For all you non-church goers out there I apologize on behalf of those of us who should know better.
Christians like other real people fight. They disagree, they sometimes vent their anger inappropriately - some of them even are downright mean in how they express themselves. If you see that happening know that that is reality and that it happens in good families as well as in good churches.
What people outside the church need to know is that it is how individuals in a church deal with the issues that matter. Good leaders should be spiritual leaders and able to negotiate the choppy waters of discord. Mature Christians should be able to assist both sides in building bridges
Stop bitching about your church and work to heal the corner you sit in - then cross the room to the other side and do it again.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
I'm so Bleah!
It got a major paper back - 77. B+ I'm used to an 85. I worked my ass off on the paper but the real problem is that he found it hard to understand some of what I was saying. I guess I can own that because I really had a problem writing it and I couldn't seem to get it under control. What annoys me is it should have been better and I know other students did better and it irks me that I can't seem to keep up with their quality of work.
My other paper was a B+ - it was really hard to write and I remember thinking that I had done what I could with it and I was going to be happy with a lower mark because he is a hard marker. But I wrote it so long ago that I can barely remember what it is about.
I keep feeling that I shouldn't be here. I can't put my finger on it - it might just be depression because I'm between churches and I haven't found a new place to serve. I keep promising myself that I will just do lots of spiritual formation work over the month so I can really hear what God is saying.
The continual grind of thinking and pondering about God is troubling too - after a while it becomes an academic exercise - I am hoping I will feel much better once I start volunteering and get away from the academics and church politics.
My other paper was a B+ - it was really hard to write and I remember thinking that I had done what I could with it and I was going to be happy with a lower mark because he is a hard marker. But I wrote it so long ago that I can barely remember what it is about.
I keep feeling that I shouldn't be here. I can't put my finger on it - it might just be depression because I'm between churches and I haven't found a new place to serve. I keep promising myself that I will just do lots of spiritual formation work over the month so I can really hear what God is saying.
The continual grind of thinking and pondering about God is troubling too - after a while it becomes an academic exercise - I am hoping I will feel much better once I start volunteering and get away from the academics and church politics.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Friday's Feast - Nov
Appetizer
What was your first “real” job?
Okay, my first real job was answering telephones at this place where people were calling in for "make money in your own home". It was truly awful. I had a script to read at a large table with a group of people with telephones. The calls came from the States seemed like Florida and the South. The caller would be told that they could sell film from the privacy of their own home. I would walk them through how much they could make just by selling 60 rolls and such. I think there was a start up cost but I can't remember. This was before the Internet - I was 19 and it was my first job ever and I hated every minute of it. It was obvious that I was smarter than the average caller and that they had no idea just what they were gettign into. They were basically given a phone list of people in their area and they bought the film from us. I remember one call where the woman was desperate to make money to help her family. Everytime you made a sale you had to ring a bell. The guy next to me oozed charm and made many sales. Finally my supervisor called me in and fired me. She said I looked miserable and she knew that I would never quit on my own accord - she was doing me a favour. Boy was I relieved - she was right, I would never have quit that job. After that I went and counted inventory - a really odd job for someone who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I actually got promoted in that one!
Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?
I don't think I have any creativity. I do my best thinking in the cemetery because its dead quiet (hee hee).
Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…
I think I'm talking to Cliff in the store and realise he has wandered off. I really hate that.
Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?
The biggest value has to be to tell the truth. My mother hated when people lied and I can't stand it either. They also instilled trust - they used to leave money lying around and it never occured to me to lift any of it - my friends were always surprised to see a ten sitting on a table. Of course once my smoking habit got into full swing and smokes went up to over 2 bucks I did nick a few quarters here and there - but never bills!
Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.
1) Early teen years - hate to admit it by me and my two friends each had a satin shirt. Mine was magenta. This was the age of disco. I still remember us all planning to wear our shirts on a Friday night. We had no where to go either.
2) Short rabbit fur coats. Short lived fad and I remember desperately wanting one for Christmas - they had them at Fairweathers. I showed them to my Dad who said absolutely not. I thought it was the price, he told me I would look like a hooker in one. I didn't know it then but he was right - they did look like hooker jackets.
3) Nikes - white with a black swirl or white with a blue swirl. The occasional red swirl but where I came from you tried to avoid those unless you were a jock.
What was your first “real” job?
Okay, my first real job was answering telephones at this place where people were calling in for "make money in your own home". It was truly awful. I had a script to read at a large table with a group of people with telephones. The calls came from the States seemed like Florida and the South. The caller would be told that they could sell film from the privacy of their own home. I would walk them through how much they could make just by selling 60 rolls and such. I think there was a start up cost but I can't remember. This was before the Internet - I was 19 and it was my first job ever and I hated every minute of it. It was obvious that I was smarter than the average caller and that they had no idea just what they were gettign into. They were basically given a phone list of people in their area and they bought the film from us. I remember one call where the woman was desperate to make money to help her family. Everytime you made a sale you had to ring a bell. The guy next to me oozed charm and made many sales. Finally my supervisor called me in and fired me. She said I looked miserable and she knew that I would never quit on my own accord - she was doing me a favour. Boy was I relieved - she was right, I would never have quit that job. After that I went and counted inventory - a really odd job for someone who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I actually got promoted in that one!
Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?
I don't think I have any creativity. I do my best thinking in the cemetery because its dead quiet (hee hee).
Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…
I think I'm talking to Cliff in the store and realise he has wandered off. I really hate that.
Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?
The biggest value has to be to tell the truth. My mother hated when people lied and I can't stand it either. They also instilled trust - they used to leave money lying around and it never occured to me to lift any of it - my friends were always surprised to see a ten sitting on a table. Of course once my smoking habit got into full swing and smokes went up to over 2 bucks I did nick a few quarters here and there - but never bills!
Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.
1) Early teen years - hate to admit it by me and my two friends each had a satin shirt. Mine was magenta. This was the age of disco. I still remember us all planning to wear our shirts on a Friday night. We had no where to go either.
2) Short rabbit fur coats. Short lived fad and I remember desperately wanting one for Christmas - they had them at Fairweathers. I showed them to my Dad who said absolutely not. I thought it was the price, he told me I would look like a hooker in one. I didn't know it then but he was right - they did look like hooker jackets.
3) Nikes - white with a black swirl or white with a blue swirl. The occasional red swirl but where I came from you tried to avoid those unless you were a jock.
Apology to Praise Teams - Most of 'Em
Yeah, a big shout out to LK who has taught me the true meaning of a praise team. In an earlier post I said we should get rid of the praise team and stick 'em in the pews with everyone else.
Ah, but see I was mistaken on the purpose of a praise team - I thought they were performers like you see on TV. You know they glitz up the joint. They are in fact more like conductors giving you cues if you need help following along with the songs and such. Hopefully they also cue the right emotion too - if you are singing a song of joy it would be nice if they looked joyful.
Now in my defence I will state I have been at churches where if the praise team was supposed to be guiding my efforts to worship then I was totally missing the point. It seemed more like a performance than conducting and simple things like making eye contact with the parishioners would help. So, like anything there is good and bad approaches.
I'm glad I'm still awkward at the church thing - it keeps me on my toes.
Ah, but see I was mistaken on the purpose of a praise team - I thought they were performers like you see on TV. You know they glitz up the joint. They are in fact more like conductors giving you cues if you need help following along with the songs and such. Hopefully they also cue the right emotion too - if you are singing a song of joy it would be nice if they looked joyful.
Now in my defence I will state I have been at churches where if the praise team was supposed to be guiding my efforts to worship then I was totally missing the point. It seemed more like a performance than conducting and simple things like making eye contact with the parishioners would help. So, like anything there is good and bad approaches.
I'm glad I'm still awkward at the church thing - it keeps me on my toes.
What on Earth Am I Doing?
Its been difficult trying to explain what I am in doing in the Masters of Divinity program that I am in. We finally have a website up and running - the program has been quietly whirring away in its first years getting its feet and not it is ready to have a modest web site.
Here's where you go:
http://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/inministry/index.php
There are lots of links about what it means to be missional too - its not evangelism and its not about outreach per se - its more about getting out into the community treating our community just like a mission field in Africa or China. You don't build a church overseas and expect people to just show up...
Here's where you go:
http://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/inministry/index.php
There are lots of links about what it means to be missional too - its not evangelism and its not about outreach per se - its more about getting out into the community treating our community just like a mission field in Africa or China. You don't build a church overseas and expect people to just show up...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Just for You EK
This is for my friend EK who I believe will enjoy the humour along with all of my regular friends who I already know love this kind of humour.
Check out foundmagazine.com
It has been around for a while and is basically just stuff people have found on the street - letters, pictures and such. Its like viewing life through people's scribbles and its fun trying to imagine what these bits of info mean....
Check out foundmagazine.com
It has been around for a while and is basically just stuff people have found on the street - letters, pictures and such. Its like viewing life through people's scribbles and its fun trying to imagine what these bits of info mean....
Miracle Salt
Well, Peter Popoff couldn't wait for me to send my money to annoint me with the blessing that is in store for me - he has now sent me a bag of Miracle Dead Sea salt. See my blog on the Miracle Water if you haven't read it.
I got a little tiny baggie of salt - I'm supposed to put some on my tongue and mail my money off.
Peter is very anxious about me because in another letter not connected with the whole Miracle Water project he has told me that he has seen satan in a vision talking to two of his evil doers as I passed by with a loved one and that they are plotting to destroy me financially and one of my relationships. Suddenly he has upped the ante because this letter wants 200 dollars as seed money to show God that I am obedient to Him. Then, once the money is sent Peter has been annointed to change my life - he isn't ready to tell my how much money I will receive but he addresses the letter to all those in the Million Dollar Club.
I'm really looking forward to the coming weeks - I think there will be lots more opportunities coming to me.
I got a little tiny baggie of salt - I'm supposed to put some on my tongue and mail my money off.
Peter is very anxious about me because in another letter not connected with the whole Miracle Water project he has told me that he has seen satan in a vision talking to two of his evil doers as I passed by with a loved one and that they are plotting to destroy me financially and one of my relationships. Suddenly he has upped the ante because this letter wants 200 dollars as seed money to show God that I am obedient to Him. Then, once the money is sent Peter has been annointed to change my life - he isn't ready to tell my how much money I will receive but he addresses the letter to all those in the Million Dollar Club.
I'm really looking forward to the coming weeks - I think there will be lots more opportunities coming to me.
Women In Ministry
I had my counsellor (MDiv appointed requirement - for everyone, not just me) as if I am uncomfortable that the prof has not come out on one side or the other regarding women in leadership within the church.
I really don't care. He's here to teach and is a careful theologian and has spent time on the issue. To teach here you have to sign a declaration that you accept that women will be taking classes and to uphold that right. That's enough for me.
I have read both sides of the argument and I can understand both sides. I have a calling and that is what I have to go by. It may not be the best answer (after all the devil is a cunning liar) but I certainly tested the call enough to stand by it.
I guess I look at the women in my class and think "what, what great leaders" - I'd love to have some of their qualities.
I am so fortunate not to carry this burden of feeling the need to prove myself to others as a woman - I'm too busy trying to prove myself as a person that I don't have time to worry about the rest. Maybe this is part of my problem -maybe I need to start understanding that when people see me they see gender and I need to work to extinguish that.
My own bias, I'm not crazy on women preachers - its there delivery that throws me off - I like a distinct - this is the way it is and I don't think we have encouraged women to deliver a speech that way - again - I think this is what gets me into trouble. My brother Ian can say the most direct blunt thing and people see him as being decisive. I can't even go as far as the things he says and I get that I'm shutting people down or I'm a "strong woman". Show me the weak man I'm supposed to emulate!
