Saskatchewan Sky

Tuesday May 20th, 2008 - Honesty is beautiful.

2008-07-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Tuesday May 20th 2r008

Pre - Liberia trip I wrote a note regarding the desperation I felt at leaving my poor hairdryer in the cold flatlands while I was of seeing the world. I must tell you the honest truth my feeling of desperation had more to do with vanity than concern for poor Freddy ( The hairdryer) . Now in returning from my trip , I only see it fitting to share with ou the fact that I cheated on Freddy. I left Canada feeling confident in my honorable goal of surviving without him but alas I found myself a Liberian Freddy - A fan.

In my pre- Liberia state, I found that I was appalled by how truly vain and materialistic I a really am. I flew out on March 14 with huge plans to allow the life- changing power of visiting an impoverished nation to change me. Guess what? I am changed but not in the way that some of you might assume. I am still processing my experience but here is a list of observations that I have made upon my return:

1. No trip, no trick or trade can truly change you - only Jesus can.

2. Materialism is global and it is more of a mindset than it is about wealth and possession. I think that those who are in poverty are still materialistic. They have just been given life situation that limits the excessive indulgence that we have been allowed here in Canada.

3. Becoming a History Maker is more about how you live this moment - right where you are -than what great accomplishments you have grasped or aspire to.

4. It's truly the day to day grindd - waking up, smiling at the sun, washing dishes, annoying your roommate, eating rice, praising God and taking out the garbage that makes all the difference in the world.

5. On Sunday morning, poor children in Liberia are better dressed than teenagers in Canada. I found that I have worn dress pants, heels and make up more in the past three weeks than in the past three years.

6. Honesty is something that as a Christian girl I aspire to but the truth is- I like sunflowers and happy feelings a little more. The truth is sometimes appealing, usually terrifying and most often something that I can handle only in small moderate doses taken with spoonfuls of chocolate: but here is the thing: I want to be a person of honesty and integrity. Not just in the "Big things" but the "little things"

Multiply your Macaroni

2008-02-27T21:23:00.001-08:00

For the past month I have had Feb. 27th written on my Calendar as a date to remember. To be honest I really didn't know why I had to remember that date out side of the fact that Pastor Doug (Papa Doug) simply informed me that it was apart of my schedule.

So as per the faithful little person that I am I showed up just before 7.

I wasn't quite sure weather I should be excited or attempting to sneak in a pillow but for better or worse there I was awaiting to find the purpose behind me being informed that this night was to be set aside.

Tonight was a missions emphasis. Fabulous. I like missions.

Now I am not sure what it was ... if it was the pickled asparagus or the Bannock I ate earlier today or maybe the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Just maybe that was it but the things that were being shared captivated my attention.

There is no order to this but here are some random thoughts that I was thinking about this evening.

1. Sacrifice. What do you think is worth sacrificing for? The greatest Sacrifices are made out of Love - cause nothing else matters anymore.

I make a lot of decisions on a regular basis that people would consider sacrifices of time, money, emotions, belongings, space...but i know that I still cling on to so much. Highlighted in my heart tonight is the realization that - I cling to my fears - fears of inadequacy, failure, self esteem, search for self confidence or beauty - these things I cling onto for dear life and I just wonder that if only for the love of God - I would sacrifice that which I cling the most tightly to - would I not be that much more better off?

On my fridge I have this quote: "Nothing is more Practical than finding God, that is, than FALLING IN LOVE In a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,What you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, Stay in Love and it will decide everything."

Tonight the speaker emphasized the point that this quote makes - by choosing to fall in love and what we fall in love with - we inadvertently decide what we do with our everything.

So my question is What are you sacrificing and why?

2. I believe that people who do not have Jesus go to hell.

Ok so I feel like I'm swearing - or like I should apologize for saying that or something absurd like that but it's the straight out facts of what I believe.

So If I believe that - Do I care? Do my actions show that I care?
So am I actually doing anything about this..... reality!

In some places of the world - churches are expanding from 300 - 3000 but I can count the salvation growth that I seen personally in the last year on my hands.

When I was a little girl I used to have dreams - the kind of dreams where you wake up crying and sweating - dreams about persecution & death - but mostly about the lost. I would cry and ask Jesus... to help me save my friends but besides working in a cute church with a bunch of cute little people - have I let those childhood dreams phase out. Have i made 'playing it safe' my life motto instead of clinging to my childhood call to tell others about Jesus?

Tonight our speaker Ian Green - Talked about how the # 1 life regret that many hold was the lack of Risks that they took. I think I will be O.K. if I never jump out of a airplane or eat snake but don't want to look back at my life.... & know that I have not shared Jesus.

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So...I am tired & Since I have not come to the conclusion of this letter and I have not yet explained the reason for the title... you will have to come back again..... for chapter 2!

Thank You Jesus for my Hairdryer....

2008-02-26T21:09:00.000-08:00

I am leaving for Liberia in 17 days, to work at The Lord's Prayer Orphanage for 3 weeks.

I'm nervous, excited and a myriad of other emotions that this blog just cannot clearly express. As I count down the days until take off - I am feeling stretched - just in the preparation.

Yesterday, I was going through my list of things "I need to get for the trip" and I became totally overwhelmed with how completely materialistic I really am.

For a long time I have lived with the disillusionment that I am 'not that materialistic.' I would have told you - "I don't have a T.V. - My furniture is all second hand - I don't buy clothing from the Gap" and so I was confidant in my non-materialistic status. (Aughhh!!!)

It was all going well until I realized that I would not be able to bring my Hair dryer! I use it almost every day! Oh me... Oh my.. what will I ever do without my hairdryer!

Anyways... I'm getting side tracked so back to the point.

The point is that there is no Electricity in Liberia - so my little blue hairdryer has to stay home in Canada. (Tear)

As I pack, I have realized all that I take for granted - like the washer/dryer that my land lords let me use & My Christmas lights that I always forget to unplug, my ridiculous room heater that has been lovingly nicknamed - Curious George. My Shower that pours out hot water!

It frustrates me that these things are a concern for me - As I am preparing to visit a country that has been devastated by war & where children have learned to to kill - I'm here in my cozy little box grumbling about the fact that I will have to give up my hair dryer for three weeks.

