Rev. Paul's Blog

Surely This Isn't Rocket Science!

2011-11-11T15:30:00.002-05:00

I don't mean to seem disrespectful, but is the City of Toronto for real handing out panhandling tickets and wondering why the number of tickets issued might be skyrocketing?

It seems that the number of tickets issued to Toronto's homeless people for panhandling has increased by more than 2,000 per cent in the past 11 years. I was unaware that Toronto has what they call a "Safe Streets Act" that allows Toronto's finest to issue tickets to anyone who solicits money, stakes out an ATM's, a bus stop or frequents other places with captive audiences.

In the year 2000, 710 tickets were issued. Last year it skyrocketed to 15,324. The "Safe Streets Act" allows for recommended fines of $500 for the first offence, but the average penalty is usually around $60, which is $60 more than those 15,000 plus panhandlers had in order to pay the fine. Out of the 6,388 tickets issue to youth, only 12 of these tickets have ever been paid. It seems that there is an outstanding balance owing from all of these issued tickets in the amount of $723,068, not to mention the cost of the number of Toronto's finest who were paid to issue these fines and the people at City Hall who are paid to administer the fines.

I'm sorry, but doesn't it make you wonder what brain child decided that this would be a good idea? Perhaps if the city came up with a plan for more emergency housing and free suppers that $700,000 would have gone a long way toward helping people instead of helping to destroy whatever self-esteem they may have left. I'm sure that if the churches in Toronto were approached with some help with organization and legistics from the City of Toronto, they could find much more humane solutions don't you think??

Why Can't Some People Just Admit They Screwed Up!

2011-10-14T09:56:00.002-04:00

Some days when you read the paper you think to yourself that there's just a lot of print on a page, but in today's Globe and Mail (Friday, October 14th, 2011) there was one headline that I just had to read: "Tape Revives Anger over RCMP Conduct".

As it turns out, a couple in Hot Springs, British Columbia are still asking for some sort of accountability for what appears to be a total "miscarriage of justice."

An RCMP officer who is supposed to be responding to a 911 call in rural Mission B.C. of a neighbour reporting six gunshots. There is also taped conversation between the officer and dispatch where the two are laughing about the call, and as it turns out the officer responds to the scene but never ever gets out of his car to investigate, he doesn't speak to the neighbour who made the 911 call, he didn't go to the house where the alleged incident occured, he simply sat in his car and took seven minutes to file an electronic report on the incident. (I'd love to read what he wrote!)

Four days later, police were called back to the home where they found a man dead, and his girlfriend in severe medical distress. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance, but died en route.

This is a terrible situtation, where it's obvious to me at least that if the officer had done his job, this woman would no doubt still be alive, or at least she would have had a chance to survive.

It's the woman's parents who are seeking justice. The RCMP have supposedly completed their investigation,and conducted a disciplinary hearing for the officer that lasted less than an hour that resulted in the officer being docked a days pay. The officer pleaded guilty to a charge of "disgraceful conduct" and since the incident the officer has been promoted and is still actively serving the RCMP as an officer. This officer was totally negligent of his duty, and the penalty should certainly been more severe than docking him for a days pay and then later promoting him in rank with I'm sure a pay raise.

Where is the accountability? I'm sure that there are hundreds more of these types of "disgraceful conduct" hearings that never make the pages of the Globe and Mail, but because of a persons neglect of their duties, hundreds of other family members have had to live with the consequences.

Why doesn't this officer just fess up and admitt that he royally screwed up, and at least apologize to the parents involved. Society today seems to spend more time covering their ass than doing their jobs and admitting that at times we are neglegent in our duties. Perhaps police work isn't this officers forte! Perhaps his punishment should have been cleaning up the crime scene at the end of the investigation.

Yes the Truth! - It's important during an Election Campaign.

2011-09-30T12:45:00.005-04:00

I read Jeffrey Simpson's column in the Globe and Mail this morning and WOW he's right on target! When will politicians realize that they are dealing with a very knowledgeable population of voters. Don't you think it's time they told the truth from the very beginning, instead of making all the promises they do and then after the election have to break it to us as gently as possible that, "Oh I didn't realize that we couldn't reduce the taxes, or like the last Ontario election "sorry guys we can't afford to pay for your PSA tests, we had no idea how much that would cost, but you don't mind paying the $30 a pop do ya?"

