The Times They Are A Changin'...but We Ain't!

I got to go home this past weekend which was a real blessing. I got to see my family which of whom I really missed, I got to eat great food (BBQ) and I got to spend some quality time with my girlfriend Kate, and that is always a good thing.

However something else happened when I went home, I got a haircut. Now I am not just talking a trim here, which is what my full intentions of getting were, but a full fledged cut. No more hair in the eyes, no more wings out the side of my hat and no more almost mullet. This was a big deal for me and I don't know why. I guess maybe I don't like change? But what does that say about my personality and character? How will I be able to cope with huge changes when I let such a little one have an effect on me?

Now I am kind of exaggerating here but I think you get the point. We live in a world that doesn't like change but contrary to that fact is changing constantly. We have become so accustomed to this continuous change that those who hear the Gospel for the first time are taken aback by the fact that it is the same Gospel it was 2000 years ago. How do we effectively show people that it hasn't changed and that it won't be changing anytime soon either?

Mid-Terms...That Don't Make No Sense!

Well it is once again the best time of the semester...Mid-terms!! Actually this is the part of the year that makes absolutely no sense to me. I mean these test are worth pretty much the same amount as our final exams, for which we have the whole week without classes, but in the case of mid-terms everything is exactly the same. So that fact combined with the over-whelming feeling that I haven't learned diddly so far this semester can be kind of stressful.

However I have come to teach myself not to be stressed over tests and exams anymore because it doesn't do me any good when I am. Is it apathy? I don't think so, it's more of a realization that it's not the be-all-end-all of life like some people think it is. I guess another thing that should be taken into account is that I am not of the academic type and so I sometimes fail to see the point of this stuff.

Since we are talking about school and things, let's recap some things that happened over the weekend that reminded me of my high school days. Remember the short-bus? Yeah you know what I am talking about! Well I am thoroughly convinced that both the NHL & the NHLPA rode that bus to school each day. Cancel the season...not exactly the smartest thing for any professional sport and baseball is a prime example of that. Yes I know that MLB never cancelled a full season but the strike definitely hurt the fan base. And I would just like to state that both sides are morons and I want hockey back!!

In case you didn't know the Chinese New Year was rung in the past weekend and guess what one of the number one way of wishing people a Happy New Year was? Text messaging from cell phones! It is estimated that nearly 11 Billion, yes that is with a B like in Botox, were sent over the weekend in China. These messages brought in nearly $133 Million in charges. "I used to think that $133 Million could be used for something noble like finding a cure for cancer, but this has taught me it's not always the case." - Jon Stewart

And finally I thought that I would share some of my artistic venture with you. I am still fairly new to the whole Photoshop thing but I have been playing around with it the last little bit. This is definitely on of my favorite things that I have done with it so far. This is just a picture that I took in my hallway here at school at sunset. The sun always cast such a great shadow on the wall as it's going down everyday and the filters that I used in Photoshop really made it look cool.

Very Responsive Reading

Today at chapel we had one of the most different but yet cool services we have ever had since I have been here at school. Today there was no message and most of the music were hymns. We had what is called a Wesleyan Covenant Service and it was amazing.

At the beginning of the service we all received a booklet, and I am not talking about two pages but four or five of them, that was filled with basically the whole order of service. It contained responsive readings as well scripture and towards the end of the service we had Communion. Taken from John Wesley this service seemed to catch some people off-guard and I can imagine that there were some people who didn't like it.

I don't know why people wouldn't have liked it. It had a deeper meaning then most of our services I found. It was simple and maybe it was that simplicity that people didn't like. We are always so busy on our quest for the "new thing" that will help the church grow deeper in their faith, maybe we need to look back instead of forward.

Wow, what a shocker...not.

So here's some news for anyone who doesn't follow any kind of reporting. North Korea is claiming that they have nukes and that they are going to "bolster" their supply of them too. Any American troops wanna go to Korea? Ha I bet they are as thrilled to hear that as they are the possibility of a war in Iran.

Most people probably think that something needs to happen in North Korea because they are a "threat" to them. You know what maybe they are, but have you ever thought they are a threat to you because you have threatened them? I mean obviously they are getting the feeling that the US doesn't like them very much. But where did that feeling come from? Maybe because they started a war over "weapons of mass destruction" but when questioned on it later, denied that was one of the reasons...maybe cause they didn't find any. So they said because of terrorism. Did Iraq attack? Oh wait no it was Osama and his friends.