What gets me the most right now is that I have been asked to go teach the workers at the orphanage and in the community.... If only they knew... that I was a crazy hairdryer obsessed woman - they might reconsider.

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The Verse that comes to mind as I rant and rave is the one posted to my bathroom mirror:

" You're beauty should not come from outward adornment... Instead, It should e that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of Great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3,4

Now to live it out.

Ok. I'm overtired. I need sleep badly.

Have a fabulous night and a Happy Wednesday!

What a wonderful life.

2008-02-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday afternoon my roomate Carly & I were cleaning the house/ dungeon and getting ready for our games night & I had this moment of Ahhh.. life is good. It was a glorious moment sentimental, mushy & absolutly fabulous. Extreme? No not at all. I'm totally serious.

My sentimental mush... is not based on a perfect life situation... actually If I felt like complaining I have a whole load of things that I could grumble about but since this is a public sight I am choosing discretion. If you really feel like hearing me rant than let me know... (It's one of my favorite past times - Just kidding!)

However this blissful moment was interupted by a second strain of thought ... and I began to ponder what it's like for those who live each day with absolutly no hope... I have grown up with my share of painful moments but I have always had a thread of hope that has kept me moving forward. I feel convicted for taking this hope for granted. What seems so natural to me - others have yet to grasp....

So in conclusion. I choose a life of gratitude! I might not be able to change the experience of others but I can choose to appreciate & share what has been given to me.

Update!

2007-10-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

Update time. I just realized that the last time I sat down to write a blog was way back in june... crazy how time just flys by. I survived camps 1-2 & 3. No death. I also survived the start of fall which is always a busy time... programs starting back up - the transition between summer mode and fall mode. I'm really liking my second year hear in sask> It feels nice to have a bit of history with people. i feel so much more settled.

My settled state of existance has probably been a contribution to a few things 1. I painted my basement suit & my office at the church (It's amazing what a coat of paint can do for you! & how much color effects your mood) 2. My friend Carla and I started a small group @ my house on friday nights (back in may) It's great. There is an awesome group of people that meet and we have some good laughs and good discussion (right now we are discussing/studying the book of James) 3. I gained a super cool roomate her name is Carly!! She is alot of fun to live with!
I like not being in this place by myself & we share the fact that we are both from other provinces. & 4 History: the thing I missed the most when I moved here was having history with people.

My settled state has contributed to the fact that I am becoming way more domestic ... as some people call it! hee hee. I have done way more cooking/baking/ decorating in the last 6 months. I think it's cause I'm finally starting to feel more relaxed here. I have also been sleeping better & my energy is way up. :

I experienced a few painful & very emotionally taxing situations this past year & when i get emotionally stressed I like to hide away and sleep. The fact that my energy up is great because It means that I am finally healed/recuperated and feeling more normal.

Something that I have learned from this past year being in such a new place .... is the need to just be - to let time take it's course.... to have patience with myself and trusting in God's patience with me. Many people in the bible - went through different difficult times, feelings etc... ( Jeremiah, David, Moses, .....) and these people learned patience & the ability to vocalize there opinions, disapointments, hurts, challenges to God... not always receiving a solution but release in sharing the burden with a Great God!

The fall is moving forward at fast pace and I find it exciting right now.. looking forward to more adventures. One challenge that i have still is the balance in my life between home life and church life - meaning that sometimes i can get lost in the shuffle - One of my goals this year is to develope more personal hobbies and interests that are not church related. ( Just so no one takes this comment wrong.. it's not that I don't love my church or the people in my church .. I'm just discovering the boundary lines and between me and my role.... if that makes any sense.

well it's getting late and I need go to bed...

wait one more story:

My roomate & I decided to try out our fireplace for the first time this week. lol. um... it didn't work out quite like we had anticipated.. the smoke got stuck in our basement suit and the next morning our house smelt like cold campfired. hee hee. we had to leave our windows open a lot and burn candles to get rid of the smell.. but the stench is still here.. as I am writing this my eyes are feeling the irritation of the remainder of the smoke... ha ha. oupse.

ok now I'm going to go to bed..
bye

Summer Schedule

2007-06-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

The month of June has been very wet here in Regina and many have grumbled that we are getting Island weather (of course that's my fault).

This past week the sun has slowly been comming out more and more and just in time to because my summer activities are creeping up on me all to quickly.
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July 2-5th I am leading a kids outreach in the Park with some ladies from Four Winds Gospel Mission.

July 8-14th I am the director for Living Waters Jr. Teen Camp

Following Jr. Teen camp I have been encouraged to take a few days off... So I'm going to hide out at a cabin a couple hours south of Regina.

Then August will be all about prep for the fall : Kids Carnival, Kids Craze & Jr. Youth Kick off time etc..

August 24-28th I will be speaking at Dallas Valley Ranch Camp (Jr. Teen)

I'm exhausted just thinking about it all...lol
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I feel like I have been on the run alot lately - well actually to be really honest I always say that I feel like I'm on the go alot - So saying that it's only recent would be a lie. I am really looking forward to my forced vacation in the Middle of july.

I have been feeling a little out of sorts lately - emotional, tired and stressed. I have been sleeping a lot more and I have been wanting to hide out a lot (I have been reading tonnes) which is not bad but also not really my style. I suppose most of it is related to the crazy schedule that I have for myself .

If you read this blog please pray for me. I need God to remain the center and I need to rely on his strength for each day & not my own - this doesn't come naturally though i wish it would.

Attitude

2007-06-17T05:07:00.001-07:00

This quote on attitude just happens to be my most favorite quote of all time... I refer to this quote alot. I was thinking about this quote again this week and I thought that I should share it.
Attitude:
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes." - Chuck Swindoll

Human Sundae

2007-06-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

I know I have not produced any decent blog entries latly and I apologize to any and all who have been disapointed by my procrastination.

I know that this post will make up for any of my procrastination and will also provide amo for anyone has something against me... hee hee.

What happens when you mix Jr. Youth, Ice Cream, Chocolate syrup, Whip cream and Sprinkles????

I can tell you from first hand experience. You get a HUMAN SUNDAE

The all purpose excuse!

