Friday, March 02, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
You Know You're From Richmond When...
I got this from the Facebook, You know you're from Richmond when...
1. there are more places to buy bubble tea than a cup of coffee!
2. when snowy roads in richmond are worse than iraq conditions (thank you, jared)
3. people ask if you speak chinese
4. you know that east richmond is brown, west richmond is rich/asian, and there is no north or south
5. more sushi places than mcdonalds
6. when there are more bmw's and benz's in sight than caucasians. dont think its racist...more like the truth!
7. You know No. 3 Road as the "Ho Chi Minh Trail"
8. You know that Steveston Highway has only half the speed limit of a real highway.
9. you see one white person for every 50 non-white people (i dont think thats racist)
10. there is absolutely nothing to do unless you want to shop at a mall where no signs are in english
11. you can be entertained for hours sitting in a parking lot and counting the accidents
12. when someone from out of town says "no way that person just did that" as they crossed 3 lanes to turn right instead of left and all you can say is "ive seen worse"
13. A weekend consists of trying to find a party, if not you end up drinking with a small group, going to BP, and heading to bed early.
14. you avoid # 4road because its too bumpy and will ruin your car because it is most likely lowered
15. you know someone, that knows someone you know, that knows someone else you know...........that knows you
16. When you're surprised when your car starts to roll faster when going down a hill because you've never gone down one.
17. you've most likely dated someone you know's ex
18. you probably know me (tahnee), or someone who knows me.
19. HAHA BEST ONE!! : when you have had driving lessons done by Bill from Trinity! (love this one)
20. Tim Horton's on No.3rd and Cambie has Chinese Translation on the Menu Board
21. when you tell people you are from richmond and they look at you with a confused look and say "...but you are white?"
22. you know that ryan styles has a home in steveston and colin mocherie also used to go to school here.
23. There's no point checking translink's website: Richmond busses come whenever the (beep) they want
24.You call your hometown "Ditchmond" yet jump to defend it whenever Vancouver or Burnaby kids start talking (beep)
25. You know that as the road numbers get bigger, so do your chances of getting stabbed
26.The sharp smell of cow manure in the morning no longer has you thinking that a sadistic farmer went crazy and blew up a bunch of cows. It's just the norm!
27. You know that Michael J Fox and Ryan Reynolds are both from Richmond, and that Ryan Reynolds attended Kwantlen for a bit. Actually maybe you didn't-but hey, now you know.
28. when you don't know that part of your city is called the golden village on richmond tourism brochures. however, once you find out that it is, you know exactly what area of richmond is being referred to
.29. you actually get offended by the truly terrible quality of sushi and sashimi found in any other city in BC, Canada, and North America
30. you've lived in richmond most your life, but you can count the number of times youve gone to landsowne mall with your fingers
31. youve seriously considered ticking the "member of a visible minority" box of numerous application forms...even though youre a caucassian male
32.even though theres three local ski mountains, you only ever go to one, because last time you went to the second it sucked, and you never even considered, ever, of going to the third
33.even though you live in canada, so called "land of ice and snow"...you helplessley acknowledge that ten cm of snow will effectively shut down vancouver.... for a week
34. We have no basements and understand the concept of "play rooms or games rooms"
35. Club blox now capital is something we all know about but will never ever go to
36. you had a picture with asian santa at RC.
37. when people use umbrellas, wear sun visors, and drive with gloves on, regardless of the weather.
38. you know ur from richmond when u know what a screamer is
39. you know ur from richmond when the only reason u go to lansdowne is for taco luis!!!
40. when french is no longer considered a second language, more a 4th or 5th
41.You have an earthquake buddy in Vancouver because you need a place to stay when the Big One hits and sinks Richmond like the Titanic.
42. Your biggest tourist attraction, Entertainment Boulevard, is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farms.
43.You know you can find every single religion represented on No. 5 Road.
44.You know what the dyke is - and it's not a derogatory term.
45.You've blazed at Alien Landing/Gary Point Park
.46.You know that Queensborough is not part of Richmond - neither is Delta/Tssawwassen.
44. you've been hammared out of your mind in steveston, at least twice.
45. you know a drug dealer, or two.
46. When your parents ask you want you want for dinner - you say you feel like eating "white" food.
47.You've eaten at Danny's - even though it's a convenience store.
