I really like the parallel between the Church and a bar. I've always wondered what someone who's not familiar with the Church and Christianity would think if they walked into my church on a Sunday morning. My church is not terribly extreme one way or the other but I still always think that they'd be pretty uncomfortable. Kinda like how I'd feel in pretty much any bar in town. Or a night club, or a lounge.
Of course, if the Holy Spirit has worked in their heart enough to get them through the door, then I have to have faith that the work begun will be continued to completion.
The irony is that the Church has "worked hard" to separate itself from bars, dances, and other normal social gatherings over the past few centuries and we can certainly see the results. The family has been redefined, divorce rates are up, teen-age pregnancies and abortions are up, and the list goes on. At this rate, its not going to be long until the Philippines and Venezuela are sending missionaries to us!
If we want to reach the people who aren't comfortable in a church, then maybe church should be a lot less like church and a lot more like a bar. Cheers comes to mind...
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
Vacation of a Lifetime
Well, I know I'll get mocked for this but I just had the best vacation ever. We just got back from a long weekend in Vancouver where we did nothing. Well, nothing but walk, drive, eat, drive and walk. Anyone who knows me is probably scratching their head wondering how I could possibly thing that was the vacation of a lifetime, especially if it was only three days.
First of all, it was three days without any work. None. Zero. Zip. I can't remember the last time I went an entire weekend without working, let alone a long weekend. That alone would have made this a great vacation.
Second, we spent the entire weekend with great friends. Some who we neever see, some who we rarely see and some who we see frequently but all of whom we wish we could spend more time with. And most of that was unplanned. Way cool!
Third, we ate fantastic food. As everyone knows, I'm a picky eater. Well, other than a really gross omlette at the B&B on saturday morning, nothing passed my lips that wasn't absolutely the best food that could be found anywhere North of the the 40th. There was one restaurant in particular that really stood out called the Memphis Bar-B-Que. (Or something like that.) We ordered a sampler platter for four people and couldn't finish it. The best part was there were no vegetables. The whole thing was meat, beans and fries! Absolutely fabulous!
Fourth, we got to experience the amazing pleasures of Krispy Kreme donuts fresh off the machine. Free! Now, I've been hearing about these donuts from everyone but had my doubts about how good they could be. After all, I've had donuts hundreds (thousands?) of times and while I may not quite be a pastry connoisseur, I know when I've eaten something good. Well let me tell you, if you've never had a Krisp Kreme right off the conveyor, you haven't had a donut.
Fifth, the Abbotsford International Air Show. I'd never been to an air show before and once we got there the only words I used were: Wow, Cool, Awesome, Amazing. I was completely thrilled with the whole experience and other than a nasty sunburn (despite liberal applications of SPF-40) there was nothing that could have made that day better. Well almost nothing. The steak dinner and fellowship that night was definitely the right way to end the day.
Sixth, seeing the F177a Nighthawk Stealth Fighter in person on the ground at the air show. And then finding out that it was actually going to be part of the flight demonstrations. And then finding out that the B2 Stealth Bomber was also going to be part of the flight demonstrations. Wow! Cool! I never ever thought I would get to see either of those planes fly and I fluked out and got to see them both on the same day. Awesome! And the fact that either of those planes can even get off the ground is simply amazing.
Seven, the Snowbirds. As always, they put on an incredible show and make me very proud to be Canadian. If you haven't seen the Snowbirds recently, please, go! Its worth it.
I've got lots more memories and experiences from this weekend that made it great but on a whole, the best thing was that I was with dear friends and simply wasn't working. Anywhere I can do that is a good vacation. Hopefully the next time isn't too far in the future!
First of all, it was three days without any work. None. Zero. Zip. I can't remember the last time I went an entire weekend without working, let alone a long weekend. That alone would have made this a great vacation.
Second, we spent the entire weekend with great friends. Some who we neever see, some who we rarely see and some who we see frequently but all of whom we wish we could spend more time with. And most of that was unplanned. Way cool!
Third, we ate fantastic food. As everyone knows, I'm a picky eater. Well, other than a really gross omlette at the B&B on saturday morning, nothing passed my lips that wasn't absolutely the best food that could be found anywhere North of the the 40th. There was one restaurant in particular that really stood out called the Memphis Bar-B-Que. (Or something like that.) We ordered a sampler platter for four people and couldn't finish it. The best part was there were no vegetables. The whole thing was meat, beans and fries! Absolutely fabulous!
Fourth, we got to experience the amazing pleasures of Krispy Kreme donuts fresh off the machine. Free! Now, I've been hearing about these donuts from everyone but had my doubts about how good they could be. After all, I've had donuts hundreds (thousands?) of times and while I may not quite be a pastry connoisseur, I know when I've eaten something good. Well let me tell you, if you've never had a Krisp Kreme right off the conveyor, you haven't had a donut.
