So why do some people hate bloggers? Blogging is quite possibly the truest form of democracy that exists in our society today. Through blogging, anyone can have their say and others can get informed and hear different points of view. I don't like hurtful blogs or when people plaster their views on the internet without thinking about what they are saying. We need to be thoughtful and considerate in our blogging while at the same time being free to give our opinions. Transparency and asking questions are important to my generation and probably will be to those coming after me. Blogging is becoming a way of life and we need to get used to it. Just look at news programming and political talk shows. These guys are always discussing bloggers' comments because blogs often demonstrate the attitudes of the masses - something that those of us leading the masses must always consider.
Dave sent me the link of Keith Drury's blog (http://wesleyanstuff.blogspot.com/)on the General Conference of the Wesleyan Church. Every four years delegates from the Wesleyan Church worldwide gather to deal with issues affecting the church at large. This is an event that most people will never get to, but Drury delivered a play-by-play on his blog. He talked about elections and which memorials passed. He also talked about the overall atmosphere and attitude of the conference. Drury's blog provides a way for anyone who has access to the internet an inside look into General Conference. To me this is enlightening and important. The shroud of mystery that surrounds GC no longer exists thanks to bloggers. That might make some people uneasy, but isn't it important to have people thinking about important issues and how they relate to their local church?
At the close of the conference yesterday, Drury said that the people he talked to were encouraged by the direction of the WC. He says this is because the people believe they took some of their power back. This is demonstrated by some of the memorials which were not approved by the delegates. The memorials not approved were mostly those which would give more power to headquarters and decrease local autonomy (If you care to know what the memorials were, you can find them at http://www.wesleyan.org/gc/). Local churches and districts want to have their say. Many of the memorials approved increased the power of local chuches and districts. This is a very positive move in eyes of many (obviously, they voted for it!).
Another thing that people apparently felt positive about was the election of JoAnne Lyon to the upper ranks of the WC. You can read Drury's comments about this on his blog as well as the views of those who left their comments. I think I'll comment on this tomorrow because it is an interesting turn of events. Not because she is a woman, but because she is seen as the peoples' candidate - once again, the masses taking a little bit of their power back.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Oh Disrespectful Canada!
I love living in Canada mainly due to government healthcare and our disrespect for pretty much everything. I was watching the news this morning and they had a live feed announcing the Juno nominees. This was both the lamest and the funniest thing I have watched and was definitely the highlight of my morning.
First of all it looked and sounded like someone set up the backdrop and a sound system in their garage. Then some lady, I think she was the head of CTV, got up to introduce the host for this years Junos. She must have had about seven cue cards for about 4 lines, stumbled through what she wanted to say and mispronounced one of the performer's names so badly she had to appologize. So, I'm thinking why didn't CTV put on someone who is used to public speaking?
The host for this year is a comedian who tells mostly racial jokes. In his comments he mentioned that he was the first non-white Juno host and proceeded to overpronounce and make fun of all of the French names of nominees. THEN as if he wasn't enough on the edge, he said that he would never watch the Junos and made fun of one of the corporate sponsors! He was proceeded by a couple of bands who were reading off nominees but looked as though they had never read the cue cards before (which by the way, had the same 6 names on them each time so they should have been paying attention and they would have picked it up). Measha Brueggergosman was the funniest and the only one who actually spoke as though she had prepared.
I thought this was so funny! As I listened to this I thought, "only in Canada, eh?" In Canada we are not impressed by fame or money. It is almost appauling to our senses. We make fun of the famous and the rich. We make fun of ourselves, our politicians, our neighbours to the south, everyone. If you are in the public eye, you will be made fun of. This makes me glad to be Canadian. I am glad that we do not bow down and worship those with a lot of cash. Comedy seems to be how Canadian peasants take their power back in a weird kind of way.
Here's how I think the Junos started. Two people from CTV were sitting at Tim Hortons one day when one guy said, "So, I was watching the Grammy's last night eh, and I was thinkin' that we could make a lot of money if we made a Canadian version of the show." His friend said, "Yeah, we have some good talent in Canada. My neighbour has a band called "Ice Fishin'" that plays at the bar down the street there, he might like to be in it."