48. You've eaten dim sum for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
49. when celebrities come to your city and throw laptops at old ladies (haha Denise Richards)
50. when you've been stuck in traffic for a couple hours cause there was another accident in the tunnel
51. you have a store called Rice World
52. you have full-serve gas stations
53. when during christmas you drive along blundell just to see the house with the lights...you all know which house i'm talking about
54. you have gone to the nature park thinking it would be a fun time, and left being really disappointed you didn't see anything larger than a duck.
55.you've been stuck behind a tractor on a oneway street
56. you have passed that large lot of land by garden city and westminster highway, and wonder, why haven't they done anything to it
57. it takes you half an hour to drive the 3 rd stretch, no matter what direction, or time of day
58.you know what was there before the giant casino "riverrock" was built
59. you know where the only drivethrough starbucks is
60.the posted speed limit is 50 but the mercedes beside you is doing 80 and you speed up because you know the cops will ticket him before he tickets you
61. you know the things you see in the fast and the furious really happen, or you know someone who supes up their car to street race, and then you laugh at them
62. you have a pitiful excuse for a beach
63. you or someone you know works/has worked at silvercity riverport. (haha yes..so true..i worked there for 2 years)
64.you've had an elementary school sub. called Mr. Richmond
65.you're confused when first hearing of the concept of filling up your own gas at a self-serve gas station
66. you get so freaking excited when you find out the most amazing band HEDLEY is in town for a free concert (this might only apply to me :S)
1. there are more places to buy bubble tea than a cup of coffee!
2. when snowy roads in richmond are worse than iraq conditions (thank you, jared)
3. people ask if you speak chinese
4. you know that east richmond is brown, west richmond is rich/asian, and there is no north or south
5. more sushi places than mcdonalds
6. when there are more bmw's and benz's in sight than caucasians. dont think its racist...more like the truth!
7. You know No. 3 Road as the "Ho Chi Minh Trail"
8. You know that Steveston Highway has only half the speed limit of a real highway.
9. you see one white person for every 50 non-white people (i dont think thats racist)
10. there is absolutely nothing to do unless you want to shop at a mall where no signs are in english
11. you can be entertained for hours sitting in a parking lot and counting the accidents
12. when someone from out of town says "no way that person just did that" as they crossed 3 lanes to turn right instead of left and all you can say is "ive seen worse"
13. A weekend consists of trying to find a party, if not you end up drinking with a small group, going to BP, and heading to bed early.
14. you avoid # 4road because its too bumpy and will ruin your car because it is most likely lowered
15. you know someone, that knows someone you know, that knows someone else you know...........that knows you
16. When you're surprised when your car starts to roll faster when going down a hill because you've never gone down one.
17. you've most likely dated someone you know's ex
18. you probably know me (tahnee), or someone who knows me.
19. HAHA BEST ONE!! : when you have had driving lessons done by Bill from Trinity! (love this one)
20. Tim Horton's on No.3rd and Cambie has Chinese Translation on the Menu Board
21. when you tell people you are from richmond and they look at you with a confused look and say "...but you are white?"
22. you know that ryan styles has a home in steveston and colin mocherie also used to go to school here.
23. There's no point checking translink's website: Richmond busses come whenever the (beep) they want
24.You call your hometown "Ditchmond" yet jump to defend it whenever Vancouver or Burnaby kids start talking (beep)
25. You know that as the road numbers get bigger, so do your chances of getting stabbed
26.The sharp smell of cow manure in the morning no longer has you thinking that a sadistic farmer went crazy and blew up a bunch of cows. It's just the norm!
27. You know that Michael J Fox and Ryan Reynolds are both from Richmond, and that Ryan Reynolds attended Kwantlen for a bit. Actually maybe you didn't-but hey, now you know.
28. when you don't know that part of your city is called the golden village on richmond tourism brochures. however, once you find out that it is, you know exactly what area of richmond is being referred to
.29. you actually get offended by the truly terrible quality of sushi and sashimi found in any other city in BC, Canada, and North America
30. you've lived in richmond most your life, but you can count the number of times youve gone to landsowne mall with your fingers
31. youve seriously considered ticking the "member of a visible minority" box of numerous application forms...even though youre a caucassian male
32.even though theres three local ski mountains, you only ever go to one, because last time you went to the second it sucked, and you never even considered, ever, of going to the third
33.even though you live in canada, so called "land of ice and snow"...you helplessley acknowledge that ten cm of snow will effectively shut down vancouver.... for a week
34. We have no basements and understand the concept of "play rooms or games rooms"
35. Club blox now capital is something we all know about but will never ever go to
36. you had a picture with asian santa at RC.
37. when people use umbrellas, wear sun visors, and drive with gloves on, regardless of the weather.
