The Crux of the matter

Christian Hip-hop pioneer Phil Tremblay (aka Versatile) recently launched his production site Crux productions. Crux has full recording studio facilites ready to serve your musical needs. Aspiring musicians/rapper can record demos or full-length CD's.

Scooter's corner

The Streethoops.ca crew invited our boyz Caleb and Hansen to tell about their experiences in Toronto. Here's the scoop from "scooters corner":

Caleb and Hansen did a wonderful job sharing about their trip to Toronto. A big thanks to them for gettin up in front of all you scary folks... Both guys shared about their encounter their contact with the different religions in Toronto. Both guys agreed that the people in these religions were very serious about their beliefs... and the guys were challenged to be more serious about their own faith.

How many shootings do your youth group kids see?

Tonight Clayon came over. He's one of our youth group kids. He's on March break and after hangin at our place, I was drove him home. When I pulled up to his house to drop him off he stalled getting out of the car, as usual, so we could talk longer. It's nice getting one on one time with these guys. But tonight was different. As we were sitting there he pointed to the convenience store within a stones throw of his house and he got all excited and said "yo, did you see the news about the shooting here yesterday?" I said I hadn't, and so we went over and saw the scene of the crime, a little dry cleaners in the corner of the strip mall. Clayon lives in the closest house to the shooting. He told me about when the police came and the canine unit walking over his lawn looking for the suspect. It made me wonder what it would do to someone to experience that. And not just to experience it once.

Here are the newspaper articles:
1. 680 news
2. Toronto Star article:

TORONTO STAR STAFF - Shop owner hurt in shooting...Police are hunting for a gunman who walked into a Scarborough dry cleaner's around noon yesterday and fired a single shot at the owner...
Officers brought in the canine unit and fanned out around the small plaza on Victoria Park Ave., just north of Finch Ave. E., looking for any sign of the gunman or a weapon...
Jilessen said the owner has a wife and daughter who sometimes help out at the store.

The full text of the articles are on the forum.

This isn't like an "out of the blue" thing either. I remember last year when another teen, who lives near Clayon came over telling us about a lady who had cut off another ladies hand just down the street from her. She was recently sentenced:

Machete attacker jailed:

Tensions had been building between the two neighbours, who lived on Chester Le Boulevard, near Victoria Park and Finch Avenues. The woman was under a court order to have no contact with Monast after being charged the previous year with assault with a weapon for injuring her with a tossed beer bottle, court heard...
On the day of the machete attack, Monast awoke from a nap and noticed her door was open. She closed it, but a few minutes later the attacker was running at her, swinging a machete at her head, the judge said...
Monast tried to protect herself by raising her hands, the judge said. At least two significant swings aimed at her head and neck hit home, he said...
The first cut the side of her face and severed her left hand, leaving it hanging, court heard...
When Monast ran behind the basement door, the woman hacked at it with the machete, the judge said. Things quieted down, so Monast emerged from the basement, but the attacker came after her again, severing her right hand...
The attack only ended when Monast collapsed on the floor, believing the attacker wouldn’t leave her alone until she thought she had killed her.

Again, back to my original questions. How many times have things like this happened near your youth group kids? How do you deal with that level of emotional trauma? What would it be like to experience things like this on a regular basis? How can we expect to reach kids like this with games or a devotional or one hour on Sunday? What does an "inner-city" church look like and where are the resources for folks who work in these areas? Lord, we need your help.

The Lazy blogger...

Liz states:

and yes, i promised that i would talk about the Cuthills and Toronto, but I can't right now, mainly because of two things. 1, I'm too tired. 2, I don't have enough time. Isn't that interesting how I can have enough time to write out a short post, yet not have time to write out a slightly longer one?

Matt & Gina, together forever

My good buddy Matt Lynch got married March 19th, 2005 to the lovely Gina O'Donnell. Best wishes to the young couple for a life of endless happiness and covenant theology debates :)

Darby Sheen

Ok, this is one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. Cam found a picture of John Darby, and put it next to a picture of Charlie Sheen. I must have laughed for 10 minutes when I saw this

New Uplook site online

Found Uplooks new site today. Check it out - www.uplook.org

Drums in the assembly?

Take a read of Dave the Aussies blog - HERE - to hear how he effectively did what we are talking about on the forum, namely putting old hymns to moden music! Dave attends a plymouth brethren assembly in Australia (Sydney):

I think the highlight of my weekend would have been today... As a Christian Assembly (generically Plymouth Bretheren) music at our church is very conservative. Usually old songs, written before I was born. Recently the older people in our church have been working hard and we have been getting music around the 1980's at church. We've always only had a single piano with a violin being added in the last six months or so...today...Jesse played Drums in front of 200 people..."Grace of God" that the general reaction was good. As in most conservative churches there are people who don't think too highly of the drums and we were really worried that we would offend. So far no comment, actually one more conservative brother approached Ranen and gave him positive feedback Smile
..In some respects it is a reason why we picked a song with such good lyrics ( The old "solid rock hymn" we played with a modern tune)...I think by the end of it most people were comfortable with it and I think it opens the door for the future where we can play praise God through music in a modern way without distracting or compromising true worship Smile

Good idea? Bad idea? Click & comment

Dream? Or nightmare?

Bill Yeo, former Bible college friend (now missionary friend), had a dream about another former Bible college friend thursday night:

I had a dream Wednesday night, another strange one. Jos Levesque, a fellow I went to Bible College, but have rarely seen since, in my dream, was the newest bass guitar player for Petra. Weird.

Hansen: We need to wake up and get out of our comfort zone.

P-unit day 4 - finale

Well it came and went all too quickly. Seems like just yesterday we were at the mosque and now it's all over....wait....it was yesterday that we were at the mosque....umm.....well you know what I mean. The posse of Peterborough prayer partners have pleasantly parted, particularly pleased by partaking in pertinent participation of plenary and profitable proclamation and publication.

I've posted the pictures so check out:

Day 1: no pics :( - does anyone from the trip have pics of day 1?

Day 2: - CLICK HERE -

Day 3: - CLICK HERE -

Day 4: - CLICK HERE -

Videos: - CLICK HERE -

Written reports: - CLICK HERE -

P-unit Day 3

Check the O.R., ya like it so far? 3 Days down, 1 to go. Check out day 3 of the missions trip at :
http://bbc.quist.ca/bb/viewtopic.php?t=310

P-unit Day 2

I posted a summary of how our day went in the Prayer request section of the forum.

P-unit in da house

Sitting here in the living room with the boys from Peterborough.
Caleb, Cory, Tristan, Sean, Dan and Hansen (who's blog is located at http://likelazarus.blogspot.com/)
LIz (http://discardation.blogspot.com) and Jo are at Jean Rogers and Veronica (http://veronicabaker.blogspot.com) is hosting Bobbie and Mel.

Hope to keep you all updated.

Pray for Peterborough posse please

Just wanted to ask for prayer for a "missions trip" I'm leading this week.
No it's not to Greece, or Africa or the Middle East.
It's a missions trip TO US!!!

A group of young people from Peterborough Ontario, on their march break, are coming down here to Toronto to stay with us and experience the big bad multicultural city!

Steve Yuille got the ball rolling, and the team of 10 young people will be accompanied by Jim Easton, and the fearless Doug Anderson (www.streethoops.ca) and his 12-seater van from Braidwood Bible Chapel. The van will be full to the brim with teenage zeal so pray for us as we visit many locations throughout the city doing evangelism and encountering many different cultures and religions! We'll be visiting a Mosque, a Hindu temple, touring MSC, Sanctuary, street preaching, handing out tracts, knocking on doors, meeting with ethnic believers and unbelievers, and dining on some of the hottest foods these kids have ever tasted!! Wow, what a way to spend your March Break!

