The Buddist Temple

On the first day we were in Yangon we took a look around the city and we stopped at this Buddist temple. The Swedagon Pagoda, it is a very famous place in Burma. The pagoda is completely covered in Gold. it is a place of great respect so when i showed up in a sleeveless shirt I was given a shawl to borrow as I walked through the many shrines. Also everyone has to take their shoes off at the entrance.



An interesting thing for a me as I saw buddism in action was how they care for the animals. They have many offering areas in the temple and even along any street in the city where people can offer food to animals and they come to eat. When I saw this offering bowl I thought how even when they don't know it they worship God by feeding his creation, but I wish they knew the one they worship.They also bring flowers to lay before their idolsAs we were leaving the pagoda it was raining really heavy and this little boy was taking a shower. I tried to talk to and befriend his mother who was sitting near by nursing her baby, but she was very shy of me and so were her other children. She appeared to be very poor.

Finally Home

We are home -finally - after two months of being gone from our home. The regular things I always took for granted are special now, like I have my own washer and dryer, I can cook anything I want and go into my fridge and eat anything I wish, I feel so free. Isn't that funny how the most common things can be so special after traveling. This morning I was reflecting with God, on how he brought us on this adventure and has now brought us back home to these simple pleasures. All glory to God for all that has happened. Two months ago we left on an adventure, not knowing all the details or the lessons we'd learn, but trusting God would lead with his spirit in the plans we had made, and he was faithful. Today I thank God so much for all that he lead us to and I give him all the glory for our safe return and the adventure we had in the past two months. I stand amazed with God. Join me in this praise to God.

just to note - We just came out of 10 days in the mountains, which has very slow Internet so I could not add more stories of out time in Burma and Thailand. But they will come soon.

looking back - June 14

Journal entry from June 14

What I see sitting here in front of our hotel - 3 Seasons Hotel Yangon
- a green iron fence and gate beyond the potted plants that give protective feeling and greenery in this concrete jungle.
- apartment buildings
- an Internet cafe on the lower floor
- a little boy playing naked on his balcony across the street 4 stories up
- mothers walking their children to school, they are under their umbrellas
- people walking by, many people
- the hotel manager welcomes someone at the gate
- Joelle and Seraya playing under their umbrellas
- a woman on the seventh floor of the apartment building across from me lowers something on a line to the street below. Looks like all the balconies have a string/rope to lower items to the street
- laundry hanging out to dry on many balconies
- 2 dogs fighting in the street
- taxis and vans and lorries and trucks and all kinds of compact vehicles pass by
- it has been one hour and no one has collected the item that the woman lowered
- a man on a trishaw passes by

One hotel butler with great service. They were all good but Ed like to make our life fun.

The grandmother of the hotel was thrilled with the girls but could only speak Burmese. Staying at the 3 seasons is staying as close to the people as you can, it's a small hotel, a family feel.

The front patio area was a nice place to relax and watch Myanmar go by.

Buddist monks walked by every morning, collecting their food offering for the day.

Our room had 4 beds and big bathroom, even enough room to hang a wash line. We stayed in this hotel for 2 weeks.

Ed, our hotel butler took the girls on a trishaw ride on a few special evenings.

Let the Pictures Begin

We flew on this plane.We were this excited!
And this excited about the food.
But the kids of Burma are the best part.

Looking Back

Hey a big hello and thanks to all of you who have been following along for the past month or so. Thanks for all the prayers you prayed and times you cried or celebrated with us as we experienced so many things. Now that I am back in Canada I want to back track a little and write some stories from my journal that I could not write while we were in Myanmar and Thailand, or didn't have time to write. I also hope the kids will let me write some things they wrote in their journals, as a way of sharing the trip from another point of view. I also hope to start putting up a few pictures, maybe video clips as well. So check back soon for journal entries and pictures.
This week we are with Ben's family in Langley while Ben does homework from his class he took before we left Altona.

Prayer requests
- That we would find a good video editing program for our video we captured and that as we prepare for sharing opportunities about our trip, that we would do so to the glory of God.
- Ben be efficient with his time for Homework, and that he can actually do it, without getting too distracted by the rest of us having fun:)

Answers to Prayer
- Ben is feeling well
- we all adjusted back to Canada time

How I'm feeling
- Happy for the kids to play with their cousins
- cold (I'm used to the heat now and 24 feels cool)

Our last day in Asia

We leave Bangkok tomorrow.
We are sad and happy to leave.
Happy to arrive back in Canada and be with family again.

Prayer requests:
- that we get over jetlag quickly
- (Ben feels he is comnig down with something)-that this will be nothing, just tired

Praise
- Our time at the camp was a real blessing
- we rode an elephant
- God showed us so many wonderful things and blessed us with so many new friends

How I am feeling
- hot, smelly, ready for some new clothing choices and no more washing laundry in the sink
- Extremely happy to have experienced so much and been so blessed to be able to do this.

Bamboo Hut

Here we are in our bamboo hut. Just like I always imagined jungle missionaries living. Except I can hardly believe I can use the internet here. We are in an open air hut and lots of animals and people around, even running around under the hut. We have met a few people just randomly but most people are too shy to meet us they just smile from a distance because they do not speak English. There are two teachers from the Bible school that speak English and they have been taking us around and visiting with us. The stories here are amazing and often tragic. The people have a lot of sorrow but you know what the one thing we keep on hearing is singing, everyone sings. They start at 5:30 and go until 9 pm. Actually at this moment it is quiet because all the students are in class but I am sure the singing will start up again soon. We have not been wandering the camp because we were told no to, so we have only been here at the school and we went to church yesterday, where Ben did give a short message. This morning we managed to engage some children in playing with some small airplanes we brought along, and we have also been able to invite a few passer-byers into our hut for a visit. We had been waiting for a man we were told to wait for and we finnally spoke to him this morning. We were not sure what the plan would be for the next few days, so Ben was only asked this morning to teach and so he has had about 1/2 hour now to prepare what he will teach and he is not even sure how long yet...maybe up to 4 hours. We are just going with the flow of the Spirit, like we planned. They always say the motto of the pastor is "Be ready to preach, pray, or die." So here he has to live by it, though we have no intentions of the die part. It is actually very safe, except for maybe the bugs, we have sprayed a lot of insect repellant onto our skin in the past few days to be sure we do not get bit by a malaria or denge fever mozzi. So we will be protected from bugs but I'm not sure about the brain tumour we'll get from the chemicals.. Oh well if one thing won't kill you another thing will. We leave here tomorrow I think and will find our way back to the airport in Bangkok for our flight back to Canada on Friday. The adventure of the Klassen's is almost over.

Joelle says 'This Place is sooo cool!"

