Man oh man, it's been two and a half years since I last blogged on here. I'm a changed man!!! Now I have three kids. Kiara - 8, Jane - almost 3, Josiah - 11 months.
Life is amazing. God is amazing. My wife is amazing.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Another Good Book
now I'm reading another good book called "Set Apart" by Bruce Wilkerson(sp?) - the guy who wrote "The Prayer Of Jabez"...
The book is about attaining personal victory by living a life of holiness.
It is a prime book. A must read.
I think my top books for this year are:
1. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
2. The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane
3. the above mentioned book.
Happy reading people!!!
The book is about attaining personal victory by living a life of holiness.
It is a prime book. A must read.
I think my top books for this year are:
1. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
2. The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane
3. the above mentioned book.
Happy reading people!!!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
great book for sure
I am reading a very valuable book right now, which everyone should read.
It is called: "The Three Battlegrounds" by Francis Frangipane (sweet name).
The subtitle on the book is: "An in-depth view of the three arenas of spiritual warfare: the mind, the church, and the heavenly places."
That is exactly what the book is about...
It is not sensationalism... just clear, very Biblically based, life application type stuff. But so useful, pointed, and true that it brought much conviction to me, and has opened my eyes to a whole new area of my Christian walk, that needs the Lord's reign.
It is called: "The Three Battlegrounds" by Francis Frangipane (sweet name).
The subtitle on the book is: "An in-depth view of the three arenas of spiritual warfare: the mind, the church, and the heavenly places."
That is exactly what the book is about...
It is not sensationalism... just clear, very Biblically based, life application type stuff. But so useful, pointed, and true that it brought much conviction to me, and has opened my eyes to a whole new area of my Christian walk, that needs the Lord's reign.
My New Office
I have been running our new Surplus Sam's store on Victoria Drive for over a year now and have finally gotten around to setting up my office. The only room left on the main floor for an office is about 4.5 ft wide and about 14 feet long. It has no windows, but it does have a great big skylight at one end of the room. It is (or was) small, dingy, dirty, boring, unpleasant, and located in a hidden corner of the store. Now I think I have gotten rid of the dinginess and dirtiness by giving it a good paint job and installing a nice built-in corner desk. I made the desk with an old display table cut down the middle and bolted to the wall at about the height of a kitchen counter. Nice and high so that I am not tempted to slouch down at my desk and snooze, but instead I am nearly standing when I sit at the desk in my nice bar-chair. The desk is only 18inches wide, but the room is small, and I am fastidiously tidy, so that is all I need.
I didn't think very long on the colour scheme for my office. It took me by surprise. I basically walked in and out of Home Depot in 12 minutes (it took 10 min to mix the paint). I asked the salesperson what the cheapest brand of paint was and then scanned my finger across the colour charts for about 5 seconds before choosing a very dark chocolate brown for the walls. Except it didn't look chocolate brown because of the glare of the fluorescent lights - it looked more grey/ochre. Needless to say, my shock was paramount when I started rolling it on. However, since waste is evil, I decided it would have to do. I chose Flat Black floor paint for the ugly cement floor, and I think I am happy with it, which is good because it wasn't cheap.
I finished the painting today and decided that despite how extremely dark the room now is, I actually really like it. I will get some pictures for the wall, and then I will begin growing a bonsai jungle, and I think the green and brown will go together quite naturally, naturally.
Now I will finally have a place to get some real office work done - no longer will I try to do my office work on the cash computer, with Jonny, Christine, Dianne, Lynn, Kuda, etc... tripping all over me because I am right in their way, and customers deciding that since I am present and I am the manager, they would like me to give "the best price"... and so on.
nuf said.
I didn't think very long on the colour scheme for my office. It took me by surprise. I basically walked in and out of Home Depot in 12 minutes (it took 10 min to mix the paint). I asked the salesperson what the cheapest brand of paint was and then scanned my finger across the colour charts for about 5 seconds before choosing a very dark chocolate brown for the walls. Except it didn't look chocolate brown because of the glare of the fluorescent lights - it looked more grey/ochre. Needless to say, my shock was paramount when I started rolling it on. However, since waste is evil, I decided it would have to do. I chose Flat Black floor paint for the ugly cement floor, and I think I am happy with it, which is good because it wasn't cheap.
I finished the painting today and decided that despite how extremely dark the room now is, I actually really like it. I will get some pictures for the wall, and then I will begin growing a bonsai jungle, and I think the green and brown will go together quite naturally, naturally.