Maybe President Bush should step back and review his reasons for this war. If he can come up with some solid evidence then go to it. But that evidence should be made public and should be confirmed instead of these statements of "we've heard reports" blah, blah, blah. And did anyone stop to think that maybe places like North Korea and Iraq view the US as terrorists? Just because it's right from the US's point of view doesn't make it right in theirs. Hmmm...maybe the US is the bully...I know I would be on the defensive too if I heard these words,

"If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists." - President Bush

30 Seconds

How much is 30 seconds worth to you? Well if you know anything about football, it means a lot to advertisers. That's right, here are the Superbowl ads from 2005! I have to say since I didn't watch the Superbowl that I was glad to find a place on the internet that has them all. I think my favorite is the FedEx one with Burt Reynolds, cause it's better, better then your regular commercials. (SNL reference) So enjoy!!

Cookies & Cash

Story taken from here.

We've all been there. It's late at night, you're watching TV or blogging as I am right now and you're hungry. You think to yourself, "Man wouldn't it be great to have some cookies!" The thought that you wish someone else may even make you some might run through your mind as it does mine...but let me throw this idea out to you. Freshly baked cookies, made by someone else, delivered to your door and you get them to pay you $9oo. Sounds pretty sweet huh?

Well believe it or not, our world has sunk to a new low, a 49 year old lady from Colorado got just that. Apparently some girls were being nice and baking cookies for their neighbors instead of going to a dance where there may have been drinking and such. Sounds pretty good huh? But wait until you hear what these malicious attackers did next. They put the cookies on the doorsteps of their neighbors, rang the door bell and ran away. What a hideous act. It was so traumatizing that this one lady apparently had an anxiety attack.

So what else would you expect to happen the in country where they sue for anything? She took the girls to court! Ok so no case right? Oh how we have thought that so many times before. The judge found the girls guilty of...didn't really say what...and were forced to pay $900 dollars to the lady.

And I bet you she kept the cookies too!!

Memoirs of a President

The other day I had the privilege of sweeping. Now I know that this may not seem like a big deal to anyone, however it was what was taking place around me as I was sweeping that made me feel privileged. As I was sweeping there was a meeting taking place in the cafeteria at our school with our school's President in attendance.

I have found myself, and others here at school, often making light of the fact that Prez, is never around, or that he doesn't even know that I go to this school...and I have been here for 3 1/2 years. (Our school is only 300 or so.) He talks about the new library and the athletic center, and we often say, "yeah, that's been 10 years in the planning". Resounding of hurt due to the fact that we won't be here when everything is done. But last night I became convicted of that.

The meeting that was taking place was for one of the building projects, I am not sure witch one, but I overheard Pres. Medders and some of what he was saying. Then it hit me, he's passionate about this school, about seeing it grow...he has a vision for this place. And I believe that vision is from God. I think that sometimes that I forget how hard at work he is on these projects, no wonder he is never here. I forget the great responsibility and resources it takes to do something like this, no wonder it has taken so long. But even through all these things, he has never lost sight of his vision from God. He still strives for it, even after setbacks.

I want a vision, and when I receive that vision for God I pray that I can have the ability to pursue it in the way that Prez does. I respect that man very much for all his hard work, and even if these projects aren't done until 2015, I will still feel the same way because he paved the way for it. Keep on truckin' Prez, keep on truckin'.

Purpose Driven....

Ok what I am about to share with you is something that I have been pondering over and eventually become convicted about over the past 2-3 weeks.

Christian literature, media and music. I think that we would all agree play an important part in helping us define our spiritual lives as well as differentiate us from the world. Now while here at Bethany Bible College I am bombarded with all of these things day in and day out now for the past 3 years. Needless to say I had been getting really tired of hearing about Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Whatever and John Eldridge's Epic Journey of a Wild Heart...and needless to say there are probably others out there in ministry today or perhaps studying for ministry that felt/feel the same way I did.

However one Sunday at my church, who is doing the 40 Days of Purpose campaign, I had, what was at the time, the disappointment of sitting through the simal-cast for the second time having already seen it here in Sussex. And even though I had a bad attitude because I was tired of everything to do with Rick Warren, I found myself listening to every word that he said. I don't know why either. I had already seen it once, it was old, heard it all before, yada yada yada. But there was something there, even after all I already knew.

And it wasn't something that I had missed before, it was actually something that didn't change. The truth in the things that Rick was talking about. Now there are some things that I do question in the 40 Days thing-ma-bob but overall there was a great sense of truth in what he was talking about. Then it hit me. Just because I am tired of hearing about a book, or a song or a movie or whatever doesn't mean that everyone else is. Yeah sure we in ministry are overwhelmed by the Tomlin's, Perretti's and Warrens. But the people that we are ministering to/going to be ministering to are not. They don't hear about it 24/7 like we do, and for some maybe not even at all.

