Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Sun Began To Rain

A thief fell out of heaven with some loaded dice
But the lamb rolled a seven back to paradise.
The bread was finally leavened so I had a slice
And the sun began to rain.

Water swelled from fountains and then turned to wine,
Rocks fell from the mountains in a chorus line;
He came in tails and top hat and He looked so fine,
And the Son began to reign.

A fox snuck in to steal away the grapes,
But the man who ran the vineyard closed the gate,
So he could not escape.

And now we'll live forever in another land,
Everything is happening like it first was planned.
Did you get your invitation to come play in the band
And let the Son begin to reign.

Larry Norman




You just don't get songs like that these days.
Well, maybe you do, I just wanted to sound like my grandpa.

Since iTunes made its tunes DRM Free and improved the quality, I've been looking around. Back through my history and memory, back through the songs I listened to in the late 70's and 80's.

I've been looking for this Larry Norman CD for a while now, "In Another Land." And there it was, waiting safely for me after all these years.

I quickly and figuratively slapped down my nine bucks, and in moments I had the whole cd, all 14 tunes.

Tonight I finally had time to listen. I got a good seat, good earbuds, and closed my eyes for an emotional trip through my history. Back to Bible school, and friends I had made there. Back to my dorm room where I listened at full volume. Some songs even triggered unique memories of instances where I was listening, and some person would come by and listen and chat.

I was smiling like a fool, with my eyes closed.

This, is so good.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Good grief there is a sudden S...

Good grief there is a sudden STRONG wind out there. Neighbours power gone, our lights only ones I can see, car stopped on hiway

fits and starts

one of those days.

A couple of cancellations, a couple of people filled those spots.

working on office things that need attention before I head out on Monday morning.

called home to fix the clothes washer so my sick child can get up and have something to wear as I send him outside to shovel.

oh, and my "pension" notice came in for the year. I'm down %13.85 for the year. That means that everything that was given on my behalf, by the church, plus a few thousand, was lost. And that was a conservative fund.

Sheesh. I'm so not used to dealing in the thousands of dollars, so when thousands are lost, I feel weird, gross.

Both tomorrow and Sunday are full days looks like, then monday I am at the MidWinter pastors get together in Chicago.

like I said, fits and starts.

I had a dream

that we were caught in a war, and we were being occupied by a violent army. We spent our desperate moments of life trying to stay hidden, trying to remain alive and keep our kids alive.

It was merciless.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Amazing night photography of London

Wow. This is beautiful.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/more_of_london_from_above_at_n.html

 

To me, night photography is some of the most beautiful imagery out there. It's because its all about light and how light is handled and approached. 

These images are gorgeous.

Mothers Of PreSchoolers

MOPS is underway at the church now.

And the little people are arriving, in full tears and wailing and gnashing of whatever they are old enough to have in their mouths.

The 2-3 year olds are camped outside my office.

Wow.

Oh the humanity...

(Mom's are asking each other "Is mine still screaming??)

I'm not if I'm smiling because I don't have to help with that age category or because none of the kids there are mine.

:)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

What's missing?

Following my meeting this afternoon I needed to stop in at the local Christian Paraphernalia Book Store to check on a study book which as it turned out, they didn't have. Not a "Popular Title" it seemed.

Anyway, as I was browsing I overheard three loud pastors sitting in the big chairs in the corner carrying on and holding court with anybody who would overhear them. They were showing one another what great knowledge they had about the various bible translations and how they could use their greek skills that they had, didn't you know, to draw broad sweeping conclusions about which was the best translation for their highly esteemed work. They went on about how their knowledge was a great thing for their churches who should listen to them more because they had great education that would help their congregations, unlike churches of other denominations. It was embarrassingly arrogant.

What a load of bollocks. (Please pardon my english Anglo-Saxons)

There seemed to be a huge disconnect with their churches who needed to listen to them more, let alone the world whom they didn't seem to be relevant to at all. It was like they had all the right answers to questions not being asked of them at all.

I gotta tell you that if I was in one of their churches, I'd really find it hard to stay there. Life is too short to listen to people who don't get it, or worse yet, think they have the answers to questions I don't care about. It becomes a joke, an inside joke and they are all outsiders.

They seemed to base their qualifications on their education but they had no experience or understanding of the Spirit and his working in lives, at least as far as I could tell by the spirit of their conversation. There wasn't a great deal of the evidence of the activity of the Holy Spirit there among them.