Personally, I would be tempted to vote for a leader who told the truth regardless of what political party they belonged to.

Unfortuantely there doesn't seem to be another Jack Layton standing in the wings. In fact, Jack hasn't been gone that long, and already they have forgotten about the death bed letter the wrote. You know, new rules about how to get along, and oh yes it's really important to really care about what you do, and the people that you serve.

According to Jeffrey Simpson, the various political parties have conducted the research that tells them that "straight talk won't sell". It seems that only after an election can the "straight talk" begin.

Personally, I think the politicians and their backroom people highly underestimate who they are dealing with. October 6th is looming ahead of us. Have you been able to decided between the three parties and their almost identical platforms? Let me know if you have gleamed something I haven't. We'll soon be informed of all the broken promises and all the new taxes!

Professional Sports - Life's Greatest Reality Show

2011-03-12T16:19:00.002-05:00

It's been a long while since I made my last post. Sometimes when you know there is nothing you can do about it, at least you can write about it. Writing about it at least gives you the opportunity to perhaps figure out how you really feel about something.

This week, there was another serious body check in the NHL that caused a player to be hospitalized. Some say it's just part of the game, and that we should all stop our belly aching and just accept it, others with a little more sensitivity think that something should be done to reduce the number of injuries, fights and head injuries.

As a child, a youth and young man I played the game of hockey. It was a series of injuries that I received that led to me to lose interest in playing the game. All of the nonsense that has been going on in the NHL lately has helped me decide to do something else with my leisure time than sit in front of the television and watch hockey, because of course I could never afford to go to an actual NHL game even if the tickets were available. This sport as well as many others has priced itself out of the average persons ability to go to a game. This trend also prevails in minor hockey associations that charge such high registration that a large segment of the population can't play. I'm told that the average family with a child playing travel hockey has to spend up to $8000 a year for their child to paricipate.

Profesional sports have set a lot of children up for failure. Even if I had a child with the gift for playing a game professionally, I would really encourage them to get their education first so that when they get creamed playing the game professionally, they will still be able to support themselves and their family.

Stephen Brunt who writes for the Globe and Mail made some really good points about professional hockey and the NHL. He believes the problem with the NHL is leadership. I have to believe that the problem with the success or failure of any organization usually depends upon leadership. In the case of the NHL, Brunt says that "the NHL, in part, is in the violence business, which means it is willing to accept significant risks to the health of its players. But the role of a commisioner is also different from that of CEO, whose only concern is protecting the interests of the shareholders. Professional sport is in many ways a faith-based entertainment business. The fans, who buy in not just for a couple of hours of distraction, but often for a lifetime, need to think of the game as distinct from the commercial aspects of the game. There is something pure and essential there, to be respected, to be protected."

Brunt feels that it's time for Gary Bettman to stop his whining. It's also Bettman's arrogant attitude, especially in the face of criticism and pressure that indicates the kind of leader he is. If Gary Bettman can't rise above it, then what is a commissioner for?

I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't a good time for a whole lot of so called professionals to get a real job, let's be real, especially with the economic prospects for the future, what professional sports players are paid is absolutely a disgrace.

What's Really Behind the Opposition to Universal Health Care in the U.S.??

2010-03-22T11:40:00.002-04:00

I've just been sitting here listening to political commentators speaking on the close decision last night to approve a plan for Universal Health Care in the U.S.

The video news coverage on the subject these past few days has been fast and furious! For me, the one common denominator regarding the opposition to any form of Universal Health Care seems to be coming from those who appear to be able to afford their private health care either through work benefits or they have sufficient wealth to independently pay for it.

It begs the question, "Is this just another form of discrimination?" If you are an American withhout the ability to have basic health care, it is going to control your ability to move on with your life? It's pretty hard to provide for your family, or take care of your family if every dollar you make is going toward trying to stay healthy or heal yourself from a chronic health condition.

