I'm Back...long time no write blog!
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Posted:Aug 17, 2006 9:30 am
Last Updated:Sep 19, 2006 2:18 pm 2543 Views
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Well I am back here again writing my blog after some months or so! Hello again to everyone and thanks for all your previous comments that I may not have had a chance to respond to.
I have been very busy with work. Sometimes I had to put in extraordinary long hours to accomplish all the tasks at hand. I've been building fences, painting houses, drywalling basements, staining decks and doing everything that a handyman enjoys doing. When I've arrived home at night I have barely had a chance to check my emails-- so that has been my excuse. Valid or not! (lol)
Somehow you can never get away from God-- He has always been here for me. I've truly enjoyed all the wonderful people I have met at Big Church and the growth I have received in my faith from being here. So many wonderful people have come into my life through my membership here. So even though there has been an absence-- I have still been here and still thought about all the wonderful people I have met here.
I've done a little bit of dating.. but not much. I still enjoy going to dances-- but in the last 4 months I think I have had time for only three dances! Yes.. that is how busy things have been here. And the work just keeps coming as there is a big boom on building in this oil laden province of ALberta.
So today since it is raining I thought I would take a day off and do a few things like this to just catch up a wee bit. So thank to everyone and I hope you have not missed me on here. I've certainly thought of everyone but not had a vast amount of time to spend on this site.
Keep smiling and God bless to all!
Chris
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Did God really make the universe?
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Posted:May 28, 2006 8:28 pm
Last Updated:Jul 25, 2006 11:05 pm 2715 Views
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"Who in the skies can compare with Yahweh?" Remember that line in the psalms? I have been thinking about that these last few days as I ponder my future with no work at a time I really need to have some. And so I thought about creation-- about the ongoing debate on that topic. I always thought that nothing could be so crystal clear-- but then more and more arguements seem to be thrown into the debate.
As I gaze up into the skies and contemplate the heavens-- the vast universe that holds us all together, I wonder for a moment how it all began. My phone rings and my young bright who no longer attends church calls me to ask what I think about the Da Vinci code. I tell him that Christians with deep abiding faith don't even think about it-- there has always been an ongoing debate about the divinity of Jesus. And besides I tell him-- the resurrection is still the central core of Christianity-- so don't waste your money on a movie that will most likely put you to sleep with boredom. Finally I go back to the universe-- how it all began.
Was it a big bang? Are we all descended from monkeys? Ohhh sometimes I wish! I'd love to be swinging from the trees in frolic right now and eating nothing but bananas as I glide!
The vastness of the universe is so overwhelming for any human mind to comprehend. The shere number of galaxies and the number of moons of so many planets-- it totally boggles the mind. JUst trying to count the stars with the naked eye--- unbelievable achievement. Not even the greatest telescopes can get a handle on them. And what about the milky way? And this is just the world above us! We can search for centuries with a telescope and still find new signs of creation--- and then we can return to earth and search for centuries under a microscopic lense and discover ad infinitum more and more tiny pieces of the atom-- more and more bugs and more and more invasive creatures never before known to us. Ahhhh the vastness of creation!
I heard the word billions when I was just a in grade school. The later I heard the word trillions. These are indescribable calculations of anything. But there you have it. Billions upon billions and trillion upon trillions countless acts of creation. And then each one of us--- all the marvelous people that have been born and made a name for themselves--- and the many more that have not-- yet have led a life worthy to be called human.
I will leave those to believe what they wish to believe about the universe-- about creation. FOr me the undeniable fact is too crystal clear to think otherwise. God in his great wonder made all that is; created each and every one of us-- no matter how tumultuous a life we may have. He it is that created the heavens and the earth and all that dwells upon it. I believe there may well be life on other planets and there may well be other planets that we currently no nothing about. Our science will reveal more to us--- but our scriptures still tell it like it really is. I recall in a letter from my uncle many many years ago his famous words to me: "Littera scriptura manet"- the word of God remains forever. How true it is-- and what a marvelous God who made this great universe and all the wonderful people upon it!
God bless to all!
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Something that goes from 0 to 200 in less than two seconds!
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Posted:May 23, 2006 6:17 pm
Last Updated:Sep 4, 2006 6:29 am 2667 Views
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It was their 25th wedding anniversary and she had longed for this day to arrive for many many years. But how on earth could it happen that her husband just plain forgot? She was furious. She was totally destroyed. She was ready to kill him!