Ahem, no wonder the church is in a tough place these days.

Why do some pastors think it's more helpful to curse rather than to bless? Not curse curse, but to speak down to someone because they feel insecure about their own stuff? Why can't we be a blessing, in deed and in word, wherever we go and whatever we do? Rather than to be calling people down.



I don't often if ever speak with such language about those called to care for and lead the body of Christ, but what we seem to be creating is a group of educated, Spirit-less, insecure individuals who have a religion devoid of power.

Yes, there are some AMAZING pastors out there. Our own meeting today was a place where we could share our hearts about how we are caring for the church and how we attempt to care for the world too. We talked about character issues. Good people trying to be faithful to the calling they know, who know it's not about them.

But some pastors out there have never fasted and prayed for a week, or have never prayed with a sick person until they are better or have died or have heard God say my grace is enough for your illness. They have not had to pray in enough money to pay their bills or had to stick it out in a difficult church simply because God told them to remain.  Some of them have never even heard what God's voice sounds like.

We need these kinds of times with God for our character to develop. We need these opportunities to learn the ways God works with us and leads us. Surely they are humbling times, but God gives grace to the humble. We need all the grace we can get, so bring on the humility.



I guess this post comes from a place of concern for the church. We, at least in the west, have figured out some of the more formal ways to educate and train individuals for the ministry. We need to find ways to allow for and encourage the character building types of activities as well.



I think I should stop now for fear I will begin rambling.

I need to hit either delete or post now, and while I am inclined to hit delete I know that's just the easiest option.  So if you have an opinion feel free to have a go.

Just like olde times

We continue to fight the good fight here in the field.

After trying to go to bed at a sane hour, I was up again trying to manage a major disturbance in the force field that is my lower intestine, till about 2 or 2:30 am. Good grief what is going on here.

Then a few hours later I was awakended to the sound of Micah retching in the basement and Lauralea fliting around looking for barf pails and cleaning solutions etc.

Ah it took me back to the days of young barfing children and cleaning beds and toilets and floors in the middle of the night...

I thought for a moment if I should get up and help, like the olden days. Then decided that if help was required, she's yell, like she used to do in days gone by.

And now, with my stomach safely empty and still churning a mile a minute, I'm off for a pastors meeting an hour away.


Fare thee well.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Mamma Mia - The Movie

Well, yes, I have some friends who love this movie possibly better than toast with cheesewiz on it, which to me is just as difficult to understand. But today in Indigo Books, they had the soundtrack playing and I like ABBA, so it sounded hopeful. Yes we bought it.

My conclusions?

The songs are, well, messed with enough so that they don't sound like the soundtrack, so that was a great disappointment. And they kept interrupting the music for the acting and no, I never thought I'd hear me say that.

But there was a story line to follow, and they did do some of my favourite ABBA tunes, so, yeah. 

Seems I can sing better than Pierse Brosnan and I look better too, if I say so myself, and Lauralea is way way better looking than Meryl Streep, (What were they thinking putting her in it, ...at least she can sing).

 

The best part of the disk?

They have all the songs on the dvd and you can have the words up on the screen so you can sing along. So we did. Yep, we sat on the couch, the old lady and I, and we sang the hits of ABBA, in harmony. 

Sadly, that was fun.

:)

So, the movie? Maybe about a 4 or 5. 

The sing-a-long ABBA songs? Yeah, that's an 8 or 9.

I think we are about to purcha...

I think we are about to purchase Mamma Mia. Too long living near Dixie I think.

And for this morning

Lauralea and I are off to the big city.

hit some bookstores, maybe the Apple store, do a quick buzz down Whyte Avenue, find a great little coffee shop then back to The Field.

Sometimes I think that if she worked outside the home we would simply never connect.

Anyway, better get home and see if she's done "her hair."

Monday, January 26, 2009

...maybe a yogurt cup

...maybe a yogurt cup

I fell asleep on the couch and...

I fell asleep on the couch and missed Corner Gas - Im so tired... Eat something and go to bed.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Christ's word to a distracted church

My talk yesterday morning was difficult. Hard to get focused and communicate my heart.
But here it is. Keep what you can use and toss the rest.

My thanks to Stan Harsch who records the audio so well that I don't have to tweak it that much, and to Eunice Nelson for the beautifully played piano at the end.

http://randallfriesen.com/sermons/refJAN2509-96.mp3

 

May God be near you.