I really don't care. He's here to teach and is a careful theologian and has spent time on the issue. To teach here you have to sign a declaration that you accept that women will be taking classes and to uphold that right. That's enough for me.
I have read both sides of the argument and I can understand both sides. I have a calling and that is what I have to go by. It may not be the best answer (after all the devil is a cunning liar) but I certainly tested the call enough to stand by it.
I guess I look at the women in my class and think "what, what great leaders" - I'd love to have some of their qualities.
I am so fortunate not to carry this burden of feeling the need to prove myself to others as a woman - I'm too busy trying to prove myself as a person that I don't have time to worry about the rest. Maybe this is part of my problem -maybe I need to start understanding that when people see me they see gender and I need to work to extinguish that.
My own bias, I'm not crazy on women preachers - its there delivery that throws me off - I like a distinct - this is the way it is and I don't think we have encouraged women to deliver a speech that way - again - I think this is what gets me into trouble. My brother Ian can say the most direct blunt thing and people see him as being decisive. I can't even go as far as the things he says and I get that I'm shutting people down or I'm a "strong woman". Show me the weak man I'm supposed to emulate!
Puppies in a Box
It's a rather ominous title but don't fear - these are live, skittish, puppies we're talking about.
I was asking one of the pastors that works with youth what the deal was with young people and the touching, hugging business. I noticed it my first day here and it still freaks me out - guys hugging guys, girls holding hands, big hugs and just lots of touching. Non-sexual of course but very touchy-feely - which is not me. I have hugged people more since becoming a Christian then all the other years put together.
Anyhow, on my way back from the caf there are two girls sharing a chair, one with her head on the other and the other stroking her hair. I asked 'what gives - is this some Christian thing or is it a youth thing?" I have been assured that it is a youth thing - kids nowadays like to touch. Gross - in my day I 'll have you know that the boys sat with one chair between each one of them at the theatre. And the closest I got to a girl was when we threw our purses down on the ground and danced facing each other in a circle. Stroke my hair? - you better be buying me dinner!
As he describes it, the youth of today are like puppies in a box and I have to say its a pretty apt description. Of course I have never seen this in my home church because any sign of affection, or warm emotion is met with a very distant look - like "Gee did I leave the oven on?". And crying! Forget it - I have had entire conversations where I have been crying and its just ignored - like spinach in your teeth. Which unfortunately makes me cry more because whatever made me cry is still be talked about like its no big thing....
I'd make a lousy youth leader - I mean the occasional hug and tears I can stand but puppy love is just so discomforting.
I was asking one of the pastors that works with youth what the deal was with young people and the touching, hugging business. I noticed it my first day here and it still freaks me out - guys hugging guys, girls holding hands, big hugs and just lots of touching. Non-sexual of course but very touchy-feely - which is not me. I have hugged people more since becoming a Christian then all the other years put together.
Anyhow, on my way back from the caf there are two girls sharing a chair, one with her head on the other and the other stroking her hair. I asked 'what gives - is this some Christian thing or is it a youth thing?" I have been assured that it is a youth thing - kids nowadays like to touch. Gross - in my day I 'll have you know that the boys sat with one chair between each one of them at the theatre. And the closest I got to a girl was when we threw our purses down on the ground and danced facing each other in a circle. Stroke my hair? - you better be buying me dinner!
As he describes it, the youth of today are like puppies in a box and I have to say its a pretty apt description. Of course I have never seen this in my home church because any sign of affection, or warm emotion is met with a very distant look - like "Gee did I leave the oven on?". And crying! Forget it - I have had entire conversations where I have been crying and its just ignored - like spinach in your teeth. Which unfortunately makes me cry more because whatever made me cry is still be talked about like its no big thing....
I'd make a lousy youth leader - I mean the occasional hug and tears I can stand but puppy love is just so discomforting.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Church Rant
I haven't really gotten around to calling people, havent'really wanted to talk about it.
I'm bummed with my hunt for a church. Now I have to be careful with this because many of the people reading this are waiting for me to give them a good reason not to think about God and church and all that.
But church is a bunch of people. Just like at a bar. Ian hangs with people at the bar and they have discussions, fall outs and politics. Don't get him started about the darts group! Bars are more tolerable because even if you don't drink you can laugh at the ones who do. But church is crazy because we think it should be different. Of course it should, the people should be kinder and more loving to one another. And for the most part we are better than the average bar - because if we are authentic you see us at our worst - when we are ourselves - or like the nice guy who gets obnoxious after a few beers. Yet we keep coming back to see each other.
The problem is that the church building and its people do a lousy job of advertising what the whole point of showing up is. Without God, church would be hell. A bunch of people that you wouldn't want to sit next to on the bus singing together, meeting and making decisions together and discussing important topics like religion together. Its like one long day at work without the salaries and the risk of losing a job to keep everyone in line and there is no retirement to look forward to.
That's what you need to know about church. We are there, most of us anyways, because we love God and church is where we go to worship him and tell him how we feel about him and what he has done in our lives. It makes no sense to someone who doesn't love God how anyone could stand going to church. Just like those freaky beauty pageants for three year olds make absolutely no sense to those of us who see them for the very scary demented hobby that they are.
Yes, there are people in church who haven't experienced God personally. I admire them for showing up every week because they think they should. But the majority of us are there because we have to be there - its where we belong and we just have to learn how to love each other.
My frustration is that the very institution that is used to gather those who worship God is not geared for people who want to find out about religion. There are shops in Bayview Village that I would never have the courage to look in - I don't have the style, the figure or the cash. Why would I expect people who don't know God want to come into church and poke around? Well, I don't. So my frustration isn't with church and the politics - its with what I can't seem to get done with church.
I am ready to go out and be Christ's hands and feet and hopefully say some things that he would approve of in an effort to let people know how loving God is and how this crazy stuff I believe is so true to me. But I don't know how to do it by myself and I can't seem to find a church ready to do it with me.
So while I sort this out, I'm quiet about church and my calling. I'm trying to get my head together which means listening for God's leading. I'm sure I'm a paradox to many of you - you see how passionate I am and frustrated at the same time. It's not church or God - its trying to fit it all together.
I'm bummed with my hunt for a church. Now I have to be careful with this because many of the people reading this are waiting for me to give them a good reason not to think about God and church and all that.
But church is a bunch of people. Just like at a bar. Ian hangs with people at the bar and they have discussions, fall outs and politics. Don't get him started about the darts group! Bars are more tolerable because even if you don't drink you can laugh at the ones who do. But church is crazy because we think it should be different. Of course it should, the people should be kinder and more loving to one another. And for the most part we are better than the average bar - because if we are authentic you see us at our worst - when we are ourselves - or like the nice guy who gets obnoxious after a few beers. Yet we keep coming back to see each other.
The problem is that the church building and its people do a lousy job of advertising what the whole point of showing up is. Without God, church would be hell. A bunch of people that you wouldn't want to sit next to on the bus singing together, meeting and making decisions together and discussing important topics like religion together. Its like one long day at work without the salaries and the risk of losing a job to keep everyone in line and there is no retirement to look forward to.
That's what you need to know about church. We are there, most of us anyways, because we love God and church is where we go to worship him and tell him how we feel about him and what he has done in our lives. It makes no sense to someone who doesn't love God how anyone could stand going to church. Just like those freaky beauty pageants for three year olds make absolutely no sense to those of us who see them for the very scary demented hobby that they are.
Yes, there are people in church who haven't experienced God personally. I admire them for showing up every week because they think they should. But the majority of us are there because we have to be there - its where we belong and we just have to learn how to love each other.
My frustration is that the very institution that is used to gather those who worship God is not geared for people who want to find out about religion. There are shops in Bayview Village that I would never have the courage to look in - I don't have the style, the figure or the cash. Why would I expect people who don't know God want to come into church and poke around? Well, I don't. So my frustration isn't with church and the politics - its with what I can't seem to get done with church.
I am ready to go out and be Christ's hands and feet and hopefully say some things that he would approve of in an effort to let people know how loving God is and how this crazy stuff I believe is so true to me. But I don't know how to do it by myself and I can't seem to find a church ready to do it with me.
So while I sort this out, I'm quiet about church and my calling. I'm trying to get my head together which means listening for God's leading. I'm sure I'm a paradox to many of you - you see how passionate I am and frustrated at the same time. It's not church or God - its trying to fit it all together.
I'm Gonna Be Rich - Miracle Water
I've been feeling fed up with the institution of church. But now I can put things into perspective.
I'm a sucker for those tele evangelist shows. The crazier they are the better. I sit and exclaim over and over - "why do people watch this crap!".
Well Rev. Popoff has some amazing miracle water. It comes in a plastic tube and you drink it to receive your miracle. After watching a series of women exclaim that they drank the water and received the blessing of unexpected money I just couldn't stand it anymore I had to have some. I needed to know what this package would look like and how slick would it have to be for someone to actually believe the good ole' Rev.
Cliff refused to call for me. Usually he will do something like this for me albeit reluctantly. Not this time. I had to call myself. See, I didn't want the person on the other end of the line to think that I was really into this sham but on the same hand I wanted to get my miracle water so I could have a peek at this whole industry.
Didn't matter in the end - the good rev has his own outgoing message, all I needed to do was leave my name and address and my prayer request. I didn't leave a prayer request because it seemed wrong to make fun of that part! I did use my maiden name though because I really don't want this stuff going to my real name.
I got my miracle water today! It was very exciting to read that Rev. Popoff is well acquainted with the very hard place that I am in in my life right now. As God's prophet he has guaranteed me that I have great blessings coming to me on January 5th, 2008. He is also very interested that I trust in God's promises and give a seed offering to God to the tune of 17 dollars. Then God will shower me with all of the blessings that I've got coming to me.
Sadly this is only one part of this tommyrot. The rest is that I must sleep with my miracle water on the floor next to my bed and drink it tomorrow morning. Okay, not a chance. The water has supposedly come from some spring revealed to a priest and his followers in Russia folllowing the Chernobyl accident.
As soon as my 17 dollars hits the Rev's pocket he will send me even more blessings. In the meantime, I have a second envelope to open after I have done all the miracle water stuff. I was warned not to open it yet but well I'm not very obedient. Inside is another long winded letter indicating that I am so truly blessed and set apart by God for some incredible events. I just need to show my absolute willingness to bless God with 27 dollars. Oh yes, I also have a piece of silver mylar - looks a bit like a piece of tinsel that I have to tie around my wrist and sleep with - only for one night. I send that and the money. The rev needs the tinsel because he feels powerfully called upon to pray through something that I have worn.
Now if anyone is confused enough to do the first letter I can only imagine what kinds of stuff they want to send with the second letter. If you really believe he is going to hold this stuff in his hands and pray through it wouldn't you send him something like your underwear or t shirt or something that you have actually lived in?
We are just waiting to see what stuff gets sent to us now. Not only will there be all of the pleas for my money from this guy but I bet I get on some really weird mailing lists.
It cost this guy 1.30 to send all this to me, plus the cost of the materials and the late night advertising. People must be so gullible - and it makes me sad because he has twisted the Gospel so much that people are apt to blame God for not receiving their riches rather then this sleazy operator.
I'm a sucker for those tele evangelist shows. The crazier they are the better. I sit and exclaim over and over - "why do people watch this crap!".
