We Want to Die in Each Other's Arms.

The sanctity and value of life is continually under assault. There's a new front opening in Switzerland that we will probably have to engage at some point here in Canada. I really love my wife, but this creeps me out.

The head of a controversial assisted-suicide group in Switzerland says he will seek legal permission to help a Canadian woman and other healthy people like her kill themselves, raising startling new issues in the emotional debate over euthanasia.

Betty Coumbias, an elderly Vancouver resident, has indicated she wants to die alongside her husband, George, who suffers from severe heart disease.

Mrs. Coumbias explains in the documentary, The Suicide Tourist, why she would take her own life despite being generally healthy.

"From the day we got married, [my husband] was all my life," she tells Mr. Minelli. "I love my two daughters, but I love him more, and I don't think I can face life without him, and since we read about Dignitas, we felt what would be better than to die together, you know, to die in each other's arms?"

The article goes on to say:

People sometimes want to die after losing a spouse because of pure loneliness, but the condition is not irreversible, argued Prof. Somerville. She recalled a doctor telling her at a conference in the Netherlands, which has a similar liberal approach to assisted suicide as Switzerland, about how she gave a lethal injection to an elderly woman who had repeatedly asked to die after her husband had passed away. Prof. Somerville said she asked the physician if anyone had suggested simply buying the lonely woman a cat.

"She said, ‘No, but what a remarkable idea. Next time we'll try that.' "

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!!!

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.

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!

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!

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.

FAVOUR!!

Further to this, Jordan has been found!! Details are sketchy, but will update when possible. This was reported in the news.

Missing! Please Pray!!

Another prayer request!

We heard tonight that my cousin's wife's niece has gone missing as of late last night. She went to get something from the store with her dad's truck. A little later her dad noticed the truck was back...the lights were left on, the groceries were in the truck, but his daughter, Jordan, was nowhere to be found. Here is what my cousin's wife wrote. "Jordan is 16 and was last seen in the Penhold Shell. She was wearing a black sweater, pj pants and runners. Please phone (403) 227-3020 if you have any info."

There is no reason to suspect that she ran away or left. We are praying for her safe return.

If you know of people in the Central Alberta area, please forward them this post!

Rob Update #3

Further to this, here is an update as of yesterday morning...keep praying!

Rob has since come out of his sedation a couple of times. I believe it was Tuesday that Rob actually opened his eyes. Shannon was there to see him, so was Mom Pearson and Mrs. Blake amongst others. He has been given more sedatives in order that he not feel any of the pain that may be prevalent. We are seeing very positive outcomes and resurgence from his vitals and organs. Thank you to everyone who is thinking, praying and otherwise wishing good vibes for Rob and Shannon.

Rob Update #2

Further to this, here is an update.

Two days ago, Rob was taken off of the things that they used to put him into an induced coma. He has still not woken up. They are very concerned. They will be performing tests to see if there is any brain activity. Please pray for a miracle! Thank you.

Open Gang Warfare

As you can read below, there is a great need for something to be done to stop the gang-related shooting and killing in the Lower Mainland. There have been 12 shootings in 17 days in February!

The provincial government is working on a response. Even the federal government is calling the area the 'center of gang activity' in Canada. Regardless of what they do, this is also a call to prayer for the church. In Romans 13, the Bible talks about one of the roles of government as being, "They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong" We need to pray for wisdom for these servants of God. What do you think the government should be doing? Vote on our poll at the top of the page!

VANCOUVER -- A four-year-old boy who witnessed his mother's shooting death was taken into provincial custody for his own safety Tuesday, as B.C.'s bloody February continued with the fatal shooting of a home invader, apparently shot by one of his victims.

(his mom) Nicole Marie Alemy, 23, who was gunned down behind the wheel of a Cadillac in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey on Monday, was going home after picking up a birthday present, her uncle said a day later.

The car coasted through an intersection before a passerby steered it across a sidewalk and up onto the driveway.

Police arrived on the scene to find the woman dead and the little boy crying but unhurt. The boy was in the back seat of the car when his mother was shot.

