The Rock

An update to: Breaking the Silence

2005-02-11T06:59:00.000-05:00

Our local paper has been very supportive about the story I posted a few days ago. Here is a link to their article:

Georgina Advocate

The link may only be open for a week or so. Thank-you all for the exposure I have been trying to get via blogs, and any other method, in order to achieve our goal!

Gay Marriage?...How about Your Marriage?

2005-02-04T18:34:00.000-05:00

Just as ski slopes progress from bunny hills to black diamonds, so
conversation starters in marriage range from simple to sizzling. But with
greater risk comes greater adventure. So hit the "slopes" with these
questions
on your next date and watch your relationship take off!

here is the rest of the article from Christianity Today
magazine:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/2004/004/8.34.html

I think i'll be using some of these on my wife as a test.

UPDATE OF PREVIOUS POST: PICTURE THIS!

2005-02-01T01:13:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of the way I found it! Although pictures don't do it justice, I think you can imagine the rest.

This angle is no better!

BREAKING THE SILENCE!

2005-01-31T23:02:00.000-05:00

It has been quite some time since I last posted. Not because I have nothing to say, rather I have lots to say but no time to do so. I want to leave everything off the table now except for one thing:

In the course of my job, I came across a man in need. Turns out he is in even more need now then when I began helping him.

The man is George Thrower. He is 61 years of age, and has worked at a full serve gas station in Richmond Hill for the last 35 years. He was forced to go to work, when his father fell ill, to support the family. His wife died at the age of 45 due to complications with MS. He has since taken in and cared for his brother-in-law, who is mentally challenged (I'm not exactly sure what, but not extremely).

Georges' house was in need of repair. He met a (so called) "contractor" at his work and a deal was struck to fix up his roof and foundation. Cash deal, of course. After borrowing $5,000 from family, and taking out a line of credit for $10,000, combined with whatever money he had saved, gave $22,500 to this contractor. This is when I met George.

I inspected the house and found the house to be beyond repair. The contractor did not hold any licenses nor did he take out any permits. His house was destined to be condemned. George told me that the contractor wanted another $30,000 to finish the job. George is a kind and simple man, not very attune to the world system.

His brother has taken up the legal battle with this handy man. In the mean time his brother also contacted the insurance company to see if they would cover the damages. I was rallying support from the legitimate contractors, in the area, to provide George with a house. The cheapest and quickest fix was to buy a modular home (pre-built in a factory) and put it on a foundation. Then demolish his house.

I had an out-pour of people willing to help, including the local media. Just when things were looking good, the insurance company sent George a letter saying he would no longer be covered as of December 20. Then of course the Tsunami crisis came and we were faced with little donations. We chose to go with a used modular home instead of new. It would be easy enough to fix it up with all the free labour and supplier donations, than to seek more money.

The modular home now sits on it's foundation and I'm collection supplies that are needed to make the minor repairs. (e.g. windows, furnace, flooring, bathtub). We received financing to purchase the modular home until we could pay it back. All together we still need about $15,000. We are holding a fundraising event next month, and we are hoping to reach our goal.

The local paper is going to run another article about the situation and appeal for public help. While I was at Georges' house waiting for the writer to come, George gave me some more bad news. His work gave him a termination notice! Someone bought the gas station and he's not sure if they will hire any of the current employees.

George only makes $11/hour and $80/week are spent on gas to get there. I am currently helping him find a job closer to home and perhaps a little better than standing outside in the cold, at age 61, pumping gas! I asked him how he can handle being on his feet, and in the cold. He told me that it's okay except when he comes home his legs really hurt.

On Friday I saw George cry as he told his brother, on the phone, about his desperate situation. How can I walk away and not help him? I can't! Up until Friday I had not mentioned anything about my faith, nor about Jesus. I have prayed much for the two of them and their situation, and to have an opportunity to share with them about Jesus.

I will write again.

Alas! I think it works

2004-12-02T22:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Ed for helping me get this picture problem solved. I'm just wondering if you all can see them.

Before I'm home-free, I would like to know how I am able to re-size my photos to suit my needs. Any takers to this problem?

Okay, I've had enough!

2004-11-17T21:38:00.000-05:00

I've got some tips on how to post a picture in our blog, but for some reason, it doesn't work. Well, it works on our home computer, but when I look at our blog at my work computer, it's just a box with an X...no picture! Judging by the comments we get, I think that's about all everyone else sees.