We are at the beach in Thailand right now and the beach is especially nice, there is hardly anyone on it accept local fishermen at fishing time and a few other people from the guest house we are at. Juniper tree Dolphine Bay (http://www.juniper-tree.org/dolphin-bay.html) if you are curious for more. This place is so beautiful, I saw the sun rise this morning, only because a howling dog woke me. After I saw the sun rise though I wasn't so mad at the dog :) today while we were walking on the beach we saw 2 jelly fish and 3 octopi, there are also lots of crabs. Joelle was saying over and over "this place is sooo cool" We all agree. The other amazing thing we experienced today was kayaking to an island and feeding some monkeys. There were a lot of them and they knew we brought food so they welcomed us. We were not too sure at first but we warmed up to them and beached the kayaks. Lots of them jumped onto our kayaks when we were close enough to shore. We got out of the boats to take pictures and walk around with the monkeys, one climbed up my leg and another jumped on my back, that was a little too close to the wild. The girls kept them back with their paddles, though one ran up the paddle toward Seraya and she flipped that monkey off real fast. The protector monkeys didn't like that very much and came after her. That was when we decided we should get back in our kayaks and keep kayaking around the shore of the island.

Another day in paradise.

Praise:
- We are all healthy
- We get to enjoy God and his creation here in Thailand

Prayer:
- We would be prapared for Saturday when we join fellow beleivers at the refugee camp

How I'm feeling:
I think it's kinda obvious - thrilled to be here!

The past week

Warning** I'm on a time limit for the internet and no spell checking and no editing has gone into this post***

It has been more than a week since I last posted and a lot has changed since my last post. We are in thailand now at a place I will forever remember as paradise...I can not even tell you how happy I am to be here it is an amazing place the Lord has led us but before I tell you all about here let me tell you about some of the journy of our last week. We went to Lake of Shinning waters home on Monday and painted with the kids. They had a lot of fun, we all had fun. These kids are so precious. We miss them already. ON Tuesday we went back to Anita's Home the kids here are a little older adn some are already very good painters. We visted more with the parents of the home. We are feeling the connection with them, they shared many things on their heart with us. On Wednesday decided to change our flight to an earlier date to Thailand because we had our heart set on a few days at the beach and for so many reasons it was proving to be a bad idea in Myanmar. Thursday we went to Lake of Shinning waters again and then friday we enjoyed one last day at the market shopping for gifts and souveniers. Sorry if I am running through nthis a litte fast I want to get to the good part before my internet time is up. We frew into Bangkok Saturday with a plan to go straight to Pattya to a nice fancy hotel with a pool by the beach but as we were getting off the plan we mentioned our destination to a dutch woman and she and a few others that heard our plan strongly advised us not to go there. So now we were in the airport without a plan. it was a very frustrating 2 1/2 hours but we chose a hotel in the city and went. It was a very nice hotel fancy for us adn it cost a lot too. so we only stayed 2 nights and tried to enjoy it. But the best part happened last night when a place we had really wanted to go to had room for us so we took the 4 hour bus trip and we found paradise. This place is on a quiet strip of beach this is not a hotel it is a rest house for Aisian missionaries. It is like an all inclusive. we have been here one night and plan on staying 4 before we go to the refugee camp. I hope you get the picture I am so happy and I have nothing more to ask God for because it is all praise today.

Our Sunday

We had a very blessed Sunday. Ben shared the sermon on the mount - yes
all the sermons he preached in 3 months at EMMC in one sermon. It was very
condensed, but it was good, as I know we all had no doubt about. The
church we went to was a house church. The kitchen and living room were
packed, so packed in fact that the kids and some women had to sit outside
on the driveway just outside the front door. Ben stood beside the front
door in the corner between the two rooms. There was also a lot of singing
and prayer. Though it might not be as simple as you imagine, they had a PA
system with a pulpit and flowers to decorate. All but Ben's sermon was in
another language. After church they had prepared a meal for us and we ate
with them. Then we returned to our hotel in the same back of the pick up
that we arrived in. The girls were pretty excited to be going to church in
the back of the box(covered with a canopy) We had a nap and went for ice
cream before we were picked up to go to evening English church by a friend
from one of the homes. We went by taxi. The church is very lively and on
this day there were a lot of visitors from Mylasia and the preacher was
also from there and he spoke very powerfully for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The girls managed to make it through because he happened to be very
entertaining and there was a little girl just in front of us that stared
at us the whole time. She seemed like she had never seen white kid
before. When the service was over we went back to our hotel room but by
this time we had not eaten supper and since we are all feeling better our
appetties are getting bigger. So we did what we have been doing for 4 days
already we took a Trishaw to our favorite restaurant. That was our Sunday.
Thanks for the prayers once again and I want to tell you what the preacher
said, and what we are learning to do so much more. Keep out eyes focused
on the God's glory not on the enemy's glory. Enemy wants to rob us, God
wants to lift us up. We may have obstacles to overcome but none are too
big to
overcome, look straight into the glory of God.

Praise:
- I am not dizzy anymore
- Ben had an awesome message from God's word

Prayer:
- our one friend here will have strength to overcome her obstacles.

My feeling today:
- The poverty is so sad

We are doing much better.

Well the last two days have been wonderful. We are all feeling well! I
love life again. Praise the Lord! Thanks for all your prayers, they are
felt. Yesterday I had this great post all witty and full of life to send
you but then at the end I went to spell check it and it got deleted..turns
out Canada and here has the same problems - you have to save it to get it
back. So anyway, I won't cry over spilt milk, I'll just try again, the
only thing is I don't feel so witty today. :)
Any way here goes, yesterday we painted with the kids at Anita's home and
they had such a great time, we all had a great time. The other day when we
first met the kids I asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up
and many of them said Artists or painters-- even before they began. They
had been looking forward to it for a while.
The kids are so beautiful and generous and they just love Joe, Ray and
Ari. When our girls look hot they fan them and hold an umbrella over them.
For our girls ego - I made sure to tell them not to get used to it. LOL
all I need is our girls to come back from here more princess than they
already were. It was especially hot today while we were at the zoo with
the whole group.
We gave the flute that our friend Peter Wolf gave us to give to them and
they were so thankful, one boy started playing it right away. It has been
one of their prayers to get a flute, a real flute. Big thanks going out to you Peter.
We found this great restaurant to eat at. It is called the Monsoon and it
is a western restaurant, we were very adventurous to begin with and got
quite sick so now we are not taking chances with the food. Our appetites
are very small and so we don't need to eat much - one meal a day in
addition to our small breakfast in the morning that our hotel provides.
One fun way to get around is by Trishaw - a bicycle with a side car for
passengers. This is how we went to The Monsoon last night. It is a lot of
fun.
the Home parents at Anita's home are becoming close to us. There is so
much I want to tell you about them - later. The grandfather invited Ben to
speak at the morning service tomorrow, this is such a great honor. Now he
just needs the guidance to know what to say, pray for him.

