One of the challenges faced by small resource-based communities is that their economies are incredibly fragile. All it takes is the resource (or the industry around it) to collapse and the community economy is put under severe strain. This is what is happening in much of this area.
One of the possibilities for another economic engine around here is a TV project currently in development. I have been asked, an hve agreed, to serve on a local committee working on the project.
Check it out here!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Laugh and a Half
BEing a long-time fan of satire, I am no sure why I haven't found Wittenburg Door before...
Anyway, take a look at Noah's Blog (caution, Biblical literalists may find it a little irreverent, but that's what makes satire good!)
Anyway, take a look at Noah's Blog (caution, Biblical literalists may find it a little irreverent, but that's what makes satire good!)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
But I Want to See the Videos!
Lately I find that YouTUbe is unviewable...
WHenever I click on a video on a website or blog I get a message that the video is no longer available. ANd oftern on the YouTube page as well.
Is everyone finding this problem or does the site just not like me???
WHenever I click on a video on a website or blog I get a message that the video is no longer available. ANd oftern on the YouTube page as well.
Is everyone finding this problem or does the site just not like me???
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Hey, this is pretty good!
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ultimate Star Trek alien quiz created with QuizFarm.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You scored as Bajoran You are Bajoran. Your life is dominated by spiritual belief and history. Your culture is important to your everyday life and you know how to accessorize.
|
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
My Sentiments Exactly...
Got this in an e-mail to night:
Native Canadian Wisdom...
When told the reason for daylight saving time the old Indian said...
“Only a white man would believe that you could cut
a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the
bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket."
Monday, July 14, 2008
Good Idea...But...
One of today's news stories...
This is a good news story. Preserving the boreal forest is a sound goal. And setting aside large sections of land from use by resource-extraction industries is a good way to do it. OF course those industries will likely cry that this is a terrible hardship that will cripple them.
And in part I sympathize with that cry. The troubling part of the story as I first heard it is that it will take 10+ years to map out what area is to be declared off-limits. For the industries this is bad because it throws an incredible amount of uncertainty into their future planning. For the environmental lobby this is bad news because there is absolutely no guarantee that it will actually happen. we have election every 4 years in this province. By 2018 we will have had at least 2 more (2011 and 2015, assuming there isn't a minority government elected and then defeated in the house). That is 2 chances for the government to change, and what one government puts into motion another can stop dead in its tracks.
The idea is good. And admittedly discernment is needed to determine which areas to preserve. But 10 years is too long. Too long to wait, too much uncertainty. But the idea is good. And if it hurts the mining and forestry industries then so be it. Only if we assume that human needs/wants trump the rest of creation is it automatically bad to limit resource extraction.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says forestry and mining activities will be prohibited in a 225,000-square-kilometre area of the province's northern boreal forest.
This is a good news story. Preserving the boreal forest is a sound goal. And setting aside large sections of land from use by resource-extraction industries is a good way to do it. OF course those industries will likely cry that this is a terrible hardship that will cripple them.
And in part I sympathize with that cry. The troubling part of the story as I first heard it is that it will take 10+ years to map out what area is to be declared off-limits. For the industries this is bad because it throws an incredible amount of uncertainty into their future planning. For the environmental lobby this is bad news because there is absolutely no guarantee that it will actually happen. we have election every 4 years in this province. By 2018 we will have had at least 2 more (2011 and 2015, assuming there isn't a minority government elected and then defeated in the house). That is 2 chances for the government to change, and what one government puts into motion another can stop dead in its tracks.
The idea is good. And admittedly discernment is needed to determine which areas to preserve. But 10 years is too long. Too long to wait, too much uncertainty. But the idea is good. And if it hurts the mining and forestry industries then so be it. Only if we assume that human needs/wants trump the rest of creation is it automatically bad to limit resource extraction.
Role of Ministry...
Earlier today I read these posts by Cheesehead and Jan and they got me thinking...
What is the role of "minister" in the life of the church?
Are we called to actually be leaders and help with vision development and keeping?
Are we called to be teachers?
Are we called to be evangelists and reach out to those on the fringes?
Are we called to be chaplains of the existing congregation?
In essence we are sort of called to all of them. But, as a colleague of mine says, if everything is high priority then everything is also low priority. So where is our priority? Where does it need to be?
I am convinced that to be a chaplain to the existing congregation leads inevitably to the death of the congregation. Inevitably. Maybe it will take years but still...
Then there is the whole question of discerning what the church needs as opposed to what it wants as opposed to what it expects...
So what is the role of the minister anyway???
What is the role of "minister" in the life of the church?
Are we called to actually be leaders and help with vision development and keeping?
Are we called to be teachers?
Are we called to be evangelists and reach out to those on the fringes?
Are we called to be chaplains of the existing congregation?
In essence we are sort of called to all of them. But, as a colleague of mine says, if everything is high priority then everything is also low priority. So where is our priority? Where does it need to be?
I am convinced that to be a chaplain to the existing congregation leads inevitably to the death of the congregation. Inevitably. Maybe it will take years but still...
Then there is the whole question of discerning what the church needs as opposed to what it wants as opposed to what it expects...
So what is the role of the minister anyway???
