Guidance

Beep, beep, beep...

Morning already!? When on Earth did I finally fall asleep last night?

Eyes burning I look through a fog at the same pattern I fell asleep staring at last night, the night before and before that. This morning, as most others, I wasn't so gentle to my alarm clock. So begins a day as most others. Fading into each other rarely with enough excitement to remember any.

Where are my crocs? I know I wore them in here last night.

Now sitting up in bed with my bed sweat back exposed to the rigid chill of leaving the blankets. I catch a glimpse of my crocs, which are important to me for the same reasons one's house slippers are important to them, and kick yesterday's pants into projectile motion. As my pants hit the floor I hear a discomforting thud.

It sure is a good thing I've got a tough cell phone. Why am I so ignorant in the morning?

I slip my recently exposed crocs on and stand up. My left hand instinctively catches my blanket before it hits the floor and whips it back onto the bed. I know my odds of finding my bed ready and made that night are slim.

Gosh I'm hungry. Some extra fruit with breakfast would be nice.

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So began my day, much the same as any other, ready to blend one to another and be forgotten.
Now the significance of this day has yet to be determined. New ideas were hatched, and old ones reinforced, but, how far that carries, this Author has not the foresight to tell.
The first significant events of the day were simple enough. The alarm was set extremely early in relation to most days and I was to meet a my Pastor and a friend across town.

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Ding, dang, dong, the subway is constantly chiming. Chimes for the doors to open and chimes for the doors to close. I was quite dozy on the subway considering how easily I'd gotten up and through my routine.

Man I better pull out my book and read so I don't fall asleep. There has got to be a seat somewhere.

Standing at the subway's door I had realized I was in the way. Glancing around I noticed what looked to be the last seat in the car just on the other side of the girl reading beside me. Truthfully I noticed the girl more than the seat and shuffled to it. She had splendid complexion and the shape of her face was attractive despite not getting a square look at it. What I'd have done for a hint at what she was reading or a glimpse of her smile. I started reading and heard the loudspeaker announce "The next stop is St. George, St. George Station."

Man she'll get off here. Why don't I ever have the guts to say anything?

She got off and the ride lingered on in disappointment. I wished I were a more "manly" man.

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I got out of the subway and followed signs to the southbound 505 streetcar. This could have been an exhilarating search but, I often find myself trying to find my way to some random location in unknown territory. Both my Mom and Dad are great for direction and I'd seen a map so I had no worries about where I was going. I knew what I was doing.
The real exhilaration started when I left the streetcar. Last night brought had brought the first real snowfall of the year and this was the first I'd got to walk in it. That and being in a mostly new place made it seem like Winter Wonderland.
I crossed over the Don Valley and I could see the Parkway. Along the sides of the valley the trees were freshly frosted and glowing in early morning's blue light. Up ahead was a top of the line car dealership with cars on display in the third, fourth and fifth floor windows. Normally this rash of materialism would have irked me, but, the white surroundings blended with the showrooms well making the Beamer - or whatever car it was - on the fifth floor especially appealing. It was about here that I realized just how beautiful my surroundings were and I my brain clicked informing me that it was the Don River flowing below.

Hey I raised money to protect this river in the fall... It's looking well enough.

I'm sure there are better times for the untrained eye to judge the condition of a river than just after the first snowfall in the semi lighting of an early morning. Whatever the case I enjoyed the walk.
I was meeting a friend and we were to be picked up by my Pastor to head off to Hamilton. There we'd be facilitating a program teaching kids some ways to successfully deal with their anger. We stopped for coffee and hot chocolate and the ride was very quiet.
In Hamilton we had some breakfast before the program started. Pastor Joe said something significant that I agreed with, but, that it was good to hear from someone else, especially my authority figure. Basically he mused that if God wants to speak to us he'll get his words in. How difficult could it be for the creator of the Universe to get his message across? He also referred to Micah 5:8 whcih has some basic procedure in the absence of guidance from God; do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

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Soon the program had started and I found myself, it being my first day, wishing none but the best for all the lads. Each somehow reminded me of myself at their age and I longed to be the voice to them I almost never had.

Jordan don't quit now man, if you do you'll quit all your life- Drake seems calm enough I wonder what he's here for? - Tyler sit down man...

The day seemed like a success. I was able to talk with a boy named Randall and we related pretty well. It was so easy to be relevant with these boys they were just like I was... or am. I found it ironic that the principal had apparently told one of the boys we were there to help them transition into being men.
The drive home was interesting as Joe and I talked about expanding the program from Hamilton to Toronto. We got back around four and I soon found myself reading the back half of Treasure Island. I finished it about Eight having taken a break for supper at some point.

I'll just have cereal and berries, it's about all I've got and cereal is cheap enough right now.

I then spent some time on the computer getting some chords for some new songs and learning a little about the common chord scales. I soon came back to my room, played guitar for a bit and decided to read some more. This is where the inspiration came from that might make today extraordinary. I decided to read a short story called "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" by Ernest Hemingway. It's a narrative of a would be Author about his death and he says this:

He had destroyed his talent by not using it, by betrayals of himself and what he believed in, by drinking so much that he blunted the end of his perceptions, by laziness, by sloth, and by snobbery, by pride and by prejudice, by hook and by crook... What was his talent anyway? It was a talent all right but instead of using it he traded on it. It was never what he had done but what he could do. And he had chosen to make his living with something else other than a pen and pencil.
Ernest Hemingway - The Snows of Kilimanjaro - pg 60 "Hemingway: The Short Stories"

I'm the one wasting talent! I need to write stuff down! I need to try and get published. I need to stop being the guy that can do and become the guy that has done and is doing!

For a brief moment everything made sense to me.

I'm going to University to study literature so my own can improve. Maybe I'll also be a teacher or something fantastic like that, but, I cannot waste more time. I have talents I need to develop and use.

Guidance doesn't often come much clearer than this. Go use your talents, do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Some of you would cross that last one off but I challenge you to try it. Whatever happens this is my path, where it takes me I know not for this author lacks the foresight to tell.

Democracy, Capitalism and Socialism

I wrote the following post in an online forum where there was much bashing of the "socialist" stances taken by Obama in the upcoming election. I thought it was decent stuff so here is:


I would like to point out to everyone who runs with tail between their legs from "Socialist" political stances a few key points.

Canada and most of Europe in comparison to the US are much closer to Socialism than the US and the results are not bad. As an example, a major result of Canada's more "Socialist" workings we have Universal Health Care (Health Care to all its citizens). The USA being the wealthiest country in the world has no excuse not to offer Universal Health Care (UHC) to its citizens. Instead it puts almost as much money a year into it's military then the rest of the World combined.

As an example of a major benefit UHC would give the states when I was doing work with some homeless I met in LA I came across multiple people who were entrapped in the cycles of homelessness, drugs and the lot as a result of a minor injury that they couldn't afford to have righted. This put them out of work and down into the dumps where alcoholism and drug abuse drag them lower and lower. UHC would prevent hundreds if not thousands of these and similar tragedies a year in the US and add to the domestic workforce as a result.

In Europe, another step more "Socialist" than Canada every citizen is given the right to free Post Secondary Education if they excel through school and make the grade. I've not studied their system much farther than that observation, but, that alone IMO creates a situation where all citizens born the same year (rich or poor) are more likely to have an equal (or closer) chance at success.

Full blown socialism is not the answer to the World's problems. Full blown Capitalism has created a developed World that is most often dominated by the Rich who control elections through the economic backing of leaders who become their puppets who in turn control the governments. The Truth is that Capitalism has undermined Democracy in many cases and we should be looking for ways to return our countries to truly democratic states.

Capitalism and Democracy are not the same thing. In the same way Communism and Socialism are not the same thing. The World, the US and Canada, in particular should be looking for ways to improve the life of all by restoring true Democracy and not implementing Socialism but more of its ideas in order to harness the powers of Capitalism.

Random Blog... 1 Trillion dollars

I realized that I really need to post a blog on here because it has been way too long.