2007-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

It's because I'm a girl, I'm short and sometimes it's also because i'm single... If you have a problem with that go eat strawberries and chocolate it will brighten up you're day!

Greiving the loss of Mr. Wonderful

2007-05-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

The past couple of weeks have been fairly difficult for me as I am in a time of deep mourning and grief over a very wonderful man, the man whom I was destined to marry. A man whom I believe that I have never had the privledge to meet.

While attending district conference in Saskatoon, I was suprised by a number of people who approached me and questioned where my husband was & how he was doing. I must admitt at this time, I must of been in deep shock because I could not even remember getting married. The looks that I got from some troubled me and i could not place what was wrong.

I asked Pastor Paul about it, since I was very confused and in response all that he did was bow his head solemnly ( Even though he tried to hide it, I could see a few tears escape). I suppose it was a mixture of pitty and grief. I wonder what he must have been thinking? How is it that one could forget being married to someone so wonderful?

I know that Pastor Paul would never lie to me so I have come to the conclusion that the shock of his passing has left me in a state of temporary amnesia.

How does one grieve over someone whom they have no recolection of meeting?
Is it wrong that I have not cried yet?

I went looking for his Eulogy today to see if it would help jog my memory & this is what I found:

I wrote you a letter

2007-05-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

I wrote you a letter
Things could be better
Full of promises, every hope and dream
Did you get it
Have you read it
Talks about you and me And the future,
you see Something no one can do
Is take the place of you Can't you see you’re....one of a kind
CHILD, YOU'RE LIKE A STAR
SET APART
SET APART
FROM THE START OF THE WORLD
THIS IS YOUR TIME
RISE AND SHINE CHILD,
YOU’RE ONE OF A KIND
Sometimes every thing’s too much Like the deepest cut
You hurt to be touched
When you hear it
If you feel it
Don't let it have its way
I'm writing to say
Something no one can do
Is take the place of you
Oh can't you see you’re...one of a kind
[Repeat Chorus]
CHILD, YOU'RE LIKE A STAR
SET APART
SET APART -
FROM THE START OF THE WORLD
THIS IS YOUR TIME
RISE AND SHINE
YOUR ONE OF A KIND
I know it's hard to hear promises
When the blue has turned to grey
Nobody said it was easy
But I know you'll find your way

Letter - Newsboys 2006.

I survived one whole year!!!!

2007-05-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

On May 17th @ 2p.m. it will be exactly one year from the day that I moved to Regina.

Pastor Paul & Pastor Lynn Picked me up from the Airport that hot afternoon. Priority one was to find me some good maps of Regina and pick up slurpees from 7 - 11. The details of that whole day will be forever etched in my mind along with all of the overwhelming feelings of fear and awe of the unknown which lay a head of me.

I have discovered beauty in Regina and I have fallen in love with an adorable little church. This year has had it's difficulties that I know have only helped to shape me and make me stronger.

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Psalms 107: 8-9 "Oh that men would Praise the Lord for his goodnessm and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness"

Psalms 18: 28 " You O Lord, Keep my lamp burning; My God turns my darkness into light. With you're help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

The coolest kids ever....

2007-05-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

At the end of March I went home to B.C. for two weeks. It was a whirl wind visit, as I attempted to make time to visit all of my friends and family in 8 days. It was really good to see everyone a real trip back down memory lane.

While I was in the lower mainland I was a bridesmaid for a good friend of mine. The wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun. This picture was taken shortly after the ceremony -I am standing next to two of the coolest kids ever .... Sarah and Jordon Cornock.

My good friend Marlies Cornock was kind enough to bring me into her home for a couple of days, while I was in Abbotsford. Her hospitality was greatly appreciated.

Rose Bud...

2007-04-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Recieving flowers is such a simple but beautiful thing. I could probably recite for you every time someone has given me a flower which shows to things - first that I have not recieved that many flowers in my life time ( LOL) but second and more importantly that those memories which I do hold have been cherished.

Life is full of ups, downs and inbetweens.... difficult decisions, late nights, laughter, tears and many unanswered questions, fears and doubts. In less than a month I will officially have been in full time ministry at Avonhurst Pentecostal for 1 year. It's been quite the yearbut I have made it through. I feel that I have grown a lot, been stretched a lot and pushed a lot. I don't know what tommorow holds.. well literaly Jr. Youth is tommorow...but I don't know what the big picture holds... Sometimes that is scary, frustrating, emotional etc..

Today i recieved a Letter and a Rose from a very beautiful woman, her name is Sonya, she is the Secretary at my church but she has been much more than that to me... she has been a mentor and a friend. In the letter she enclosed a poem which touched me and i decided that i should share with you...

Resting in him...

"My father has everything in control and He reveals to me what I need to know and when I need to know it."

It is only a tiny rosebud

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

with these clumsy hands of mine

The secret of unfolding flowers

is not known to such as I.

God opens this flower so sweetly,

Then, in my hands, they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

The flower of God's design,

Then how can I have the wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?

So, I'll trust in him for leading

Each moment of my day.

I will look to him for His guidance

Each step of the Pilgrim's way.

The Pathway that lies before me

Only my Heavenly father knows.

I'll trust him to unfold the moments,

Just as he unfolds the rose.

(Remember: You ARE his ROSE)

"Pastor Kim needs a few good men"

2007-02-15T20:52:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago... I walked into our Pastoral staff meeting frustrated because of the 20+ volunteers at Avonhurst who so diligently run our Kids Craze programs only one of those volunteers is a man!!!

So I informed Doug that I thought we needed some more men (Dad's) to Volunteer to work with there boys.

So as a joke... on Sunday morning Pastor Doug has so kindly announced that I'm looking for a 'few good men' - this announcement always gets a good reaction...

Well tonight at Jr. Youth that announcment got moved to the next level.

Since Valentines day was on Wednesday -Jr. Youth had a Valentines theme to it - I was talking to the Jr. Youth about purity and waiting for the right kind of relationships ... while i was speaking some kind... kind people who were obviously not paying any attention to what i was talking about edited this picture and put it on the screen behind me. This picture was also e-mailed to the other Pastors.... so guess who is never going to live this one down........