Praise
- Emotionally I feel so much better
- painting went well
- kids are feeling better
- we have made some great connections
- the spirit has led in so many ways

Prayer requests
- for Ben as he speaks tomorrow
- as we plan for the days between our time here and flying on July 1st to
Bangkok (adventure vs. stick it out in the city)
- That our girls we eat the food that is served us at the home we are
going to tomorrow (they eat the western food we order but the food served
in a home has all gone uneaten, I fear this is insulting)

My feeling today
- healthy is exciting, I love this country and I'm happy to be here, I
love my family.

Continued Praise & Prayers!

God is good... the girls feel so much better and we went to one home today and did the painting and balloon animals. They were so thrilled. It was such a good day.

I also feel a lot better emotionally. One prayer is that Ben is feeling sick now. I know it's working it's way around. Could I possibly stay clear of this one?

Can I keep him?

We are loving these kids so much. There is one little boy in particular
that we all think would fit fabulously with our family. "Can I Keep Him?"
..Ya I know You all warned me "you're gonna want to take them home with
you." Of course we can't but we can enjoy and love them all here. Till now
we have been getting to know each other, tomorrow Lord willing we will
start painting. the kids are so excited, we asked them what they want to
be when they grow up and a good number of them have decided to be artists
or painters, even before they have begun.

Thanks for all the prayers

Prayer requests:
- The enemy would have no hand on diverting us with sickness
- We would make good food choices
- The girls will feel 100 percent
- I would feel lifted and be able to sleep well tonight
- The kids will all have a wonderful time painting

Praise:
- Ariel is better
- God is so good and we love these people a lot

My feeling:
Honestly I feel down today and need to be lifted. I have prayed the breath
prayer "Abba I belong to you" a lot, and tears are so close and welling in
my eyes even as I write this.

Thanks for being there for us, I really feel the connection.

Pray for Ariel

Ariel was not well last night, this morning she is feeling a little better but can you please pray that she will feel 100 percent better. Also pray that we find a restaurant we like today we have all been eating so little. This place is very different. The people have been so great and we have taken many pictures and short spurts of video. Today we have a driver hired for the whole day. We plan to go to the Lake of Shining Waters home but we have to wait to see how Ariel is feeling. Our time difference is 12 1/2 hours ahead of Manitoba time in case you are wondering.

Where our legs will take us

We went for a walk just for our first look around, lots of old run down
> building, puddles from the rain, beautiful friendly people, vendors
> selling anything and everything. On our way back we passed a sign that
> said baptist church we went to the door and there was a group gathered
> inside. The usher spoke English and invited us in. I looked at my family
> thinking - will they really enjoy this? - in another language and in this
> heat?? we have only been here for a few hours...my legs and mouth moved, I
> hardly think it was me because I did not want to go in. Ben agreed I know.
> We went into the church and sat somewhere in the middle were there was a
> pew open. We turned a lot of heads as we entered. Almost right away the
> girls complained and wanted to go... the service was not going to be over
> very soon. I kept thinking "why are we in here? was I so tired from the
> flight that I walked in my sleep into here." The heat was bad, there was
> no breeze. A kind lady behind us passed a hand held fan to the girls. It
> felt good but how much could we take. The man speaking in from bowed his
> head - It was time to pray. We bowed our heads and I started to pray my
> own prayer "Oh God what are we doing in here? Please help the girls make
> it through the service..it would be so rude to leave just after we've
> arrived. there must be a reason you have led us into this church. Please
> Lord why are we here, help us make it through." I put that prayer on
> repeat for a while -- it was long prayer. When the prayer was done I felt
> confident some who if we waited God would show us the answer. a few
> minutes passed - We had been there maybe all of 15 minutes, Seraya asked
> has it been an hour yet? Can we go?" Ben looked over at me-- we can't make
> it to the end of the service, I feel like I am going to faint. I see it in
> his eyes too. I whisper to him that he and Ariel should go now to the back
> and we will follow --so we don't make a scene. he goes I wait. Suddenly
> the prayer is being answered A man who can speak perfect English comes and
> sits beside me
> telling me that an English service held in a different place in the
> Evening is the place we should go, he understands we are struggling, with
> the language and the heat. I see we were led to this seat to get this
> information and so I know I can leave in peace. Thank God. We go with this
> man later to the English service it is a huge blessing to worship with the
> believers here and being led in this way. I was in awe of God. The last
> thing I will write is the writing on the wall in the church. Sorry if my
> writing it very choppy my time is short here.
>
> "To have ten thousand members who are Christ centered and spirit filled
> believers and to reach the people with the gospel and plant many churches"
>
> Prayer requests
> - We will stop feeling dizzy and get good nights sleep
> - the home tomorrow will be a blessing
>
> Praise
> - the way God leads
> - safe travel here
>
> feeling
> - surreal
> - happy
>
>
>
>
>
>

One Sleep

We drive to the coast today(about a 6 hour drive). One more sleep until we fly out. Tomorrow we leave!!

Prayer requests:
- that we won't forget, lose or have anything stolen, like passports or a bags
- the girls will get along well, squashing selfishness and jealousy (good one for all of us)
- that we will move through the airports with ease and there will be angels to help us along the way

Praise
- for the great time at my parents and Zeke really adjusting well
- Ben and I have such an amazing friendship

How I'm feeling:
- Extremely excited and a little nervous

A Bear

Yesterday morning started out pretty normal. I woke up at 6:00 my dad was already up and had mate(green tea) ready. We usually sit at the table, drink mate, visit and then read our Bibles, and my dad reads the daily bread, but first we needed to take Zeke to do his business in the pasture(training him where to go). The dogs played and did their stuff and we came back inside. Then Dad looked back out the window and saw a black bear wandering in the yard, right were we had just walked. Can't believe he was there with us and we had no idea. Tito barked and attacked, Zeke started barking from a distance and then went to the opposite side of the house to bark--what a chicken! Can't expect too much protection from him. LOL I ran to get the cameras and to wake Ben and the kids. Soon we were on the front steps watching this authentic nature show before us. It was very cool. The bear seemed to have no fear of the dog or us, he just calmly sauntered where ever he wanted, at least until Dad shot him with the sling shot. Then he made a quick exit up the hill. We won't soon forget the experience. Thanks God for letting us see a bear.

Who Cares?

What time is it when the clock says "Who cares"? - It's the best time of your life. The clock on the wall of my parents house ticks away pointlessly with these words scrolled over it's face. That's life in the mountains. It feels so relaxing not to care about the time, you eat when you're hungry, you work and play in the day and sleep at night. But it's hard not to care about what time it is because it is something I'm so used to. I hope you find some time today to say who cares about the time, don't have to be in the mountains to relax a little.