Well Rev. Popoff has some amazing miracle water. It comes in a plastic tube and you drink it to receive your miracle. After watching a series of women exclaim that they drank the water and received the blessing of unexpected money I just couldn't stand it anymore I had to have some. I needed to know what this package would look like and how slick would it have to be for someone to actually believe the good ole' Rev.
Cliff refused to call for me. Usually he will do something like this for me albeit reluctantly. Not this time. I had to call myself. See, I didn't want the person on the other end of the line to think that I was really into this sham but on the same hand I wanted to get my miracle water so I could have a peek at this whole industry.
Didn't matter in the end - the good rev has his own outgoing message, all I needed to do was leave my name and address and my prayer request. I didn't leave a prayer request because it seemed wrong to make fun of that part! I did use my maiden name though because I really don't want this stuff going to my real name.
I got my miracle water today! It was very exciting to read that Rev. Popoff is well acquainted with the very hard place that I am in in my life right now. As God's prophet he has guaranteed me that I have great blessings coming to me on January 5th, 2008. He is also very interested that I trust in God's promises and give a seed offering to God to the tune of 17 dollars. Then God will shower me with all of the blessings that I've got coming to me.
Sadly this is only one part of this tommyrot. The rest is that I must sleep with my miracle water on the floor next to my bed and drink it tomorrow morning. Okay, not a chance. The water has supposedly come from some spring revealed to a priest and his followers in Russia folllowing the Chernobyl accident.
As soon as my 17 dollars hits the Rev's pocket he will send me even more blessings. In the meantime, I have a second envelope to open after I have done all the miracle water stuff. I was warned not to open it yet but well I'm not very obedient. Inside is another long winded letter indicating that I am so truly blessed and set apart by God for some incredible events. I just need to show my absolute willingness to bless God with 27 dollars. Oh yes, I also have a piece of silver mylar - looks a bit like a piece of tinsel that I have to tie around my wrist and sleep with - only for one night. I send that and the money. The rev needs the tinsel because he feels powerfully called upon to pray through something that I have worn.
Now if anyone is confused enough to do the first letter I can only imagine what kinds of stuff they want to send with the second letter. If you really believe he is going to hold this stuff in his hands and pray through it wouldn't you send him something like your underwear or t shirt or something that you have actually lived in?
We are just waiting to see what stuff gets sent to us now. Not only will there be all of the pleas for my money from this guy but I bet I get on some really weird mailing lists.
It cost this guy 1.30 to send all this to me, plus the cost of the materials and the late night advertising. People must be so gullible - and it makes me sad because he has twisted the Gospel so much that people are apt to blame God for not receiving their riches rather then this sleazy operator.
A Whole Aisle of Weird Bread
Okay, I wrote about the weird bread once before - you know the European style bread that sits on the ledge by the Deli counter. You don't get a whole loaf - they come in little half size bags and they look like you could replace the soles of your shoes with them.
Anyhow, I went to Highland Farms and experienced a whole new shopping experience. I'm really sensitive to my cultural surroundings and new I was in the wrong store from the front door. Its very European and it has a whole aisle devoted to the weird bread. I still didn't see anyone buying it but there certainly was a lot to choose from. The deli counter was packed with people waiting to be served - 3 deep in places - I guess they needed to move the bread so it wouldn't get squashed!
Anyhow, I went to Highland Farms and experienced a whole new shopping experience. I'm really sensitive to my cultural surroundings and new I was in the wrong store from the front door. Its very European and it has a whole aisle devoted to the weird bread. I still didn't see anyone buying it but there certainly was a lot to choose from. The deli counter was packed with people waiting to be served - 3 deep in places - I guess they needed to move the bread so it wouldn't get squashed!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Anything for a Dollar
Okay, the Dollar Stores have gone over the top. I love looking in there and rarely get out without some kind of purchase. I feel guilty because I suspect that most everything in there is the result of low wages in some stuffy factory. And some of the stuff you can get elsewhere for far less then a dollar. Too think I used to shop in real stores!!
Bandages, makeup, denture containers are not unusual. But I saw a home pregnancy kit. Just how accurate are one of these? If you are that strapped for cash maybe you should go to the doctor and get a lab requisition. It just seems weird to buy one at the dollar store. How important is it that you know for sure?
You can learn a lot about a neighbourhood by the things sold in the stores. One Shopper's in a special area of Toronto keeps the condoms up at the front. Partly to prevent stealing but mostly so the purchasers are repeat customers and don't have a lot of time.
A Giant Tiger out in Ottawa used to keep the airplane glue at the counter. I like Giant Tiger so I'm hoping it was to ensure it was being purchased for the right reason and not for the sniffers to find it easier.
In BC we looked all over for gravol and couldn't find any. It was behind the counter because the local kids were taking it to get stoned.
If you notice that razor blades are often up at the front its because they get shoplifted alot, that and batteries. I have no idea why.
If you think I seem to know way too much about what's in stores its partly because I love looking in stores but mostly because my brother worked retail for a long time and I worked counting inventory for some time (a whole blog in itself - I've got stories!). Since becoming Christian and going on a mission trip I don't have the irresitible urge to spend like I used to but I still have the love of window shopping!
Bandages, makeup, denture containers are not unusual. But I saw a home pregnancy kit. Just how accurate are one of these? If you are that strapped for cash maybe you should go to the doctor and get a lab requisition. It just seems weird to buy one at the dollar store. How important is it that you know for sure?
You can learn a lot about a neighbourhood by the things sold in the stores. One Shopper's in a special area of Toronto keeps the condoms up at the front. Partly to prevent stealing but mostly so the purchasers are repeat customers and don't have a lot of time.
A Giant Tiger out in Ottawa used to keep the airplane glue at the counter. I like Giant Tiger so I'm hoping it was to ensure it was being purchased for the right reason and not for the sniffers to find it easier.
In BC we looked all over for gravol and couldn't find any. It was behind the counter because the local kids were taking it to get stoned.
If you notice that razor blades are often up at the front its because they get shoplifted alot, that and batteries. I have no idea why.
If you think I seem to know way too much about what's in stores its partly because I love looking in stores but mostly because my brother worked retail for a long time and I worked counting inventory for some time (a whole blog in itself - I've got stories!). Since becoming Christian and going on a mission trip I don't have the irresitible urge to spend like I used to but I still have the love of window shopping!
Dangerous Google Searches
My cat's bum is looking a little sore. I don't know why and not wanting to risk an expensive vet visit for something I can treat with products from the Dollar Store I decided to Google it.
Well I always google with just a few nouns and verbs. I never bother trying to look for a specific site unless I have one in mind.
I googled
bald anus
Yup, without thinking I hit enter and off I went on an extremely interesting journey! I'm sure my IP address is now tagged by the RCMP.
Well I always google with just a few nouns and verbs. I never bother trying to look for a specific site unless I have one in mind.
I googled
bald anus
Yup, without thinking I hit enter and off I went on an extremely interesting journey! I'm sure my IP address is now tagged by the RCMP.
Friday, September 28, 2007
To Sing or Not To Sing
I have problems with boundaries. I tend to push into other people's if I think something is unjust. So when my therapist told me that her church decided not to have a choir anymore because they only want a praise team* I immediately knew what I would have done. I would have gotten the choir together and had them sit in one area of the church together and we would have belted out every tune! Not that I like choirs - the better they are the less I can understand what they are singing. Now at the other end of the spectrum is Ian's friend who "goes to church every Sunday". Ian was surprised to find out that he goes to church - but then the truth came out - he is paid to sing in the choir. He shows up for practice once a week and on Sunday to sing. He is not a church member and basically shows for the paycheque. Somewhere between not wanting the services of a choir and paying people to fill the holes in the choir suits me just fine!
*non-churched dictionary - this took me forever to figure out, and I still don't get it. Churches tend to have a choir - usually in robes that sing the older hymns and are can be informal to very formal. A Praise Team is a small group of people who stand at the front and are usually good singers but less formal in what they sing. More uplifting, emotional stuff with instruments like drums and guitars (gasp!). I have yet to figure out why a praise team is necessary and maybe I'm ahead of my time but I would like to see praise teams abolished. Have instruments and stuff to play the music but for goodness sakes the whole congregation should be the praise team!
*non-churched dictionary - this took me forever to figure out, and I still don't get it. Churches tend to have a choir - usually in robes that sing the older hymns and are can be informal to very formal. A Praise Team is a small group of people who stand at the front and are usually good singers but less formal in what they sing. More uplifting, emotional stuff with instruments like drums and guitars (gasp!). I have yet to figure out why a praise team is necessary and maybe I'm ahead of my time but I would like to see praise teams abolished. Have instruments and stuff to play the music but for goodness sakes the whole congregation should be the praise team!
Alpha - Perspective on Ministry
I somehow got pulled into Alpha. Well, no, it was my own fault. The person who runs it asked me when I go to school and learning that I'm free Thursdays wanted to know if I could cover off some Alpha sessions during his vacation. He's done this before, he books Alpha then looks for a backup. I'm the only backup left and I agreed to cover his weeks. Well tonight was the first session and I'm covering the next two weeks so I ended up staying tonight to sit in since I need to meet the people and they need to meet me.
I was thinking about ministry. I always thought there would be a moment when I was officially doing ministry. But there isn't -I'm always doing it. Stepping in to do Alpha is something I can do and should do since we lack another leader at the moment. That's ministry. That's it. You do up Sunday worship and then step in and out of roles the rest of the week. Show up at meetings, visit people and somewhere in there do your own devotions to keep connected to God so you can step into whatever needs doing. I'm leading a worship service at a nursing home in a few weeks time and I have no idea what I will do. I've never been there, I don't even know if they have a piano which means a capella for me again which I force myself to do but really would rather not.
Its not that I'm disappointed, its just that somewhere between the summer and now I'm suddenly doing ministry much like a pastor. Not with the full responsibilities but slowly getting there. I have the benefit of still being able to screw up a lot because I am learning so this is still gravy.
So two people came to Alpha - two that we weren't expecting and another seven didn't show that we were. And the two that show are Christian. At first I'm irritated because one of them is the kind of Christian that has turned me off Christianity in the past. But I realise that this is ministry - its not about me its about the other person and their needs. And I realise that as much as I am passionate about non-Christians that I have a lot that I can share with Christians in terms of leading to deeper understandings of Christ and broadening the appreciation of what it means to be a Christ follower and what church is supposed to be about. Why would people in a church come out to Alpha if they weren't seeking something - maybe friends, or a non-judgemental new face or a better understanding. The servant thing is starting to take hold in my heart - God serves everyone, thankfully he isn't choosy like I am!
Anyhow I have a great opportunity to listen and not set the agenda and to learn more about churched Christians and what they seek so I'll pray about that for next week!
I was thinking about ministry. I always thought there would be a moment when I was officially doing ministry. But there isn't -I'm always doing it. Stepping in to do Alpha is something I can do and should do since we lack another leader at the moment. That's ministry. That's it. You do up Sunday worship and then step in and out of roles the rest of the week. Show up at meetings, visit people and somewhere in there do your own devotions to keep connected to God so you can step into whatever needs doing. I'm leading a worship service at a nursing home in a few weeks time and I have no idea what I will do. I've never been there, I don't even know if they have a piano which means a capella for me again which I force myself to do but really would rather not.
Its not that I'm disappointed, its just that somewhere between the summer and now I'm suddenly doing ministry much like a pastor. Not with the full responsibilities but slowly getting there. I have the benefit of still being able to screw up a lot because I am learning so this is still gravy.