So here it is and it is going to be me just randomly writing about whatever comes to mind as worthy to mention since I last blogged.

-Why did we have an election? Nothing really changed and every party lost. What if we took all the thought, energy and cash that went into that election and invested it into fighting the rich poor gap or some other more worthy cause?

-Someone just told me Stephen Colbert is Canadian... That would be pretty cool... Although I think he should be President and that would render him ineligible.

-How many members of my Youth group should it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer = 1 but the truth is earlier in September it took 3... One on a chair, another providing moral support and stability and one looking standing there looking very confused holding a ladder...

-The US has just or is about to pass the 1 Trillion dollar milestone... For spending on the War in Iraq. 1 Trillion is a lot of money... It could pave the US interstate in 23.5 carrot gold... ALL OF IT

so what else could the money have gone to? I did a little experiment with some mediocre sources but here's my first try at what I would do with 1 trillion dollars:

-I would build 120 airports in the most secluded and regions of the world to help with development in the areas. If you are familiar with Jeffery Sachs and his novel "the end of poverty" you will know why such airports are so important in areas without access to Ocean based trade. This will help countries establish trade to become sustainably in charge of their own development.
Calculation: Denver Airport cost $4 882 000 000.00 * 120
Cost: 586 Billion ($585 840 000 000.00)

-I would pay for operations on those with cataracts.
Calculation: China estimated to have 4.5 million in need of cataracts surgery, China is approx 1/5 of the world population... 4.5 * 5 = 22.5 *surgery cost $33.00 = $742 500 000.00
Cost: .75 Billion

-I would purchase a goat for 1 in 5 people in Africa (every family) providing sustainable source of nutrition and income.
Calculation: Africa pop (2005) 922 Million / 5 = 184 400 000 * cost of goat $150 = $27 660 000 000.00
Cost: 27.7 Billion

Hospitals!! 1170 or the equivalent of 6 in every country in the world Though these are meant for the 3rd World -> Hopefully those with a strong enough health care system with those in greater need...
Calculation: 1170 Hospitals * $41 300 000.00 = $48 321 000 000.00
Cost: 48.3 Billion

- - - - Current Total = 662.75 Billion...
That still leaves: 337.25 Billion
- - - or - - -
-281 of the New York Yankees Franchise-

So lets keep on going:

I would feed 1.75 million children average in the world's 60 poorest countries from birth to age 18. (According to UN estimates I read about 56-58 countries are listed as third world, I rounded up to 60)
Calculation 1.75 mill * 60 = 105 000 000 * cost $2160 = $226 800 000 000
Cost: 226.8 Billion

To help out in developed countries how about some affordable housing? 500 000 houses from habitat for humanity at $60 000 a piece! Housing for approximately 2 million people at 4-5 residents per house.
Calculation: 500 000 * $60 000 = $30 000 000 000.00
Cost: 30 Billion

Calculator's input: $80.45 Billion remains

Hmmm

I got it!! Education!! Education in 3rd world countries is vastly undeveloped. According to a site that is starting schools in Sudan $5 for books and $60 for a teacher (at class ratio of 20 students 1 teacher) so throw it $1o for building maintenance and upgrades and you have $75/year at a primary level. Lets pay for each student's entire primary education though at $600.00 for 8 years. How many? 125 Million!
Calculation: 125 Million * cost $600.00 = $75 000 000 000
Cost: 75 Billion

5.45 Billion Remains

This is where I buy all of the adult world a Coke :)

Yeah, just think of what this world could be if we realized the true cost of war.

This Story Inspires Me

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/11/sports/NA-FBN-Good-Samaritan-Romo.php

The link above will take you to a brief story about how a Superstar Quarterback in the NFL stopped after his game last Sunday to help a couple with a flat tire.

This is nothing huge, but it is nice to see a human face on an NFL athlete. In a time when most off the field reports about NFL players involve law breaking this is a breath of fresh air.

I think the NFL would do well to capitalize more on feel good stories like this about their athletes. Earlier this year during the NFL training camps there was an article about many of the pranks, running jokes and whatnot that occurred in the sixties, seventies and eighties at NFL training camps. The article went on to comment in the end that the most recent training camps have become too business oriented for so much personality to survive. The NFL needs personality and it isn't gone. Many of these players are great role models. It is time to see more of them and less of the ones with major off field issues.

Chocolate Milk Rice

A few months ago I wrote a story about making chocolate milk rice with a guy I met named Nathan at a Pot Luck. Here are some pics to go along with the story. To view the blog in which I tell the story click here. To read just the story about the choco rice scroll down and I've got a section headed "Random Story Time!"

Take care all, God Bless.

HOCKEY!!

Tonight I get to play goalie in Ice Hockey for the first time in at about a year and a half. I am SO excited!!

The situation is less than perfect. I'll be playing the first game of the playoffs for a team that has gone 0 - 13 for the season. There are pros and cons.

Among the pros there is no pressure. If we lose it is expected anyway. If we win or even make it close I'll have to of played GREAT! So no pressure. Also this is in a mens league in the area which I've been looking at getting involved with anyway so now I'll be able to guess at skill levels. Also kool.

Cons... The last full year I played hockey I tore or severely pulled my groin. With as many shots as I expect to get I'll prolly be putting my body to a real test. Back then I was in some of the best shape of my life. Now I feel I am in some of the worse... I'll pray.

Whatever! I am so EXCITED!!!

Lol I just got the call to go, I'll add to this blog upon my return...

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Holy crap!! I can't believe that just happened!!

I GOT A SHUTOUT!!

This just in from TSN:

Hello folks this A. J. Brian reporting for TSN hockey from the Rinx arena off the highway in NW Toronto... We have just witnessed a minor sports miracle. An 0 - 13 mens league team in a playoff round they shouldn't make are winners after a thrilling 5 - 0 victory. In the room players were ecstatic and shocked. Said one player amongst some laughter "usually I go home and sulk, now what the heck do I do?" another chimed soon after "I'm calling in sick boys who wants a one?" (thank you strong bad for the kid-safe lingo). "We just went out and played hard. We had nothing to lose there was no pressure and look whats happened! This feels great!" said a forward who contributed 2 goals in the victory.



OK back to reality... That is all true and I had some super fun, but honestly I didn't face too many difficult shots. Unbelievable fun it was. Take care all.

Brett Farve or Green Bay Packers? or...

What a soap opera!!! This has been freaking unbelievable friends.

Brett Farve may have seemed childish in this whole debacle but my gut feeling has me cheering for Jet Farve and the NY Jets not the leftovers of the GB Packers this year. GB has been my favourite team alternating with the Cowboys for most my life.

Now I know most people dislike Dallas and I do to a little bit but having cheered for them for so long I still will this year, but not as my favourites, as my second favs as it has been for years. Who the heck is my number 1 team now though? I know nothing about the NY Jets cept they just got Brett Farve. I know the GB Dline is a teamwork driven rotation which I like the sounds of and Donald Driver is a pretty sweet receiver, but will he be as good without Brett?


The NY Giants are the best Super Bowl upset team in history with many returning "good guy" players I can cheer for, but NY? I can't turn down my love for Brett Farve like that and cheer for the team across town from him? So who is my team? I am feeling very anti GB right now so maybe about now I get to cheer for their rival Vikings...

The most obvious choice is the Buffalo/Toronto Bills. They are a young team very nearby that might be moving nearer in the next 5-10 years. Some Buffalonians would hate this and I do not blame them but hey who else do I cheer for?

Any suggestions for my new fav team would be widely appreciated. Please help me. The NFL is too soap opera like for me.

How Do We Do It?

So in my last blog I was talking about greed. I mentioned that if the wealthiest 400 Americans liquidized about 1 Billion of their wealth then they could distribute $10 000 to 39 960 000 American's on the poorer side of the spectrum. Anyway I was in a conversation this afternoon and I brought this little tidbit up to much disagreement. After a tense statement about teaching people to fish instead of giving them fish I realized that upon writing this it was not a solution to the problem but merely an example of how extreme the wealth is at the top. This has gotten me thinking again though. What solution's are there to the problem?