38. you know ur from richmond when u know what a screamer is
39. you know ur from richmond when the only reason u go to lansdowne is for taco luis!!!
40. when french is no longer considered a second language, more a 4th or 5th
41.You have an earthquake buddy in Vancouver because you need a place to stay when the Big One hits and sinks Richmond like the Titanic.
42. Your biggest tourist attraction, Entertainment Boulevard, is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farms.
43.You know you can find every single religion represented on No. 5 Road.
44.You know what the dyke is - and it's not a derogatory term.
45.You've blazed at Alien Landing/Gary Point Park
.46.You know that Queensborough is not part of Richmond - neither is Delta/Tssawwassen.
44. you've been hammared out of your mind in steveston, at least twice.
45. you know a drug dealer, or two.
46. When your parents ask you want you want for dinner - you say you feel like eating "white" food.
47.You've eaten at Danny's - even though it's a convenience store.
48. You've eaten dim sum for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
49. when celebrities come to your city and throw laptops at old ladies (haha Denise Richards)
50. when you've been stuck in traffic for a couple hours cause there was another accident in the tunnel
51. you have a store called Rice World
52. you have full-serve gas stations
53. when during christmas you drive along blundell just to see the house with the lights...you all know which house i'm talking about
54. you have gone to the nature park thinking it would be a fun time, and left being really disappointed you didn't see anything larger than a duck.
55.you've been stuck behind a tractor on a oneway street
56. you have passed that large lot of land by garden city and westminster highway, and wonder, why haven't they done anything to it
57. it takes you half an hour to drive the 3 rd stretch, no matter what direction, or time of day
58.you know what was there before the giant casino "riverrock" was built
59. you know where the only drivethrough starbucks is
60.the posted speed limit is 50 but the mercedes beside you is doing 80 and you speed up because you know the cops will ticket him before he tickets you
61. you know the things you see in the fast and the furious really happen, or you know someone who supes up their car to street race, and then you laugh at them
62. you have a pitiful excuse for a beach
63. you or someone you know works/has worked at silvercity riverport. (haha yes..so true..i worked there for 2 years)
64.you've had an elementary school sub. called Mr. Richmond
65.you're confused when first hearing of the concept of filling up your own gas at a self-serve gas station
66. you get so freaking excited when you find out the most amazing band HEDLEY is in town for a free concert (this might only apply to me :S)
Monday, January 22, 2007
"He makes e to lie down in green pastures." Psalm 23:2, NKJV
Here are some meaningful excerpts from the book I'm reading, Traveling Light, by Max Lucado.
The chapter I'm quoting from is, I Will Give You Rest, pages 37-43.
"Only one other living creature has as much trouble resting as we do. These creatures are woolly, simpleminded, and slow. No, not husbands on Saturday-sheep! Sheep can't sleep.
For sheep to sleep, everything must be just right. No predators. No tension in the flock. No bugs in the air. No hunger in the belly. Everything has to be just so.
Unfortunately, sheep cannot find safe pasture, nor can they spray insecticide, deal with the frictions, or find food. They need help. They need a shepherd to 'lead them' and help them 'lie down in green pastures.' Without a shepherd, they can't rest.
Without a shepherd, neither can we.
In the second verse of the Twenty-third Psalm David the poet become David the artist. His quill becomes a brush, his parchment a canvas, and his words paint a picture. A flock of sheep on folded legs, encircling a shepherd. Bellies nestled deep in the long shoots of gass. A still pond on one side, the watching shepherd on the other. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters" (Ps. 23:2 NKJV).
Note the two pronouns preceding the two verbs. He makes me....He leads me...
Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd. The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep's job-our job-is to watch the shepherd. With our eyes on our Shepherd, we'll be able to get some sleep. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You" (Isa. 26:3 NKJV).
We see the waves of the water rather than the Savior walking through them.
Change your focus and relax.
Life can get so loud we forget to shut it down.
God's message is plain: "If creation didn't crash when i rested, it won't crash when you do."
Repeat these words after me: It is not my job to run the world.
A century ago Charles Spurgeon gave this advice to his preaching students:
The chapter I'm quoting from is, I Will Give You Rest, pages 37-43.
"Only one other living creature has as much trouble resting as we do. These creatures are woolly, simpleminded, and slow. No, not husbands on Saturday-sheep! Sheep can't sleep.
For sheep to sleep, everything must be just right. No predators. No tension in the flock. No bugs in the air. No hunger in the belly. Everything has to be just so.