So two people came to Alpha - two that we weren't expecting and another seven didn't show that we were. And the two that show are Christian. At first I'm irritated because one of them is the kind of Christian that has turned me off Christianity in the past. But I realise that this is ministry - its not about me its about the other person and their needs. And I realise that as much as I am passionate about non-Christians that I have a lot that I can share with Christians in terms of leading to deeper understandings of Christ and broadening the appreciation of what it means to be a Christ follower and what church is supposed to be about. Why would people in a church come out to Alpha if they weren't seeking something - maybe friends, or a non-judgemental new face or a better understanding. The servant thing is starting to take hold in my heart - God serves everyone, thankfully he isn't choosy like I am!
Anyhow I have a great opportunity to listen and not set the agenda and to learn more about churched Christians and what they seek so I'll pray about that for next week!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
I'm backkk
Yup, I'm back after a long hiatus. The Holland trip just brought out nasty blogging on my part and I had to take a break.
Now that I'm back into school and getting a new rhythym with work/ministry and school I need to find time to laugh!
Like today - I went for a stress test for my heart. I had nagging arm pain in August and went to the ER where I quickly determined that the nurse knew I wasn't having a heart attack so I left. My doc however wanted a stress test and I figured I better though I'm sure it was a waste of OHIP's money.
It really was a stress test - I stressed about it! What do I wear, will there be people watching me, how stupid am I going to look. And then there is the whole weird feeling of being back in NYGH. Its so weird - everything looks different and yet I run into people I worked with and it seems like I've entered another dimension.
In the end I had to get my heart up to 179 - I think I got it close enough. And there was nothing to worry about it was all very dignified.
I had this strange moment though when I looked at the men and women dressed in their work clothes and shiny shoes and felt that I missed it. Something about walking around in heels and skirts and jackets and talking about very technical things - its like a game and a culture that I know so well it feels comfortable.
I have to find a new hospital, I just hate going back there!
Now that I'm back into school and getting a new rhythym with work/ministry and school I need to find time to laugh!
Like today - I went for a stress test for my heart. I had nagging arm pain in August and went to the ER where I quickly determined that the nurse knew I wasn't having a heart attack so I left. My doc however wanted a stress test and I figured I better though I'm sure it was a waste of OHIP's money.
It really was a stress test - I stressed about it! What do I wear, will there be people watching me, how stupid am I going to look. And then there is the whole weird feeling of being back in NYGH. Its so weird - everything looks different and yet I run into people I worked with and it seems like I've entered another dimension.
In the end I had to get my heart up to 179 - I think I got it close enough. And there was nothing to worry about it was all very dignified.
I had this strange moment though when I looked at the men and women dressed in their work clothes and shiny shoes and felt that I missed it. Something about walking around in heels and skirts and jackets and talking about very technical things - its like a game and a culture that I know so well it feels comfortable.
I have to find a new hospital, I just hate going back there!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Help - The Children's Message
While the pastor is away for 4 Sundays I may be called upon to do the Children's Message. For the uninitiated this is when the children of the congregation are called up and the pastor gives them something to think about - it should be interesting, something that all ages can relate to, memorable and connected with the theme and message of the service.
I can preach a 20 minute sermon but the 5 minute time with the children kills me. It takes me a week to come up with the idea and prop. Some of the children require guidance in listening. Some continually point their bum up in the air towards the congregation during the message. Some interupt continually with non related info mumbled so that I can't tell if the child is communicating their love of video games, that they are hungry or that the balcony is on fire. And until I can convince the Pastor that I now have this down and am comfortable with it he is going to give me lots of opportunities to do it. Its going to be a long month!
I can preach a 20 minute sermon but the 5 minute time with the children kills me. It takes me a week to come up with the idea and prop. Some of the children require guidance in listening. Some continually point their bum up in the air towards the congregation during the message. Some interupt continually with non related info mumbled so that I can't tell if the child is communicating their love of video games, that they are hungry or that the balcony is on fire. And until I can convince the Pastor that I now have this down and am comfortable with it he is going to give me lots of opportunities to do it. Its going to be a long month!
Oh No, I've Discovered youtube
Our PC sound wasn't working for the longest time and now that it is I have access to youtube. I came across this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1u93VduIUI
Its about clown training as a form of ministry and at first I was convinced they were kidding but by the end I'm not too sure. It was funny but not enough to be a satire. Anyone who knows my fear of clowns will understand that clown ministry is in my books one of the Dark Arts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1u93VduIUI
Its about clown training as a form of ministry and at first I was convinced they were kidding but by the end I'm not too sure. It was funny but not enough to be a satire. Anyone who knows my fear of clowns will understand that clown ministry is in my books one of the Dark Arts.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The MultiMedia Generation
I was playing a board game with the kids that their father used to play. Its actually quite fun because it relies on lots of spaces that say take another turn and move ahead and draw cards and stuff so they don't get too bored with it. During the game one of them realised it was time for a cartoon he likes. He asked me to "pause the game while we watch this". I explained that boards games are not like X Box where we pause the game - Aunt Vicki is not going to sit in suspended animation for half an hour. I lost out to a cheesy cartoon! Some of the cartoons - particularly the anime ones totally lose me. There is one where its a guy but as a superhero he turns into an adult androgenous woman - as near as I can tell.
I'm old.
I'm old.
When I Grow Up.
Apparently my four year old niece (well not biologically) sees some mothering instincts in me. She told me yesteray that "You will make a good mommy when you grow up". I'm not sure if this is a statement on my adultness or just that she figures if you don't have children you haven't grown up yet. She asked her brother for confirmation (he's 5) and he gave a rather unenthusiastic sound. I don't let them get away with much so maybe he's figuring that he could find better!
He later told me that when I get old I am going to yell at people and he killed himself laughing. Now this is in fact quite true - I just couldn't figure out how he knew that. He remembered a card my brother got me in June with an old lady on the front who is a crank and how as I reach old age that's where I'm going. I was quite surprised that he could remember this card but apparently it has struck a chord with him.
He later told me that when I get old I am going to yell at people and he killed himself laughing. Now this is in fact quite true - I just couldn't figure out how he knew that. He remembered a card my brother got me in June with an old lady on the front who is a crank and how as I reach old age that's where I'm going. I was quite surprised that he could remember this card but apparently it has struck a chord with him.
Weddings in Edwards Gardens
SO On 07/07/07 Lesley and I went to see the brides at Edwards Gardens. In the parking lot we came across a few cars "decorated" with white fabric and gold tinsel - it looked like a Christmas angel was taken out on a hit and run. Well, we found the wedding party that these cars belonged to - you may have seen them on the news. We took a picture because I just don't have the full vocabularly to really paint the picture.
An older lady came over and was not very approving - she told us the world is changing and she can't keep up.
We later saw a beautiful wedding which took place after the Egyptian/Roman theme. Unfortunately as the bride and groom were saying there vows a man decided that that was a good time to get right in there and take some pictures of the fountain - then his family joined him. I wanted to go down and quietly lead them away - the people around us were muttering and murmuring about how outrageous it was and can't they see there is a wedding go on and so forth. Anyhow, Lesley didn't want me to get involved - but my feet were itching to go and fix it!
Weddings at the gardens are a riot. You are guaranteed to see a wide range of fashions - particularly the bridesmaids, some really cheesy photo shoots and the occasional ceremony. I doubt I will see one quite like this one again though!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Burial Shoes
Apparently, I'm just a babe in the woods (see my entry below). I found this website that talks about the absurdity of the funeral industry and another business opportunity I was unaware of: burial shoes
http://www.funerals.org/decca.htm
http://www.funerals.org/decca.htm
I design clothes for the dead.
While lurking around the Internet looking for funeral related t-shirts and stuff for a relative in Holland, I came across a whole industry I was unaware of. Burial clothes. Most of the providers of this are offering shrouds and such, some are offering clothing for funeral directors (I always thought they just got that stuff at Sears) but Sindy's Designs offers a whole new perspective. They create clothing that funeral homes can have on hand so the bereaved don't need to go out and buy something if they don't have anything suitable at home.
The bizarre fascination with looking our best for our funeral is a North American thing (with an exception here and there). Its contrived, costly and fools no one though we like to stand around and pretend that Aunt Enid really looks good. I used to have romantic notions of death -Snow White's glass coffin with her perpetual youth encased in it seemed ideal. Looking good requires a bit of manipulation and approaches taxidermy a bit too much for my liking. But if you are worried about having "nothing to wear" check out this site: http://www.sindysdesigns.com/ You can't see the pictures of the merchandise unless you are brave enough to fill in a fabricated identity. But here is a quote:
"I appreciate the quality of the dresses I buy from Sindy's. The colors are so complementary of the colors in the caskets. And the men's suits are complete with tie, etc." Gail Krien, Krien Funeral Home, Davis, Oklahoma
'nough said.
The bizarre fascination with looking our best for our funeral is a North American thing (with an exception here and there). Its contrived, costly and fools no one though we like to stand around and pretend that Aunt Enid really looks good. I used to have romantic notions of death -Snow White's glass coffin with her perpetual youth encased in it seemed ideal. Looking good requires a bit of manipulation and approaches taxidermy a bit too much for my liking. But if you are worried about having "nothing to wear" check out this site: http://www.sindysdesigns.com/ You can't see the pictures of the merchandise unless you are brave enough to fill in a fabricated identity. But here is a quote:
"I appreciate the quality of the dresses I buy from Sindy's. The colors are so complementary of the colors in the caskets. And the men's suits are complete with tie, etc." Gail Krien, Krien Funeral Home, Davis, Oklahoma
'nough said.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Congrats to Caroline
Those of you who have joined us for our dinner group might remember that Caroline was going on a marathon in Alaska to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma. She completed her marathon and reports that she had a great time and the 8 people from Toronto raised over 60,000 dollars. I can't even get my head around that!
Congrats Caroline on behalf of the dinner group!
Congrats Caroline on behalf of the dinner group!
Friday's Feast - Random questions
Appetizer
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
I only wear my wedding band and my anniversary band. I used to wear my wedding ring but it has some delicate spots on it and I worry about damaging it. I sometimes were a broach, a cross or earrings.
Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?
How many do I actually know? Probably Classical Gas.
Salad
Who has a last name that you like?
Okay, with my last name I have thought about this already. I love the names: Victoria "Cookson", Victoria "Roberts", Victoria "Shaw". My choices if I were to revert to a family name are my original name of Collins (people can not spell it), mother's of Robertshaw (people think its two words). My grandmothers was a better bet and I can't remember for the life of me what it was - Meekes? I remember it started with an "M" because it went with where she was from - Micklefield.
Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
I wish, like my friend, I could proudly boast that I have never seen Star Wars. But my father insisted we go and line up for this movie because it was going to be a real experience. Didn't like it and have never felt the need to try to like it.
As for a popular movie - Titanic. As soon as I good wind of the love story I lost all interest. Though the rest of the film may have been historically accurate the whole love story was pretty far fetched for the time and social class system. It wasn't just that people did not marry beneath them, but there was a lot of disparaging things said about some one who married up - from people in her own class. A man could marry up - provided he was already upper class. But a woman wouldn't go from being a servant to having servants and it was understood that this was the way it was. We might not like it and certainly Americans may feel they escaped that system but in 1912 it was still the way it went.
Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me frustrated like people sampling at the Bulk Barn and in the fruit aisle. Don't get me started!
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
I only wear my wedding band and my anniversary band. I used to wear my wedding ring but it has some delicate spots on it and I worry about damaging it. I sometimes were a broach, a cross or earrings.
Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?
How many do I actually know? Probably Classical Gas.
Salad
Who has a last name that you like?
