ellipsis…

Listened to some great live music at the Side Track Cafe tonight; Trainsleeper, DUAL, Fosters & McGarvey, and Deon Blyan Band. You may ask why these four bands were playing tonight, well I have an answer for you… Shameless Records Canada. For those to don’t know, Shameless is Glen Erickson’s (aka glenroy) record company, and he put on a showcase of some of his bands tonight. GREAT MUSIC!

I came across this quote recently and found it quite intriquing.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

by Marianne Williamson

After watching the dvd with some of yous on thursday (pap, ian, dt, etc) I have had a couple of statements running through my head. Mostly, “If in 15 years my kids love church but I hate it, then i’ve done my job.” It really makes sense to me, maybe cuz i have a kid now. I am wondering what you guys think. It says something about what we believe at the root of what we are doing, although I can see a lot of people not liking that statement. What does it say about those who take responsibility for the future?

On another note, after watching U2 on SNL last nite… i realized that the harder U2 has to try to be cool, the older i feel. We all know the Edge is bald, so just take off the skull cap, once. The older we get the narrower the road to respectability becomes. I would think someone as brilliant as Bono would get that. But he keeps wearing leather pants.

- originally posted by glenroy

actually I saw this on the tv last night. think of the curses that would come at the casino from selling the mother of God on the internet…

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19270&item=5535890757&rd=1

- originally posted by glenroy

I’m calling it “Advice”

Anyone who wants an autograph can get one, let me know.

ADVICE
Hey, hey, Mr. ShehStay out of the way
Of a bundle of hay
Then you’ll be ok
‘Cause you know what they say…

Yo, yo, don’t stub your toe
Or aggravate Joe
Or punch my friend Moe
That would be low
And scary, you know?

Well, well, this has been swell
This advice you can tell
From the rooftops you’ll yell
And all will be well
So go buy a bell

The End

- originally posted by Cath

I want to share this because it’s presenting an exciting opportunity.
To those who were at Earl’s on Sunday…
Not only am I thankful but I’d guess that Philip was thankful as well for the welcoming attitude you all had.

Before I go on, I’ll explain to those who weren’t there and are curious. I met this guy from Ethiopia on Sunday at church as he wandered around kind of lost on his first Sunday at Beulah. I showed him around a bit and talked with him and he helped me out with putting away some Christmas boxes. He was looking for a church for his family. He came to Canada about a year ago with his family of 4 children after waiting for over 3 years to come. He’s 26. After arriving in Edmonton, he went to Moose Jaw and then came back to Edmonton last month. Anyway, he came out with some us for lunch after church and I drove him home after.

I tell you all this because though I’ve heard stories about the life of immigrants in Canada, I’ve never really met anyone. Yesterday I got to and it opened my eyes. I dropped Philip off at one of the smallest houses I’ve seen in Edmonton. Here was a guy trying to support a large family in a foreign country while working at a convenience store and electronic retail job. How is this possible? It is experiences like these that help me realize a little more at just how blessed we are here in Canada and also prompt me into action with questions like “What can I do?”

This is one of the first times I’ve actually met a first time visitor to the church. It got me thinking…

If I had simply nodded hello back, looked away and kept on my way with the work I was doing, would someone else have welcomed Philip or took time to meet him? As pastors often say, how many other visitors walk in and out of the church without being noticed or welcomed? Especially people of a noticeably different race or color? If this happens often, is it because we are too preoccupied with ourselves and our friends on Sundays? Or why is it? Or is that just the result of a large church?

- originally posted by Paps

g-roy

I understand the enigmatic concern with communicating a genuine experience with God. Perhaps that is part of what this emerging (or contemporary for that matter) generation needs affirmation of the reality of mystery. I think that is one difference between our previous method of communicating Christ and the emerging one. Where once we held to an attempted belief in the rationally available and definable existence of God, we now find people enjoy mystery, embrace mystery, and appreciate mystery. I think an appreciation for mystery is behind some of our emerging attitudes to scripture too we are moving away from a position that sits above the text and assumes understanding and control, and we are beginning to embrace mystery, finding that we cannot assume complete understanding. So, I suppose part of our expression of an experience with God is affirming the reality of mystery in our experience.

Another thought that has struck me is exactly towards what you mentioned an experience of God in everyday life. Or, as I like to put it, an experience with God. Maybe it is just me, but I believe part of a true communication of the reality of God is enabling people to becoming more human. What I mean is that I think the Christian church has erred in promoting a worldview, or at the very least a way of life, that essentially distances us from our fellow human being. I suppose it finds itself personified in our us and them mentality to evangelism. You know we’ve got something you don’t. My hope and heart would be that the church would begin to become the environment that embraces people from all walks of life, all experiences, and provides an atmosphere where genuine love and grace is exercised. And I think we as believers can learn a lesson in this too, that there are facets to being a human that we unfortunately have denied in our modern Christianity. Pain, suffering, sorrow, joy, pleasure, comedy, tragedy are universal. I believe we can experience these with Christ. Our understanding must become aware that God is with us all through the mundane, routine, extraordinary, and profound. I would hope I can encourage both physically and verbally in my life that I believe Jesus is with me in such experiences. Thoughts?

- originally posted by DT