It is bound to be something the kids will never forget. Perhaps this is something you too could do with your youth group. If you want to take your kids on a missions trip, but are concerned about how much it will cost to go overseas, why not come down to Toronto? Bring em down, we've got room!!

Michelle :: I hate hymns

In the forum discussion about "Rap music in worship" - HERE - there have been many opinions flying around about what is appropriate music:

Pucci said:

Rapping scripture? You are kidding me right? I can tell that to my husband who is a non-believer and he would laugh and even say something is wrong with thatIf you are going to be just like the world and do things just like the world then there is no distinction between a christian and a lost person. The lost person will see no difference between themselves and a Christian and they will think why do they need to be saved if these "saved people are just like me."

Well we asked Mark P, and Michelle - regular forum participants - who are not believers, to post their thoughts and test this theory.

Mark said:

There is nothing wrong with music being used to spread the word in my opinion. I am not "saved" as some of you might say, but I see no wrong in it.

Michelle flat out said:

I'm not a "christian", but i do attend services occassionally, and personally i hate hymns. They bore me.

So there you have it. Maybe more folks would come to our churches if we were a bit more accepting. Also, those of us who make such strong statements about what the "world" will like and not like, should try asking a few of them first to make sure. Or at least try to break out of our little christian "kumaya group" and reaching out in creative ways! :)

I'd be interested to hear what Pucci's husband actually thought of the idea. Any other unbelievers out there that think rapping in church is a bad idea? Watering down the message? Being like the world?

First day of daycare

Today was Luke's first day of daycare.

ShawnCuthill.com sweepstakes #2 - the 2000th post contest!!!!

Alright athensblog readers! During the last ShawnCuthill.com sweepstakes, you watched in anticipation to see who would be the first to crack the code and win the free MP3. You watched as Stevey Bourgeois walked off with the lute and claimed the title of first ever ShawnCuthill.com sweepstakes champion! Here's Stevey B jamming to his new download:



Still feeling bitterness and resentment over missing your chance! Don't risk another bout of depression, get on the ShawnCuthill.com forum right now and be the one to log the 2000th post! God has blessed our little brethren discussion forum and in just over a month we have registered 53 people and logged almost 2000 posts.

The person that registers the 2000th post will win their very own "room" on the forum. Call it the "basketball room", the "Toronto room", or just be selfish and name it after yourself! Whatever you name it, you better claim it first ;). Click - HERE - for more details.

Don't be left behind, time is running out!

*UPDATE - we have a winner - Blake Kennedy posted #2000 and has created the "Blake Kennedy house of sermon reviews" on the forum*

White Men CAN jump...

Doug Anderson, from Braidwood Bible Chapel, and his 12 seater van full of youth from Peterborough are coming down next week to hit the GTA on a "missions trip", over the March break. They will be stayin at our place and with others from Bridlegrove Bible Chapel. Now Doug is a bit of a missionary himself up in PTBO, with his basketball program "streethoops". Here is their website. Be sure to pray for them as they reach out to the community up there, and help us down here. Props to da P-unit!! (Peterborough)

http://www.streethoops.ca/
Also, here is Todd Anderson's blog - http://toddanderson90.blogspot.com/

Hip Hop church

Julie Kennedy posted on the forum about a church in Harlem called "Hip Hop church" where:

Two decades after releasing his breakout record, old school pioneer Kurtis Blow has instituted Hip-Hop church services at two Harlem parishes. "The kids need to learn about God, but even the ones who already know God don't like the church, because church is boring," Blow told the New York Post.

What we do isn't boring — it's energetic, it's uplifting, it's spiritual — and the kids can relate to it. We speak the word of God in a language they can understand — rap."

Blow rocks a DJ booth and commands the microphone at the weekly services held Fridays at Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church and Greater Hood Memorial AME Zion Church. During a recent service, Blow was supported by acts including Shades of Faith Introducing Prophecy, The Hip-Hop Church Band, guest rappers and break-dancers. In February 2005, Blow plans to enroll at New York School Ministry in his quest to become a minister.

My jealousy runneth over. I think this is a great idea. Why not use Hip Hop for good? The kids are already listening to it, and here is an example of one bad role model who is getting lots of publicity:

Jeffrey Atkins....aka JA RULE

U.S. rapper Ja Rule pleaded guilty to assault and was fined C$1,500 ($1,219) by a Canadian court for delivering "one punch to the eye" of a nightclub patron last year, his lawyer said on Monday.

The kids are listening to hip-hop anyway.What do you think of hip-hop in da house of da Lord? CLICK HERE to post your thoughts

Lego Bible updated!

Check out the latest updates from the Lego Bible

1. Massacre at Bezek
2. Jerusalem massacred
3. Four massacres and a wedding
4. Iron Charoits

Uplook "cult" of Nicholson?

Picked up a copy of the "Toronto Easter Bible conference" flyer at Bridlegrove today and noticed the speaker for the March 25 & 26th conference was none other than J.B. (Jabe) Nicholson. I always enjoy listening to Jabe, and I hear lately that he is planning to cut back on his preaching schedule so he can dedicate more time to evangelism and spreading the gospel! Good for him! Seems he is tired of the status quo of full-time workers just doing the preaching circuit, filling the pulpit sunday after sunday, and that is good to hear from someone who has a measure of "sway" with folks in conservative assemblies.

There has been, however, some controversy on the discussion forum about Jabe's stance on Calvinism and the sense of "hero worship" that follows him in our circles. In the Easter conference flyer it describes him as being "held in high regard as a Bible teacher", and rightly so. I don't think we put guys like him on a pedastal for no reason. The guy knows his Bible and it is nice to listen to him. Some, however, have issues with, what they call, his "cult/vatican" in grand rapids.

can you comment further on your comment; "I can say I get upset with the hardcore antagonism of the Grand Rapids cult (i.e. Nicholsonism)" !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Russian wrote:
Yes. What I mean by, "hardcore antagonism", is that Jabe Nicholson has been steadily cramming his lower leg further and further down his throat on the issue of Calvinism every time he speaks on it, following in the dog crap-laden footprints of Dave Hunt on this issue, I suppose. I think he's just nearing his knee by now. He wants to make it an issue of contention, rather than build consensus...

As for the Cult itself, I'm sorry, the Nicholson "name brand" carries a value far outstripping its worth, I'm afraid. And I have heard many stories (which were communicated to me in confidence, I'm afraid), of the promotion done by that group of Nicholson-worshippers. They've created a minivatican in Grand Rapids for themselves, and I'm altogether underwhelmed by the quality of work they put out. I myself have been in a conference where it was like there should be some sort of hushed awe (like Mr. Burns got when he announced the worker of the week awards...lol) when he takes the stage. And then I listened to what he said, and while it wasn't horrible, it wasn't anything that I felt immediately compelled to jump up and call everybody I've ever known about.

Now myself personally I have not waded into the whole calvanism debate, but from my experience with some assemblies it is true they have made it a bigger issue than it needs to be. As for the "cult" idea, I think the issue there is that Jabe knows the scripture better than most of us, and, just like in any profession, you look to those more knowledgeable than yourself. I don't think Jabe is the "cult leader", but rather, over the years folks have looked to him as some spiritual overseer. People in the conservative assemblies have put him on that pedistal, not himself.

I remember talking to Jabe's dad, Boyd Sr., when he was speaking in PEI at a conference on the high-priest's garments. He had this huge picture of the high-priest with all the urrim & thummin and stuff. Boyd Sr. told me how he had been able to learn the Bible so well. From his youth, an older man had taken Boyd Sr. under his wing. Every Sunday this older man would have him over for lunch and "disciple" him. Hours and hours of Bible teaching. The man would challenge and test, give Boyd homework. "Granted" he said "most of it went over my head, but alot of it stuck". So Nicholson Sr. was discipled something that is terribly lacking in our assemblies today.

