A good friend of mine (Dave McSporran) produced an amazing video for a Remembrance Day portion of the service at CompassPoint Bible Church last Sunday (Nov.8.09). I watched this yesterday and wish I had seen it earlier... it is worth the post. Love the fact that it is CANADIAN!
Enjoy... and Remember...
A day late but still remembering... why once a year?
Everything is Amazing and nobody is happy...
Ran across this video from Conan (not my favorite - I'm a Dave guy!) with comedian Louis CK. Anyhow, found it interesting food for thought...
"Everything is amazing and nobody is happy"
Uploaded by Meowbay. - Click for more funny videos.
Much more with a few!?!
I am tired. I need a vacation. Our family is counting down the days when we gather ourselves back together (after being separated most of the summer with work, summer camp, excess visits, etc.)... anyways, off to Hilton Head in a week! Wahoo... surf, golf, hangout with my wife and kids... rest... swim, read... and rest.
Just listening to an interview with David Kinnaman (author of UnChristian) on The Meeting House Youth Ministry Podcast and again just being reminded of how important it is to consider where we spend our time and maybe stewarding our resources focused on depth of discipleship. Good listen... also the Barna Group website is a great resource to all church leaders.
No/Low Sodium!
This past year... So here I am just going through life when a few parts of my body started doing (or not doing) things they were suppose to. After visiting my Dr., then being sent for a pile of tests. I find out that I need to make some lifestyle and diet changes to make sure that nothing happens to my "ticker".
So I have cut Salt out of my diet... and without any extra exercise... lost about 7-8 lbs! I feel pretty good and healthy.
What about you? Cut out the salt! Now...
Learn more - check out www.sodium101.ca
Am I open or close-minded?
This video caught my attention... maybe I'm not the only Christ-follower that struggles with being labeled as closed-minded or then again... maybe I am?
Remembering Rachel...
As a "newbie" to blogging I realized how easy it is to leave it alone for lengthy periods of time without an update... so here I am back! Someone actually asked me when I was updating something? Can't believe this is actually being read... I think it has taken me a few weeks to post this blog for the following reason.
Earlier this month a wonderful friend of mine passed away. Rachel Barkey (nee Sawer) went home to her Lord on July 2, 2009 at 37 years of age. Rachel is survived by her husband Neil and her children Quinn and Kate, parents Ben and Cathy Sawer, brother David (Johanna) Sawer and sister Andrea Sawer.
I met Rachel 15 years ago in Vancouver at a ministry training event. She was young, passionate for God and a true leader. She later married a great friend of mine, Neil Barkey. We didn't stay in touch all that much but kept up on each other as both of our families grew (and are growing). Then a few years back I received an email with the news that Rachel had been diagnosed with cancer... Rachel wrote many emails (read by her many friends and family) since then outlining her first hand experiences in graphic yet intimate detail of her entire journey. Each email was sad, funny, honest and always hopeful as she displayed her love for God and her family. I have shared those emails with others who did not know Rachel... her story is penetrating!
Enough of me... her story and the emails are posted on an incredible website called Death is Not Dying. Read her emails and Watch the video and let Rachel's story touch your heart. Please join with me and Pray for her husband Neil and her kids, Quinn and Kate.
June, what a busy month...
I thought that once June hit I would have a chance to slow down!
Now that the Lunch Tour is now over... it is time to do a bit of follow-up and connect face-to-face with some of the young leaders that I met last month (my July/August primary goal!). We also just finished another great year for the CYN Charity Golf Tournament. We had unbelievable weather and a huge turnout of golfers... we are so grateful to those that sponsored our 6th annual tourney!!
Just around the corner is going to be the 2009 Change Conference launch of the website and massive 6000 church mailing. We are thrilled by the early momentum around this leadership gathering for 2009. Even though it happens in October... we have been praying, uncovering communicators and musicians and organizing the details long before going public. Stay tuned... go to www.changeconference.com for more info.
Now time for a bit of a summer break...
Stumbled onto a media tool for evangelism today
Today I happened upon a website called "2 ways to live - the choice we all face". In a time when so many within the church seem to carry an anti-evangelism chip on the shoulder, it is great to see a group respond to bring a fresh and creative response to sharing Christ through the Internet. If you have time... check it out.
On a different note... The other day someone asked me where I fit in the spectrum of Christianity. I guess the question was a bit of a "label", you know... are you evangelical?, protestant?, Brethren?, Baptist?, conservative?, emergent? Wow... too many labels and choices! So I am in the process of trying to figure out who and what I am. It might take a long time to figure out... I know I am a "reformed (or re forming) something". Stay tuned...
Thinking about Hip 2B Holy
It has been exactly one week (May 25.09) since the airing of a Global special show called Hip 2B Holy. I have checked several times to see if it has been made available to be seen on the Internet and so far, nothing (maybe I have missed a link or something?!?). I was extremely impressed by the show and the thing I keep pondering is the way the younger generation (of Canadians) is seeking ways to express their faith and share the gospel of Jesus... but they are not going necessarily learning this from any school, church or person. They simply want to share Jesus... because they want to share Jesus!!
As a veteran (means I've likely been doing this too long) youth worker, how encouraging and refreshing it was to see and how spiritually healthy and vibrant these young people were portrayed... God is good... He is alive and on the move! If you get a chance watch the show.
Best links I could find about the show are:
http://www.canada.com/news/Holy/1613284/story.html
CYN Lunch Tour winding down...
Cambridge - May 26.09
What a great day today! It was fantastic to hang out with over 40 youth workers from the Cambridge, Kitchener/Waterloo, Fergus, Guelph and surrounding area.
This is the 6th "leg" of our 10 Free Lunches and as the Tour starts to wind down I am going to miss seeing all these great youth leaders all in one room at the same time! What a privilege it is to spend time with these young leaders. Tomorrow is St. Catharine's!
My First Blog!
Yikes... this is scary! So here I go, writing something that someone actually might read.
Yeah, so my 11 year old son basically is the one that forced me to start this new (to me...) way to communicate. Thanks Eli... I love you Bud. Now I've started this journey in waters that seem very strange and deep... I'm going to need you to help me fine some safety to navigate. Send me a boat or throw me a rope. Just help!
Glad this first one is done...
