Be Careful Little Feet Where You Go

When was a kid in Sunday School, we used to sing this song about 'be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, and be careful little feet where you go, because the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little feet where you go..." I can't say that it always made me more relaxed knowing God was watching over me...'cause sometimes I was going where my feet shouldn't have!

I guess in the 21st century, there's another level of 'watching where your feet' go as as a man in Britain discovered recently...and this is coming to Canada too.

A furious British wife has called in divorce lawyers after spotting her husband's car parked outside another woman's house — on Google.

She saw the Range Rover while using the Internet giant's new Street View service to snoop on a female friend's home.

The hubby had claimed he was away on business, but his missus recognized his SUV immediately because of its blinged-up hubcaps.

The love cheat is not the only husband trapped by Google's controversial new 360-degree photo search, which covers 25 cities and towns throughout Britain.

Top media lawyer Mark Stephens said: "I was talking about the Range Rover case when another divorce lawyer came up to say his firm was dealing with the same sort of thing. People are getting caught out on Google. I suspect the husband's lawyers will claim it was an invasion of privacy that will cost him his marriage and Range Rover."

Crime Scene

I jumped in the vehicle this morning at 5:50 am on my way to exercise, and immediately noticed something wasn't right. The glove box was open and riffled through, there were papers all over the place, and the box between the seats was open as well. It didn't appear that much was missing at first. But as I looked closer, I discovered Shanda's designer sunglasses and case to be gone! I thought my prescription sunglasses were gone as well, but it turns out I had left them at my office.I generally have a good habit of locking the doors on the vehicle, but I guess I pushed the wrong button on the automatic locker! Arrgh...

My mom's vehicle was also gone through but she didn't have anything in it that was 'stealable'.

That is about the 4th time this has happened at our house in the past year. My other truck has had the window pried open a couple of times and my paint ball gun stolen from it.

It's ticking me off...I'm really cheerleading for this now!

Cut The Fat

In these times of economic uncertainty, many or most of us are carefully examining our expenditures. However, government expenditures are steadily rising- seemingly without anyone being allowed to question the spending. If you are concerned about this, you are not alone!

The National Citizen's Coalition feel that all federal politicians should take a 5% pay cut, freeze hiring in the civil service and thoroughly examine all expenditures. If you'd like to sign the petition in agreement of this position, go here.

Real Justice

For many years now, judges in Canada have had a curious practice in dealing with convicted criminals. If they were in a pre-trial center (rather than a full jail) awaiting trial they have been given a 2 for 1 credit on time served. It goes like this hypothetical situation: A crime is committed. Upon conviction he is sentenced to 6 years. He had waited 1.5 years to go to trial, that is credited to him as 3 years. That leaves 3 years of his 6 to serve.

However in Canada, prisoners can get out after having served only 1/3 of a sentence. So, in this case the offender could be released right away (on probation).

Defence lawyers have said that this is necessary guideline for protection of prisoners' rights. Clayton Ruby, one of Canada's leading defence lawyers, called Canadian detention centres "hellholes" and "a humiliation."

Like their time in a pre-trial center is any hardship compared to victims that have been stolen from, raped, mugged, and otherwise traumatized, but I digress...

Some feel that the accused have intentionally delayed their trials so that they could stay in pre-trial longer and get 2 for 1 credit.

Well, NO MORE! -- thanks to the Conservative government which is going to take away the discretion of judges in this. Prisoners will no longer get a 2 for 1 deal. They will have to 'do the time' (which is already often very light!) to pay for their crime.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said, "I think this will have the effect of unclogging the courts. I think individuals or their solicitors will not find it to their advantage to have continuous delays or adjournments and so I think this will help move the process forward," he said.

Full details here

Relevant or Revolutionary?

I was really challenged when I heard this quote from Matthew Barnett on Sunday..."If you want to be relevant, raise awareness of a problem. If you want to be revolutionary, do something to solve the problem."

That's a challenging statement no matter what the issue or problem that comes into view. Using this definition, I want to be more than relevant. However, too often I think that is what I've settled for.

Each of us come into contact with issues - some of which we are uniquely qualified to engage with our gifts/skills/talents, while others not so much. We will need the guidance of Father God to see which we are CALLED to. However, I think that too often we (or at least I) brush things off as being beyond us. I need to pray into the issue until the 'burden' of the problem lifts. If it doesn't lift, I believe that I need to ask Father what action He wants me to engage in.

Although it isn't always easy, I really think that I although I can't do everything I MUST be involved in doing my part and using my gifts/skills to solve certain issues that God places before me. With the help of Jesus, I will do my best to leave my rut for someone else to live in.

