Flying Motorcycle
I really want one of these!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Brian McLaren Writes to Barack Obama
This is an excerpt from Brian Maclaren's open letter to Barack Obama. It shows a lot of faith on McLaren's part in Obama and other candidates to be real agents of change for the first time in almost a decade. A faith that I'm guessing is felt by many Americans, as it is by those of us north of the border. Let's hope the candidates come through.Tell us, as you just did in your campaign-launch speech, inconvenient truths – that we and our leaders have a habit of making mistakes and blaming others – whether it's in New Orleans or Baghdad. Tell us the truth about our past – from our own original genocide and ongoing apartheid regarding the Native peoples of this land, to our profoundly unacknowledged and unhealed legacy of slavery and racism, to our failure to care properly for this beautiful part of God's green earth, to our desperate and shameful violations of our own principles and ideals around the world, from Congo to Chile, and from Central America to the Middle East.And of course, please tell us the truth about the hope that comes through truth-telling.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
New Template
I've broken down and switched to one of the new Blogger Beta templates. While it's not as colorful as my old one, it's sure a lot easier to use, especially for a non-tech like me. So be patient while I switch everything over, and enjoy the new features!
The Apprentice Year
In a 24 hour whirlwind trip to Winnipeg, I officially graduated Year 1 of NDGU, my company's leadership training program.
It's been an incredible blessing - I've experienced as much personal development and core leadership training as I did in a couple years of 'real' university. The truths I've learned apply to all areas of my life - my job, my personal relationships, and my church planting journey will all benefit.
My congratulations to the rest of our class - The Guinea Pig Grads!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Gypsy Girl Chronicles
My friend Tonya has been travelling through the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the last several weeks. Read her moving stories on her blog, The Gypsy Girl Chronicles.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Torture on TV Rising and Copied in the Field
U.S. soldiers are imitating torture techniques from TV.
They are in serious need of clear guidelines.
The Problem: Torture on TV on the Rise
The number of scenes of torture on TV shows is significantly higher than it was five years ago and the characters who torture have changed. It used to be that only villains on television tortured. Today, “good guy” and heroic American characters torture — and this torture is depicted as necessary, effective and even patriotic.
The Impact: Soldiers Imitate What They See on TV
In interviews with former interrogators and retired military leaders, Human Rights First learned that the portrayal of torture in popular culture is having an undeniable impact on how interrogations are conducted in the field. U.S. soldiers are imitating the techniques they have seen on television – because they think such tactics work. Listen to former interrogators describe the problem.
The Background: U.S. Policy Shifts Ushered in Abuse
Hollywood writers, of course, did not create the environment that led to the torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere; the U.S. government created this environment by authorizing coercive interrogation techniques, departing from the long-held absolute ban on torture and cruel treatment, suspending the Geneva Conventions, and by assigning soldiers to tasks for which they were not trained. »more
What Can Be Done: The Primetime Torture Project
Human Rights First has launched a project that seeks to limit the impact TV has on the way interrogations are conducted in the field and also the way Americans view torture. Working with military educators and prominent Hollywood producers and writers, Human Rights First is developing a training film aimed at educating junior soldiers about the differences between what they see on TV and the way they ought to act in the field. Human Rights First is also working to encourage those with control over creative content in Hollywood to consider portraying torture in a more nuanced, more responsible fashion. »more
Friday, February 09, 2007
Nichols For His Thoughts
This entire article is written by my friend EternaLee, a talented writer and insightful Christian. I feel compelled to re-post the entire article. You'll see why when you read it.
Shakespeare once wrote, “This above all: to thine own self be true,And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
These days Canada persecutes, er, prosecutes someone like that. Orville Nichols, a marriage commissioner in Saskatchewan since 1983, could not stay true to himself or his heartfelt faith, to marry two homosexuals in 2005. For this, he may be fined $5000, then either change his mind or lose his job.
At one time, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell said it was desirable to protect the religious freedoms of commissioners like Nicholls. Sometime later, he changed his mind, forcing all of them to do same-sex marriages. Three of the eight provincial marriage commissioners actually took the Saskatchewan government to a human rights tribunal over being forced to marry homosexuals. They lost their cases. Freedom of religion and conscience had no place in the public sphere. Only clergy would be exempted.
Now Nichols himself has been brought before human rights tribunal—by the homosexual couple he refused to marry. Nichols hoped at the very least commissioners like him, hired before same sex marriage was legalized, could have freedom of conscience. But while the case was still being heard, public officials with interests in the case were already shooting that smallest of concessions down.
Janice Gringell, a lawyer for the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, said it didn’t matter that same-sex laws were not in force when Nichols signed on as a marriage commissioner in 1983. Because he was an agent of the state, he would have to follow the state’s laws without discrimination. Tom Irvine, lawyer for Saskatchewan Justice, told the media the same thing.
"I couldn't sleep or live with myself if I were to perform same sex marriages," Nichols told the tribunal. "I don't have a problem with them getting married,” he explained, “but I can't perform the service.” As a man of daily Bible reading and prayer, the seventy year old could not solemnize a marriage so against the faith he said took “first place” in his life. Nor did his faith allow him to lie and say he was unavailble that day. Instead, he referred the homosexual couple to another colleague.
His conscience mattered none to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. It's seeking an order to stop Nichols from discriminating against same-sex couples. It also recommends a $5,000 fine. They also kept the names of the homosexual couple from publication. However, we know one of them is a 51 year old father of three, who spnet seventeen years married to a woman.
In 1999, Parliamentarians overwhelmingly supported traditional marriage, and pledged to do all in their power to preserve it. A few years later, many of those Parliamentarians voted against the wishes of their constituents, and passed a motion to make it law! Today, a strong majority would support a law codifying freedom of conscience for clergy, at least. But as we all know, one judicial “interpretation” could put those laws through the shredder.
