Thursday, October 30, 2003

Mike Yaconelli

There is a file I carry around on my Pocket PC. It's a challenging article that reminds me what is important in ministry. I pull it up when I start to forget and loose a bit of focus, and I just read it. It's author is Mike Yaconelli, and he writes things that challenge me to go deeper. 


This is that article. (Also find it here)



Getting Fired for the Glory of God
by Mike Yaconelli


After spending time with youth workers from all over the world during the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention, there's no question in my mind that our calling to youth ministry and the current condition of the institutional church are on a collision course.


I'm beginning to believe that if those who are called into youth ministry follow the lead of the One who called them, getting fired is inevitable.


Why? Because, in general, the institutional church doesn't get it. The institutional church has become hopelessly corporate, hopelessly tangled in a web of secularism. Instead of the church being the Church, it has opted instead to be a corporation.


You disagree? Why don't you try these seven suggestions, and see how long you keep your job.


Keep Jesus #1.


Make your relationship with Jesus the first priority of your life, and expect the same from your church staff. Suggest that your staff meetings only allow you to talk about your relationship with Jesus. Forget about business; just pray together, and share your struggles with each other.


Be still.


Require as part of your job description paid time alone with God. At least one day a week of silence, three-day retreats every quarter, and one week a year for the entire staff.


Ignore corporate values.


Refuse to accept corporate values for evaluating your worth. What are those corporate secular humanist values?


How about



  • Size
  • Productivity
  • Efficiency
  • Speed
  • Technology
  • Busyness
  • Measuring
  • Balance
  • Power
  • Success
  • Good grades
  • Sports

Just ignore all those values and instead ?


Think small.


Keep your youth group small and manageable. Work hard to focus on a few rather than many. Don't let your group get larger than you can handle with integrity.


Be real.


Tell the truth. Tell students when you are doubting, struggling, hurting, and failing. Create an atmosphere of reality. Refuse to edit your meetings so that only the polished communicators speak and only the positive stories get told.


Put your family first.


Don't let a workaholic staff intimidate you into becoming a workaholic. Say yes to your family first.


Seek kingdom values.


What are kingdom values?



  • Time. Have plenty of extra time to spend with students one on one. Refuse to be too busy.
  • Awareness?sensitivity, empathy, noticing
  • Audacity?risk, courage, resistance
  • Intimacy with God
  • Humility
  • Grace

. . . . .


Notice: You don't have to confront the system. You can just get close to Jesus, seek intimacy with God, follow kingdom values?and it won't be long until you are out on the street. And guess who will be there with you? You got it?Jesus.


___________________________________________________________________________________


 


I found out that last night Mike died in an auto accident, so, his pen is silenced.


Who will be the ones to pick up where he left off?

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

When You are old

I spent some time in care homes this morning, visiting those who can't get out to church any more.


It's amazing how we regress into childlikeness as we age and draw near our own death. We get to the place where these bodies that have carried babies in them, and done hard work on farms, and have travelled and read hundreds of books with deep thoughts in them, eventually need someone to feed them and change them.


We who are so strong, in the end, need somebody strong to carry us Home. 


 




When You Are Old
by William Butler Yeats


When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;


How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;


And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmer, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.



Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Hope

Well, had a good day today.

 

I spoke to a group over the lunch hour about persistence in prayer. It was a good time and they were eager to learn some things that I had experienced in prayer. I thought it was a lunch meeting so I brought along a bag lunch. When I got there with my lunch, nobody else had one with them. I felt like a kid in school again, who showed up at lunch with a goofy lunch box! So I tried to hide my lunch bag.

 

While I was downtown I checked in a computer shop (that never sells used monitors) whether they had any used monitors. Behold there was a wall of them before my eyes! So I picked up two for $30, to go with the two old CPU's I bought from Leighton last week. I may soon have the girls doing their homework, in their own rooms, on their own computers, for a total price of $60. Sweet! The sweetest thing is the chance to have them not typing on this one all the time!!!

 

I'm off to worship practice now.

 

Stay warm, it's getting cold out there.


Monday, October 27, 2003

Books

This weekend I had two friends give me books I've been wanting to read.


It's a very cool thing, to get a book you want from someone. It's like they take time to know you, really, and to express care or love they give you this gift.


The first is Philip Yancey's latest offering, "Rumours Of Another World." Looks like a good read on the mystery of God and our connections with Him. L knew I was interested in it, and picked it up for me.


