Heroes in real Life

For me, this summer has been all about the super hero. Our VBS here and in Port Hardy has been hero themed. We've looked at heroes in the Bible and learned the traits of a hero.

In the last couple days I've been thinking about the super heroes we see on TV, in movies, and read about in comics. Quite often their tales teach us something too. I love that Superman has his fortress of solitude. I see that and I am reminded that even super heroes need to take a break every now and then and recharge the batteries.

And so I'm wondering, what everyday life lessons have you gleaned from super hero stories. What might we learn from Bat Man for example? Always have the right equipment with you perhaps?

What do you think?

Squeaky Shoes

Hey Parents!

Do you have trouble finding your child in a crowd?

We've got just the thing for you.

These are real shoes!

Not that long ago, Sheena was in a thrift store and found some cute shoes for our daughter. And they're adorable.

When she was contemplating buying these shoes, she noticed they had a squeaker box in them. She tried to make noise with them but was unsuccessful. This led her to believe they didn't chatter.

So she bought them.

Turns out out daughter is pro at making them sing.

We shouldn't be loosing her in church again.

Don't Worry Be Happy

For better or for worse, my ringtone for the past seven years have been predominantly the song "Don't Worry Be Happy."

Why?

It was cheap, and I purchased it in a moment when I was all caught up in nostalgia.

Last night I wanted an new ring tone and ended up buying a whole new phone.

Okay, so that's not how it went. I've previously written about our old cell phone. Here's a picture of it:

It's far from pretty, but it worked in its own temperamental and quirky sort of way. 

We've moved on to another phone. One with a camera (the photo above was taken with it), an Mp3 player, and most importantly a keyboard so we can get all into the texting.  Turns out we can now text anyone in the world for free. I'm actually keen to test this. Shoot me a note with your phone number and maybe I'll text you. Actually, the most important feature is probably the internal antenna. We had to super glue Flippy McFlipperson's on three times in the past month. 

Our new phone is also quite pretty. Want to see a picture. Well, you can't, Flippy doesn't take pictures. 

But if you see Sheena she'll probably let you see it and more than likely let you hold it for her for a while. She's already made a couple comments about the size. 

I should say that the motivation behind the switch is to better communicate with people: especially the younger crowd who are frequently doing the texting. After our event Monday night Sheena became convinced that I needed a better phone to be better equipped to do my job. I'm trying not to treat it like a toy, but rather a ministry tool since that increases its holiness.*

But now we need a new ringtone. We've considered a few options and are weighing the pros and cons of each. 

I can tell you right now that it won't be Taio Cruz's song Dynamite. I do enjoy air travel from time to time and I would hate for the words "We gon' light it up, like it's dynamite" to be heard coming from my phone while I'm in an airport. 

So, any ringtone suggestions for us. What songs make for a good ring tone? Or is the boring old ringer best? What do you think? And is it acceptable to get my wife a Bluetooth for her birthday?

*are ministry tools tithe deductible? 

Chocolate Rasperries

Here's a question for you: is there anything better than blowing raspberries or eating chocolate?

How about doing the two together?

Makiah gave it a try last night when she was given a hunk of chocolate. The first time she had any major chocolate intake.

I enjoy raspberry flavoured chocolate, but I think I won't be doing this.

Gifts I Don't Want For Christmas

Every year countless people get gifts they don't like. Then there's the awkward moment where you have to thank someone for something you'll either try and return or hold on to until you have a garage sale or drop off at a thrift store.

To help my loved ones buy meaningful gifts here is a list of a few things I don't want for Christmas:

1: Whopper Scented Cologne Not only have I never had the desire to smell like greasy flame broiled meat, Sheena got violently ill any time She smelled burgers during the early stages of her pregnancy. I'm just thinking that smelling like a burger is still a bad thing.

2: A coupon book of expired coupons or gift certificates

3: A saliva collection kit so that I can have my genetics tested.

4: A "Guinna Pigs Rule The World" t-shirt. I think that speaks for itself.

5: This necklace that gives new meaning to the idea of crappy jewelry

6: Game worn protective cup. Game worn jerseys are big, but I think there's a reason they're the only ting.


7: This little item made me smile, but seems rather inappropriate. I think I'll pass.

8: Cat Pencil Sharpener. I'm sorry, but I put my pencil where to sharpen it. No thank you.

9: Now you can buy nothing. I think the point of all this is so that I'll end up with something as opposed to nothing. Nothing is what I get when I get a bunch of junk I'll never use.

10: A travel Bidet. I don't have a bidet in my house, so why would I want one for the road.

11: A Back Shaver. I just simply think it's too late for this one. Maybe ten years ago it would have worked.

12: Perhaps this one takes the cake as the thing I least want for Christmas

Well, I hope this helps.

So, what's the worst gift you ever got?

Stuff

My wife, Sheena, and I have been going through a bunch of old boxes. Almost all of them are full of things we acquired prior to getting married. Sometimes it’s embarrassing to see what we’ve spent money on. We can’t help but think of the sizable down payment we’d have on a house had we saved all that money instead. But at the time one of us just had to have the latest *NSYNC album.

There are, however, a good number of items I’m pleased to have brought into our marriage. I had great expectations that my wife would be as excited about each item as I was: if not more.

But not a single one impressed her.

Actually, for the most part, she’s eager for the day we can get rid of them.

Now, how many times do we come to God with all these things, this stuff, expecting Him to use them, and be as impressed with them as we are?

One day Jesus said to a woman frantic to provide stuff for him: “Only one thing is needed.” (For the whole account you can turn to Luke 10:38-42)

When Jesus spoke those words, the one thing needed is nothing that we can make with our hands. The one thing needed is our attentive heart: our life. It’s not a meal, an apple computer, or twelve of the hottest tracks of 2000. These things impress men, but not God.

Are we still trying to offer God the things that matter to us, and expect Him to use them?

He wants to use us. Jesus didn’t come to earth to redeem stuff so that the things of this world can be used by God. He came and redeemed us so that we can be made into the people God wants us to be.

Perhaps it’s time to take stock once again of all our stuff, especially the things that we’re trying to force fit into God’s plans, maybe then we’ll see there’s a whole lot of stuff we need to get rid of.


Like when I got married and brought into the marriage all this stuff expecting Sheena to be excited about it, at least as excited as I was, if not more, only God isn’t as excited about our stuff as we are.

Jesus said: “Only one thing is needed.”

When Jesus said “only one thing is needed,” He wasn’t talking about my apple computer. Or any of the stuff we offer God with expectations of his appreciation.

In truth, when Jesus spoke those words, He was speaking with a woman who though that Jesus would be impressed with a nice meal. Now I would be impressed with a nice meal, but not Jesus.

Let’s read the story found in Luke 10: 38-42

Instead of just coming as He made us, or as He is making us to be, we come with our accomplishments and what we have made. That doesn’t impress God. He wants what He has made.

Perhaps it’s time to take stalk once again of al our stuff, especially the stuff that we’re trying to force fit into God’s plans, maybe then we’ll see there are whole lot of things we need to get rid of.