikipedia at this point. I know I had to. In other words, Jesus didn't die because it was in the cosmic cards - aka "God's plan" but because of his claims of Lord and Savior of the World. Caesar alone could make these claims and anyone who opposed him would suffer unspeakable tortures, as Jesus eventually found out. One can debate the implications of this understanding of the death of Jesus versus the traditional view that he died to save us from our sins but for the purpose of this post, I wish to go in a different direction. Perhaps I'll return to the other at a later time. FYI - Crossan would say Jesus didn't die for our sins but because of Our -humanity's - Rome's - sin of Empire and injustice. Perhaps it was some of both.
One of the things Crossan's book has made me question is the present state of God's Church. Do we funtion more like Caesar or Jesus? My guess is it probably depends on the church. That being said, perhaps the first question that needs to be asked is, what's the difference?
Crossan would argue that the difference in Jesus' day was between a dictator opearating a system of control and a leader ushering in a new way of life. Rome exercised military, political, economical and worst of all - ideological control - over most of the world. Caesar Augustus, the greatest Caesar of them all, was said to have "brought peace to the world" - which he did of course, although his chosen method was force and intimidation.
Peace as the result of control lasts only as long as the control.
Jesus' method of attaining peace was quite different. "I'm not like you" he said to Pilate a few days before his death. "My Kingdom is not of this world." Jesus didn't come to build an Empire. If I did, "my people would fight for me." He came instead to usher in a Kingdom, one where God was King. The followers of this Kingdom would not be coersed into joining then controlled once they did. They'd be invited and then allowed to choose for themselves. Either way they'd be loved, as a Father loves his own child.
With that in mind, let's return to my question. Does today's Church function more like Caesar or Jesus? Empire or Kingdom? Control or Love?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. After 7, I'll offer up my own. Not that I'm coersing you into commenting. . .
John
Friday, February 22, 2008
Statement bytes
I thought it was funny last night when Hillary said that Obama's campaign isn't "change you can believe in, but change you can xerox." She said that because of the plagarism accusations. . . and her dip in the polls.
I was talking to a friend who compared homosexuality to pedophilia. We were talking about the rise in gay clergymen.
In 4 hours I'm leaving for our youth group's annual Fire and Ice Retreat. This year we're doing an Oscar theme except we're handing out Pez instead of solid gold statues. The Pez Awards. I'm in the middle of writing acceptance speeches that unsuspecting teens will have to read when they win awards like "fastest texter."
I made an Amazon order a few days ago and have been living under the delusion it might actually arrive this week. A few minutes ago my wife called to say "a postal truck was backing up and I think it might be your books John." She hung up to greet the postal guy and then called back to say "sorry, it was just a Valentine's parcel from my parents." Stupid insenstive selfish inlaws.
I'm excited for the Oscars Sunday. Go Daniel Day. I've only seen the trailer but based on that alone I say give him the Oscar. I predict he'll win, along with Javier Bardem, No Country, The Coen Brothers. Big fan of them all.
I've been trying all morning to sing a showtune from the muscial/movie Chicago but can't get the rhythm. It's frustrating as well as "embarassing and retarded." Thanks Ang.
Castro fianally retired from controlling Cuba. 49 years is impressive even if the guy did smoke. (and be a Dictator)
My Oilers are 11pts out with 21 games to play. The realist in me says Go Jays Go, the idealist is still hoping for a miraculous run.
The Marcus Borg article I posted sparked some good discussian. There's more where that came from so I suggest you check him out online along with John Dominic Crossan, NT Wright, Karen Armstrong and if you're really brave Sam Harris. In fact, Harris recently sat down with Rick Warren and chatted about God, Relgion and other things bad. There's a lot to learn from our critics. If we're serious, we'll take the time.
It's noon now and I really have to go write some Oscar speeches, a Friday tradition this time of year.
John
I was talking to a friend who compared homosexuality to pedophilia. We were talking about the rise in gay clergymen.
In 4 hours I'm leaving for our youth group's annual Fire and Ice Retreat. This year we're doing an Oscar theme except we're handing out Pez instead of solid gold statues. The Pez Awards. I'm in the middle of writing acceptance speeches that unsuspecting teens will have to read when they win awards like "fastest texter."
I made an Amazon order a few days ago and have been living under the delusion it might actually arrive this week. A few minutes ago my wife called to say "a postal truck was backing up and I think it might be your books John." She hung up to greet the postal guy and then called back to say "sorry, it was just a Valentine's parcel from my parents." Stupid insenstive selfish inlaws.
I'm excited for the Oscars Sunday. Go Daniel Day. I've only seen the trailer but based on that alone I say give him the Oscar. I predict he'll win, along with Javier Bardem, No Country, The Coen Brothers. Big fan of them all.