The second is "Acquainted With The Night." It's a collection of black and white night photography and poetry. I've been checking it out the past couple of weeks down at Coles Bookstore, and today a friend gave it to me.


And I receive them as a treasure.


I waited all day before I opened them, I wanted a good chair and a drink, and some time to spend with them. But it was a busy day the opportunity never came. Now it's late and I gotta get to bed!


Still, the treasure is yet to be opened, and I'm looking forward to it.

Friday, October 24, 2003

Just about Donne

A Hymn to God the Father
by John Donne
 
Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.





Wilt thou forgive that sin by which I've won
Others to sin? and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.


I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by thyself, that at my death thy sun
Shall shine as it shines now and heretofore;
And having done that, thou hast done,
I fear no more.
 



What do you do if

What happens when someone who is considered a part of your community of faith is having difficulty?


If they are going through a health crisis, you gather around them, support them. If they have more month than money, you help them out. You do what family does to help. But what do you do if their behavior is suffering?


I mean what if they are becoming more embittered, or angry, or hostile. What if these cycles rule their lives, what do you do then?


I read in Galatians 5



So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. 18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.


19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.


22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.


24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.


Some people, for various reasons, end up living by their sinful nature more than by the Spirit's leading. When they do that, more often than not, we leave them to it.


Because we are afraid of conflict, we let them be. We say things like "I don't want anything to do with them, they deserve what they get." kinds of things. But I don't like that thinking. True caring community would reach out in love to that person, and attempt to help them into a healthy place in life, even at the risk of having their heads chewed off and spit out.


While I am concerned about someone who is living in their "Sinful nature," I am equally worried about a community that would let a person remain in that place, and not attempt to help them. I understand the fear involved, and that the persons needing help would probably reject it outright, but do we just let them be, leave them to their own devices?


I am in touch with a few churches with this kind of situation. These are the things that keep me up at night as i wrestle them through.


What are our options? Any suggestions?


 

Whoa

Having a good week, although it's just a little weird healthwise.


Today I took a good "Encouragement" from a friend that I need to take time for lunch and start eating properly. When I wake up, food is the last thing I'm interested in, yuck, gross. Then I get going, and usually i will forget about lunch, or food for a long time.


Then the afternoon rolls around and I meet or visit someone for coffee and, well I like a donut now and then, so i have a donut. Then I get home for supper, which is my meal of the day.


My friend reminded me that I'm 40 years old now and I better start eating right. She's right of course. So today I came home for lunch and ate Tomato soup with Lauralea and Micah. It was nice, except I got a huge headache!!


I never get headaches, and this one was a 4 Extra strength Tylenol one.


Whew, lunch at home can be dangerous.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Lunch

I had a great lunch today, cheeseburger with fries to be exact. And that would have been enough to make any meal a good thing, but I ate with Leighton.


It was good to connect with him again, I hadn't seen his smiling face since, since summer I believe. So it was real good to chat about life and church and God and Blogs and web design and travel and Port Rowan Ontario and ...


Tonight we're off to our small group.

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

To close for comfort

Whew, that was a close one. Last week nearly did me in. It's taken me a few days and conversations with Lauralea to get back on an even keel.


Sometimes I get very busy, and that's ok, I like being busy, but last week got a little weird on me. Occasionally it's a setup for me, and I don't always see it coming. I get busy and forget that much of what I do is a spiritual work, that Satan's minions would love to kill, steal or destroy what God is creating here in my life.


It's hard to explain, but there are seasons and plans to Satan work too. By the end of last week I wasn't completely sure what was pushing me headlong into harm's way, but it wasn't God and it wasn't me...


But by Saturday night it was becoming clearer. By Sunday morning there was a lifting of the heaviness, and I was able to enjoy time with the Father.


By Tuesday at noon, I'm nearly back all the way, hopefully a little wiser, and a bit more humbled.


And so, God keeps, and empowers, and Blesses us by His Grace and Mercy. One day at a time.


And thanks to you who called out my name to the Father this week. He answered you.

Monday, October 20, 2003

Holy Sonnet X

Holy Sonnet X
by John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so:
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death; nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure -then from thee much more must flow;
And soonest our best men with thee do go -
Rest of their bones, and souls' delivery!
Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings, and desp'rate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better, than thy stroke; -why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more: Death, thou shalt die.




Friday, October 17, 2003

Friday's done.

I was out again tonight.


I needed to take time to connect with a young guy from church, so we went out a bit tonight. It's the third night in a row that I've been working, and tomorrow we are out again, so tonight I took Micah with us. We had an ok time.


