A Classic!

Danielson

We were coming home from the farm on Sunday night and we saw a sign for a provincial park called "Danielson". Well we just had to turn around to take a picture of the sign because this is also the nickname we call my nephew, you remember the "Karate Kid" right? Mr. Miyagi "Wax on, wax off, Danielson......."

Oh well, if you don't your just too young.

Faith vs Vaseline - The Movie

A Terrible Accident

Before

After


Although I doubt anything is permanent, the temporary disfigurement may cause some social problems.

Vaseline Open Final Score: Bed = 0 Faith = 1

+A 2yr old supposed to be sleeping in Mom & Dads bed
+A full jar of Vaseline for Mom's cracked feet
+Too much curiosity
_____________________________________________
=A normally cute face covered with the for mentioned Vaseline
=A now empty Vaseline jar

Official Body Count
-Fitted sheet
-Pillow case
-Bed skirt
-2 Quilts ( 1 with sentimental value)
-A 2yr old, if she ever does that again

I'm a whole new guy with a whole new vibe.
Changed inside-more flame in the fire.
Can't stop,won't stop praying for desire.
Like the bunny on the screen feels so energized.
Old shell gone without a trace,new face.
No more shortness of breath,new pace.
Live life now without the taste of fear.
Double Dutch now let the smoke clear.

Rate Your Doctor

Very interesting website, every doctor I searched for was there.

RateMDs.com

Weekend

Just me and the 3 oldest kids this weekend as Sarah is off on our Church ladies retreat.
We started off the morning with me sleeping in and missing Isaiah's ballet and crepes.
It is currently 2pm and I am in a wet towel just having gotten out of the shower and procrastinating on starting my day. The house is alright so far, almost got it cleaned the day before Sarah left and I have been able to maintain it.

Time to get my but in gear.

Technology, GRRRR!

Almost finished The Search For Spiritual Family - Part 3, but I decided to start playing around with a Hauppauge TV tuner card that I acquired so I could start using the puter as a PVR and got a little distracted.

Yes that it right, we got cable. We took the plunge and switched all our services to Shaw, including telephone, bye bye Sasktel. Basic cable was part of the package.

I hate channel surfing, and whenever I watch TV that seems to be all I do. The solution? PVR! (Personal Video Recorder - basically turn your PC into a VCR, for the lay people). Well I managed to get the cable piped in, but getting the interactive menu downloaded so I could search for programs was a pain in the you know what. But eventually I even got that working.

Okay now for part two, because I do not plan on watching TV on my puter, I need to somehow get it to the TV\DVD player. Only option is to burn it to DVD.

Disk 1 - 5 kids shows, the process completes flawlessly. Put it in DVD player, interactive menus show up with content (very cool). First program works great, but the next four get glitchier and glitchier until they won't even play, grrrr.

Disk 2 - CSI and a couple episodes of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Disk fails during burning process (after 30 minutes of preparation time).

Disk 3 - Same content, but burning them in the raw div x format as my DVD player can read div x. Works great, but can't fast forward through the commercials without it skipping back to the beginning of the file. Too frustrating, turned it off and went to paint the bathroom, literally.

Once I get my big screen plasma, all my problems will be solved as I can hook up the computer directly to it and just play off the HD without the frustration of burning DVD's.This is an artists rendering of what I am hoping for

The Search For Spiritual Family - Part 2

Previous post "The Search For Spiritual Family - Part 1"

The Ladies Retreat

There were many things brewing under the surface with a resistance to the moving of the Holy Spirit and those who were embracing it. Including between the pastor and the board. We were new Christians but we knew that the encounters that we had had with the Spirit were unlike anything we had ever experienced before and it was drawing us into deeper relationship with God and one another. Could such a thing be wrong?

Well the Pastor had had enough battling it out with the board. He announced his resignation and we were in shock. There were many times that we had had them over to our house and that they had had us over to their house. The fact that he married us and was with us through Caleb's birth meant that we felt like we were losing our own dad. We were very sad and his leaving added to our spiritual confusion.

It wasn't long before the church had a new pastor, one who was certified non-charismatic by the board. As much as this was seen as a victory for the church board, there were many of us who were getting together and having times of prayer and worship in small groups and the spirit was alive as ever.

The new pastor was just starting to get settled in before the womens retreat, I am sure he had no idea as to what was going to take place.

