A couple weeks ago we were in the local bookstore (the girls insist on going in there every day) and we saw The World According to Mister Rogers. Yes, that Mister Rogers. A collection of little sayings/stories parts of songs. THe foreword is written by his wife. DOn't ask me why they had it classified as children's fiction because it isn't really a children's book (although one I would recommend to teens). As i flipped through it it was one of those "must haves".
Tonight I started to read it. My initial reaction stands. Not something deep and intellectual but certainly something that feeds the soul--and makes you think.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
An Engagement Story
The Intention was to post this on Thursday but...
Four years ago, March 16, 2002, I asked Patty to marry me. Despite the fact that she had been waiting/hoping for this for a while I was still able to surprise her.
The night before we had gone out to supper at a couple's who live on the lake. After the fact she told me that she was convinced that I would propose that night, when I didn't she thought it wasn't going to happen. Anyway, I had it all planned out differently.
We drove out to Little Falls and wandered around for a while. I had the camera and said something about a picture on the bridge. We got out there, I got the ring out and said how great the last 6 months had been (our first official date had been the day of my Convenanting Service-October 14-and we had met two weeks previous to that) and held out the ring. Dead, stunned silence. Then a big grin.
We went for supper afterward then back to the manse to make the requisite phone calls. Worked out that it was a Saturday and then we were able to announce it to the congregation the next morning without needing to try too hard to keep it quiet beforehand.
Thanks for saying yes sweetheart!
Four years ago, March 16, 2002, I asked Patty to marry me. Despite the fact that she had been waiting/hoping for this for a while I was still able to surprise her.The night before we had gone out to supper at a couple's who live on the lake. After the fact she told me that she was convinced that I would propose that night, when I didn't she thought it wasn't going to happen. Anyway, I had it all planned out differently.
We drove out to Little Falls and wandered around for a while. I had the camera and said something about a picture on the bridge. We got out there, I got the ring out and said how great the last 6 months had been (our first official date had been the day of my Convenanting Service-October 14-and we had met two weeks previous to that) and held out the ring. Dead, stunned silence. Then a big grin.
We went for supper afterward then back to the manse to make the requisite phone calls. Worked out that it was a Saturday and then we were able to announce it to the congregation the next morning without needing to try too hard to keep it quiet beforehand.
Thanks for saying yes sweetheart!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
And So It Begins
Spring Thaw has begun. And with it comes our lake. All that at the foot of the driveway is a mixture of water and ice, depending on the time of day. Almost 6 inches deep water too (or six inches of ice at points). Anyone think there might be a drainage problem?
A Quandry
One of the expectations of members of the Order of Ministry is that they attend the Annual Meeting of Conference. And I actually quite enjoy them, they are tiring and long but I look forward to attending.
However this year the meeting ends on a Sunday (as always) and we have a C-Section booked for the following Tuesday, yes two days later. Now technically we can make the travel work with the schedule -- travel from/to the city of the hospital rather than from home gets me back in time for pre-op stuff on the Monday--for me to attend. Patty is then terribly jealous since she really enjoys these gatherings as well (our poor children will have no choice but to like, or at least put up with, church meetings).
THe decision then, since it is possible, and it is sort of an expectation (albeit one many people openly flout), is it terribly insensitive of me to actually go?
However this year the meeting ends on a Sunday (as always) and we have a C-Section booked for the following Tuesday, yes two days later. Now technically we can make the travel work with the schedule -- travel from/to the city of the hospital rather than from home gets me back in time for pre-op stuff on the Monday--for me to attend. Patty is then terribly jealous since she really enjoys these gatherings as well (our poor children will have no choice but to like, or at least put up with, church meetings).
THe decision then, since it is possible, and it is sort of an expectation (albeit one many people openly flout), is it terribly insensitive of me to actually go?
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
ALthough I rarely drink the stuff...
I could do worse
You Are Guinness |
 You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around. |
Actually I am more likely to drink a Canadian beer, something on Tap. Guiness is a little thick for my taste (beer you have to chew?)
Hat tip to Susie
World Water Day
Wednesday March 22 is World Water Day. Water is absolutely necessary for life and yet it is estimated that, on a worldwide basis, 1 in every 6 people does not have access to safe drinking water and that every 14 seconds someone dies from contaminated water.
In most of Canada we are blessed with safe water from our taps, for a very reasonable cost. And yet we complain that it isn't good enough, we buy bottled water for drinking (the amount of water spent on bottled water annually would be far more than is needed to ensure that everyone in the world had safe, clean drinking water from a municipal source). It is up to all of us to protect our water supply and to press governments to ensure that all people have safe water to drink.
The Ecumenical Justice group KAIROS has made water their focus for this year. For more information about the concerns they are raising go to http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/action/campaign.asp. Clean, safe water for all is a possibility. This Wednesday whenever you fill a glass from the tap, or flush a toilet, or step into the shower take a moment to think about how lucky we are to have safe water. And say thank you. Water is a gift. It should be a birthright. Let us all work to ensure that we can always have it, that everyone has a chance to have it.
