CTV.ca | Many Canadians don't believe in a god: poll

I found this article interesting, especially since it affirms over 70% do believe in a god. Most interesting quote:

A study quoted by Statistics Canada in 2006, found "adult Canadians attach a higher degree of importance to religion than religious attendance figures alone would indicate.''

Translation: Church sucks. If we actually acted like this stuff was important, instead of simply carrying on religious traditions handed down by our forefathers, many more people would probably be attracted to the message of Jesus.

Biker killer finds God

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2008/05/27/5678831-sun.html

A Bandido biker who killed a member of the Hells Angels found God after the shooting and is hoping to only do a year or two in jail.

"I started reading the Bible daily and asked the Lord to come into my life. I have read the Bible from start to finish," Francesco "Cisco" Lenti told Justice Michael Brown in Newmarket court yesterday at his sentencing hearing.

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the shooting of Hells Angels sergeant-at-arms David (White Dread) Buchanan

The sayings of Olivia volume 1 - Narnia!

It was inevitable. First Lukas started his 'sayings', then Sylas, and now the athensBLOG is proud to launch the very first "Sayings of Olivia"!

The other day we took all the kids and Cookie to see Prince Caspian. At the triumphant scene where Lucy finally sees Aslan Oliva gasped in anticipation:

Olivia: Look mommy
Mommy: Yes, it's Aslan
Olivia: No...it's a Lion that can talk! Wow.

Video of the week - The answer to homelessness (no joke)

Got this in an email this morning - here - is the answer to homelessness

Why are all Toronto ghetto's called "Park"?

There is an interesting phenomenon here in Toronto where all the lowest income and run-down neighbourhoods have the word "park" in them. Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Regent Park, Moss Park etc. Recently I found this interesting article - here - that gave some explanation and documented the history of Toronto's high rise glory:

I am intrigued by the history of Toronto's development and growth. Toronto is indeed a city of towers, sometimes in the most unexpected locales...Some 50 years ago, Canada's first planned community was built. The Don Mills development...

The 60's saw a boom in tower construction. In the 'burbs, the typical land requirements allowing for up to 60% of the property to be green - essentially parkland. The result was tower developments "in parks" suited for the middle class. Developments such as Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, Bathurst and Steeles, northern Keele and Jane St, the Peanut and Crescent Town went up at a dizzying pace...Developments such as Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, Bathurst and Steeles, northern Keele and Jane St, the Peanut and Crescent Town went up at a dizzying pace.

So there you have it, way back in the 60's Toronto was already thinking 'green'. Three cheers for ghetto's named "Park"!

Thorncliffe teens united by war-torn past

Monday's Toronto Star had a great article - here - about Thorncliffe teens that are helping each other overcome the wars they have experienced back in their home countries:

Jerry Gezaw and Assumpta Muhimpundu met not too long ago at Marc Garneau Collegiate in Thorncliffe Park and now they finish each other's sentences, go to movies together and share secrets.

When they aren't helping each other forget the wars they grew up with, that is...

At Marc Garneau, they and five other kids, from Afghanistan and the Philippines, became a team helping each other adjust to Canada. "We watch movies, play volleyball and scream around," says Muhimpundu, who arrived here three years ago.

Video of the week - Sylas hiding spot

Sylas is the king of hide-and-seek:

Thorncliffe map

Found this great interactive map of Thorncliffe. I can't post the image here so click here to see it

My new favorite song - Do you know what you're getting yourself into?

This song came up as my MP3s were shuffling and as I listened I thought I'd blog it with a few comments. I really believe most Christians do barely anything for God because of fear. They are afraid to really let go and abandon themselves to God. Think about it. That's what kept the Israelites from taking the land, when Joshua & Caleb said God could do it. That's what kept the army paralyzed, when David stepped up to kill Goliath. That's what has probably kept you where you are right now instead of following your dreams and stepping out in faith and trusting God.

Fear - 2 Tim 1:7 - God has not given us a spirit of fear!
Trust God! Stop being scared! Make up your mind! Get into the battle! Step out on faith! It's not easy. It's worth it.

Video of the week - Dave the friendly Goth

Pastor Smith shows us how to behave when a strange person shows up at church. While the content is provocative Pastor Smith is warm and loving in the way he engages Dave, the friendly Goth:

Amazing historical piece on Thorncliffe

This article from ERA architects and the "Tower renewal project" documents some of the original designs and pictures from Thorncliffe Park.

Thorncliffe Park was a bold 1950s plan by the Town of Leaside to redevelop a former racetrack overlooking the Don River. Conceived in 1955 it was proposed to be the first apartment neighbourhood in Canada...The apartment towers themselves were the peak of modernity, for the first time offering panoramic views of the city, underground parking, indoor pools and other amenities unthinkable before the War. In something of a ‘Jetsons’ aesthetic, Thorncliffe’s modern towers were a symbol of a prosperous and confident nation after the war...