So, if anyone could help me out by telling me how to successfully post a picture, I will offer them a reward! Well...at least a thank-you.

Look what we woke up to!

2004-11-09T01:04:00.000-05:00

Well, it was almost twenty four hours ago, but what can I say...I've been very busy with life lately. I hope to resume blogging to a more normal frequency soon.

Halloween!

2004-10-30T14:00:00.000-04:00

Just wondering how everybody is gonna be celebrating halloween, if at all. Are you going for it whole-heartedly, or have you got an alternative plan, or are you avoiding it altogether? I know Christians can be pretty divided about this issue, so I'm not looking for an argument, just curious about the different practices.

My Therapy Session!

2004-10-25T01:20:00.000-04:00

(I charge by the minute, so read fast.) ;-) This journey of spiritual growth is hard. It seems like the more the Lord teaches me, the harder the blows from the enemy. It completely makes sense to me that the enemy of my soul would want to hinder me wherever possible, but the fact is, it is difficult. I feel the growing pains from the weight I have to carry. As much as I want to shrug the burdens off, a still small voice tells me to persevere. How true that the greatest lessons I have learned have been through hardships.

Darryl said something last night that struck a cord in me. He said (and I'm paraphrasing here), "Why do we treat sexual sin any differently than we do, say, anger?" The reason that statement hit home with me is that I have a problem with anger. I've always known it, struggled with it, and hate it. I can excuse it and blame my parents for modelling it for me, but that's not taking responsibility for my own actions. The thing I noticed is that when I'm spending a lot of time with God, my sin is not such a problem. When I slack in my connection with Him, though, then my anger escalates. I guess the easy answer here is to constantly spend time with God. That, however, is easier said than done. Sometimes I have a hard time disciplining myself to spend time with my Lord. I get caught up in my day to day stuff, and before I realize it, days have gone by without me even touching the Bible. Sure I shoot little arrow prayers up, but I know that's more for my conscience's sake than it is to strengthen my relationship with God.

And that, my friends, is where the problem lies. I learn something amazing through the Spirit and I decide to put it into practice. Satan then puts all kinds of things in my way to keep me busy (that I fall for, much to my shame), and I start neglecting my number one relationship, which frustrates me and leads me back into my pattern of anger. So, I guess, I have to learn not to fall for the busyness trick. The key in all this for me is to stay connected to my Savior at all times no matter how hard it seems. I can't do it alone, I know 'cause I've tried many times. The solution is to let Him work in me, rather than me try to change myself. The incredible thing for me is that no matter how often or how far my gaze leaves my Master, He's always ready with a smile and open arms to pick up exactly where we left off.

I know this post sounded like rambling, but it was more off a therapy session for me than anything else. So, thanks for listening in.

Learning to Discern-the problem

2004-10-06T09:39:00.000-04:00

2) DENIAL

Perhaps we may be aware of the moral decay in our culture and even detest some of the stuff that is available to the consumer. We might say I don't buy those magazines, or go to those kinds of movies, or listen to that kind of music. Let us not become complacent about the fact that no matter how hard we try to avoid these, we are exposed and affected by them nearly every day.

Jesus told us to go into the world, not to seclude ourselves from it. We are to be in the world, not of it. Removing ourselves from society is not his answer. We must be informed and aware of the problem around us.

The devil wants us to think that it's not so bad and that the problem is very isolated, that people are generally good. "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." Genesis 6:5. I think God has something to say about thinking people are good.

If what we see and hear does not really matter, then why do companies spend millions of dollars for a 30 second adveretisment on TV or in a magazine?

Let's just take a little test right now. Complete the following phrases or guess the product that is being advertised.

1) Good to the last drop...
2) Don't leave home without it.
3) Silly rabbit, _______ are for kids.
4) Frosted _____ _____ they're magically delicious!
5) Just do it!
6) Is it in you?

For a spontaneous test that you didn't study for, I would say that most of you did very well. Why? Beacause we have been subjected to several ads for only 30 seconds at a time. Are you starting to see the effects of what we see? and the power it has on our minds? Whether we want to admit it or not, we are affected by everthing we see and hear. The more we see and hear, the more we are affected. If we are in denial about the need to discern, then we are defeated already.

