Monthly Archives: June 2004

June 13, 2004 · 8:41 am

Trouble Abrewing?

Just as we are preparing to leave for the Congo, trouble breaks out there again.  Rumors of an attempted coup.  Fighting in Bukavu and the UN support people pulled out of Kinshasa after rioting. 

Still I have a strong sense that God is taking me back there.  The trouble is far from Equateur province.  But we had planned to travel down to and leave the country by Kinshasa.  That is where the girls have birthfamily.  It is the only part of the trip I am nervous about.  Not sure what will happen.  Changing our tickets would also involve getting another visa for RCA since we are transiting to the Congo from there on a single entry visa.  There is no time left to apply here for a change of visa.

I need really clear guidance about this part of the trip.  Writing in the sky would be acceptable! 

Seriously, I would appreciate prayers.

Comments Off on Trouble Abrewing?

Filed under Africa

June 11, 2004 · 1:43 pm

A Quote

Over at Whiskey River there is a quote on prayer and silence from Soren Kierkegaard.  Thought I’d pass it on to you. 

Moments of solitude are precious.  Waiting on God to speak to us.  We need those times.

Comments Off on A Quote

Filed under Quotes

June 10, 2004 · 11:30 pm

It's Grad Time Again

Tonight we went over to the beginning of the grad exercises for Christian.  It all begins with mass over at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.  Christian was one of the candle bearers for the altar candles for the Eucharist.  Kind of a big event.  As you can see the Bishop and three other priests performed the mass. 

Everyone was glad by the time the evening was over.  They think the gowns are way too hot.  It was pouring rain after the mass so the traditional class picture on the steps of the cathedral had to be cancelled.  It will be taken tomorrow in the commons area of the school instead – unless it is very sunny in the morning.  The grads were glad one step in the process is done.

Tomorrow the grad exercises – supper with friends – Grand March – party!

 

Comments Off on It's Grad Time Again

Filed under Day to Day

June 9, 2004 · 7:48 pm

Reasonable, rational, definately not fanatics!

Pentecost Sunday is not far behind us. Trinity Sunday was another reminder of the part of the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.   Maggie Dawn linked to emergent kiwi who sounds like he had a real fire blazing down in NZ on Pentecost Evening.  Aside from the neat pyrotechnics which he devised, I really liked his story of Pentecost and what it needs to mean to us.  How we all have the Spirit available to us and need to be empowered by Him.

And Randall wonders if part of the discontent of “postmodern” with the “moderns” is the lack of believing in a God of power.  I think that there is a lot to that idea.  There was a lot of emphasis on knowing a rational God, proving his existence by all sorts of wonderful archeological discoveries and using mathematical probabilities(which to an anti- mathematician don’t come across as impressive, just confusing).  We didn’t speak much of God really moving among us in power.  We were above all not “fanatics”.  We were reasonable people with a rational faith.

So those of us growing up in these kinds of churches did not learn a lot about the power of the Spirit of God that was available to us.  When we saw glimpses of His power we were awed but I think we were also taught to be cautious and sceptical( I guess this fits rational people) so we did not dare presume that this power was something that God might want us to experience.  So we did not ask.  And of course if you do not ask …

So if postmoderns are opening us up to the realization that our God is a God of power, if we are beginning to talk about and experience the power of the Holy Spirit and if ordinary people like me are beginning to ask…  Jesus said that if we ask we will be given, so if the church is beginning to ask – who knows what the future will have in store for it.  I think that as we experience God’s power through the Holy Spirit then we can begin to witness – can’t tell much about what we don’t know; can’t show much on the outside if we don’t have anything on the inside. 

Comments Off on Reasonable, rational, definately not fanatics!

Filed under Worship events

June 8, 2004 · 7:38 am

Calling and Vocation

I have been reading a very practical book on Christian spirituality.  And I would recommend it to anyone who wants to grow in spiritual maturity.  For the most part it is a guide on returning to the basics of the Christian life in order to grow in personal spiritual health and life.