So how are we going to help our people if the stuff that is geared for helping them, we are sick of and have negative tones about? I think that we maybe need to start looking at the positive things and the impact that they have on our spiritual lives, and if not our lives, then the lives of those who don't know Jesus. I think that we might be losing sight of what is important if a book that tells people they were created by God for a purpose makes us groan.

What Happened To Our World?

So last night I was traveling to Moncton to pick up my lovely girl-friend Kate at the airport. For those of you who don't live on the east coast, there was a huge snow storm which pretty much shut some stuff down, including canceling her original flight earlier that day. However she was able to make a plane that was coming in later that day around midnight. A friend of ours here at school (Kutz) was nice enough to let us use her car to go to the airport to pick up Kate. So both Diana and I left the school around 10:30pm, giving ourselves time because of the road conditions and such.

As we were traveling I made reference to transport trucks and how the rules of the weather seem not to apply to them or something. I mean rarely do you ever see a transport slow down for anything, except when it hits a moose or a rest-stop. And that night was none different. Transports flying by us left and right. Then there was one who passed us, blew up so much snow that we lost the road and as a consequence we ended up in the ditch. Luckily someone was nice enough (a transport driver, not the one that caused the accident though) to stop and see if we were ok. He then called a tow truck for us, which I thought very nice of him. This is where my question comes into play...

See being college students, or regular people for that matter, when it came time to pay we failed to have the $75 cash that the man wanted. Now I don't know how these things usually work but I would think that a billing system would work much better. We told him that if he would give us an address or something that we would get the money to him. But he wouldn't bite. He needed his money then and only then. I mentioned the fact that we were Bible College students and that we were good for it. Still no bite. Finally we convinced him that we would pay (and we did), leaving him the money latter that night at a truck stop he mentioned.

My point is this (copying Meeks here). This man, who which was very nice, could not take our word that we would pay him. The world has gotten so bad that people are beginning to expect people to lie to them. Or maybe what's worse yet, the fact that we were Bible College students didn't change anything. Not that it should give us special privileges, but I think there was a point in time in society that the clergy were respected and dare I say even trusted. But this is not so anymore...kind of sad really. What has happened to our world?

PS - Well at least in our world we can still have ladies that grow old and have lots cats...click here. Why don't they keep something more interesting then cats? Maybe some kind of bigger cat? A puma maybe?

What The?

Wearing: PJ's
Listening To: Stryper - To Hell With the Devil

Inspired by the one, the only Chuck Meeks I ended up taking this online test. Here are the results.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Yep, apparently I am the movie Schindlers list. Now I am not so sure how I feel about being associated with a movie that takes place during one of the most horrific moments in history. What do you think?

Now on to a totally different topic. These cheesy personality tests, what's the deal? I guess they are just another way to waste time on the good old internet. I mean I am not sure what good the result from this test will be to me in my future years as a member of the human race. I wonder what kind of things that I could accomplish if I took all the time I wasted on the internet and put them to good use...Nobel Peace Prize? Naw, peace is over-rated.

Circumstances...

I was in the midst of doing a collateral report form from my Church Music and Worship class, and I wrote this down on my sheet. It was inspired from a section in Matt Redman's book The Unquenchable Worshipper. I don't know why I wrote it this way but when I re-read it, I was blown away by the meaning and it's truth. God speaks to us all the time, even through our homework.

"We worship God because of his worth; and that worth never changes due to our circumstances."
- Billings

I hope this encourages someone because it sure did me. God Bless,

Where to Draw the Line...

So I found this story on CNN. Journalist Seymour Hersh said on-air during CNN's "Late Edition", maybe with Wolf Blitzer...what a name, that the United States was doing reconnaissance missions on possible nuclear targets for air-strike and short-term commando missions as early as this summer.

The White House released a report saying that his story was "riddled" with errors and that there were no such reconnaissance missions happening for these "air-strikes." However they did not make any mention to the commando missions that Hersh also talked about. Slight over-sight? Or a sneaky way of getting around the subject? It's hard to say but at the least I think it is worth questioning.

Hersh says that his sources come from very senior officials, and really why shouldn't you believe him? Or maybe a better question is, why should you believe the Pentagon? You're right what am I talking about, after all, the Iranians may be harboring Weapons of Mass destruction just like Iraq...oh wait...

How Could He Not Know???

Ok, I have heard some weird things over the span of my 22 year earth career, but I think this one may take the cake. A guy in Colorado who worked on a construction site went to the dentist because he had a toothache, no big deal. Until the x-rays came back with the reason.

