Saying Goodbye

 
One December night, soon after I arrived in Nova Scotia, I drove to the beach and stood ankle deep in the ocean, staring out at the edge of the world and giving my time here to God. A year and a half later, on summer solstice, I again dip my toes in the ocean and say goodbye.

I do not know why I came to Nova Scotia. I do believe that the Lord let me here, and now He's leading me out.

This has been a time of sorrow in my life - of spiritual and financial poverty, of lost dreams, lost jobs, and a lost love. I honestly hate it here and hope to never return.

I am incredibly thankful for the friends I have made here. There are some of you who have stood by me through thick and thin. You know who you are. I hope to see you all again soon!

They say home is where the heart is, and I know that to be true, because I have yet to feel at home anywhere. Perhaps I'll find one in Saskatchewan.

Until we meet again!

Walking Away from God

We have the right to live any way we want. But if you are living a life away from God, there are problems, and there is also hope for the future.

Check out this video by Dr. Charles Stanley titled 'Walking Away from God'. Great explanations of the costs of living without God, and God's response when you turn to him. Based on the passage of the prodigal son.

Watch the video

Virginia Tech, Guns and Torture

"The second question you asked was a theological question. And I get that asked every time there is a tragedy. And you properly ask that question over and over again. And I say things that always get incredible uproars because people don't think. And it's as simple as this: God is not in control of everything. I know that's going to sound like heresy, because we love to say in the midst of everything that's going on, "Oh God's in control, God's in control, God's in control," but that's absolutely absurd. God did not bring about Auschwitz. God does not bring about these horrible events on this planet. They are the doings of human beings in most instances. May I say this: It's obvious that God is not in control, by God's own choice. When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them freedom. Now, you can't give your children freedom, and still say you're in control of them…"

Tony Campolo's podcast on the Virginia Tech tragedy covers several questions:

• How can God allow such a thing to happen? Campolo explains that God has given up much control in order to allow us, His children, to be free. In Campolo's words, "what we do with that freedom has been horrendous, but it's also been glorious."
• The legitimate question asked by the parents of US soldiers "Where's the outcry for our fallen?" And where's the outcry for the many thousands of fallen Iraqi civilians?
• The power of lobby groups such as the NRA over politicians through financing.
• The strong connection between the NRA and the religious right in the US, and the difference between the potentially violent outlook of many Christians with that of Jesus' teachings.
• US patriotism being placed as an idol above Jesus.
• Accountability for US soldiers who massacre Iraqi civilians, in contradiction to the Geneva accord, and the unquestioned support for these obscenities by US citizens. "In fighting the dragon, we have become the dragon."

I deeply respect Tony Campolo, and have begun listening to his collection of podcasts found on his website. They're worth checking out, as is his book, Speaking My Mind.