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

Playing For Change

Check out this neat video. Even more neat is the vision behind it - to bring about unity and help the hurting through music. Check out the site playingforchange.com

Merry Christmas

What a winter wonderland it is here in Surrey! The snow has had a huge impact this week. I skipped a lot of shopping (yay), but also missed my favourite tradition, church on Christmas Eve. Surprisingly, I found my 'service' on Country Music Television - Paul Brandt hosted a Christmas Eve concert in Banff. The music was beautiful - both old classics and new tunes were sung by several different artists.

One line really struck me, that when Mary kissed her little baby, she kissed the face of God. The power, and the humility, of what God has done for us is amazing.

Thank You God.

A new beginning...

Butterflies signify new beginnings

Wow, it's been nearly a year since I posted on here. There has been a reason - my path became very 'bumpy' soon after I returned from Ireland, and has remained that way. Finally, I am beginning to see the light at the end of this particular tunnel. And I finally have the emotional energy to being doing a few extras, such as posting on my blog.

So, to those of you who have been checking here once in a while, thanks for sticking with!! I look forward to reading your comments.

Off to Ireland!!

Big news – my company is sending me to Ireland for 2 weeks in November to do some training! I’ll be located in Dublin most of the time, but I’m taking off a few days before and after to do some travelling around. So I’ll be there for 3 weeks in November!! I’m super excited – most of you know that Ireland is where I’ve dreamt of going for a while now. I’m being sent to Montreal for a week just after I return. I feel very privileged to be paid to have so much fun!

Aside from the perks, work is still great, as is life in general. I spent some time in September with Dad and his side of the family, and thanksgiving with Mom and hers. Saffron, my cat, continues to think she’s the boss of me, and she may be right.

16 Years of Unconditional Love

My mom and I had to put our cat Data to sleep yesterday after 16 great years. It's been a difficult weekend. My dad and I picked him up as a kitten when I was 16 years old. While we were driving home, we got stuck in traffic for an hour on the Alex Fraser bridge. I cuddled the poor, scared little kitten, and by the time we finally made it home, Data was bonded to me for life!

I held Data again yesterday as he fell asleep for the final time. Mom and I petted him and told him how much we loved him until he was gone.

There's a lot of emotion tied in with his leaving. Data was one of the last ties to my childhood. He was part of the family before my parents divorced, before I became a Christian, and the dark years of my late teens and early 20's. No matter how long I was away, Data would greet me with total adoration when I went to my Mom's place. He never forgot me, and he was as much my kitten yesterday as he was 16 years ago.

Aside from sadness, the overwheming feeling that I have is gratefulness. Data loved me unabashedly and unconditionally for 16 years. I'm incredibly blessed.

I love you Data. I look forward to seeing you again, in a place where neither of us feel pain.

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.

On The Move

The One Campaign has published a book based on Bono's powerful speech at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. Check out the live preview here (it's really neat).

"Because where you live should no longer determine whether you live." Bono

Surrey Christian Sojourners First Meeting

On Thursday we had our first meeting of Surrey Christian Sojourners, the spiritual meetup I've been putting together. It was an interesting evening. About the time I got in line at the coffee shop, their coffee grinder broke, adding to my nervousness. So I stood in line for 20 minutes, turning around every time the door opened. It was surprisingly nerve wracking.

3 people arrived, and we discussed Micah 6:8 and it's three-fold directive of justice, mercy, and walking with God. Interestingly enough, all 4 of us are currently involved in serving the homeless in various ways, right here in Surrey!

What was also neat was the group included another church planter, Ron. He currently leads a house-based faith community called Coram Deo here in Surrey. Take a look at their site, it's very cool. As he shared a bit about the spiritual journey he and his wife have been on, we found a lot of common ground. Very exciting! I'll probably check it out next Sunday.

Challenges of the evening - 1. Not everyone spoke English well, and as we read it I realized what I had written on the handout was too complex. I'll need to ensure everone can understand.

2. My overwhelming nervousness! As a 'recovering' shy person, I had a few nerve-wracking moments of going completely blank, and there were some awkward silences. Hopefully, as the group gets to know each other, those will lessen.

Since we're a new group, to help people start sharing I've posted our discussion on a blogger page, so that participants can interact through comments.

Check out the Surrey Christian Sojourners blog.

And check out the Surrey Christian Sojourners Meetup Page.

I'd love to hear feedback from you, my friends and family, as we go along! I hope to hear from you soon!

Famine Again?

Art by Trevor Romaine

The problem lies with those who have not or cannot join the modern economy—those in poverty-stricken urban slums, whose labor will not earn enough money to buy food, or those in remote places pursuing traditional lifestyles that are subject to natural disasters. The number of such traditionalists has grown, even as their ability to feed themselves has declined. Their land has been restricted (by war, land grabs, or borders) or degraded (often by overgrazing or poor farming techniques). Crime and war and bad government have kept them isolated from education and business, forces that could change their lives. They are more vulnerable than ever.

When I talk to people in relief and development organizations, I find them frustrated by these realities. They want to make a lasting difference but, by and large, they cannot. By feeding people, they are putting off problems to another day. Drought will come again. Donors will groan and ante up again—we hope.

Read the rest of this great article about the hidden faces of famine...