Okay, with my last name I have thought about this already. I love the names: Victoria "Cookson", Victoria "Roberts", Victoria "Shaw". My choices if I were to revert to a family name are my original name of Collins (people can not spell it), mother's of Robertshaw (people think its two words). My grandmothers was a better bet and I can't remember for the life of me what it was - Meekes? I remember it started with an "M" because it went with where she was from - Micklefield.
Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
I wish, like my friend, I could proudly boast that I have never seen Star Wars. But my father insisted we go and line up for this movie because it was going to be a real experience. Didn't like it and have never felt the need to try to like it.
As for a popular movie - Titanic. As soon as I good wind of the love story I lost all interest. Though the rest of the film may have been historically accurate the whole love story was pretty far fetched for the time and social class system. It wasn't just that people did not marry beneath them, but there was a lot of disparaging things said about some one who married up - from people in her own class. A man could marry up - provided he was already upper class. But a woman wouldn't go from being a servant to having servants and it was understood that this was the way it was. We might not like it and certainly Americans may feel they escaped that system but in 1912 it was still the way it went.
Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me frustrated like people sampling at the Bulk Barn and in the fruit aisle. Don't get me started!
The TTC Experiment
I started taking the TTC as my main form of transportation in June. Well, only two things have changed from 15 years ago when I took it every day - there is a lot more air conditioned buses and subways and you can't get a seat going southbound at Sheppard. The minute I get on in the morning I read because I am not a morning person and this is my way of becoming more awake so I really want a seat. If you don't get one at Sheppard you will not get one until Eglinton. In the old days you could still get a seat at York Mills. So I have been going north to Finch and starting my book the minute I sit down. By the time I get to Bloor to change I am in a much better frame of mind and a little more alert.
So, if they keep saying ridership is down and I can no longer get a seat they must have pulled cars off of trains or the ridership south of Eglinton is where they have lost fares. People seem to be streaming in from the north!
My biggest surprise is that the announcements are actually no easier to understand and maybe even worse. I can barely make out the words let alone the entire message. They must have their own radio system for all the employees because the strange "99 Bloor. 99" announcements have stopped. I was told this meant a jumper but with the number of times it was called I knew that wasn't right - someone else told me it meant they need a janitor. Of course you would need a janitor in the other scenario too!
I don't need a metropass because when Cliff is on nights I have the car and when he is on evenings I can choose to take the car as long as I get back in time to take him to work. So, really, I'm relying on the car more than I thought. I don't think anyone is really surprised by that!
So, if they keep saying ridership is down and I can no longer get a seat they must have pulled cars off of trains or the ridership south of Eglinton is where they have lost fares. People seem to be streaming in from the north!
My biggest surprise is that the announcements are actually no easier to understand and maybe even worse. I can barely make out the words let alone the entire message. They must have their own radio system for all the employees because the strange "99 Bloor. 99" announcements have stopped. I was told this meant a jumper but with the number of times it was called I knew that wasn't right - someone else told me it meant they need a janitor. Of course you would need a janitor in the other scenario too!
I don't need a metropass because when Cliff is on nights I have the car and when he is on evenings I can choose to take the car as long as I get back in time to take him to work. So, really, I'm relying on the car more than I thought. I don't think anyone is really surprised by that!
Bridezilla
Today, I'm going to go and do something I haven't done in a long time - go and watch the brides at Edwards Gardens. With it being 07/07/2007 there was a big demand for this day as it is lucky. My pastor had been asked to do a number of weddings from outside the church. He gets requests like this but not usually more than one for the same day.
So with the high humidity, heat, grandiose expectations and crinolines the bride watching will be spectacular!
If you think this is an unusual thing to do on a Saturday well let me tell you - the knowledgeable crowd bring their own lawn chairs and set up right at the first garden at the entrance. Okay, they are all over 65, but I'm not the only one to go and watch. I love watching people and I know there are going to be some sermon illustrations in this.
So with the high humidity, heat, grandiose expectations and crinolines the bride watching will be spectacular!
If you think this is an unusual thing to do on a Saturday well let me tell you - the knowledgeable crowd bring their own lawn chairs and set up right at the first garden at the entrance. Okay, they are all over 65, but I'm not the only one to go and watch. I love watching people and I know there are going to be some sermon illustrations in this.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Societal Structure
I did a lot of reading about the Dutch society before the war and just after. At one point the Netherlands operated under a pillar society. What this meant was that each self-identifying group created their own system of society. Each major religion had their own school system, places of work and circle they moved in. There was also an understanding that different social classes remained at their level thought this was not openly discussed.
Though this form of society started to break down I still saw traces of it. Though the Netherlands are small, there are areas with their own dialect; the Roman Catholic church rules the south, the protestant more to the north. And what was really disturbing was the circles we ran in. If someone in the family or acquaintances was lower class in occupation I would be assured that they were "smart". We only went to "quality" stores, ate "quality" food. There were things that others do in Holland that we didn't - notably eating fries with mayo and the little pancakes. Our hosts being older might have accounted for this narrower middle upper class view of Holland and I found it disturbing - as if we weren't really visiting Holland but a narrow version of it. This dedication of staying in the "best" and eating the "best" (within upper middle class standards) meant eating in the same restaurant two nights in a row instead of the other many choices of small places with terraces and local colour.
Most disturbing was the invisibility of those who don't fit. Though very small details of Dutch life were pointed out to us on our visits to different places there was one area where we quickly noticed that no explanation was given. We were in a pretty town and there were what appeared to be gypsies (they go by the name Roma) at the entrance to the area of shops playing accordians for money. I thought they were roma because I had seen a presentation on them in class last semester and they looked very much the same - they certainly weren't Dutch or Muslim by birth. Though they dotted the area - and its hard to miss accordian players - no mention was made of who they were or what they were doing - it was as if these people just feet from us weren't there. I know from class that many Europeans dislike the roma and they were taken to concentration camps by Hitler during the war though their fate has not been recognised to the same extent as other persecuted groups. So whereas other groups of people were commented on either in passing or negatively this group didn't warrant any discussion. We decided not to ask because we didn't want to have a negative conversation about them - little good could come out of that. Cliff, who is usually so gracious, made sure his dontation of coins to the accordian player tinkled enough to draw out a comment from his aunt - but none came! He really can be quite the instigator when he wants to be!
Since people are the same all over, I have been thinking about my own attitudes - who do I ignore?, what class biases do I have that prevent me from seeing the whole world - all of God's children?, is there stuff I wouldn't do because its not "quality"?
Though this form of society started to break down I still saw traces of it. Though the Netherlands are small, there are areas with their own dialect; the Roman Catholic church rules the south, the protestant more to the north. And what was really disturbing was the circles we ran in. If someone in the family or acquaintances was lower class in occupation I would be assured that they were "smart". We only went to "quality" stores, ate "quality" food. There were things that others do in Holland that we didn't - notably eating fries with mayo and the little pancakes. Our hosts being older might have accounted for this narrower middle upper class view of Holland and I found it disturbing - as if we weren't really visiting Holland but a narrow version of it. This dedication of staying in the "best" and eating the "best" (within upper middle class standards) meant eating in the same restaurant two nights in a row instead of the other many choices of small places with terraces and local colour.
Most disturbing was the invisibility of those who don't fit. Though very small details of Dutch life were pointed out to us on our visits to different places there was one area where we quickly noticed that no explanation was given. We were in a pretty town and there were what appeared to be gypsies (they go by the name Roma) at the entrance to the area of shops playing accordians for money. I thought they were roma because I had seen a presentation on them in class last semester and they looked very much the same - they certainly weren't Dutch or Muslim by birth. Though they dotted the area - and its hard to miss accordian players - no mention was made of who they were or what they were doing - it was as if these people just feet from us weren't there. I know from class that many Europeans dislike the roma and they were taken to concentration camps by Hitler during the war though their fate has not been recognised to the same extent as other persecuted groups. So whereas other groups of people were commented on either in passing or negatively this group didn't warrant any discussion. We decided not to ask because we didn't want to have a negative conversation about them - little good could come out of that. Cliff, who is usually so gracious, made sure his dontation of coins to the accordian player tinkled enough to draw out a comment from his aunt - but none came! He really can be quite the instigator when he wants to be!
Since people are the same all over, I have been thinking about my own attitudes - who do I ignore?, what class biases do I have that prevent me from seeing the whole world - all of God's children?, is there stuff I wouldn't do because its not "quality"?
Tolerance
I'm rather disappointed at the ideas the people I have been talking with have here about immigrants.
I know that my aunt has a thing about Muslims and has talked about how there are too many here and that they will take over the country. Yesterday the whole table of people we were sitting with talked about how the people from Turkey are taking over Holland. They are buying land bit by bit and as my aunt says in 50 years the Dutch will be under the authority of the Turks. Of course the complaint is also that the government gives out all kinds of handouts to these people and that the government is wrong to do so.
I have a really low tolerance for this kind of talk. I suspect that the refugees from Turkey are getting thrown into this discussion. I also suspect that everytime a Muslim is seen in the street that it is assumed they are from Turkey. Fact is this is a very Caucasion country from what I have seen so far. I have seen less then ten or 12 blacks the so far. There are some Muslims but not nearly the tidal wave that people talk about.
What really bothers me is that my aunt says that we must remember the war and be "alert". Talking about Turks coming into the country, taking the land and controlling the marketplace and that they are threat to the national security of the Dutch sounds very familiar doesn't it?!
I know that my aunt has a thing about Muslims and has talked about how there are too many here and that they will take over the country. Yesterday the whole table of people we were sitting with talked about how the people from Turkey are taking over Holland. They are buying land bit by bit and as my aunt says in 50 years the Dutch will be under the authority of the Turks. Of course the complaint is also that the government gives out all kinds of handouts to these people and that the government is wrong to do so.
I have a really low tolerance for this kind of talk. I suspect that the refugees from Turkey are getting thrown into this discussion. I also suspect that everytime a Muslim is seen in the street that it is assumed they are from Turkey. Fact is this is a very Caucasion country from what I have seen so far. I have seen less then ten or 12 blacks the so far. There are some Muslims but not nearly the tidal wave that people talk about.
What really bothers me is that my aunt says that we must remember the war and be "alert". Talking about Turks coming into the country, taking the land and controlling the marketplace and that they are threat to the national security of the Dutch sounds very familiar doesn't it?!
Say Cheese
We went away for a few days to see a site with many, many windmills, a few towns and a cheese market. The cheese market has the producers of the local cheese display their products on Friday which are then tested for quality and then purchased by local distributers. The cheese wheels sit it the market square and are carried to be weighted and carted to the storage area. This is quite the event with the market square filled with cheese and with people crowded around the barriers to watch the event. I was thoroughly embarassed when Marta had arranged that we would be some of the few who could sit inside the square and watch the events up close. I'm sure people were wondering who the heck we were and I was wondering myself what connections she had.
The continual driving, Dutch and forced march across Holland is taking its toll and I am becoming frustrated with the continual mothering. We have not been able to pay for much which I am thankful for but I also find it awkward. Our hotel for two nights was one of the nicest places in town - a few rooms in the back garden with homemade bread, meat and cheese for breakfast. The cost was 150 Euros for Cliff and I - over 200 dollars Canadian. There really was no need for the second night and many of the places we have been going have been picked for us.
I am grateful but not one who likes to be told what to do continually and have been resisting in my own way in order to keep my sanity. For instance Cliff was eating an apple and was told he should not eat the skin because of the pesticides. He proceeded to peel it. I would have washed it and then kept eating it. He likes the peel, is not worried about pesticides but is so easy going that it doesn't bother him to give in. Therefore he is asked continually if he has brought his sweater - I refused to take a sweater the first day and have not been asked since! First, we are from Canada and its pretty nice spring temperatures here - secondly we are not on blood thinners like our aunts!