"Tomorrow morning there had better be something in that driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less than two seconds!" She told him.
The next day arrived and she looked out the window and saw a beautiful gift wrapped package sitting in the driveway with beautiful blue ribbons.
She opened it up and there to her great surprise was a weigh scale.
Funeral arrangements will take place this coming Friday!
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Ellie died this Monday
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Posted:May 10, 2006 9:55 pm
Last Updated:Feb 17, 2007 9:54 am 2852 Views
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I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your loving prayers for both Carol and Ellie. Strangely-- the Lord took them both within days of each other-- and strangely from the same bowel cancer disease.
Ellie died this past Monday. I phoned her home to take her some more flowers. I was informed that the coroner had already taken away the body and that she was to be cremated. There was no family- but I believe they informed her niece some 2000 miles away in Ottawa. It was a sad chapter but so representative of a lot of elderly people in our world today who die a lonely death. I know that Mother Teresa never judged any of the people she befriended while assisting them through their last days. I did pray with Ellie and I could see in her eyes the desire for God. And I learned a long time ago-- "who but God can judge the heart of man". I suppose taking her flowers and spending a few moments on the phone and in the hospital with her helped me as much as it helped her. It is true I believe that there is more joy in giving than there is in receiving. And I also believe that the Lord looks with kindness and compassion on each of us who comes to the rescue of our brothers and sisters in their hour of need.
I ask the Lord to remember the good deeds of Ellie, to look with compassion and kindness towards her, and I ask the Lord to bless her and bring her close to Him. In Jesus name.
Amen
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My friend's wife died today.....
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Posted:Apr 27, 2006 10:17 am
Last Updated:May 13, 2006 4:49 pm 3047 Views
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Please lift up in prayer Carol Majeau and her wonderful family. She died today of bowel cancer-- only 6 weeks after being diagnosed.
I never knew her that well- but her husband and I worked together on a homeless shelter for men- doing the construction work. He is one of the most wonderful men you could ever want to spend time with- a talented musician gospel writer and a man dedicated to helping others. They have three boys two of whom are doing ministry work in the pentecostal church and the third boy is just 17 and thinking about the same career.
Carol was a very beautiful young black lady from the United States. She had a gift for music and elegance. Their home is immaculate- a testament to Carol's hard work and devotion to the family. May the Lord truly embrace her in His love and never forget the great sacrifice she made in making that family so God oriented. And may Roland her husband find continued passion for his writing and song making. He is truly devoted to helping the Cancer society and a very passionate man with a great love for America.
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Just a thought about cancer...
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Posted:Apr 22, 2006 9:21 pm
Last Updated:Apr 29, 2006 5:51 am 2752 Views
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I usually scour the internet looking for the latest in-depth news. I guess it comes from being an old social studies teacher who still likes to keep up with the latest current events. tonight I read about the raging cancer across Africa. I had always thought it was AIDS and Malnutrition. This headline read; "Uganda battles wave of cancer". As I read the horrors of the extent of the disease, I discovered to my amazement that Africa has been singled out as the continent with the fastest growing cancer rate in the world. Then with shock and horror I read that in the capital of Uganda in Kampala-- the one major hospital with a chemotherapy treatment center- they do not have enough morphine to go around. And even more to my astonishment- they go without running water in a major city hospital for as long as month!!
I listen to Canada's national broadcast system a lot too - CBC. I learned from snipets of a documentary I just got parts of about Wendy Mesley's investigation of cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and decided to do a major study of it and shared it in a documentary. Wow!! She claims it is everywhere and not too many people are asking the right questions, or for that matter any questions. It is in our food, our water, our air and who knows where else.
All around us we hear of parents, relatives, close friends and the like who are suffering from this dreadful disease. It is sort of like the plaques of old-- where mass numbers of people died in a very short time.
Thankfully we are slowly trying to eradicate smoking as a social ill. But where I live in small town Alberta-- legislation is still very slow to arrive and it is such a common social issue that most people strongly object to any legislation which curbs or attempts to limit it. Imagine how difficult it is for politicians! And I understand that in the Third World countries smoking is still very much the common practice. In China it is the government of China which runs the one and only tobacco company!