The Adventure has Begun

The adventure has begun. I don't know how to really feel about that, I'm terribly excited, almost like I'm living someonelses life, yet I am afraid, not for what is to come(like many of you think we should be) but now that this long awaited adventure has begun it will all too soon be over. But no sense wodd'n up my panties over it, instead I'm going to spend every minute living in the moment. And at this moment I'm going to share some time with you.
We left Altona Saturday at 1:00pm drove through the night and arrived here just in time to enjoy some of my mom's home cooking got supper and to help milk Buttercup.
A small thing but huge prayer request was answered upon arriving here at my parents. We wanted Zeke(our dog), who will be staying here for the duration of our trip, to get along with the farm animals. He has done really great so far -No dead chickens and Zeke and Tito(my parents Dog) are best friends already. PTL

Answers to prayer:
- I want to tell you God cares about small details. Like the prayer for Zeke, in the last week God has answered so many that might seem small but are just what we needed.
- Someone to help Ben in a pinch at the Costco Pharmacy to get our malaria drugs -Thanks God. Then I found out they would cost more than we thought but minutes after finding this out and beginning to stress about the extra expense Ben walked in with a card from a friend with a beautiful encouragement in it and some $! I felt the arms of God wrap around me in that moment. Wow! Why do I always forget God's provision and faithfulness?
- Another item we needed at the last second at Rexal drug store, that they apparently never carry, they just happened to find in the back and sold it to us for 25 cents! I was praying right there at the counter as they were looking for it. God rocks!
- Zeke getting on with the animals
- All the preparations were completed before departing, only forgot a few items - that we have noticed so far. What a praise!

Prayer requests:
- That we will follow the spirit every day
- That we'll have a uneventful flight on Friday and that our luggage will make it too.
- That Zeke will get used to being a farm dog (outside all the time)

My feeling today - Sooo happy! -I just love the mountains, hasnt really registered yet that we leave for Asia on Friday.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful to God for
- Ben who is just sooo awesome!
- Ariel who is compassionate
- Seraya who loves to snuggle
- Joelle who is a good listener
- people groups who make the world interesting
- internet to communicate long distances
- health
- a calm and peace that surpasses understanding
- people who support and pray for us as we go to Asia
- all the people who have wished us a good trip
- sun
- 2 days till we leave
- people who invite my kids over
- my parents and their beautiful place

5 days till blast off

A 2 square km area with 40-80 thousand people living in it.
A refugee camp in Thailand, This is one of the places we will go to on our trip to Asia.

Answers to prayer
- We are now confirmed on our invitation to the refugee camp. Just got the email this morning
- Ben and I have felt unified

Prayer requests
- That God would prepare our hearts and minds for what is ahead.
- that nothing important will be forgotten
- Ben will be efficient in his school work. (He is no longer auditing the class)

My feeling today
- on top of the packing and cleaning and motivated, with a smidgen of worry that something important will be forgotten

Paints and chalk and stickers

So the good news is the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok reopened this week. The situation there has been looking a lot better this week than it did last week. We really praise the Lord for that. I check twitter for my instant news feed. Technology is so great.
We also praise the Lord for all the people that have supplied items for the children we are going to be with. I have a pile of stuff in my living room now. Paints and chalk and stickers and ball pumps and sketch books.... it is so awesome. I am excited to see what the kids will do and think of all these things, I am also a little nervous about doing the painting sessions with them. Will they understand me? Will I prepare to do the things they are interested in? These are things I pray the spirit will lead me in from now until then.

Answered prayers
- Bangkok is getting safer
- We have all the items we requested for the home

Prayer requests
- I'll be prepared for the painting session

How I'm feeling
- swinging between relaxed and stressed, excited

If it is the Lord's will

My feeling today - humble, challenged, joyful
Prayer request
- Pray that we will continue to make good decisions and that Ben and I would be unified in them.
- also pray that I'll be able to get all the things done in the next week and 1/2 that I need to do.
Answers to prayer - the stress of making some decisions has lifted and the Lord has given me some truth to focus on. I realized how I have been focusing on my will in this trip not the Lord's will. The Lord challenges me to hold it more loosely, with an open hand before him. I now want to say "We will go to Asia and do the things we've planned if it is the Lords will.... as James chapter 4 encourages.

Missons Trip

We are leaving June 11th on a family missions trip(Leaving for BC June 6) . If you have not received the trip plan and general info please leave me a message or contact me some way and if I know who you are I will send you the details. I am going to be using this blog to update on my feelings, stories, the plans and the prayer requests but for privacy in some areas I am going to leave out details, keep it general or change names and that kind of thing.

My feeling today - concern, anxious, wonder
prayer request - We have some decisions to make and I am feeling the stress and the unknown of it all, please pray that we follow the Spirit and not ourselves

My Bucket List

What's on your bucket list. What random, thrilling, simple yet meaning-rich things do you hope to do before you die? It's really a curious thing to me. A bucket list says a lot about a person. A few years ago I wrote my bucket list, just to see what I'd put down and see if I'd actually do any of it.

So you wanna know what's on my bucket list? .....

I can't give you the whole list but here are a few of the 50 things I have on my list right now that I want to do before I die. If not before I die then Ben tells me there's always the millenium.

1. Run a Marathon ----check -June 2008
2. Do an over night canoe trip
3. Take the kids on a missions trip --- soon
5. Skydive
6. Go to a Seeds of Hope children's home --- soon
10. Write a book
12. Sail a long distance
14. Read a book in one weekend ---check - December 2009 over Christmas
15. Learn an instrument
18. Sleep under the stars ----check - August 2009 at my parents
20. Climb the big tree in Campbell Valley park with the girls
21. Go fishing for crab
22. Learn to swing dance with Ben
25. Learn to weld
27. Build a tree fort with the girls -----check - June 2008 with my dad
28. Write a good song
29. Share my story with the women in our church ---- check -November 2008
30. live somewhere hot again
36. White water raft
37. Teach my girls how to snowboard
42. Live in community living
41. Home school
44. Hide treasure
47. Complete a university degree
48. Act in a play

What's on your list?

Silence

For a long time I blogged weekly, in some cases daily, then I hit a bloggers block. It's like a part of my brain just fell out... I am still waiting to get back my blogging brain.
I know a few things have been going on -partly I just don't know what to say and the more time that passes the more I lose confidence that I have something worth reading to write about, so I'm in the middle of this but I am sure I'll be back to writing when I find the words and confidence to write them, or have something interesting happen in my life.
I know some were wondering if I'd do a 28 day challenge again this year and I really wanted to but I just never felt the drive to do so. Sorry if I disappointed any.
Anyway, that's all for now,
Blessings

"Jesus Bubble" Living

How do we keep being captivated anew with radical faith in a "Jesus bubble", where Jesus is familiar and has always been there? How do you create an expectant faith filled atmosphere as we raise our kids?
When I was journaling through Mark I found this question surface.
I think when Jesus has been taught to us from childhood the thrill of what he does in our lives is mistaken for something small, and we loose the significance of it or because he so common we forget to see him and maybe sometimes we loose faith, or forget to have faith.
So since our home would be considered a Christian home, where Jesus is a big part of our everyday, I have been thinking about this. How do we keep Jesus fresh and vibrant in our little "bubble"? How have you tried to do this in your home?

