Thursday, May 15, 2008

I've moved locations once again...

http://tobemarked.wordpress.com/

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Waiting

There is so much to blog, comment on and ponder about. So I don't know how this is going to relay onto my blog but I got to try.

Recent happenings...
Well I'm down to my Finals week at school. I've got four finals to go, Hermeneutics, Arts and Culture, 19 century reformation and Sin and Salvation. After this that will have been three years of Bible college with one more year of full courses and one year of internship. I opted to do a internship year without any courses. This will delay my 4 year program and extend it one more year. But if I know myself well enough I know I can't put to much on my plate if I want to do things well. My reflections on the school year? Alberta Bible and Rocky Mountain Bible College connected to make it available for students from ABC to participate on the sports teams at RMC. Some played on the hockey team, others basketball and futsol. It was interesting to see what happened when students ended up on teams. It has been a long time since ABC had students participate in competitive sport. I just hope this can continue for the students and this is moving forward for the community and student body.

We haven't collectively merged with RMC academically, because I believe what we are doing although small are building towards a better learning environment for future students. Tuition's are low, Profs are available when you need them and the influence of transformational learning with the practical side of ABC is something that is hard to find. Ps. We are now accredited.

Those NHL playoffs and the Canucks....
I haven't commented or made any venting public since the Canucks were knocked out of playoff contention and for good reason. The first round of the playoffs are almost complete. Calgary and Montreal are on the brink of elimination. Ottawa put up a dismal effort against the power house duo of Malkin and Crosby. But we all knew Ottawa was out no matter what they did. Canada's hope rest on the shoulders of Iginla and those inconsistent Flames. While in the East Price, Kovelev and the Habs salvage some premature thoughts that 12 straight in the regular season would translate in a easy first round opponent in the Bruins. As I sit and watch the playoffs and I become even more of a hockey fan through and through. I actually sat and watched and cheered for other teams. I found myself cheering for the Capitals and Ducks(and I might have a bias because of some Canuck influence). Watching the talent in Pittsburgh and the trampling of the Sens. How can you not cheer for the Penguins at this point. So much talent and all of it being displayed. Players playing to their potential. I am becoming more of a fan of the game of hockey, if not already.

As I mention players playing up to their potential, I must talk about that team that never did this year. Especially the last 8 games. Don't get me wrong I will and forever cheer for the Canucks. But at the end of the year I have never been so disappointed. I lost hope in my childhood heroes. I remember I cried when they lost to the Rangers in game 7. I saw Mr. Canuck Trevor Linden kneel on one knee tired and in disbelief they had a chance to win it all and now we may never see him play another game. This Canucks team never played up to their potential. They say back and watched teams demoralize them and take advantage of a less than confident team. On top of that David Nonis was fired a week ago or so. I can't comment on whether this was truly a good thing. But I know that at the tradeline the problems team with the lack of offence was not addressed and now Canucks fans are in the waiting room to see whats to come next. Who will the GM be? Who will be traded? Will Linden come back(its not official folks, but it might as well be, but here's hoping one more year)? Does Naslund resign for less and become 2nd fiddle to new blood? Rumors out there have Luongo upset and wants to be traded. I would be upset that my team depends solely on me too. Luongo can do a heck of a lot, but he can't score goals for you. If the rumors are true. I believe it is up to management correct the situation before trying to trade possibly the best goalie in the world at the moment. I will throw this out there. But if the Canucks trade Luongo for anything less than 2 proven offensive players (Heatley, Spezza, Lecavalier, Crosby, Malkin,) and solid goalie and a number one draft pick, I will become a Flames fan. In other words... Don't trade Luongo for anything less than an amazing outlandish trade.

But there is one saying Canucks fans have been accustomed to, "Well there's always next year."

Consumer Responsibilty...
Recently there has been protest against the Summer Olympics. I've made some inquires and gathered some information about China and what is going on there. Peacefully I agree with protest. Done in a manner that is peaceful and thoughtful. Trying to disturb the passing of the torch from nation to nation and using hateful words is not the way to go. But maybe being educated in why and what is going on. I have decided to more conscience of what I buy. boycottmadeinchina.org speaks about what is going with our money and how it empowers a government. I don't want to just look at China itself and I'm not talking about the people, but the people in charge. Those with political influence and those of us who have a choice to make a conscience one. Where does our money go and how can we be responsiblie? Do we as North American profit from the welfare of those who work in forced labour camps? I am still learning myself, but I know we need to be more conscience of what we purchase. Importantly for human rights issues, but also as a enviromental issue. How many starbuck coffee cups do we throw out in a year? Plastic bags we use and throw away for that single cd you bought. How many things do we purchase and realize that it was really not needed? This includes me, but we all need to make a diffrence in our power to purchase things or not to purchase. Lets make the smallest ecological footprint in this world as individuals and make the biggest positive impact in the lives of people.

to be continued....