Hungry?

We were at Angelus Temple (aka The Dream Center) in Los Angeles on Sunday morning. Yes, we go to church on holiday!

As I sat to listen to Pastor Matthew Barnett, one of the foremost Christian leaders in America, I was both surprised and encouraged. Pastor Matthew was talking about how important it was to be a church that lived and operated in the supernatural and by the power of Holy Spirit.

Surprised why? Aren't they already operating in the supernatural?This is a church that has over 200 ministries that serve the city, they visit and feed the poor, they house the homeless, they disciple the addict, they rescue the prostitute, and on and on it goes.

YES, and here's the encouraging part - they don't ever want to become a church of 'good works'. Pastor Matthew was reminding himself and the church that everything that they do or hope to do - amazing things that are happening today and that God has yet in store - must flow from a growing and hungering relationship with and for the presence of Jesus.

Here's some quotes from Pastor Matthew's talk -

"We go in and out of supernatural strength way too much in our calling. We need the presence of God in and through our lives. Let God minister to you regularly. We must never only be a people of good works but must be built on prayer and times of refreshing in the presence of God. This is God's work that is far beyond what we are able to do.

Compassion without the favour of God is not enough." We must live in the supernatural filling of God."

This is also what we are hearing from God for our Church family. God is speaking the same thing to His people no matter where we are. "Be hungry for relationship with Me!"We need Him and His strength if we are going to see a world changed. Nothing less will do...

Yea!

Todays high Courtenay - 7 degrees
Todays high Anaheim - 25 degrees.
Nice

Arrows of the Lord

Another one of the highlights of Saturday was for Shanda and me was to be there with Tristen and Clara. They were part of our church’s Master’s Commission. They are both serving now in the LA Dream Center / Angelus Temple (Foursquare Church) They're pictured here with Alexandra in front of Angelus Temple - built in 1923 by Amy Semple McPherson, the founder of the Foursquare Church movement.

Anyhow, we watched in amazement as Clara (she’s the block ‘pastor’) fluently gave instructions in Spanish (learned while serving), saw people come up to her and give her hugs and greet their ‘pastor’. Clara comes here on a weekly basis, although her main ministry is Metro Kidz. At Metro Kidz she goes out into the places others don’t want to go (gangland) and gives kids hope, the love of God and a vision for a better future.

Tristen volunteers at other ministries although her main ministry is coordinating the delivery of all the tons of food donations to the Dream Center. She uses her administrative gifts and puts that together with a love for the people and children of Los Angeles and does a fantastic job! Tristen was excited to be with us handing out the food on the front lines - food that she had arranged to be delivered.

At the end of it all, we gathered in a circle and Clara went off praying in Spanish as these precious people gathered around to pray and be prayed for. More than food – hope, encouragement and love were given in large quantities.

These girls arrived to our MC in 2004…look what God has done in and through them as they have hungered after Him and followed His leading. No passivity, no procrastination – simple hunger and following the leading of Father. One prophetic word over Northgate is that there will be ‘arrows of the Lord’ (people) sent out or shot out to the nations. These girls are two arrows…shot out and making a difference. It’s a family sending out family seeing His ‘kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Northgate readers you can be proud. We were moved to tears and are proud to be part of a church family that sends out such as these.

Kids In Action

Well, Saturday was a great day. We started the day off with Adopt-A-Block with the LA Dream Center. This is a program where hundreds of people head into various neighbourhoods that are troubled and disadvantaged. To name a few; they go to the downtown hotels, skid row, gang areas, and among the working poor. Our particular site was into a dead end street surrounded by old old walk up apartments 3 and 4 stories high. We were distributing food, picking up trash and cleaning a vacant lot that was full of trash (diapers, broken chairs, alcohol bottles, old clothes, general trash). Our kids helped hand out food and played with one of the neighbourhood children. There were about 30 adults (plus kids) to get food. Our kids saw very clearly how others have to live – “No place to play except the street! No grass. They don’t have enough food? It’s so dirty here. There’s garbage everywhere!” We were able to engage them about how these are the places that Jesus has called all of us to. Not just inside a church, but taking His love out into a world and to a people that the devil is intent on destroying. We were so proud to see them stepping out of their Courtenay comfort zones and loving, giving and serving others in the inner city. It is important for children – not just adults – to have an opportunity to ‘go about doing good’ (Acts 10:38) and experience the affirmation and presence of God in it. We all had a great time together! This picture is taken afterwards as we went to the Citadel.