In the Name of Creativity

"A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise." I read this on recipe site a while ago and now I can't remember where but I couldn't agree more, this is my view of cooking. It is what my mother instinctively taught me. I do few things exactly as I'm told actually. I like to be creative and try to do almost everything some way that maybe few people have ever done it. Things don't always go well though, for instance I came up with a really bad one the other night in the name of creativity, awful really. I was trying to make my own version of Kari Kari, which is a Filipino dish. I didn't have all the ingredients so as you can guess I either skipped them or added something similar, oh and I didn't follow the cooking instructions at all either. When it was all said and done I had a feeling it wasn't going to go well at the supper table that night. I contemplated not even serving it but I'd invested too much time, pride and ingredients to just toss it, so I looked at it more as a character building experience. My hunch-niggles where right, "what is this?", "It smells weird", "Is this all we're having?", "I'm not hungry." I forced the kids to eat it, I saw Ben grimace as he told me "It's OK....."(do you think he lied?), I Could barely stomach 1/2 my plate. Later that evening Ben said, "Can I just say one thing, can you not make that again." We laughed and I said "I know it smelled like dog food. I will never intentionally make that again."
Oh ya in the name of creativity I have made some pretty awful things, but I've also made some good ones I think.
Ok ok I have one more wipe-out story for you due to my over creativeness. Some of you will have witnessed this unfortunate birth of my imagination. In one of the first years when Ben and I came to this church I was in charge of something creative for the Purpose driven life and I created this huge globe, I think about 5 foot circumference, for the church stage. It was paper mache and tin foil. The skeleton of the globe was something like 6 hula hoops. Plus it had several directional arrows shooting out from its surface. Oh it was ugly, the tin foil kept falling off and I keep sticking it back on with a opened stapler or sticky tack, the arrows kept slinking lower and lower, some eventually pointed down and then fell off. Every Sunday it was up there I was so embarrassed by it but of course I kept those insecurities buried deep below my confident creators mask. I don't remember anyone ever saying anything to me about what they really though about it but I can only imagine how many other people have heard about it. Anyway I am laughing about it now because I feel like I was able to redeem myself with this last project that hangs on the wall. Besides why not laugh about it. If you remember it I am so sorry you had to endure it on stage all those weeks.
The trash heap is bigger because of me ;)

Best photo of the year

I also love what this photo captures - pure enjoyment of the moment, Joelle is captivated by the beauty and the fun of the huge flakes.
Thanks to all who played along.

2009 Best Photo Contest

I'm a little behind (6 days) but I know you still want to see them - the best photos of 2009(our kids) And you get to vote for your favorite.

January - The Attempt to Sleep in the Quinzee

February - It's a Krazee House Hold

March - Zoom Zoom

April - Happy Hat

May - Play Day

June - Old Fashioned Picnic

July - Aaaaa the Ocean Air

August - Sshhh... Attack

September - Abandoned Baby

October - First Snow

November - The Best Thing About a Twin is ...

December - The Happiest Days of our Lives

Mark 16

The end but not really the end. Jesus is raised. Jesus is alive.

V. 9-16 I decided the ending of Mark is not my favorite. The "added" portion just felt wrong. After reading and listening through Mark I feel like I have a sense of Mark as a writer and of course Jesus, his subject. These last verses didn't fit for me and there is doubt in my mind as to how serious to take them. That said verse 8 is a very strange place to end too.

I have been so thankful for the accountability journaling here has given me, but I have to admit it was a challenge some days, I don't think I would have been so faithful had I been doing it on my own.

Mark 15

Jesus innocent but treated like a criminal
Jesus on the cross for all to mock
Jesus willing to do God's will but asking "why?"
Jesus dies
Jesus' body is laid in a tomb and sealed

After listening to this chapter I feel sorry and then grateful and humbled by the way Jesus dies willing to do his fathers will, he dies so I can be free, so I can have wholeness and eternity, that should've been me, for my sins, he is my replacement, he sacrifices for me, for us, ....Jesus I thank you. I love you .... these pathetic English words just doesn't seem like enough.

Mark 14

Thanks to all those that have been following along in Mark, we're almost done. If you haven't been on in a while here is what I'm up to with this Mark thing. Click on these words to find out.

The first story in this chapter I always find so beautiful. I wish I could do that for Jesus. I find his acceptance of extravagance rather interesting because from my upbringing extravagance for Jesus has not been looked upon with kind eyes. Like those present at the pouring out of the perfume,is how I naturally feel like responding, "What?! Don't waste the money, don't spend money on fancy stuff for the church building or worship service, go practical and simple." yet I see Jesus here accepting this extravagant offering as an act of worship. I am now conflicted. I sometimes wish reading the bible made things easier to understand but in this case it makes things complicated, because Jesus lived such a sacrificial life for the poor and sick. What do you think? Should we be extravagant in order to better worship God, even if people look on saying, "Why this waste? It could have been sold and the money given to the poor." Or should we keep a small worship budget and spend more money on the poor?
Maybe the story no longer holds us to do as the woman did because Jesus says "...You will not always have me." Times changed.
Ya ... so the outcome of that was clear as mud. I love the bible, makes me think.

As i was reading the part about the Lord supper preparations I realized something I hadn't really thought of before. Jesus knew what the disciples would encounter(V.16). He did this with the donkey a few days ago too. Now I am a firm believer that Jesus was fully human and he gave up his godness when he came to earth, that would mean whatever he does on earth is possible for us as well with the holy spirit in us. This to me is fascinating that we can know the future if we need to. What do you think of that?

Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak." This is a verse that I have memorized and recited many times. It is a powerful verse for me because it helps me keep my freedom. I know it would take a lot more words to really explain this but let me try. When I discovered where I was weak, where I was trapped in sin and then found freedom, I had some safe guards to place in my life and this verse was what led me to understand that it is more than pray, it is keeping watch. Watch for where the weak points were in my armor, where the enemy could try to take me captive again. Watch means to me to toss thoughts, small thoughts out of my mind as soon as they come in.... and of course pray. That is the short version. I love this verse.

I was listening to this chapter through the Bible experience (which is the audio dramatized bible on MP3) it brought tears to my eyes and gave me chills. I am like peter sometimes, I am like Jesus accusers sometimes ....am I like Jesus sometimes? - not in this story.