Personally I have never smoked in my life. But both my parents did and I absolutely hated it. But I do understand how difficult it is for the smokers. And the worst thing one can do is nag them or hurt their feelings about the issue. So I try to understand the person as much as possible and help them cope. I know how difficult an addiction is and how hard it is to quit cold turkey.
One of my close friends who did a lot of work in New York for a member of his family who died of cancer informed me just a few weeks ago that his wife has less than weeks left after being diagnosed with bowel cancer only ONE month ago. It does spread quickly. Ironically- my friend Rowland who has produced literally hundreds of CDs as a professional gospel singer/writer did some work for the New York City Police Dept to help them cope with the 9/11 tragedy. He donated most of his writings to the American and Canadian Cancer Societies. He was the project manager of a foundation that he started to help raise funds for a memorial to the four Canadian Mounties who were slain by a gunman just over a year ago in a small northern town called Mayerthorpe. SO now he has shut down his own involvement to be full time with his dear wife. ANd they are both so young and so much involved with the Lord's work.
So what is our response to all this? Hopefully more than pray about it. Personally I do think there are links to be made to nuclear power stations, the testing of nuclear weapons that took place years ago underground, the 3 Mile Island and Chernobyl tragedies-- as well as all the chemical additives in our food and drinks.
Again I think we use the old saying- "Pray to God but row for shore". Perhaps not enough of us are doing the rowing. We do need to do more research and we do need to become socially articulate and ACTIVE with respect to bringing about change through political and other action. When so many of our friends are suddenly dianosed with it-- perhaps we should check out what is going on.
O God you are so powerful and such a mighty force; Lord of Heaven and Earth-- comfort all those suffering from cancer and other dreaded diseases, help us to help those who are dieing to close their lives with dignity and love of you; bring understanding to all those families and friends that cannot understand this terror that grips so much of the earth-- and above all-- help us to root out the causes and become untiring workers to bring about change to eradicate it. And Lord-- please help us to see Cancer as an evil. Help us to clean up our environment and change our hearts so that we guard your earth with love and happiness.
Amen.
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What's wrong with blessings? A reflection on God bless you...
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Posted:Apr 19, 2006 10:58 am
Last Updated:May 8, 2006 5:07 am 2766 Views
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A few years ago when I was still substitute teaching I would leave the various public schools where I had spent the day with the proverbial good bye greeting "God bless you". I know that it took a lot of secretaries and principals by surprise. And no one challenged me for saying that. But I also know it was somewhat controversial inside a public school system. Nonetheless I never strayed from that message. Nor do I today when I have finished with a in my handyman business. It's just me.
So I am wondering now about these blessings. As a young Catholic boy I would serve Mass daily and on Sundays we always held a Benediction Service at the local Catholic church in the late afternoon. The priest would hold up the Eucharist and the bells would ring. The congregation would kneel down and worship God's presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. And they would recite what is known as the Divine Praises:
Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. Amen.
I know that there are many reading this post who will be quite angered with some of the above text. I know from attending protestant churches in the last 10 years that Mary and the Eucharist are very controversial topics. But I always tell my Catholic friends to become more Protestant and my protestant friends to become more Catholic in terms of understanding and tolerating each other-- after all we do worship the same triune God.
Frankly- the benedictions in many of the evangelical churches I attend are fantastic. They go on forever! The chanting of praise for God seems unending accompanied by guitar and drums and a lot of very loud music. And why not? I think we cannot sing enough praises to the Living God for all he has done for us. We should be praising God from the rooftops in this incredible world. And besides-- what is wrong with making such positive comments anyway? Our world does not get enough good comments. I always recall as a teacher how powerful a word of praise on an essay or an encouraging remark during class did such powerful things for . And contrast that with a nasty remark and then see where you get! Lol
The best of modern psychology tells us to ignore bad behaviour and reward good behaviour. Not easy at times when dealing with teenagers. But it does work.
Bless you all for visiting and may God bless every creature you encounter this day and always!
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A wreath for a dead bunny? Coincidental or another great mystery?