Before chasing solution's I believe that it would be wise to set a few goals. A society I would be proud to be a part of would value each contributing citizen equally and give equal opportunities of success to all, it would meet the most basic needs of all and it would be easily able to set aside greed in order to maintain a fair lifestyle for those on the bottom of the income scale.

Solutions are needed as compared to a solution. The reason being that their are too many factors contributing to the problem for one solution to make a lasting effective change.

As an example if Canada's 21 residing billionaires liquefied an average 1 Billion each (which is easily doable considering the top 2 have over 21 billion in wealth between them) and distributed it to Canada's lowest working poor they could raise this year's income by $10 000 for 2 100 000 Canadians. This would be ineffective as a route to change though because it is unsustainable and doesn't teach those poor how to escape their circumstances or alter the circumstances to their betterment.

So we need a multi faceted solution. We realize that their are multiple problems but now we need to identify them. Among them are a growing rich poor gap, an inability to live modestly, a trickle down Government mindset, the stronghold of multi-national big business, and continued discrimination between Race, Religion, Gender...

I believe we'll all be far better off if as a World we learn to live modestly without the drive to constantly purchase, consume and be entertained, we learn that wealth should be redistributed in a bottom up (trickle up) fashion, not a trickle down fashion, we move intentionally away from massive multi-national corporations to smaller local companies and businesses and we embrace true equality across the board not only in the way we view people but in the opportunity given to each person to succeed. Given this as a first end goal seems like a good start, so lets get their.

So how do we conquer this unquenchable drive to purchase, consume and/or be entertained? What fuels it? The media and advertising for sure, but what else? What inside us makes need so much stuff and antics?

How do we show out Gov't that we at the bottom need the money. Not people at the top? The people at the bottom so often sadly don't have the capacity to save and so they are trapped into giving all their money to the next man up anyway. If you give a cheque to the poor the rich will inevitably still get that money, but, they'll just get it later and will have had to do something for it.

How do we move away from brand names? Big corporations? Could you live without Wal Mart, Zellers, Sears, the Bay, K Mart and whatever huge department stores are around? What about Grocery stores? Could you survive off only independent retailers? If you think you could, you should try. Then help us learn how to do the same.

How do we create equality and create equal opportunities for all people? What must we do for the Gangster child from Compton to have the same shot in school as the rich white girl in OC? How do we forget passports and citizenships when we hear about suffering and do for the enslaved child soldiers in Africa what we do for the abducted child from the next state/province over?

These aren't easy questions. It'll take guts to come up with real answers. Now if you are thinking the answers will be hard the living of these ideals will be a whole new story as well. It may mean being the extremely poor one for a season. I really believe that God is in this struggle for a better expression of living and so his hand of blessing will not be far behind our labours. So when persecution comes and lightning threatens your sails, buckle down and press on. Even without sails or a vessel God is in control and I know I trust him with my life. If I am floating aimless on the central Pacific current, in a war zone's "no mans land" or here typing peacefully at my computer God is in control and he knows what is best for me, you and the world.

A Diamond in the Rough

Has anyone ever shared a lunch for one between two or three people? How is it that when all parties are hungry and the portion is small that so often bellies are satisfied? Sharing what belongs to one can so often somehow satisfy. It is incredible when I think of all the times this has happened with me. It seems that in a world so consumed by greed that when one gives up their own for the benefit of all that satisfaction previously unlikely comes around.

Maybe it's God's way of encouraging us to share what we have in Faith that he'll provide. Jesus fed 5000 on a few loaves and two fish. Talk about God providing.

My life over the past two-three years has been filled with instances of God providing. Somehow on a base income ranging between $400 and $550/month in the last 3 years I've been able to do a DTS and SOMD in Los Angeles which included outreach to Mississippi and Morocco. A summer outreach to LA and Mexico, lead a DTS in Toronto with outreach to Germany and Turkey, fly to and from Vancouver and Barbados for training and have food, shelter and the necessities. Unlikely yes, but God has been my provision through a beautiful array of generous supporters.

Anyway all of this to say that I found an amazing quote about greed in a very strange place. This is Captain Barbosa on Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Curse of the Black Pearl explaining the curse he and his crew suffered under:

Find it, we did (treasure). There be the chest. Inside be the gold(coins). And we took ‘em all. We spent ‘em and traded ‘em and frittered ‘em away on drink and food and pleasurable company. The more we gave ‘em away, the more we came to realize…the drink would not satisfy, food turned to ash in our mouths, and all the pleasurable company in the world could not slake our lust. We are cursed men, Miss Turner . Compelled by greed, we were, but now we are consumed by it. There is one way we can end our curse.

This is so profound to me! How could this be found in a Disney movie!!??

This is the current greed and coming downfall of North America explained. The current generations in North America almost all found themselves born into significantly more wealth then most the rest of the world. This treasure of a society our forefathers built for us has been an amazing treasure that was built up over many generations. Now what we are doing with it is what the pirates had done with theirs.

"We spent ‘em and traded ‘em and frittered ‘em away on drink and food and pleasurable company."

What are we doing with wealth other then greedily frittering it away? So what some might say, but here is the kicker.

"The more we gave ‘em away, the more we came to realize…the drink would not satisfy, food turned to ash in our mouths, and all the pleasurable company in the world could not slake our lust."

This explains so much about current North America to me. The various addictions including but not limited to materialism (addicted to shopping?), alcohol and drugs (duh), food addictions (non medically caused obesity) and sexual addictions (pornography).

Where the satisfaction we once received from something fades what is the most common human reaction? Get more. Drink more. Eat more. View more?

North America here is the truth of our struggle:

!!We are cursed men and women. Compelled by greed we were but now we are consumed by it.!!

How do we break the curse?

Breaking the curse we are under is far more complicated then breaking the one Barbosa's crew was under. There are so many more variables, so much more at steak that we should care about that those Pirates didn't. We've got to start somewhere though. I believe many people have experimented towards a breaking this curse. Community living, boycotting blood diamonds, sweatshop clothing, unfair coffee trade and various attempts at living modestly are all excellent baby steps in the fight to break the curse of greed.

Personally I have wished to make many of these steps myself without actually getting to where I want to be. Sadly I cannot afford fair trade clothing or food all the time. I do live in community, but I live very modestly (sub modestly) not by choice but out of necessity. To be honest a major contributor to this nasty burnout cycle I go through is just scraping by all the time.

The major concept that catches my eye out of all these is modest living though. Imagine if all the world's millionaires all gave their yearly income that surpasses one million away to those who truly need?

In the Forbes 2006 study of the 400 richest Americans there was no one on the list below 1 Billion dollars. If one person whose value was one Billion dollars kept one million for themselves and gave the rest away to the poorest of the poor in increments of ten thousand dollars then they could give $10 000.00 to 99 900 people. If all the 400 richest Americans all only had 1 Billion and did the same they could give $10 000.00 to 39 960 000 people which is slightly more then 10% of the current estimates of US population (US Pop Clock).

Crazy eh? I don't believe in the trickle down effect. The trickle up effect needs to be put into action. The poor need to be supported not the rich. YOU can be a part of this change! Refuse to support greedy politics, refuse to succumb to greed yourself and if you find yourself a crazy billionaire in the future start the trend. Live modest and guilt free.

Hey guilt free: Sharing and community is what God originally designed us for. Maybe if a rich person shares extensive amounts of their wealth they might edge closer to finding that happiness that money can't buy...

Somewhere Out There

Loneliness. Loneliness among people... This might be one of my greatest torments. Has anyone else ever experienced it? Being surrounded by a group of awesome people and feeling utterly lonely. It really sucks. Sadly it seems to be a common thread that has dominated nearly half, or maybe more, of my life.