Mark 13

Signs of the end of days- Any day it could be the end of all this, do you ever think of that? I don't normally think about it at all but as I read this it does make me wonder. The world seems to be falling apart, and I wonder, when I think of how long ago Jesus said these words, is it really going to happen? "At that time men will see the son of man coming in the clouds.. this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened....therefore keep watch... I say to everyone: 'watch!'" It has been so long since he said those words, what is God waiting for? .... I guess the part that makes me wonder and seems strange is when he says "this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened." Didn't they all die, we are all still here? What did he mean? .. I guess it's even silly to ask is the end going to come. Of course it is. Jesus said it is. I guess the real question is, am I ready and doing as he commanded in his final imperative of the chapter? "Watch!".

Mark 12

V. 15-17 Jesus has wise answers for the Pharisees and Herodians and he amazes many with the way he speaks to them.
V. 29-31 the most important commandments. Good to memorize and remind ourselves of daily.

Interesting there were no miracles in this chapter just teaching and answering the attacks of the Pharisees.

Mark 11

V. 11 "he looked around at everything but since it was late he went." It seems like a strange thing to mention. He doesn't give a speech he just observes. The "but" in there makes me think he wanted to do more that just observe, but time was not available to him.
V. 12-19 Jesus goes the next day when he has the time, and he seems ticked. He "gives it" to the fig tree on the way to the temple and then he "gives it" to the buyers and the sellers and the chief priests and teachers of the law.
V. 22-25 doubt is a crippling enemy and belief in God is powerful to change things.
V. 27-33 Jesus doesn't try to defend himself, he knows it would be wasted words, instead I think by the question he asks the teachers, he is trying to show them the error in their thinking.

What does this chapter say to me? - Don't let doubt in. and ...The image of God being human, again, seems to stand out to me from verse 11 where Jesus is constrained by time. God the age less, endless, creator of time is trapped by it, as he lives as a man among us. Truly amazing that he did this for us.

Happy New year everyone!

Mark 10

V.15 What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child?
V.23-31 Why is it hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven? I see Jesus is asking this man to sell everything. Do the rich really have to sell everything to enter heaven? Or maybe it's harder to simply trust in God when you have other things, like money, to give you security. And maybe that's why he tells him to sell everything because it is hindering him. Verse 27 seems to say it would be difficult for the poor too because it is impossible for people without God either way, which we know well because we are saved by grace alone. Then 29-30 goes on to say it is those that will sacrifice the comfort of family for the sake of the gospel that will receive eternal life. It is a little confusing but what I think Jesus is getting at is that people should not let anything hinder them from coming to the kingdom, not family or wealth or anything else, just come to God like a child and God makes salvation possible.
V.33-34 those words I imagine would have been difficult for Jesus to say, knowing it was about himself.
V. 43-45 This is a key verse in this book. In my opinion this is the heart of what Jesus has been saying and trying to do to this point.

One thing I have begun to notice is that Jesus was intentional about his teaching and healed only when called upon to do so. The stories earlier on where mostly healings, people came to him to be healed but didn't recognize the wealth beyond that that Jesus had to offer. Now in Chapter 10 it seems they are beginning to realize. 10:1 says it was his custom to teach them (it did not say heal their sick). The chapter with a healing because the blind man comes and asks for it. The Blind man calls Jesus "Rabbi" which means teacher. Jesus constantly heals because he has compassion on the people. I love Jesus.

Our 2009 Family Snapshot

In case you didn't get out Chritams letter, here are a few snippets from our life:
-We've been in Manitoba for more than 6 years now and it really feels like home. Sometimes people ask us "If you die now where would you be buried?" We say Manitoba, that's how I know we are home. That said we still miss the mountains and ocean and family we have in BC, especially now during the holidays.
- For summer holidays this year we went to BC with Jeff Krahn and kids, and Al and Martha Sawatzky and boys. While we were in the Rocky Mountain area we went to a lake way up in the mountains. It was an afternoon in time I wish could last forever, the sun was so warm, the lake was a wonderful turquoise colour, we were swimming and lounging on the dock with some awesome friends and then it started to rain, yes the sun was still shining and this was the best. The whole trip was a memorable adventure.
-Our family loves music. We have a lot of diversity in our music. Music is often combined with dancing at our house, that's how we keep fit :). Our favourite musical artist right now are: Krystal Meyers(Joelle), Hannah Montanna(Ariel), David Crowder(Cindy), Xavier Rudd (Ben), and Gummibar(Seraya)
-Ben really got into cyclocross(off road biking with a road bike) this year. He is part of a local group that call themselves ABES (Altona Biking EnthusistS) and I can tell you first hand he is very enthusiastic about biking, he has the kids hooked and is not giving up on trying to convince me to be a Babe of ABE. It has been a lot of fun cheering him on at races and see him so excited about it.
- We attended the Church Planting Congress in Calgary. We travelled with over 40 other people from our conference. It was amazing. We were encouraged once again to keep focused on the basics: Make followers of Jesus, reach out to our local community, and reach out to the ends of the earth.
-This year we saw more than ever that our little girls are growing up, the thought comes with a mixture of fear and excitement. The scary part is how they move to be so independent of us and look and act more like tweenagers than little girls. The exciting part is seeing them grow in their faith, read their bibles on their own with enthusiasm and begin to ask questions that matter and to be active in caring for the poor. Ariel read the whole book of Psalms this fall. Joelle and Seraya went on a unicef collecting drive all on their own in some cold weather. And now they are all getting enthusiastic about fundraising for drilling a well in a place that needs clean water, talk to Ariel if you also have an interest in this.

Mark 9

V.4 Have you ever seen a dead person? Or a ghost? The disciples see Jesus converse with this 2 dead guys. It just seems so weird.
V. 15 Jesus is treated like a superstar, but he ignores it and goes straight to the issue at hand in verse 16.
V 19 Jesus is tired of their unbelief, they love his miracles so much but they lack faith and he is frustrated it seems, but he always has compassion.
V. 23 "Everything is possible for him who believes" Jesus says. I hear these words in my life too, and I echo with the boys father in verse 24 "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Jesus I need your help for so many things.
V. 30,31 Jesus takes his disciples on a retreat. Cool.
V. 35-37 Jesus teaches them again about what he has come to do, he teaches about serving one another. Pride and selfishness have defiantly been the disease of my life, I keep trying to get rid of it but it comes back or I find more of it in my life. Jesus has said a few times in Mark about the way to greatness, it's through being a servant to all, to become like a child. Jesus' kingdom is an upside down kingdom, the way up is down. I think this all means that we need, I need to be less selfish, more serving, more grateful, more generous, relinquish more of what I think is "rightfully" mine. Like I said riding myself of it will be a life long endeavor but I think I'm on the journey anyway.

Mark 8

V. 15, as I read this I wonder what does it mean, "be careful for the yeast of the pharisees." I know yeast is something that even if there is a little it can affect the who batch and once you add it to the dough, under the right conditions, it works all on it's own fermenting all the dough. The Pharisees have just asked for a sign and Jesus seems ticked with them. Maybe Jesus is warning them not to let the Pharisees influence and thinking work into their lives, not even a little. It seems the Pharisees were doubting Jesus' authority.