Awaken the dawn

Well, things are ready for tomorrow, and I feel better than I did even 2 hours ago.

My spirit has been heavy and distracted all day, and I've been praying, talking to God about it, looking for the cues to follow. But it hasn't been easy.

Sometimes it's just a fight and the destroyer wants what he/it wants and he lingers all day, just on the edges of life, watching for opportunity. And you lean into God and it gets lighter, better, but not enough so that you can go about your business with ease.

So you spend the day as I have, kind of spiritually limping along, staying close to the range of The Light for safety sake, and you pray for the dawn to come and with it the help you need.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.

My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will awaken the dawn with my song.

via.

Time to get home and get some sleep.
Night.

It would have been my dad's birthday today

he was born on this day in 1942.

Maybe that's been my "problem" today, I don't know.

But here I am at the office, trying to organize my thoughts for the funeral of a friend tomorrow, and they aren't coming. I'll be here till I figure this out.

 

Anyway, here's to my dad who should be 67 today.
i still miss him.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

At the churches Annual Meeting...

At the churches Annual Meeting. Not bad so far.

yeah, it's the weekend

The guys are out there this morning, at -30C, digging the grave for the funeral on Monday.

Digging a grave.

In the ebb and flow of pastoral work, it seems like the week has been a real crazy week.

So I'm in the office, getting ready for our church Annual Meeting this afternoon. Then probably tonight I need to look at what I want to talk about tomorrow morning. Then tomorrow afternoon I'll work on the funeral which will happen Monday.

Monday night I'll take some time off.
That's just what it is for this week.

And truthfully there is a part of me that loves the stress of a busy time like this.
I think it may be the broken part of me, but hey there you go. Not even the pastor is perfect.

Anyway, here's to the guys out there digging a hole for their friend who's been around here since 1923. Would that we all had friends like that when we go.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Need a smile?

Yeah. Me too.


Thursday, January 22, 2009

Yep, still here

In spite of headaches, which I never have but I do now, and nausea which I rarely have, I feel pretty good. I just wish I could get rid of those two things and I'd be good. I do think chances that I'm pregnant are slim to none, so that's a plus.

Spent a few hours at a meeting tonight, which was good, meeting wise.

When you are changing the culture of opinion and personal experience, it takes a while to see change happen. When people go to meetings that are difficult and painful, they rightly don't want to go to those meetings ever again. So it takes a bunch of good meetings for people to grow the new perspective that meetings can be helpful and good. I don't know how many good neetings you need to have to counter the effects of the bad meetings, but it's probably like 3 or 4 good meetings to make the shift happen in peoples minds.

And so we go, one good meeting at a time, slowly changing peoples opinions and experiences so that they can enter into good processes that lead to good experiences. And while we wait for the next chance to give people a good experience at a meeting, we pray for them, that the place in their hearts that was hurt can be healed and restored.

Change is happening here. Not the kind that can happen by the swift signature of a presidential edict, but more the effect of the Spirits work in a heart, because that's what we are dealing with here, people's hearts. And that is patient, sometimes tricky work. But the work is progressing nicely here.

Now if I could stop with the headaches and nausea, that would be lovely.

Night.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Getting in gear

Got a call halfway through my second Tylenol, someone from this church community had just passed away in town, so off I went to the care home.

Even when the loved one has been ill a long time, and you play over in your mind how the day might go when the one who is loved slips the grasp of the earth and is gone, you still are surprised when it happens. And so it was today.

Soon there will be a funeral here, my first in these parts. I need to understand how they walk out those times here, so I can walk alongside them.

I hope my body cooperates, soon. I still feel sick.

 

And to those of you who have emailed, my apologies. I'll get to the emails as soon as possible.

Going home for lunch, which ma...

Going home for lunch, which may just be water & drugs since I feel sick.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

History is being made today. Updated.

... I need to go find a video feed.

 

Wow. What an inauguration, what a day for you south of the border types. And then of course, for the world.

Whatever you may say about his politics, and there may be much to be said, I don't know. But the way he has captured the hearts of many Americans, and the way he desires to move forward gives me hope for America and this world yet.

While I have not always agreed with the policies or principles of President Bush, I have tried not to tie his name to a chain and drag it behind the car over gravel roads. I honestly don't know what it feels like to be in the place he has been in during these years, or to carry the responsibility he has carried around. I can judge his decisions based only on my perspective, which is very limited. And so I have prayed, as instructed by the God I serve.