The continual driving, Dutch and forced march across Holland is taking its toll and I am becoming frustrated with the continual mothering. We have not been able to pay for much which I am thankful for but I also find it awkward. Our hotel for two nights was one of the nicest places in town - a few rooms in the back garden with homemade bread, meat and cheese for breakfast. The cost was 150 Euros for Cliff and I - over 200 dollars Canadian. There really was no need for the second night and many of the places we have been going have been picked for us.
I am grateful but not one who likes to be told what to do continually and have been resisting in my own way in order to keep my sanity. For instance Cliff was eating an apple and was told he should not eat the skin because of the pesticides. He proceeded to peel it. I would have washed it and then kept eating it. He likes the peel, is not worried about pesticides but is so easy going that it doesn't bother him to give in. Therefore he is asked continually if he has brought his sweater - I refused to take a sweater the first day and have not been asked since! First, we are from Canada and its pretty nice spring temperatures here - secondly we are not on blood thinners like our aunts!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Yesterday - Amsterdam
I wouldn't have thought you could see a lot of Amsterdam in 6 hours but we crammed in a lot.
We took a canal ride which gave us a lot of information about the city and the architecture. We wandered around the shops - and yes, we saw tons of head shops and smelled a lot of pot!
We even took a trip down to see the ladies in the windows - strange culture in Holland - they talk about it being Calvinist and pious but they have a lot of tolerance for stuff we would shy away from. The women were not that attractive and really gave the impression of how lousy a business it is to be in. We must have looked quite strange Cliff and I with the two older aunts - obviously tourists. More so then the prostitution is the storefront selling of sexual devices and porn - really more shocking than the women! Nothing I haven't seen before but not usually right on the street.
The architecture is beautiful, the shops are interesting but we were definitely in the touristy area.
Today we go overnight for a few days - I'm not sure where.
Vicki
We took a canal ride which gave us a lot of information about the city and the architecture. We wandered around the shops - and yes, we saw tons of head shops and smelled a lot of pot!
We even took a trip down to see the ladies in the windows - strange culture in Holland - they talk about it being Calvinist and pious but they have a lot of tolerance for stuff we would shy away from. The women were not that attractive and really gave the impression of how lousy a business it is to be in. We must have looked quite strange Cliff and I with the two older aunts - obviously tourists. More so then the prostitution is the storefront selling of sexual devices and porn - really more shocking than the women! Nothing I haven't seen before but not usually right on the street.
The architecture is beautiful, the shops are interesting but we were definitely in the touristy area.
Today we go overnight for a few days - I'm not sure where.
Vicki
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Update-More Windmills
Today we go to Amsterdam for the day and tomorrow we go for a few days to the coast where we will see more windmills, cheese and a dam. Some of these things are preplanned so I will make the most of it!
I have found the candy, soccer shirt and little ceramic house I have been asked to find. Still keeping an eye open for lockets.
It has been raining every day and brightening in the afternoon. I don't mind but I think Marta is disappointed. The weather is mild so even the rain is not a big deal.
Sometimes I need to sneak away for a break - I'm an introvert so continually being with company - especially with so much Dutch - is draining. Sometimes I don't really know what is going on!
We visited Marta's brother whose wife was very concerned that she does not speak English. Marta taught Cliff to say - I take my coffee with a bit of milk in Dutch. When Marta's sister-in-law came out with the coffee Cliff said his bit and she was so shocked - she said "How is this possible that he learns Dutch so fast". We had a good laugh!
I have found the candy, soccer shirt and little ceramic house I have been asked to find. Still keeping an eye open for lockets.
It has been raining every day and brightening in the afternoon. I don't mind but I think Marta is disappointed. The weather is mild so even the rain is not a big deal.
Sometimes I need to sneak away for a break - I'm an introvert so continually being with company - especially with so much Dutch - is draining. Sometimes I don't really know what is going on!
We visited Marta's brother whose wife was very concerned that she does not speak English. Marta taught Cliff to say - I take my coffee with a bit of milk in Dutch. When Marta's sister-in-law came out with the coffee Cliff said his bit and she was so shocked - she said "How is this possible that he learns Dutch so fast". We had a good laugh!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Send me your emails!
Hi Guys:
I can pick up my emails but I can't remember most addresses. If you happen to read this can you send me an email to shipmaker@primus.ca so I can get your address?
Thanks, Vic
I can pick up my emails but I can't remember most addresses. If you happen to read this can you send me an email to shipmaker@primus.ca so I can get your address?
Thanks, Vic
Too Much of the Good Life
Okay, I can never go back to real life. Marta has been treating us very well - too well in fact. We are offered a drink at least twice a day - once in the late afternoon (I usually have a sherry) and again after dinner (I usually skip this one). We have had pan fried breast of duck for one meal, another meal we had Coquilles St Jacques from Paris. Each evening we normally have an appetizer - today was salmon and mackerel on crackers. The other day it was some other kind of fish. Breakfast is a selection of thinly sliced luncheon meats, cheeses, yogurts and breads. Cliff keeps telling me that I will not gain weight because we are actually eating 3 meals a day which is better for our bodies then the half-hazard way we normally eat. I don't believe him.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Some Observations
1. All the cars here look brand new. No one drives with a dirty car - no one drives with newspapers and crap in the backseat either.
2. There is tons of farmland - but every tree you see appears to have been purposely planted - as you drive you can see that they are in neat rows to cut down on the wind. I have seen very few "woods".
3. I suspect this is a country of conformity. The interiors of houses look mostly the same. Most people have something in their windows - usually in pairs - 2 vases, 2 candles, 2 lamps, 2 statues. Everything is very neat. Along the highway there was an area where they trim the grass on the shoulder for the first two feet and leave the rest until the birds have all hatched. Once hatched and safely able to fly they come back and trim the entire shoulder. This is land that is not really used by people - just strips along the highway next to farms. I don't really understand it but there is a need for everything to be taken care of.
4. Gas is expensive - 1.44 euros (1.5 canadian to a euro) for a litre.
5. The accents really vary based on the area. I have not heard very many people with the strong accents that I hear at the church. I wonder if the European accent as soften with time.
6. I am still getting used to the bicycles. You have to be careful crossing the bike lanes as well as the road. No one wears a helmet - I haven't seen one likely because with dedicated lanes you are not as likely to be hit by a car!
7. Candy, candy, candy. There are lots of different sweets here and every shop has a big section of candy.
8. The houses I have been in have killer staircases. The one here is about at a 20 degree angle curving to the second floor. It is very narrow for your footing. It was explained to me that this is because space is at a premium yet the principle rooms are fairly large.
9. People are pretty open - curtains are not closed during the day. I can see right into the houses through to the other side. Even on busy streets, families sit in their living rooms with only the glass separating them from the busy pedestrians on the street. One house had a baby sleeping in a crib by the fron window bordered by a busy sidewalk. It seemed strange to see this baby by himself "on display". It's like going to a pet store. I realise that Canadians are very private in comparison!
10. It would take me a long time to drive here. They use round abouts instead of four way stops and the room for error is pretty small. It works well but would take me time to get the rhthym of it! Parking is tight and if you can't parallel park you may as well give up!
2. There is tons of farmland - but every tree you see appears to have been purposely planted - as you drive you can see that they are in neat rows to cut down on the wind. I have seen very few "woods".
3. I suspect this is a country of conformity. The interiors of houses look mostly the same. Most people have something in their windows - usually in pairs - 2 vases, 2 candles, 2 lamps, 2 statues. Everything is very neat. Along the highway there was an area where they trim the grass on the shoulder for the first two feet and leave the rest until the birds have all hatched. Once hatched and safely able to fly they come back and trim the entire shoulder. This is land that is not really used by people - just strips along the highway next to farms. I don't really understand it but there is a need for everything to be taken care of.
4. Gas is expensive - 1.44 euros (1.5 canadian to a euro) for a litre.
5. The accents really vary based on the area. I have not heard very many people with the strong accents that I hear at the church. I wonder if the European accent as soften with time.
6. I am still getting used to the bicycles. You have to be careful crossing the bike lanes as well as the road. No one wears a helmet - I haven't seen one likely because with dedicated lanes you are not as likely to be hit by a car!
7. Candy, candy, candy. There are lots of different sweets here and every shop has a big section of candy.
8. The houses I have been in have killer staircases. The one here is about at a 20 degree angle curving to the second floor. It is very narrow for your footing. It was explained to me that this is because space is at a premium yet the principle rooms are fairly large.
9. People are pretty open - curtains are not closed during the day. I can see right into the houses through to the other side. Even on busy streets, families sit in their living rooms with only the glass separating them from the busy pedestrians on the street. One house had a baby sleeping in a crib by the fron window bordered by a busy sidewalk. It seemed strange to see this baby by himself "on display". It's like going to a pet store. I realise that Canadians are very private in comparison!
10. It would take me a long time to drive here. They use round abouts instead of four way stops and the room for error is pretty small. It works well but would take me time to get the rhthym of it! Parking is tight and if you can't parallel park you may as well give up!
Busy Day in Holland
I wish I had a way of uploading a picture from today - I was eating herring the traditional Dutch way - not something I planned to do - eating raw herring hadn't made it onto my list of things I needed to do before I die.
Today we visited a working windmill, a cheese shop where we got cheese at such a cheap price I couldn't believe it, a huge dam system where they regulate the water coming out of Europe into the sea, a fish shop where we had herring and finally Chinese buffet for dinner. I'm exhausted.
Tomorrow church - unfortunately I will be lost as it is Roman Catholic in Dutch. Cliff will have to poke me when to stand and sit!
Today we visited a working windmill, a cheese shop where we got cheese at such a cheap price I couldn't believe it, a huge dam system where they regulate the water coming out of Europe into the sea, a fish shop where we had herring and finally Chinese buffet for dinner. I'm exhausted.
Tomorrow church - unfortunately I will be lost as it is Roman Catholic in Dutch. Cliff will have to poke me when to stand and sit!
Friday, May 11, 2007
First Days in Holland
I typed it up and it disappeared:
Here are some teasers
winding staircases, huge snake skin, interior design,
I am staying in Best near Eindhoven if you want to get an idea where we are!
Here are some teasers
winding staircases, huge snake skin, interior design,
I am staying in Best near Eindhoven if you want to get an idea where we are!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
The Accident
May 2 I said it was the "Summer of Vicki"
(from Seinfeld where George plans the Summer of George). The next day I travelled on the 427, the Gardiner, the DVP, the 401 in heavy traffic and lighter traffic. But I got nailed at Don Mills and Sheppard. That's life isn't it!
(from Seinfeld where George plans the Summer of George). The next day I travelled on the 427, the Gardiner, the DVP, the 401 in heavy traffic and lighter traffic. But I got nailed at Don Mills and Sheppard. That's life isn't it!
Our family car is a write off and we are very sad to lose it - I don't know what we will be offered for it but I know that we won't get what it is worth because it was in great condition. I put the pictures up for the friend we bought the car from - he babied it for years so even after our high mileage for the past two years it only had 89,000 on it.