The retreat was mainly planned by a group of women from the church headed up by the church secretary, Laura. Laura was one of our good friends that was very excited about the moving of the Spirit in the church. The retreat took place at Cedar Lodge and guest speaker was brought in from another church. I was so happy that Sarah would get a chance to go on this ladies retreat and build relationship with other women in the church.

I have trouble remembering why, but at the last minute Sarah was not able to go. We now know that God was protecting her from what was to happen there, but at the time we were very confused.

This is what we later heard happened at the retreat:

The ladies arrived on a Friday night, they found out that the original speaker for the retreat had come down ill, but that Cedar Lodge had found somebody else to fill in, a charismatic. The evening service was very intimate and many ladies were touched for the first time by the spirit, some were not. The next day there was a healing and deliverance time in which again there were moves of the spirit that many had never seen, many tears and laughter.

But one person was very scared by what was going on and called the head of the church board. She immediately got in her car and drove out to Cedar Lodge. When she walked in the doors at the Lodge, many described it as though Satan himself had walked in the door. She proclaimed that "this stuff" does not happen in our church and this retreat is over!

The fall out of that action was far reaching. There was much confusion for the women that had been there and experienced something wonderful, and new. The situation was exacerbated when the following Sunday our new pastor officially apologized for what had happened at the retreat. The apology was more of an insult than anything.

That was the last straw for many of our close friends, little by little they left to various different churches throughout the city in search of this new move of God. I am not sure why we didn't leave with them, but for the next couple months we stayed even though it was very lonely.

We eventually did leave, there was really nothing to keep us there and the search for a new home began. We found out that a couple months after we left that the new pastor had resigned. A couple years later we ran into some old friends that still attended and they told us that the last couple with kids had just left the church. I still grieve for that church.

One last and very strange event in relation to that church happened about four years ago, when the head board member (the one that was described as Satan himself at the retreat) died tragically in a house fire.

The long and lonely search begins.

The Search For Spiritual Family - Part 1

I will warn you now, my next couple of posts are going to be long. I consider my spiritual journey "on the mend" and as I have these six weeks of paternity leave God is calling me to go back to what he has done in my life and record these events as a part of my healing process.

I grew up in a very large church, and because of my age and lack of understanding I never knew the church to be any thing other than a place my family went to on Sunday mornings. I got to see my Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle and Aunt but other than immediate family there were no close relationships there.

Later on I got involved with the youth group, the friendships I made there were very surface and often times I would end up bringing my own friends with me to youth group so that I had somebody to hand around with.

I decided to leave the church when I was old enough to make those decisions and never looked back. There was no relationships to keep me there, I doubt anybody noticed I left.

Later on I saw my need for God in my life and I started searching for him. At the time I was going through a 10-step group and I knew who my higher power was, but I knew there was more.

My last semester in High School I moved out on my own in a basement suite of a Christian couple's home. The were very nice people and in telling them of my spiritual journey they invited me to their church. I was very hesitant at first and refused but one week later decided to join them. Ironically it was a baptism Sunday at the church. The testimonies quickly moved me to tears and I knew this was what I was looking for. After the service I approached the pastor and told him I wanted to be baptized, the next week I was.

So I started attending, Sarah started to come with me soon after that.

We had struggled with premarital sex previous to my baptism, and though we tried to abstain after my baptism, it continued. And now we had guilt. We talked to the pastor and asked for help. His counsel was blunt, if you love each other and want to be with each other and can't stop having sex, get married!

Shortly there after we found out Sarah was pregnant and I proposed. We got married in that church, there we many people that helped in our wedding that attended the church who didn't know us, but loved us none the less. Three months later Caleb was born with all of his difficulties and the church was there for us again, both financially and spiritually. There were a number of couples that took us under their wings and discipled us (even though at the time we did not know of discipleship).

Through all of this there were many changes happening in the church, the worship started to get more intense, people started raising their hands and we experienced for the first time the Holy Spirit. It was and amazing time and we were blown away. But under the surface there were some people who saw these changes as very threatening, and most of all ungodly. There was a spiritual battle happening right under our noses. Many of the battles happened between our pastor and the church board.

The people that were resisting the move of the spirit in our church were not evil people, they did not know any better and were scared of the unknown. At the time we did not have relationship with many of these people and could not understand their actions, but we do now.

Everything came to a head at the ladies retreat.

Just One More

I didn't have any pictures of Mommy and baby, so here is one.

Pictures

Previous post "The Perfect Church"

Postpartum Family Pictures

Look at me, open eyes!

Do I have to kiss that?

I'm still a baby too, right?