For Christians like me, it’s hard not to think of other times our rights were similarly eroded. Soviet Union, Nazi Germany—both were Christian societies before other forces came to dominate. Incrementally, the power of the state silenced and subjugated all who opposed their ideology. Today secular humanism with its creed of human rights is doing with communism and fascism did before them—seeking to silence the faithful in the land through unjust laws.
Orville Nichols can live with himself, even if the justice system can’t live with him. In reality, his fidelity to his conscience actually had him on the path of true justice. Nichols and many others would rather fight an injustice system doomed to fall than give consent by their silence. History will vindicate them, as it did the opponents of Marx and Hitler. But for our nation’s sake, I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Shakespeare once wrote, “This above all: to thine own self be true,And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
These days Canada persecutes, er, prosecutes someone like that. Orville Nichols, a marriage commissioner in Saskatchewan since 1983, could not stay true to himself or his heartfelt faith, to marry two homosexuals in 2005. For this, he may be fined $5000, then either change his mind or lose his job.
At one time, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell said it was desirable to protect the religious freedoms of commissioners like Nicholls. Sometime later, he changed his mind, forcing all of them to do same-sex marriages. Three of the eight provincial marriage commissioners actually took the Saskatchewan government to a human rights tribunal over being forced to marry homosexuals. They lost their cases. Freedom of religion and conscience had no place in the public sphere. Only clergy would be exempted.
Now Nichols himself has been brought before human rights tribunal—by the homosexual couple he refused to marry. Nichols hoped at the very least commissioners like him, hired before same sex marriage was legalized, could have freedom of conscience. But while the case was still being heard, public officials with interests in the case were already shooting that smallest of concessions down.
Janice Gringell, a lawyer for the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, said it didn’t matter that same-sex laws were not in force when Nichols signed on as a marriage commissioner in 1983. Because he was an agent of the state, he would have to follow the state’s laws without discrimination. Tom Irvine, lawyer for Saskatchewan Justice, told the media the same thing.
"I couldn't sleep or live with myself if I were to perform same sex marriages," Nichols told the tribunal. "I don't have a problem with them getting married,” he explained, “but I can't perform the service.” As a man of daily Bible reading and prayer, the seventy year old could not solemnize a marriage so against the faith he said took “first place” in his life. Nor did his faith allow him to lie and say he was unavailble that day. Instead, he referred the homosexual couple to another colleague.
His conscience mattered none to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. It's seeking an order to stop Nichols from discriminating against same-sex couples. It also recommends a $5,000 fine. They also kept the names of the homosexual couple from publication. However, we know one of them is a 51 year old father of three, who spnet seventeen years married to a woman.
In 1999, Parliamentarians overwhelmingly supported traditional marriage, and pledged to do all in their power to preserve it. A few years later, many of those Parliamentarians voted against the wishes of their constituents, and passed a motion to make it law! Today, a strong majority would support a law codifying freedom of conscience for clergy, at least. But as we all know, one judicial “interpretation” could put those laws through the shredder.
For Christians like me, it’s hard not to think of other times our rights were similarly eroded. Soviet Union, Nazi Germany—both were Christian societies before other forces came to dominate. Incrementally, the power of the state silenced and subjugated all who opposed their ideology. Today secular humanism with its creed of human rights is doing with communism and fascism did before them—seeking to silence the faithful in the land through unjust laws.
Orville Nichols can live with himself, even if the justice system can’t live with him. In reality, his fidelity to his conscience actually had him on the path of true justice. Nichols and many others would rather fight an injustice system doomed to fall than give consent by their silence. History will vindicate them, as it did the opponents of Marx and Hitler. But for our nation’s sake, I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Paradigm Shift
Yesterday I went to a 4 hour financial seminar, and had a total paradigm shift. Money management has always been a struggle for me. I expected to get a few tips and tricks, and instead received a life-change. It came through watching a sermon by Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church, on living with margin. I wish I could post it online! I strongly recommend buying the series.
This seems to be a real time of breakthrough for me. Those of you who know me personally know that keeping order in my house and car has also been a major struggle. A breakthrough has come in that area in the last couple of months as well! And this financial breakthrough comes in the same week I get promoted and receive a sweet raise.
It blows me away - we can struggle with issues for years, and never think we will overcome. Then God brings a time of convergence, and suddenly we are given the opportunities and the inner strength to overcome. I don't understand it, but today I feel very, very thankful.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Upgrading the Church's Soft Skills
Quote by Sally Morgenthaler from Climbing the Corporate Web. The whole article is worth reading!
"The inclusive, networking skills that are at such a premium in companies like Google are D team skills in the old business world. Known there as “soft skills” (i.e., less effective), these organic, relational ways of working are seen as feminine and therefore, weak, indecisive, people-pleasing, time-consuming, and manipulative. Yes, even as mega-companies like eBay (run by a woman), Starbucks, Apple, and Google have redefined “soft” skills as essential."
One reader tied in the author's point to the Church, saying:
"I can't help but think that some of the skills of the "hard-soft" leadership styles you described are precisely what is needed for the organism (and organization) that is the church today..."
Good point!
The author responds:
"Yes, the Google Church. Hard to imagine. But I do think that we are on the verge of a new era in ministry. Either we honor the relational, dare I say - collaborative - nature of the one we worship (Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier) and use this window of opportunity to release God's work into many hands, OR we fossilize in our command-and-control fixation."
How Many People Have My Name
Well, there are at least two of 'me' in Canada - my cousin, who is close to my age, was also named Nicole.
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Thursday, February 01, 2007
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