I can't imagine the amount of pressure that job carries with it, and expectation and power. To watch these leaders change over the years they are in office is an amazing thing. Their faces age so quickly and their countenance changes abruptly. Today Mr. Bush looked almost a bit giddy at a few places, probably over the possibility of getting out of that office.

But it is a day for new direction and policy for America, and I shall be watching with interest as the new leadership attempts to negotiate the difficulties of war and recession and campaign promises, any one of which would be enough to make me run in the other direction.

 

I close with this reminder:
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 

1 Timothy 2

Monday, January 19, 2009

We are off to find a good brea...

We are off to find a good breakfast. Probably head to Camrose.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

A thanks before sleep

I wanted to pop in here and thank you the readers, who have been a part of my story here for nearly six years. 

This place kind of has an ongoing identity crisis and it's not sure what it wants to be when it grows up, but I enjoy the simple opportunities it gives me.

I like sharing a part of my life here, not because I am in any sense an exhibitionist but because I believe life can be tough and sometimes followers of Christ can tend to come off as having it all together, and we really don't. Sometimes us pastors especially can come off like that, and I really don't have it all together. I can be an ass and I don't listen and I really don't like to say I was wrong as often as I have been wrong. You know, just stuff.  I don't have it all together and most often I'm ok with that.

But lets face it, I still tell you only the things that I want to tell you. You still only know the things I or Lauralea mention in our blogs, so that is a little biased too.

In a world of narrative where stories of peoples lives happen all around us every day, my story is just another one. Not better, not worse, depending on the day, it's just another one. It's valid simply because it's my story and hopefully it doesn't devalue other lives and stories that are out there. My life is really all I have to offer others, because it's made up of me, of who I am. Yes I can offer information to people, but I think that the real offering is me, my life. My friendship or care or love or listening ear or prayer, it's just me. My existence is all I have to offer, because it's all that I am. So I suppose in some way that is why I do this here. It's just an offering of my story, such as it is.

What has happened as a result is that a number of you have trusted me with your stories and allowed me to walk with you through different seasons of life. Some of you make contact when your stories are in difficult seasons and you need a friend for your soul. You make contact with me and we walk together for a while and then we part and don't talk again for some time. It's been fun to see how that group just constantly changes as old friends are ok and walk on their own again and others contact me anew.   

Others contact me with questions and desire some wisdom for a situation they are facing. Still others simply need someone to pray with them, and I do that then too.

It's really just allowed me to be me here in this space. It's been a way for my strengths and graces to come out, and as you need them you have had the courage to email or call or make contact.

I'm grateful that you have felt free to make contact, because when I am able to be who God has made me to be, with my gifts and graces being used to help others, I am fulfilled, and in turn I look to God with a grateful heart. 

Thank you, for trusting me with your lives and stories because in some way God provides through who he has made me to be, and then I am fulfilled.

 

And with that I think I better get to bed.

Tomorrow is our first day off in a while and I don't want to mess it up with a tired fight with Lauralea.

 

Night.

Anyone else feel the ground mo...

Anyone else feel the ground moving (with no kissing involved...) southeast of edmonton?

Looks COLD in Pittsburgh, come...

Looks COLD in Pittsburgh, come on Steelers!!!

Praying with your Spirit

This morning in worship I wanted to continue to explore prayer, so I took a passage that Paul sent to the Corinthians in a letter and expanded it a bit to look at praying with the mind and praying with the spirit.

We may pray well with our minds, but how can we pray better with our spirits?

That's what todays talk is about.

Listen if you wish.

Praying for ya.

http://randallfriesen.com/sermons/JAN180964.mp3

Church was good today. Now for...

Church was good today. Now for some AFC/NFC NFL playoff games. Helps me forget the hole in my windshield.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

What? It's Saturday night again?

Well, yes I can say that it has indeed been a very full week around here, and my online activity has been very minimal. I suppose that's been more about survival mode than anything else.

It's been a week of prayer here at church. We kind of start off the year with that foundation, and it's good and it's been busy trying to learn how they manage that week here, while trying to plan and lead it and to give it my own spin. I've really wanted this week to not be the same each night, so I've been a bit creative. Maybe by next year we can explore even some bigger creative prayer ideas, see where that goes.

As a result, I haven't been online too much. However, throughout the week a good number of you have been prayed for, at various times as God reminded me of you.

And so it's Saturday night again, and I to take a few moments to finally be ready for tomorrow morning.