So below this edited picture of me and "Mr. Right" - there was the caption on the screen.... Congratulations Pastor Kim & Mr. Handsome!!!! Sheesh

I just don't know what to say anymore............

Yeesh..

2007-02-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

This week has been quite the dousey. My transmission descided to stop working... so I was with out a car for 3 days. I've been sick with a monsterous cold...fever, stuffy nose, aches n pains .... the works..... the other part of my week that was stressful involves other people & situations and are not open to the public ... sorry to all of you with itchy ears.

Today has been a highlight in my week. I felt as though Kids Craze went well today. It was a lot of fun & I could feel the kids get into it.

Each week I ask a boy or girl to pray for our kids service and so today Kyle who is 9 offered to praye for me because I was sick... I was really touched by his kindness.

Following the service, I went for lunch with the Raisbeck family took me to Red Lobster.. I had salmon & rice... yummy salmon. It was fun hanging out with them... and I really do enjoy salmon. :)

Now... I have 2hrs til church... which is not really long enough for me to go home to sleep... so i'm sitting here in my office sniffling & complaining to my wonderful blog.
Maybe I will go have a nap in the nursery on those nice new couches that we got...

Winter in Saskatchewan!

2007-01-31T20:03:00.000-08:00

So I owe a super huge apology too all those devout people who so faithfully read my random babbling :) I have been a very naughty girl. I have not entered one entry in my blog for "2 1/2 months" ... Aughh!!!!

Even though this is no excuse... I have been extremly busy. When I have had a moment to blog, I have not had the inspiration to drive to Java or to the church to blog. These are the two places where I have internet access.

I don't think I even have the ability to update you all on all the happenings of the past couple months so if you are curious you will just have to call me :) Since I am not into random strangers calling me you can e-mail me for my #.

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My 1st Winter in Saskatchewan!!!!

I moved to Sask. in may when flowers were starting to bloom - I was prepared to call the City counsil and ask them to swich the name of the city from Regina to Greenland. We had a beautiful summer and one of my highlights was packing a picnic and driving out to a lake on the weekend.

The fall was beautiful full of Sunny Crisp days but then came January ( which by local standards has been fairly mild). When it's snowing outside & I'm in the office, at home or at my other home Java... It looks like a winter wonderland... but when I'm driving and my car decides that it doesn't want to stop because it's takin up figure skating.... I feel like sreaming!!!! I have managed to tame my cars wild figure skating dreams but I have had a couple of scary moments.... yesterday my car's ambition took off the side mirror on some poor guy's car. Thankfully no damages/costs were thrown in my direction :)

My least favorite thing about the cold however is not the roads it's the early a.m. /p.m. chill and attempting to get from my car to the house / house to the car.. the rest of the day is usually bearable.. but the extra 30 seconds of fiddling with my keys in the dark... pretty much freezes my nose off.

My favorite thing about the chill is that my car is an extra freezer. I have frozen soo many drinks it's not even funny. I love going shopping and not having to worry about my food going bad.. it just gets frozen. lol. That's especially handy with my water bottles - I never have to worry about warm water :)

Actually .... even better than cold water is horse drawn sleigh rides :) I have been sleigh ridding twice this year - once with the young adults and once with the Jr. youth.... aside from the fact that some people just don't know how to say on the sleigh ... both outings were a blast :)

I have not been brave to play outside and make snowmen & snow forts like I did when i was a kid.. I honestly don't know how I did it. ridiculous. I think I'm just going to have schedule myself a snow day and play outside... I have enough friends under the age of 10 that I think I could even make it a group event. Maybe Louise will join me :P

Well I should once again go brave the snowy winter wonderland and head home ... it's already 11:00p.m. & tommorow is Jr. Youth.

p.s. I promise my next blog will not take two months to write... I will get better. hee hee.

What a disaster!

2006-11-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

Love is Messy. This has been the thought that I have been pondering this past week. Love is messy because it's a choice that doesn't always lead to happy ever after bliss, it doesn't gaurantee love in return, it doesn' gaurantee conversion, and it doesn't always feel good. Love doesn't fix everything and it doesn't let you hide.... ( I actually believe that all of what I just said is a good thing) Usually i associate love with Happy memories, flowers, hugs, things that are soft, good friends (ie. Jaime, Jeralee, Jennifer.. etc...) & family etc...
Happiness is a single bi-product of love but is not the foundation or primary characteristic of love. Love is soo easy when it doesn't involve real people. Love is blissful on t.v. shows and in theory. But the truth is that sometimes people frustrate me... sometimes I feel like cutting people completly out of my life..(Even though I work with people) Gossip, lies, pacivism and selfishness have torn my heart apart.
What makes the idea of love so intoxicating?? so desired..... it's not picnics and sunshine... it's passion. How do i love those Jesus has called me to love ...when i really don't feel like it... when I don't have the energy.... when all i feel like doing is screaming....?

These questions must seem trival to some.

It's simple isn't it just quote a memory verse and pray a sweet prayer and don't say what you really think cause someone might get hurt??? I mean we want to be loving right?? We want others to not hurt and we don't like feeling bad, right? Well I'm sick of living the lie that loving others is making them feel good and happy all the time. I'm sick of living with a love that is so shallow. i desire to live a life of sacrifice and commitment that is foreign to this world and unfortunatly to me. Iknow love is important for goodness sake.. God is Love!!!! I know the sunday school answers but my vent is a personal one... one of emotions and reality.. I desire to choose love but I know that I don't always choose it... I also know that sometimes the most unloving thing I do is try to be the peace maker ... i am way to nice...

My life verse is this: Philippians 2: 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

there is more I have to say about this topic but you will have to just talk to me in person.. i have a very short attention span and I am once again distracted.. :P
well for a good reason.. I'm at Java express and I just knocked this guys London fog.. all over the place ... oupse how embarassing.

ttyl

what a day it's been.

2006-08-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

Today has just been one of those days... you know those days that are just plain exasperating. Today, I woke up in a sleepy state that just wouldn't go away...