I've been trying all morning to sing a showtune from the muscial/movie Chicago but can't get the rhythm. It's frustrating as well as "embarassing and retarded." Thanks Ang.
Castro fianally retired from controlling Cuba. 49 years is impressive even if the guy did smoke. (and be a Dictator)
My Oilers are 11pts out with 21 games to play. The realist in me says Go Jays Go, the idealist is still hoping for a miraculous run.
The Marcus Borg article I posted sparked some good discussian. There's more where that came from so I suggest you check him out online along with John Dominic Crossan, NT Wright, Karen Armstrong and if you're really brave Sam Harris. In fact, Harris recently sat down with Rick Warren and chatted about God, Relgion and other things bad. There's a lot to learn from our critics. If we're serious, we'll take the time.
It's noon now and I really have to go write some Oscar speeches, a Friday tradition this time of year.
John
Thursday, February 21, 2008
War Stance
Here's a good news story coming out of the war in Iraq. Regardless of how you feel, this is one stance we all can share.
Nice job Al and Dad.
John
Nice job Al and Dad.
John
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Agnostic about the After life
Note: This is an article from one of my favorite Christian thinkers - Marcus Borg.
I am a committed Christian and a complete agnostic about the afterlife. I use “agnostic” in its precise sense: one who does not know. Moreover, I know that I cannot resolve “not knowing” by “believing” – whatever we believe about an afterlife has nothing to do with whether there is one or what it is like.
There is more to say. I think that conventional Christianity’s emphasis on the afterlife for many centuries is one of its negative features. I have often said that if I were to make a list of Christianity’s ten worst contributions to religion, it would be its emphasis on an afterlife, for more than one reason.
When the afterlife is emphasized, it almost inevitable that Christianity becomes a religion of requirements and rewards. If there is a blessed afterlife, it seems unfair to most people that everyone gets one, regardless of how they have lived. So there must be something that differentiates those who get to go to heaven from those who don’t – and that something must be something we do, either believing or behaving or some combination of both. And this counters the central Christian claim that salvation is by grace, not by meeting requirements.
Another problem: the division between those who “measure up” and those who don’t leads to further distinctions: between the righteous and the unrighteous, the saved and the unsaved.
Another problem: an emphasis on the afterlife focuses our attention on the next world rather than on this world. Most of the Bible, on the other hand, focuses our attention on our lives in this world and the transformation of this world. At the heart of the Lord’s Prayer is the petition for the coming of God’s kingdom on earth: your kingdom come on earth, as it already is in heaven. There is nothing in the Lord’s Prayer asking that God take us to heaven when we die.
As yet another reason for my agnosticism about an afterlife: does it involve the survival of personal identity and reunion with those we have known in this life? Are family reunions part of the afterlife? For some people, this is much to be desired, for family has been the primary source of love and joy in this life. But for perhaps an equally large number of people, family has been the primary source of pain and unhappiness. So, are we going to be with those people forever?
What I do affirm about what happens after death is very simple: when we die, we do not die into nothingness, but we die into God. In the words of the apostle Paul, we live unto the Lord and we die unto the Lord. So whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For me, that is enough. My not knowing anything more does not bother me at all. And I am very wary when the Christian gospel becomes a message about the afterlife. I am convinced that it invariably leads to distortion. This is not the Christian gospel.
I am a committed Christian and a complete agnostic about the afterlife. I use “agnostic” in its precise sense: one who does not know. Moreover, I know that I cannot resolve “not knowing” by “believing” – whatever we believe about an afterlife has nothing to do with whether there is one or what it is like.
There is more to say. I think that conventional Christianity’s emphasis on the afterlife for many centuries is one of its negative features. I have often said that if I were to make a list of Christianity’s ten worst contributions to religion, it would be its emphasis on an afterlife, for more than one reason.
When the afterlife is emphasized, it almost inevitable that Christianity becomes a religion of requirements and rewards. If there is a blessed afterlife, it seems unfair to most people that everyone gets one, regardless of how they have lived. So there must be something that differentiates those who get to go to heaven from those who don’t – and that something must be something we do, either believing or behaving or some combination of both. And this counters the central Christian claim that salvation is by grace, not by meeting requirements.
Another problem: the division between those who “measure up” and those who don’t leads to further distinctions: between the righteous and the unrighteous, the saved and the unsaved.
Another problem: an emphasis on the afterlife focuses our attention on the next world rather than on this world. Most of the Bible, on the other hand, focuses our attention on our lives in this world and the transformation of this world. At the heart of the Lord’s Prayer is the petition for the coming of God’s kingdom on earth: your kingdom come on earth, as it already is in heaven. There is nothing in the Lord’s Prayer asking that God take us to heaven when we die.
