Embracing Life

Lately I've been learning to treasure every day, every moment. Not waiting to live, but embracing the miracle found in each moment here and now.

I'm allowing myself to dream, opening my heart and mind to the possibilities that exist and the God who is the ultimate dream-giver. In Him all things truly are possible and it's only in Him that abundant life is found.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

Too many times in the past I've let the thief steal moments from me, content to just let life take it's own course, but no more. I've been grabbing the reigns and not just letting life happen, but going out there and creating my own life story.

Going to Chicago. Spending time in God's creation on my own- canoeing and reflecting. Seeking out friendships. Buying that Hemingway and actually reading it. Playing hockey and giving all I have until I can barely stand (oh they joys of sleep troubles). And this weekend: travelling to a province that's right next door, yet I've never visited, for a hockey and ski adventure.

Life is a gift and gifts are meant to be opened and used. How have you been living lately?

Washed By The Water

As part of my job, I research information about different songs out there and find the stories behind them, which is really interesting work. Recently I was trying to find out where Needtobreathe's "Washed By The Water" came from and I was challenged by the story.

"Washed By The Water" was inspired by a situation where the lead singers father, who is a pastor, came under fire by a group at his church. The song is a way of the son remembering how well his father handled the experience and says he felt his dad deserved a tribute for his Christ-like reaction to a hurtful situation.

That lead me to think about the way I respond when other people throw darts in my direction. Do I extend the same grace that has been given to me? Or do I hang onto old hurts and look for ways to even the score? Those are important questions to ask and consider, especially during those times when other people don't necessarily agree with everything that we do. Just some food for thought.

Needtobreathe - Washed By The Water
Daddy was a preacher
She was his wife
Just tryin to make the world a little better
You know, shine a light

People started talking
Trying to hear their own voice
Those people tried to accuse my father
Said he made the wrong choice

Though it might be painful
You know that time will always tell
Those people have long since gone
My father never failed

Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water

Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet
Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won't never ever let you down
won't fall, won't fall, won't fall as long as you're around me

Real Legacy

With upcoming transition in the White House, we're hearing a lot of talk about George W. Bush and his legacy. And while there is a lot of criticism flying around about the choices that he made in office, I find it interesting that not more people are talking about what could very well be his real legacy: his commitment to turning the tides on the AIDS epidemic in Africa like no other leader of his time.

If you're interested in seeing another side to the man that so many have painted negatively, click here to read the article. It might just surprise you.

How He Loves

I heard the song "How He Loves" for the first time today and it really impacted it me. The second verse especially blew me away. You can listen to the song on the video below. And if the song alone doesn't do it for you, click here to listen to the story behind the song. All I can say is "wow".

Top 4 of 2008

So now that 2008 has passed us by, I thought I'd take a little look back. And instead of doing a top 3 or top 5 or top 10 like everyone else on the planet, I've chosen a different number. It's going to be my top 4. So here it is:

Top 4 Highlights:
1. Trip to the US, with the top four highlights from that being visiting Chicago, golfing the Bull, having a waterpark in our hotel, and visiting Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
2. Visiting Barrie in December, having the chance to work out of the LIFE offices and attend the staff Christmas party.
3. The growth of MAD. In this past year I've seen a lot of new stations sign up for the show and it's been an exciting journey.
4. Spending a Sabbath weekend by myself at my aunts cottage. No TV, no internet, no telephone. I did a lot of thinking, reading, writing, and canoeing.

Top 4 Books I Read in 2008:
1. The Shack (William Young)
2. The Sacred Echo (Margaret Feinberg)
3. Half-life/Die Already (Mark Steele)
4. The Almost True Story Of Ryan Fisher (Rob Stennet)

Top 4 CD's of 2008:
1. The Glass Passenger (Jack's Mannequin)
2. Drive It Home (Paul Alan)
3. Do You Feel (The Rocket Summer)
4. Something To Say (Matthew West)

Looking forward to in 09:
1. Possibly seeing my second book published.
2. Reading through the whole Bible again (yes, that's one of my goals for the year).
3. Traveling somewhere this summer. Not exactly sure where yet, but I'd love to head back out to the East Coast if the rest of the fam is up for the journey.
4. Learning how to take better pictures (another goal for the year).

God With Us

"All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)." (Isaiah 7:14)

God with us.

One of the most stunning truths about the Christmas story to me can be summed up in three words: God with us.

The same God who was the mastermind behind creation confined Himself to a baby's body. The same God who ruled over creation was content to be brought up by human parents. The same God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was willing to humble Himself to die for those very beings who refused to worship and obey. God with us.

When we're tired. When we're discouraged. When we don't feel like we can make it through another day. God with us.