It's really easy to say NO to Universal Health care if you are independently wealthy! It seems to me that it's just another way for the rich to control the poor, to keep them in their place. We talk all the time about pay equity, so what about health equity? What's the difference, unless you happen to already have health care.

Our whole world is constantly struggling with the definition of the words, fair and equitable.

Another Custody Battle

2010-02-03T17:36:00.003-05:00

I know I'm not the only one who thinks that changes to the Family Law Act are long overdue. Two young boys in Alberta are dead. Two boys who just wanted their parents to love them and take care of them and guide them on the journey through life. But their lives are over because once again, their parents were fighting over ownership.

Quite frankly, our Family Court system sucks! We have so many custody cases before the courts that the judges don't have the time to properly assess who is who in order to make decisions that are fair and eqitable to all involved. Children have just become pawns in a competition for ownership.

I have thought about this for some time, somehow couples in difficulty need more support and guidance. Before they run to a lawyer, they need time to sit down and talk to each other in the presence of a mediator. Someone who can guide them through the mine field of feelings and fears. In fact I think all divorces and custody of children should never be decided in a court but in a comfortable and safe place where people can talk, question, and explore alternatives, so that no children in the future will have to live without one of their parents in their life, that they will know they are loved and protected by both of their parents who afterall more than likely conceived the child in love, at least once upon a time.

The death of any child is a tradgedy no matter how it happens, but to kill your children because you can't seem to find a way to share them is unconscionable. It's obvious that courts are not the answer!!

Putting it all in perspective!

2010-01-19T12:46:00.002-05:00

Like the rest of you, I have been watching the goings on in Haiti. Nothing can be sadder that to see a country already considered as one of the poorest in the world, destroyed by a devestating Earthquake.

This morning I heard, (can't remember the source) that it will likely take 10 billion dollars to rebuild Haiti. My questions is what will it look like? Will 10 billion dollars restore it to what it looked like before the Earthquake, or will 10 billion dollars give the people of Haiti a safe place to live with running water and sewage treatment????

I was thinking about how much the Vancouver Olympics is going to cost. Last I heard it was somewhere in the 350 billion dollar range. It's really hard to get your head around these numbers! Can we really rebuild Haiti for 10 billion dollars? That would mean that for just a little less than 3% of the estimated cost of the Vancouver Olympics, we could rebuild the country of Haiti?? If we can, what does this really say about our Stewardship of dollars. How can we justify spending 350 billion dollars on an event which is in many people's minds, exclusive. Only a very small minority of the world's population will be competing at the Vancouver Olympics. This also doesn't take into consideration the minority of Canadians who can actually attend the Olympics. A vast majority of Canadians don't have the monetary ability to pay for tickets, let alone the transporation, food and accomodation prices, all inflated just in time for the event. I'm just wondering what the per athelete cost to provide the venues for these atheletes would be?? I guess you might simply divide the number of atheletes registered to compete at the Olympics and divide it into the approximate cost of 350 billion dollars, and I guess I would have my answer. Probably any way you look at it, in retrospect, the answer is probably not something that we really want to ponder.

Doesn't it make your wonder about the stewardship priorities for the future of our world and future societies?

How far would 350 billion dollars go toward helping our third world brothers and sisters to experience the kind of lifestyle that we take for granted here in Canada? How many billion dollars would it take to eliminate poverty in Canada??

It's not all that much fun to try and put things into perspective!

I'm Back

2009-12-29T20:12:00.002-05:00

I know that I promised to write again soon, but maybe not this soon.

Just felt the need to thank my extended family for such a wonderful Christmas. I know that one of my sons (Andrew) reads my blog so I just wanted to let them all know how important it was to Gini and I that they made their way to Leamington.

I'm already looking forward to our summer get together at the cottage on the August long weekend so everyone - make sure you book the time now.

I am so grateful for all that God has given Gini and I!

Again, we will talk soon.

Where O Where did December go?

2009-12-29T20:04:00.002-05:00

My last blog was early in December! Can't believe it has been that long since I blogged! Advent and Christmas went quickly, but I enjoyed every moment of it. Thanks to Leamington United Church, my Christmas present among many from them was a new Multi-media system. WOW! Installed the week before Christmas, we were able to use it the first time on Christmas Eve. Again WOW! Leamington is definitely my home, and thanks to everyone who have helped to make it that way.