Now I will finally have a place to get some real office work done - no longer will I try to do my office work on the cash computer, with Jonny, Christine, Dianne, Lynn, Kuda, etc... tripping all over me because I am right in their way, and customers deciding that since I am present and I am the manager, they would like me to give "the best price"... and so on.
nuf said.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The best thing ever
Well... after not blogging for a very long time, I decided to check in and let the few (zero) people who read my blog know that the best thing ever has happened to me. I got married! Sweet stuff eh? You bet it is. I now speak from a grand amount of life experience about the complexities of women and family, etc. Well, I guess not really that much experience considering I have only experienced about 2 months of married life. But one thing I can speak very strongly from experience is that being a bachelor is distinctly less enjoyable than being married. Ok, dinnertime... chow. :)
oh wait... the sweet wedding photo is of the whole family (minus my sister-in-law Amy). The cute little girl with the brown curly hair in the front is my new daughter; she is four years old and her finger hurts because I am wrapped around it.
oh wait... the sweet wedding photo is of the whole family (minus my sister-in-law Amy). The cute little girl with the brown curly hair in the front is my new daughter; she is four years old and her finger hurts because I am wrapped around it.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Forgiveness of God
"In whom we have . . . the forgiveness of sins." Ephesians 1:7
"Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of God - God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost to God it was all made ours.
Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace; it cost God the Cross of Jesus Christ before He could forgive sin and remain a holy God. Never accept a view of the Fatherhood of God if it blots out the Atonement. The revelation of God is that He cannot forgive; He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God by the Atonement. God's forgiveness is only natural in the supernatural domain.
Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is slight. Sanctification is simply the marvellous expression of the forgiveness of sins in a human life, but the thing that awakens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. Paul never got away from this. When once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God."
- Oswald Chambers
"Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of God - God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost to God it was all made ours.
Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace; it cost God the Cross of Jesus Christ before He could forgive sin and remain a holy God. Never accept a view of the Fatherhood of God if it blots out the Atonement. The revelation of God is that He cannot forgive; He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God by the Atonement. God's forgiveness is only natural in the supernatural domain.
Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is slight. Sanctification is simply the marvellous expression of the forgiveness of sins in a human life, but the thing that awakens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. Paul never got away from this. When once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God."
- Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Fishy Fish
Some fish are just not normal. At least not normal in the sense of the goldfish doing circles in your fishbowl, or the baked salmon on your table, or the trout nibbling on your bait.
Consider for example the Cleaner Wrasse. This little fish survives off of parasites and dead skin which it picks off larger fish. Larger fish and even fish nearly the same size as the wrasse take advantage of this service sometimes by literally getting into an orderly queue among the coral reefs and waiting their turn to be cleaned. Apparently it is a rather absurd process to watch, somewhat reminiscent of lining up to go through a car wash. The Wrasse's place on the reef is so valued by other fish, that it is pretty much immune to predation. A crazy twist to this story is a fish called the Sabre-tooth Blenny. The Sabre-tooth Blenny imitates the Cleaner Wrasse in both its looks and movement, allowing the Blenny protection from predators, and a chance to get close to other fish. The Blenny will then lunge in and use its sabre-teeth to bite off a chunk of flesh!
Another fascinating little fish is the mudskipper. The fish's gills are contained in an enlarged chamber that it fills with water for oxygen exchange to occur. It keeps these chambers full by frequently splashing around in shallow pools. The mudskipper also takes in a small percentage of its oxygen through a mass of tiny blood vessels in the throat and mouth. Unlike other fish which move with the tide, the mudskipper spends most of its time out of water. It interacts with other mudskippers, eats crabs and other small arthropods, and builds little burrows on the mudflats. Sometimes the mudskipper will even climb a little way into trees or bushes. (see picture)
A final abnormal fish is the freshwater hatchetfish. They are so named because they kind of look like a hatchet, with a thin belly dropping far below the rest of their body. They also have really long pectoral fins; in some varieties these fins are long enough to look very much like wings, and they use them for just that. They are generally only a couple of inches long, but some varieties can fly as far as 10 - 12 feet along the surface of the water, eating little insects they catch along the way.
Why did God create such fascinating creatures? I can't possibly know, but I do feel like perhaps God can in some perfect way have fun, or maybe He was just revelling in His awesome creative ability, and making some great creatures for His glory.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
A rant on Adoption
Many kind and compassionate people adopt children from foreign countries such as China where most of the country's ~15 million orphans are girls, as a result of the one-child per family law. (Read this chilling report: http://www.achildsdesire.org/chinaadopt.htm). I applaud people who adopt in this way with the associated costs, travel requirements, and many other sacrifices; however, I can't help wondering about the children who are up for adoption right here in BC!...
According to the Ministry of Children and Family Development (hereafter - MFCD) there are 1200 children up for adoption in BC; 60% of these children are between the ages of 5 - 12, and 30 - 50% are believed to have been exposed to drugs or alcohol prenatally. These children are called "BC's Waiting Children," and they are waiting to become part of a "forever family" for many reasons:
- they are over two
- they are part of a sibling group
- they have disabilities or behavioural problems
- they have attachment disorders from being through so many foster homes
- they have been abused or neglected and not had a chance to learn or develop normally
- they have a combination of the above issues
And they continue to wait... and most will be waiting till they exit the system at age 19... broken, confused, unloved, lonely.