First of all it looked and sounded like someone set up the backdrop and a sound system in their garage. Then some lady, I think she was the head of CTV, got up to introduce the host for this years Junos. She must have had about seven cue cards for about 4 lines, stumbled through what she wanted to say and mispronounced one of the performer's names so badly she had to appologize. So, I'm thinking why didn't CTV put on someone who is used to public speaking?
The host for this year is a comedian who tells mostly racial jokes. In his comments he mentioned that he was the first non-white Juno host and proceeded to overpronounce and make fun of all of the French names of nominees. THEN as if he wasn't enough on the edge, he said that he would never watch the Junos and made fun of one of the corporate sponsors! He was proceeded by a couple of bands who were reading off nominees but looked as though they had never read the cue cards before (which by the way, had the same 6 names on them each time so they should have been paying attention and they would have picked it up). Measha Brueggergosman was the funniest and the only one who actually spoke as though she had prepared.
I thought this was so funny! As I listened to this I thought, "only in Canada, eh?" In Canada we are not impressed by fame or money. It is almost appauling to our senses. We make fun of the famous and the rich. We make fun of ourselves, our politicians, our neighbours to the south, everyone. If you are in the public eye, you will be made fun of. This makes me glad to be Canadian. I am glad that we do not bow down and worship those with a lot of cash. Comedy seems to be how Canadian peasants take their power back in a weird kind of way.
Here's how I think the Junos started. Two people from CTV were sitting at Tim Hortons one day when one guy said, "So, I was watching the Grammy's last night eh, and I was thinkin' that we could make a lot of money if we made a Canadian version of the show." His friend said, "Yeah, we have some good talent in Canada. My neighbour has a band called "Ice Fishin'" that plays at the bar down the street there, he might like to be in it."
Monday, 28 January 2008
Sore and Lazy
Well I have nothing deep to write today that's for sure. I am sitting at the university library during a snowstorm. My class has been cancelled and this would be prime paper writing time. But noooooo I choose to blog about nothing becuase I don't want to write the introduction to a thesis or a commentary report about the US media giants. I would much rather read friends' blogs and veg out. I have so much to do this week that my brain might explode and so I justify blogging by claiming I am doing it for my mental health. But really...why do I do this???
I hate philosophy by the way. I have no desire to throw around opinions on concepts that have been chewed on for hundreds of years. People have devoted their lives to these things and still noone knows the answer! How frustrating. I would get an F in a few of my classes if I was caught saying this. "F" is for frustrating.
I went to the gym again today and I'll probably feel it tomorrow. I had a hard time raising my hands in church on Sunday because my arms were so sore from last week's upper body workout. Oh well, that's what you get when you slack off and lose all your strength and have to get it back. T-Rex will have her muscles back.
Speaking of muscles...I love the show American Gladiators. I am stuck with the suspicion that the gladiators rarely truly try to take out the competitor. I mean really, they could beat the snot out of those people if they really wanted to.
Now I must go and get it over with....
I hate philosophy by the way. I have no desire to throw around opinions on concepts that have been chewed on for hundreds of years. People have devoted their lives to these things and still noone knows the answer! How frustrating. I would get an F in a few of my classes if I was caught saying this. "F" is for frustrating.
I went to the gym again today and I'll probably feel it tomorrow. I had a hard time raising my hands in church on Sunday because my arms were so sore from last week's upper body workout. Oh well, that's what you get when you slack off and lose all your strength and have to get it back. T-Rex will have her muscles back.
Speaking of muscles...I love the show American Gladiators. I am stuck with the suspicion that the gladiators rarely truly try to take out the competitor. I mean really, they could beat the snot out of those people if they really wanted to.
Now I must go and get it over with....
Friday, 11 January 2008
Overseas Mission Myth #2
MYTH #2 - IF WE ARE INVOLVED IN BUILDING ANYTHING, WE TAKE JOBS AWAY FROM LOCAL PEOPLE.
Sometimes this is a myth and sometimes it is not. Just as we cannot go to other countries and do things that may take away from the local economy, we also cannot generalize about what the results of our actions will be.
The way to make sure this is a myth is to check out how your building project works. If you are paying a flat rate for a building no matter how soon it is finished, and if you are hiring the same amount of workers that would be hired if you were not there, then you are not taking money or jobs from the local economy. If you are paying less money or hiring less people, then this myth may in fact be truth. If you check it out first then you can be sure about what you are doing.