The final part of the problem is DECEPTION!

answer to test: 1)Maxwell House, 2)American Express, 3)Trix, 4)Lucky Charms, 5)Nike, 6)Gatorade.

Learning to Discern-the problem

2004-10-04T13:30:00.000-04:00

1) DESENSITIZATION

We are in a very real war between good and evil. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12. It is a covert war within each of us, yet it's casualties are more than any war that has ever been fought. The stakes are high, not only physical death, but eternal death. We must not treat this subject casually.

Before we can address the need to discern, we need to identify the problem. Unless we arrive at a crisis, we will not see the urgent need to change our attitudes and behaviors. Beloved, we are facing a crisis!

de·sensi·ti·zation. The mitigation of an individual's emotional response to a distressing stimulus by repeated exposure to or imagination of that stimulus.

Everyday we are being bombarded with media, and I don't mean just the news. I'm talking about TV, music, video games, internet, magazines, and movies. Our mind is like a computer which compiles information and images that are filed away and stored permanently. The more frequent any type of image or information is presented, the larger that file will be. The larger the file, the more prominent place it will take in our minds.

Sad to say, many of us have become accustomed and desensitized to what we see and hear. We accept these as part of our daily lives. Little by little we are entering an arena of utter moral decay where evil is good and good is evil.

My wife and I recently painted our kitchen a deep red colour. First we used a tinted primer that made the room appear pink. Then we applied several coats of paint. Gradually the room turned deep red after the many applications. So much so, that you couldn't even tell that the room had once been white.

We saw a mid 1950's poster of a playboy centerfold, which was very controversial at the time. She was clothed much more than, say, a Calvin Klein ad of today, yet no one has a problem with that anymore because we have been desensitized. Pre-marital and extra marital sex have been made socially acceptable, so long as you "play safe" (use a condom), as if the biggest problem is getting pregnant or getting a disease.

When I was a teenager, there was a big issue about backwards masking in our music. Today they don't even mask the lyrics, but say it straight up! Once again, to avoid legal action, the recording companies slap on a label saying "parental advisory" and now this garbage is okay to pump into the minds of kids.

Do we have a problem yet? Desensitization, the first part of the problem. The next part...Denial!

Learning to Discern-the prelude

2004-10-03T23:47:00.000-04:00

Here is the key verse to begin our topic.

"I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing." Psalm 101:2b-3a

I wrote an entire post, which I will re-write tomorrow, and then crash! I didn't even get a chance to save it. I think I will write it on paper and then just transfer to the computer.

In the mean time, this is a great verse to post above the television, or computer, at home!...or at least memorize it and recite it before you turn the tube on.

Come out of the closet? or hide deeper?

2004-09-30T21:48:00.000-04:00

I've been so caught up in talking with some friends on their blogs that I haven't had much time to attend to this blog. Ed and Darryl have raised some very interesting questions lately about sin. Sexual sins and about some sins being worse than others, as well as what type of reprimand should be given to pastors who fall into sexual sins. Some very good discussion went on. Check it out if you like and I'm going to try to post tomorrow about "Learning to Discern". What we allow into our lives via our ears and eyes and its deadly effects on our families. Stay tuned!

2 (parents)+1(pregnancy)=5(people)

2004-09-29T23:32:00.000-04:00

Well, we finally have some good news. Jen and Ray became first time parents 3 times this morning. They had one boy and two girls over 3 pounds each. Amazingly enough, she had them all naturally without an epidural! Wonderwoman! Besides all the normal compications of a premature birth, they all seem to be doing well. Thank you all for your prayers today, and we would ask that you continue to take them to the throne of our Lord as you remember them. Jen's coming home on Friday, but the babies have to stay in for a few more weeks. We're planning a visit to the hospital tomorrow. I can hardly wait to see these precious children.

What a miraculous thing it is to bring children into this world.

URGENT! PRAYER REQUIRED!

2004-09-29T07:11:00.000-04:00

I want to appeal to everyone reading this post to pray for our neighbours Ray and Jen.

I'll just give you the reader's digest version; they have had problems getting pregnant and have really wanted a baby. 30+ weeks ago they told us she got pregnant. We were thrilled to find out they are having triplets! Talk about instant family.