The other thing that helped Boyd Sr. to become such a good Bible teacher was that he became the editor of some christian publication back way before uplook (can't remember), and he was required to write in this publication daily comments on every verse in the entire Bible. So he learned a systematic, complete overview of scripture, something which also is lacking in our assemblies. No wonder people flocked to him with googley eyes as he expounded the scripture better than anyone else out there.

Click here to post what you think about Uplook

Aussie's "raise" the bar!

Check this out - from Dave's youth group in Australia - CLICK HERE:

Sunday, February 6
Gospel For Asia
Just wanted to say I am really really proud of you guys and your donations to GFA!!! It's really good to see that people at Blaze are willing to support people o'seas sharing the gospel. For those of you who were not there the amount came to $281.70!!!!!! so thats really good. Keep praying for the work of the gospel, (and for people you know who are o'seas sharing the gospel) and keep supporting these people

Loggin in

March stats:

8 stay overnight
23 people for dinner
650 tracts
30 doors
x preach (1 funeral, 1 youth, 1 PTBO group)
- 37 kids @ youth (2 new)
- 2 major events - Ebenji & PTBO trip

26March05-Sun
25March05-Sat - Easter conference
24March05-Fri - Good friday service @ BBC, Easter conference
23March05-Thurs- Hayley speaking at Markham Bible Chapel ladies time apart
22March05-Wed - Prayer meeting
22March05-Tues- Josh, Colleen, Don, Carolyn, Aaron, Dawn over (+ dinner)
21March05-Mon - Catch up on paperwork
20March05-Sun - BofB, FBH, Hayley's parents arrive (2 stay over)
19March05-Sat - 9AM pick up Benji. 10AMBenji @ Leaside. 7:30PM, meeting at Yuilles
17March05-Thurs-Read to daycare kids, MSC tour, Crew heads home
16March05-Wed - Hand out 200 tracts @ highschools, knock on 30 doors
15March05-Tues- 9AM at chapel, GFA video, 10:30 Slavik Church (woodbine), 11AM Hindu Temple, Indian restaurant, Stop at CN Tower, Tour of Sanctuary, Dinner at Eaton Center, Street preaching with Jeff Lockwood (200 tracts at least), kids meet Edward & Anna at our place for tea (17), to billets.
14March05-Mon - PTBO crew arrives 12 total (6 stay over at our place), settle, dinner at patti's, to billets
13March05-Sun - BofB, FBH, Markham Bible Chapel evening service
12March05-Sat - Benji @ Leaside, Bridlegrove Annual meeting 8-9:30
11March05-Fri - meet with Benji, 100 tracts @ MAC
10March05-Thurs - 100 tracts @ henry,
09March05-Wed - plan march break, prayer meeting
07March05-Mon - Plan march break, call Benji, Sanctuary, Josh Harding over
06March05-Sun- BofB, FBH, Hayley to evening service
05March05-Sat- at Jason & Eder Tremblay's
04March -Fri - 100 tracts @ MAC, phil tremblay rap performance, 37 kids @ youth (2 new)
03March05-Thurs-plan march break missions trip, Ebenji, Matthan over
02March05-Wed - prayer with ladies, elders, hand out 150 flyers at highschool,
01March05-Tues - Grandmas funeral

February report

Sorry these are a bit late. My grandma's funeral took priority.
Month end stats:

5 - stayed overnight (michelle for a week)
18 - over to house to eat
2 - home bible studies
100 tracts
40 kids at youth (20/week avg, 3 new)
Preached 3 times
1 event - superbowl with clayon/kevin

Before Israel - click here
Israel - details- click here

While in Israel:
-michelle here all week
-joy peat stays overnight
-Jason & Eder over
-shauna over
-babysat lisa & samantha
-Mona's funeral
-Lukas at sick kids

After Israel:

23Feb05-Wed - arrive 6PM Pearson
24Feb05-Thurs - recovery day
25Feb05-Fri - Evaline does youth, Shawn gets news of grandma's passing - meet family
26Feb05-Sat - Colleen over
27Feb05-Sun - BofB, FBH, lunch with aunts, plan funeral
28Feb05-Mon - visit funeral home, prepare eulogy
01March05 - Funeral

Best Christian artist?

Derek Webb, or the Cross Movement - YOU decide - click here to vote

Phil Tremblay (Versatile) live at Bridlegrove

Well all you hip-hop fans, the one and only "Versatile" is live this Friday at 7PM. He will bring his flava of christian hip-hop straight to the B-unit.

Check the concert fyler - HERE - B-there!

Leafs undefeated

Well, my grandpa is a big leafs fan so after the funeral i thought I'd post this picture I got about the leafs being "undefeated" this season :)

My first funeral

My Grandma passed away yesterday. While this is a sad occasion, most of us knew it was coming. She was having breathing problems and last time we went to see her she had been quarentined because she was sick.

I have been asked to take the funeral. This is the first time I've done a funeral and I'm pretty nervous, any tips?

Korn-again

Seems the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Korn, Brian "Head" Welch, has had a "religious awakening" and has turned his life to Jesus.

Here is a statement from the band's website - HERE.

Korn has parted ways with guitarist Brian Head Welch, who has chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as his saviour,
and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end. Korn respects Brian's wishes and hopes he finds the happiness he is
searching for.

HERE - is the MTV article:

On Tuesday, Korn's management made a formal announcement that guitarist Brian "Head" Welch was leaving the band to rededicate his life to Christianity. On Thursday night, in an effort to explain his decision to both his fans and his former bandmates....

So after a weekend of soul-searching, coupled with reading from a Bible his friend had leant him, Welch decided it was time to go...

Welch's solo material, which will be released under the name "Head", will not be Christian music...

And yes, Welch does plan on speaking on Sunday at the Valley Bible Fellowship. He's just not certain what he's going to say. He's just going to speak from the heart. And he wants his fans to know that even if they can't make it out to Bakersfield, California, to hear him speak, they can check out his message on his new Web site, http://www.HeadToChrist.com, which launches Friday (February 25).

"Man, when I get up there onstage, it's going to be me just letting things flow. I have no idea what I'm going to say, it's just going to come out," he said. "I mean, I'm going to be like a kid up there. Because that's really what I am now. I'm a baby Christian."

First it was Afro-man, now the lead singer of Korn, who's next to convert Eminem?
CLICK HERE - to discuss other "famous conversions"

The Christian MSN

Downloaded my Beta copy of "FAITHpad" today. Rockin stuff. Download your copy at http://www.faithpad.com/

So how was Israel?

Well I'm back in the "unholy land"(Canada) from the "holy land" (Israel) and no doubt people will be asking me, and others on the team, frequently - How was it?

I think my univeral answer is 4 simple words:

"Better than Bible College"

Now that is not to knock Bible college in any way. I think Bible college is a good thing and people should go there. My Bible college - KLBC, www.klbc.ca - had a profound impact on me as a young christian. It gave me a foundation to build on top many years of study.

But by way of analogy, I'll quote the archaeologist from the "Nazareth Village" who said:

Reading the Bible is like watching a black and white TV. When you come here to Israel and see the sites (Nazareth village, etc), it's like someone has replaced the black and white TV with a colour TV in your mind. You can see things you never knew where there before.

So while Bible college gives you the foundation to build upon, Israel gives you the materials, the architecture, the paint, the floor, to understand the "grand design" of God's Word and the desire to study it for many many years. Honestly that was one of the best experiences in my life. It took Bible reading from letters on a page, to 3D, living, colour pictures in my mind. There are so many things that us here in the west CAN NOT understand about scripture without an understanding of Israel.