...Today the area one of the City’s most prominent immigrant reception zones. It is home to Canada’s largest Islamic community and is one of North America’s most diverse neighbourhoods, with a vibrancy and street life usually found in the central city

Check out the full article here

Early church quotes - volume 2

Fellow blogger Lon posted a great early church quote - here:

It is the Christians, O Emperor, who have sought and found the truth, for they acknowledge God. They do not keep for themselves the goods entrusted to them. They do not covet what belongs to others. They show love to their neighbors. They do not do another what they would not wish to have done to themselves. They speak gently to those who oppress them, and in this way they make them their friends.

It has become their passion to do good to their enemies. They live in the awareness of their smallness. Every one of them who has anything gives ungrudgingly to the one who has nothing. If they see a traveling stranger, they bring him under their roof. They rejoice over him as over a real brother, for they do not call one another brothers after the flesh, but they know they are brothers in the Spirit and in God.

If they hear that one of them is imprisoned or oppressed for the sake of Christ, they take care of all his needs. If possible they set him free. If anyone among them is poor or comes into want while htey themselves have nothing to spare, they fast two or three days for him. In this way they can supply any poor man with the food he needs. This, O Emperor, is the rule of life of the Christians, and this is their manner of life.

- Aristides 137 AD.

How to get aid to Myanmar

While many aid organizations are attempting unsuccessfully to get into Myanmar to deliver relief, the Salvation Army is already working hard in this ravaged country! A recent press release - here - details the relief effort and how Canadians can help:

The Salvation Army in Myanmar continues to respond to the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis...Any public donations received by The Salvation Army that are specified to the Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund will also be directly allocated to the relief effort in addition to this initial $50,000...The Salvation Army’s efforts continue in Myanmar as cooked meals and water are provided to the public. At two specific Army locations, clean well water is being pumped for those in need.

**The Salvation Army began its work in Myanmar (then Burma) in 1915 and now includes over 40 ministry units, children’s homes shared farms, pig loan programs, 60 well projects to deliver clean water, education and tuition programs as well as several health clinics**

Please support The Salvation Army’s relief effort in Myanmar. Financial contributions can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by visiting our website, www.SalvationArmy.ca, by mailing donations to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4, or dropping off financial donations at the closest Salvation Army unit in your area. Donors should specify their gift to the Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund.

Please consider a gift to the Salvation Army today

Lego Bible - Temple

...the true name of the most famous building endeavor from the reign of King Solomon is The Temple of Yahweh. And in this week's update of the Brick Testament - here, the world can finally behold this most sacred of ancient monuments in perhaps its most beautiful form, rendered entirely out of LEGO bricks, inside and out.

The sayings of Sylas v15 - Mustard

The other day we were eating hot dogs when Sylas and Lukas started talking

Lukas: So Sylas, do you like mustard?
Sylas: No, it tastes like mushed birds!

Walking Thorncliffe Park

For the past 2 years an initiative called Jane's walk has encouraged people to walk through the less desirable areas of Toronto. Thorncliffe Park is on the list and a recent walker has an excellent article about our sweet neighbourhood!

http://spacing.ca/wire/2008/05/08/walking-thorncliffe-park/

As I noted earlier, Thorncliffe Park is built in a “U” shape with a series of tall and mid-sized towers wrapping around a series of amenities in the middle - the East York Town Centre mall, an elementary school, and a park. Connections can be made both along the “U” of Thorncliffe Park Drive, and through a pair of pedestrian pathways crossing each other in the middle of the “U”. The elementary school, located right behind the mall, has 1,900 students, making it the largest elementary school in North America....

Although Thorncliffe Park is reasonably coherent in terms of internal walking, it remains desperately isolated from the rest of the city

Read the rest of the article and see pictures here

Thorncliffe mall rules!

Found this story about our local mall the East York Town Center:

the mall is more community-driven than most. There’s a surprising amount of independent local retailers here. Surprising because many malls are booting out such retailers, many of which cater to the various ethnic communities living around the mall.

As soon as I enter, I pick up the community vibe. The food court, for one, is in the centre of the mall slightly to one side instead of being tucked away in some dark dingy dungeon-like corner.

To read the entire article click here

Video of the week - Anime Jesus!

Some of you may have seen the new comic Bible titled Manga Messiah. Recently a group connected with the Jesus Film started putting together an anime movie titled "Who is he". The first scenes look pretty awesome! Check it out - here - and then let them know what you think at http://en.whoishe.org:

Four Cooks in the Kitchen!!

I'm happy to report the birth of a brand new cook!! Asha Cook is here