Unfortunately, sheep cannot find safe pasture, nor can they spray insecticide, deal with the frictions, or find food. They need help. They need a shepherd to 'lead them' and help them 'lie down in green pastures.' Without a shepherd, they can't rest.
Without a shepherd, neither can we.
In the second verse of the Twenty-third Psalm David the poet become David the artist. His quill becomes a brush, his parchment a canvas, and his words paint a picture. A flock of sheep on folded legs, encircling a shepherd. Bellies nestled deep in the long shoots of gass. A still pond on one side, the watching shepherd on the other. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters" (Ps. 23:2 NKJV).
Note the two pronouns preceding the two verbs. He makes me....He leads me...
Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd. The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep's job-our job-is to watch the shepherd. With our eyes on our Shepherd, we'll be able to get some sleep. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You" (Isa. 26:3 NKJV).
We see the waves of the water rather than the Savior walking through them.
Change your focus and relax.
Life can get so loud we forget to shut it down.
God's message is plain: "If creation didn't crash when i rested, it won't crash when you do."
Repeat these words after me: It is not my job to run the world.
A century ago Charles Spurgeon gave this advice to his preaching students:
Even beasts of burden must be turned out to grass occasionally; the very sea pauses at ebb and flood; earth keeps the Sabbath of the wintry months; and man, even when exalted to God's ambassador, must rest or faint, must trim his lamp or let it burn low; must recruit his vigor or grow prematurely old...In the long run we shall do more by sometimes doing less.
...for you to be healthy, you must rest. Slow down, and God will heal you. He will bring rest to your mind, to your body, and most of all to your soul. He will lead you to green pastures.
Green pastures were not the natural terrain of Judea. The hills around Bethlehem where David kept his flock were not lush and green. Even today they are white and parched. Any green pasture in Judea is the work of some shepherd. He has cleared the rough, rocky land. Stumps have been torn out, and brush has been burned. Irrigation. Cultivation. Such are the work of a shepherd.
Hence, when David says, "He makes me to lie down in green pastures," he is saying, "My shepherd makes me lie down in his finished work." With his own pierced hands, Jesus created a pasture for the soul. He tore out the thorny underbrush of condemnation. He pried loose the huge boulders of sin. In their place he planted seeds of grace and dug ponds of mercy.
And he invites us to rest there. Can you imagine the satisfaction in the heart of the shepherd when, with work completed, he sees his sheep rest in the tender grass?
Can you imagine the satisfaction in the heart of God when we do the same? His pasture is his gift to you. This is not a pasture that you have made. Nor is it a pasture that you deserve. It is a gift of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8 NIV).
In a world rocky with human failure, there is a land lush with divine mercy. Your Shepherd invites you there. He wants you to lie down. Nestle deeply until you are hidden, buried, in the tall shoots of his love, and there you will find rest."
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Colossians 4:2-6
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful and pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salkt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:2-6
So, I am commanded to devote myself to prayer, yet I don't. Why, when my manager tells me to do something, I'm right on it, but when God, who's much more improtant than my manager tells me to do something, I ignore him? Is it because I'm relying too much on grace? Do I turn a blind eye to God's discipline? Or do I just not care? Everything would flow better if I obeyed God and gave all to him, yet I always try to handle life on my own - what a waste of time and energy and unwanted stress.
I know that I am not always wise in the way I act towards outsiders, I'm not always careful and sometimes I don't even care. That's scary for me to admit. Not caring can lead to selfishness - even more scary.
How do I let my conversation be always full of grace and seasoned with salt? Oh right, give all my words to God - don't try to do things on my own, without God.
I want to be more like Jesus, my Shepherd, my Father.
So, I am commanded to devote myself to prayer, yet I don't. Why, when my manager tells me to do something, I'm right on it, but when God, who's much more improtant than my manager tells me to do something, I ignore him? Is it because I'm relying too much on grace? Do I turn a blind eye to God's discipline? Or do I just not care? Everything would flow better if I obeyed God and gave all to him, yet I always try to handle life on my own - what a waste of time and energy and unwanted stress.
I know that I am not always wise in the way I act towards outsiders, I'm not always careful and sometimes I don't even care. That's scary for me to admit. Not caring can lead to selfishness - even more scary.
How do I let my conversation be always full of grace and seasoned with salt? Oh right, give all my words to God - don't try to do things on my own, without God.
I want to be more like Jesus, my Shepherd, my Father.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Simon Birch
Wow, what an amazing movie! It teaches a good lesson, well many lessons.