Now that I look back on it, it isn't difficult to track the causes of loneliness among people. I commonly struggle with it the most in the weeks after a geographical transition or when a group of my friends leave where I am. Examples include when I left Mississauga for Vancouver last summer. I was leaving behind my bestest pal Jordan and a DTS with whom I'd spent two months of evenings with usually in some kind of awesome conversation or great fun. (Who remembers getting soaked by the wave spray on the way home from a late night waltz to McDees?) An example of the other is when Mike and Josh left Mississauga. They while I was there in Miss were my tightest pals and without them in Miss I lost the ability to function properly. I got lonely among good people.

In the last month I have again started to get lonely among people. No surprise given my recent Exodus from YWAM Miss/Tor into my new role in downtown TO. I have also begun to notice a common reaction of mine to this feeling. An unhealthily strong wish for a companion. I guess it makes sense in these times to wish all the more for a companion, but, shouldn't I have learned by now to rely on God in these times?

Over the last month my desire for companionship reached such a high that I even checked out a few online Christian dating sites. Very out of the ordinary for me and even creepy. The whole experience wasn't so bad and fixed a lot of biased opinions I had against it, but, my reason for being there may still have been wrong and fueled by my own human desires and not God's.

So now I am in a place where I need to stop searching for girls and return to searching for God. Finding God in the glitter and the gutter is what I need to be doing. There is so much beauty out there that is to be found. So much wonder at which I have not yet gawked. Lord help me to continue to set my heart on what is true, right, lovely and Holy (Phil 4:8).

So here I am. Displeased with the way things are and with ideas to improve. Where do I start? Where do I target? What will be my end? Hopefully these answers are all thoroughly saturated with Jesus. If not I will surely fail.

I am the Youth Leader?

So I just ventured back to my blog and realized that I only posted once in all of June. Thinking this is a sad thing I decided that I would go ahead and make a new post.

Life sure is a bizarre twist of an experience isn't it? A few weeks ago I was asked to be the Youth Leader for my new Church home here in Toronto. Seeing the need for someone to fill the position I accepted the role. Soon after many checks and balances haunted my seemingly rash decision. Where do I actually start though? Do I have what it takes to lead a group of Youth? Who will come?

I find myself scared of my new role. The main reason being that if I live up to what I would call a good Youth Leader than most my hopes and plans for the next 2+ years will need to be set aside. Short term youth ministry is not effective. I need to be here a long time to bear any good fruit. Unless I change the model radically. Lets be honest, a radical model shift is what I need to do. Do I have the means to experiment? With model shifts come mistakes. With mistakes comes pressure from the church, the Pastor.

So I need to be honest with people. I don't think I'll meet their expectations. So I need to set out a series of honest strategies and goals for this and go get-er-done. If my wacky ideas don't fit though do I step aside or try to fit their model? Who knows... I must try something though. Pray for me all. I need guidance on this. I need God.

God Bless!

New Home

Like a thousand students tapping their pencils on their desk anxiously, so the rain poured around me. It wasn't dark, but it certainly wasn't bright and the wind was a strong sort of gusty; strong enough to create chills in my soaked body but rather infrequently. The clock had trickled past seven when I left and when I finally set foot on my doorstep it was eight-thirty. I was in such rain for at least half the time, somewhere between 45 minutes an hour and an hour. I loved every second of it!

I have found a new home. Peculiar and foreign as it still may be it definitely is home and I hope it will be for a LONG time. Since I moved to Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship two weeks ago there has been much to laugh about, enjoy and tell about. I'll never get it all out here, but, I find it necessary to try because I anticipate this next season to be a very important staple in my life.

I must start with the people. After all, the people make the place. At least in my mind anyway. And if you ever come and find this community rather peculiar you probably need to look no further than the people to find out why. First off there's my house mates Jenn and Michelle. The three of us live in a church so it can be assumed we are a peculiar bunch. We are a pretty wacky trio that has enjoyed many community centered meals together that usually includes at least one item that Michelle or her boyfriend Jared has scooped from a nearby dumpster.

Speak of Jared how about his loft of "Lost Boys"!? The lost boys are generally an eclectic, friendly, gangly, bunch of boys living two subway stations up Bloor from me. It is a beautiful mix of food, laughter, conversation, games, silliness and fellowship every time I've been lucky enough to frequent the place. Every Tuesday they host a pot luck where a variety of friends from the area get together and cook for each other's company. It is a beautiful thing.

Random story time!!
So one time at pot luck I was on my way to the kitchen when I overheard an interesting piece of conversation. "I cook rice in water" said one of the group at the table as I passed. "Awesome I cook rice in milk" I quickly quipped as I strolled by. Waiting in the kitchen was a hairy sexy beast of a man named Nate who is one of many one time pot luck visitors I've met since I started going. "Rice with milk" he pondered, "yeah chocolate milk" I added. His eyes lit up "we should do it!!" he exclaimed excitedly.
The venture to the local 7/11 was brief. Forty steps to be exact (we counted steps on the way back). There we bought a carton of chocolate milk as well as a few other goodies. We spent the next 45 minutes split between the living room and the kitchen excitedly preparing our chocolate rice creation. I give most the credit to Nate for the cooking and presentation. I stirred and stuff but it was mostly his genius leading the way. The finished product was garnished with a yummy chocolate crisp cereal and some Milk Chocolate graded over top. The first serving was received doubtfully by our crowd who were pleasantly surprised that it didn't actually taste so bad. I admit the first serving was a little bland, but, the second serving we flavoured up and was actually pretty good. Both dishes were eaten clean by night's end. Cheers to a successful venture in random sarcasm...

Other intensely cool people down here include Pastor Joe, the new Youth intern Matt, Anoja who has been helping me paint the church and Sophie. Pastor Joe is doing an amazing job here and I am excited to learn from him and work under him for the next year or (hopefully) more. Matt was referred to Joe by the same guy as me and from there we share many other similarities and more intriguingly some major differences. Anoja is a Tamil (people group in Sri Lanka) who has lived most her life in Canada. She is finishing her first year in University and is tons of fun to hang out with. Sophie is on the board, an amazing Mother, one of the church's primary volunteers and all this while going through a round of chemotherapy. We believe she is in the clear now thanks to God's mercy, but, keep her continued health in prayer. Sophie always seems to make me laugh. So yeah, people, I love them!

Soaking wet, a little cold, carrying a soggy Pizza and humoured by the whole experience I set my foot inside the door with a wet squish. I slip slopped up the stairs, stripped and toweled off to the chorus of car horns honked by the local Portuguese or Turkish most recently victor in the Euro Cup. The whole time all I could think was of how good it felt to be home.

My Life - The End of the Curveball - HOME RUN!

So as many of you know I have exited the YWAM Toronto scene. It was a bumpy, unexpected exit that has left some scars but God's grace has been a mighty shield and deflected the deadliest arrows from piercing my heart.

With the quick departure from YWAM TO I needed to figure out what to do with my life. I still at the time didn't feel like College/University was where God wanted me to go although it seems part time post secondary may be in my future.

I knew I had opportunities with other locations in the YWAM community. I still went to Vancouver for the Mission Adventures Network Conference which was a very wise decision. God really gave me confidence there through the amazing set of people that are there. Vancouver base of course wanted me back but, I also received offers to go help at Las Vegas, Seattle, San Fransisco, Idaho all in the US and Tijuana and Ensenada in Mexico.

My heart was not to leave Toronto though, and it isn't God's will for me to leave yet. I have invested the last eight months of my life into falling in love with this city and there is no other place for me at this time. God knew where my heart was and had a plan.

Through a Youth Pastor I knew from Redeemer church in Niagara Falls I was forwarded to an amazing guy named Joe Elkerton who is pastoring a church that was almost sold out and closed this past fall. Joe has done an amazing job with the place so far and has networked some really kool young people in similar situations and with similar worldviews as mine to work with him in reaching out to the community and setting up a place to serve God.

I am extremely stoked to be a part of this growing church and I know that there is amazing potential for this church to become a cornerstone of Faith, Justice and Hope in the Bloor Lansdowne community a few subway stations West of the downtown core.

The church is called Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship and I would encourage everybody to come down and visit us one time, see what we are all about.

Mom's Wedding

So two weekends ago I had one of the best weekends ever!!