I can see evidence of God with me everyday. I see it in the sunrise that streaks across the sky. I see it in the music that moves my soul with every note. I see it in the people He sends across my path just when I need them. I see it in the circumstances He orchestrates into a brilliant set of events, otherwise known as my life story. God with us.

Not just today. Not just tomorrow, but forever. No matter what life events arise. No matter what our days hold, we've got God with us and that fact changes everything.

It puts the hope in the hopeless. The peace in the turmoil. And the love in what otherwise would have been lonely. God with us.

That's the Christmas story. Not just sheep and wiseman, but what the birth set in motion. Events that had been contrived by the ultimate God of love. A gateway for all mankind to enter that would allow them to once again fellowship with the Father. The ultimate story of Redemption.

This Christmas as we laugh, eat, and exchange gifts, let's remember God with us. Not just today, but for all eternity. We're not alone and never will be and that eternal presence of God is worth recognizing and celebrating.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Prayer

In preparation for the ever so quickly approaching Christmas day, I thought I'd share a prayer with you that I found online. It was written by Henri Nouwen. He prayed:

"Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!"

As I look at the packed calendar, busy stores, and crazy next couple of days as I travel out of town, that prayer is on my heart and my mind. In the busyness, I truly desire to seek quietness and I pray that in the midst of all the distractions, we all can see Him clearly this Christmas season.

City of the Year

GQ has named Chicago it's City of the Year. I couldn't agree more.

I've always been somewhat fascinated by the city and after visiting Chicago this past summer, that fascination has grew into a slight obsession. I cannot say enough good things about the city. The people, the scenery, the parks, the architecture, the food, the shopping, I could go on and on and on.

Out of the places I've been to, it's by far my favorite city and I'd love to go back. In fact I've already started giving subtle hints to the rest of the family that I think we should go back there this summer. I can dream, can't I?

Politics, Politics

Politics can be a dirty business, but I don't think that I've ever seen as dirty of a move as what's been going down in the Canadian parliament these days.

We just had an election in October. The Canadian people had spoken. The Conservatives were given a mandate to be the leading political party. And now three other parties are crying foul and deciding to go through the backdoor in an attempt to grab power.

A lot of things bother me about this situation and what it says about democracy, but one of the things that bother me the most is the lack of respect being shown for the voters choice. Not to mention those who voted for the Conservatives, but even for those who voted for the NDP and the Bloq. They voted NDP and Bloq for a reason- they had different beliefs in what's best for the country than the Liberals or Conservatives do. But in one swift move, the leaders of those parties are trying to take the votes that were given to them and are trying to hand them to another party. That's essentially what is happening.

What does that say about democracy? When we went to the polls in October, all voters knew that whatever party had the majority of the seats would lead our country. The voters gave the Conservative Party the most seats. Love them or hate them, that's what happened. So now to go and try to reverse that at some attempt to align parties that couldn't be more opposite looks like nothing more than a desperate attempt to grab power.

As much as I would have said a few weeks ago that I wouldn't want another election, I really believe that's the only option we have if we hold democracy dearly. But that choice belongs to the Governor General. And whatever the Governor General ends up deciding, I do believe that this is an attempt that in the end will backfire. Anyone who voted NDP or Bloq will probably think twice about voting that way in the future because look what happened to their vote.

Oh the messes we make...

Seniors Do Hip-hop

Does anyone else find this hysterical?

While You Wait

My article "While You Wait" has been published on The Ooze. Click here to check it out.

Tiger Woods Golf

On Tuesday I had minor surgery to correct some foot problems that I've been having since I broke my toe earlier this year. So this has been a week filled with lots of down time for me, but I've found something to occupy my time: an addiction to Tiger Woods Golf on my xbox 360.

I've had this game for months, but I've really gotten into it over the past couple of days. Maybe it's because the game is filled with summer images and it's so cold outside. Maybe it's because I wish I could really drive the ball over 350 yards in real life. Or maybe I'm just sick and tired of TV. I don't know. But what I do know is I'm loving it.

Off to spend more time on the links...

Wisdom from Saint Frances

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace
That where there is hatred I may bring love,
That where there is wrong I may bring the spirit of forgiveness,
That where there is discord I may bring harmony,
That where there is error I may bring truth,
That where there is doubt I may bring faith,
That where there is despair I may bring hope,
That where there are shadows I may bring thy light,
That where there is sadness I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather
To comfort- than to be comforted;
To understand- than to be understood;
To love- than to be loved;
For it is by giving that one receives;
It is by self-forgetting that one finds;
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven;
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life."

Saint Frances of Assisi

Moment of Truth

So tomorrow is the moment of truth as we'll witness who the American people choose to be their countries next leader. Now while a change in leadership can be a good thing, I am a little concerned over what is going to happen after the results are read out tomorrow.