So today I'll be recovering and uploading ALL my pictures, as well as rounding off the reports and filling in details. I guess I should call this the Israelblog instead of the athensblog :)
Hopefully some day you too will see what I mean by visiting the Holy Land for yourself.

Home soon! :)

Just got in to our hotel in Tel Aviv and I'm on some kind of wireless connection! Woohoo! Hopefully it stays up.
We leave tomorrow at 2AM!!! That means we'll probably just eat dinner tonight and then straight to bed. I've uploaded pics and whatever notes I took during the day. See below for the day you want to see. I'll polish these up a little later with more description and complete pictures! Shalom!

Day 5:Mount Carmel, Megiddo, Biblical Garden:
Pictures: CLICK HERE, Report: CLICK HERE

Day 6 - Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Syria:
Pictures: CLICK HERE, Report: CLICK HERE

Day 7 - Nazareth, Cesarea:
Pictures: CLICK HERE, Report: CLICK HERE

Day 5 - Good news and bad news

*The bad news is that we don't have wireless internet in our hotel :)
*The good news is that we are safe and the folks at the sheraton hotel down the street were kind enough to let me on to post this little update. So that means no picture, updates for a little while. Don't worry though we made it through Megiddo and are going to take a nice boat ride on the sea of galilee tomorrow!
So for a few days, if you need us, call us. We love you all.

Day 5 - pics: CLICK HERE
Day 5 - report: CLICK HERE
Day 5 - summary below:

Not sure where we are going today, but it will be north. Either we'll travel up the jordan river to the sea of gallilee, or up the coast to mount carmel!! :) Either way it will be amazing, like everyhing else on the trip. Pray for internet access at our hotel in Tiberias! Shalom

Day 4 - Dead sea swimmin

Day 4 - pics: CLICK HERE
Day 4 - report: CLICK HERE
Day 4 - summary below:

Well today was a little less packed, but still just as rewarding! We started off swimming in the dead sea, slathering ourselves with mud, climbing Masada and roaming around Quamran.

The dead sea scrolls are quite fascinating, however what i found even more fascinating is the description of the life of the "essenses" who where a first centure sect of Judaism. There communal system is VERY similar to what I've read of John Wesleys' system and so no doubt I will be launched into an all out search for their life and customs. I believe this is the key to reviving the church in North America - a return to community. The essenses had it, Wesley had it, Alcoholics anonymous had it. A community simply gathered to worship "the name" (Hashem). Now whatever popped into your head when you read that last sentence - erase it. What I mean is actual community, not sitting in peu's, not one hour on sunday, not one day a week. Complete life commitment. These essense had an amazing communal life and so I can only hope that God allows me to study more about them.

As for the picture of the day below, I was thinking of Gerry MacLeod when I took this picture, because me and him both know that this picture is the only time in my life I will ever have a beard like him :)

Day 3 - "Hotel hell" and the dead sea scrolls

Day 3 - pics: CLICK HERE
Day 3 - report: CLICK HERE
Day 3 - summary below

Today we saw a number of amazing sights. The holocaust museum, a visit to "the shrine of the book" where they keep the "Dead sea scrolls", a trip to the "holy sepulchure" where it is believed Jesus died, was burried and rose from the dead and finally who could forget the wailing wall - the symbol of modern Judaism.

The thing about today that was funny is that while checking out of our "Mount Zion" hotel we realized that it was overlooking "The valley of Ben Hinnom"...better know as Gehenna....HELL!! The going joke now is that we stayed in the "hotel from hell" (although the service was outstanding :))

Day 2 - Old school Jersalem

Day 2 - pics: CLICK HERE
Day 2 - report: CLICK HERE
Day 2 - summary below:

After ariving last night at the ripe old hour of 5AM, I uploaded the days pics and decided to get 2 hours of sleep before trudging around Jerusalem ALL DAY. Thankfully my new airwalks are warn in by now.

Gerald was my bunk buddy and woke me up at 8AM with his best rendition of a chain-saw.

The day was as packed full as a day in Jerusalem could be. The highlight for me would be walking through a cohort of Jewish soldiers...and then another...and then another. We found out the women are actually allowed to fight in the Israeli army, albeit limited, however they pretty much train ALL the soldiers. Must be that mother instinct :)

The garden of gethsemane was very powerful as well. Way too much to take in. I only pray that this would spark a life-long interest in this area of the world.

As a side note, here is a picture of the Al Italia slogan "keep your head up":
. Can anyone tell me what that means? Why would an airline encourage passengers to keep alert? Are they expecting to crash?

Day 1 - Rome - The ongoing Saga of Italy sucking

Day 1 - Pics: CLICK HERE
Day 1 - Report: CLICK HERE
Day 1 - summary - below:

Well well well, another trip another stop in Italy. For those of you who don't recall the last 38 hour travelling episode through Italy, please refer to the archives. As for me and my house....we would rather steer clear of this mow-lett infested land (yes the guy who took my plane tickets on Al Italia had a beckham mow-let). However, the Lord seems to keep bringing me back to this place! This time for a 72 hour fiasco!! We started in Toronto at 5PM. Flew overnight to Milan (1 night sleep gone). Then we flew to Rome. Arrived at around 12 noon. Had a tour of Rome all day (oh joy, I've only been there twice already - but seriously I did enjoy a professional tour guide). Then get back on a plane at 11PM and fly to Tel Aviv (- 2 nights sleep). Now this was the first time I had ever flown Al Italia, and hopefully the last.

First, the headphones they provided were hilarious - reminiscent of the tin-can-to-the-ear. They were just a tube! That's it. The end attached to the arm of the chair and the music bounced it's way up to your ears.



Next we arrive in Tel Aviv at 4AM, then Mike Klomps luggage goes missing and by the time we drive the 45 minutes to Jerusalem it's 5AM (the sun is coming up as I'm typing this at 5:30AM). Ah the joy...more soon.

Pick of the day for Day 1:


This is an inscription of the Romans taking the Menorah from Israel when they conquered Jerusalem in 70AD, in fullfillment of Jesus's prophecy.

Alive and well!

just a quick note from all of us here in Jerusalem! It's 5AM local time and we just heard the call to prayer. We're completely exhausted but really excited as well.
We've arrived at the Mount Zion hotel with limited wireless internet but tons of stories and pictures! Hopefully we'll get on and get some details out soon!
If you read this, PLEASE pass this on to wives and friends of those going.

More real soon :)

Born gay?

Drew Costen is at it again - click here for full discussion. Just at the airport, reading his response to the verse in Matthew 5:28, where Jesus tells us to control our lust (gay or straight). Drew says...

And yet, we can't help it, it is completely involuntary to have desire for someone. Whatever Jesus might have meant by that statement, I know I can't control who I am attracted to, it just happens.

Did Jesus mean we should control who we are attracted to, or was he assuming we would and that we need to control it?

Leavin on a jet plane

As most of you know I'm going to Israel tomorrow on a "clergy educational tour" - click here - for more details.
I won't actually get the chance to post again before I leave because Lukas has a doctors appoitment tomorrow morning - click here for updates - and after that we're going straight to the aiport.

I'm not sure what to expect over there, so I simply ask for prayer. Israel released 500 prisoners as well as the bodies of others - click here. It seems they are talking about peace, but one bomb could set everything back.

I will be posting updates on the trip here on the main blog homepage, but also uploading pictures and keeping an in-depth journal. Look on the left margin for links to the pictures and reports . To gain access to the in-depth reports, simply register on the forum - HERE. Thanks in advance for your prayers!! Shalom

Mona Eccleston with the Lord

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" Psalm 116:15

-----Original Message-----
From: Neville
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 12:26 PM
To: Bible-Chapel Bridlegrove
Subject: Mona has been Promoted!!