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Girl by Dallas Green

I wish I could do better by you,
Cos that's what you deserve.
You sacrifice so much of your life,
In order for this to work.
While I'm off chasing my own dreams,
Sailing around the world,
Please know that I'm yours to keep,
My beautiful girl.
And when you cry a piece of my heart dies,
Knowing that I may have been the cause,
If you were to leave, fulfill someone elses dreams,
I think I might totally be lost.
But you don't ask for no diamond rings,
No delicate string of pearls,
That's why I wrote this song to sing,
My beautiful girl

Monday, March 31, 2008

Faith under a tree

When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?" Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." (Matt 22:34-40 Msg)

Last week I was asked a question:

"How can you be rabid for Jesus and not come across as a bigot?"
Christians have had there time in the sun and in the mud. The worlds reception of Christians depends from person to person. Good or bad, we are asked to love God first and alongside that love our neighbor. To answer this question I must look at being solely sold out to Christ command of loving God and loving people. I think most time we think about how many people we can turn on to Jesus. But who wants to follow sheep that are really wolves masquerading as sheep. Not practicing what we preach. Sometimes we fail to be an example of Jesus. In our work place, schools, community and the many diffrent circles we run in. Some may say that the church is going to hell in a handbasket, but I would like to say it's not. Christ message is love with grace and in that grace we can find a peace/understanding that surpasses all things plain and complicated. I myself have not come to be a follower of Jesus to judge those around me, but to love (whatever that might look like). Its a tough job loving people at times. It stretches my comfort zone, pulls me places where I would normally wouldn't want to go. It goes against the grain of self perservation. But thats the amazing thing about the love I find that Christ gives. I don't do it for treat or sticker or be in the good graces of Gods eyes. But I do it because faithfully that is the only thing I know that can make this world a better place. It is the greatest commandment; to love. To love God and to love people where they are at.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Some quick thoughts...

Listening to No beginning, No End - Hawksley Workman

So here I go again. Blogging again. Maybe its because certain people have come back to their blogging ways and have inspired me to blog once again.

Have you ever heard of Vlogging? Video blogging your entries and recording your thoughts. I don't know if I could ever Vlog my thoughts. The fact that you could see me 10lbs heavier is something that doesn't seem appealing. Or what about Flogs. A blog dedicated to blogging about the meals you eat. The food you eat at restaurants or your own home cook meals. John Mayer did it once on his blog. It was funny.

But here I am again blogging. I've only really wanted to blog important thoughts and not useless information that will stay on the Internet forever. But sometimes you just need to write and reflect.

Today I almost died?!? When you drive in the snow there are people who like to drive slower than usual. And those people are me. Today I was merging onto Sarcee and this guy in the minivan was bearing down the backside of my little Honda Civic. I was pressured to move at a faster rate just so that we wouldn't collide. But at this point I was turning and turning in my car in the snow takes a little more grace. I started to feel the car lose its grip and my back side was starting to shake its tail. The guy avoided me and passed me while I span and did a 360. Luckily I didn't have to merge into any traffic at the time. But cars were heading towards me from across the overpass. I quickly collected myself from being a little shaken up. And quickly turn the car around and got going to church.

My only advice/vent, please slow down when driving in the snow. Some people don't wake up thinking it would be nice to have their life flash before their eyes in the middle of the road.

Something Random
I had a quick conversation with some of the grocery guys at Sobeys. We were talking about how the world is such a complicated and frustrating place. "I think its time for a INFESTATION of ZOMBIES." The name of the person will remain anonymous but I thought how our funny around the compactor can go from what the world is, to what we would do when if Zombies started to roam the streets of Calgary.

If anyone cares... I've had a PS3 for 3 months now. I've reached level 41 for my COD4 (WOOT!). Rockband is the great new addiction especially when you have a great names like Travs Supertramp(drummer), Jimmy Stones(guitar), and JJ Jeffersons(lead singer) to the newly formed band "Jefferson's Flavor". There is an audition for a bass player in the works.