Why? Because not only is this election going to be a very close one either way, it also is one that all voters have been submerged in for quite some time. Sides have been chosen. Positions have been staked. And someone tomorrow is going to lose, leaving nearly half a country full of people who didn't get their way or their leader.

So will they still be willing to follow? Will they still be willing to set aside their differences a move forward with a candidate who they might not believe in, but can come to respect as a person in a position of authority? Only time will tell, but in the meantime we all should be praying for unity whether the next person in the White House is a democrat or republican.

Ch Ch Changes

So earlier this month I posted about seasons of change and since the decision has been finalized and announced to those who need to know, I can tell you one of the things that I was talking about.

Starting in this week I've decided to shorten the length of MAD down from four-hours to three-hours. Now I know to most people you might think what's the big deal? But I've been doing a four hour show for nearly seven years and it's something I enjoyed doing, but just like seasons change, the time for a show that long has come and gone and it's time to move onto something else. Something I believe will be better.

By not having that last hour to host, produce, and prep for every week I'm hoping to have more time to invest in the rest of the program. And even though this is only week one, I'm already noticing a difference. Where normally I come up with contests at the last minute, I've already got the Christmas contest and other details relating to holiday programming planned and ready to execute.

Change can be good and it can be refreshing in many ways. I guess it all depends on how you look at it and how tightly you hold on to the way things were once done.

Day of Decision

Today we Canadians are heading to the polls to decide who's going to lead our country during these turbulent times.

There has been a lot of criticism about the timing of this election and whether or not it really needed to be called. And to that I say absolutely! In our current state, the power cannot be this divided. If all of the parties were willing to work together to do what is best for Canadians it would work, but when that's not happening, something needs to change.

In these economic times, the reigning government needs to be able to have the power to act in order to prevent problems across the country. While the idea of a minority government is nice in theory, it's just not working for our country. When more time is spend arguing than acting, you know there's a problem.

So today I'm voting and hoping for a majority government who can lead us with integrity into this next stage of our countries history.

Let's get out there and vote!

Changing Seasons

Well fall is in the air and I'm still stunned at how fast the summer flew by.

I spent last weekend at my aunts cottage. As I was canoeing across the lake and watching the leaves blow across the surface of the water, I was reminded of how the seasons change in our lives.

Sometimes the change in seasons come unexpected to us, not always as predictable as something that can be recorded on a calender, but they do come nonetheless.

At the same time though I was reminded that while a change of seasons might bring change into our own lives, change isn't always a bad thing. Without fall, there would be no preparation for winter and without winter there would be no blooms of spring.

Change is inevitable but I'm learning to be okay with that.

Jesus

These past couple of weeks I've been busy doing research for my book. I'm working on the last section of the book, which is about the characteristics of Christ and during my reading I came across this quote that I thought I'd share:

"Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the Child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of His Divine manhood.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a Cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying—and that was His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Such was His human life—He rises from the dead.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the Centerpiece of the human race and the Leader of the column of progress. I am within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life." (James C. Hefley)

True Cleansing

It's been said many times that we all make mistakes and while that's true, it doesn't make us feel any better after we've made one, does it? When we've disappointed someone or disappointed ourselves, we're launched into a feeling that most people hate to feel. We feel broken. We feel ashamed. We feel inadequate. We feel human.

But when it comes to mistakes, there is one person who doesn't feel that way. And that's God. He looked at the human race and instead of seeing inadequacy in our mistakes, He saw a people worth dying for. So that's what He did. Jesus came down to earth to die on the cross for our mistakes.

Jesus came to forgive sinners, to forgive those who've made poor choices, and to forgive those who are bound to mess up again. When God looks at us, He doesn't see the stain of failure, rather He sees the blood of Christ and in His eyes, that is enough.

It's enough to cover the biggest mistakes. It's enough to cover sin. It's enough to cover broken relationships. When the blood of Christ enters your life, it washes every part of you clean. Kind of reliving too know that that kind of forgiveness and that kind of cleansing is only a prayer away, isn't it?

Weekend of Solitude

This past weekend I did something a little different for my time off: I spent the weekend by myself in the bush.

I've had the feeling lately that I needed some time to just be still and so when I found out that I could borrow the cottage for the weekend, I jumped on the opportunity.

I spent a lot of time reflecting, praying, reading, and searching. I didn't have any jaw-dropping moments, but I did have a feeling of peace inside and the experience just being able to be still in the middle of God's creation was a great one.

I did some biking around the lake and went out every day in the canoe. It was so nice to be able to glide across the water with the warm sun overhead. I think weather wise it was the nicest weekend we've had all year!

While in the bush I also did quite a bit of writing for my new book. I'm about 95% done writing the book and it's exciting to see how it's all shaped together. Over the next few weeks I plan on putting some finishing touches on it and then seeing where things go from there.

Good times.