As yet another reason for my agnosticism about an afterlife: does it involve the survival of personal identity and reunion with those we have known in this life? Are family reunions part of the afterlife? For some people, this is much to be desired, for family has been the primary source of love and joy in this life. But for perhaps an equally large number of people, family has been the primary source of pain and unhappiness. So, are we going to be with those people forever?
What I do affirm about what happens after death is very simple: when we die, we do not die into nothingness, but we die into God. In the words of the apostle Paul, we live unto the Lord and we die unto the Lord. So whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For me, that is enough. My not knowing anything more does not bother me at all. And I am very wary when the Christian gospel becomes a message about the afterlife. I am convinced that it invariably leads to distortion. This is not the Christian gospel.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Don't Recycle
Here's a story that'll put hair on your knuckles. The family and I were headed to small group last night and after stopping for coffees at Tim's we proceeded to the Safeway where I was hoping to engage in some much needed recycling. As we arrived, Angie said, "don't recycle, we don't have time anyways." The kids all chirped with agreeement and for whatever reason I actually listened to them and kept on driving. Seconds later 3 police cars came speeding towards us. "It's the recycling police" I said. I wish I had, but not even I'm that witty. What I did say was "whoo, maybe someone got murdered (I said murdered all scary like). The mature one in the car said the joke wasn't funny nor appropriate.
2 hours later we were driving home and as we passed the Safeway we saw that the Domo Gas Station, located right beside the recycling bins, was all taped off. We flipped on the news and discovered there had been a gang shooting at 6:30pm and 2 young men had been critically injured. 6:30pm. The exact same time I had planned to engage the family in some much needed recycling. I think about what could have been, and I'm thankful for my mature one.
John
2 hours later we were driving home and as we passed the Safeway we saw that the Domo Gas Station, located right beside the recycling bins, was all taped off. We flipped on the news and discovered there had been a gang shooting at 6:30pm and 2 young men had been critically injured. 6:30pm. The exact same time I had planned to engage the family in some much needed recycling. I think about what could have been, and I'm thankful for my mature one.
John
Monday, February 04, 2008
10 things I'd hate not to tell you
1. I enjoyed a bowl full of Super yesterday. As much as I wanted history to be made, Eli's scamper and Tyree's one armed clutch was one for the ages. Unbelievable.
2. I preached a sub par sermon yesterday. Perhaps it was the 11 minutes of Greek Mythology.
3. Angie and I were having a "disagreement" the other day when Alexa casually looked over and said "don't guys, you don't want to go on Dr. Phil."
4. 30 Rock. Check it out. While it's no Arrested Development, it's better than most other stuff.
5. The Oilers announced today that Horcoff will undergo season ending shoulder surgery. While I'm ever hopeful, the playoffs are now in the realm of pipe dream.
6. Breakforth was good this year. The Highlights were Chris Seay, Erwin McManus and Lee Strobel. Josh McDowell tried way to hard.
7. I'm doing a youth rally in South Carolina next month. It'll be great to see my brother and parents.
8. Maddison's gonna be on TV Friday for a project she's doing with her school and MS.
9. I hope the writer's strike ends soon.
10. I just had my first webcam conversation. Next thing you know I'll be Facebooking from my cell phone.
Battle of Alberta in 45min. My prediction: Oilers 3-1.
UPDATE: Ok, so I was wrong. It was 5-0. Worst Flames lost against Edmonton in 8 yrs.
John
2. I preached a sub par sermon yesterday. Perhaps it was the 11 minutes of Greek Mythology.
3. Angie and I were having a "disagreement" the other day when Alexa casually looked over and said "don't guys, you don't want to go on Dr. Phil."
4. 30 Rock. Check it out. While it's no Arrested Development, it's better than most other stuff.
5. The Oilers announced today that Horcoff will undergo season ending shoulder surgery. While I'm ever hopeful, the playoffs are now in the realm of pipe dream.
6. Breakforth was good this year. The Highlights were Chris Seay, Erwin McManus and Lee Strobel. Josh McDowell tried way to hard.
7. I'm doing a youth rally in South Carolina next month. It'll be great to see my brother and parents.
8. Maddison's gonna be on TV Friday for a project she's doing with her school and MS.
9. I hope the writer's strike ends soon.
10. I just had my first webcam conversation. Next thing you know I'll be Facebooking from my cell phone.
Battle of Alberta in 45min. My prediction: Oilers 3-1.
UPDATE: Ok, so I was wrong. It was 5-0. Worst Flames lost against Edmonton in 8 yrs.
John
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