Dear Friends & Family.

Just a quick note to let you know that Mona passed into the presence of her LORD on Feb 14, 2005 at 2:30 AM. The girls and I were on site as she peacefully slept away at the Toronto East General Hospital. The Lord has answered prayers, she has entered His rest without prolonged discomfort. Arrangements are being made for funeral services on Saturday Feb 19 details to follow.

Blessings.
Neville ><>

Aleph-bet or Alpha-bet?

Just practising my Hebrew and found this handy site - click here. Makes me wonder where we got the word "alphabet", instead of the jewish "aleph-bet"?

Latest on Lukas

Yesterday the doctor called to book an appointment with us on February 15th to discuss Lukas' situation. That is the same day that I leave for Israel. Thanks for your prayers. For more updates on Lukas - click here

Kathleen touchdown!

Kathleen MacFadyen touched down in Ethiopia recently. HERE is her blog, read about her first week in Ethiopia

A man ran up to us with a full grown man in his arms. He set him down on the street right where i was standing. The man was obviously starving to death, and we witnessed him die right in front of our eyes. It's a totally different place down here.

Bill C-38

Click here - for the complete text of the same-sex marriage bill C-38.

First '8 tracks', then 'Vinyl Records', now this...

Today I was at BestBuy gearing up for my trip to Israel. I got the memory card for the digital camera, the adapter for Israel plugs and then I asked the guy for audio cassettes because I plan to keep an audio journal while over there. He looked at me and said:

"We don't sell those anymore"

Huh? No more tapes? Obsolete? Am I getting old?

Rome-ward bound...

Just got off the phone with the travel agent about the Israel trip and we are going through ROME on our way to Israel! We'll get an all-day tour (10AM-11PM) with food, tour guide and hotel. God is good!



If anyone is interested in a trip like this email me, or post a comment below, or on the forum. These trips go each year at least so there may be room for you. At 700 bucks you can't go wrong! Especially now that they have declared a ceasefire!

*UPDATE* The tickets are now securely in the palm of my hand! Here's the details - click here

Kathleen is outta here....

Kathleen MacFadyen (sister of Josh) flew to Ethiopia just yesterday. You can keep updated at her blog at http://www.world2seechrist.blogspot.com/

Here's what her last words were before she left:

I'm soooo excited, I leave for Africa tommorow! I have a stop in NFLD, London, Egypt, and then Addis Ababa!!! It's going to be a really long flight... probably around 36 hours. So I brought a good book, some music...and hopefully I'll be tired. Please pray for my flying safety, and that when we get there, everything will work out with our luggage arriving, etc. Anyways, gotta go get some sleep! You'll hear from me when i land!

Pray for her. Post a comment to encourage her.

Loggin in

01Feb05- tues -
02Feb05- wed - prayer
03Feb05 thurs-Lukas to Sick kids, al fixing basement shower, snells over, derek over, wayne stay overnight
04Feb05- fri - 100 tracts at MAC, meet with Ted, Ted & Kelly for dinner, youth group (19),
05Feb05- Russ, dave's wedding
06Feb05- sun - BofB, FBH, event - superbowl party with clayon,kevin
07Feb05 - Mark & Cassie over for birthday party
08Feb05 - Hayley visit Stacie Oatley Willis
09Feb05 - wed - 10AM - prayer with elders, 12-4 prayer, 4-6 office, 6-8 home, 8-10 prayer meeting - wed - drive kevin home after prayer meeting
10Feb05 - thurs - 10AM - read stories to kids, (hayley at anila's from 10-2PM)
11Feb05 - Fri - clayon, sabah, dominique,sabrina over before youth, 21 kids at youth (3 new) - preached from Genesis 6-10; clayon, sabah over after; drive sabah, clayon, kevin, alpha home
12Feb05-Sat - Sat - Jason Tremblay over. Argentina dinner. O'neils stay over night.
13Feb05-Sun - BofB, FBH, invited for lunch at Edward & Annas. Pack for Israel
14Feb05-Mon - Pack for Israel. Pick up Michelle at airport. Michelle over night.
15Feb05-Tues- Lukas doc appointment. Airport. Fly to Israel

15Feb05-23Feb04 --> Israel - details - click here

Off to the hospital

Just off to sick kids with Lukas for the Barium x-ray. Not sure how it's gonna go trying to get a 3 year old to drink a cement-like substance :)
Anybody else had one of these Barium cocktails? What's it like?

*Update*Thanks to your prayers Lukas did great. Sick Kids was much better equipped to deal with him than previous hospital visits. The Barium was chocolate flavoured and he got to put stickers on the x-ray machine. We hope to know the test results soon. More HERE

Loggin in - end of January

Jan 1-10 - HERE -

Wed12Jan05-Prayer day (9AM prayer with ladies. Prayer with elders. Prayer in library. Evening prayer meeting) 10AM-10:30PM
Thur13Jan05-Hayley sick
Fri14Jan05-kids sick
Sat15Jan05-recover (J&Eder over for dinner)
Wed19Jan05-3AM Lukas at sick kids
Fri21Jan05-Melissa arrives from BC. Wedding shower for dave & gen
Sat22Jan05-snowed in
Sun23Jan05-9:30-1PM services at BBC, 1-5:30 Jake & Catherine Martin over for dinner, 6:30 evening meeting.
Mon24Jan05-on phone all day (phil w, jason v, bill y, etc.)
Wed26Jan05-Prayer at the chapel. Pye takes me out for lunch at swiss chalet
Thur27Jan05- Read to daycare, israel plan, ebenji plan - invited out for lunch with scott/nigel. Maggie & Derek over for home study.
Fri28Jan05- invited out for lunch with Doyle, 6 kids @ youth group.
Sat29Jan05- SGC, hayley at chapel 12-3, melissa to airport, joy stays overnight.
Sun30Jan05- BofB, FBH (chairman), invited for dinner@Fish's, blurb on Argentina @ MBC evening
Mon31Jan05- Lukas at doctor

Great is your reward

As a way to thank my readers for their dedication to checking in regularly here at ShawnCuthill.com, I wanted to give away a FREE MP3. That's right a free MP3. Some of you may be thinking "whoopie, I can download a free MP3 any day", but this my friends is a LEGAL download. :)

Now you won't download it from my site, so pay attention to the instructions and act fast, I have only 1 free download to give away:



Step 1: Go to www.puretracks.com
Step 2: Choose an MP3 - click "add track to cart" and then "checkout"
Step 3: HURRY - others may be checking out at the same time as you!
Step 4: In "additional payment method" box, insert the PIN # 66710 and the Serial # 5976418534
Step 5: If you are the first to download the song jump for joy. If not, weep bitterly and beat your chest for not checking in to the athensblog sooner!
Step 6: Check back here at ShawnCuthill.com and post a comment below so I know which lucky person got the prize.

So what are you waiting for? On your mark...get set....GO!!

*UPDATE* The winner is....Mr. Steve Bourgeois!! Click here - Congratulations to everyone that participated. Stay tuned for our next giveaway.

Update on Lukas

Just a quick update on Lukas. We went to the pediatrician today, before our x-ray at sick kids on Thursday. The doctor said he suspects Lukas has a "malrotation". Anybody know what that is? More HERE

Rap-through-the-Bible

Tonight at youth group I'm starting an experiment. A long time back Hayley got me a book called "The Old Testament in Verse":
. There is a rhyme for every chapter of the Bible! Here's the synopsis:

A bird's-eye view of each Bible chapter as stated in the words of a poet."The work is unique in that it summarizes the contents of each Bible chapter in four-line stanza. This edition is published by Back to the Bible Broadcast by permission of the author." 100 pgs.