Yesterday she went to the doctors for a check up and they sent her off to the hospital because she was 2cm dilated. Last night he told us they are keeping her in until she has the babies, due to possible complications with a multiple birth. This morning I got a knock on the door. Her water broke. I guess they will be having the babies real soon. I comforted him with the fact that we have no control over anything that happens, so not to worry just pray to the one who can do all things. Now I turn to you, my extended family for further prayer cover. While you are praying, pray for their salvation also. We had the opportunity to take them Friday to see Dr. James MacDonald. He is searching, and as far as she claims, she has accepted Christ.

NOTICE OF MOTION

2004-09-27T22:57:00.000-04:00

Whereas I tend to get caught up in various mini/major projects which consume a lot of time and energy in the initial stages. I get so passionate about participating in these projects and find myself coming up short.

Whereas Every one of these projects seem noble and noteworthy, but I need to realize I can't do everything myself.

Whereas I took a step back today to see this as a pattern developing in my life.

Therefore be it resolved I want to be still and wait for the voice of God. I want to go out there and change the world, but maybe God wants to change me first.

Be it further resolved I think I will spend more time with God and wait for His guidance.

Can I get a seconder?

Walk In The Word

2004-09-25T13:42:00.000-04:00

I must apologize for not writing much lately, but I've been away at a conference and I just returned yesterday.

My wife and I attended Queensway Cathedral, where we listened to Dr. James MacDonald from Walk In The Word. We had an amazing time and the Lord really spoke to us.

If you have never listened to Dr. James MacDonald speak, you really must!

Independence Day

2004-09-14T11:47:00.000-04:00

Well, the kiddies are off in school. As excited as I was last night, I have to confess, I really miss having them around. I guess this is one of many steps to their independence. As I was driving home from school this morning, I couldn't help seeing my kids in about 15 years when they finally move out for good. Man, how time flies. The saying "you never know what you have until it's gone" really applies to my kids going off to school, too. I hope I never take having them around for granted because it seems like we don't have much time left. I'm anxiously awaiting their return in 3 and a half hours to see how they made out today. I never realized what an emotional time first day of kindergarten really is until we went through it last year with our son. It seems like I can never get used to it, and I hope I never will. It feels like a piece of my heart gets ripped out to stay with. These little buggers really know how to crawl into our hearts and just stir up all our emotions, don't they?

HAAAAA-LELUJA!

2004-09-13T22:44:00.000-04:00

Well, tomorrow marks the first full day of school for our 2 oldest (they're in SK and JK). I feel guilty for the next comment I will make, but..........I'm actually looking forward to it! There, I said it. I don't know if I'm the only mother out there who feels this way, but after reading some of the other accounts of kids going for their first day last week, that's what I feel like. Don't get me wrong, I will probably be just as emotional, especially with my JK daughter. However, I'm looking forward to some peace and quiet (with my 2 younger daughters). :-) We've been having a very trying time with them for a few weeks now, so I'm hoping that school will calm them down a bit. To their credit, they have been doing much better these last few days.

So, if there are any other parents out there who feel even just a tinge of excitement at getting their kids back to school, please let me know I'm not the only one around.

I tried, but it wouldn't let me.

2004-09-08T23:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I decide to write the previous post. When I hit the "Publish Post" button. Not much happened. I was very frustrated to say the least. After many attempts, and several e-mails to Blog*spot, I figured out I had a problem. (laugh)

Well, it finally let us post today and everything is back to normal. Technology is so neat, but when it goes down, you wonder how you ever lived without it before! Okay...here it goes...

UPDATE: It works!

Little Monsters!

2004-09-07T23:03:00.000-04:00

In the past few weeks, something strange has been happening in our house. No, it's not the twilight zone, but close. Our four precious children, without exception, have been doing a little remodeling in our home. We tend to buy things in bulk, seeing as how we are a family of six, which saves us money in the long run. That is, until our children took it upon themselves to liquidate some of our surplus.

I have recently accepted a new job that pays way less than we are used to. Why, you may ask? My new job is 5 minutes away from home, they provide me with a vehicle and fuel, I have an hour lunch which allows me to go spend with my family at home, and they have excellent benefits. Not to mention the hour and a half I used to spend in traffic, which I can find better things to do with, as well as the moocho denairos I save on fuel.