I was coming through a green westbound on Sheppard and was behind two people turning right. As the second car turned, I proceeded to go through the intersection - as I enter it I see a car turning left suddenly accelerate to make his turn. I veered as far to the right as I could and for a split second I thought he was going to miss me - I think I assumed he was going to stop a lot faster than he did. Anyhow, the hit was hard but luckily the first hit was absorbed mostly by the tire and the body ahead of the passenger side. I have no idea how people do such smart things in split seconds. All I had time for was "Oh shit!" and a quick jerk to the right. I got out pretty angry because I assumed that this was an idiot who thought he could beat me - but the other driver was very shocked and stunned so I felt bad. He's turning 20, driving his dad's car and was very nervous because he didn't know what to do. I was upset and really shaken because it was a hard hit and I knew the car was probably not going to be fixed when I saw the damage to the wheel and body. But I helped him through it and was as kind as I could be. At least he didn't try to snow the police at the reporting center and took responsibility. Before we exchanged informaton he said "I'm still trying to figure out what happened". I'm pretty sure he assumed I was turning right and just didn't expect me to be going straight through. I feel badly for him because his insurance is going to really take a hit.
Of course it is very good that no one was injured and other than a few sore muscles for the next few days I really am lucky. The other driver noted that it was good we were going slow - it didn't feel slow too me - I was thrown towards the passenger seat and whipped back so it was scary for a brief moment.
I was pretty upset Thursday night ( at one point in the reporting center I thought I would cry but I refuse to cry over stupid things like this - especially in front of a bunch of cops) and Friday I was still pretty shook up even as a passenger (well with Cliff maybe that is fair!). But I nervously got back into the other car to drive on Saturday.
I am back to normal now and am thinking about all the good things that will come out of not having a car!
The funny part of the story - Cliff's sister was crossing the crosswalk just before the second car turned. She told Cliff's mom that she was pretty sure that she saw me get in an accident - but no, she didn't call to see if I was okay.
The Summer of Vicki will require some walking and TTC tickets. We will have to hope the Warthog hangs in a bit longer. We have the summer to think about our next steps.
Ten Reasons I Don't Need a Car
1. A subway, a bus, a subway and a bus is available to get to work. The last bus I could skip and walk. Probably take me over an hour but then that is time to read.
2. I have been living in multiple bubbles - my car, my church, my school and my home. Taking the TTC is going to allow me to get back in touch with the real world.
3. The environment. I'm adding it because it is politically correct - I love driving and would be lying if I suggested I would give my car up willingly because its the right thing!
4. Cliff is on shift work - I can either drive him in or pick him up and use the car when I really need it.
5. Exercise! I'll be getting tons more without the car. Also no ability to go to a drive through!
6. Some savings. I'm still not convinced of this - yes cars are expensive but I think I need to be without one to see the difference. When I quit smoking I can't say I suddenly saw more money - of course I saved money but it wasn't really noticeable.
I can only come up with 6!
2. I have been living in multiple bubbles - my car, my church, my school and my home. Taking the TTC is going to allow me to get back in touch with the real world.
3. The environment. I'm adding it because it is politically correct - I love driving and would be lying if I suggested I would give my car up willingly because its the right thing!
4. Cliff is on shift work - I can either drive him in or pick him up and use the car when I really need it.
5. Exercise! I'll be getting tons more without the car. Also no ability to go to a drive through!
6. Some savings. I'm still not convinced of this - yes cars are expensive but I think I need to be without one to see the difference. When I quit smoking I can't say I suddenly saw more money - of course I saved money but it wasn't really noticeable.
I can only come up with 6!
Grad May 5th
H
Grad was totally awesome. I think you can tell from the smile on my face that I'm pretty happy. Cliff was very excited too and I had three friends and my brother there so I had got to share it with people who have stuck by me over the years.
I wasn't very excited about the ceremony until the rehearsal on Thursday. It was long, at time monotonous but still thrilling!
Its funny, they don't really tell you much. I was waiting in the gym and glanced through the program and found out that I had won an award of some kind. Cliff tracked down my prof to find out what it was all about. It was for academics in ministry and I get a little bit of money which is nice. Marks don't really mean much to me anymore because I realise that there were things I could have done better and there were things that I should have settled for less on. Academics just isn't as important as character and the stuff you learn on which you are not graded.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Missional Churches
My passion is to work in a missional church. That is the whole point of the program I have been accepted into. It will teach me to be a missional pastor. Just like every industry there are "up and coming" ways of doing things and in church life one of the buzz words is being "missional".
So what does it mean? Well, there are different ways of describing it - I think this example works best:
Church A decides to have a church picnic. They do a potluck after church on Sunday where they gather for a picnic at the field in the back.
Church B decides to do a church picnic. They send notices around the neighbourhood that everyone is invited. Its still potluck and they gather at the field in the back.
Church C decides to do a community picnic. They do it on a Saturday so that people won't be intimidated by everyone wearing their church clothes on a Sunday. They bring in activities to attract the community. They set a budget to ensure there is enough food. They make sure that the picnic is visible from the street so even if they use the field in the back they have attractions at the front to make people feel free to join in.
Church D notices how how most of the people in the local park are picnicing in families. They can think of a lot of their community friends who probably never have a picnic because they can't afford it or don't have anyone to picnic with. They decide to talk to some of their contacts to see if a picnic would be a great break in the summer. They invite the different church friends they have like the senior's residence down the road, the food bank patrons that use their food bank, the group that meets for NA and put in an advertisement in the local paper. They ensure they have food that their Muslim neighbours can eat. They get the local soccer team to join in and start some impromptu games. They make sure that the church people are totally intermingled with the rest of the picnickers.
All of the churches celebrate relationships. Church D makes an effort to go where the people are and serve their needs. Their aim is to get to know the community and to offer community building. The major difference is they don't plan an event for themselves and then invite others to come. They plan events for the community and go to where the community gathers - and they take part and enjoy it. Church D is missional because they leave the safety of their own home turf to engage with people on theirs. Its not evangelism - its the step before that. Christ hung out with people both inside and outside the synagogues. For those inside he related to them through Scripture, for those outside he talked to them about things that mattered to him and them. Churched people should be able to talk to others without evangelising but by witnessing through who they are by Christ living in them. My dream is to walk with people who want to try to get to that point in their lives - where serving others in the community and everyday life is part of who we are. Sunday is still set aside for worshipping our awesome God. Alpha is still needed because we will have some people who will be interested in finding out more about why we are Christian. The church will still have traditional carolling services to encourage those who haven't been in a while to come back. But the effort to be part of the community will be the main focus.
This makes perfect sense to me and I'm lucky to be in a church that this won't be a huge leap for. I don't know when we would be ready to start thinking of doing things outside of the church but I know that the heart is there! When I first joined church I kept waiting for this next piece - when do I go out and hang out with seekers, atheists, and agnostics? Instead I found that my life consisted of my church days and my personal time. I would like to see them blend together!
So what does it mean? Well, there are different ways of describing it - I think this example works best:
Church A decides to have a church picnic. They do a potluck after church on Sunday where they gather for a picnic at the field in the back.
Church B decides to do a church picnic. They send notices around the neighbourhood that everyone is invited. Its still potluck and they gather at the field in the back.
Church C decides to do a community picnic. They do it on a Saturday so that people won't be intimidated by everyone wearing their church clothes on a Sunday. They bring in activities to attract the community. They set a budget to ensure there is enough food. They make sure that the picnic is visible from the street so even if they use the field in the back they have attractions at the front to make people feel free to join in.
Church D notices how how most of the people in the local park are picnicing in families. They can think of a lot of their community friends who probably never have a picnic because they can't afford it or don't have anyone to picnic with. They decide to talk to some of their contacts to see if a picnic would be a great break in the summer. They invite the different church friends they have like the senior's residence down the road, the food bank patrons that use their food bank, the group that meets for NA and put in an advertisement in the local paper. They ensure they have food that their Muslim neighbours can eat. They get the local soccer team to join in and start some impromptu games. They make sure that the church people are totally intermingled with the rest of the picnickers.
All of the churches celebrate relationships. Church D makes an effort to go where the people are and serve their needs. Their aim is to get to know the community and to offer community building. The major difference is they don't plan an event for themselves and then invite others to come. They plan events for the community and go to where the community gathers - and they take part and enjoy it. Church D is missional because they leave the safety of their own home turf to engage with people on theirs. Its not evangelism - its the step before that. Christ hung out with people both inside and outside the synagogues. For those inside he related to them through Scripture, for those outside he talked to them about things that mattered to him and them. Churched people should be able to talk to others without evangelising but by witnessing through who they are by Christ living in them. My dream is to walk with people who want to try to get to that point in their lives - where serving others in the community and everyday life is part of who we are. Sunday is still set aside for worshipping our awesome God. Alpha is still needed because we will have some people who will be interested in finding out more about why we are Christian. The church will still have traditional carolling services to encourage those who haven't been in a while to come back. But the effort to be part of the community will be the main focus.
This makes perfect sense to me and I'm lucky to be in a church that this won't be a huge leap for. I don't know when we would be ready to start thinking of doing things outside of the church but I know that the heart is there! When I first joined church I kept waiting for this next piece - when do I go out and hang out with seekers, atheists, and agnostics? Instead I found that my life consisted of my church days and my personal time. I would like to see them blend together!
The Summer Of Vicki
Well I graduate I Saturday. So that leaves me with 3 months before things start to get busy with school today. I consider this "the summer of Vicki" which means this is the summer where I hang loose. Last summer my internship and my job took up all of my time. This year my job and some babysitting is a great break from school. Hopefully a little preaching to keep me honest! Nothing creates discipline then being responsible to share God's word with others!
I've got big plans:
Read books that have nothing to do with pastoring or leadership of churches.
Go to the cottage - even on Sundays! This means we get to worship in this little United church that is so positively cute! Very friendly and laid back and lots of people in our cottage area go there.
Get a hobby - I'll probably try watercolouring for fun. Haven't done it in years and was actually a bit better with sketching. Maybe I'll start up sketching.
Cook. Yup, I love to cook when I don't have to. Haven't done this is years either. Hope to do this while I babysit the kids. Its great - I cook up a meal for Karen's family and take enough home for me and Cliff.
August starts up again with camping with Willowdale, the Leadership Summit and my first week in Seminary.
I think I have already written down too much stuff to cram in!
I've got big plans:
Read books that have nothing to do with pastoring or leadership of churches.
Go to the cottage - even on Sundays! This means we get to worship in this little United church that is so positively cute! Very friendly and laid back and lots of people in our cottage area go there.
Get a hobby - I'll probably try watercolouring for fun. Haven't done it in years and was actually a bit better with sketching. Maybe I'll start up sketching.
Cook. Yup, I love to cook when I don't have to. Haven't done this is years either. Hope to do this while I babysit the kids. Its great - I cook up a meal for Karen's family and take enough home for me and Cliff.
August starts up again with camping with Willowdale, the Leadership Summit and my first week in Seminary.
I think I have already written down too much stuff to cram in!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Friday's Feast - Friday 13th
Appetizer:When you were a child, which crayon color was your favorite?
Well, that depends. How can I narrow it down when it is clear that most colours are needed for something. I was lucky to have the huge box of crayons with built in sharpener. I gravitated to the pinks, purples and blues. Of course the gold and silver were special too. But you can't colour leaves any colour but green so even the "ugly" colours had a purpose. And I coloured everything - not just the good parts of the picture. A lot of rules to this!
Soup On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move?
Not a chance, Cliff is happy and paying the bills for us so moving is out of the question. I would be willing to live part time in Bancroft if ministry took me out to that area of the province but that would be the extent of it - the gas to and from Bancroft to the church and to Toronto would eat any pay so Cliff would still have to work overtime!
Of course that's taking God out of the picture. Once you put God in the conversation its impossible to nail anything down because it could be Cliff that decides he has been called to move on to somewhere else!