Holiday Time

It's Saturday, and we're in California. We found favour on some tickets on Alaska Airlines. :-) I'm excited about going here to start our week at 10 AM. I've been several times before and I'm looking forward to experiencing it with Shanda and the girls. It is great to be able to join in the restorative work of God. What would it look like doing something like Adopt-A-Block in your community? Just so you don't think I'm a crazy dad, we are also going here later...

CV Political Scuttlebut #4

Well, It was about 8:44 PM last night on the ferry and my cell phone rang. It was a call from someone at the BC Liberal candidate selection meeting. This person reported that Don McRae had won the nomination and will be the candidate for the BC Liberal party in the upcoming provincial election. No numbers were announced, but hopefully they will be forthcoming. I suspect that it was a first ballot victory. Don had a good, well-connected team around him. However, it is going to take more than that team to win the riding.

I have heard that at least one (and possibly two) of the losing candidates would not be helping the winner. I certainly hope that is not true. If this riding is going to be won, there will need to be unity from all the members - and far beyond words. There will need to be time, work and effort put into getting Don elected. It's easy to talk about how you'll support whomever wins, but action speaks far louder.

Rob Update #5

Further to this, here's an update on Rob from his family -it was written this past Sunday. It is encouraging to see prayer at work! There's a lot of challenges yet, so please continue to pray for Rob.

Things have improved this weekend. He is again off the vent and is breathing well with no oxygen help at all. He is in good spirits. He has started to eat real food and has been told he should be able to eat a subway sub by Wednesday. He will be working with various physiotherapist's and speech therapist's this week and may have another embolization. I left his black berry with him tonight so he will be getting through e-mails slowly but surely. He is still a bit groggy and has most moments of lucidity with some moments of confusion, he assures me that his mind is coming back though. We are very grateful for the amazing care he has been receiving in the cardiac ICU unit at the Toronto General Hospital and of all the progress he has made through his own sheer determination. Thanks to all for your positive thoughts and prayers...keep them coming!!!

Transferable Ballot

This is an explanation of the way that the candidate will be chosen in the Comox Valley BC Liberal race. It should be exciting as there are apparently now 600 members in the riding. There were just over 100 that showed to vote at the NDPs candidate selection meeting...

Wikipedia: The contingent vote is an electoral system used to elect a single winner, in which the voter ranks the candidates in order of preference. In an election, if no candidate receives an absolute majority of first preference votes, then all but the two leading candidates are eliminated and there is a second count. In the second count the votes of those who supported eliminated candidates are distributed among the two remaining candidates,(that is, their 2nd or 3rd choices) so that one candidate achieves an absolute majority.

I believe that the BC Liberals eliminate the bottom one and go from there. This description is the closest that I have found to match with what I've been able to glean at various meetings.

CV Political Scuttlebut #3

Well, there are 4 people fighting to be the BC Liberal candidate for Comox Valley in the May election. You can read more about the individuals here. I want to make an informed decision at the vote on Thursday. Jon Toogood did not have any campaign events (at least that I heard about). I did go to hear the rest of them speak. Here's my impressions:

1. Roberta Stevenson has the potential to be a strong candidate. She has a varied and strong background. Her presentation was just ok. She is obviously new at the game. She is good at 'one on one' and making people feel welcome and included. At the event that I went to, there were about 60 people at it. I saw several federal Conservatives there to support, back and mentor her. I don't know if she has the political connections or the profile to take her over the top.

2. Don McRae performed very well at his 'meet and greet'. There were 170 or 180 people at it. The people at it are 'well connected' people. Paul Ives, mayor of Comox; Starr Winchester and Ron Webber, former mayors of Courtenay; Murray Presley, Courtenay Councillor; Ken Grant, Comox Councillor and some prominent developers and business people. I did notice that although the majority were definitely 'gray heads', there were a lot more younger people there (under 40 seems to be 'young' in politics). I think Don has a great profile of 7 years as Courtenay councillor, growing up and working in the Valley as a teacher. Don also spoke very well and seemed to have a good grasp of the issues without appearing like a 'know-it-all'. I think that he is the one to beat.

3. Shawn Wilson. Shawn had about 50 people at this event. He came into the race later for some reason. Shawn has a good business background as well as a solid reputation and fairly good visibility around town. I think that Shawn may also be able to appeal to some of the undecided that are more 'socially minded' than people think the BC Liberals generally are. Shawn seemed comfortable speaking with people. His talk, although clearly showing knowledge, unfortunately. didn't project a lot of passion. He did talk a lot about working to attract business and investment to our Valley, which is something that I'd like to see.

4. Jon Toogood - no speeches, no newspaper ads, no website, no news conference - makes it hard to judge anything (positions, approach, ideas, etc.) beyond what I know personally of Jon. I don't know Jon well, but I have observed that Jon's a guy that wants to contribute and is a 'get it done' kind of guy.