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Posted:Apr 15, 2006 6:45 pm
Last Updated:Apr 23, 2006 9:46 pm 2830 Views
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The other day I looked out of my backyard and looked into the long ravine of my country home. Just a few yards from my window was the remains of dead bunny rabbit. There wasn't much fur on him/her and I wondered how this poor creature met with such an ill fate. So I did what I thought was the right thing and removed its remains leaving them further down in the ravine for the birds to devour- as the ground was still not ready for digging. The next day- mysteriously, a wreath of sorts appeared directly over the spot where the bunny had been "gunned down"! Yes I said a wreath of sorts. It was the plastic wrapper from a pop bottle that had mysteriously blown in from nowhere. My gates are always locked so it was definitely not a prank- besides who on earth would do such a silly thing? But it blew my mind that such an occurance like this would take place.
It reminded me of an iguana I bought for my boys years ago after my divorce. Sadly, the poor thing died and just about broke my ' hearts. So we built a wooden coffin for him ( by the way his name was Jeremiah-- as I would always convince my boys to name their pets after Old Testament prophets that I so loved-- and always the would think it was a great idea!)Well that was then!! Then on our next trip to the mountains where we would often go to a prayer retreat house for holidays- we buried the iguana. But before we did, we gave the little critter a state funeral! One of the fellas at the retreat house was a songwriter so he composed some beautiful hymns for him. I think I delivered the eulogy and the boys were in great awe as we had a procession with candles and the whole nine yards for a liturgy. Anway.. it was kind of neat to honour one of God's precious creatures. And sometimes I wonder about the beauty of animals and their purpose here on earth. I recall reading one of Thomas Merton's books once wherein he said that the purpose of all creation is to praise God. So the brook or the creek give Glory to God by just flowing in the manner that they do. And so to this little bunny. He gave praise to God by sacrificing himself for the good of a bird, a cayote or who knows. And as for the wreath? Did an angel place it there?
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Your prayers for Ellie on her last hour... an update
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Posted:Apr 13, 2006 7:01 pm
Last Updated:Mar 22, 2007 12:32 pm 2848 Views
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You will remember my story of Ellie- the little old lady with bowel cancer. I took her some flowers last Sunday but had to leave them between the doors as there seemed to be no one home. Today I received a phone call from her friend Yvonne who takes care of Ellie's cat when she is not able to do so. I was informed that Ellie is now being cared for in the local hospital. I did ask if I could go and see her but at the moment I was told that she needs her rest. But I will go none-the-less over the Easter season to bid her farewell- providing she is still with us.
This is a terrible age we live in. There is so much abundance of pleasure and the good life; so much spent on self, food and entertainment- and yet so many are dieing of the cold, callous indifference of the suffering of others. I find it tragic that a lady like this is all alone and hardly a soul to bid her farewell. One wonders where the love of neighbour has gone to. This is no longer the day of the country village-- but the large megacity of indifference and anonymity.
I pray that the Lord will bless her and provide her with much love in her days beyond this world. May the Holy Spirit comfort her. May the Father of all welcome her to the Kingdom at this time of His own 's resurrection.
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Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandella... a talk former President gave in Edmonton
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Posted:Mar 27, 2006 9:14 pm
Last Updated:Apr 20, 2006 8:29 pm 2848 Views
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I attended a service in Edmonton last Sunday wherein the pastor spoke of Nelson Mandella who was quoted by Bill Clinton on a recent talk he gave in Edmonton.
He said that Mandella had always inspired him when he was a world leader. He was asked who were the two most influential people on his life. He answered that one was Menachem Begin in Israel and the other one was Neslon Mandella in South Africa. Begin was so determined to bring about peace that he even invited Yasser Arafat to the peace talks-- something completely unheard of in Israel at that time.
On Mandella’s day of exit from jail after 27 years of imprisonment there were two phalanxes of prison guards on either side as he walked out towards the prison gates. In that few minutes every emotion of hatred and vengeance came to his heart. But he said to himself–unless I leave these feelings here in the prison I will be imprisoned for the rest of my life. At that very moment he felt the divine grace rush into his soul--- it was “Amazing Grace” he said. What a beautiful thought.
I know that Bill Clinton left office in disgrace over an affair he had with a younger woman. But I am heartened to learn that his work as a diplomat and statesman continues. I also know that the Lord forgives and he invites us all to not allow our past to imprison us from doing good in the present and future. May God bless Bill Clinton and the work he continues to do! And may the Lord continue to raise up heroic people like Begin and Mandela!
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