 

Yeah, a plain post. Consider it more of an "I'm still alive" post.

Night.

A big stoopid truck just threw...

A big stoopid truck just threw something big at the windscreen and now I have a 5 inch across circle of mess. Absolute Frustration.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Fifth night out in a row. Week...

Fifth night out in a row. Week of prayer has been good but i'm getting tired out. Night all.

A good day to be alive



The big story is that this plane just crash landed in the Hudson River in New York and as of right now it looks like there has been no loss of life.

The subplot is that there was a Twitter user, Janis Krums on a Ferry in the river with his iPhone snapping this image as the Ferry went into rescue mode.

Amazing.

Quote on "Where there is no vision"

Ps.29:18 "Where there is no vision" is best translated "revelation" or "preaching of Word," NOT "vision" as in 5-yr. plan says Dr.Walter Kaiser


via Len Sweet.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Today I went to visit an 85 year old lady

And I went early to clear off her walk from the freshly fallen five inches of snow.

When I arrived she was just completing sweeping the steps.

The driveway was cleared.

The front city walk was cleared.

Her front sidewalk was cleared and in a 5 foot high pile.

And she proudly announced that she had done it all herself.

Sheesh.

Her secret? She just takes her time at it, and does a bit at a time, all through the day.

There's my problem. I'm a "Do it all at once" kind of guy.

Still so much to learn.

Is that a Gourd on your head?

Today I saw a driver driving in near blizzard conditions, holding a cup of coffee in one hand, a cigarette in his other hand, between the first two fingers, and a cell phone he was talking on, while driving at a 100kms/hr.

I think HE should have had a squash on his noggin. 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7813418.stm

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Waking up is hard to do.

I lay in bed early this morning listening to the sounds of CBC Edmonton tell me that the temperature outside was already as warm as it would get today. I was dragging my feet, not wanting to face the day.

I realized that in olden times, pre three months ago, when I was getting up early and finding motivation tough to source, I could trick myself into getting up by telling myself that I would stop for a coffee and bagel on the way in to the office.

Then I'd go and bring my latest Classic FM CD with me and a newspaper and get the two required food items and install myself at a corner table, crank up the music in my ears, and read.

On days when I felt particularly lonely or disconnected from the human race, I'd sit there drinking my coffee, listening to tunes or the news in my ears, and I'd watch people. People watching is one of my very favourite things to do, although I don't think that officially its a hobby. That would probably be considered stalking.

But this morning in my bed I couldn't sell myself on the value of getting up and going straight to the office, so I dawdled and dragged, and here I am.

And, on this day at least, life took pity on my. I got to people watch as a highway grader operator got stuck on the front patch of the church yard for about half an hour, and swore his way out of the problem.

:)

Life in the field.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Just got home from the office ...

Just got home from the office and I have to shovel snow? I don't think so, one more kid left at home and once he's gone, we start over.

A Starting place for Prayer

Alright, without a great deal of fanfare or expectation on my part, I offer you. the Internet, or more specifically, those who requested it, my talk yesterday about a starting place for a week of prayer.

The jokes will be culturally sensitive to the field I now live in, so you may not get them at all. Just laugh anyway and trust us, they are funny. Very funny.

:)

And I'm not Chuck S or some of those other talkers who change the world with their preaching, I just mostly tell it like I know it and have heard God inside me tell me to say it. 

All that to bring down your expectations nicely.

 

http://randallfriesen.com/sermons/JAN11-0964kbps.mp3

 

And, if it helps put you to sleep, I recommend that you put it on your iPod and play it in the baby room when it's time for baby to be asleep. That way you will get it's full effect.

 

Praying for you.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Live Jazz

This afternoon Lauralea and I got ourselves down to a Jazz concert at the city high school. Some friends of ours whose son is on tour with his jazz trio were doing a concert in the school to encourage kids and give them some experience.

Wow, were they ever a tight group. All the more amazing considering they only got together a week ago, from three different points of North America. All excellent Jazz musicians in their own right.

I love live jazz, and this was so live that I simply sat with my eyes closed and enjoyed the day. Once or twice I tried to order a drink, it was that live.

Andy's Jazz LoungeThe trumpet player was from Chicago so I talked with him briefly after the show. I asked him if he'd ever heard of a small jazz club down on Hubbard in Chicago that I get to whenever I am there.