I think that this is Don's to lose. Roberta, with the backing she has, should be 2nd. However, with the preferential style ballot, Shawn could benefit. If he is the 2nd choice of a lot of people, he could come up the middle as the winner. If you want to understand how the preferential ballot works, look for a post later today or tomorrow.

Spiritual Warfare / Favour

I'm in Surrey at Revolution Master's Commission for the next few days teaching on Spiritual Warfare. I've actually loved the hours of preparation that I've had to put into it. It has only caused my own hunger to grow! Reading, praying, studying...It's been great. The director is Angelina Hunt, who came to our MC for her first year, went there for her 2nd year and then became the Director. It is always so encouraging to be around young people that are passionate for Jesus and to do their part to see things change for good in the world.

While I have been preparing, I have realized that I've come to a resignation to some situations in my extended family. I hadn't realized that this is something that I've grown passive about! Well, no more! As God has directed us, I'm going to pray and contend and seek after God to see relationships restored to what God intended them to be. I'm walking in a season of unprecedented, unparalleled favour of God - and I'm going to ask, seek, and knock to see it released in my family!! (Matt. 7:7-11)

Living HIS Mission

It is encouraging to see our Christian School actively involved in restoration. Our staff have been diligently working together to raise awareness among the students - and our community - about our responsibility to respond to the needs in the world. You can read all about it in the Record (click here)

It is great to see our staff and students seeking to actively living out what Jesus did, who "went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil"(Acts 10:38) It also shows the world that Jesus is alive! We're promised that people will see the good works and glorify God because of them. (Matt. 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12).

As we proclaim the gospel with words, our willingness to help and bless others gives a greater credibility to our message. It opens the door for people to hear the good news. If you look at successful missionaries of history, as well as those of today, they have always put good works (clinics, hospitals, skill training, clean water, education, orphanages, leper treatment, etc.) together with the proclamation of the good news. However, it is important to note that it is always right to be a blessing to others - even if they do not respond to the gospel.

In our day to day life it is very important that we be dispensers of God's grace and favour - that is what Jesus modeled! That is also what these students are participating in and modeling - lovers of Jesus and lovers of people. We're proud of our students!

Favour Update #2

The latest news is that the man that is accused of abducting Jordan was impersonating a police officer. He had a gun, a flashing light and 'police clothes'. When a 16 year old can't go to the store after dark in little Alberta town, we have problems. If we weren't sure if our nation needs a revival, these things should shake us out of our apathy. For the rest of the story go here.

Rob Update #4

Further to this, Rob was responsive and awake on Saturday. In fact, he was taken off the ventilator and breathing on his own. Things were looking up. Unfortunately, his lungs began to fill up with fluid yesterday and he went back on the ventilator. Apparently, he will need 7 more surgeries over the next while. However, he needs to get stronger to get through them one by one. Please keep praying for increasing strength for Rob, and an awareness of the presence of Jesus. Also, pray for his family as they walk through this. They are aware that people are praying and are thankful for it!

Hopefully Never in Canada...

Is a bathroom an optional extra when you're at 30,000 feet? Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary seems to think so - as his no-frills airline contemplates charging customers to use its aircrafts' toilets.

O'Leary whipped up a frenzy of indignation and potty humor Friday as he suggested that future Ryanair passengers might be obliged to insert a British pound coin before they gain access to in-flight relief.

As always, O'Leary suggested a separate toilet fee would lower ticket costs and make flying, somehow, easier for all. Nobody, even his own aides, seemed to be sure if he was serious or pursuing his well-documented penchant for making brazen declarations to win free advertising.

Favour Update

Further to this story of favour, here are more details. Jordan was able to escape from her attacker / abductor. We are so thankful to God for Jordan's safety. Now, we need to pray for God's healing power over her as she had 2 days of extreme trauma.

Adrenaline Junkie Type #4

4. The Dramatist – some adrenaline addicts get a degree of satisfaction from their addiction because it gives them an opportunity to draw attention to themselves and their plight. They complain about and describe their overwhelming situation, seemingly seeking admiration or pity from those upon whom they unload their problems.

Adrenaline Junkie Type #3

3. The Organizational Deflector – this type is like the previous one, except that the issue being avoided is trouble within the organization. Often a CEO or senior executive of a struggling company convinces himself/herself, as well as others, that he or she is too busy to stop and take an honest look at the company’s situation. As the company spirals, the adrenaline addict only works harder, trying to be convinced that the problem can be solved by working more hours at breakneck speed. The organizational deflector will do anything to avoid confronting the real problems which are often more complex and require real change