Roots

Canada is a 'great white waste of time', whose docile, Zamboni-driving, Molson-sucking citizens consume seal casseroles. Their hobbies include wearing flannel, obsessing over American hegemony, exporting deadly mad cow disease and even deadlier Gordon Lightfoot and Nickelback albums. You can tell a lot about a nation's mediocrity index by learning that they invented synchronized swimming. Even more so by the fact that they are proud of it.

Not sure if you saw this in the paper, it originally ran in the New York Times...funny, tongue-in-cheek and perhaps a little just medicine for all the American bashing that disturbingly appears to be ‘sport’ nowadays. While I disagree with certain American foreign policies, and imperialistic & ethnocentric attitudes, I do appreciate the richness and depth of the big hearted American people. It is unfair to sweepingly categorize or characterize a whole nation, from either side of the border. And while I have MANY good friends, spiritual mentors, acquaintances, and family (in-laws and blood) who are American and whom I love dearly (and will defend), I am Canadian (and damn proud of that too!). I believe that bashing, intentional bashing, maligning for sport (since no one has a monopoly on all the details around life, politics, actions, motivation, culture, life-style, history, etc.) of a people group, be it American, Canadian, Chinese, African-American/Canadian, Aboriginal, homosexual, lesbian, developmentally challenged, disabled, old, young, American, Canadian (oops already said that), is akin to calling someone a “fool” which carries a consequence...Matthew 5:22. I am not lily white on this, but I refuse to jump on some ridiculous anti-American ferry on course for styx. I believe the grace-full, obedient way to deal with any propaganda (because when it comes down to any of our knowledge about the United States or Canada we are, frankly, fed.) is to take Romans 12:18 as an active guideline: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people”

how far is heaven

Well it's done. It finally happened. After several months of wanting it to be gone, it's now a memory. Our Christmas tree, which once stood proud and regal in the house at the height of the advent season, was finally carried off today. Not that we had it propped up like some sort of idol for the past three months. Instead it was reclining in our back yard like a tired out old man. Since I missed-- don't ask me how-- the annual fireman's bonfire (a massive flame fed, I suppose exclusively from dearly loved but cast off Christmas trees), I've been stuck with an old man sleeping in our back yard. It was just one more thing on my 'To Do' list, important but fairly innocuous. It's not easy getting rid of these things! It's not so much when but how. No wait...it's both how and when. Whenever I can finally get rid of the dead tree, I know I'm on top of it and feeling organizationally vigorous. It's gone. And it's a good feeling being on top of the ball. Funny how little things make us even more fecund.

Stop encouraging them!!

".. i found that i could preach anything i wanted as long as i did not take any action .. it's the turning over of the tables that will get u killed every time .."
Jim Shok

If Jesus loved people like we do, he would have lived a long, prosperous life.

Studio Chug

If you think you're a good Christian, you missed the point completely.

Lost in Transmission

It must either amuse or confuse God, the way in which people- Christians talk to and about Him. I don't know what your concept, the picture you have in your head, of God is but it stands to reason that that image directs and influences how you repond to God and how you talk about God. From good luck charm to weathered grandfather, voodoo-ish entity to best bud, how we conceive of God impacts our life and living. Be careful. One thing we know for sure, well...two, is that God is Spirit, and He's not into us valuing idols (even mental images can be somewhat of an idol). Spirit. That's so intangible, unsatisfying. Nevertheless, God is Spirit and the best way of understanding that is to think of the best marks of character, integrity and morality possible and push your mind to consider that He is the superlative of even that. Hard to grasp, but Jesus (God in flesh---there's a wild one!) gives aid to our understanding. Jesus wraps God in a flesh suit and lets us see the divine intersection with the finite. Theology is the study of God and his ways. For all we know, dung beetles may study us and our ways and call it humanology. If so, we would probably be more touched and amused than irritated. One hopes that God feels likewise.