Big brother cuddles

Okay, not my best picture, but still cute

Best sisters

Pictures for my new baby sister

Bearded Daddy and me

The Perfect Church

I think that I shall never see
A Church that's all it ought to be;

A Church that has no empty pews,
Whose Pastor never has the blues;

A Church whose Deacons always Deke
And none is proud but all are meek;

Where gossips never peddle lies
Or make complaints or criticize;

Where all are always sweet and kind
And all to other's faults are blind.

Such perfect churches there may be,
But none of them are known to me.

But still we'll work, and pray and plan
To make our Church the best we can!

This poem reminds me of the teaching we had when we were going through a study called Transformations at our church. In the study we talked about how people criticize the church about how imperfect it is, and that is their claim that is why they do not believe God is in the church.

What we don't realize is that it is the fact that the church is so imperfect, that shows that God is in the church.

Without God's love for one another in the church, the church would cease to exist. It is only the love that Christ put in our hearts for him, and hence for one another that we can coexist as family. Jesus is the oil in the engine if you will, that lubricates the friction.

So even though I may not like the way Bob constantly yells "Amen" during the service, or Joanne's frantic dancing seems out of place. I can still love the Jesus that is within them.

Thank you

I am thankful for my Pastor, Terry Froese. He has been leading me and my family for nearly 7 years now, and the more I get to know him, the more I am so thankful that I have him in my life.
He loves his church, and has done everything he can to correct, and guide our body towards a closer, intimate relationship with Jesus. His gentle, yet direct correction has always been what I needed, though at the time may have stung a little.
I have not had a deep intimate relationship with him, there were proper boundaries that were set in place when we first started attending our church. None the less I know that he is for me, and that he leads me the way that a Shepard leads his flock.
Terry was there for me and my family when Caleb passed away. He stepped in and helped us make funeral decisions and most importantly prayed for us and taught us valuable information about what grief is and what we would be facing ahead.
He has had to take some time off for himself to heal and renew, and I miss my spiritual father. But I know that when the timing is right, and Jesus has done the work on him that he needs, he will return with an new and even greater anointing.

Rest Good Shepard,
Love Your Flock

She's Here

Elishah Caleb was born 3pm February 24th, 2007 weighing in at 6lbs 7oz. Perfectly healthy and as cute as can be!!

Well, it was quite an adventure the last couple of days. I will try to give the "Readers Digest" edition.

Feb 22nd - 11am Doctors appointment, the doctor confirms baby is head up again and schedules another ECV (manually turning the baby) and induction to follow so that she does not turn again.

Feb 23rd - Arrive at hospital at 10am for ECV but Sarah thinks that she turned again in the night. Ultrasound confirms it, and it is off to the birthing ward.

After a bad IV the drip is started and small contractions start quickly. Sarah labors for the rest of the day with painful contractions but little change. By 8pm contractions are extremely painful, Sarah and I are exhausted. Doctor does one more painful internal exam and recommends turning everything off and trying again the next day. We gladly agree.

We move rooms and even though Sarah doesn't have the drip on she continues contracting through the night.

Feb 24th - Even though it was a bad sleep, it was sleep none the less and we both wake up somewhat ready to try again. After a refreshing shower, some toast and a new IV we are on the drip again by 9am. Thankfully the painful contaractions through the night had helped to dialate Sarah to 5cm.

Contractions got painful very quickly and at noon and internal exam revealed that she was still only 5cm, which was very discouraging. Near 1pm Sarah finally got her epidural and a smile was back on her face.

Water broke an hour later, but still only 5cm and by most nurses opinion not ready. After a short nap Sarah says she felt the baby kick and move down and tells me to get the nurse because this baby is coming. Nurse comes in and tells Sarah to calm down the baby is not ready yet. Sarah force the nurse to examine her and she feels the babys head.

Well panic sets in as there is not a doctor to be found. A surgeon comes in, and leaves, then an obstetrician and coaches Sarah to deliver the head. As soon as the head crowns Sarah's doctor magically appears just in time to catch the baby as she slides out (doesn't even have to to get her greens on and delivers the baby wearing a $200 white blouse and black leather pants).

Ten minutes old and Elishah is already straining to open her eyes and get a glimpse of this world. She takes the breast and shows how strong her suck reflex is.

More to come......

We're in & SHBE Conference 2006

On Tuesday night (the night after the carpet was installed) Noah very proudly moved into his new room.