My Mom got married!! and a big festival was happening at one of my favourite places in the world Braeside!

The wedding was awesome. For me walking my Mom down the aisle with my bro and giving her away to my step Dad (whose name is also Chris) was an awesome privilege. It has been a real nuisance that the marriage couldn't happen sooner and I know it was really bothering both my Mom and Chris. I was so happy that Mom could finally have her day.

The thing that was so amazing to me was how well this wedding came together. Paperwork only just got cleared a few weeks before and so since they had always wanted a spring wedding they put it together in a short spurt of amazingness. The wedding party looked fantastic, especially Mom and her bridesmaids whom included my two step sisters and my Aunt Tammy as the Maid of Honour. People have even commented on their dresses on FaceBook where we of course posted some photos.

The thing this wedding has taught me is to value my time more. I got to hang out with my two step sisters who really are two of the coolest people in the world. I really have missed doing stuff with them over the past few years and I am beginning to realize we won't be this conveniently close forever. The way my life works I could end up overseas any month now, although right now that seems unlikely. Seeing myself as the only person who may move long distances away is a little naive though. My brother and younger step sister seem like they'll be in the region for at least a few more years, but, my oldest step sister is adventurous like me and seems like she and her VERY kool boyfriend Luke might spread their wings and try new places out. I need to capitalize on this summer and spend some quality time with these people.

---

Anyway after the wedding my Bro, Jessica my younger step Siss, and our friend Heidi booted it from Niagara Falls to my favourite place on Earth, Braeside Family Camp. It is this Christian campground located just outside of Paris, ON which is near Brantford. There I met up with my Bestest Bodacious Bud Jordan, and many other awesome friends of mine.

The reason I wanted to get down SO bad is to catch up with my awesome friend Rachel. Rachel and I go back to prolly around when I was in 9th grade so 6-7 years ago. Rachel and I were summer crushes for 2-3 years in a row (maybe more). Anyway Rach and I are very tight. Over the years we've been encouraging each other back and forth in so many ways and grown a tight friendship. This inspite of the fact I had not seen her face to face in a year and 9 months before that weekend.

Meeting her bf Will was a real treat. I really like they guy a lot. 5 Stars. The koolest part for me though was just talking as we normally did. In groups there are always TONS of laughs at Bside and it was none different in this wonderful, but brief, interlude. The highlight for me was the Sunday night when as promised Rach and I went walking to catch up. We didn't actually walk much. Conversation was great though. One thing about talking with Rach is that she lets me verbally process where I am at. It is nice, if not very confusing lol. Sometimes I prolly am too long winded and confusing but somehow she puts up with it. Anyway I look forward to meeting Will again in the future and having more laughs and deep conversations.

Hopefully we can somehow keep the trailer at Braeside...

A Favourite Poem of Mine

Here is an inspiring poem I would like to share with you all:

Ride a wild horse
with purple wings
striped yellow and black
except his head
which must be red

Ride a wild horse
against the sky -
hold tight to his wings
before you die

Whatever else
you leave undone
once...

Ride a wild horse,
into the sun.

Hanna Kahn

This poem inspires me. My wild horse seems so impossible. Yes it seems even more impossible then a wild horse with purple wings, striped black and yellow except for a red head.

Striped yellow and black? Is that not a caution warning? I wonder what that is for? Chasing dreams is dangerous for sure, but, isn't it better than simply existing? Just like another favourite piece of mine says!

A Man Said To The Universe
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."

Steven Crane

Doesn't that strike you as one of the world's greatest truths? We aren't entitled to anything. What we do is who we become. If you work a job to make yourself money to buy cool things who inevitably becomes the center of your universe no matter what other great intentions you had to begin with.

If your job meanwhile is a means to come by resources with which to bless others you've made a giant leap forward. Everything we do should be motivated by love including our reason for earning $$. When motivated by love humans still make the occasional wrong decision but the heart is in the right place which keeps us alive, energetic, passionate and excited.

I believe there is a further goal we should have in mind though. What if your job was the means by which you bless others? I have come to the belief that there is no better place to be then using your profession to bless the rest of humanity. Whatever that profession may be. Journalist, Doctor, Janitor, Social Worker, Missionary (many of whom have other jobs as an outreach opportunity), Artist...... What are your gifts and passions and how could you use them in a professional manner to make yourself a livable income and bless humanity all at the same time?

I am currently in a job hunt in Toronto and these thoughts have been dominating my mind. Will I be fully alive working alone in any work environment? NO, I need people to be fully alive and to outreach to. Will I be fully alive if I am working a job that promotes further injustice on the world's poorest? NO I have seen the negative impact of the World's greed and I will whither inside if I support the beast that drives us.

So where do I go? There have been some major hopefuls for me. The YMCA, what a perfect opportunity to serve my community, make an income AND capitalize on many of my skills and passions all in the same workplace. Youth Hostels, how cool would it be to work in a place that houses so many Youth on their own journey discovering what they can about the world? I would be meeting many new international friends, making my chunk for living and I would have the opportunity to outreach to these people and the rest of Downtown Toronto. Black Market Clothing, BMC is a really kool second hand clothing operation you can find on Queen St in downtown TO. Their style may be a little edgier than I am, but, who is to say I couldn't use a little more humorous edge? I would be working with people who already don't trust the system as it is and are looking for the opportunity to change the ways things are. What a cool opportunity.

Anyway the world isn't perfect though. Maybe I will need to grab another less awesome job for a season in order to land one of these other full potential jobs. I'll make it though, Toronto is where my passion lies, I can't wait to get there and meet some more amazing people.

Dream big or go home guys. Ride that wild horse, it is stressful and dangerous but far far more rewarding!

Free to Dream

So it has taken a little while. I think I am starting to figure out a little portion about what God was teaching me in my last season. While working on MA for summer 08 I don't think I dreamed enough. I let my dreaming die and I died myself (spiritually and emotionally). I am a dreamer and there can't be a doubt about that from anyone who knows me well. There are benefits and disadvantages to being a dreamer.

Advantages usually include optimism, fresh ideas, free thinking and a strength in (or at least a strong appreciation of) some of or all the arts. Disadvantages are that dreamers often have too many projects on the go, they are not as good at thinking critically and dreamers cease to function properly when they forget to dream, have all their dreams crushed or when they forget them.

In the last eight months I lost my identity as a dreamer. Through a variety of actions and circumstances some controllable some not I stopped dreaming and forgot my end goal. There is no greater tragedy than when people stray from being the person God made them to be.

So now what? I have left the places and circumstances that killed me spiritually. It all had less to do with the type of place and people were there and more to do with the fact I was trying to build a program on my own. I've learned I need people or a team to work with. I needed the fresh page, new start, new faces and leaders.


I don't know exactly where that fresh start is (in Toronto), who my new team is going to be or the leaders I'll have over me in the next phase, but, in step by step transition as God has me in now not knowing is normal and perfectly OK.

The good news is I am dreaming again. They spurt out quicker and quicker as I come alive in these new places I might find myself working soon. I am SO EXCITED to move downtown and start living like God has told me. Yesterday I was downtown checking out a church who's apartment I may move into and get involved with. The people there are SO inspiring and it is right in the middle of so many opportunities to turn dreams I've had into reality.

Oh and how kool is this- while I was downtown talking with a girl I was working with we realized we are cousins way off down the line. My cousins in Walkerton are her cousins, were prolly not blood cousins but it is still very funny and cool. Small world, something tells me that no matter how big this world gets God will find ways to keep the world small enough for amazing stories like this...

Dream on, dream BIG, then go be what you dream of happening. I can't wait to get started!!

Irresistible Revolution Chapter Two

Wow what a great story.

Chapter two is one of those ones you need to read yourself. I can't retell it, that would suck, go read the book. Seriously.

Chapter Two basically is Shane telling a story about when some homeless families in Philly needed a place to stay so they crashed an abandoned Catholic Church. The archdiocese and other people "in charge" tried many times and different ways to kick them out, but, Shane and many people from the Bible College he was attending at the time would go there and risk arrest along side these people to defend their right to shelter when the city wasn't providing any.