I went out with a lady this morning to do some errands for the Kids Carnival that I am planning and i felt scattered and emotional the whole time... literally I felt like crying out loud right in the middle of A-1 Party Rentals. Just before we were about to head back to the church, I realized that i didn't have my keys with me... and so I had a good 20 min. scare while I tried to track them down. After lunch I snapped at the bookeeper at our church... because I wasn't understanding her and I was grouchy... I started a lot of jobs today but nothing seemed to get finished..
After work, I decided that I needed some down time forgetting that I had an appointment at the church @ 7:00 - and just as Naomi called me to remind of the meeting... a bottle of chicken sauce shattered and exploded all over my kitchen floor (which is carpeted). I spent two hours cleaning it up.

In exasperation I decided to come to my favorite coffee shop in Regina - Java Express Coffee shop in the South end of Town. So I'm sitting here drinking hot chocolate & venting my woes to all of you.

I wish that you ( my B.C. friends...) were here right now. :) Hugss... :) Awe... Sappy moment!

ok.. well I should probably sign out now.. but I promise to write a cheerier and more entertaining blog in the close to near future.

cheers.

Splendid!

2006-07-22T01:44:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the outside of my church
Avonhurst Pentecostal Assembly, Regina Saskatchewan

Steak is good for you, Nails are bad for car tires!

2006-07-22T01:10:00.000-07:00

Ok. So I think I have finally had enough... I have been blogging quite a bit recently and my inspiration primarily has been founded upon the humerous mishaps of my life... but tonight I have finally had enough.. my response of laughter is now tears.

I went over to Pastor Dougs for a steak BBQ (Yummy!!! that was the good part of the night), but as I got ready to leave for home I realized that my front/driver's side tire was really low.. ok no prob... just go fill it up right.. well.. I discovered a nail in my tire. My dad has reassured me that it should not be that expensive to get fixed up ... so in the morning I will goget the nice guys at the garage to fix up my tire!

But even though I am assured once again things will work out fine.. I came home tonight a little tired and strained.. from the consistent dysfunction that has entered my life. Most likely after a goodnights sleep i will not be so emotional... but at this very moment I am emotional - yuck - silly emotional girliness!

Cute!

2006-07-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

A Mother noticed that it was about time for school to dismiss and since it looked like it was going to rain, she drove toward the school to pick up her eight year old daughter. She turned down the street to see her daughter running towards her down the sidewalk. A lightening bolt flashed and the little girl looked up towards the sky, smiled, and then began running towards her mother’s car. Another lightening bolt flashed and again the little girl looked towards the sky, smiled and resumed running. This happened several times until the little girl finally arrived at where her mother was parked. Her mom immediately inquired as to the strange behavior. “Why did you keep stopping and smiling at the sky,” she asked her daughter. “I had to mommy, God was taking my picture!”

Wonderful dysfunction

2006-07-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

In my previous blogg - I wrote about the dysfunction of my life - the last sad tale that i related to you all was about my door knob falling off on monday morning. As you may have already guessed that story could not end without a bit more dramatic flare...

Yesterday after work I got locked out of my place - I actually heard the thump of the door knob falling off ,lol, as I tried to unlock my door.

So anyways.... In all cases of extreme emergency, the first person I call is Doug, the Senior Pastor at my church/ my super hero! I called Doug and he came to my rescue putting on a new door knob. He also bought me a screwdriver so that I would have a tool. lol I"m such a girl.

So that is the grand finale to another wonderful adventure in the sweet green flat lands of Canada!

p.s. There is a new website being developed for my church - parts of it are still under construction but there is a pic of my church on the main page...

check out ... www.avonhurst.com

Dysfunction is my middle name.

2006-07-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Late last week I blogged about the dysfunction that finds itself into my life most anywhere.. from the carwash to the kitchen sink ( soap sud mountain). Normally my mishaps come every two weeks but this past weekend was a dusey. Saturday I flooded my Kitchen, Sunday my power went out - I would like to mention that I only have one window currently and it is in the bathroom... So I couldn't see anything - I ended up going to church a couple of hours early because I couldn't find anything. Then Monday morning ( I was sleeping in) and a friend from the church stopped by to say hi ( waking me up - as some may know is a dysfunctional thing). I went upstairs to unlock the door for her when and the door knob fell off in my hand. Aughh!

Insomnia...

2006-07-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

It is 5 a.m. and for the 2nd time in this past week i have stayed up all night. It's not even that my place is very exciting.. it's the very opposite... it's kind of boring. lol.

I read a blog earlier this morning where a friend of mine listed some of the difficulties of being home alone. Being home alone is a regular part of my world and the sound of fans and old pipes are my constant companions. Sometimes I talk to my nameless fish or the Spiders that share my space -although my little spidy friends, unfortunatly do not last very long, since I can not stand spiders, even just a little bit. hee hee.
So if there is anyone else who finds sleeping difficult or living on there own a little tedious... here are some suggestions:

1. Shadow art is essential entertainment between 2-3 a.m.
2. Caffeen does not help you sleep!
3. Early Morning walks are fantabulous
4. Go buy yourself a Beta fish - they are great company and they always agree with everything you say :)
5. Clean, Clean, Clean... I dunno .. it seems to work for me... just make sure to turn off your tap when sink is moderatly full.
6. Blog! ( Because it's good for you :) )

peace!

a beautiful waterfall - complete with soap sud mountains!

2006-07-16T01:21:00.000-07:00

Cheers to all those fantabulous multi - taskers out there - you are all amazing and I aspire to one day have such a talent :)

I attempted to be a multi-tasker this morning with a very horrible outcome.

I got up a little earlier than planned this morning and decided that it was a good time to do some laundry and dishes :) - man I must be growing up, who does chores on a sat. morning - bleh-
anyways.. as i was saying...

I started to fill myself a nice full sink of warm soapy water when my phone rang - it was one of my new Reginian friends who had called to share some exciting news.. I got so caught up in the conversation that I walked out of the room with the water still running...a few mins later I walked back into the room to find a beautiful waterfall - complete with soap sud mountains - taking over my kitchen. Giggle giggle.. this is what i did in response to the havoc that I created.
So remaining on the phone.... i proceded to give a play by play of the events that were over taking my kitchen - ( I told some of the Young Adults my story and one of the guys has a very good impression of what my reaction looked like - very funny)
I managed to get everything relativly cleanned up.. but my carpet is still damp and I have used every single one of my towels... in the process. good grief.