When we travel, we pay a flat rate for our building and hire local maestros and workers. Also, the family often works on their own home (similar to the Habitat for Humanity system). We do not care how quickly or slowly we get the job done because it will be built even if we leave. Often our role is to talk with the family or play with the children. I mean really who are we trying to kid?? We do not know how to build with cinder blocks and a machete! The reason we do building projects is to meet the people and have a chance to share the gospel. Our partners in Guatemala see the buildings as a way for the church to make contact with families.
So, no need to worry about this myth if you do your homework first!
Sometimes this is a myth and sometimes it is not. Just as we cannot go to other countries and do things that may take away from the local economy, we also cannot generalize about what the results of our actions will be.
The way to make sure this is a myth is to check out how your building project works. If you are paying a flat rate for a building no matter how soon it is finished, and if you are hiring the same amount of workers that would be hired if you were not there, then you are not taking money or jobs from the local economy. If you are paying less money or hiring less people, then this myth may in fact be truth. If you check it out first then you can be sure about what you are doing.
When we travel, we pay a flat rate for our building and hire local maestros and workers. Also, the family often works on their own home (similar to the Habitat for Humanity system). We do not care how quickly or slowly we get the job done because it will be built even if we leave. Often our role is to talk with the family or play with the children. I mean really who are we trying to kid?? We do not know how to build with cinder blocks and a machete! The reason we do building projects is to meet the people and have a chance to share the gospel. Our partners in Guatemala see the buildings as a way for the church to make contact with families.
So, no need to worry about this myth if you do your homework first!
Friday, 4 January 2008
Overseas Mission Myth #1
After a semester long hiatus, I am back to blogging. There have been so many times I have thought of things to write but didn't have the time to do so. We'll see how long this lasts. I'll probably stop when I have to start writing papers again.
Anyway, we are going to Africa on Feb 28th which inspires me to write this series of blogs on church work overseas. There some common myths about overseas work that are floating around out there. These myths relate to short-term trips to foreign countries.
MYTH #1 - IT IS FINANCIALLY WASTEFULL TO SEND PEOPLE ON SHORT-TERM TRIPS OVERSEAS.
This is a total myth. This statement comes from a North American mindset that money is of primary importance. To the majority of the world survival is important and many Christians will sacrifice even their survival for sharing the gospel. What is more meaningful than money is the support and encouragement from believers on the other side of the world. The fact that someone cares enough to spend their money and take the time to come and visit you, speaks more than a cheque ever could. Most people do not want to be charity cases and have money thrown at them. However, they, like us, can use encouragement and support through prayer, acts of service, etc. When we visit other countries even for a short time, we get a glimpse of what daily life is like for the people we meet. We hear their stories and learn about them and their culture. We see their sacrifice and their needs. This makes us pray with understanding, serve where needed, and give when appropriate. It is a lot easier sometimes just to write a cheque, than it is to become a student and learn from others.
When we return to our country we can raise money for what is needed or raise awareness of the prayer needs. It is easier to do this when you have seen and experienced what you are talking about. One thing that our partners tell us is that they want to us to share our experiences with the people back home. For them it is more important that the people here know what is going on with them, than it is for them to only get some cash. Luis Martinez our partner in Guatemala tells of when he was offered thousands of dollars by a businessman. The businessman said that he would never support another person to go overseas short-term again because it was a waste of money and instead he would write Luis a cheque for the amount it would cost to send someone short-term. Luis told the businessman that he should keep his money because "money doesn't have eyes."
Anyway, we are going to Africa on Feb 28th which inspires me to write this series of blogs on church work overseas. There some common myths about overseas work that are floating around out there. These myths relate to short-term trips to foreign countries.
MYTH #1 - IT IS FINANCIALLY WASTEFULL TO SEND PEOPLE ON SHORT-TERM TRIPS OVERSEAS.
This is a total myth. This statement comes from a North American mindset that money is of primary importance. To the majority of the world survival is important and many Christians will sacrifice even their survival for sharing the gospel. What is more meaningful than money is the support and encouragement from believers on the other side of the world. The fact that someone cares enough to spend their money and take the time to come and visit you, speaks more than a cheque ever could. Most people do not want to be charity cases and have money thrown at them. However, they, like us, can use encouragement and support through prayer, acts of service, etc. When we visit other countries even for a short time, we get a glimpse of what daily life is like for the people we meet. We hear their stories and learn about them and their culture. We see their sacrifice and their needs. This makes us pray with understanding, serve where needed, and give when appropriate. It is a lot easier sometimes just to write a cheque, than it is to become a student and learn from others.
