Frightful Fireworks

Happy Canada Day!!!!!

Enjoy celebrating the birthday of the greatest country on the planet!!

But could you please cut out the fireworks in our neighbourhood? My dog is going snakey. I was on the computer this evening when the fireworks began.

Here she is. While I was typing, she pushed her way under the computer desk, popped up in front of the keyboard, between my legs...whimpering and shaking in fear....wanting to sit on my lap!

Terrifying mongrel isn't she? One ferocious watchdog. Don't mess with her.

Swan song

Yesterday started out serenely. We had to get our daughter to her church in Toronto for an early meeting, so after dropping her off, we drove to a nearby park and just watched the swans and geese on the lake. I wished I had my camera as the swans pointed their rear ends to the sky while scouring below the water for food (those swans above are taken from my archive of B.C. swans). It was a wonderfully peaceful, contemplative way to start a Sunday morning before church. I asked God while looking out over the lake and beyond to the CN tower and highrise buildings, to stir me inside to what moves His heart, what he wants me to do, and what changes need to happen in me. I find that easy enough to voice but very difficult to really mean because the 'changes' part is often too painful a process.

Back at the church the service began with its usual blend of wonderful worship music among many cultures of friendly people. It was cool to learn that the pastors (a husband/wife team) have asked a couple from halfway around the world to come and be their worship leaders. They had heard them lead worship when they spent time living in Hong Kong, and though they had never met them, they knew one day if they ever started a church, these were the people they would ask to come and lead. This morning this couple led the worship, and will return to Hong Kong for their children and move to Toronto shortly. Very cool.

Today was Graduation Sunday at the church. Each of the kids who is graduating Grade 8 or 12 was called to the front to say a word about their aspirations and then the pastors prayed over each of them separately. Each of these kids receives a $1,000 scholarship free from the church simply to show the church's support for them - that they believe in them and are investing in their future. That amounts to $2,000 each if they attend the church right from grade 8 to 12! That all sounds very generous and very kind. Wonderful gesture indeed.

But as the pastors went from student to student, my daughter whispered something in my ear that I will not share here, but it gripped me and caused me to start blubbering where I sat and I had a hard time maintaining my composure after that. These kids look like ordinary kids on the outside, and I'm sure many in the church are none the wiser. But you can't believe the obstacles they face in their families. Almost every one has no father in their life. Their mothers....I can't even go there. No family support and no real hope for a good future apart from someone believing in them and loving them. It explained why there was a tremble in the pastor's voice as she also fought to keep her composure. She knows their stories intimately. She prayed passionately for each one...blessing for each life and each future, and the knowledge that they are deeply loved. They deserve respect and a future. They matter.

Over their time at this church, some of these kids have also received free trips to camp with free sleeping bags and gifts, meals, school supplies and Christmas gifts. Thank God for people who care and cherish and invest in those who have little hope. The urban poor are all around us though we may not notice it until we take the time to look deeper.

The pastor spoke on becoming a world changer. She had us all say out loud, "I am a world changer." It was difficult for me to say that....not just because I'm a naturally quiet person (and my husband says, 'Whaaat?????)...but because I'm not sure I believe it. She pointed out that it is just ordinary people who God has used to change the world. That leaves me without excuse. I am as ordinary as they come.

I think I need to do a little more swan watching...as long as I don't stay there. There's a world waiting that needs.........me?

As each day passes by,
I feel my love run dry.
I get so weary, worn,
And tossed around in the storm.
Well I'm blind to others needs,
And I'm tired of planting seeds.
I seem to have a wealth,
Of so many thoughts about myself.
I want to, I need to, be more like Jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like Him.
Our Father's will was done,
By giving us His Son,
Who paid the highest cost,
To point us to the cross.
And when I think of Him,
Taking on the whole world's sin,
I take one look at me,
Compared to what I'm called to be.
I want to, I need to, be more like Jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like Him.
Remember, there's no greater love,
Then to lay down your life for a friend.
The end of all my prayers,
Is to care like my Lord cares.
My one and only goal,
His image in my soul.
Yes my weakness is revealed,
When by His stripes I'm healed.
He's faithful and He's true,
To complete the work he begins in you.

