J9's Property

For those of you who are interested, yes, I went to bible study last week. I basically quarantined myself, so no-one else would catch what I had!

We watched another Rick Warren video, and then broke into our small groups. I ended up in a very interesting group, with a good mix: some people I know very well, and am very comfortable with; some people I don't know at all; and some people I do know, and am NOT very comfortable with. It will certainly help me to grow! I have to admit, I had to remind myself a couple of times to keep my not-so-nice thoughts in check, and to stay focussed on what we were discussing. It's a learning experience to say the least!

As far as the reading goes, I was doing wonderfully well (and quite proud of it!) until Friday. That old quote "pride goeth before the fall" came to life in vivid detail, as this evening was the first time I've read since Friday morning! (I feel sheepish...) I'm bound and determined to get caught up in time for this Thursday, though. Pray I won't let anything get in the way!

Speaking of which, I am going to sign off, so I can go read!

You know, I'm getting the distinct impression that (someone) doesn't want me doing the 40 Days of Purpose...

I'm very happy to say, I've been doing all the readings so far! I'm right on schedule. It hasn't been easy, let me tell you! I've been fine, making the time to read: I've been doing one reading as soon as I wake up in the morning, and another reading each evening as I'm getting ready for bed. Each time, though, it's a battle to keep my concentration on what I'm reading. There's constant distraction: the TV is going elsewhere in the house, but loud enough for me to hear it; I have trouble staying awake (especially during the early-morning readings); other noises/thoughts intrude; and my bladder always seems to want to tell me it's full, even if it isn't! I've managed to ignore the distractions for the most part, although there have been several times when I've had to go back and re-read a paragraph or 2, because what I've read hasn't sunk in!

OK, so I'm battling through the readings. How about the weekly meetings? Well, we have our second one tomorrow night, and wouldn't you know it, I'm sick!! I finally picked up one of the many cold bugs flying around this year (actually, I think I did OK, not catching anything until February!), so far it's settled in my chest; I don't know if it's going to migrate upwards, or if this is it. Regardless, I have a feeling that tomorrow will be worse than today, just in time for our first meeting in small groups!

This set of readings and bible studies is evidently very important for me to participate in, if (he)'s working so hard to keep me from it! (he)'s not going to get the upper hand, and I'm going tomorrow night if I have to drag myself there and wear a mask!

The musical sections at our corps are doing something very odd.

(for them, anyway)

For the next 4 weeks, there will be no rehearsals.

Instead, there will be Bible Study.

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Anyone who knows anything about North York Temple, will know that it is one of the more traditional corps in the city, especially when it comes to music. We have a very strong band program, and the songsters aren't far behind. We have very strong leaders, a lot of musicians (with names like Venables, Allington, Rawlins), and the focus has always been the MUSIC.

So, when it was announced last week that the leaders would be giving up their rehearsal time (in the middle of a busy season, no less), and instead the groups would come together on one of the rehearsal nights to do a bible study, needless to say there were a few raised eyebrows. (mine included)

I'm thinking to myself, this could be a very good thing!

I was very surprised that the Bandmaster and Songster Leader agreed to this. Our corps band is a very busy one, with big grandiose concerts and special events happening every couple of months or so. They're even preparing to do a recording. But, I think this bible study shows that the priority is being put in the right place. It's also teaching the younger kids in the corps what the priority should be.

We'll be going through Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life". Now, our own little bible study group (when it was running) already did this book. I'm not upset about doing it again, though, because it was a couple of years ago, and to be honest, I don't remember a whole lot. I'm looking forward to refreshing my memory, and maybe getting a different perspective as well. (different leaders can have that effect!)

I'm also looking forward to being in a small group setting with people I don't normally hang out with. The small groups are being chosen completely by random, and while some may find that scarey, I'll be interested to see how the dynamic works out. Especially if I wind up in a group with someone I don't like/get along with/appreciate. As was said in the first session last night, "God's not worried about our comfort; He's concerned with our character".

One concession that was made for the leaders, is that we'll be squishing the "40 days" into 4 weeks, so we're having to read 2 chapters a day instead of 1. That's OK - I enjoy reading. I just hope I can keep up with it...

Sherrilyn and Elfreda brought up a very good point last week: we don't get near the scriptural teaching through the church that we used to. Think about it: we used to have 2 meetings plus open-air every Sunday, as kids we started in Sunday School, then went to Junior Soldiers, then Sr Soldiers, then Corps Cadets, then usually youth group every week. It was perfectly normal to be at the corps 4-5 days out of the week, and not just for musical practices.

But, then they started cutting things out, watering things down, and catering to outside influences. Short-cuts taken. Meetings cancelled. Programs altered in an attempt to "make it more relevant". Eventually, things just plain petered out. It's a sad state, really.

And we wonder why church attendance is down?....

I hope the rest of the congregation, and maybe even some other corps, might take our example and try the same thing. Take a sabbatical from something you think is important, and focus for a time on what truly is important. It's the age-old concept of fasting, and it can do wonders for your soul!

Thanks for the heads-up, Donna!

There's a new blog out there, for all us Selkirk Alumni! If you were ever there, and have fond memories, this is the place to go! Share your memories, any fun photos you might have from any of the 50 years the camp was in operation, and take a stroll down amnesia lane...(to quote one of my favorite movies!)

My official on-line scrapbook is now in business!