*a 12 year old boy, born with a birth defect (the size of a toddler), into a home where his parents could care less
*Simons' best friend, Joe, is also an outcast, born to a single mother, he doesn't know who his father is
*Simon speaks out to what he knows is true and gets flack for it...other's believe it's because of his disability, but if he was a normal child, no one would care
*Simon believes that one day he will be a hero, and that his life has a purpose
*everyone else thinks he's crazy
*so, this movie teaches that just because one is small and appears unable to accomplish his dreams/beliefs, anything is possible
It's about life, death and everything inbetween. Our actions may lead to many different things, but even though the outcomes may seem unintentional, God has a hand in everything. Go watch Simon Birch, but have some kleenex handy.
*a 12 year old boy, born with a birth defect (the size of a toddler), into a home where his parents could care less
*Simons' best friend, Joe, is also an outcast, born to a single mother, he doesn't know who his father is
*Simon speaks out to what he knows is true and gets flack for it...other's believe it's because of his disability, but if he was a normal child, no one would care
*Simon believes that one day he will be a hero, and that his life has a purpose
*everyone else thinks he's crazy
*so, this movie teaches that just because one is small and appears unable to accomplish his dreams/beliefs, anything is possible
It's about life, death and everything inbetween. Our actions may lead to many different things, but even though the outcomes may seem unintentional, God has a hand in everything. Go watch Simon Birch, but have some kleenex handy.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Stuff I'm Learning...
I'm learning that I shouldn't be trying to please everyone around me, just God.
I'm learning that if I don't like someone, in God's view, I'm murdering them.
I'm learning that I can't do everything, unless God is involved.
I'm learning that I don't like being lonely.
I'm learning that God is trying to teach me something right now and it hurts.
I'm learning to ask for help instead of trying to do everything myself.
I'm learning that my body needs a rest (maybe I should take a hit from Gilmore!).
I'm learning that I need a different job, yet a job that includes customer service.
I'm learning that I need to come back to God and rely on Him ALL THE TIME.
I'm learning that I can stand up to my landlord and that he and no one else has the right to intimidate me.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
1 John 3:11-24
For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.
We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.
The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together.
This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands our and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
It's getting warmer!
Here's a picture of us at our work Christmas party...don't we look good? It was fun, but don't try working an event the next morning...and no, I wasn't drinking!
It's getting warmer, but I wonder what tomorrow will bring?
Blessings,
Julie
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Windchill Warning...
After a day of cold temperatures, the weather people decide to post a windchill warning last night! Yesterday I cosidered getting a taxi after work at night, but I wore this instead:
footless tights
socks
leggings
my work pants
ski pants
work shirt
sweater
sweatshirt
fleece jacket
wool coat
sheepskin boots
two pairs of mittens (i think i need to make an improvement...my hands were cold)
touque (sp?)
scarf
Yes, I'm sure I looked funny, but I was warm. I was sure people at work would comment, but no one did!
It was probably around -38 with the windchill when I left work.
Right now it's -28 with a -39 windchill and it's only 10:15am. I don't start work until 1:15 and I'm done at 9:15. But last night when I was waiting for the bus, an out of service one was sitting there so we could wait in it and stay warm. Maybe tonight will be -40 with windchill when I leave work!! What fun, what fun :)
I hope everyone else is warm, safe and dry!
footless tights
socks
leggings
my work pants
ski pants
work shirt
sweater
sweatshirt
fleece jacket
wool coat
sheepskin boots
two pairs of mittens (i think i need to make an improvement...my hands were cold)
touque (sp?)
scarf
Yes, I'm sure I looked funny, but I was warm. I was sure people at work would comment, but no one did!
It was probably around -38 with the windchill when I left work.
Right now it's -28 with a -39 windchill and it's only 10:15am. I don't start work until 1:15 and I'm done at 9:15. But last night when I was waiting for the bus, an out of service one was sitting there so we could wait in it and stay warm. Maybe tonight will be -40 with windchill when I leave work!! What fun, what fun :)
I hope everyone else is warm, safe and dry!
Monday, November 27, 2006
I don't like renting!
So, what else can go wrong with this house? Last night I stayed up until 3am waiting for someone from ATCO Gas to come and deal with the natural gas smell in the kitchen. I had to keep the window open and it was FREEZING! When he finally came, there was no smell. Now, there is a tap dripping from the inside in the basement. It's -25 outside...hopefully it doesn't freeze and then explode. I called the landlord and left a message, I really hope he does something about it.