When we return to our country we can raise money for what is needed or raise awareness of the prayer needs. It is easier to do this when you have seen and experienced what you are talking about. One thing that our partners tell us is that they want to us to share our experiences with the people back home. For them it is more important that the people here know what is going on with them, than it is for them to only get some cash. Luis Martinez our partner in Guatemala tells of when he was offered thousands of dollars by a businessman. The businessman said that he would never support another person to go overseas short-term again because it was a waste of money and instead he would write Luis a cheque for the amount it would cost to send someone short-term. Luis told the businessman that he should keep his money because "money doesn't have eyes."
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Tibetan Flip Flops
Quite often I think of some very random questions in my mind, and wonder such things as "What is the average lifespan of a squirrel?" - which is 6 by the way, but some live until 10.
Last night I asked Mike whether or not people living in Tibet would wear flip flops. He proceeded to give a thoughtful and scholarly answer to this burning question.
"There once was a guy who lived in Tibet named Chow Yong Meng. Chow Yong Meng liked the looks of the flip flops he saw online, so he ordered a pair from flipflop.com. They were all he dreamed they would be and more. He loved the way the fabric felt between his toes.
But someone else was also attracted by his flip flops. The Yeti loved the bright color and the sound of Chow Yong Meng's sandals - flip,flop,flip,flop. The Yeti began stalking and chasing Chow Yong Meng in order to have the flip flops for himself. Chow Yong Meng found it difficult to outrun the Yeti in his new flip flops, which while fashionable were not exactly functional for running away from Yetis in the snow. Chow Yong Meng could not outrun the Yeti anymore, and soon met his demise.
And so people in Tibet wear boots and not flip flops, but somewhere there is a very stylish Yeti with his very own pair."
Last night I asked Mike whether or not people living in Tibet would wear flip flops. He proceeded to give a thoughtful and scholarly answer to this burning question.
"There once was a guy who lived in Tibet named Chow Yong Meng. Chow Yong Meng liked the looks of the flip flops he saw online, so he ordered a pair from flipflop.com. They were all he dreamed they would be and more. He loved the way the fabric felt between his toes.
But someone else was also attracted by his flip flops. The Yeti loved the bright color and the sound of Chow Yong Meng's sandals - flip,flop,flip,flop. The Yeti began stalking and chasing Chow Yong Meng in order to have the flip flops for himself. Chow Yong Meng found it difficult to outrun the Yeti in his new flip flops, which while fashionable were not exactly functional for running away from Yetis in the snow. Chow Yong Meng could not outrun the Yeti anymore, and soon met his demise.
And so people in Tibet wear boots and not flip flops, but somewhere there is a very stylish Yeti with his very own pair."
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Square Peg in a Round Hole
The question that I have been asking for the last couple of years is why do I carry the title "pastor"? Why do a lot of us carry that title, when in fact, we may not even have the pastoral gift? There are more equipping gifts than just pastors (prophets, evangelists, apostles, teachers) but we only seem to license people as pastors or "special workers".
So what about me? I fall into that other group. Luckily, I am in a place where I can use my giftings as I like, even while having a label that doesn't fit me. But what about those who cannot? Is this maybe while people feel tired in ministry? People expect certain things from you because you carry a certain type of stamp. This can be frustrating and tiring.
I think it would be great if we would recognize church leadership (those who equip the saints for the work of the ministry) as having some variety. A gifts-based ministry where everyone is passionate about what they do, and are energized by it instead of fatigued. I think we are going that way, so that gives me hope.
So what about me? I fall into that other group. Luckily, I am in a place where I can use my giftings as I like, even while having a label that doesn't fit me. But what about those who cannot? Is this maybe while people feel tired in ministry? People expect certain things from you because you carry a certain type of stamp. This can be frustrating and tiring.
I think it would be great if we would recognize church leadership (those who equip the saints for the work of the ministry) as having some variety. A gifts-based ministry where everyone is passionate about what they do, and are energized by it instead of fatigued. I think we are going that way, so that gives me hope.
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