One sixth of the world have bad water (really bad water, stuff that reminds us we have nothing to complain about). In the time you took to read this letter many people have died because of bad water. It has to stop. It can stop. But only if we are willing to make it stop.
In most of Canada we are blessed with safe water from our taps, for a very reasonable cost. And yet we complain that it isn't good enough, we buy bottled water for drinking (the amount of water spent on bottled water annually would be far more than is needed to ensure that everyone in the world had safe, clean drinking water from a municipal source). It is up to all of us to protect our water supply and to press governments to ensure that all people have safe water to drink.
The Ecumenical Justice group KAIROS has made water their focus for this year. For more information about the concerns they are raising go to http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/action/campaign.asp. Clean, safe water for all is a possibility. This Wednesday whenever you fill a glass from the tap, or flush a toilet, or step into the shower take a moment to think about how lucky we are to have safe water. And say thank you. Water is a gift. It should be a birthright. Let us all work to ensure that we can always have it, that everyone has a chance to have it.
One sixth of the world have bad water (really bad water, stuff that reminds us we have nothing to complain about). In the time you took to read this letter many people have died because of bad water. It has to stop. It can stop. But only if we are willing to make it stop.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Monday, March 13, 2006
THis is NIce
This link was e-mailed to me this evening. It is a flash "movie"/slideshow with some deep wisdom.
Think it Over
Think it Over
WHy Bother with Membership?
This SUnday's sermon title is Membership has it Privileges (and Responsibilities). I was really proud of the title, (which was largely "borrowed" from the old American Express ads) and was planning a wonderful sermon on the difference between being an adherent and a "full member".
THe problem? I am not exactly sure what the difference is. I mean other than the right to vote on anything coming before a congregational meeting (adherents can only vote on so-called "temporal" matters) and the ability to be on one of the church courts (Board, Presbytery, Conference, General Council) what privilieges do members have? ANd what responsibilities do they have that are not shared with active adherents (apart from the aforementioned church court membership)?
A sermon on the differnece between member and adherent seems a little dry. How do we excite people about making the jump from one to another? On a different side, how do we encourage our Boards (or equivalent) to be reviewing the roll and looking at what members are no longer in good standing? This looking into denominational polity is tricky--I keep coming up with more stuff that neeeds reviewing by our Board.
THe problem? I am not exactly sure what the difference is. I mean other than the right to vote on anything coming before a congregational meeting (adherents can only vote on so-called "temporal" matters) and the ability to be on one of the church courts (Board, Presbytery, Conference, General Council) what privilieges do members have? ANd what responsibilities do they have that are not shared with active adherents (apart from the aforementioned church court membership)?
A sermon on the differnece between member and adherent seems a little dry. How do we excite people about making the jump from one to another? On a different side, how do we encourage our Boards (or equivalent) to be reviewing the roll and looking at what members are no longer in good standing? This looking into denominational polity is tricky--I keep coming up with more stuff that neeeds reviewing by our Board.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Right or Easy?
"Dark and difficult times lie ahead, Harry. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right...and what is easy."
Friday night we watched Goblet of Fire (a birthday treat) on DVD. And these words of Dumbledore's have stuck in my mind over and over all weekend. They find their way into a letter to the editor I am considering. They stick in my mind as I contemplate next Sunday's sermon in the Lenten series [Membership has its Privileges (and Responsibilities)]. They speak to me as I look forward a few weeks to Good Friday.
Why do they resonate so much at this time? I am not aware of a deep feeling of foreboding. Certainly the concept is not new to me. It is deep within the LOTR story, this concept of choosing between the right and the easy. They are deep in my political philosophy (popular or easy?). They are the choice between the path of the cross or of comfort. But for some reason they came at a time when I needed to meditate on them.
PS: Another line runs through my head this afternoon. But for the life of me I can't remember the source. It is now it is time for each one of us to decide who he [sic] is and what God expects of him [sic] (or something fairly close to that). Any one out there recognize it?
Friday night we watched Goblet of Fire (a birthday treat) on DVD. And these words of Dumbledore's have stuck in my mind over and over all weekend. They find their way into a letter to the editor I am considering. They stick in my mind as I contemplate next Sunday's sermon in the Lenten series [Membership has its Privileges (and Responsibilities)]. They speak to me as I look forward a few weeks to Good Friday.
Why do they resonate so much at this time? I am not aware of a deep feeling of foreboding. Certainly the concept is not new to me. It is deep within the LOTR story, this concept of choosing between the right and the easy. They are deep in my political philosophy (popular or easy?). They are the choice between the path of the cross or of comfort. But for some reason they came at a time when I needed to meditate on them.
PS: Another line runs through my head this afternoon. But for the life of me I can't remember the source. It is now it is time for each one of us to decide who he [sic] is and what God expects of him [sic] (or something fairly close to that). Any one out there recognize it?
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