We droped the kids at youth group then went off to meet the guy. We got in around 10:30 and Micah's over tired, so he's a bit cranky.


... as are most people around here it seems.


I'm still struggling with the sermon for Sunday so I'll go do that for a bit, then to bed. I've got a long day ahead of me tomorrow too.

Thursday, October 16, 2003

Sigh.

Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong Day


Started at 8:15, and I just arrived home. 9:35pm


Going to go have a bite to eat, call it supper, then to bed. Sorry I'm not better company these days, it's just crazy, work crazy like.


Pray ok?

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Long day

Another day nearly done.


From prayer meeting to staff meeting to hospital visits to counseling to preparing for tonight's Bible Study.


Today I began counseling someone dealing with HIV/Aids. I suspect we've had people in church with this disease before, after all, Prince Albert has the highest rate in Sask. But today is the first time I've worked with anyone, about it.


The world stands still during the week you wait for your test results to get back.


 

Off to Pray

Well, I'm off to pray this morning.


It looks like it -5 C out there this am, and I know I'll have to scrape the windows of all the frost, but that's ok. I enjoy gathering with like hearted individuals to call out to God our thanks, our needs, our praise.


And tonight we have our small group again, so It'll be a long day.


 

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Prayer

Did you ever pray hard about something, then find out an answer came three months ago?


That happened to us today. Very humbling, that God should send an answer some time ago, to a prayer barely uttered.




"Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain firm beneath my feet
Your love is a mystery, how it gently lifts me
When I am surrounded, your love carries me


Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Your Love makes me sing


Your love is surprising, I can feel it rising
All the joy that´s growing deep inside of me
Every time I see you, all your goodness shines through
I can feel this God song rising up in me"


 



Sunday, October 12, 2003

Worship is...

Robert Webber, in his website AncientFuture Worship, writes this nugget:



For most, "intelligible worship" and "intellectualized worship" are not the same. Worship that is intellectualized is usually dead, failing to engage the heart and mind. Its language is typically explanatory.


I've worshipped in many settings where worship is continually explained: "We just did this, and that leads us to our next act of worship, which will be this." Explained worship is driven by comprehension, management, and control. It intellectualizes the relationship with God, which normally is cultivated through worship's mystery. Consequently, its transcendence, or meaning, is undermined.


Let me create an analogy. When someone visits you, you greet that person with words of salutation and symbols, such as a handshake or a hug. You create an ambiance that expresses welcome and pleasure. You wouldn't say, "We just greeted each other with words of welcome and a sign of friendship, now we are ready to enter the living room and converse." Such an explanation would be awkward and insulting. It devalues the words and signs used to express the importance of the relationship.


This analogy transfers to worship. Worship establishes, maintains, repairs, and transforms our relationship with God. But this relationship, which is expressed in words, signs, gestures, and the like, is severely damaged through explanation. Explanation removes worship from the mysterious and numinous realm, where relationship truly lies, to the intellectual realm, where worship becomes an object to be understood and analyzed. Worship thus becomes dry, intellectual, and non-engaging.


The antidote to intellectualized worship is to understand the work of worship to be prayer.


Prayer, the meeting between God and God's people, creates the atmosphere of worship. Prayer cannot be explained. It lies in the realm of mystery and bears the quality of transcendence, only intelligible as mystery. The moment it is explained, intellectualized, and analyzed it is removed from the transcendent to the common realm. Most worship is too common, and that's why it's boring. Don't break boredom with entertainment; break boredom with worship as an engaging prayer.


 


I love his analogy of when someone comes to your home! That explains why I dislike "Interruptions" while we are worshiping God. Don't tell me what we will do next, let's get doing it!


The Back Yard


Leaves


How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.
 


At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.


Elsie N. Brady

Saturday, October 11, 2003

Giving Thanks

"One Thanksgiving Day I was home alone in the evening. On my favorite radio program Bill Pearce, the host of "Night Sounds," asked us to think of all the things for which we were thankful; our country, our families, home, work, and all the rest. Then he challenged us: "Have you ever stopped to be thankful just for yourself?" As he candidly shared his own struggles with this, I realized I had never really thanked God for all the work he had done in my creation. I was overcome as I thought of how God had made plans for my life long before I was born."


-Ingrid Trobisch


 


Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of Harvest - come!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of Harvest-home!


What is earth but God's own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield?
Wheat and tares therein are sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown;
Ripening with a wondrous power,
Till the final Harvest-hour;
Grant, O Lord of life, that we
Holy grain and pure may be.