Hey, what's with this snow in Leamington? Hopefully this is all we will get this winter. LOL

Just watching the World Junior Hockey Championship! Go Canada Go!

Just heard on the TSN that some baseball player is going to make 66 million dollars a year, I can't even phathom someone making that kind of money. Please tell me another person worth that kind of a salary?

I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

We'll talk soon, I promise.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

2009-12-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

Are any of us surprised that we will likely be deep sixing millions of doses of the N1H1 vacine? Between the Canadian Media and Health Canada, millions of Canadians don't care anymore. How many Candians are tired of being told they didn't qualify for the shot. I still don't understand why they didn't just innoculate anyone who showed up at the clinics. For most Candians the worst is over. The hype is over, and for most Canadians so is any threat of every contracting the H1N1 virus.

If I had been a betting man, I would have made a bet months ago that millions of doses of the vacine would have been dumped. Now we are talking about who we can sell it to, as at least 60 percent of Canadians have not yet received the shot, which Health Canada predicted most Candians would have received before the end of 2009.

Perhaps the Vancouver Olympics can pay for the dumped doses of H1N1 out of their surplus. I think that 2010 will be another tough year for Canadian Taxpayers. Between the overage for the Vancouver Olympics and the cost of providing vacine for all Canadians, Canadians will surely pay the price. Makes you wonder what 300 billion dollars could have done for poor Canadians!

Doesn't it make you wonder who is in charge? Thank goodness God is in charge. We wouldn't want to leave it up to our politicians, our Health experts, our Media or our Financial experts.

2009-12-09T23:37:00.000-05:00

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

2009-12-09T23:21:00.001-05:00

I have never been a betting man, but this H1N1 thing makes one wonder. I'm not surprise that we have literally millions of doses of the H1N1 shot being refridgerated somewhere. Again, I believe that our Canadian Media helped to shoot us all in the foot once again. Although Health Canada also had a hand in what has happened. Why they had to limit who got a shot I will never know. People got tired of being told they didn't qualify for the shot and now they don't care. It seems to everyone the pandemic is over?? So what can our Canadian media jump onto now. I'm so glad that Tiger Woods wasn't Canadian.

Oh yes, back to the H1N1. I'm sure that in the end we will probably deep six millions of doses of the shot and who pays for it??? Maybe the Olympics will realize a surplus and they can help pay for the overage on the shot! Not! No, I think Canada will likely be just further in debt.

Doesn't it make you wonder who really is in charge. Thank goodness God is in charge. Thank goodness God is not a politician or a journalist. Too bad Jesus didn't have a Canadian Jounalist looking into whether or not he was tortured. I wonder what Jesus would have thought about a public inquiry into his crucifixion.

Thank goodness God loves us unconditionally!!

H1N1 what a colossal fiasco!

2009-11-18T12:24:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile since my last post. I have decided that I don't need to produce a pulitzer prize winning piece every time I write.

I was at an N1H1 clinic on Monday. I don't understand why they are still only vacinating those in their predetermined catagories. The clinic where I attended, it's parking lot was absolutely jamed with vehicles, but once inside I realized that all of the vehicles belonged to the people working at the clinic. There were 16 vacination stations and all 16 were vacant. There wasn't a line up eithier! Just clinical type people sitting around drinking their bottled water and looking for someone, anyone to stick a needle into.

When is Health Canada going to realize that it would be better just to vacinate whoever walks through the door and get on with it. Now we are throwing away vacine because it is past it's expiry date.

I guess the bigger problem is that Canadians live in fear. We're all afraid that we, or our children are going to die from H1N1. We're afraid to let our kids play on the street for fear that some pervert will come by and kidnap them or ask them for directions to the closest N1H1 vacination clinic. We won't let our children play in the park without supervision, as a result we now set up play dates for our kids. We are afraid to walk our streets after dark, as we might find ourselves in the middle of a drive by shooting. We're afraid to drink the water, and eat the produce that we buy at the local market. We're afraid to go to our local hospitals because heaven forbid they might make us sicker than we already feel.

