On Sunday, I am going to the third baby shower in as many months. It's for the daughter of a good friend of mine, and it's also her third child. Yes, sometimes things come in threes.
Lately I have been feeling more excited and enthuasiastic about being surrounded by children, and being considered an "Auntie." This is the closest I have ever felt to any sort of maternal instinct. You can have a lot of impact on a child's life without being a parent. And you can have a legacy without having children.
Strangely though, recently I have developed a huge longing for a cat. This frightens me somewhat. I guess I don't want to fall into the stereotype of the single, childless cat woman.
However, there are probably worse things to be.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Missions Fest 2007
We just completed our fourth Missions Fest. As always, it was our biggest outreach event of the year. We had some very interesting conversations with enthusiastic people who approached our information table and wanted to know more about the ministry.
I ran into a whole lot of people I haven't seen in ages. There was Naomi, a friend from high school who was at the Canadian Bible Society table. Rene, one of the first friends I made after becoming involved with the Messianic movement, is now with Chosen People Ministries, married, and the father of a young daughter. Brenda, from the women's Bible study I used to attend, was there with her family. My ex-fiance's brother, caught up with me and filled me in on developments in his family. Carlo, a volunteer at a newspaper where I used to work, came over to say hello. A representative from the Mustard Seed, an inner city pastoral ministry, knew me from my work with an inner city community newspaper.
We had many people more recent to the congregation help out at the table, which was just great. Enthusiasm abounded. I caught the tail end of a seminar aimed at single people, which was led by a senior woman who had never married. Someone asked her how she knew it was G-d's will for her to remain single. Her answer was simple. It just never happened. And she was satisfied with that. She expected to be married, but it never happened. Circumstances, and peace with that situation, seem to be key.
I ran into a whole lot of people I haven't seen in ages. There was Naomi, a friend from high school who was at the Canadian Bible Society table. Rene, one of the first friends I made after becoming involved with the Messianic movement, is now with Chosen People Ministries, married, and the father of a young daughter. Brenda, from the women's Bible study I used to attend, was there with her family. My ex-fiance's brother, caught up with me and filled me in on developments in his family. Carlo, a volunteer at a newspaper where I used to work, came over to say hello. A representative from the Mustard Seed, an inner city pastoral ministry, knew me from my work with an inner city community newspaper.
We had many people more recent to the congregation help out at the table, which was just great. Enthusiasm abounded. I caught the tail end of a seminar aimed at single people, which was led by a senior woman who had never married. Someone asked her how she knew it was G-d's will for her to remain single. Her answer was simple. It just never happened. And she was satisfied with that. She expected to be married, but it never happened. Circumstances, and peace with that situation, seem to be key.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I Am A Hypocrite
I had an interesting conversation with a non-religious friend of mine the other day. She felt that I am a hypocrite because I do not always follow the teachings of my faith to the letter. Sometimes when I mess up I fess up, and other times I keep it quiet and repent on my own, and sometimes I make personal choices based upon my understanding and interpretations of Scripture and our customs, some of which may differ from what others of the same faith may do under similar circumstances.
It's a really common misconception people have of religion, that if you are not following every rule that somehow you're a hypocrite. Thatis basically what she said -- if I have a religion, I should follow the religion. But that is not what true faith is about. Ours is a faith of grace and love. We're all imperfect people and we are going to make mistakes. As well, it is absolutely impossible to keep all the commandments, all of the time. That is why we have Yom Kippur, to atone for our sin, and why we are covered by the blood and grace of Yeshua, to forgive us of that sin.
Sin is a private matter, like faith can be. When we sin, we don't have to make a proclamation at the front of the Sanctuary. Some of us have accountability partners, and what we tell them stays between the two of us (or, it should anyways. And if it becomes church gossip you might want to consider finding another accountability partner). And even when our choices are not necessarily sinful, just personal, I don't think we're necessarily under an obligation to tell our pastor, elders, and church body everything going on in our lives. You would not tell all of your friends everything going on -- why would you tell your congregation?
If that makes me a hypocrite, then so be it. It's not the worst thing I have ever been called.
It's a really common misconception people have of religion, that if you are not following every rule that somehow you're a hypocrite. Thatis basically what she said -- if I have a religion, I should follow the religion. But that is not what true faith is about. Ours is a faith of grace and love. We're all imperfect people and we are going to make mistakes. As well, it is absolutely impossible to keep all the commandments, all of the time. That is why we have Yom Kippur, to atone for our sin, and why we are covered by the blood and grace of Yeshua, to forgive us of that sin.