Salad Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total?
See, I can't answer that - is the 13 in my birthday 1+3 or 13?
Main Course Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to?Obviously if I ever regifted anything I couldn't talk about it here. I can't say that I have. The closest I came was giving away a book that I loved to someone in ministry because I couldn't find a new copy but I later replaced it and the original copy was in great condition. But that isn't really the same thing because the book was sooo good and I hoped useful. I did watch crib sheets I bought for my sister-in-law get regifted to another sister-in-law at a shower with the comment that they got too much of this stuff and didn't bother using it - she had forgotten they came from us - at least I think she forgot! I suppose its okay but I wished I had bought something more useful.
Dessert Name something you need from the store.
The questions are really vague this time around aren't they! Milk, eggs, TP? I'm looking for a cream to beige coloured skirt for the fall - semi-formal - tea length or shorter. Need - not really!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Mourning Loss of a Mentor
I've been to a lot of funerals. Cousins who have died far too soon, young people at school driving too fast, my own father. Most of the time I grieve for them and for their family. With my father, I grieved for the loss of sharing my new Christian life with him. I didn't tell him I was Christian because I new he could be very good at debate (he once won against a school mate who became a very prominent Canadian lawyer) and I wasn't ready for his very logical and demanding arguments.
But I've never lost a mentor before. I might not have seen this person often but I emailed him the odd time when I wanted to share something. He always returned emails so I always felt connected in some way. Like a good mentor, sometimes he was a friend, sometimes a foe but what I respected and learned from him most was that he was always willing to reengage in conversation and sharing ideas. We didn't have a solidified relationship, there was no acknowledgement of any significant tie between us.
I've never visited someone who is dying. It was so hard because there was a lot I wanted to acknowledge but couldn't given that we were praying for a miracle. Sometimes the fewer words the better.
It was just before New Year's Day and he asked me if I was going to preach on the weekend. I laughed because that is my built in defense if someone asks me about this from the CRC church - its a painful joke coming from a denomination that never affirmed my calling. He may as well asked me if I was going to run for mayor. But his response caught me off guard - he asked me quite seriously "why do you laugh?". When someone is weak and sick they don't have the time to waste breath. So you know what you hear is likely the closest to the truth from that person.
I know he knows how much he meant to me. In prayer I do what I always do when I'm frustrated or bewildered - I prayed - "God this sucks" and I told him how much I wanted my friend to get better because he is my mentor and I want the same miracle he wanted.
I'll be honest, my grief isn't really about him. I wish I knew that he was ready to be with God, I sense he had things left to do - I think most thoughtful Christians always feel like there is more to do before we die. But I trust God to care for him even if I don't really know what heaven is. I'm selfish. I'm not ready to lose someone who will email me back about my random thoughts and questions. Who will challenge me, frustrate me beyond all limits and still speak to me the next day. Who though educated beyond my aspirations will ask me big questions and genuinely want to know what I think. Who will sympathize instead of telling me why my feelings or emotions are misplaced.
I miss you George!
But I've never lost a mentor before. I might not have seen this person often but I emailed him the odd time when I wanted to share something. He always returned emails so I always felt connected in some way. Like a good mentor, sometimes he was a friend, sometimes a foe but what I respected and learned from him most was that he was always willing to reengage in conversation and sharing ideas. We didn't have a solidified relationship, there was no acknowledgement of any significant tie between us.
I've never visited someone who is dying. It was so hard because there was a lot I wanted to acknowledge but couldn't given that we were praying for a miracle. Sometimes the fewer words the better.
It was just before New Year's Day and he asked me if I was going to preach on the weekend. I laughed because that is my built in defense if someone asks me about this from the CRC church - its a painful joke coming from a denomination that never affirmed my calling. He may as well asked me if I was going to run for mayor. But his response caught me off guard - he asked me quite seriously "why do you laugh?". When someone is weak and sick they don't have the time to waste breath. So you know what you hear is likely the closest to the truth from that person.
I know he knows how much he meant to me. In prayer I do what I always do when I'm frustrated or bewildered - I prayed - "God this sucks" and I told him how much I wanted my friend to get better because he is my mentor and I want the same miracle he wanted.
I'll be honest, my grief isn't really about him. I wish I knew that he was ready to be with God, I sense he had things left to do - I think most thoughtful Christians always feel like there is more to do before we die. But I trust God to care for him even if I don't really know what heaven is. I'm selfish. I'm not ready to lose someone who will email me back about my random thoughts and questions. Who will challenge me, frustrate me beyond all limits and still speak to me the next day. Who though educated beyond my aspirations will ask me big questions and genuinely want to know what I think. Who will sympathize instead of telling me why my feelings or emotions are misplaced.
I miss you George!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
I'll trade you a wise man for a Joseph....
Sometimes things strike me as funny and I can't quite say why. The morning was bizarre to start with. I had an appointment with this medical guru - I had to wait 5 months just to get in to see him. He practices in this big clinic in Burlington that is Christian based and is located in the Crossroads Centre. The Crossroads Centre became the new location for 100 Huntley Street years ago and now houses CTS (that Christian station you keep flipping past).
In a million years I never would have thought I would be in the building that does Christian broadcasting.
So, I was already a little out of my zone when I see that the Blessings store has a nativity set for sale. There is a note on the box - "Joseph is missing, but there are 4 wise men." I know that one day this will make a good sermon illustration. Any old wise man can fill in for poor Joseph. Of course you know that somewhere is a nativity with two Josephs and two wise men. If Mary was missing would we stick in some replacement? Perhaps cover up a sheep with a blue scarf?
Now for my rant...I can't stand nativity scenes. We always had one when I was a kid - and I admit something happened to Joseph and one of the wise men had to fill in. But about 10 years ago I was watching TV early Sunday morning and a very smart man was preaching about the the fallacy of having wise men peering down at baby Jesus when they actually did not reach him for a few years. Every year NYGH puts up the nativity scene. It's suffocating to look at. The last year I worked there they decided to keep the nativity safe by putting plexiglass over the front of the manger. This has forced tight quarters for everyone. I'm a visual person so the lack of air holes really bugged me. It was great having a desk by the window but you can see I was often distracted by the goings on outside!
In a million years I never would have thought I would be in the building that does Christian broadcasting.
So, I was already a little out of my zone when I see that the Blessings store has a nativity set for sale. There is a note on the box - "Joseph is missing, but there are 4 wise men." I know that one day this will make a good sermon illustration. Any old wise man can fill in for poor Joseph. Of course you know that somewhere is a nativity with two Josephs and two wise men. If Mary was missing would we stick in some replacement? Perhaps cover up a sheep with a blue scarf?
Now for my rant...I can't stand nativity scenes. We always had one when I was a kid - and I admit something happened to Joseph and one of the wise men had to fill in. But about 10 years ago I was watching TV early Sunday morning and a very smart man was preaching about the the fallacy of having wise men peering down at baby Jesus when they actually did not reach him for a few years. Every year NYGH puts up the nativity scene. It's suffocating to look at. The last year I worked there they decided to keep the nativity safe by putting plexiglass over the front of the manger. This has forced tight quarters for everyone. I'm a visual person so the lack of air holes really bugged me. It was great having a desk by the window but you can see I was often distracted by the goings on outside!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
New Year's Resolution - Get Cremated
Like most of you I get a lot of crap in the mail. I got two pieces today that made me think:
Apparently, Highland Memorial Gardens thinks Jan 1st is the day to start a mail campaign to urge people to prebook their funerals. The literature is actually dated for Jan 1st so obviously some marketing manager thought that "hey, its the perfect time for people to think about what they need to plan for the New Year". I have never been squeamish about death and have no fear of it so I can see the humour in it. But the big headline "Cremation. You might think it's the last decision you have to make...." in neon sickly green/yellow on a black background just doesn't entice me to put this at the top of my resolutions.
The second piece of mail is flogging more of the Thomas Kincade. Apparently he is a Christian and his gift is from God. I happen to believe that God is far more creative then Kincade is giving Him credit for. Come on, even you fans of his work have to admit that his paintings of English cottages do look an awful lot alike! The really frightening part of this once in a lifetime offer of a piece of resin sculpture is that it comes with two little figurines to put in front of the Christmas house - one of Thomas and his wife Nanette. Okay, guys, I gotta tell you - this is why a lot of people think Christians are nuts!
Apparently, Highland Memorial Gardens thinks Jan 1st is the day to start a mail campaign to urge people to prebook their funerals. The literature is actually dated for Jan 1st so obviously some marketing manager thought that "hey, its the perfect time for people to think about what they need to plan for the New Year". I have never been squeamish about death and have no fear of it so I can see the humour in it. But the big headline "Cremation. You might think it's the last decision you have to make...." in neon sickly green/yellow on a black background just doesn't entice me to put this at the top of my resolutions.
The second piece of mail is flogging more of the Thomas Kincade. Apparently he is a Christian and his gift is from God. I happen to believe that God is far more creative then Kincade is giving Him credit for. Come on, even you fans of his work have to admit that his paintings of English cottages do look an awful lot alike! The really frightening part of this once in a lifetime offer of a piece of resin sculpture is that it comes with two little figurines to put in front of the Christmas house - one of Thomas and his wife Nanette. Okay, guys, I gotta tell you - this is why a lot of people think Christians are nuts!
Welcome Friends to my 2007 Plans
Here's where I'm headed in 2007:
* still at Calvary - great church, enjoy the admin job - they want to increase my hours to 15 a week (I'm laughing because I often already put in 15 but I could use the money).
* back to Greek second semester and two new courses - graduation May 2007!
* time to apply for Seminary. Given it tons of thought and better yet time to sort out where I'm headed. Likely the InDiv program which allows me to work in ministry and work on my M Div for pastoring part-time. The major differences between doing this and going to a regular MDiv part time is that the InDiv program is encouraging new ways of looking at church and the class of students remain the same for the whole program. They become a ministry team to challenge and support one another. 2 years ago I was not ready for this but now I am looking forward to the "group thing". I've matured!
* to Holland in May - a promise I have to fulfill to Cliff and his aunt
* hopefully either another part time job or better yet a full time in ministry job after I get back from Holland. Would really like to earn enough money to support my schooling so I can get off of relying on my credit line!
Fair to say that I have a busy 6 months ahead? But very exciting and I am much more sure about where I'm going then 6 months ago so everything is peachy!
For those of you who have gone through university - what kind of post graduation loans did you have to pay off - I keep panicking that I owe money. Most students do don't they?
* still at Calvary - great church, enjoy the admin job - they want to increase my hours to 15 a week (I'm laughing because I often already put in 15 but I could use the money).
* back to Greek second semester and two new courses - graduation May 2007!
* time to apply for Seminary. Given it tons of thought and better yet time to sort out where I'm headed. Likely the InDiv program which allows me to work in ministry and work on my M Div for pastoring part-time. The major differences between doing this and going to a regular MDiv part time is that the InDiv program is encouraging new ways of looking at church and the class of students remain the same for the whole program. They become a ministry team to challenge and support one another. 2 years ago I was not ready for this but now I am looking forward to the "group thing". I've matured!
* to Holland in May - a promise I have to fulfill to Cliff and his aunt
* hopefully either another part time job or better yet a full time in ministry job after I get back from Holland. Would really like to earn enough money to support my schooling so I can get off of relying on my credit line!
Fair to say that I have a busy 6 months ahead? But very exciting and I am much more sure about where I'm going then 6 months ago so everything is peachy!
For those of you who have gone through university - what kind of post graduation loans did you have to pay off - I keep panicking that I owe money. Most students do don't they?
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