"Oh Andy's Jazz Club?" he asked, and I grinned because he knew it well. He has played there with his own quintet occasionally.

And so I think I am ready to get to Chicago again. Of course it's for the purpose of attending a pastors conference, but the real deal is that on Wednesday night when nothing is happening I'll take the El downtown and walk through the dark city streets of Chicago and pay my 5 dollar cover charge at Andy's Jazz Club and loose the evening listening to some very smooth Jazz.

Cause there's nothing like live Jazz.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

another Saturday night

... and i ain't got no money, (Join me now) "I got no money but I just got paid..."

 

T'was a long week talking with and meeting with and struggling with People. That's a good thing, a very good thing. And in that respect it was a very good week, people wise.

Which makes it a tricky week, office, study, and administrative wise. And that is why I'm still in my office late on a Saturday night.

I think I'm ready for tomorrow.

We are starting off our week of prayer tomorrow, and I wanted to preach more of a motivation talk rather than the same ole same old about you should pray and read your bible every day, which never seems to motivate anyone, unless you're motivated by fear which isn't really about loving God anyway. 

I want to delve ever so briefly into the Song of Songs to get the feel of the quality of love spoken about there. Without making everyone think that loving God is all mushy and weird, or at worst, that it verges on porn.

There, right there in between being pursued by a lover, and searching for them yourselves, thats where we can live if we want to awaken love.

And it seems to be something we can awaken and stir.

Anyway, maybe as you go to bed tonight. or are waking up and it's Sunday already, maybe you can think about how you might awaken love, for the lover of your soul.

 

I'll try to get it recorded for you Jeremy and others; as long as you promise not to take shots at my talking ability.

 

Night. From The Field.

Friday, January 09, 2009

A Winter Morning

IMG_0273

If you look at the largest version of the picture, you can see a bunch of deer grazing. It's right near the center of the image.

It was a cold clear morning out here today. Warming up for the weekend though.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

and...

it's snowing out there.

Hard.

as in, lots of snow on the now icy highway.

gross.

 

I suppose it's a part of the appeal of living in The Field; "Take Your Life In Your Hand By Going For Thai Food!"

 

Still, I reckon it's worth it.

It's been a long week

...to be honest, and I am tired, as in I nearly had to call for assistance to get me out of bed this morning.

But...

Things are picking up. Tonight Lauralea and I are heading to Edmonton for some great Thai food.
Some friends from near The Field are meeting us at "The King and I" a place where Mic Jager sent his personal chef to learn some tricks so he could cook the recipes for Sir Mic.

And not that I care about where Mic eats, but seriously, it's well its past due for us to eat some good Thai food.

Tonight it happens.

 
The King And I

Celebrity Status
This Strathcona landmark restaurant has scored raves among a steady clientele for its exquisite Thai cuisine. Even the Rolling Stones gave it a thumbs up the last time they rolled through the city. Thankfully, celebrity status isn’t a prerequisite to enjoy a dining experience at the King and I. The bright décor, complete with Southeast Asian ornaments dotting the walls, immediately sets patrons at ease.

Flawless Presentation
At the King and I, how the food looks when it arrives at your table is equally important as how it tastes. The kitchen staff’s painstaking attention to detail is legendary and the service friendly and professional. In an effort to constantly evolve their menu, the owners frequently travel to Asia picking up new and exciting culinary ideas. Not to worry, dishes can be spiced up or down depending upon the palate.

Flavourful Dishes
The King and I offers a select menu with many classic Thai dishes, as well as a few new Thai-fusion twists. The spicy seafood nest, featuring shrimp with bamboo shoots and Chinese mushrooms is irresistible, while chicken and curry dishes like chu chu kai and the panan kai always receive favorable reviews. Seafood lovers will appreciate the Sea Bass in chili jam or place an order for a generous serving of the house special, Pad Thai. For starters or sharing, try the salad tolls, crispy tofu with spicy cucumber sauce or the Thai sticks. The King and I is great for first timers or discriminating Thai savvy diners!

 

The Field January 8, 2009


The Field January 8, 2009 from Randall Friesen on Vimeo.


A lovely day here today. Gently snowing, not very cold, and everything covered with a delicate layer of frost.

Nice.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

The rush just slides down into a lull

For the first time since we moved to The Field, there is not some external force giving us our agenda. You know, like unpacking or Christmas or those kinds of things. 

So the first thing Lauralea and I do with the New Lull, on Monday, our day off of course, is have a knock down, drag out, miscommunication/talk/cry misunderstanding, crappy day.