I seem to do a really great job of making a fool of myself.. when I'm at home alone.. and I'm not smart enough to keep it to myself ... so i get laughed at. Brilliant - really.

Note: Regardless of the merciless teasing. I'm having fun getting to know the young adults @ the Apostolic church - they are a fun group of people :) Tonight we played Soccer + Frisby in front of the legislative buildings - it was a little dark and the mosquitoes were out in full force but fun.

not just your average aqaintance

2006-07-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

So it's another quiet Sunday afternoon for me. It's beautiful outside so I think that once my laundry is done I'm going to go to the lake or something. I would just like to say that sometimes I wish this whole meeting people thing was just a little bit easier. I would prefer not to go to the lake on my own.

It's not even that people are not friendly. I think mostly its just me.. I would like to have things all figured out right now, this very minuit. I also think I'm a little lazy .. sometimes.. I just don't feel like calling, doing all the work that's involved or maybe I'm just tired of making an effort.. cause it's a lot of work and where ever i have gone it seems like friends just don't come naturally they come with time. I should probably clarify that when i say friends .. I don't mean every single person you hang out with in a week.. I am more specifically talking about.. those people that you connect with and relate to on a deeper level.. than just your average aquaintance.
One of the most difficult things for me is that even though I appear at times to be outgoing.. I also have an incredibly shy nature.. I hate being an intrusion on peoples lives.. or feeling like the third party.

I have met a few people my age here in Regina. An variety of people of different ages and social groups. Some of them I have met from the Apostolic church.. nice people.. I hope that some of them I might be able to eventually call friends instead of aqaintances. i suppose that will also come with time.

Most of the time I have been having fun.. and I haven't been to bored but on afternoons like this one.. I find myself longing a little for the familiarity of home and friends from school.
In time I know that I will meet more people.. and that friendships will form. I have already been blessed by the people I have met and talked with here in Regina.

Kim the Tomato @ the Veggie Town Factory!

2006-07-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

July 2nd was the first Veggie Town Factory, where we learned about Obedience. This picture was taken the night before while I was setting up. The back ground to this picture is the Kids Craze Stage - Which I have decorated with pilons, danger signs, Caution Tape etc.... Unfortunatly I do not have a pic of my Sunday Morning Costume.. There was another lady who played Bob the Tomato and I was the Cheif Factory Worker complete with safety goggles, vest, hard hat and dirt. Hopefully I will be able to accumulate more pictures from this summer... next week I will be a surgeon. :)

Stepping Out!

2006-07-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

Identity is an interesting thing, many go on long pilgrimages with the purpose of discovering 'ones true self', while others have accepted a particular mould or labeling system that their community has directly/indirectly placed on them.

Instead of choosing who we are going to be, often times we live up to what we believe is expected of us... If someone knows that they are funny they will play off of that character trait and even define themselves by it. But who we have been created to be is alot more intricate than this, we do ourselves a diservice, when we allow ourselves to be defined by a particular - event, skill or falling out.

What happens when life changes? what happens if we move, or change our social circle? - The expectations of those around us change... while we remain the same person. While some may have known me in high school as shy and awkward - others new me to be crazy and loud - in college some new me to be stressed out and always busy while others only saw the laid back island girl in me. Did this mean that I was living a double life? I don't think so. I think that our surroundings influences us for both better and worse at times. Some people will draw out insecurities, while others will draw out strengths..in us.

Moving to Regina has been an interesting step for me. I don't feel any different from the girl who was just in Bible College 2 months ago but here in Regina I have new roles, responsibilities, challenges... There are new spoken and unspoken expectations that surround me daily that I have to choose to respond to. How does who I knew myself to be at school change with this new life? In many ways I see how this move is adding to the person I am. I am forced to step out and shine, I can't just assume that people know what I am like.. I can't expect people to understand how I think .... I have to choose to live beyond the expectations, beyond the labels and stereo types because those will always change ....

I am not talking about being fake or creating a new Identity - I am talking about taking initiative, shapping who I want to be as opposed to being defined by my circumstances.
Sometimes it's so easy to feel like we are trapped by our circumstances - but instead the opposite is true - we have a choice

While we do not choose everything that we will go through in life, we choose how we will respond to it. My identity is found in something much greater than myself, why should i or why should any of us limit our idenity to one trait or gift? Why live up to the expectation of one bad situation when every new day, each new breath presents another chance another opportunity to be more and to reflect the one who has given us life.

The realization has just hit me that in the way we limit ourselves we also limit those around us with our words, our actions, our expectations of others.. how un fair is this....! I think we (the church needs to let go of our expectations, our past grudges, and hope and pray for the fullness of God to be revealed in those around us....

so my challege to myself and anyone else who reads this blog - set the standard high, step out - choose to reach for the sky - don't be limited by man made labels but be defined by God. Lets also choose to help those around us as well... let us be a people, a church who encourages and builds!

Bug Repellant - my new summer fragrance!

2006-07-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

Even though Canada day has past I would like to give a shout out for my Country today! Canada Rocks!

This Canada day was my first here in Regina. It was a hot and sunny day and the bugs were out in full force. Thanxs to Off! Bugspray - I am still here and those nasty little creatures did not eat me alive. I survived with minimal wounds. Yay.

Sat. Morning I woke up early anticipating my day off! Last week was definitly a busy one. So early in the A.M. I picked up my friend Brittany and we decided to go to the Car wash!(Since my car was decorated with a nice film of prarie dust.) I was super excited - It was going to be my first time in one of those nifty drive through car wash's - but little did i know the danger that was lurking around the corner.