Sin is a private matter, like faith can be. When we sin, we don't have to make a proclamation at the front of the Sanctuary. Some of us have accountability partners, and what we tell them stays between the two of us (or, it should anyways. And if it becomes church gossip you might want to consider finding another accountability partner). And even when our choices are not necessarily sinful, just personal, I don't think we're necessarily under an obligation to tell our pastor, elders, and church body everything going on in our lives. You would not tell all of your friends everything going on -- why would you tell your congregation?
If that makes me a hypocrite, then so be it. It's not the worst thing I have ever been called.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Power For The People
I spent the past weekend at the Parkland Institute's tenth annual fall conference, entitled Power for the People: Determining Our Energy Future. The Parkland Institute is located on the University of Alberta campus, and examines issues of public policy from a progressive perspective, particularly healthcare, energy, water, the environment, and other current events.
The theme of the conference this year was very specific, which surprised me considering it is Parkland's tenth anniversary. However, energy is a very big topic especially here in Alberta, which is experiencing an oil and gas boom. I was one of the conference's official photographers. After one of the plenary sessions I was taken aside by a conference organizer, who said someone had complained that the cameras flashing was driving them crazy. We (there were two other photographers) toned it down after that, but I have to say this was the first time I have ever been reprimanded for flashing in public. Hardy har har.
Ahem. Back to the conference. One session featured people who have lived and worked in Fort McMurray, speaking about the changes that have happened over there in terms of living and work conditions. It's a boom town for sure, with all the drug problems and violence to go with it. Too much testosterone in one place, dangerous work, and tensions running high. I told one of the organizers they could just as easily do a session on Grande Prairie, which is going through pretty much the same thing right now. Transient worksers from all over Canada rushing there, homelessness from rising housing costs and low vacancy rates, drug problems, environmental damage, the list goes on. Problem with boom towns is that they go bust eventually.
Many of Alberta's energy and environmetal problems stem from the tar sands. Speakers discusses the low quality of tar sand "oil" which is of very poor quality because of the extensive refining process. As well, Canada should get out of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) because we get very little out of it, but are expected to provide oil down south. Is there really any reason why gas prices should be so high right here in Alberta? It's because of exporting. Most Canadians, in fact voted against free trade -- however, the vot was split between NDP and Liberal, and 43% voted Conservative. Which brings up another topic: representational government. Check out Fair Vote Canada for more information.
Reducing our use of cars would help, with solutions such as better public transportation and car pooling collectives. A speaker from Norway talked about what was done in his country, particularly in terms of more stringent regulations of corporations, and a much higher taxation rate (something like 78%) for corporations as well. This got a huge round of applause from the audience.
If consumption continues as it is, I am afraid of what Alberta will be like in 20 years once the boom is over. We have a responsibility as stewards of this earth to be careful and thoughtful of how we use the resources at our disposal.
The theme of the conference this year was very specific, which surprised me considering it is Parkland's tenth anniversary. However, energy is a very big topic especially here in Alberta, which is experiencing an oil and gas boom. I was one of the conference's official photographers. After one of the plenary sessions I was taken aside by a conference organizer, who said someone had complained that the cameras flashing was driving them crazy. We (there were two other photographers) toned it down after that, but I have to say this was the first time I have ever been reprimanded for flashing in public. Hardy har har.
Ahem. Back to the conference. One session featured people who have lived and worked in Fort McMurray, speaking about the changes that have happened over there in terms of living and work conditions. It's a boom town for sure, with all the drug problems and violence to go with it. Too much testosterone in one place, dangerous work, and tensions running high. I told one of the organizers they could just as easily do a session on Grande Prairie, which is going through pretty much the same thing right now. Transient worksers from all over Canada rushing there, homelessness from rising housing costs and low vacancy rates, drug problems, environmental damage, the list goes on. Problem with boom towns is that they go bust eventually.
Many of Alberta's energy and environmetal problems stem from the tar sands. Speakers discusses the low quality of tar sand "oil" which is of very poor quality because of the extensive refining process. As well, Canada should get out of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) because we get very little out of it, but are expected to provide oil down south. Is there really any reason why gas prices should be so high right here in Alberta? It's because of exporting. Most Canadians, in fact voted against free trade -- however, the vot was split between NDP and Liberal, and 43% voted Conservative. Which brings up another topic: representational government. Check out Fair Vote Canada for more information.
Reducing our use of cars would help, with solutions such as better public transportation and car pooling collectives. A speaker from Norway talked about what was done in his country, particularly in terms of more stringent regulations of corporations, and a much higher taxation rate (something like 78%) for corporations as well. This got a huge round of applause from the audience.
If consumption continues as it is, I am afraid of what Alberta will be like in 20 years once the boom is over. We have a responsibility as stewards of this earth to be careful and thoughtful of how we use the resources at our disposal.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Angry Bible
Can one be angry and holy at the same time? Is this some sort of reflection on the judgement and wrath in the Tanach? Very cute guys, very cute . . .
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