From now on, in an attempt to keep this site from getting too unwieldy, photos will be posted on my photo blog.

Don't worry, I'll still put very important ones here, but for the most part, I'll be reserving this site for discussions, updates, goings-on, etc.

Hope to see you there!

I've discovered that my favorite photography subjects, besides nature, are little kids. I guess it's the innocence of it all, or the fact that they can be so unaware.

Here are some shots I took of my niece and nephew up at Tobermory a couple of summers ago.





Leslie's kids are great, too. I had fun playing "peek-a-boo" with Honour at a family wedding...


I've noticed a disturbing trend lately, though: I've been forgetting my camera! I was actually half-way to my parents' for Christmas, of all things, and realized my camera was still at home!

I'd really like to get back into it, though, because I get so much enjoyment out of it. Unfortunately, it can be very expensive, between the film, the developing, etc. No, I haven't switched to digital, first of all because I can't afford a digital SLR yet, and secondly, there are effects you just can't get with digital, that can look amazing on film. Yes, it means I waste shots because I don't know what they look like until I get the film back, but that's all part of the learning process, as far as I'm concerned!

In the mean time, if you see me walking around with my camera, don't bother trying to hide. My favorite shots are the candid ones that people don't realize I'm taking, so I'll just get ya when you aren't looking!

Took these a couple of years ago. It was Labour Day weekend, but as you can see, the trees were already trying to turn! I was experimenting with the one of the falls, I was surprised it actually turned out as well as it did!

Now that I know how to upload photos, I'm going to do it more often!

(that's "G" as in, "Goodness"!)

Well, it's been a week. Of what, you ask?

Well, I guess you could say, a week in the life.....

We had a team member leave the company this week. She found that the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence (at least, when it comes to salaries), and got a job as an adjudicator for WSIB. Can't really blame her, she can start all over in a new job, new office, with more money and more holidays. A few of us are jealous...

As a result of her leaving, a couple of us moved desks. Not that we really had to, we just decided we wanted to, and for some reason, they actually agreed to move us! Very odd for this office....usually they fight us tooth-and-nail for anything....but I now have a bigger desk, by old desk buddy has more room (she can now expand into my old desk), and the girl who's desk I took is now in the "back of the bus" area. (you know, the desks back by the windows that are out-of-the-way and under-the-radar)

Something else a little odd happened today as well. For weeks (months, even), the powers-that-be have been asking us, "how can we make it better?", and our response is starting to become, "we already told you 15 times!". But, one of the complaints we've had is that people's accomplishments are not being recognized. Well, guess who got recognized today?! Apparently, my team leader decided that the letter I got from one of my claimants was worthy of recognition (she was VERY complimentary), so I was rewarded with a round of applause from the unit, and (believe it or not) a MALL GIFT CARD! We had heard rumours of these gift cards having been purchased, but we were all a little skeptical that they would ever actually surface. They actually proved us wrong for once.....we'll see how long it lasts....

One thing I'm very happy about right now is the amount of work getting done in my basement. Doug's been working his little tushy off! The laundry room, stairwell, and hallway are almost completely drywalled and taped, almost ready for priming! It's actually starting to feel like we're really going to get this place done and on the market. Dare I hope?....

Anyway, it's the weekend....FINALLY....I actually get to sleep in.....YAY!....I even get to go back to the Hammer tomorrow, even if it is for a band concert, but it is my brother's band that's playing, and both Doug and Dad are helping out, so that's OK. (holy run-on sentence, batman) I still get to see all the fam, and I always feel much more "at home" when I'm out there -- as far as I'm concerned, it's still home!

Sorry, nothing thought-provoking tonight. I'm too tired.

Catch ya later.

Read an interesting news story today....

Apparently, a Baptist church in Sydney, Australia has posted a sign on their building, which reads, "Jesus Loves Osama".

Read about it here.

It's the basis of the Christian belief that God (and therefore, Jesus) loves everyone, regardless of who they are, and what they have done. Since God is Love, it is impossible for Him not to love all human life, even one such as Osama Bin Laden. Indeed, the sign on the church even has Matthew 5:44 quoted on it: "Love you enemies, and pray for those who persecute you".

I guess some people aren't liking the sign very much.

From what I understand, it's not the idea that Jesus could love Osama that they find offensive, it's more a mis-interpretation. I guess some people are seeing this sign, and reading, "Jesus approves of Osama."

I suppose it's an honest mistake, and I can see how the sign could be mis-interpretted. Perhaps the church should have been a little more specific. Maybe "Jesus loves Osama, regardless of what he has done"... Granted, it wouldn't look as nice, and maybe wouldn't have garnered quite as much attention.

Apparently, they aren't the only ones with that message on their building. There are quite a few churches in the inner city in Sydney with similar messages, basically asking for prayer for Osama and other terrorists. The Prime Minister of Australia didn't agree - he felt the prayers could be better used elsewhere... (?)

The reactions to questions have been interesting. The Anglican priest responded that he agreed with the theology, but found the sign "misleading, and potentially offensive". The Baptist spokesperson tried to distance herself, saying that the church was responsible for their own sign, and "they usually aren't this controversial."

Maybe we need to be a little more controversial. As long as we can back up what we're saying, it might do the world some good if we stopped hiding and made people think, react, and investigate.

After all, Jesus didn't get Himself crucified by being politically correct.....