Yeah a nail in his freakin' skull. The guy, like I said is a construction worker and was using a nail gun one day when it back-fired. He saw a nail fly back and into a piece of wood, but failed to notice one enter his mouth, shoot through his head, narrowly missing an eye. Oh and by the way...he had it in there for 6 DAYS!!! Correct me if you think I am wrong here but I don't think that would be a hard thing to miss. But apparently he had no idea, and when the dentist came back with the x-rays and told him he thought they were joking. Yeah I guess I wouldn't have believed them either...if I was so head numb not to notice a nail enter my skull! Click the title for the full CNN story.

New American Idol?

Ok I have to point out that I am beginning to become fond of a new TV show. Now while I am at school it is hard for me to catch it to watch but I get to watch clips of it here.

This show is the one, the only, The Daily Show. Yes it is quite possibly the best show on television today. This show, which stars Jon Stewart, takes a satirical but yet very true look at the world and the news that happens in it. Everything from politics to sports and even religion. I would heavily suggest that if your are a Christian and are reading this Blog that you should check out the clips of "This Week in God" segment of the show. It will give you a comical insight into some things as well as serve as an awakening to how the world views religion in general.

"And remember to keep the faith, unless it's heresy." -- Steven Colbert The Daily Show

It's Been Awhile...

Well I am finally back. Here at school for another semester of fun, fun, fun. Kinda glad to be back because I was getting really bored at home. However while at home I got to do a bit of my topic today, photography.

I love photography. Now I am no pro at it by any means however I do dabble. And I was thinking today..."What is the meaning of pictures?" I mean some people go crazy with them, and this is even easier to do with digital cameras now. You can take pictures of anything, people make a living from talking pictures and some defile people with them. But why put such an emphasis on them?

I believe that it is our way of trying to stop time, our attempt at reaching out and trying to grab a moment to hold on to. These moments mean something to us. They are different for everyone too, birthdays, graduations, friends or even just nature. I myself, as much as I love people am into nature. Mostly the sky and clouds. There is just something that is so amazing when you actually take time to look up to the heavens.

Each of these pictures means something to me. And I don't know why, they are just pictures of things that have come and gone. Is there any use in putting so much time and effort into things of the past? Are we not supposed to look forward? I do think there is some validity in that point however the past is what has shaped us and it is important to remember our roots, where we came from and what made us who we are today.

Striving for Mediocrity...

...and doing an exceptional job at it, or so it seems.

Sitting in a church service at an undisclosed location on Sunday this thought struck me, "Is the church's plan to reach people by striving for mediocrity?" There were many things that brought this thought to my attention. First was the powerpoint presentation. Do you know how difficult it is to follow along to a song when the slide doesn't change for a whole verse? Even more so for those new to the church who may not know the faithful hymn that should be being displayed. Another powerpoint difficulty that I have seen at many churches are misspelled words in songs, ones that are very obvious.

Lack of practice by the worship band is another one that can be seen sometimes. Would it be too much to ask someone to put some more thought into what songs are played, the order and whether or not the band knows them? Maybe I am picky but I think to most people things like these look sloppy.

So why is the church this way? (Speaking in generalities here, I know that your church may not be like this...) Should we not care about what we do enough to want to do it well? Do we use the phrase, "we'll let the Spirit do a work" way too often? I think so.

Change of target...

So it may seem by my last post that I was bashing the U.S. so I have decided to change targets if you will, and will focus instead on Russia...who beat the U.S. in hockey last night.

Ok, so I don't know how many of you are watching the World Junior Hockey championships on TSN this week but yes the U.S. got their butts handed to them by the Russians by a score of 7-2. I believe that the U.S. had a good team, except for their goaltending, let's face it Al Montoya sucked it up the whole tournament. And although I find some joy that the Americans got beat on their home soil, the after goal displays of the Russians made me wish that the U.S. had won. (What am I saying?) But seriously, after scoring the fifth and sixth goals in a game that was obviously out of reach for the Americans some of the Russians did something that deserves a punch in the face. They taunted the Americans. Now I realize that this is a sport and some of that stuff goes on all the time, trash talking, etc. but this was over the top. First they mocked the fans, and then proceeded to skate by the American bench and to taunt them repeatedly. This was uncalled for. And I applaud the American players for keeping generally cool through the whole thing. Sure I make fun of the States a bit, but one thing is for sure they showed some class in their response last night.

The Gold Medal game is tomorrow night at 9pm Atlantic time, and I assure you that I'll will be watching very intently. Let's go Canada!! Give it to those Russians!