It's cold and I'm whimpy! I guess it'll be a white Christmas though. How did I survive four years in Regina?
Well, now it's time to keep getting layered for work!! I think I'm going to wear my ski pants today!!
But, I realize that it's probably colder elsewhere. And at least I have a roof over my head. If you think of it, please pray for the homeless in Calgary, there aren't enough shelters and someone died on the street a few days ago.
Blessings,
Julie
It's cold and I'm whimpy! I guess it'll be a white Christmas though. How did I survive four years in Regina?
Well, now it's time to keep getting layered for work!! I think I'm going to wear my ski pants today!!
But, I realize that it's probably colder elsewhere. And at least I have a roof over my head. If you think of it, please pray for the homeless in Calgary, there aren't enough shelters and someone died on the street a few days ago.
Blessings,
Julie
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”- Ephesians 1:18
Sunday, October 29, 2006
"You Raise Me Up"
You Raise Me Up
- Selah -
When I am down, and oh my soul, so weary,
when troubles come and my heart burdened be.
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
until You come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong, when I am on Your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong, when I am on Your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.
There is no life, no life without its hunger,
each restless heart beats so imperfectly.
But when You come and I am filled with wonder,
sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong, when I am on Your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.
You raise me up, to more than I can be.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Community
I'm learing about community right now in my small group and in my training manual for small group leaders. I wanted to share some quotes that I found interesting from my readings:
"Community should be understood as the movement between persons to experience 'common' life...Community is about the interpersonal connections between two or more beings. God exists in community. Community inplies that persons with differences come together for a common life. God also exists as different persons with a common, intimate and interconnected life. God created human beings to be unique, separate and different, but also to have a common life... God is separarte and very different from humanity, but we learn in scripture that God's great creation desire is to be in community with humanity...Community is the reason for creation. Community is the purpose for Jesus Christ, the Son God, being born, living among us, dying and being raised from the dead...Comuniity is the common life between God and humanity and small groups are the most visible and frequent form of this community" (Gareth Icenogle, Biblial Foundations for Small Group Ministry, p. 10).
"God created and calls us to oneness. When we pursue that, we move from a collection of players to a winning team; from instruments labeled woodwinds, strings, percussion, and brass to an orchestra that produces the sounds of music; from artist, coulour, shapes, canvass, paint, and subject to masterpiece. No one would think to claim that the canvass, the intruments, or the positions were the sought-after end. When we are together in community (harmoniously combined in oneness), we reflect our creator...Relating is at the heart of knowing God. Relating is also at the heart of becoming the people of God. Our faith journey is one we make together. Community is the context for our growth, and it is a distinctively Christian concept" (Julie A. Gorman, Community That Is Christian, p. 24).
"Each one of us hides an awful secret. Buried deep within every human soul throbs a muted pain that never goes away. It is a lifelong yearning for that one love that will never be found, the languishing in our inner selves for an all-consuming intensity of intimacy that we know will never be fulfilled, a heart-need to surrender all that we are to a bond that will never fail.
The silent churning at the core of our being is the tormenting need to know and to be know, understand and to be undertood, to possess and to be possesed, to belong unconditionally and forever without fear of loss, betrayal, or rejection...
Our mourning is for the closeness that was ours by right of creation.. Our grief is for the gift lost in the turmoil of rebellion. And now, whenever there is hope, our hope is for paradise regained, for human destiny remade in the redemptive restoration of community, the only certainty of oneness for here and for eternity" (Gilbert Bilezikian, Community 101: Reclaiming the Local Church as Community of Oneness, pp. 15-16).
The following quote is from a non-Christian perspective:
"Membership in groups is inevitable and ubiquitous. All day long we interact first in one goup and then in another. Our family life, our leisure time, our frienships and carerrs are filled with groups...We are born into a group called the family and we would not survive the first few years of our lives, the first few weeks, or even the first few minutes without membership in this group...Our personal indentity is derived from the way in which we are perceived and treated by other members of our groups. We learn, work, worship, and plan in groups. As humans we have an inherent social nature: Our life is filled with groups from the moment of our birth to the moment of our death" (David W. Johnson and Grank P. hohnson, Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, p 7).
So, what are your thoughts?