In another incident on Tuesday's -- the 12th such shooting in February -- a south Vancouver mother watched in horror as two gunmen forced their way into her home and pointed a gun at her son.

Mabel Mohammed said the gunmen were asking for someone named Azim, whom Ms. Mohammed said the family does not know.

They then shot and wounded her son Aleem, 19, in the shoulder, she said.

His brother, Amir, then wrestled the gun away and shot one of the assailants dead, Ms. Mohammed said, adding that the other assailant fled.

"We are in danger. They came to the wrong house," she said.

One Year to Go!

It is exactly one year until the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler! It is exciting to have it come to our province. I don't think that we'll be able to go as I missed putting in to get some tickets. Now, the only option will probably be scalpers. Oh well, I guess it is nice and warm watching it at home -even better! (at least that is what I'm telling myself).

I went to a Chamber of Commerce event last night where Silken Laumann was the speaker. There was some mingling before with a great appy buffet from the chefs of the Kingfisher featuring bounty of the Comox Valley. Tender and tasty buffalo meat wraps, a grilled tuna that was a bit raw on the inside and sushi and vegetables. It was all amazingly good!

Oh - back to the story. The great thing of the Olympics is that they often provide us with pictures of accomplishment and inspiration.

Silken was a 1992 Olympia who had a severe injury that severed tendons, ligament, had 200 pieces of wood stuck in it (another boat hit her) and generally mashed her leg just 10 weeks before the Olympics. She went from being a gold medal favourite to being told that she'd never row again and would walk with a limp for the rest of her life. She did not accept that prognosis, but went to work and ended up competing in the Olympics and winning a bronze medal! An amazing story of courage, passion and determination.

She said a particular quote about the power of dreams, "What lies between you and your dream realized is the belief that somehow, some way you are going to get there." In other words, belief or faith is a huge factor in your success.

Now that is just the power of human belief which God placed within us. I was challenged when I thought that when you put that with the fact that, as Jesus followers, we have God Himself behind us we should be the biggest dreamers for positive change! The world (our lives, families and communities) can, and should be, a different place as we allow God to dream through us!

What are you dreaming for? Is it bigger than you?

What Have They Been Smoking?

I'm not a drinker and I've never smoked a joint. I can safely say that I don't have a preference for either. :-) However, I do find being forced to accomodate someone toking up in your pub is a strange thing - even for Canada. But that is exactly what a restaurant owner is being asked to do by the Human Rights Commission. Were they smoking too??

Ted Kindos faces two choices: Continue to be called a bigot or break the law. Either way, he risks going bankrupt.
Kindos owns Gator Ted’s Tap & Grill in Burlington. Four years ago, he asked a marijuana smoker to step away from his front door. The medically licensed toker complained to the Ontario Human Rights Commission of discrimination against a disabled person. He won.
Kindos was about to pay the fine and post obligatory signs saying, “We
accommodate medicinal marijuana smokers,” when a different government agency
told him he could lose his liquor licence. Serving anybody possessing a
controlled substance - prescribed or not - is against the law.

Read the rest here

Prayer Please

Our friend and eye doctor, Dr. Tanya Flood of Coastal Eyecare, has a brother, Rob. Rob is in need of prayer. His life is hanging in the balance in a hospital in Toronto. Rob is a young man in his early 30s.

His heart is racing at high speeds and they are having difficulty getting it under control. They do not know yet what is causing this. Can you pray for Rob, please? Pray for healing. Pray for wisdom for the doctors. Pray for peace God's peace to be with them all in this difficult time.

Can you also please pass this post along to other praying people? We need to see a miracle.

Grandma Update #3

As an update to this post, Grandma Scott is doing much better!! She went home from the hospital last Friday. I talked to her on Friday and she sounded great. She sounded alert and sharp. She wanted all that were praying to know that she could feel the prayer and is very thankful for it. So thanks very much!

We Need Help

Pastor Scott led a discussion and prayer time in our staff meeting about our need as men and women to maintain an ever-present hunger for 'more'. Not more things, more clothes, more stuff, but rather more of the power and presence of Holy Spirit in our lives, families and church family. The enemy of best can too often be good.