We moved down the following night. Other than it being a little chilly, huge and no closets, it is starting to feel like our room.
Unfortunatley the finishing costs are much higher than anticipated and doors and trim will have to wait.

Another Home Schooling conference came and went. It has been something we look forward to every year and this year was no acception. Unfortunatley it was somewhat dissapointing as the focus was not nearly as "Christian" as it has been other years. We spent most of our time in the curriculm fair spending money rather than attending all the sessions. Carebear and I did get to spend a lot of time together, which more than anything was the highlight of the weekend.

Fatal Beating

Happy New Year

I know that New Years day was nearly two weeks ago, but better late than never.

I can remember my pastor asking me if I knew what the most religious day of the year was? At the time I thought it was a no brainer, has to be Christmas, possibly Thanksgiving. He said no, the most religious time of year is New Years day. Even the pagans become religious with there resolutions for the New Year. Well since then I have had a completely new outlook on new years and religious resolutions and have pretty much written them off.

It is interesting though, how the New Year has changed many things for my family. Probably the biggest change has been a new resolution to get on with life. It doesn't mean that the grieving has stopped, it just means that the grieving is no longer stopping life. Slowly, little by little we are finding that new normal.

Our Need for ‘Symbiotic Accountability’

By Kenny Luck

Spiritual independence is an oxymoron. The key word here is moron.

"My relationship with God is personal," is a common refrain. I hear this from men who either don't have the spine to accept responsibility or to admit a fault—or both. As a men's pastor, it is the verbal equivalent of a skunk facing south with its tail raised. It's code for, "Get out of my space or else." There are lots of reasons why men respond this way.

Shame, selfishness, ignorance, wounds and defects produced by a sinful nature are the major culprits. But for the man who has experienced the slimy pits of self sufficiency, been broken by his sin, been awakened by grace and tasted God's goodness, this reaction is more than counterproductive. It invites God's discipline. God's man is designed to live interdependently with another brother.

This accountability is a locking of arms that grows stronger over time. The myth is that deep spiritual maturity should require less accountability over time. It certainly sounds good. But any pastor would probably tell you the opposite is true.

This "symbiotic accountability" is highlighted in Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonian church. Reconnaissance by Paul's protégé Timothy showed good spiritual progress, and his reports were off the charts.

Their report card according to 1 Thessalonians 3:6-9 was FAITH: A+, LOVE: A+ and COMMITMENT: A+. What do you say to disciples like this? Listen closely to how Paul manages the news and responds to the men in Thessalonica who may have been feeling like they had the Jesus thing down.

"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told and warned you" (1 Thessalonians 4:1-6, NIV).

Red alert! Warning! Personal space being invaded!

The message from Paul to the men of Thessalonica was unmistakable: "I affirm you and your progress to this point"; "I am not letting you stay comfortable"; "I am focused on the next area of spiritual integrity"; "I am in your spiritual life to stretch you"; "I am going to invade your space in Jesus' name"; "I am asking and urging you to keep stretching spiritually"; "I see an area you need to work on—keep your togas down"; "I am going to call it like I see it"; and "I do not need an invitation or a crisis to speak up."

If I were a Thessalonian believer, I might push back and get in Paul's face. "What authority do you have to get into my business? Isn't that between me and the Lord?" Paul knows this and that is why he says, "I ask you, I urge you 'in the Lord Jesus … by the authority of the Lord Jesus.' " In other words, he's saying, "In the Lord Jesus, your business is my business and my business is your business."

Brother to brother, believer to believer, we are deputized by Jesus and given the authority in Him to firmly and gently encourage a brother to line his life up with his identity and responsibility as God's man. It's not about the messenger, his character or even his delivery. It's about who he represents, the truthfulness of his observation and his faithfulness to God's purpose for the relationship.

What's actually at stake if you don't enter into that kind of spiritual relationship with another man or two? The less accountable God's men are, the sicker that body becomes because it has unchecked cancers of character growing.

The more accountable we are as God's men, the healthier we are as individuals and, consequently, the healthier our body of believers becomes. That's why more of God's men need to have a Jonathan and David moment.

One God's man simply commits the following to the other: "The Lord is witness between you and me" (1 Samuel 20:42, NIV). In other words, we are each other's spiritual space invaders, and we won't let each other fail spiritually.

Kenny Luck is a men’s pastor at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and founder and president of Every Man Ministries, an organization that helps churches worldwide develop and grow healthy men's communities. He is the author or co-author of 16 books, including Risk (WaterBrook Press). Learn more at www.everymanministries.com.