Thats it for now. See you sooner than later.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Genesis

I wonder how many bloggers out there blogged about the new year? The beginnings of a new year, giving opening remarks about what this new chapter will entail. What hopes and dreams they have ... goals, aspirations they may conjure up.

This year I'm not gonna do that. But allow for what will come and embrace it. Whether it be good or bad. Heart breaking or blissful. I dare to dream, but for now not out loud. Being easily surprised is far better. [End blog]

Just a thought...

I was thinking about the songs I love to play over and over on my ipod and itunes at home. There are just some songs I can never out play. I can listen to them everyday even if they are 2, 5, 10 years old. I just can never get tired of them. Sometimes those songs get you through a tough time, or they take you back to a time when heard it in thebackround or some certain event. I just can't get tired of them. So I just thought I'd make a list and ask that you do the same and post your all time repeat replays. Heres 59 of many songs that I can play on repeat:

  1. 30 Seconds to Mars - A modern myth
  2. Alicia Keys - If I ain't got you
    Alexisonfire - This could be anywhere in the world
  3. Amel Larrieux - Make me whole
  4. Agualung - Brighter than Sunshine
  5. Beatles - Hey Jude
  6. BellX1 - Eve, the apple of my eye
  7. Bic Runga - Sway
  8. Bill Withers - Ain't no sunshine
  9. Brian Mcknight - 6812
  10. Brooke Fraser - Saving the World
  11. Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch
  12. Carrie Underwood - Before He cheats
  13. The Cars - Drive
  14. City and Color - Comin Home
  15. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
  16. Coldplay - Sparks
  17. Colin Hay - I just don't think I'll ever get over you
  18. Crowded House - Don't dream it's over
  19. Damien Rice - I remember/The Professor & La fille Danse (live at Cornucopia)
  20. Dashboard Confessionals - The Best Deceptions
  21. David Crowder - You're everything/Stars
  22. David Gray - This Years love
  23. Eminem - Till I collapse
  24. Feist -1234
  25. Jeff Buckly - Last Goodbye
  26. John Legend - Ordinary People
  27. John Mayer - Slow dancing in a burning room
  28. Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned, My Love, What goes around comes around
  29. Kanye West - Golddigger
  30. Lenny Kravitz - Again
  31. Lifehouse - Everything
  32. Linkin Park - What I've done
  33. Maroon Five - She will be loved
  34. Michael Buble - Home
  35. Michelle Branch - Breathe
  36. Montel Jordan - Get it on tonight
  37. Nada Surf - If you leave
  38. Nelly Furtado - Promiscous Girl
  39. Nelly Furtado, JT & Timbaland - Give it to me
  40. Iron and wine - Such great heights
  41. Incubus - Just a phase
    Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere over the rainbow
  42. Nick Drake - Northern Sky
  43. Nsync - Gone
  44. Paolo Nutini - Last Request, Rewind
  45. Peter Bjon & John - Young Folks
  46. The Police - Roxanne
  47. Rachael Yamagata - Meet me by the water
  48. Rage against the Machine - Wake up
  49. Rihanna - SOS
  50. Rufus Wainwright - Across the universe
  51. Ryan Adams - Come pick me up
  52. Shania Twain - Don't
  53. The Shins - New Slang
  54. Sigur Ros - The nothing song
  55. Solomon Burke - Don't give up on me
  56. Switchfoot - I dare you to move
  57. T-pain feat. Akon - Bartender
  58. U2 - With or without you, Where the streets have no name
  59. Wilco - Jesus etc.






Tuesday, December 25, 2007

There was a man who lived in Alaska. A very simple man and was liked by all the people in the small village he lived in. Every night he would take a walk and think about that hole in his heart. He didn't know why or what caused it. But he felt as if there was really a hole in his heart.

He would return home and lay in his bed and lie awake for hours thinking about that hole in his heart. This would continue for a year. He would take that evening walk in the rain, snow, and clear glass night, just before bed. And for a year he would lie in bed awake thinking about that hole in his heart.

But one day the towns people came together and brought him a log. He was never known for a carver. It took him 5 years to crave that log.

They raised that log some years ago. And when you stand there realizing that it took that log hours of carving to fill that hole in that mans heart. You stand there just looking at it and just wanting to cry because of it's beauty. That beauty of that mans hole in his heart.