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Back From Camp...
LAst week was our annual week at camp.
The UCCan churches in this area rent a camp for a week each summer and offer a program. In part it was started expressly to offer a different brand of theology in church camping than was currently being offered by other groups renting the same spot. And so it was a blessing to realize that this year when a guest speaker talked about many paths to one GOd/Creator/Source (I wasn't in the room so I am not postive what terminology was used) that we were the camp where such a statement was safe. It was also a blessing to hear one of the leaders, a young man who has worked at a variety of camps, say that one of the reasons he wanted to come back to us (besides the paycheque) was because we were different -- we were more open to questions and difference than others.
THis year was a good one overall. THe weather was, well let's just say there could be better weather for a week at camp (and worse too--it didn't rain every day!). The theme sessions in the morning seemed to go well. THe craft project was a hit from everything I could see. ANd no one got really hurt or really sick and everyone appeared to be having fun for the most part.
I love church camping. I have been doing it since 1989. THere is something special about a week at camp. AS a leader it isn't restful, not by a long shot. But it is rejuvenating even as it is exhausting.
This is the first year that the girls really seemed to be a part of the whole thing. And they had a ball. THey canoed (both in the lodge and in the lake), they swam, they crafted, they sang. ANd they slept! Oh how nicely they slept at night. ANd other than some moments of being overtired or impatient for what was happening next, they had a ball making new friends and playing with the others.
And now it is over for another year. Ah well, there's always next year!
The UCCan churches in this area rent a camp for a week each summer and offer a program. In part it was started expressly to offer a different brand of theology in church camping than was currently being offered by other groups renting the same spot. And so it was a blessing to realize that this year when a guest speaker talked about many paths to one GOd/Creator/Source (I wasn't in the room so I am not postive what terminology was used) that we were the camp where such a statement was safe. It was also a blessing to hear one of the leaders, a young man who has worked at a variety of camps, say that one of the reasons he wanted to come back to us (besides the paycheque) was because we were different -- we were more open to questions and difference than others.
THis year was a good one overall. THe weather was, well let's just say there could be better weather for a week at camp (and worse too--it didn't rain every day!). The theme sessions in the morning seemed to go well. THe craft project was a hit from everything I could see. ANd no one got really hurt or really sick and everyone appeared to be having fun for the most part.
I love church camping. I have been doing it since 1989. THere is something special about a week at camp. AS a leader it isn't restful, not by a long shot. But it is rejuvenating even as it is exhausting.
This is the first year that the girls really seemed to be a part of the whole thing. And they had a ball. THey canoed (both in the lodge and in the lake), they swam, they crafted, they sang. ANd they slept! Oh how nicely they slept at night. ANd other than some moments of being overtired or impatient for what was happening next, they had a ball making new friends and playing with the others.
And now it is over for another year. Ah well, there's always next year!
Saturday, July 05, 2008
BLogiversary Day!
THree years ago today I wrote this post.
and recently I find my blogging energy lacking. Or amybe jsut my energy in general...
and recently I find my blogging energy lacking. Or amybe jsut my energy in general...
Friday, July 04, 2008
A (Friday) Five for the Fourth (of July)
From RGBP:
1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?) In my mind, a barbecue (bbq) is something that generally happens at one's home whereas a picnic takes place at the park or the beach. And each have their own place. Then again there is the wiener roast which sort of combines the two.
2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being? Around here the lake and the beach mean the same thing. After all the seacoast is a loooooong way from here. And I like all of them for different reasons. But truth be told I would often choose just at home being for real relaxation
3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em? It has been a long time since I last saw a fireworks display in person. When well done I really enjoy them.
4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory... Taken part in several. One memorable one was the rodeo parade when I was in, Grade 10 I think. It poured rain the whole way. By the time it was over my once white socks had been dyed red by my shoes. Oh and then there was the first time we went in the Canada Day canoe parade here in town. The river was high and fast running and we kept getting swept into the shore on corners. The most interesting part was that the Beloved would quit paddling and yell "Tree" or "bush" as we hit them. (for reference, it is much easier to steer a canoe when both people paddle consistently)
5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be? Hmmmmmm, that would depend on so many variables...
1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?) In my mind, a barbecue (bbq) is something that generally happens at one's home whereas a picnic takes place at the park or the beach. And each have their own place. Then again there is the wiener roast which sort of combines the two.
2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being? Around here the lake and the beach mean the same thing. After all the seacoast is a loooooong way from here. And I like all of them for different reasons. But truth be told I would often choose just at home being for real relaxation
3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em? It has been a long time since I last saw a fireworks display in person. When well done I really enjoy them.
4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory... Taken part in several. One memorable one was the rodeo parade when I was in, Grade 10 I think. It poured rain the whole way. By the time it was over my once white socks had been dyed red by my shoes. Oh and then there was the first time we went in the Canada Day canoe parade here in town. The river was high and fast running and we kept getting swept into the shore on corners. The most interesting part was that the Beloved would quit paddling and yell "Tree" or "bush" as we hit them. (for reference, it is much easier to steer a canoe when both people paddle consistently)
5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be? Hmmmmmm, that would depend on so many variables...
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