Wake Up Call

I come to my keyboard out of utter disgust tonight. I am filled with thoughts of anger, shock and sorrow. I am sure that you guys have been watching the news lately and all know about the tsunami that has killed upwards of 100,000 people in Asia. We have witnessed the second great event that is going to shape our century. Although it does come from a natural cause, this disaster pales no less then that of the attacks of 9/11 in New York. However both situations have been handled very differently.

After the attacks of September 11th the United States made it clear that terrorism will not be tolerated. This is a good thing. However I shudder when I stop to think of the money being spent everyday for this war to happen. All the lives of soldiers that are being lost on top of those who died in the initial attacks. It is estimated that by the time the war is over, if it ever ends, that it will cost upwards of 200-250 Billion dollars. Let me give you another little tidbit of information. The inauguration party of the newly re-elected President Bush is going to cost the American tax payers somewhere in the ball-park of 40 Million dollars, yes that's right I said 40 Million.

What's the big deal you ask? Well let me tell you. The United States has agreed to send 35 Million dollars in aid to help those affected by this natural catastrophe. Now I don't know about you but if I can do math right, that is 5 million less then that of what is being spent on a party. A party to tell us something that we already know, that Bush will be President again. Something seem wrong here? Oh yeah, in one day last year, Dick Cheney made 35 million for selling some stock options that he held in a company. And that is all that the US is sending in aid. Canada is not much better in only sending 40 million dollars in aid. However when you think of the population ratio, 30 to 1, it makes the 1.30$ a person in Canada seem like a huge amount over that of the 11 cents of every person in the US. President Bush made his first address concerning the disaster that happened on Sunday today, Wednesday. He was faced with questions and comments that the money was "too little too late." His re-buttle to that comment was that, "the person who made that statement is ill-informed." Ill-informed? Are you kidding me? Mr. President, with all due respect maybe you should read your paper a little closer. 100,000 people are dead, and that number is expected to double due to disease if help does not arrive soon. Maybe Mr. Bush is the one who is ill-informed. Or maybe it is the public who are the ones who are in the dark. In the dark about these facts that the government doesn't want you to hear because it might make them look bad. Watch the news and stay informed!

Look in the sky...

it's a bird, it's Santa...it's an asteroid? Ok not exactly the last minute Christmas gift that everyone was hoping to get from NASA. (click title of blog) Turns out that the world has the odds of 300-1 in being hit by an asteroid they found in the year 2029. Thanks NASA shouldn't you be tracking Santa this time of year and not ruining the season with news of great impending doom?

Now I think everyone should take a minute and settle down their children and let them know that this will not interfere with Santa's deliveries this year. Infact maybe we can ask Santa for help. From this year on when we write letters to Santa telling him what we would like for Christmas, we should ask him for a Nuclear defense mechanism against such a threat. Hmm..or maybe better yet we should get our governments to write letters to Santa to maybe take his reindeer and divert the giant earth-shattering rock somehow...wait, the only downfall of that plan is that our government officials are all on the naughty list...ok scratch that.

Maybe what we need to do is just forget about it for oh I don't know...20 years? I mean the thing is so far away. Did NASA really think that it would do the general public any good to release this news? 24 years in advance? I mean what should we do start building shelters? Stock pile food? For all I know it's another gimmick by the government, like the "Millennium Bug", to boost the economy. Frig that! I would suggest that you just focus on the task at hand, Christmas!

So tonight, or 20 years from now, when you are outside or with your children and you look up in the sky and see a big red flaming mass headed toward earth. Just remember, it's Santa Claus coming to deliver gifts to everyone in the world. Or at least that's what I'll tell myself after taking my Prozac. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Finally!! HOCKEY!!!

Well I think I can speak for most of the males in our great country of Canada when I say it is good to have hockey back!! Well of course it's not the NHL and that is still sad, but what is not so sad is that these Junior players put forth a lot of effort and they are really fun to watch. I just finished watching Canada play their second exhibition game tonight against the Swiss, they should stick to making Chocolate. We beat them 5-0 and it should have been a lot worse.

Another joy of watching the World Juniors is the simple fact that you get to watch the future of the game, Sydney Crosby, take the ice and basically put on a clinic for all to see. This kid is amazing to watch. He's freaking 17, making him the youngest player ever to score for Canada in international play when he scored our first goal against Finland on Monday in a 6-0 victory.

So we went 2-0 in exhibition, with 6 periods of shut out hockey, 11 goals in 2 games...plus you get to watch Sydney play. Why wouldn't you watch the World Juniors when they start Christmas day? I know that Brewer and I will be! I don't think even a new X-Box would keep my from watching because I AM CANADIAN! And we will win! Click the title for the schedule!