The MFCD posts profiles of some of these children waiting for adoption
(condensed significantly here). The profiles exude positivism, but they are still pretty heartwrenching.
Karl
Birth date: January 1993
Ethno-Cultural Background: Caucasian
Karl is an energetic boy with a fun sense of humor. He is small for his age, but is healthy and active... Since coming into foster care, Karl has done remarkably well... Karl is continuing to work through anxious feelings associated with his experiences in his family of origin. He has an awareness of his need for counselling and medication to address his anxiety. Karl is adjusting to his change in circumstances with the support of his counsellor. He is open about his need for positive attention from his caregivers and presents as teary or sad when his emotions overwhelm him. Karl needs lots of reassurance and positive reinforcement as he builds his self-esteem.
Karl needs an adoptive family who is committed to providing him with emotional safety and permanence... Karl will bring much joy and pride to the family that is willing to put their hearts into caring for him.
Denton
Birth date: July 2005
Ethno-Cultural Background: Caucasian
This endearing, irresistible and loving toddler is Denton. He is a happy, easy-going child who rarely cries. He is known for his amazingly sweet smiles and his special talent for seeking out cuddles. He enjoys snuggling into his foster mom’s arms to soak up affection, then wriggles to show he is ready for play. He is a spunky, busy little boy, inquisitive in his exploration of the world around him... Denton is a compact little boy and is relatively small in stature. He has cerebral palsy and this presents as stiffness in his hips, knees, and ankles... Denton experienced seizures as an infant and continues to receive medication for epilepsy... Denton needs a forever family that celebrates his developmental progress and supports his medical needs.
see more at: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/bulletin_external/profiles.htm
Adopt a waiting child.
1-877-ADOPT-07
http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/index.htm
According to the Ministry of Children and Family Development (hereafter - MFCD) there are 1200 children up for adoption in BC; 60% of these children are between the ages of 5 - 12, and 30 - 50% are believed to have been exposed to drugs or alcohol prenatally. These children are called "BC's Waiting Children," and they are waiting to become part of a "forever family" for many reasons:
- they are over two
- they are part of a sibling group
- they have disabilities or behavioural problems
- they have attachment disorders from being through so many foster homes
- they have been abused or neglected and not had a chance to learn or develop normally
- they have a combination of the above issues
And they continue to wait... and most will be waiting till they exit the system at age 19... broken, confused, unloved, lonely.
The MFCD posts profiles of some of these children waiting for adoption
(condensed significantly here). The profiles exude positivism, but they are still pretty heartwrenching.
Karl
Birth date: January 1993
Ethno-Cultural Background: Caucasian
Karl is an energetic boy with a fun sense of humor. He is small for his age, but is healthy and active... Since coming into foster care, Karl has done remarkably well... Karl is continuing to work through anxious feelings associated with his experiences in his family of origin. He has an awareness of his need for counselling and medication to address his anxiety. Karl is adjusting to his change in circumstances with the support of his counsellor. He is open about his need for positive attention from his caregivers and presents as teary or sad when his emotions overwhelm him. Karl needs lots of reassurance and positive reinforcement as he builds his self-esteem.
Karl needs an adoptive family who is committed to providing him with emotional safety and permanence... Karl will bring much joy and pride to the family that is willing to put their hearts into caring for him.
Denton
Birth date: July 2005
Ethno-Cultural Background: Caucasian
This endearing, irresistible and loving toddler is Denton. He is a happy, easy-going child who rarely cries. He is known for his amazingly sweet smiles and his special talent for seeking out cuddles. He enjoys snuggling into his foster mom’s arms to soak up affection, then wriggles to show he is ready for play. He is a spunky, busy little boy, inquisitive in his exploration of the world around him... Denton is a compact little boy and is relatively small in stature. He has cerebral palsy and this presents as stiffness in his hips, knees, and ankles... Denton experienced seizures as an infant and continues to receive medication for epilepsy... Denton needs a forever family that celebrates his developmental progress and supports his medical needs.
see more at: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/bulletin_external/profiles.htm
Adopt a waiting child.
1-877-ADOPT-07
http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/index.htm
Monday, December 4, 2006
Quote
"The first thing God does with us is to get us based on rugged Reality until we do not care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His Redemption. Why shouldn't we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God's purpose and die away of self-pity, and all so called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says - "Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine." If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart." - Oswald Chambers
Quote
"Determinedly take no one seriously but God, and the first person you find you have to leave severely alone as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself." - Oswald Chambers
Monday, November 27, 2006
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