"Community should be understood as the movement between persons to experience 'common' life...Community is about the interpersonal connections between two or more beings. God exists in community. Community inplies that persons with differences come together for a common life. God also exists as different persons with a common, intimate and interconnected life. God created human beings to be unique, separate and different, but also to have a common life... God is separarte and very different from humanity, but we learn in scripture that God's great creation desire is to be in community with humanity...Community is the reason for creation. Community is the purpose for Jesus Christ, the Son God, being born, living among us, dying and being raised from the dead...Comuniity is the common life between God and humanity and small groups are the most visible and frequent form of this community" (Gareth Icenogle, Biblial Foundations for Small Group Ministry, p. 10).
"God created and calls us to oneness. When we pursue that, we move from a collection of players to a winning team; from instruments labeled woodwinds, strings, percussion, and brass to an orchestra that produces the sounds of music; from artist, coulour, shapes, canvass, paint, and subject to masterpiece. No one would think to claim that the canvass, the intruments, or the positions were the sought-after end. When we are together in community (harmoniously combined in oneness), we reflect our creator...Relating is at the heart of knowing God. Relating is also at the heart of becoming the people of God. Our faith journey is one we make together. Community is the context for our growth, and it is a distinctively Christian concept" (Julie A. Gorman, Community That Is Christian, p. 24).
"Each one of us hides an awful secret. Buried deep within every human soul throbs a muted pain that never goes away. It is a lifelong yearning for that one love that will never be found, the languishing in our inner selves for an all-consuming intensity of intimacy that we know will never be fulfilled, a heart-need to surrender all that we are to a bond that will never fail.
The silent churning at the core of our being is the tormenting need to know and to be know, understand and to be undertood, to possess and to be possesed, to belong unconditionally and forever without fear of loss, betrayal, or rejection...
Our mourning is for the closeness that was ours by right of creation.. Our grief is for the gift lost in the turmoil of rebellion. And now, whenever there is hope, our hope is for paradise regained, for human destiny remade in the redemptive restoration of community, the only certainty of oneness for here and for eternity" (Gilbert Bilezikian, Community 101: Reclaiming the Local Church as Community of Oneness, pp. 15-16).
The following quote is from a non-Christian perspective:
"Membership in groups is inevitable and ubiquitous. All day long we interact first in one goup and then in another. Our family life, our leisure time, our frienships and carerrs are filled with groups...We are born into a group called the family and we would not survive the first few years of our lives, the first few weeks, or even the first few minutes without membership in this group...Our personal indentity is derived from the way in which we are perceived and treated by other members of our groups. We learn, work, worship, and plan in groups. As humans we have an inherent social nature: Our life is filled with groups from the moment of our birth to the moment of our death" (David W. Johnson and Grank P. hohnson, Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, p 7).
So, what are your thoughts?
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Freezing in my basement...
Let me elaborate...our electricity bill was so high this month that now we are too cheap to turn the heat on. I've learned from last year...just pile on the sweaters and blankets and socks and clothes in general. I'm just wimpy...I prefer heat. Blasting heat...warm heat...hot heat!!
So, we are voluntarily freezing. But I think it's supposed to warm up this week again.
I'm going to Southern Alberta Bible Camp for an Axis retreat on the weekend. Axis is the ministry at Center Street Church that I have been involved in for 2 years. I'm looking forward to it...hopefully it'll be warmer for this wimpy coastal girl!
So, we are voluntarily freezing. But I think it's supposed to warm up this week again.
I'm going to Southern Alberta Bible Camp for an Axis retreat on the weekend. Axis is the ministry at Center Street Church that I have been involved in for 2 years. I'm looking forward to it...hopefully it'll be warmer for this wimpy coastal girl!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
"Stand Up, Stand Up"
On Sunday, I attended the "Masters" at Spruce Meadows. For all you non-horse people, Spruce Meadows is a world class show jumping stable in Calgary, AB. www.sprucemeadows.com
The Masters is an international competition where professional riders come from North, Central and South America, and Europe.
This competition is two rounds with a series of jumps that the rider must complete. The first round must be completed within 76 seconds (about) and the second round, 65 seconds. If the rider goes over the time allowed, he/she receives time faults. Also, each fence that falls, the rider also receives 4 faults.
The goal...complete the first round with as little to no faults as possible to make it into the top 12. Then complete the second round with no faults and the fastest time...your faults carry over from the previous round.
The prize...a chunk of money and a car!
So, the whole "Stand Up, Stand Up" thing. Even though I used to ride, and I understand that it's a wealthy sport...nicknamed "The Sport of Kings", I always get caught off guard with the wealth. To honor previous winners, we all stand up and clap and sing this cheesy song, "Stand Up, Stand Up" over and over again, for what seemed like 5 min! (It was probably only 2 min!) And, the ones that had money, seemed to be on a specialized tour of the course before the show began. Imagine walking around a field in high heels...who knows what you'll step in when it comes to horses!! Yet, a cool experience to have a detailed layed out course explained...maybe just for me!!