Fifth, the Abbotsford International Air Show. I'd never been to an air show before and once we got there the only words I used were: Wow, Cool, Awesome, Amazing. I was completely thrilled with the whole experience and other than a nasty sunburn (despite liberal applications of SPF-40) there was nothing that could have made that day better. Well almost nothing. The steak dinner and fellowship that night was definitely the right way to end the day.
Sixth, seeing the F177a Nighthawk Stealth Fighter in person on the ground at the air show. And then finding out that it was actually going to be part of the flight demonstrations. And then finding out that the B2 Stealth Bomber was also going to be part of the flight demonstrations. Wow! Cool! I never ever thought I would get to see either of those planes fly and I fluked out and got to see them both on the same day. Awesome! And the fact that either of those planes can even get off the ground is simply amazing.
Seven, the Snowbirds. As always, they put on an incredible show and make me very proud to be Canadian. If you haven't seen the Snowbirds recently, please, go! Its worth it.
I've got lots more memories and experiences from this weekend that made it great but on a whole, the best thing was that I was with dear friends and simply wasn't working. Anywhere I can do that is a good vacation. Hopefully the next time isn't too far in the future!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
The Joys of Home Ownership
As is my usual custom, I take a break from sleeping around 4:00 AM every morning. Sometimes its to adjust all the windows and fans, sometimes to yell a the dog next door and sometimes to find my pillow across the room (I really don't know how it gets over there). Last night it was to pee.
When I got to the bathroom I figured that my wife must have been there just before me as the toilet sounded like it had been recently flushed and was still filling. As I sat (I always sit at home, like a good husband should) and did my thing, I gradually realized that the water was still running in the toilet. It should have shut off by now right? Well, since I know time gets skewed while I'm sleepy, I flushed and waited to see how long it would run. Well, it ran and ran and ran. Crap. If it wasn't shutting off then it likely had been trying to overflow the septic tank since we went to bed.
So, off comes the top of the tank and I have a look. Sure enough, the float needs to be adjusted. No problem, I've done that before. Of course, its never just come off in my hands before. Crap. As I stand there stupidly looking at this gross corroded metal and plastic piece of debris I realized that to deal with this I was going to have to wake all the way up. Crap.
I gradually stop squinting and take a closer look at the float. It snapped off about a quarter of an inch from where it fastens to the thingamajig. So, now that I'm fully awake I realize that I'm not going to be able to fix this tonight. Crap. Woke up for nothing. I drop the float into the tub, turn off the water supply to the toilet and head back to bed.
Now, I know people who plan for every contingency but I'll bet they don't plan on their toilet breaking. What are they gonna do? Are they they gonna keep a spare toilet in the downstairs closet just in case? I don't think so.
No, if their like me, they keep their spare toilet in the ensuite. You, know the one that we started renovating before we moved in and haven't finished in two and a half years of occupancy. The toilet hasn't sat on the whole in the floor since before we moved in so tonight, while I was still awake, we robbed the top half of the thingamajig from the green toilet in the ensuite and put it on the harvest gold toilet in the main bathroom. Problem solved. Well, at least until we finish the ensuite and need a functioning toilet in there.
When I got to the bathroom I figured that my wife must have been there just before me as the toilet sounded like it had been recently flushed and was still filling. As I sat (I always sit at home, like a good husband should) and did my thing, I gradually realized that the water was still running in the toilet. It should have shut off by now right? Well, since I know time gets skewed while I'm sleepy, I flushed and waited to see how long it would run. Well, it ran and ran and ran. Crap. If it wasn't shutting off then it likely had been trying to overflow the septic tank since we went to bed.
So, off comes the top of the tank and I have a look. Sure enough, the float needs to be adjusted. No problem, I've done that before. Of course, its never just come off in my hands before. Crap. As I stand there stupidly looking at this gross corroded metal and plastic piece of debris I realized that to deal with this I was going to have to wake all the way up. Crap.
I gradually stop squinting and take a closer look at the float. It snapped off about a quarter of an inch from where it fastens to the thingamajig. So, now that I'm fully awake I realize that I'm not going to be able to fix this tonight. Crap. Woke up for nothing. I drop the float into the tub, turn off the water supply to the toilet and head back to bed.
Now, I know people who plan for every contingency but I'll bet they don't plan on their toilet breaking. What are they gonna do? Are they they gonna keep a spare toilet in the downstairs closet just in case? I don't think so.
No, if their like me, they keep their spare toilet in the ensuite. You, know the one that we started renovating before we moved in and haven't finished in two and a half years of occupancy. The toilet hasn't sat on the whole in the floor since before we moved in so tonight, while I was still awake, we robbed the top half of the thingamajig from the green toilet in the ensuite and put it on the harvest gold toilet in the main bathroom. Problem solved. Well, at least until we finish the ensuite and need a functioning toilet in there.
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