My wife and I have come up with a tight budget that we have to discipline ourselves to follow. The kids making pancakes with syrup on the carpet, mixed with Quaker Oats and cocoa, doesn't help. We estimated $60 worth of groceries wasted in this one event. My wife and I have disciplined them in the past because this is a recurring problem. In the last week and a half, this problem seems to be escalating and we decided on a new punishment plan, which doesn't seem to be working either. We keep saying they need time to adjust to this new plan, but we are running out of patience, ideas, control and FOOD!

Do you parents realize the pay-back we get for what we put our parents through? I feel sorry for our children when they have kids of their own!

Bruised and Battered

2004-09-05T01:54:00.000-04:00

We've been reading through the archives on some of our favorite blog sites and this is what we've noticed.

1) Some Christians are very, very, VERY judgmental. (Which in itself is a very judgmental statement.) Sometimes we write because we want to pool information about certain topics in order to be more informed. Other times we write our thoughts or feelings as a way of showing a part of ourselves to the reader, rather than asking for an audit of our spiritual health or new accountability partners. Which leads to the second point.

2) I wonder how many commenters actually know the author of the blog sites personally? By that I mean in person and not just from what they've read. Many people tend to think they know someone based on what they have read/seen/heard about them. An example would be me saying I know George W. Bush. But really, does George W. Bush know me? It's one thing to comment your feelings and thoughts in response, it's another to attack or question a person's standing in Christ.

3) Lastly, if these people have so much to rant about, why don't they start their own blog and ease up on their "preaching" at the author? It's free and there are several hosting options.

In light of these personal attacking comments, no wonder people do not post too frequently. They are too afraid to say something wrong, and would rather not engage in an all out battle. These blogs are available for everyone to see. Now, imagine what an unbeliever might think about Christianity when all they see are people fussing and fighting without loving and encouraging.

Who said that?

2004-09-03T01:01:00.000-04:00

It's funny how my own words echo in my head as I give instruction to my kids. Currently, we are experiencing a self-control problem with our son, who is 5 yrs. old. As we sat there explaining to him the importance of self-control in his life, and as the words came out of my mouth, they sort-of lingered and brought to light a few areas in my own life. Areas that I struggle keeping self-control over.

Ever since I have become a father I have noticed this phenomena. God, I believe, teaches us many lessons through our children. I find myself saying...why do you still do it after I have told you many times not to do it. Then I think of Jesus telling me the exact same thing! Why do I repeat the same actions that I've been told over and over again not to do?

It is the sin nature in all of us that is the default setting in our hearts. Once we have become born again, we are like little children. We have to learn how to daily die to our sin nature and to live in the Spirit. This, of course, is the battle of the ages. It is not easily achieved nor is it something I have mastered. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Thanks A Million!

2004-09-02T10:57:00.000-04:00

This blogging thing is really great! I didn't realize how diverse the feedbacks could be on any given post. I especially liked the ones on the previous post. The comments really made me think. I guess I didn't realize how cynical my post sounded until people actually started commenting. Maybe more of the problem lies with me. I might be overlooking my responsibility in all this. Or sometimes I just can't see the genuine people because of my own clouded vision. Other people usually see things a lot clearer than we do about our own situations. So thanks to all the comments. It's nice to get feedback on my thoughts and feelings. I've got a better perspective on this whole "Hi! How are you?" business.

Hi! How Are You?

2004-09-01T00:22:00.000-04:00

One of my biggest pet peeves with fellow Christians is the question, "How are you?" For many years, my answer used to be the one you hear all the time, "Great, great!" However, in the past couple of years, I don't answer so flippantly. My problem with that question is, why do people ask you if they don't really care? I've tried to answer, "I'm hanging in there", or even, "Not too good right now". As soon as they hear that answer, they're gone in 2 seconds flat. Then why did you ask? Sometimes I feel like telling them exactly how I'm feeling just to see the shock on their faces. We don't expect an honest answer anymore. The same goes for when I ask, "So, how are you?" I genuinely mean it, but just about everybody brushes me off with a, "Good!" Why are we so quick at putting up a front and making people think we have no problems of our own? We, as Christ followers, are in a spriritual battle daily. However, it seems like we all want to be fighting in the front lines by ourselves. Doesn't that sound a little silly? How encouraging would it be in our battle if somebody actually cared enough to listen to the honest answer? I know I would feel more energized to see that there's actually someone out there who cares how my battle's going, and who's willing to fight alongside me.

I regret the many times I've asked this question without really wanting to hear anything but, "Great!" May I never get caught in the "Hi, how are you?" trap again.