Heck, I would be afraid to go to the Olympics in B.C., something for sure would get me. Why are we spending 300 billion dollars on an elitest event anyway. Just think about how much good we could do for people in this country and elsewhere with that money, but hey that's a subject for another day.

As Red Green says, "Keep your stick on the ice, and remember we're all in this together."

Enough is Enough

2009-09-03T22:31:00.005-04:00

Politics - what can I say! I once remember thinking out loud at a church meeting about how politics shouldn't get in the way of doing the Lord's work, and I was quickly corrected and told that it was the church that invented politics?

I'm already sick of hearing our Prime Minister and others making all sorts of threats about another election, kissing babies and getting election pamplets and signs ready, and the non- confidence vote hasn't taken place yet! Sometimes I think it's a pretty dishonest way to make a living...being a politician that is!

I'm sure there are very few Canadians who really think that Canada needs another election. I know that I'm not telling you anything new, but holding four elections in five years seems to carry with it a really bad odour. The elections in 2004, 2006 and 2008 cost our country over 847 million dollars. Our country's present deficit is somewhere in excess of 50 billlion dollars.

There was a time when the United Church of Canada had the ears of our politicians. They used to care how we felt about issues, but I'm now convinced they have all become too arrogant to listen to what their constituents or the public has to say anymore. Perhaps it's time to get back to becoming a church of letter or email writers once again. Believe me, there is still power in writing a letter!

Political strategists complained about the poor voter turnout to the last election. Can you imagine what it will be like this time, smack in the middle of H1N1, Remembrance Day, and oh yes Christmas shopping.

If you would like to join my email writing campaign, let me know. Remember as Red Green would say, "We're all in this together."

I Got an Answer!

2009-08-27T15:06:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone. During the 40th General Council of the United Church of Canada, which I did not attend, I sent the General Council office an email. I was interested to know if there were any guidelines regarding the number of times a person may attend General Council as a Commissioner.

Yesterday I received an answer to my email. It had been sent to Cynthia Gunn, Legal/Judicial Counsel for the United Church of Canada.

She confirmed for me what I thought I already knew. "There are no limits in The Manual or elsewhere on the number of times that a person may serve as a Commissioner."

In The Manual, the election of Commissioners is left to the discretion of the Conference. It's up to the Conference to decide on who might best serve as Commissioners. Conferences tend to elect those who have been nominated from Presbyteries, but this is only a practice, it's not mandatory; as the election is entirely in the Conference's hands.

It was suggested that I might want to consider initiating a proposal to the next General Council to limit the number of times that a person could serve as Commissioner, with a view to allowing as many people as possible to have an opportunity to serve in that role.

It seems to me, that many local congregations have recognized the need to limit the number of terms or years that any one person can serve in any position in the church and have included it in their constitutions. There are many people who need some framework around any responsibility they might assume in any organization. We want to know what is expected of us and how long that expectation might be made upon us. However, we are talking about the church where in years gone by, people have accepted positions in the church and decided that it was a life sentence.

I spent a couple of days this week with my mother, who has been involved at every level of our church. She has reached an age where she personally feels that she has fulfilled all of the committments that she has ever made to the church, and that it's time for others to take on that responsibility.

When we talk of "Living the Welcome," we also need to think about what we ask people to do for us and what time frame is involved. Those of us who have been actively involved in the church for years take many things for granted. Living the Welcome means inviting new people to become involved in the community and life of our churches, many who have had little or no experience with a church community. We need to be very sensitive to the feelings and expectations of seekers, those showing an interest in become involved and part of our congregations. Even such things as our church policies and all of the unwritten congregational rules will act as a deterent to new people becoming part of us.

As a church, we constantly need to access how we are doing things, (perhaps create fewer rules or maybe no rules lol) as in these changing times, we can no longer use the United Church standard line, "We've never done it that way before!"

Remember, "We're all in this together." (Thanks again Red Green)

40th General Council (Previously Posted)

2009-08-27T14:44:00.005-04:00

Hi everyone! This weekend marks the opening of the 40th General Council of the United Church of Canada. As you may or may not know, General Council this year is at the Kelowna Campus of the University of British Columba. There is still smoke in the air as the delegates are arriving.