Sometimes we can get too comfortable in life and miss the great needs of our world and our responsibility as followers of Jesus, to cooperate with Holy Spirit to see things change.

What is going on - or has gone on - in the life of this young man in the story below? We can blame lots of people and things and agencies, and I'm sure that there is a enough to go around. However, it underscores the deep need of the people of God to get 'hungry' for more to see a nation change.

A 13-year-old boy who has had 75 run-ins with the law over the past year was arrested by Vancouver police on the weekend for allegedly slashing a man who refused the boy's request for a cigarette.

The boy "flew into a rage" during a SkyTrain ride late on Sunday and started swinging a knife around, according to transit police spokesman Constable Tom Seaman. The 23-year-old victim was cut severely on his left hand, which he raised to deflect the blade.

God, we need help...

Grandma Update #2

Further to this update, my Grandma Scott is not doing well. Her condition seemed to be improving, but she's not so well now. 3 of my brothers went with my Dad to see her this past weekend. I talked to my eldest brother, Paul, and he was very glad that he had taken the time to go and see her. Unfortunately, Grandma is very up and down and frequently in a lot of pain. It seems like she is slipping away. My mom left for Vancouver tonight to catch a plane tomorrow from Vancouver to Alberta. Thanks for continuing to pray.

I'm Proud...

of my niece Samantha! I love her. She is someone who is passionate, kind, loud, loving (and a bit kooky at times :)) One thing she is not though is apathetic!!

I opened my newspaper to read this today...

A Comox Valley teenager is using chocolate bars and bracelets to do her part to stop the scourge of slavery.

Samantha Millar, a 16-year-old Courtenay girl, sprung into action when, during a series of sermons on social justice at her church, she found out that there are an estimated 27 million people still in bondage across the globe.

"Basically for every person we see in Canada, that's somebody in slavery," said Millar. "That's impossible to imagine. I think that we've really lost respect for people and people have just become a product.

Way to go, Dolly! I honour you for speaking up for those that can't speak for themselves. You're an inspiration to us old foggies - and the young ones too!

You can read the rest of the story here

I've About Had it.

Here's some of my weapons.

I've been battling a cold for about 10 days now. At times, I've had little to no voice, a fever, a bad hacking cough, etc. Right now, the dry cough is driving me batty at night - 4 to 5 hours of interrupted sleep. Last night, I took Nyquil and Buckleys before bed.(not sure about the med mixing there) I actually slept sitting up on the couch to try to stop the hacking. The night before, Naomi G had suggested another thing I hadn't heard of before. Shanda rubbed my feet with Vicks Rub (gobs of it) and then I put my socks on and went to bed - on top of Buckleys and a humidifier going.

I've been missing Fit for Life excercise and I'm not happy about that either!
I'm going to the doc tomorrow to see what (or if) else I can do.

SSM = Polygamy now?

OTTAWA, VANCOUVER — Same-sex marriage (SSM), they said, would be the slippery slope to polygamy.

Just a few short years after Canadians engaged in a caustic debate over whether two men, or two women, should be allowed to marry, the prognosticators will find out if they are vindicated - however unhappily.

The lawyer for Winston Blackmore (pictured), the man with 19 wives in the B.C. religious community of Bountiful who is to appear in court today on polygamy charges, says he will cite Canada's gay-marriage laws as part of his defence.

It's an argument that people on both sides of the same-sex marriage fight were expecting: If same-sex marriage is justified under Charter rights to equality, then polygamy is justified under the Charter's protection of religious freedom.

Find the rest here

Some scholars feel that this will not fly as a defence. I'm not so sure. The Charter has been used effectively to allow SSM on the basis of equality. It will be interesting to say the least. The challenging part of this defence for Canada (if it succeeds) is that it will probably embolden Muslims who want to invoke Sharia law (multiple wives, easy divorce, minimize women's rights, etc.). They might then be able to do it under the protection of religious expression. Canada was founded upon and open to various people fleeing religious persecution - Mennonites, Duokobours, Huguenots, etc. Are we willing to now accept Mormon or Muslim law as equal with civil law in Canada?

"If my people..." God help us.