There are miracles, possible angels, people sacrificing their time for others, people giving generously. Even the Mafia got involved buying bikes for the children, turkeys for each family and donating thousands to their cause.

If God ca use the Mafia he can use anyone can't he. Isn't that great. Even you can be used by God if you let him. Anytime compassion, love, justice are driving your decisions and actions you are reflecting God in some small way. Keep doing it. Dwell on the good things, the Godly things and you'll reflect them all the more.

The Relevance of the Gospel

http://christianvisionproject.com/2008/02/an_efficient_gospel.html

This is a great article!! Not overly new to me, but, to a lot of people who aren't constantly surrounded by this kind of talk it should be a great read.

It talks about the irrelevance of a modern gospel in our post modern culture. The evidence of this shift is that conversation is sparked by the question "If you had just a few years left, what kind of life would you want to live?" instead of the traditional "if you died tomorrow where would you end up?"

Our diverse culture has heard and knows Jesus redeems, but, they also hear there are other routes to Heaven, see many Christians living non Christ like and see many non Christians living fairly Christ like. People aren't interested in whether Jesus can get them to Heaven when they die, they are interested in Jesus changing their life, and the world, starting now.

I my opinion one of the best ways to be a witness of Christ in our current young culture is to pursue God's justice in every area of your life. Intentionally contribute to developing non developed countries, live in eco friendly ways, share your excess instead of hoarding it, don't support sweat shops and blood coffee and value all life equally.

That last one is big. Value ALL life equally. Switch in human life for simplicity sake. Doesn't sound as good but needs to be there. What are the implications of valuing all human life equally? Here is a few that come to mind:
-One Canadian soldier is equal value to one American/British/Australian soldier
-Any one of the above is equal value to an Afghani/Iraqi civilian, militant, terrorist...
-A life begins at conception and doesn't end at birth.
Translated: don't ever judge anyone considering or who had an abortion unless you are willing to take the child in as your own, or start a foster care home, or something of the sort.
-A child who died from preventable causes (starvation, malaria, diarrhea, leprosy...) in a third world country is just as tragic as the most recent abducted child from your city.
note: there are over 3 million child deaths a year from malnutrition alone in developing countries. While I typed this line multiple children died worldwide from preventable causes. I bet none were from Western countries.

I could go on but it is bed time. Chew some of these thoughts. Think about it. If you had only a few years left what would you do? I hope I leave the world a lot closer to justice when I am dead. It sure isn't as close as I hope it to be now.

Good night folks. Sweet Dreams.

Irresistible Revolution - Chapter One

In chapter one of Irresistible Revolution Shane takes us on his journey away from a Methodist boxed Faith to one filled by stuff or "Spiritual Bulimia", to a brief Evangelical Christian experience and past this into a genuine search for Jesus in the places Jesus shows up most. It is a journey seeking Jesus that gets caught up in the hype of materialism and evangelicalism before finding Jesus truly in the sewers, dumpsters and alleyways. The last place most would expect to find him and the places the Bible makes clear he would chill at if he were here now (in human form).

Here are some highlights and reactions:

At the start of the chapter Shane leads in talking about how all the greatest Saints are honored in certain ways so we don't really need to listen to what they say because we honor them enough. He then says a major way we "honor" Jesus is to commercialize him. In the same way we put Malcolm X on stamps, St Francis on bird baths and create a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. we commercialize Jesus as our honor and forget to do what he says:

"And Jesus gets commercialized, whether it is plastic night lights or Golden crucifixes. (and now Jesus bobble heads and Jesus in my homeboy shirts)"

How sad is this? Do we think that wearing a Jesus in my Homeboy shirt and a wwjd bracelet is following Jesus? Many like Shane in this chapter realize commercialized Christianity is not quite there and are seeking other routes to find Jesus.

So what is preventing us from finding Jesus? Evangelicals feel his presence and respond to his Holy Spirit SO often as Shane expressed through his experience with them in this Chapter. As I have experienced and grown up with my whole life. Why do so many of us need more than this though. The evidence is there that feeling the presence and reacting in tongues and spiritual gifts are not enough to fulfill us. What are we missing that so many fall away after all these spiritual encounters with God? Perhaps this:

"I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my life down at the foot of the cross, but, weren't giving me anything to pick up."

What are we picking up? T shirts and bobble heads don't exactly fulfill my hearts desires. I believe once we know God we have a drive to do as he would. Picking up the cause of the lost, weary, poor, broken hearted... If we pick nothing up our Christianity bears no fruit and we eventually die away ourselves.

Picking up Jesus' causes isn't easy. It means reverse motion by the worlds standards. For some it means selling all they have and giving the money to the poor. For others it means giving their lives to serving the needs of the poor. Whatever the scenario it means giving of ourselves. Sacrifice! It means believing the person next to you is equal to you so that giving out of your excess to meet their need not only makes sense but becomes a natural reaction. Living like this makes us uncool by the World's standards. No one could live like this and keep an upper middle class income lifestyle. There is too much need in the world. And there always will be. Start small though. Serve soup at a drop in. Make hot chocolate and hand it out on a cold day in your city's slums. Be wise, don't be scared.

Shane's entire section on Jesus in disguise (pg 47-51) needs to be read by all. This is where his observations about Jesus and his seeking Jesus finally meet lasting reward. Not in the intellectual halls of Bible College, the Spiritual sub culture of evangelicals, the materialistic world of Christian media, or the traditions of our religious background whatever it may be. Over all these places Shane meets Jesus in the slums of Philadelphia.

So do you want to meet Jesus?
Father the Fatherless. I've done it. Ask me. Working with single parent children is both very testing and rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Befriend the needy. I've also done some of this. Not as much as I wish. Seemed to work for Shane though and I've experiences of my own I could tell about that re-enforce that what he is saying is true.
Love all people, prostitutes, orphans, witches, homosexuals, goths, single moms, drug addicts, physically and mentally handicapped... The list is endless. If you can fall full in love with the one of these that disgusts or disturbs you the most, I promise you'll be seeing Jesus in them and they'll be seeing Jesus in you. Whether they react how you wish isn't your choice but theirs and is guided by the Holy Spirit. Your job is to love like Jesus. Only worry about that and the rest will come.

I have got to insert this little story before I am done. It is too good to leave out.

"I met a blind street musician who was viciously abused by some young guys who would mock her, curse her and one night even sprayed Lysol in her eyes as a practical joke. As we held her tight that night one of us said "there sure are a lot of bad folks out there aren't there?" And She said "Oh but there are a lot of good ones too. And the bad ones make you, the good ones, even sweeter."

Being Jesus is as easy as just holding someone tight. Try earning the trust of someone that you could hold tight out of friendship and brotherly (and/or sisterly) love. Then let your guard down enough to do it. It is quite the experience.

Shane closes the chapter with this quote. I love it.

"I found out I was just as likely to meet God in the sewers of the ghetto as in the Halls of Academia. I learned more about God from the tears of the Homeless Mothers than any systematic theology ever taught me."

Irresistible Revolution - Intro

This is a response to the Intro of Irresistible Revolution. To understand where this is coming from a bit better I highly suggest you read the book, it is one of the best I ever read, and definately read my previous blog reviewing Irresistible Revolution.


What better place for a book to start than good news? Well in his introduction to Irresistible Revolution Shane Claiborne is all about the good news. In his introduction Shane proclaims that a new movement of "ordinary radicals" is sweeping North America, Westernized countries and the World.

At first glance you might not understand how this is good news. That is OK though because whoever you are, wherever you are this will probably unroll at some point as good news. Let me explain:

Ordinary Radicals is an important title/name/whatever to understand if you are going figure out why this is good news and join the movement. And trust me, you want to join the movement! So since this title/name/whatever has two parts why not break it down?