General Council is not something I have ever been lucky enough to attend. Truthfully, it is often many of the same people who attend session after session. I often wonder how people in the church can complain about the outcome of some of the church decisions that are made, when we send the same old delegates to General Council.

Recently I was reviewing some of the past articles written for the United Church Observer. In one of David Wilson's editorials he talked about change. David was talking about significant events that had happened in his family lately that got him to thinking about how so much changes and there is absolutely nothing that we can do about it. He used the following examples to illustrate - his father's passing, his inlaw's upcoming 50th wedding anniversary, his 17 year old son's first romance, his 14 year old daughter's transition from elementary school to high school, all things that just happen without any interference by anyone.

At the 40th General Council, there will be decisions made that will mean changes somewhere, somehow to our church. We don't realize the changes that happen in our local church. Often we miss the little signs of change along the way, then shudder to our foundations when we realize the world we inhabit is no longer the same and that it will move on without us if we don't re-tool. We need to welcome change as an opporutunity and a challenge, not a threat. When we resist change, we may simply be masking our fears. There is fear in the unknown, but often we are afraid of something happening that we have absolutley no control over, these things will happen with or without us staying up all night to struggle and worrry.

To be honest, the older I get, the less I worry about change. I will be happy to see the light of the next day, celebrate a child or grandchild's birthday, attend a graduation, celebrate a wedding, even celebrate a life of someone I have loved. Change is something that we need not fear, because God is there walking the journey with us. God loves each one of us unconditionally, and just knowing that makes all the difference in the world. As the saying goes, for which I cannot give you the author, "Don't Worry, be Happy!!". And as Red Green would say, "Keep your stick on the ice, we're all in this together."

Bye for now!

Originally posted August 4th, 2009

2009-08-26T11:17:00.004-04:00

Today is August 4th, whee did July go! I'm back from a couple of weeks away from the office. Summer's here. Hot and humid, just like they said it would be here in Leamington.

General Council starts on Sunday. I have been thinking alot about the fires in B.C. Haven't heard if they are going to affect General Council which is being held in Kelowna. I will be followiing the proceedings of General Council and perhaps will have something to write about as the week moves along.

Thought a lot about technology and the church. Susan White from "Chritian Worship and Technological Change" says, "Men and women of every age have had to integrate technology into their personal communal perspectives, and to manage the social, oral and intellectual anxieties that the relationship with technology occasions. 'Every age then is truly and Age of Technology."

Every age has a way of dealing with and utilizing technology. So too, has the electronic age in which we live. Technology has created a number of challenges for the church as it endeavors to worship God, reach people for Christ and stay true to the Gospel.

I remember when I was the Administrative Director for Lambton United Church Centre back in 1988 trying to buy a modem to hook up to an old apple computer I used at the time in the Church Centre office. I think it was one of the first times that General Council moved to provide daily information of the General Council happenings using the information highway of the Internet. It was also the year General Council dealt with "The Issue". (I stand to be corrected, but of course my memory is not what it used to be.) Of course it's taken many churches some 20+ years to recognize how this new technology could be used to enhance worship.

People are always asking me "Why the use of a screen in our sanctuary during worship?" The only answer that I can give is that our culture is beginning to demand it. If we as a congregation and a larger church are going to have an impact on the culture in which we live and the people we live and work with, then we are going to have to speak their language. I'm convinced that we can use a screen in worship to reach those in our culture who have become solely dependant upon the use of technology and yet still hold onto the truth of the message of the gospel. Using a screen can help us to discover ways of worshipping God that we would not have embraced or considered otherwise. Len Wilson in a book entitled "The Wired Church" says, "A media integrated church does not abandon the traditions of the church, it reinterprets how that tradition speaks to its constituents at the place in which they live."

That's it for today. We'll have to talk later.

Originally Posted on July 24, 2009 different location

2009-08-26T10:59:00.003-04:00

Today is my fifth day of holidays, and here I am working on our website. In the past two days I have spent quite a bit of time looking at other United Church websites. It's interesting! They are all so different in design, but basically have all the same information. For me, it was a great exercise in just being nosey. lol (for those who do not use messenger or any of those programs, lol usually means laughing out loud.)