From On The Way by Gordon T. Smith, pp90 to 92 from his chapter on Vocation and Christian Service

“… this also means we affirm that work in the world is a vital expression and element of a Christian spirituality… ”

“And for the lay  person who is called to be a dentist or a banker, the actual work in the bank or the dentist office is good work, and we must not think that such people use their time better if they are also involved in teaching a Sunday School class, that they are more spiritual people if they are actively involved in their local church.  Indeed, it may well be the case that if a dentist neglects her practice while serving the church, she is not faithful to the work to which she is called…”

“…in this affirmation of work we also need to affirm and celebrate the work of those who make a house a home and in so doing raise children and spend their days responding to the needs of children.  The work of a homemaker is not second-class work to those who have a career in the world.  Indeed, Proverbs 31 celebrates equally the person who is a domestic as much as the one who is a merchant buying and selling in the marketplace.” 

“…we can see our work as a way in which we live under the kingdom reign of Christ and celebrate, through good times and difficult times, the reality that God is bringing His kingdom purposes into the world.  The whole of our lives is lived in light of His kingdom, and this means that we no longer view parts of our lives as more sacred than other parts, but that all that we are – including our work – is lived under the kingdom reign of Jesus Christ.”

Maybe I just liked the reference to the dentist.  Not really but it fits.  I found most helpful the fact that our work, whatever it is, is part of what God has called us to do on this earth and that it is as sacred as anything that we do.

Comments Off on Calling and Vocation

Filed under Books and Articles

June 6, 2004 · 11:30 pm

Unexpected events

Lots of stuff went on today for me.  Some I didn’t expect at all.  In fact I am still not sure how to process in my mind everything that happened. 

First thing – at church this morning – the women’s group usually has something to honor the graduates from various post-secondary programs and from High School.  Christian is graduating this next weekend so I was expecting that recognition for him. 

But then the women also have these recognition awards for women that have contributed in some special way.  They called me up and presented me with this award.  I was the last person to expect to get one of these.  You see, I don’t participate much in the women’s activities.  It seems they are mostly doing stuff that doesn’t pertain to me.  The last thing I want to do or have time to do is go to a meeting in the evening after a busy day at work.  And usually I am too busy driving my kids around anyway.  So if I am going to use up an evening, I need it to be important.  Serious Bible study I would consider important, taking time to work on friendships I would consider important but not business meetings to run another program or fluffy devotionals or arts and crafty sorts of evenings.  Sorry, but I am fussy about how I spend my time.  And if I use up my one or two evenings that I save for myself during the week doing stuff with the women’s group then I don’t have time to take a friend out for coffee or be on the deaconate or spend time reading and studying good books with the group of us women who have been meeting to do this. 

I guess these are all activities I tend to do with women but they are not part of the church women’s organized program.  I need to do these things to share with other women what is going on in my life and to share what God is doing.  I need to be challenged both in my faith and my intellect.  I need to meet with other women who will do that.  We are friends and we care about and share our needs and our hopes and prayers for each other.  So we meet and we laugh and we are learning to love each other.  And we can depend on each other for things like prayer. 

Our denomination’s women’s ministries are changing, I know.  Maybe someday we will find our way to fit into the structure in some sort of loose knit way.  Right now I don’t know where I or the group I meet with fit in.   

I love the women of the church who seem to thrive on participating in the women’s group.  They do such marvellous things with their fund raising and doing things.  They are always ready to help out when a project needs to be taken care of.   But that kind of busyness just isn’t what I need to bring me closer to the God I want to know more intimately.  I think he’s sending me out further.  I need to keep the connection to them but they also need to let me fly a bit more freely out there where I can go to places far away and sometimes connect to people way far away from God.  But I need to know that there is this home base too – kind of a nest.  Women who do some of the practical things I just can’t do for whatever reason.  We need to keep exploring new ways to interconnect even though we are different.

The next thing that was a bit unexpected was a phone call after getting home from church.  It seems like God just keeps on providing what I need to get for the trip to the Congo.  He is very good.  Reminds me a bit of an old chorus I used to sing as a kid,

 “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth in every mine.  
  He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, the sun and the stars that shine. 
  Wonderful riches more than tongue can tell, He is my father so they’re mine as well.  
  Oh he owns the cattle on a thousand hills, I know that he will care for me.”