Check out Genesis chapter 1:

In the beginning God says, let there be:
Dry land and firmament, sunlight and sea,
Livestock and herbage to cover the land;
Then in the image of God He makes man.

Tonight what I'm going to do at youth group, for the devotion, is play a hip-hop beat - here - that my good man Phil Tremblay made for me, and rap for the kids. I'll go through the first 5 chapters of Genesis today. (If you don't know what our youth group is like, - click here - .) I think this has alot of potential, but why can I only do this on Friday night, why can't I rap on Sunday morning? Do you think this is a good way to reach the youth without compromising scriptural principles? Or do you think that it's a compromise? Am I using the worlds techniques? I have also opened up a topic in the forum to answer this question in-depth - click here.

Heating up

It might be cold outside, but the discussion is heating up on the Forum
1. Same sex marriage will soon be voted on in the house of commons, let your voice be heard - HERE -
2. Biblical inerrancy - HERE -

The good, the bad, the ugly...

Good: My new hero
Bad: 13 bad arguments for same-sex marriage - click here for the full article
Ugly: How come they want to ban pitbulls - HERE - but can't ban video games that teach kids to kill?

Let's take this outside

Well folks, the present discussions on Same-sex marriage, the innerancy of the Bible and The real ten commandments have shown a need to take things to another level. So we here at the Athensblog have responded by introducing the "ShawnCuthill.com discussion forum".

http://bbc.quist.ca/bb - CLICK HERE TO BEGIN -

Over the next few days I will be tweaking and copying your comments to this forum for a more in-depth discussion on key issues being raised. Enjoy.

New site & Drew's site

Meghan left a comment about a website, as it relates to the search for Noah's ark. Seems this guy claims to have found it - http://www.pilgrimpromo.com/WAR/

- Here's where we left off with Drew :

As far as various problems I have with the Bible goes, I'll begin by posting a link - HERE - to some contradictions and other problems with the Bible (including failed prophecies).

I'll warn you that some of these are pathetic so you'll have to wade through the chaff to get to the wheat. For example, the writer gets upset because he doesn't think the doctrine of "original sin" is fair, that innocent people are pronounced guilty for the actions (sins) of another (Adam). Also, under the heading "All the world has heard the gospel", the writer obviously does not realize that Romans 10:18 is a quote from Psalm 19:4. The writer spends alot of time going over why God would allow the slaughter of the innocents/enemies of Israel and says at the bottom that this was his "breaking point". Let's focus on this topic for now. I'm going to ask that we keep our comments to this topic at first, just so we can keep things going on a topic by topic basis.

So here's a question to start us off "Why did God allow the slaughter of innocents/Israel's enemies?"

Some homeless people are just stupid...

I've worked alot with the homeless. I've helped at drop-ins and soup kitchens. I used to work right downtown Toronto near Union station and had lunch there every day with homeless guys. I've had homeless people stay with me. Once I even let a homeless guy sleep in my own bed.

I say all this because I was reading this article - click here - about our City Councillor Norm Kelly (Scarborough-Agincourt) saying the city needs to "get tough with people who refuse to leave the street" and go to nice, warm, available, free beds on nights when there is a cold weather alert (-20 or so). This week during a cold weather alert, the city had 97 beds available and only 21 were used.

I have a suggestion. If the homeless won't leave the street in the freezing cold, to go to warm beds in shelters that they know about, then just tape them down to the sidewalk. If you can't get them moving, keep them still. Then they'll freeze to death and there will be no more homeless problem. Simple. They're doing it to themselves anyway, by staying out there in the freezing cold, why not give them a helping hand?

(Hayley made me put a disclaimer here that I do not really wish homeless people would die, I am simply showing how absurd it is that they wouldn't take help to save their lives.)

The definition of a hypocrite - HERE

Why can't they get better security cameras?

I was watching the news the other day - click here - and there was a guy who stole a tsunami relief donation box. All they got was a crappy surveilance camera video shot. It got me thinking "With all the technology out there today, why can't they get better security cameras?". I could have taken a better video/picture with my digital camera that cost 100 bucks!

Tsunami video update

Got an email from Terry today. Seems he surfed onto the athensblog from all the way down under in Australia! I'm not sure if he knows Dave from Sydney, or Mike & Sarah in Brisbane but nonetheless he saw my post on Tsunami videos and wanted to use them in a very cool way. Here's some of the email:

Greetings Shawn,
I am a News Journalist & Christian in Australia and was lucky enough to stumble across the video footage you have on your website of the Tsunami disaster. I would like to download some of it & show it to Churches in my local area (and I guess further afield if it so develops) during our appeals. Baptist Churches in Australia have a fundraising appeal going at the moment & this would help focus people's attention of how big this whole thing is.

Thanks heaps & keep up the good work.

regards,
Terry
Coffs Harbour, NSW, Aust.

Terry, it sounds like you are the one doing the good work :) God bless you all the way down there. I'll post some new Tsunami video's I've found on the net that show "how big this whole thing is". I'll be updating this post throughout the day so check back often for the latest:

1. THIS is a very nice compilation to music - i would highly recommend using it. It requires a program called Torrent- HERE - which is a bit tricky, but I gaurantee this video will make people weep. Very stirring.

2. Click here for original Tsunami video post. Some of the links have expired.

3. Also Terry, might I recommend making a donation to a mission group that is helping in the region - Gospel for Asia. There site is - www.gfa.org.They have 700 local Sri Lankan missionaries in the areas affected. The Red Cross has lots of money, and it's doubtful they will share the gospel, which is the real hope for these people.

4. Here's the latest Tsunami videos that I've found, country by country (alphabetically):

Old, but best, Indonesia Tsunami video (government employee):
First link, Second link, Third, Fourth, Fifth

New Indonesia Tsunami video (wedding photographer):
First Link, Second link, Third, Fourth,

New India Tsunami video :
Biggest wave of all videos

New Thailand Tsunami video :
Man swallowed up by wave

Links to Tsunami video on servers:
ThunderCleese
PlanetBangkok

There you have it. Why do you think God allowed the Tsunami? I have a good friend (old roommate), Dan Pothaar, who's brother was in Thailand when the Tsunami hit and actually got swept out to sea but lived, unlike the 200,000 that weren't as fortunate. I can't wait to ask him some questions about what it felt like. Has anyone ever been in a scary situation with water? What's it like? Couldn't an all-loving God step in and stop something like this?
Also, if anyone knows another website with a Tsunami video for Terry, just post it below in the comments.

Can we really trust the Bible? Drew - I'm no longer convinced

Drew - It's more of an issue of not being convinced God actually inspired the Bible (or at least all of the Bible) than an issue of accurate transmission.

Drew - you're making an assumption that I don't, that the story of Adam and Eve happened at all and is not simply mythology.

Drew - Your mind has chosen to trust that the Bible is infallible, mine has chosen to accept that the Bible has too many flaws and contradictions to be reliable (although for many years I believed as you did until I dug deeper)

So, what do you say to Drew? Why do you trust the Bible?

Lukas at Sick Kids Hospital

This is a picture of Lukas in the hospital in 2003

Update: The Pediatrician called today and said we had an appointment at Sick Kids on February 3rd for the barium x-ray.

*Update - Hayley took Lukas to the pediatrician today and he is scheduled for a barium x-ray next week. What is that? The doctor also said "if it is what I think it is he'll need surgery".

*Update - Hayley arrived back home at 3:30AM. For the 4th time the doctors couldn't find a problem. At least this time we got the doctors phone number from Sick Kids to call when it happens again. They were going to do an ultrasound on the appendix, but they only do ultrasounds during business hours. How stupid is that?