The first part is ordinary. Ordinary defines the people of this movement. If you are reading my blog you are probably an ordinary person. Hello my ordinary friend (or Mom, Dad or Pete). Now ordinary is not a derogatory term. In this case I believe it just cancels out superheroes and sub humans, or narrows us down to fallen men (and women). That we all are, fallen and imperfect, but good or ordinary none the less. Ordinary from the dictionary means "with no special or distinctive features". I love this because in my opinion that defines all of us without the goodness of God in our lives. I'll tell you humbly that without the work of God in my life the only characteristic I can come up with for myself is dead. Considering all the dead people in the past hundreds of years I don't think I or anyone else would stand out...

The second part is radical. I dropped the "S" but it will come back soon. Radical is the actions. One definition of radical on my Lappy's Dashboard dictionary is "relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something" and this definition is characterized by when radical is used as an expression of change. The actions of our Ordinary Radicals are going against the grain and changing things. Shining light on issues at new angles, providing new perspectives and having enough effect to cause change.

So far we have Ordinary Radical. The good news to everyone is the "S". Over the past dozen years there have been more and more Ordinary Radicals popping up. Where ten years ago an OrRad might find him or herself trapped between unbelieving activists and inactive believers now there are OrRads sparking up everywhere. Now we can connect and find strength in each other. And as the Bible says where one can cause ten to flee and two can cause a hundred to flee, but, three can cause ten thousand to flee. We are more than three and we are not alone. Change will come as long as we pursue it.

So if you are not one of these ordinary radicals and you are reading this you might be thoroughly confused. Thats OK I can understand why. I am going to try to quickly catch you up. Just a warning you might be offended. That is OK too, most Jewish people were offended by the prophets of their day. When someone is OK with things as they are change and the people pursuing it can be offensive. I am sorry.

So where did these OrRads come from? Well us OrRads come from a difficult place. In each of our lives the details will be very unique, but, the gist of it is that we come from a place of God instilled compassion. Whatever our story, whether through our own suffering or witnessing another's suffering we have realized the current ways are overlooking righteousness or justice in too many ways and we wish to pursue the foundations of God's Throne which are Righteousness and Justice (Ps 89:14).

So what are some examples of Righteousness and Justice being overlooked? I am glad you asked for there are many.

Hypocrisy in the Church - "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and walk out the door, and deny him with their life style... That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Hypocrisy or as I might call it "fake righteousness" plagues North American and Western churches in so many ways. Whether it is blatant hypocrisy like our young adults known for arriving at University, drinking, sleeping around and experimenting in other ways before leaving the Christian walk altogether, our Youth who clique up in high school and are almost indistinguishable when placed next to other students from their classes or our adults who write single parents off as failures while they cheat on their own perfectly acceptable spouses jeopardizing their own marriage and family. There are many ways which we live which are in distinct opposition to how God guides and somehow some still remain oblivious to this fact.

Hollow Perfection - Have you ever seen one of those Christian TV personalities who are just too good to be true? The ones who pray and read their Bible going to bed and waking up, have perfect marriages, perfect families and are all still perfectly attractive (yes physically) by the world's standard? How absurd is this? No one has it all together and you are not helping anyone out by pretending that you do. Still millions of Christians put on nice (fake) sets of clothes and fake smiles to go to church and give fake smiles, fake hugs and have fake laughs with other people who are faking perfection. Everything is not OK!!! That is OK!!! This fake perfection is an attempt to look righteous on the outside when all God cares about is the inside. No one pleases God (or ordinary people) with Hollow Righteousness.

Ignorance of Justice - I am not talking about Canadian justice, American justice, United Nations justice or any other kind of worldly justice. I am talking about God's justice. Justice where one Canadian soldiers life is worth one life of a Taliban insurgent, or Afghani civilian. Where restoring peace to war torn Africa is as important as restoring peace to an oil rich Middle East, where every child is valued equally no matter which race, nationality, gender or skill set. Justice on the whole isn't being pursued enough by a church which is more occupied with building its own wealth and infighting between denominations over petty theological differences that make NO difference to how God will judge us in the end. How idle are words wasted over proper communion techniques when they are all very different from the original communion and representative of the same symbolic action. Instead these words and the study and effort behind them could be freeing child sex slaves (yes such a thing exists), fighting for better health care instead of a better military, fighting for the reconstruction of a continent the West has raped through slavery and corruption for centuries and fighting for many other just causes.

Now that you know a little bit about some of the issues causing us OrRads to pop up you might be asking me what the good news is behind it. The good news for the OrRads is they are no longer alone, they are hopefully beginning to realize that. The good news for everyone else is that as this movement grows changes will come that are good. For one example maybe the Richest Nation in the world will begin providing all of its citizens with adequate Health Care as a result of a movement for such justices. For another it may mean that a team of rich Westerners might come and dig a well in their remote village providing them with clean accessible water. The funny thing is that team of "Rich Westerners" is probably working minimum wage or worse. This movement as it continues to grow will bring about positive changes to our culture and world. Get excited and join in.

Now before I close I must include this:

This isn't a power driven movement. You Bears and Bulls propelling Wall Street's greed shouldn't be afraid of us. One friend of this movement once described Shane and his friends as little people or roaches and pointed out that the current powers could stomp us out with their feet. Here is Shane's response:

"But there are many of us, and enough roaches can run an owner out of a house... We are a modest revolution of roaches that can run money changers out of temples and politicians out of office. Then we can invite them to join us in creating another world."

So there it is. The introduction to an Irresistible Revolution. Excited? I hope so!! A little scared and overwhelmed? Me too!! Confused?? Ask me to clarify, and if I am not good enough ask God.


Hope you enjoyed the response.
Chris

Working with Children

Over the past few months I've had the wonderful privilege of living with a wonderful lady and her family who I've learned so much from. One thing she has reminded me of over and over
is the plight of the single mother. I know firsthand the plight of single mothers because my Mom was a single mother and she did a fantastic job with me and my brother. I'll never fully appreciate the sacrifices she made for us two boys.
Well I've taken to getting involved in some of the stuff Maureen does for single Moms. Among other things she runs a group who meet every so often. It started before Christmas and has run a few times since. When it started I went and helped with the kids, we had a pizza party and got some ideas for how they would like to spend their time while Moms were at the meetings. I had so much fun with the bunch.
Tonight again we got to hang out with the kids. It was a little different of a scenario but way kool none the less. Sam an amazing girl who helped out with the kids a few previous times was there again and the kids all opened up to having fun with us a lot quicker. Maureen and I hope to get a program started with these guys where we start exploring some of their feelings and emotions a little more to promote some positive conversation where good role models like Sam (and hopefully me) can encourage these kids to be going in the right direction. I am so excited to get to know these kids more. They are pulling at my heart constantly.
Anyway I just thought I should post this I dunno why but I had to. If anyone out there feels like they could help single Moms out or their kids chase that idea. It is a beautiful path, take it from me...

Book Review: Irresistible Revolution

Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

This book is a hit!! More than a hit. I've already started reading it a second time. I don't do that. EVER! I've tried and it sucked, but this, this is very different. The Irresistible Revolution talks about the Body of Christ (Church) and it's current course away from the "modern" expression of church and how Shane Claiborne and some of his friends are thriving on a path very different from ones taking left or right wing political agendas, from ones failing to recognize they are trapped in a materialistic world view far from the one Jesus and the early church would have embraced and far from a "greater good" agenda fueled by the myth of restorative violence and "Godly" wars.

In this book Shane describes the spiritual state of a growing number of people all over the world. These people are in situations where they feel alone standing between a crowd of unbelieving activists and inactive believers wondering where all the true Christians are at. This book is a bold declaration that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! Many Christians around the world find or have found themselves at this place and are now finding each other on a daily basis. The expressions of following Jesus when these people come together are unique, beautiful and admittedly imperfect. Shane talks about the groups of people he met and grew with known as The Simple Way and how they've collectively begun to express themselves as part of the body of Christ.

This book will inspire those who feel alone to seek out other Christians who feel the same way and begin navigating what it means to truly follow Christ. For those already in that navigating what it means to follow Christ Shane gives advice through the stories he tells in this book and talks about his views on some key issues and his response to them.

