We Ski for Free

Well, it's been four years since my last Ski attempt, and yesterday I tried again. Dad's company puts on a ski day every year, but I haven't been around since the year Dakota came, so it's been a while. Did I mention that this was only the 3rd or 4th time I've ever been on downhill sticks? And as such, our family has switched to snowblades, we finds it fits our clumsiness far better! But for all my un-co-ness, I did my best skiing ever, and have only one really good bruise on my left rear.
I feel like this has been one of my most Canadian winters ever! I made it out sledding a half dozen times, skated twice, went skiing, and rediscovered pure maple syrup as the secret ingredient of everything!

Tag

My dear friend Jen tagged me in I dunno-what-kinda tag. And I'm not really sure why I have the impulse to take on the torch being "it", but I am being "it". Therefore I will now quote to you the 5th, 6th and 7th sentences of Page 123, of the nearest book, which happens to be "Help: My Kids Are Hurting." I should reiterate that I'm currently a youth pastor, which makes the book choice seem a little less, from left field. Question: where is the number 4?

In a 1993 survey conducted by the YWCA of Indianapolis at the Indiana Juvenile Correctional Facility -

• 141 of 150 female offenders had experienced at least one painful loss prior to incarceration.
• a 2003 update of the survey found the 99% of those surveyed had experienced multiple losses prior to incarceration.

And those are the facts about grief and loss I guess! So I've played my part, and now I tag Chantal, Mia, and Lindsey. If you're reading - you're "it"!

Reuben n Greene

I suppose I should mention that the GP Youth had the privilege of seeing John Reuben and Veteran Green, not once, but twice last week! I love the chance to lose my dignity, get a little sweaty and act like I know hip-hop! They were 2 great shows, and whoever didn't come - missed out!

The Jesus of The Shack

Our high school Girl's group is working through William P. Young's The Shack, which seems to be the "it" book of the season. It has been hyped to be the Pilgrim's Progress of this generation, and I'm anxious to know it's greatness.
This week, Megan's many accents led us into what seems the beginning of the real action. And we met God, in three persons. I won't get into the details, why ruin the suspense, instead I want to take you to a quote that has rocked my thoughts, God the Father is in conversation with Mack, the main character. And as Mack tries to make sense of God's identity and God as trinity, (somewhat heady topics, eh?), God challenges the assumptions Mack might have about Jesus. And apparently assumptions that I do hold. The quote is a bit long, but stick with it.

"When we three spoke ourself into human existence as the Son of God, we became fully human. We also chose to embrace all the limitations that this entailed. Even though we have always been present in this created universe, we now became flesh and blood. It would be like this bird, whose nature is to fly, choosing only to walk and remain grounded. He doesn't stop being the bird, but it does alter his experience of life significantly.

..."Although by nature he is fully God, Jesus is fully human and lives as such. While never losing the innate ability to fly, he chooses moment-by-moment to remain grounded. That is why his name is Immanuel, God with us, or God with you, to be more precise."

"But what about all the miracles? The healings? Raising people from the dead? Doesn't that prove that Jesus was God - you know, more than human?"

"No, it proves that Jesus is truly human."

"What?"

"Mackenzie, I can fly, but humans can't. Jesus is fully human. Although he is also fully God, he has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out of his relationship with me, living in the very same manner that I desire to be in relationship with every human being. He is just the first to do it to the uttermost - the first to absolutely trust my life within him, the first to believe in my love and goodness without regard for appearance or consequence."

"So, when he healed the blind?"

"He did so as a dependant, limited human being trusting in my life and power to be at work within him and through him. Jesus, as a human being, had no power within himself to heal anyone.

..."Only as he rested in his relationship with me, and in our communion - our co-union - could he express my heart and will into any circumstance. So, when you look at Jesus and it appears that he's flying, he really is...flying. But what you are actually seeing is me; my life in him. That's how he lives and acts as a true human, how every human is designed to live - out of my life." (Pg. 99-100)

There's more, but I'm sure this is all you'll get to in one read. Even my concentration is slipping into the fuzzy recesses of my mind. What a quote! If this is true, I need to read my gospels again with new eyes.

Bad Blogger

I've become a bad blogger. Sorry. It's been a long time since I've graced this page with new words. Well in this moment I'm putting off heading to work, don't worry, I'll go in a minute. Life is good. Mr. John Reuben is here tomorrow night - should be a great show! We've been looking forward to this for quite a while - I hope a ton of kids come out! Guess I'm gonna have to put my hip-hop on.
And then even more than that, Friday morning we're all heading to Calgary for Emerge - ABC's youth conference. I haven't been to Cowtown in 2 years, and I'm excited. Of course this time I'm responsible for the well-being of almost 20 kiddos. Yikes! If you're out there, I'd appreciate your prayers for our safety and for the weekend to have a lasting effect.
Well, starting the car and heading in the direction of the Work can only be avoided for so long.