If our church is going to be relevent, especially to the seekers in our communities, we cerainly need to make use of the technology that is available to us. Yesterday, I met a gentleman from a multi-media company to discuss whether or not our church could use this technology effectively in our sanctuary. It might just be a dream, but if we don't dream and look at our future daily, where will our church be in ten years. (Not sure I want to hear the answer.)

As churches in this 21st century we need to be ethusiastic and inclusive. If we are to participate in "Living the Welcome", we need to live the welcome in our present congregations with our present extended family first. New people can tell if a congregation is operating as dysfunctionally as perhaps their own family. Seekers for sure, don't need another dysfunctional family.

During my web site surfing I came across another church's mission statement that said "through Christ's teaching strive to be a caring and sharing congregation, working in partnership with Christ to grow in faith, knowledge and wisdom and to serve God in our community and throughout the world." Wow - working in partnership with Christ! Now that's a novel idea eh? Another website included in their mission statement the following: "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors." How true!

Talk soon!

Previously posted in another context

2009-08-25T16:46:00.002-04:00

Today is Saturday, August 22, 2009, and it's hard to believe that a week has gone by, and I hadn't written an entry for my blog.

Just got home a few minutes ago from doing a wedding at the church. The bride wore the most beautiful wedding gown that I have ever seen. The bride and groom were at one time both refugees. In fact the groom told me that he and the bride at one time were in the same refugee camp in Thailand. They were both 5 or 6 years old at the time, but isn't it wonderful that they both came to Canada as refugees with their parents and siblings and were able to connect with each other. The groom and his parents were settled in London and the bride and her parents were settle in the Windsor area. They were reaquainted when the groom came to Leamington to be a Chiropractor and the Bride and her parents lived in Leamington.

It reminds me of my wife Gini and I who knew each other when we were about 8 years old, lived across the street from each other. As many of you know Gini's father is one of my mentors. Now a retired ordained United Church minister who last year celebrated 60 years of ordination. Hopefully many of you will meet him at my covenanting service on September 27th, 2009. I have asked him to read scripture.

I just got off the phone with my best friend in the whole world (other than Gini) who lives in St. Martins, New Brunswick. I was checking with him to see how he was preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Bill. My friend doesn't get too excited about anything, perhaps that's why I liked living in the Maritimes, where most people take life a day at a time. I gave him a call today, because yesterday was his wife Barbara's 63rd birthday. It's probably a good thing that they don't have a computer and read my blogs, as Barb probably wouldn't be too impressed with me telling how old she is. Brian and I have been best friends for almost 30 years. We were on the St. Martins Volunteer Fire Department together, and it was Brian who pulled me out of a forest fire many years ago with the aid of a Scott air pack.

This week has been full of tragedy for many people. Weather and Mother Nature have a way of bringing us all toether. I was really impressed by the friendship that had developed in a commuity where homes and lives in a matter of seconds had been destroyed. The next day, they are on the street together, closer than they had ever been. Neighbours who until the tornado went through, didn't even know each other's names. Now they were sharing stories, pizza and beer.

God does work in mysterious ways, we just need to pay attention.

Thanks again for the privilege of sharing some thoughts with you! Until next time, as my favourite comedian would say, "Keep your stick on the ice, we're all in this together."

Life's Always Changing

2009-08-25T15:15:00.000-04:00

Today, I have embarked upon using www.blogger.com as a new host for my blogs. My blog on the Leamington United Church website under news was my own design, but it was on the suggestion of our Website's creator that I use the above source as a host and link it to our website, so today I am embarking upon something new. Hope it all works out.

I have never considered myself any kind of a computer expert. I was used to using the internet and email just like everyone else, but it wasn't until I came to Leamington that I started to realize how effective a website can be. A website though, needs daily attention. There is nothing worse than a bulletin board that contains posters and information of events that have past. Our website is the same, so we have to keep it up to date and fresh if anyone is going to pay attention to it.

Even a church has to utilize the most up to date methods of communication in presenting its message. It's time Leamington United Church utilized the technology available to us. Afterall that's probably where perspective spiritual seekers will be found.

Talk soon