Hayley just left to take Lukas to Sick Kids Hospital. It's about 12:15AM and he was throwing up and complaining about pain in his lower right abdominal area. This is the 4th time he has had this happen in the last 6 months. Every other trip to the Hospital was inconclusive about wether he had apendicitis, so the people at telehealth told us to take him to Sick Kids. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Has anyone had appendix problems before? What's it like? Is 3 years old too young to remove it? What else could it be?

This is the way I want to die - click here

Monday mailbox - Here's an email I received Friday:

"i watched this clip about a gay seventeen year old micheal shackelford in the oklahoma "bible-belt". the boy came from a christian family. the church loved and accepted him, but still considered his state a sin.

what appalled me was the Westboro Baptist church who went to Oklahoma and protested against the church had signs like God Hates Fags ect. here's the website www.godhatesfags.com it's really scarry. once you enter the site it has a section that says Memorials: someone has been in hell so many days. i had no idea this kind of stuff actually goes on! could these people really be christians? doesn't God tell us to love or neighbours, even if they sin?"

How multicultural is Toronto?

click here to find out or click here to watch the video
"The 12-year-old (Chinese boy) spent 15 hours outside alone after becoming separated from his mother following a minor squabble downtown. Unable to speak English and wearing only a sweater, the frightened boy began aimlessly wandering the streets"

Store owner stabbed, next to Bridlegrove (our church) click here

"... at Penny Market on Pharmacy Avenue, south of Finch"
* In other news - Hayley went to the doctor today and she has a lung infection. Pray it won't turn into pneumonia again.

Bring your gifts, but not the faith that motivated the giving

Muslim clerics warn against Christians invading Indonesia, the country with the most muslims in the world

Drew Costen, king of controversy

My friend Drew Costen is stirring the pot again. Here's his comment from my recent post on same-sex marriage:

I'm actually for the legalization of polygamy as well as gay marriage - Drew

In my view it actually adds to the sanctity of marriage to allow gay marriage - Drew

My thoughts are that I just can't think of a good argument not to allow gay marriage (biblical arguments aside as we are not living in a theocracy), or even polygamy for that matter (now there's a biblical marriage for you ) - Drew.

Can you think of an argument for Drew?

Do you get all fired up about same-sex marriage? Whether you're for or against, HERE is a site to make your voice heard! Ask the government for a refferendum on same-sex marriage. Let the people decide!

Donate online to GFA

GFA founder KP Yohannan talks about the Tsunami.

The Red Cross already has millions and they're not preaching the gospel to anyone in SouthEast Asia. Gospel for Asia has been there for 25 years, and is helping the people physically and more importantly spiritually. Do something for eternity - donate online to Gospel for Asia. Click here to make a donation. Or click here to watch the GFA missionaries in action. Either way to go www.gfa.org. Now.
Still not convinced? Click here to see amazing before-and-after satelite pictures.

3 of 13 Bad Arguments for Same-sex marriage

As a way to help my readers come to grips with the current "same-sex marriage" debate I will be posting a series that appeared in this Christianity Today article in September of 2004. It's titled:

"13 Bad arguments for Same-sex marriage. Why the rhetoric doesn't stand up under scrutiny."

This is the first three "bad arguments"...
_________________

Now that gay marriage is our most talked-about domestic policy issue, it is time to rebut faulty arguments that bedevil it. While we could provide biblical and theological grounds for what follows, we will focus on the practical and social effects of changing society's first and most basic institution.

Bad argument No. 1
"Gay marriage is a basic human right."

There are huge differences between constitutional rights with few restrictions (such as the rights to life or free speech) and other rights with important restrictions, which do not carry the right of universal access. We already recognize that not everyone has the right to enlist in the army, but that one must be of the proper age, physical condition, citizenship, and philosophy - anarchists and pacifists need not apply. We also agree that certain persons do not have the right to marriage — children, multiple partners, family members, and those already married.

Bad argument No. 2
"Gay marriage is a civil right."

This is based on the false assumption that homosexuality is the same sort of human difference as race. But while the difference between sexual orientations is profound (one desires the opposite sex and procreates while the other does neither), racial difference has no intrinsic bearing on love and marriage. This is why philosophically opposed African American leaders such as Shelby Steele and Jesse Jackson agree that "gay marriage is simply not a civil rights issue."

Bad argument No. 3
"Opposition to gay marriage is discrimination."

Let's not mistake rational restriction for unconstitutional discrimination. Just as we rightly restrict marriage against polygamists, there is no constitutional reason why we cannot continue to restrict marriage to what all civilizations have defined for millennia: the union of a man and woman. This does not deny anyone the "equal protection of the laws," since this restriction applies equally to every individual.

So are those bad arguments bad arguments? What's your argument?

Digital Camera

Well folks, as I mentioned a while ago I was hunting for a digital camera. And now the hunt is over. I got a Kodak EasyShare CX7330

3Megapixels
Video with Audio
130.00 after using Christmas gift certificates
Sweet

Blog disciples

A few new blogs on the scene for you to visit:
1. Kathleen MacFadyen for her trip to Ethiopia - http://world2seechrist.blogspot.com
2. Andrew Prescotts christian blog - http://prescottblog.blogspot.com

Too bad I don't get commission :)

Loggin in - First week of 2005

Sun09Jan05- 9:30-BofB, FBH, bible study with veronica & mormons, veronica over, evening service at calvary chapel toronto
Sat08Jan05- shauna-lee over for dinner
Fri07Jan05- 2-6 office, 6:30-10 youth group, 36 kids @youth (5 new), drive clayon/ashley home
Thurs06Jan05- 10AM - read to daycare kids, 11:30-12:30 lunch with clayon, 1-5 office, 7PM home bible study with Mag/Der & Channa (channa over till 1AM)
Wed05Jan05-Prayer day (9AM prayer with ladies. Prayer with elders. Prayer in library. Invited for dinner at Jason & Eder Tremblays)
Tues04Jan05-Family day in Kitchener(play with kids, date with Hayley)
Mon03Jan05-Day off. Visit Kitchener. Invited for dinner at Sean & Sarah MacDonalds in Cambridge.
Sun02Jan05-Sunday - 9:30BofB, FBH, promote retreat. Invited out for lunch with Judy Ramberan & Lynne Bartlett. Hayley to evening meeting, Shawn home with kids.
Sat01Jan05-Happy New year!
Fri31Dec04- 10 people over (Clayon, Jordan, Kevin, Jamoy, L & Teese, Anthony, Jen, Andrea, Luke). Attended event at chapel.

2004 - The Year of Noah's ark

The recent Tsunami got me thinking about Noah's ark. We were discussing it with Maggie & Derek tonight at our bible study and they told me about a chinese site they found with pictures of where the ark is located, high in the mountains of Turkey. I did a search for "Satellite Pictures of Noah's ark and found some very interesting things. It seems 2004 was the year Noah's ark made a comback in a big way, thanks to new satelitte photographs.


1. In April 2004 - National Geographic, MSNBC, Space.com and
The Gaurdian all report on new satellite pictures of Mount Arrarat (the mountain where Noah's ark came to rest after the flood - click here). The new pics prompt a search team to ask the Turkish government for permission to search the area. Keep in mind that the ark has been up there about 4000 years so it's under a bit of snow. However, you will see by the articles that Turkey had an unusually warm summer and it melted some of the snow away from the ark.
2. Then in a September 2004 - this Honolulu News article- reports how the Turkish government rejected the teams request. Hmmm...hiding something?
3. Check out these pictures of the mountains where the ark is - click here
3. Also check Noahsarksearch for more info and post comments if you know of any developments in this story since September.

Israel!