For the first time in reading the gospels I feel like I am seeing Jesus' healing ministry as a side show. Am I seeing something wrongly? Set me straight if I am. Jesus is healing people because he is so compassionate and can't stop from helping them when they have faith, it's just in him to love and give but it's not what he really came to do. I feel like I am seeing this because he constantly tells people to keep the healing a secret and then he asks his disciples in verse 27-30 "Who do you say I am?" as if he is really wondering if his true intent is coming through to them, but then he tells them to keep that a secret too.... I don't know ...

V. 34-38 gives us another picture of Jesus' intentions on earth, to be an example of a true servant of all.

While examining 34-38 of the chapter I ask myself these 3 questions
1. How do I see this working in my family right now? - Wow I don't see the servant that I should be, I do see boldness though.
2. What new possibilities are here? - A happier home, serving home, with more thankfulness.
3. What would happen if we took these words seriously? - Less hesitation in sharing our faith anywhere and everywhere, more people would know Jesus. We would focus less on gaining in this world and focus on serving and gaining in eternity.

Mark 7

V. 8 I wonder if Jesus might have this to say about some things we do?
V.24, 36, 37 Again Jesus is trying to be secretive. It is almost as if he is willingly doing the miracles because of his compassion but yet doesn't want to do them for some other reason. Just a thought here, maybe the people were all seeking him for the wrong reason, selfish motives, wanting to be amazed, wanting healing, not truth and understanding and maybe Jesus feels he is getting too much glory and he wants His father to get the glory instead.

1.What does the text say? - Jesus is healing people, Jesus opposes the pharisees who are following traditions that are nullifying the word of God.
2.What does it mean? - Jesus is more powerful than physical ailments, God cares about our physical well being, Jesus was a compassionate man, traditions need to be evaluated by scripture to see if it nullifies the word of God.
3. How will I respond? - Be more compassionate like Jesus and remember to ask for healing on mine and other ailments, evaluate my traditions(as best I can) in light of scripture.

Mark 6

For those of you that might be just joining me, I'll let you know, I am reading and journaling through Mark over the holidays and I'm hoping you'll join me in doing the same. I really appreciate the accountability.
I will be taking a 2 day blog break on the 25th and 26th, so you have time to catch up if you're behind.

My random thoughts on Mark 6
V.1-6 Faith is a big deal. These people in Jesus home town did not see him like others did and they lacked faith. To them Jesus was just too familiar, he'd just always been around, part of their life. And it seems that because of his familiarity to them he was nothing too special, and so they didn't have faith in him. As I am writing this I am noticing something similar between the people in Jesus home town and my experience from a Christan upbringing and this predominately Christian town. When one has grown up in a Christian home the freshness and excitement of Jesus is often missing, he's just always been there. I hear it all the time from young people when talking about their testimonies, "My testimony is boring, I grew-up in a Christian home, I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 3, I never did anything really bad.blah blah blah..." The realization of Jesus' power is missing, the realization and expectation of a miracle is missing. There is nothing wrong with knowing Jesus from child up but I guess the question is - How do we keep being captivated anew with radical faith in a "Jesus bubble", where Jesus is familiar and has always been there? How do you create an expectant faith filled atmosphere as we raise our kids? (I'll have to explore this father in a future blog post)
V. 34 Jesus has compassion on them. I love these words about Jesus.
V. 46 Jesus need to get with his father again and so he makes the time for it.
V. 48 Funny that Jesus was about to pass by them, wasn't he heading to them? Maybe he was playing a joke on them?
V. 56 "All who touched him were healed." Amazing, Jesus these stories are amazing, I want to see action like this in our time too. There are so many sick and hurting people in our day too, if we have faith can these events take place in our time? Are they happening? Where? How? Lord help me to have faith. Increase the healing in our day.

Mark 5

V. 17 Jesus was just too much for them to Handle, they were afraid of what they didn't understand about the situation, so they send him away. I wonder if sometimes we do the same, Jesus is doing something amazing but it is way to different or scary for us so we have a choice to distance ourselves from him or follow him one step at a time in faith.
V. 19-20 "Go home to your family and tell them." Jesus gives the man his mission, to reach him family and home town, as opposed to going to far and distant places. I think this is an encouragement for people who don't feel God's call to distant places, but to stay near their family and neighborhood to be the missionary right where they are.
V. 43 I wonder why Jesus didn't want anyone to know what happened? and I always find I interesting that despite his wishes the story ended up being written in the most popular book of all time(also God's own word), still being read 2000+ years after it happened. Obviously he didn't really want it to be secret forever.

I like the story from 21-43. One of the reasons I like it is because it shows a day in the life of Jesus more than other stories seem to. Jesus is on the way to one miracle and another one "happens" on the way. I thought "happens" was a strange word to use for a miracle but it was the best word I could think of because from everyone but the woman and God's eyes it just suddenly happens. This day in the life of Jesus is filled with 2 kinds of people, those with faith and those without faith. Each persons experience with Jesus hinged on if they had faith or not. Because of faith Jairus got his daughter back, the woman stopped bleeding and was freed from her suffering, Peter, James and John got to witness an amazing miracle. because of their lack of faith the others had fear and sorrow, others ignored them, Jesus ignored them and left them out of the amazing things he was about to do, they did not witness a miracle or experience one themselves.
After reading this story I feel challenged to have faith, reminded to just believe Jesus will do what he says he can do and will be who he says he will be.

Mark 4

V. 2,34 he taught them(all the people) many things by parable and he only tells his disciples the meanings of the parables. The rest of the people had to figure it out. I don't really understand why he does this, it doesn't seem fair.
V. 40 It seems that Jesus expected brave and bold things from the disciples. Maybe with the fact that they had the inside scoop on the parables Jesus also expected more of them on account of it. Actually I think that is what V.24 and 25 says.
V. 41 I love this questions, I can feel the awe in it. " Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" I read this stories of Jesus and I get so excited. Let's be honest we don't always "feel" it, I mean "feeling" like Jesus really did this, sometimes it's just a story, but the closer I get to know him the more I really believe and "feel" it. It's a powerful thing to know it's reality. Jesus instantly calmed the storm. Anything seems possible.... I am in awe of You Jesus.

2 questions I ask myself
1. What do I see in this chapter that is already at work in my life? - I see good soil in my life (V.20) where truth is producing good fruit. I see being a disciple of Jesus is enlightening(V.34), I just wish sometimes he was here in person.
2. What new possibilities are found here? - Blessings of more understanding will be found as I use the knowledge/understanding I already have(V.24). Great and wondrous things will happen when I have faith and am not afraid (V.40), like the calming of the storm.