Come, then, Lord of Mercy, come,
Bid us sing the Harvest-home!
Let thy saints be gathered in!
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
All upon the golden floor
Praising thee forevermore;
Come, with thousand angels, come;
Bid us sing thy Harvest-home.


Henry Alford


 


Blessings, and remember to give thanks this weekend.

Go Cubs!

Yeah Babee, go Cubs!

Prince Albert etc.

Earlier today I was playing around with a camera that has been placed on a building in downtown Prince Albert. They give access to internet users to move the camera around, focus and zoom kinda things.


So I took a few snaps for your enjoyment.


And if you just can't stand home movies, well then go take your own!! It can be seen, here.


The City Hall



The Daily Herald Newspaper



North, towards the river



The New Arts Center (left) with the indoor soccer center (Center)



And of course, the federal Pen.


Giving Thanks

Yesterday morning at Tim Horton's as I was meeting with someone, they asked me if I had heard about the major accident up the street. I hadn't heard of it yet, but I guess it was very messy.


Last night I got word that it was one of the guys from church, and his son. They were hit on the driver side door by a half ton truck. The son was mostly ok but the dad was in intensive care with broken ribs etc.


I thought about going to the hospital late last evening, but decided to go in the morning. There wasn't immediate danger and I didn't want to disturb him if he had been given sedatives to help him rest. (NOTE: pastoring is a lot about timing. When to do what. Bad timing means missed opportunities, hurting people. Good timing is fruitful ministry, care, etc.)


Anyway, I slept fitfully, the situation kept stirring me to the surface of sleep. I prayed for him and his family, and thanked God that their lives were spared.


Finally, I got tired of trying to sleep, so I got up and went to the Hospital. I visited with him a bit, assured him of my prayers and went off to see another patient from church. He was in allot of pain, and still in ICU, but he should be out soon.



I notice how after these things happen I go to God with a bit of fear and trembling. I go to express my gratefulness that this family has been spared the agony and pain of death. Yet I am keenly aware of how all life is held within the balance of His hand. He really does know the beginning from the end. He knows the date and hour of my own death, and this humbles me to my core.


We live more on the fact that He loves us and gives us wonderful gifts. But it's in moments like these, when we see his raw power at work, that we just shut our mouths and look down at the dirt and there's nothing to say but "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you..."



He has given us yet another reason to be Thankful this Thanksgiving Weekend.

Thursday, October 09, 2003

Pic's online

Alright, here you can see some pic's of the retreat itself.


And over here is a set of pictures of Alberta. It was just beautiful this week.


Enjoy.

Back safe and sound

Well, 48 hours in the Mountains will do wonders for a guy.


We had a great Pastors and spouses retreat at Entheos Retreat Cener, just on the other side of Calgary. It was only 48 hours long but the visiting and worship and views were refreshing.


I've got some pictures I'll get ready and post, but for now, thanks for praying and sending and here are a few images.


Entheos Center


 


The Retreat Center is located on some of the most beautiful ground anywhere.


 


 


 


 


 



 


The food and visiting is always the best. Ed caught my camera!


 


 


 


 


The Worship times.


 


 


 


 


 


 


We had a free afternoon and Banff wasn't that far... so...


 


 


 


 


 


 


And in Banff we had supper with the biggest and best Fish and Chips I've had in Canada.


 


 


 


 


 


 


P.S. If you're ever in Hanna Alberta, don't eat at the Subway. Just because.

Sunday, October 05, 2003

Off to Calgary

Well, Lauralea and I are off to the Canadian Covenant's pastors and spouse retreat at Entheos (SP?) located on the other side of Calgary.


We head out tonight and should arrive tomorrow for supper.


I think we will head into Banff for our free time Tuesday afternoon. If I can find a place, I'll blog from there.  Anyway, as you think of us, pray for us.


The kids are staying home to watch the homestead and a huge, strong, capable friend is coming to hang out with them.


So, have a good week and we'll talk later.


Blessings.

Saturday, October 04, 2003

It's a Beautiful Day

Our Back YardWhat a glorious Autumn day here in Prince Albert.


The weather tag says it's 26 C and that's at 6:55 pm so you know it's done well.


The leaves are golden and the warm sun dries them out nicely, it is a beautiful day.


And a beautiful day calls for a beautiful evening. Let's end it with this Psalm and prayer. Read it with me.


 




Psalm 4


Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer. Alleluia.
When I called out, he heard me, the God of my righteousness.
When I was in trouble, you gave me freedom:
 now, take pity on me and listen to my prayer.