I Want To Be More Like Jesus - by Keith Green

Birthday Wishes

Where has the 22 years gone since our daughter was born?! I remember agonizing over her turning 4 because she was growing up so fast, and now she has left the teenage years far behind! This year was similar to the year she was born - she arrived on a Monday, the day after Father's Day, making her dad wait a whole year before his first celebration. Yesterday, this little girl whom we released to Toronto 3 years ago (who had always been nervous to board a small city bus), led us (as though she could do it in her sleep, and probably has) through subway stations, on trains, through Union Station and on to the Rogers Centre to watch a rather lacklustre Toronto Blue Jays game. She reminded me on the train..."See Mom. There's other people who stand at the wrong door to get off the subway." ....a subtle reminder of my post of my first subway ride when I wanted to make sure she'd be okay in the big city.

Today I perused my post to her last year entitled, Top Ten Things I Love About My Daughter, and yah, it's still the same. She's still that girl....and more. A year ago, her father and I sat with her in a Toronto restaurant, her eyes growing ever larger as she excitedly poured out the details about a dream her pastor had to build a troupe of kids using their natural talents of rap, dance, singing and break dancing. The whole dream meshed with Bethany's passion to work with kids who have heartbreaking needs, but what a bonus to also travel with them to encourage others to help in the mission! This team would travel with their performances and spread the news of the urban poor and the needs they represent. The pastor had left her with the task of naming this troupe, and so far Bethany wasn't yet content with a name. As we ate, she continued throwing around words. Nothing fit. I don't remember what we were talking about (maybe thunder in the distance??), but she suddenly blurted out 'RUMBLE! Yes!! Rumble!!' And thus Rumble it became, and Rumble they have!

In a few short months the team ballooned larger than they can handle (50!!), practiced in cramped quarters and yet have come up with amazing performances as they are now travelling to various venues with their message. The kids are so pumped for this - it all fits so naturally with what they love to do, and they are experiencing God's amazing love for them in it all. Very cool. The church Bethany belongs to are all about freely giving to people in need - park BBQs, school and Christmas giveaways, etc. - right up her alley. They ask nothing in return, but are rewarded with the friendship of many to whom they have given as they begin connecting with the church family as a result. There are needs everywhere, and Bethany wants to meet as many of them as God provides her opportunity.

And so we are excited with Bethany as she anticipates several new changes and challenges in September. Today we say Happy Birthday Bethany. We are so proud of you and wish you blessings more than you can handle so you can keep on giving them away! We love you!!

Cat or Cockatoo? You choose...

This is why I will never own a cat....



This is why I want a cockatoo....

I mean really.....which is more fun?

Cinderella

Do you have little ones in the house and find yourself rushing your play times with them, their bedtimes and story times? I remember the exhaustion! Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the song (and book), 'Cinderella' in 2007 and since losing his 5 year old daughter two weeks ago, that song is now getting a lot of playtime on the radio. It's got to be heart wrenching for him now to hear that song in his mind. His manager, Jim Houser, wrote this in October 2007:

'I laugh every time I hear Steven share the story of how "Cinderella" was written. And in my work, I get to hear him tell it a lot. When he talks about rushing bath time and rushing story time and, then the pay off when he knows they should pray but he knows the girls will drag it out so he says 'ok, pray, but pray quick, immediate family only!' That always gets a chuckle from me. You'd think being in this kind of proximity to such a prolific writer would mean that I would really "get it." You'd be wrong.
The other night, after a particularly long day at the office, and a long few hours after dinner that night at home I'm embarrassed to admit I was rushing through story time with my three kids. Downstairs the ipod was playing the "Jim's post dinner playlist" and at a certain providential moment, Steven's new song "Cinderella" began to play. As it drifted up the steps within earshot, the reminder washed over me and through Steven's lyric and God tapped me on the shoulder. I felt God impress upon me the thought, "you have less story times than you think left. Better slow down Houser." '

Sober reminder to us all. Love your family and spend quality time with them. These moments are precious. Cherish them.

Listen to the song here. Then go hug your kids.