Everything started out normal. I paid the gas attendant and then drove my car to the entrance of the Carwash, punched in my code. But seconds after this I found myself in possibly the most scariest position I have been in since moving here to Regina. My Car was not on the track properly and so it was pulling my car in through the car wash, at an angle and it was moving too slowly .. which meant that my car was not getting washed it instead only added to my prairie dust decor a lovely assortment of soap bubbles and scratches (Not to many thankfully). I was not prepared for the track and I got scared that Iwas going to get stuck in the car wash or that my car was going to get damaged so.... I tried to straiten my car out on the track hoping that it would fix the predicament that I found myself in. Just barely crashing I escaped the menacing car wash machinary .... and since i was still a little shaken I decided that It would be best to Park, I also wanted to get a refund... since i had paid money for the an even dirtier car. but as I moved the car from the car wash... my car made a terrible noise, one of those flat tire noises.... if you were here with me right now.. I would demonstrate that noise for you but since you are not.. I will leave it to your imagination. I stopped the car, ran out... and sure enough my front, left tire had a nice sized gash in the side and i was not going any further.

At this point i have to say that I was definitly experienceing a little stress! I didn't know how to put my spare tire on (I'm such a girl) and I was worried about having to go buy a tire and get someone to put it on for me. My first reaction was - who can I call, who could I call? Pastor Doug? ( he would probably laugh, but he would come to my rescue) -

But before I could make any decisions....

My hero's came to the rescue. The Caswell's a wonderful family from my church just happened to recognize me and be in driving by and saw my distress. ( I'm glad that they recognized me cause I had not met them before...) Mr. Caswell, stopped and put my spare tire on, then followed me to get my tire replaced and he even paid for my new tire. So within an hr. my tire was back to new... but my car was still filthy....

I was so excited that I had a new tire and that everything worked out ok that I bought I car freshner and post poned washing my car! As if.. I was going to go back through that monstrosity ...

The rest of my Canada day .... was much better.. Once I calmed down we went shopping and then attended the Sat. Evening service at the Apostolic church in the East end of Regina.
Attending the Ap. has become my sat. night tradition since I moved here... It's a great service that is mostly comprised of young adults and it's fun to get to hang out and worship without being concious of having responsibility/leadership role.

Following the service.... the Ap young adults made 500+ bags of pop-corn and purchased a few hundred cans of pop... and as people walked to see the fireworks we handed out free popcorn and pop to people in the community. :) it was a lot of fun.

We made a trip to BP afterwards... and then I think I made it home sometime before 2a.m.
it's nice hanging out where everything isn't closed by 7 p.m.

So over all it was a splendiferous day.... with only a minor mis-hap.

Yesterday.. I finally got around to washing my car ... and NO i did not go back to that car wash..
I used my own two hands - much more effective!

Well anywhooo that was my Canada day ...

Cheers!

It boggles my mind

2006-06-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

History...

" Do we possess even up to the present date the content of time as it really was in all its richness? Clearly not. The past, by definition, is not present. The point I am trying to make is so often slurred over by the unconcerned admission "Of course we don't know everything" that i have sometimes despaired of bringing it home to other people's minds. It is not a question of failing to know evertything: It is a question (at least as regards quantity) of knowing next door to nothing. Each of us finds that in his own life every moment of time is completely filled. He is bombarded every second by sensations, emotions, thoughts, which he cannot attend to for multitude, and nine-tenths of which he must simply ignore. A single second of lived time contains more than can be recorded. And every second of past time has been like that for every man that ever lived. The past (Iam assuming in the historicist's favour that we need consider only the human's past) in its reality, was a roaring cataract of billions upon billions of such moments: anyone of them too complex to grasp in its entirety, and the aggregate beyond all imagination. By far the greater part of this teeming reality escaped human consciousness almost as soon as it occurred. NOne of us could at this moment give anything like a full account of his own life for the last twenty-four hours. We have already forgotten: even if we remembered, we have not time. The new moments are upon us. At every tick of the clock, in every inhabited part of the world, an unimaginable richness and variety of "history" falls off the world into total oblivion. Most of the experiences in "The past as it really was " were instantly forgotten by the subject himself. Of the small percentage which he remembered (and never remembered with perfect accuracy) a smaller percentag which he remembered ( and never remembered with perfect accuracy) a smaller percentage was ever communicated even to his closest intimates: of this, a smaller percentage still, was recoreded; of the recorded fraction only another fraction has ever reached posterity. Ad nos vix tenuis famae perlabitur aura. When once we have realized what "The past s it really was" means, we must freally admit that most - that nearly all - history (In sence two) is, and will remain, wholly un known to us. And if per impossible the whole were known, it would be wholy imanagaeable. To know the whole of one minute in Napolean's life would require a whole minute of your own life. You could not keep up with it."

- C.S. Lewis

If I'm square or if I'm round -Sing a song and praise the lord

2006-06-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Children's Ministry is definitly unique. I have had a number of people ask me what being a children's pastor is like and I have to laugh because every day is quite different. Beyond the Administrative details which unfortunatly eat up my week quite quickly here is a short description of some of the events in my week- Friday: Jumping into Wascana Lake (Large Man made lake) for a scavenger hunt with the youth group, Saturday: Prep for Sunday, Sunday: Teach both services Sunday afternoon attend Children's Ministry BBQ - and get called names such as Pastor Ok k, and Pastor Kangaroo - the Jr. High's presented me with a contract which holds consequences such as eating spiders - yuck! Monday: Day off - Visited the flatest part of Canada! Tuesday-Thursday : Admin, Cutting, pasting, gluing, phone calls, planning, getting lost in big warehouses and shopping for paint and water guns! Friday: Painting props all Day ! Saturday: Kids Craze Prep & Grade 1,2 girls ice cream party , Sunday: Teach! Lol what scares me is that's just the Kids Craze part of my world... I still yet have to figure out some of the Jr. High Night.... that I suppose will involve chugging coke, eating spiders and Banana Mania! So ya that's a small sneak peek into my life.... :)
I hope that you ... my B.C. people are doing well and I hope to here from everyone! :)