Sons of men, how long will your hearts be heavy?
 Why do you seek for vain things?
 Why do you run after illusions?
Know that the Lord has done marvellous things
 for those he has chosen.
When I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.


Be vigorous, but do not sin:
 speak in the silence of your heart,
 in your bed, be at rest.
Offer righteousness as a sacrifice,
 and put your trust in the Lord.


Many are saying, Who will give us good things?
Let your face shine on us, Lord,
 let the light of your face be a sign.
You have given me a greater joy
 than the others receive
 from abundance of wheat and of wine.
In peace shall I sleep, Lord, in peace shall I rest:
 firm in the hope you have given me.





 


Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.


Now, Master, let your servant go in peace.
 You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
 the glory of your people Israel.


Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.


Come to us, Lord, this night, and give us the strength to rise at dawn rejoicing in the resurrection of your Anointed, who lives and reigns for ever and ever, Amen.


May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
 







Friday, October 03, 2003

Yes, Virgina there is culture in Prince Albert

Alright, I'm sorry about the no culture crack I made. I'm sorry, I repent.


But, Prince Albert is kinda a Farming/Forestry/Prison town. You gotta understand that with these three top industries, there's gonna be some cheatinhurtin music playin on four out of five local radio stations, which it feels like it is!


But, to be fair, only two of the localish stations are country, the two FM radio stations we have are both owned by the same company and really do play much the same format, Top 40, MOR, late greats, kinda stuff.


Saskatoon AM radio plays Country and Talk. Melfort does this Country FM thing and a greatest hits ever station on AM. (CBC 1 reaches us here from Regina.)


But, in this vast province of just under 1 million people, there isn't a Classical station to be found. (Hang on, CBC 2, which is "Classics and Beyond" has three transmitters in Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Regina, and Swift Current - if you can believe that! And it is "Beyond" our reception.)


Anyhow, all that to say ENOUGH WITH THE CHEATINHURTIN MUSIC ALREADY!!


Hey, I love Skaggs "Crying my heart out over you" and Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Comin Down" but where can we get a varied diet including some Classical stuff?


Well, faithful readers, tonight was the night. Lauralea and I were given tickets to the Anthony Kearns concert at the new Center for the Arts. We got dressed up and off we went to a wonderful oasis of a concert. He has a wonderful Tenor voice and sings regularly with the world renowned Three Irish Tenors.


It was like a long, glorious Ice Water drink to a dry parched throat.


Now, having said that, he did sing a few to many Irish songs for my liking, but Lauralea loved that part a lot. He did three, only three Arias, and they were beautiful, how I wished for more, but I wasn't about to start complaining! I was to busy drinking it in.


Anyway, thank's L's for the tickets, it was wonderful.


And, because I'm a multimedia kinda guy, here are a few clips of tonight.


Here's a clip of his first song.


Here he sings a duet with his wonderfully gifted accompanist, Patrick Healy.

And here's a clip of one of the Arias.

No culture out there?

So, what's with the fact that i draw no readers who are into Midtown Madness???


What's happening to the culture out there? Is it drying up?

Thursday, October 02, 2003

3000 Words

If a picture is worth a thousand words then read these 3000! 


It's 3000 words about my desk. I took them a while ago and only just realized what they say about my ministry. Interpret them how you like.


 




Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Saskatchewan Forest Centre building Webcam

So, there is a major building going up in downtown Prince Albert, the Saskatchewan Forest Centre building to be exact.


Phil emailed me with the info;



Believe it or not, there is a webcam monitoring the progress of constructing
the new Saskatchewan Forest Centre building, in downtown Prince Albert.
Check it out
http://204.83.181.176/home/JViewer.html


Check it out. You can see your tax dollars at work!!

Welcome to October.

Well, here we are, we made it to October, and it's good to be here.


Had a good prayer time at GateCrashers this morning. God showed me a bit of what that dream was about the other night. He also encouraged me in the ways He's at work at Gateway.


And He is at work, renewing, and enlarging hearts. He's taking away our ability to be god's for ourselves, and that's cool, you know? He's teaching us to lean into him, - again! To trust Him as God, the only one able to provide and bless and change and enliven us. And over it all there is a Holy sense of, peace. Of stillness and rest and blessing.


Course, when He's at work, so is his sworn enemy.  But, "You don't take shots unless you're flying over the enemy" somebody once said.


Still, He is good, and His people are wonderful. This is indeed a Blessed existence of mine.