This book encourages me to, as Gandhi said "become the change I want to see" and provides me with many bits of wisdom and guidance on the path to following Jesus better.

This book has so impacted me I hope you all will read it. Over the next few weeks I as I reread the book I am going to pull some highlights from each chapter and present them in continuing blogs. Keep checking back if you are interested.

Robertor the Goalinator

Robertor the Goalinator
by Chris Clarke

This story was inspired by Strongbad and Trogdor two characters @ www.homestarrunner.com
Check the site out it is a classic that has earned lots off laughs from me. Hope you enjoy this random little story.

Robertor the Goalinator is Trogdor the Burninator's 2nd youngest nephew. While developing into his own form of utter majesty Robertor exudes many of the same excellences of his Uncle.

You see Trogdor's sister moved to Canada from Cali because she heard there were more buffalo's too eat. While she was there she was wooed by BlackFoot the mightiest aboriginal dragon of them all. Of course everyone knows how BlackFoot got his name. His Mom coughed fire on his feet a few moments after he was born... Good thing for the snow in Canada eh??? Yeah so Robertor comes from a high level of Dragon Breeding. Must be why he is such an amazing goalie. Or maybe its cuz he burns the puck into ash before it can go in so it never ever fully passes the goal line. Whatever.... Among Robertor's standout attributes are the way he always burns his goal stick to charcoal black and how he still hasn't ditched the habit of chewing the knobbed end like a pencil. He broke the top last week but still manages. The stick seems to be mostly decoration anyway...........
Robertor was actually recently potty trained... Before last week every once in a while during a game he would leave a large pile of usually purple sewage in the crease... This was no good because the steaming hot lumps would melt the ice and make skating more difficult... The opposing team also had trouble maintaining consciousness in his zone...
One feature that sets Robertor apart from the other more normal goalies is his lack of teeth. All the other goalies seem to have full mouth racks and no major scars on their "baby faces" because of their goal masks. Due to Robertor's awkwardly shaped head there are no masks that seem to fit him. When asked about this apparant conundrum Robertor shrugs it off and refers to the other goalies as chickens or drumsticks.

The femalion dragons all seem to flock to Robertor's side. From his styling look with the crispy black shag to his rugged lack of teeth; Robertor has turned into somewhat of a celebrity.

Last season had a highly eventful finish for Robertor and his Dranucks. Due to some awesome leadership from their tireless captain, some slick plays by the better than most twins and most importantly an unending streak of brilliant play from Robertor the Dranucks conquered the hockey world winning the Larry's Mug... The most eventful moment came in the dressing room celebration when Robertor was trying to sip from the trophy. Incredibly the sparks in Robertor's throat set the wine ablaze causing him to sneeze effectively melting the large silver trophy to a large silver puddle on the floor. In a happy ending to this story Robertor spent the off season with a silversmith controlling his flame throwing capabilities and the mug was restored to its previous luster.

Robertor's career is on a hall of fame path, only time will tell if he'll be the first non humanoid to enter the great hall...

God designed Super Bowl XLII

I first wrote this the night of the Super Bowl as a Facebook note. Since I sort of want to switch to using this as my blog tho I decided to bring it here. Enjoy and please give me some feedback.

God had his hand all over tonight's Super Bowl contest. - And no, I'm not saying that he sent angels to help the Giants subdue a perfect Patriots team (Although the Manning pocket escape and the catch of the ages by Tyree looked very Supernatural to me). I highly doubt that. God's hands were all over this Super Bowl in very different ways. This Super Bowl had God's hands all over it because of its beautiful imperfection.
Think of it sports fans. Why do we enjoy sports? There are a number of reasons I believe we enjoy sports, but tonight I'm gonna talk about chance. Anyone who witnessed Super Bowl 42 witnessed what we call an upset. When a seemingly lesser team defeats a highly favored powerhouse. This was no small upset either. I would venture out to say that this was "The Perfect Upset".
For those of you uninformed tonight's match up featured the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. Two very different Super Bowl representatives. You see the Pats have won every game so far this year, broken dozens of long standing NFL records and they are the first team to win the first 18 games of a football season.
The Giants on the other hand barely made the football playoffs with 10 wins and 6 losses on the regular season.
The Patriots have the league MVP 2 time super bowl MVP, 3 time winner QB vs the Giants often maligned, young and previously without a playoff win Kid Brother of the Leagues other franchise QB. Brady vs mini Manning...
This is where perfect imperfection comes in. In a 'perfect' world the most skilled, best coached, most proven team would win every time. The Patriots were all these things and more. Still I and many millions of viewers across North America and the world stopped to watch a game fate had predetermined and was set to just be the crowning moment of the Greatest Football team ever amassed. Why? Because anything can happen. And Tonight anything did happen.
Tonight David beat Goliath, the Giants (ironically) took the Super Bowl as David against the far superior foe.

Upsets are an imperfection. A flaw in the system. But as we sports fans know, they are a beautiful flaw. Sports is not the only place this beautiful flaw occurs though. As a matter of fact lately I've begun to notice flaws are a necessary component of Beauty. Take for example the beautiful story of Hosea the prophet who is told by God to marry and love a prostitute. God's intent was for Hosea's unconditional love for his very imperfect wife to reflect to us his unconditional love for us. If Hosea was asked to marry a beautiful ideal woman who never screwed up how amazing would this story be? It wouldn't be amazing or beautiful.

God's design for Earth is sometimes controversial. Recently I've been moving toward an opinion that right now here on Earth we have almost everything we need to have paradise. Yes there are Wars and Injustices (trust me I know about more than I would like sometimes) that plague Earth and greed and corruption as well. Along with these things there is also love, joy, compassion, generosity and those who would seek justice. How valuable are love, joy, compassion, generosity and those who would seek justice tho in a perfect culture though? They are a given most would assume. So they would no longer stand out. For example if there had been a million Ghandi's in India would Ghandi ever have stood out to be the amazing figure he is today? NO. Beauty needs flaws. Love needs failures because love that overcomes nothing becomes redundant and assumed. We need imperfection and so does God. In our relationship with him if we were all perfect what would he gain. All responses would be assumed.

So that is how God's hands were all over the Super Bowl. He created this 'beautiful mess', this 'perfect imperfection' and tonight reminded me and us all of it with this "Perfect Upset".
Anyone who is a fan of sports should also be a fan of our God. The fact he loves us unconditionally in my mind another example of a "Perfect Upset".

(K guys this note was written entirely after 1 am. I got inspired and had to share it. My thots may be a little scattered and slimy so please do take it easy on it. I'll edit a little tomorrow maybe)

Chris Clarke

Surprising to what I say in this note I went to look for a picture to insert and this pic is in an article entitled "Supernatural' catch by Tyree a play for the ages" at http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=3229468
This pic belongs to espn and I do not take credit for it. I hope they recognize its relevance and don't mind my non profitable use of it...

Random Question - Life as a Frog

So your blogspot profile page asks you a random question. So creating my profile I responded to one of these random questions only to find I had used too many characters. I was horrified by this discovery because I was very satisfied with the results of my response. To solve the dilemma I resolved to post the artistry in my very first blog. So here you have it for the first time available to public eyes:

Q- The squish of mud between your toes; how would you live your life as a frog?

A- Surely I would be a show frog. Sort of like the singing and dancing one from that cartoon short. "Hello my baby, Hello my honey..." Clearly it isn't that I dislike mud, after all mud-wrestling is at the top of my to do list on rainy days with Mike and Josh in Port Credit. The truth is I am a sucker for attention. I would sing away dancing with all the unashamed indignity of a cow who just made a huge smelly pile in the most inopportune of places. I might even string me a guitar out of a crickets corpse with the silk strings of a daddy long leg web. If I could resist eating the cricket. Easier because I ate the Daddy Long Leg but we all know a Daddy Long Leg won't even fill a toads appetite for long. And of course toads eat like an anorexic vegan who's allergic to greens... I could not be confused for Kermit the frog tho because unlike Kermit who is human sized with a frog pitched and sized voice I would be frog sized with my voice as it is now....