It was good to clear the air, at least it seemed good to me, and I think she was better after it too, but I ought not to speak for herself, but dang if that isn't a no fun way to spend the first day off after Christmas, after the kids have gone and the house is empty, after all the stress of the past months...

It.

Is.

So.

Hard.

Being human sometimes. And failing again and again, and yet, again.

 

As I've told my kids over and over, there are things I can learn here and now that I could never learn anywhere else, under any other circumstances.

So, I might as well learn.

 
The opportunity to go deep is at hand, and I try to choose it. 
Deep enough to face what is within.
Deep enough to trust the other with my spirit.
Deep enough to find water, that will nourish my soul once again.
 

Going deep is required, if one is going to grow. Looking inside one's self and having an inner life is needed if one will experience all that God has for me.

And so I try to be obedient to the one who drills deep into my soul with bits that cause pain. 

Well?
That's a deep subject.

I hope.



Enough blabbering on.
Good night.
We'll start again tomorrow.

Monday, January 05, 2009

I can't find sleep and I need ...

I can't find sleep and I need to be up in four hours. I hate when this happens, and it's happening more and more often.

Watched "Being Erica" on CBC t...

Watched "Being Erica" on CBC tonight. A nice surprise. Well written and a good actor.

Because sometimes one Spiderman just isn't enough

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Kids last night at home. Time ...

Kids last night at home. Time to run the last episode of Top Gear.

December's Gone

Christmas is behind us now and I'll soon start helping take down the tree and things, which is ok and needs to go as soon as there is time.

Tomorrow the kids head back to school and we'll have to get them to meet their ride in Edmonton by 2 pm, so we may have to get out of church on time. No pastoral over-speak tomorrow.

And of course the month's been busy. With Christmas and New Years, concerts, dinners, parties etc etc, and still learning the ropes around here, work is getting done. We were at 21 different places this month, to meet people, and we hosted 67 people at our house, which was a good chunk of life. But it means we've been on the go quite a bit. The good thing is that the names are starting to stick, for the most part.

:)

This month I'm going back to talk about prayer. God's been taking me to some fun places as I explore this in my own life. There are just so many levels of prayer to explore that to keep one's self limited to just one kind of prayer seems so, limiting. Like colouring with one crayon.

Anyway, that's in the works. And we need to get to work on our health cards and auto transfers and drivers licenses, and bank stuff and all that stuff that is so fun. Probably be a paperwork month.

Then at the end of the month I'll be in Chicago for MidWinter again. I haven't attended this Pastors time in a few years, while I was working on my Spiritual Direction Certificate. It will be good to be there again to see the others and learn a few new things and hear some good talkers and listen to some Jazz.

 

61 days into this new Field, and things are progressing nicely.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Flights are booked to Chicago....

Flights are booked to Chicago. And the beauty of living near Edmonton? It's a NON STOP FLIGHT! Sweetness.

Fire

Neighborhood Fire

This was the sight that confronted me as I was on the phone this morning, well, this sight times three. The whole sky was filled with smoke as I looked up from my desk, out my office window.

It looked bigger than a stubble fire, so I cut short my phone meeting and ran out the door. Apparently out here in The Field if you see something like this you are suppose to get in the van and get there to help, ASAP. Because you'll get there quicker than the local fire department which is 20 something minutes away.

So I ASAPed it over there.

Turned out the neighbour was burning an old shed and though he had called the other neighbours, he hadn't called me. Being the new guy he hadn't met me yet.

So I got to meet the neighbour, which was good.

I watched a bit and had a good chat with him, but it's cold out there this morning. Besides, other frantic neighbours were starting to tear into his yard to help put the fire out. So I headed home to tell the guys they didn't have to fight a fire but since they were up they might as well shovel snow.

My first fire in The Field.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Just watched "Hancock"

Quite a film.

On many levels.

Today I discovered what this MacBook was made for

The other day I purchased a cable that will go from my MacBook and plug nicely into the Television. 

The quality of the image on the TV is surprisingly good. I can read small text and view the whole of the laptop screen in large screen on the TV.

Cool. 

So the boys and I downloaded this whole year of Top Gear and we've been watching it, widescreen.

I've been waiting for this for a while now. I get a fair bit of video on the computer and would love to watch it with Lauralea. Now that can happen.

The Satellite TV is living on borrowed time here.

Finally.