Well folks it's official. February 15th to 23rd I'll be in Israel along with over 10 friends from PEI on an "Israel Clergy Educational Tour"!! Hilarious. Under $1000.00 for airfare, accomodation, food & tour guide through the many biblical sites. Click on the image below for full details.

Matthew chapter 24: Earthquakes on the rise

While I am not predicting a date for the end of the world, I am seeing more and more evidence to suggest that the Bible is accurate and predicts things happening in the "last days".

For example: Matthew 24 says "you will hear of earthquakes in various places".
Many people say "there have been earthquakes for centuries, so what".

Well according to this Christian site earthquakes are on the rise:

Earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or greater or ones that caused fatalities, injuries or substantial damage.

1980 there were 66 of the above.
1981 there were 45 of the above.
1982 there were 56 of the above. Notice few were bad with lives lost.
1983 there were 71 of the above again with few serious enough to cause loss of lives.
1984 there were 50 of the above but again some were major with magnitudes reaching 7 plus.
1985 there were 67 of the above with a major quake of almost around 8 mag with At least 9,500 people were killed, about 30,000 were injured, more than 100,000 people were left homeless, and severe damage was caused in parts of Mexico City and in several states of central Mexico.
1986 there were 60 of the above but with a few reaching 7 plus magnitude.
1987 there were 71 of the above.
1988 there were 56 of the above but with a few reaching the 7 plus mark again.
1989 there were 58 of the above but with a few reaching the 7 mark or close again.

1990 there were 72 of the above with still many reaching 7 or close.
1991 there were 62 of the above but with quite a few well into the 7 magnitudes.
1992 there were 68 but says that October through December to be recomputed. Many 7.0 pluses.
1993 there were record 83 so far and many were also late 6.0 to 7.0 plus magnitudes.
1994 there were 75 but with more Notable North American Earthquakes than in the past.
1995 there were 95 odd earthquakes, hard counting them all so might have been one or two out, but youll agree a record so far and many were well over the 7.0 plus magnitude.
1996 there were 77 earthquakes of the 6 plus magnitude and in fact there were many 7.0 plus and an 8.1 as well IRIAN JAYA REGION, INDONESIA which killed at least 108 and injured 423 with over 5,000 homes destroyed and 58 people missing also.
1997 there were a record 97 quakes of over 6.0 plus with one nearing the 8.0 mark.
1998 there were 81 odd quakes with with odd few near or just in the 7.0 mark.
1999 there were 83 quakes with quite a few reaching over the 7.0 plus towards 8 mark.

I will now calculate the averages for the 1980s and then the 1990s.
1980s are 60 average a year there for 600 in total.
1990s are 79.3 average a year there for 793 odd quakes.

The increase therefore is obvious during the 1990s the average quakes in the world of over 6.5 or greater were an increase on the 1980s of 19 more each year.

In 2000 the number was 87 quakes that year and few late 7.0 pluses and odd 8.0 even.
In 2001 there were only 72 quakes of over 6.5 magnitude but there was an over 8.0 plus that near the coast of Peru killed 74 people of which 26 were in the tsunami. (79.50 average so far, year on year. this decade.)
In 2002 there were 85 quakes again of which some were well over the 7.0 mark. (81.33 year average so far.)
In 2003 there were 89 quakes my prediction of more and worse was correct, just. (83.25 year average this decade.)
In 2004 there were 91 quakes see:- http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/sig_2004.html (So yet again up by two. This includes the massive Asian one that caused such a loss of life, mag 9.0 and the 7.1 one. Now climbs to 84.80 average a year.)

In conclusion so far since 1980 anyway the increase in earthquakes has been significant, year on year since 2001.

In the 5 years so far it can be calculated out that the figure now is 84.80 average a year for earthquakes this decade, if this continues once again that is up on the 1990's of 79.3.

More info at:
http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/
http://www.earthquakenews.com

Coincidence?

New Tsunami video

Here's the latest Tsunami video - - click here =

Give

Compassion.com.
Also, another Tsunami video - click here

More Tsunami video - by country

Click on the image to enlarge:

*Remember, these videos may be slow to load, or the servers may be down, so be patient and keep trying*

Here's a country by country rundown (alphabetically):

Indonesia Tsunami video 1 (freakiest of all):
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

India Tsunami video 1:
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

Kenya Tsunami video 1:
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here

Malaysia Tsunami video 1:
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

Sri Lanka Tsunami Video 1:
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

Sri Lanka Tsunami Video 2
click here,or here,or here,or here, or here,

Thailand Tsunami video 1:
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

Thailand Tsunami video 2
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

Thailand Tsunami video 3
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here, or here,or here,

Thailand Tsunami video 4
click here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,or here, or here, or here,or here,or here,or here,or here,

Other:

British Tourist:
click here,or here, or here, or here, or here, or here,

GFA:
Here's another tsunami video , this time from Gospel for Asia prez KP (www.gfa.org). GFA has 700 missionaries in this area.

Tsunami Bible Prophecy?

Most people look at the Tsunami in Asia and ask "Why did God allow it to happen?"

Some people look at the Bible and ask "Why didn't anyone realize it was going to happen?"

Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

Matthew 24:7 There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of..the end of the age.

What do you think about those verses from the Bible about the sea killing so many?

The sayings of Lukas - archives

Here are the sayings of Lukas:

"Like a scene from the Bible" - Washington Post

Washington Post's Michael Dobbs describes his personal experience in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit...
"The speed with which it all happened seemed like a scene from the Bible, a natural phenomenon unlike anything I had experienced...
As the waters rose at an incredible rate, I half expected to catch sight of Noah's Ark..."

Washington Post Tsunami video and audio - click here

Best Tsunami video sites

These guys are #1 on google - click here - http://www.waxy.org/archive/2004/12/28/amateur_.shtml

Tsunami Video

I had purposefully avoided posting about the Tsunami in Asia because of how close to home it hit with us. There is a large Sri Lankan community here in Toronto and we are in touch with many of them in Agincourt.

* 2 weeks ago I preached at the Sri Lankan Youth group here in Agincourt
* Matthan is a young man from Sri Lanka, who attends Bridlegrove. He was planning a visit over Christmas but had to postpone.
* "Daily Needs" & "Sunrise" serve up Sri Lankan food at the strip mall within a stones throw of Bridlegrove Chapel.

Also another reason I've stayed away from the Tsunami coverage is that like most people I get caught scouring the internet for hours hunting for videos of the event to try and grasp it's magnitude. When my friend Martin Crozier was here for the timothy conference we started searching and ever since I have been consumed.
Here are some of the best:

Here are sites each with list of all tsunami videos:
a) http://www.waveofdestruction.org
b) http://source.candc.mirror.unitedemailsystems.com/
c) http://www.lostremote.com/archives/003333.html
d) http://jlgolson.blogspot.com
e) - click here - http://datawhat.blogspot.com/2004/12/waterworld_28.html
f) http://www.waxy.org/archive/2004/12/28/amateur_.shtml

Pray for families, that they would turn to God in this time of horror and loss.

Tsunami Predicted?

from This christian site

"Whether or not the Luke 21:25-26 applies to events like the sea surges in Asia on 26th Dec 04, one thing's for sure, Jesus warned about these things. I've already come to believe more than ever that not only is the Bible 100% correct, but we're surely living in those end of the age times before Jesus returns.

Jesus said: 'There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

Sadly though, it's only a foreshadow of things to come please see the following as well:

Have earthquakes Increased, facts from USGS.
End time News headlines, again real life facts.
End times scriptures, so you can study, research and start believing, and prepare mentally and emotionally for what is coming.

If you're still alive and reading this, it might be a good time to crack open the old book. My advice would be to read the ending first, the book of Revelation. Or click here to read the Gospel of Luke