Donuts and Pushups

2006-05-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, So I just had the craziest phone call!!! I'm here at the church helping Mike & Lynn Prepare for a special informational dinner that they are doing for Metro Kids society and the phone started to ring, so I answered it casually not thinking that since I was at the church I should maybe answer a little more formally.
On the other end was the rough voice a middle aged man and the first words over the phone were, 'So can you give me some information?' Since I've been only here at Avonhurst for a about a week I kind of floundered, listing everything I new that the church did during the week. The man stopped me and said, 'No, I mean I want some information about this faith stuff...I grew up in the church, I'm really hurting, and basically I'm searching for answers, do you have any?'
At that moment my mind and my heart were racing what could I say to this searchin man, oh I cried out to God, what can I say to express to this man how much he is loved. He knew the Gospel story but I shared it again with him. He stopped me and said, 'I just can't believe that, I know that you probably have some good reasons to follow God, but you are probably so much better than me...' My heart started to break how could I express to this man that everyone feels worthless at some point but that it doesn't matter how bad we think we are, if we are willing to humble ourselves before God. Faith must exist regardless of our feelings.
Recently Pastor Paul shared this story with me and so I shared this story with this man. Following our conversation he hung up without leaving any information and he did not want prayer. He said thank you and that he might come out to church sometime...but I may never see him again... please pray for my mysterious phone friend who needs Jesus and be blessed by this story, we all need to remember to accept God's unconditional Grace in our lives!!!

Donuts and PushUps

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson,a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr.Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Share this with someone. It's bound to touch their heart and demonstrate Salvation in a very special way.

“Be patient and you will finally win, for a soft tongue can break hard bones. (Proverbs 28:13)”

Greetings from the flat green land of Regina

2006-05-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

It's official, I am a resident of Regina Saskatchewan since May 17th 2006 @ 2:18 p.m. when my airplane landed and I was brought to my new living quarters. My new home is quaint and my new car is amazing - 2000 Neon Chrysler (plum colored) - the car came as a gift from an anonymous giver from the church along with one year of pre-paid car insurance. I finally got the car last night so I went drivin around town and had a blast getting lost - I eventually got home :) and I know my way to work it's pretty easy!
The wierdest part about being hear is being called Pastor Kim all the time... by everyone the secretary, kids, people in the church, board members...

anyhoo, I'm in the office right now... just on my lunch break so I can't write anymore at this time, if anyone who reads this would like my address or phone # just let me know and I can e-mail it to you.

Cheers from the flat, green Saskatchewan plain :)

Pastor Kim McMillan

Guidance

2006-04-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

This is a quote that Lynn Jenson from Avonhurst Assembly in Regina sent me:

"God guides us with his hand to assure us of his presence, He directs us by his word to assure us of his purpose, He leads us by his voice to assure us of his peace...' by Roy Lessin

Adieu,Adios,Arrivederci, Aur Wiedersehen, Au Revoir, Bye, Cheerio, Sayonara, So Long...

2006-04-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

I had an absolutly amazing weekend. I did absolutly no work and had only 100% fun. I baked cookies (yum) and watched movies, and went to fort langly and went minni golfing and out for dinner... and enjoyed the sun ( a little to much.. ouch)!

The only negative to the weekend was that for the first time i was realizing part of the cost of moving is leaving some very dear friends behind. I know, I know ... I will see people again and I know that we will keep in touch and I know that I will make new friends ... yadda, yadda, yadda... I personally find good-byes difficult and not necessarily very much fun.
A good-bye involves tears, and a deep sinking realization as you let go of someone or something that is dear to you... I've been saying a lot of goodbyes lately and I got to thinking, why is it that we say good bye anways, what does it mean? where does it come from... so I went to answers.com and this is my discovery:

The Term Good-Bye is derived from the phrase “God be with you.” (French word Adieu- I commend you to God) The first word of the expression is now good and not God, for good replaced God by analogy with such expressions as good day, perhaps after people no longer had a clear idea of the original sense of the expression. A letter of 1573 written by Gabriel Harvey contains the first recorded use of goodbye.

Every year as I have left school for only four months I have broken down sobbing uncontrollably, this year has been especially difficult, with graduation approaching. When I said good-bye three years ago to my friend Sasha in the Ukraine he informed me, in broken english, that, 'Christians never say good-bye for the last time' - i have always appreciated his comment and I enjoy the hope that, that brings, as I head out to Regina and say good-bye (God be with you) my friends knowing that it's not the end but a new psega in a greater course of events in which we will each discover how God has truly been with us!

A Tribute to Casanova

2006-04-23T01:35:00.000-07:00

Casanova the legendary fish - May he live long and prosper in the deep waters of his fish bowl~

Casanova is the name of my pet beta fish who I named after Giacamo Casanova - An Italian adventurer who following expulsion from seminary wandered Europe, meeting luminaries, working in a variety of occupations, and establishing a legendary reputation as a lover.
I bought Casanova in January and he has been my study companion for the past four months. I have to admitt that I have grown quite attached to my dwarfed, baby blue beta. Casanova is unique to his species because he is not a fighter but a hider and a lover by nature!

I have made the decision to leave Casanova behind as I venture forward into a new, flat, brown land and so I shed a tear tonight as I washed his bowl for the very last time and took a moment to ponder fond memories. I am sad yet comforted that he is going to a new and wonderful home with my dear friend Jeralee. :)

Downsizing my life!

2006-04-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

It is soo incredibly beautiful out today but unfortunatly I am up to my chiny chin chin in stuff that needs to be done. I don't mind moving, I don't even mind unpacking or cleaning but I hate packing and I have a lot of it to do ... actually, if I was going to be honest,I have a lot of throwing out to do.... I'm trying to downsize my life in a big way so that it's easier to move... but that's almost as bad as packing when you are about as sentimental as I am. Good grief, I can become emotionally attatched to a sticky note or an eraser!!! lol But because of my sentimental tendancies I have to say that I'm quite proud of how much stuff I am letting go of....it's quite remarkable!

Validity

2006-04-20T00:55:00.000-07:00

As this year comes to an abrupt close, graduation within only a days grasp, i find myself searching, longing to be validated. In these next few weeks i will be entering into a stage of life that only comes once - the first big move, the first ministry position, my very first home, my first time living in Saskatchewan. While it appears at the surface level there is an element of excitment bubbling, there is also a wave of unsettled nerves caused by uncertainty, can I really do this?? Is this really the right decision?

I was challenged recently by a friend of mine who reminded me that we are not to validate our own ministries but instead it is the Spirit who will validate us. So for now my daily struggle is to refrain from striving and to live my life as a willing Vessel. As this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it: 'What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us.'