Mark 3

Jesus is not so interested in keeping a list of rules, he has his Fathers business in mind, which in this first story(v.1-6) includes Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath, which was considered work by the rule keepers. Jesus is concerned about reconciling the world to right not keeping rules, even to the point of taking great risks(the pharisees are now plotting to kill him because he does this) As I read this I wonder am I willing to take great risks to do the work of reconciliation? Risk like Jesus did?.... Lord make me willing to do your will no matter what it might do to my "image".

What questions do I have after reading this chapter?
V. 12 Why did Jesus not want the evil spirits to say who he was?
V. 14 Did Jesus only give power to preach and authority of demons to the apostles? Or was that also given to other believers?
V. 29 What does eternal sin mean?
V. 34, 35 Does biological family really mean nothing to Jesus?

* For those in the Young Moms Bible Study that are following along here, I just want to make a note about the lists of questions we gave you, feel free to deviate from those questions, as you can see I don't follow them. I actually have found it difficult to follow them. The point is to find what works for you and do it and learn from scripture.

Mark 2

The first story(v1-12) is Jesus healing the man who was lowered through the roof. The part that has caught my attention is the miracle of forgiven sins. We often see the physical healing as, "wow-Amazing" but take the forgiveness miracle for granted, at least I do. I know forgiveness. I've experienced that a lot but physical healing not so much, only a few times in my life have I specifically identified my healing as a miracle. We, or I should say I, need to be more wowed over forgiveness because they are equal miracles.

Jesus a friend of sinners, Jesus not for the ones who think they're religious(v.13-17).
1. What does this say to our world? - Jesus is for them.
2. What does this say to our country? - Jesus is for them.
3. What does this say to our community? - Jesus is for them.
4. What does this say to our congregation? - Jesus is for us and we need to move out from our 4 walls and 101 self-serving programs to be Jesus to our world, country and community.
5. What does this say to our family? - Jesus is for them
6. What does this say to me? - Jesus is for me and I need to remember to extend grace and that Jesus is good news for sinners and I need to be their friends too.

Mark 1

Journaling Mark 1
As I read the chapter my mind didn't settle on just one story or passage but several points that stand out.
I notice it is interesting that Jesus is tempted(v.12) and yet in James 1 says God can not be tempted. Not a discrepancy, I don't think, it just shows me Jesus was able to be tempted because he was fully human, which I feel brings Jesus closer to really knowing and understanding what I go through. Oh Jesus you know what I go though, your strength will be my strength.
Verse 35 seems to highlight, Jesus gets up early to pray in solitude. He's getting his fathers priorities for the day..... Jesus I want to be like you... I don't know how often Jesus does that, it doesn't say, we always assume it was daily maybe it was weekly maybe monthly does it really matter? I know my day goes in a wonderful way when I can get up in the house while it's still calm and quiet and have some solitude with my heavenly father, to get his priorities. Jesus thanks for teaching us how it's done.

1 What is the question to which the text responds?
- Was Jesus really tempted like us? Does Jesus need to get direction from God? What does Jesus do to get directions from God?
2 What do these passages say to you about relating to others?
- I will know the fathers priorities in relating to others when I spend time with him in a quiet place like Jesus did.

Christmas Break Challenge

I want to give you the same challenge as we gave in our Young Moms Bible Study for the Christmas break.
Some of you might be like me, when routine changes I need something different to keep me focused on Studying and learning from God's word, or I do nothing at all.

The challenge is to read one chapter a day in Mark and journal. There are 16 chapters, so since there are 21 days we actually have 5 free days. (which I know is 3 weeks, when Christmas break is only 2 weeks, but that is how long we have until out Bible Study meets again)

So the challenge is read a chapter and journal your thought and answer some application questions of the text. Like-

What does this say to our world?
What does this say to our family?
What does this say to our community?
What does this say to our congregation?
What does this say to me?

or

What does the text say?
What does the text mean?
Ho will I respond?

or other questions you think are important to the chapter.

So I'm going to do this here through my blog, I'm going to journal my thoughts on each chapter and I'd love for those of you who are taking up the challenge to join me by adding your thoughts, comments and questions for each chapter.

Tribute to Ben Sawatzky

For those of you who knew Ben Sawatzky, who dies this past weekend, go to Ben's blog and comment about what he meant to you. Tomorrow Tuesday Dec. 15 at 2:00pm is Ben's Funeral.

I knew Ben because he was almost always at the coffee table at church when I was there, he'd have already made coffee and was waiting for others to arrive. We really took him for granted. He always brought food. I remember when Marv found out he had diabetes and the other pastors where watching their weight he started bringing fruit instead of sweets because it was what you guys would eat. One things for sure, Ben won't be lonely anymore, but we'll be missing him.

Funny - from my kids

Some day my kids are going to hate me for having a blog, but they make me laugh, I can't help but tell you about them.

Some of the things that make me laugh are the words my children mix up, or what they think is being said is not what really is being said. So funny what they say

My kids have all honestly said these

Tomatoes for Potatoes (they still get them mixed up) "Tomatoes and gravy."
crotches for crutches (We didn't correct his one for a while it was too funny)
6 white boomers sung as 6 white bloomers (from the Australian Christmas tune)
grill cheese are girl cheese at our house (the burnt ones are boy cheese)
"O Tannenbaum" sung distinctly as "oh tiny bum" (that was definitely sung for me ;P)
french immersion was french inversion (this took a while to correct, lol)
annoying and ignoring always getting mixed (One pestering the other in the back seat, "Mommy, she's ignoring me!")
pimple for Pupil (heard this one today)

A Baby in Another World

Today you are going to read my dream diary. I actually don't have one but I've often thought I should keep one, I dream every night and often when I tell them to Ben he is sure I have the strangest ones. Be warned my dreams can be disturbing to some.

I was at a gathering and I was in the kitchen I think, then I turned to find a baby in a cradle, the baby was a new born and had not been feed since it's birth, it had been laid in the cradle and abandoned. The baby was still alive but was turning blue from hunger. I brought it to my breast and what do you know, I had milk for it... lots of milk. The babies face began changing from blue to a beautiful blend of African and White skin, the baby was happy and so was I. I was bonding with the baby now and I was pleased when the unknown biological mother said "You can have it". The gathering continued and I let others hold my baby. At some point while the baby was elsewhere I discovered it was time to feed again -a nursing mother can just tell. But the baby was not around so I poured my milk(yes I mean poured) into an ice cream pail but it was watery almost all water, my mom was there I was calling for her to get a second container because there was so much. Then it was over, the dog barged into the bedroom chasing the cat; beautiful baby, watering milk, gathering, all disappeared into another world, a distant time.

Not sure why I wanted to share that with you.
Some might say "Too much information!" and I say oh well, that's just the way my blog is, that's just the way I am :P.
I found something odd and wonderful about it.