Comments Off on Unexpected events

Filed under Dealing with stuff

June 6, 2004 · 11:11 pm

New pictures

… have been added to the gallery.  I am getting used to the new software for downloading them from the camera.  I think it is going to work out OK.  Got to get some practice before the big trip.

Comments Off on New pictures

Filed under Day to Day

June 6, 2004 · 9:20 pm

Yesterday

Today it has been raining all day but yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day.  In the morning, I was our on the deck on my porch swing looking up into the bluest sky.  You could see forever with not even a wisp of cloud.  The trees are becoming such a vivid green after the rain of a few days ago.  And overhead – a huge pelican high above – white wings with black tips moving freely across the sky. 

In the late afternoon we had our annual church slowpitch/barbecue.  I went to watch some of the game knowing that I couldn’t go to the barbecue.  Then since I was covering dental call for the city – I got the only call of the whole weekend just after I got there so didn’t even get to stay and cheer the old timers on to victory.  Not sure who won. 

In the evening we had a farewell barbecue for a staff member of mine.  She’s been my assistant for about 7 years and now they are moving out of the city.  This was the only weekend we could hold the farewell before I leave.  It turned out to be a beautiful evening.  And of course the TV was moved out to the deck so no one would miss the Calgary / Tampa Bay game.

I took along my new camera to the days events and am hoping to get some pictures posted here as soon as I am done my chauffeuring duties for the evening.

And the rain today will make a big difference to the land which was becoming too dry.  So it is very much appreciated if not actually “enjoyed”.

Comments Off on Yesterday

Filed under Day to Day

June 4, 2004 · 10:24 pm

This will be the last …

This week seems to be a week of “lasts”.  Last sedation day till fall.  Last day at the school program today. Yesterday the last day of classes for my high school kids. The last Friday coffee at the Bison. And only 5 more working days till I leave. 

Our visa’s came today.  All in order.  One more detail in place. 

I have always had this recurring dream that I get before a big trip.  In the dream I am desperately putting things into a suitcase and rushing, rushing to get to the airport.  Just get there to see the plane(or bus, or some vehicle) taking off without me.  It hasn’t come this time.  Either it has been too long since I travelled like this or someone is giving me an extra sense of peacefulness about this one.

It is stressful in some ways getting ready.  I am not a good organizer so that part just making sure I have taken care of the details is always stressful to me.  On all our trips before I pretty much took care of the packing and Leo did the administrative details like tickets and visa’s.  I am doing most of it this time.  Not that Leo hasn’t been around to help, but he hasn’t taken over like he would if we were going together.  So I could really be panicked.  But there is an incredible sense of this trip being exactly right, of God moving to see that it takes place right now. 

There is also a different sense about this trip.  I am not sure how to pin down the difference but it is a bit like God has something up his sleeve if he has sleeves.  As if he is moving things around me to accomplish some purpose.  I am not going to accomplish some great plan of my own.   I am just going to help and to encourage and to renew friendships.  I have plans to do some upgrading of the dental personnel but other than that I don’t have a big agenda of my own.  And this is the scariest part of the whole thing because I am not sure exactly what God wants of me.  So in some ways I’m saying OK, God I will try and fit into whatever plans you have for us.  You take control and help me to listen for directions from you.”  It is a bit of a vulnerable feeling but good at the same time.

It’s hard to believe that in two weeks we will either be languishing in the airport in Paris or gazing up at the Eiffel Tower waiting till the evening flight down to Africa.

 

Comments Off on This will be the last …

Filed under Africa

June 2, 2004 · 11:50 pm

Busy, busy, busy

Last sedation day today before the summer break.  All of today’s kids were great.  It was a good day, but busy with a few extra emergencies thrown in. 

Just have a wee bit to finish up on another seminar.  Will finish that up tomorrow. 

Sara had her first soccer game this evening.  The last games in Regina were rained out.  I guess they will have to make them up sometime.  The girls won tonight against Aurora from Saskatoon.  Think the score was 4 – 2.  I had to go to this one.  It is probably the only one I will get to watch before leaving for the Congo.  There is just too much to do as far as packing and everything to take the 2 hours in the evening right now. 

Oh, am I ever beginning to feel the pressure before the trip.  So much to do. 

Comments Off on Busy, busy, busy

Filed under Day to Day