Everything Changes: July 2005

I wish everyone had a blog. Well, at least, everyone that I know! It would be so nice to able to "check in" on friends and family, listen to them ramble on about stuff in their lives, see pics of them and their kids - and their toys! (My bro-in-law just posted pics of his new Harley - now see, isn't that fun?!)

Lots of places host free blog pages - including the one I use: Blogger. You can even get a Blurty or a Flog (short for "foto" log)! Lots of choices...

Yes, ultimately it would be nice to visit all my friends and family in person, but who has the time or money for that!! (Smile.)

Fisherman

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." [Matthew 4:19 Message Version]

"Kids these days."

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Isn't that the kind of thing you think you will never say? (It's right up there with "when I was a kid...")

Yeah, well... I'm finally sayin' it. You know, I've seen a lot over the years and I've met all kinds of kids. But there seems to be a new breed growing up quickly without any sort of boundaries. Again, I'm sounding real old here, but I can't help it!

Tonight a couple of the neighbor kids were chatting with me outside my apartment building. There were 4 kids, three that I've known for about a year. The 4th one was a girl about 11-years-old.

Now, as I've mentioned, I'm an adult - MUCH older than this 11-year-old. And "when I was 11" I would have NEVER done anything disrespectful around an adult. Not this girl. Oh no. The four letter words were flying out of her mouth with total disregard for the fact that I was sitting right there. It was one of the other kids who said, "hey, watch your mouth, Paul goes to church!" Miss 11 calmly looked over at me and said, "so... I go to church too... and I swear."

"Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth." [Epesians 4:29 Message Version]

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." [Luke 6:45 NIV]

I guess "we" older folk need to start helping these younger folk (and their parents) by storing them up with good things. I got some good things. I think I can give some away.

Eenie, Meenie, Meinie, Moe

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Old Geezer

Don't ya just love summer... hot weather, swimming, vacations and church BBQs! Today our church met at one of the local parks for some games, food and fellowship. Fellowship - you know, hanging out with people you like and some you don't. C'mon! You know it's true! If you've been around church life long enough you know that sometimes "fellowships" can be rather boring and/or lonely. You sit by yourself or the people you came with and never really "fellowship" with anyone - although that's the whole POINT!

But that wasn't the case today. At least not for me. Yeah, there were a couple of new people I didn't get to know, but I still had fun. Mostly because we had tons of kids there, and if you decide to get involved in any of the kids activities, you know you're gonna either get soaking wet or at least toss a ball around.

After we ate delicious no-name brand "beef" burgers, I went down to the "playland" in the middle of the park with a bunch of kids and a few parents. Since the kids had a hard time deciding what game to play I said, "why don't you play tag and I'll be it!" Done. For the next 45 minutes or so I ran around chasing kids because they liked making sure that "the old geezer" [my game nickname] was "it" a lot!

Sheesh! By the time we were finished playing, I had a scraped knee and was completely worn out! [Ya know... I'm not the young whippersnapper I used to be!]

"Has anyone seen my calcium supplements?!"

The Daily Commute

Friday, July 15, 2005

I have been keeping my eyes open for stores that offer an "iCoke.ca" promotion. You get iCoke points, register online and you can win stuff. Last week I discovered that I could use my points to enter a draw for a new car! And the kind that I want!

Not that I hate the bus, I've actually gotten used to taking it. And besides, I have met a whole community of people that only ride the bus. If I stopped taking public transit I'd probably never see these people!

On the other hand, it would be nice to have a car before the snow flies again - which, in Canada, could be anytime withing the next two months. (Joke. Sort of.)

You Didn't Hear It From Me

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

I heard a lady in the bank say that yesterday. She was expressively chatting about something (or someone) with a bank customer. At the end of her rant she leaned into her friend's personal space and said, "but you didn't hear it from me." [Hang on... I need to divert for a second: when you end a sentence with a quote does the period go inside or outside? Okay, I'm done.]

You didn't hear it from me? Sure I did! You just spent the last two minutes telling me!

What is it about us? Do we say things like that to ease our consciences? Like, if we say it, then we’re not responsible for our words?

Hmm. *Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose." I like what *1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.”

I think our lives would be a whole lot different if we chose to build each other up with our words - especially when the person we're talking about isn't around. (But you didn’t hear it from me…)

[*Message Version]

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Corn Field [on my visit to the Walkington Farm in Illinois]

Back in the Saddle Again

Decided I should probably blog a bit more. Life is good, and lots of good things are around me - so maybe I should write about them.

Just got back from my annual 4th-of-July trip to the United States. I don't go south because of my patriotism, (which perhaps SHOULD be my reason), but rather because it's a good time to take off. Canada Day (July 1st) is a "stat holiday" at work, so I get time off. Besides, the weather is usually good this time of the year.

And it was GREAT on this trip. Other than one HUGE T-storm while driving through Ohio, the temps were perfect: 75-80F.

But now it's back to work at www.adsmedia.ca. It's a great place to work - flexible schedule and a great team. As well, my church (www.freedomhouse.ca) is growing and it's fun to be part of what's happening there. (I'm the worship leader at FH, in case you didn't know...)

Stay tuned... lots more to come!