Here's some pictures...sorry, I don't remember who the riders are!!
The Masters is an international competition where professional riders come from North, Central and South America, and Europe.
This competition is two rounds with a series of jumps that the rider must complete. The first round must be completed within 76 seconds (about) and the second round, 65 seconds. If the rider goes over the time allowed, he/she receives time faults. Also, each fence that falls, the rider also receives 4 faults.
The goal...complete the first round with as little to no faults as possible to make it into the top 12. Then complete the second round with no faults and the fastest time...your faults carry over from the previous round.
The prize...a chunk of money and a car!
So, the whole "Stand Up, Stand Up" thing. Even though I used to ride, and I understand that it's a wealthy sport...nicknamed "The Sport of Kings", I always get caught off guard with the wealth. To honor previous winners, we all stand up and clap and sing this cheesy song, "Stand Up, Stand Up" over and over again, for what seemed like 5 min! (It was probably only 2 min!) And, the ones that had money, seemed to be on a specialized tour of the course before the show began. Imagine walking around a field in high heels...who knows what you'll step in when it comes to horses!! Yet, a cool experience to have a detailed layed out course explained...maybe just for me!!
Here's some pictures...sorry, I don't remember who the riders are!!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Faith
Just Like You
Jason Upton
I tried to walk on the water
and found myself under the sea
So with water up my nose
I felt your hand come close to save me
I've tried to cast out the demons
I've gone to the darkest of regions
When fear has me shaking
You suddenly
Break in to save me
I desire to be like you
Like any son or daughter
I want to be like my father
I desire to be like you
You prmised to never
forsake me
So I'll risk it all if
you'll make me
like you
I Will Wait
Jason Upton
I will wait for you Jesus,
You're the sun in my horizon
All my hopes in you Jesus
and I can see you now arising
There is a wall that stands
in front of me
That I know I just can't climb
But like an eagle
you will carry me
Its just a matter of your time
Chorus
Evil army's all around me,
another wall gets in my way
But I believe the word
you promised me
so I will wait another day
Chorus
Though doubt may try to come in
The disillusionment might try
to come in, I believe oh Lord,
in the word that You promised
I believe it will not end,
I believe it will not go vain
I will wait for you
I will wait for you, Jesus
You're the sun in my horizon
All my hope's in you, Jesus
And I can see you now arising
God, help me to lean on You and trust you. It's so easy to lean on those around me when I'm drowning. I have doubts and fears about my future, but You know what I need. You give me all that I need. Help me to be more like You.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Skunks and Lawns
Last night some of us were watching a movie when the stench of skunk permiated the whole house. It was like a skunk backed up to a window and let loose. How inconsiderate:) I could still smell it this morning...but I think the smell is gone now.
This afternoon, Merissa and I did yard work...she mowed the lawn for the first time...it was fun. We even trimmed the trees (so us tall ones can walk under them without ducking) and weed whipped. There was lots of laughing and sneezing.
Hmmm...instead of "Girls like guys with skills", what about "Guys like girls with skills...mowing skills, weed whacking skills, tree trimming skills, raking skills...! Yard work is fun and now it doesn't look so much like we live in the hood...just slightly. Maybe we should add a couch in our front yard!
Worship
I had an amazing worship time with my roommates Merissa and Meghan. Meghan was at the piano, I was on the flute or singing, and Merissa was singing. I just love music and I enjoying worshipping God with music.
It hasn't been the greatest week God wise. I've been trying to pray and spend time with God, but I've been tired. Bad excuse. So, singing tonight was awesome. God has blessed me with some wonderful like-minded roommates.
I had been praying for some like-minded friends for a year and a half and God blessed me with friends at church and at home. Gracias a Dios!! I was so starved for fellowship, I was beginning to believe that it would never happen, but God was teaching me patience and trust. I wish I didn't have to keep learning these two things over, and over, and over, and over again. But there is always a reason for it.
I have the weekend off, so hopefully I won't get too distracted and lazy to spend time with God. I miss Him and reading the Bible and praying.
The picture above is part of my Aunt and Uncle's garden in BC. Nature always reminds me of God's creation and it's so peaceful. Sometimes I could just sit in nature forever and refelct on God and His goodness and greatness.
What makes you reflect on God?
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