The sayings of Lukas v12 - Ear wax

Today Lukas made a discovery that all little people need to make. Ear wax and boogers are different. They may look the same but don't be fooled!

Lukas: Mommy when I put my finger in my ear blood comes out
Mommy: Blood!
Lukas: Not real blood, yellow blood
Mommy: oh, you mean ear wax
Lukas: Well...it comes out and looks like boogers (laughing and attempting to smear it on mommy's face)
Lukas: but it doesn't taste like boogers, it tastes like butter

Eeeewwwwwww

Two weeks and counting

Some of you are wondering where this baby is? Well it's 2 weeks away from it's official arrival. Now is your last chance to enter the baby pool! Hopefully I'll post a final belly pic soon!

Raptors game

Everybody who wants to go to the raptors game needs to get their money in. Check the pics from last year - here

5th shooting on Morecambe - please pray

Since July of this year there have been 5 shootings on the street where our youth come from - Morecambe gate. One was a robbery, one was a scuffle for jewelery, one was random. This past week however things intensified, so I wanted to ask everyone please pray for this area and the people who are suffering at this time. Pray for our youth who are affected by this, that they would turn to the Lord for comfort.

First, last Tuesday, Oct 25 - article here

Morecambe Gate, near Victoria Park and Finch, just after 11 o'clock last night. A 22-year-old man who's apparently known to police was shot in the upper torso. He was reportedly taken to hospital by a friend, and is being treated at Scarborough Grace for non-life-threatening injuries.

Then on Monday night a man was shot and killed (possibly in retaliation) just next door to where one of our youth lives. I was there Thursday, Friday, Saturday and picked the guys up for church Sunday. Pray for these guys who are growing up seeing shootings like this:

CBC short article, AM 640 article, Scarborough Mirror article:

Father of two shot at own front door, ANDREW PALAMARCHUK, Nov. 2, 2005

A Scarborough father of two young children was gunned down early yesterday at a townhouse at 51 Morecambe Gate in the Finch and Victoria Park avenues area. Emergency crews rushed to the home around 2:30 a.m. and located the lifeless body of a man in his 20s with gunshot wounds to the face and chest. Police didn't release the name of the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Local residents identified the victim as Hainsley McLean, who goes by the nicknames Country and Cracker.

A woman who didn't give her name suggested there's a "turf war" between residents of a complex nicknamed "Up Top" on Chester Le Boulevard north of Morecambe Gate and residents of the Morecambe Gate complex, which is also known as "Down Bottom." She said she's now scared to open her door because "you don't know who's going to get it next." Police said two males wearing dark clothing were seen fleeing the area after the gunfire. Police have vague descriptions of the suspects.

An area resident said he was sitting in a backyard with a friend when they heard two shots. "I just heard bang, bang," said the man, who didn't give his name. "That did make us jump. It was really loud." The man said gunshots are not uncommon in the area. He hears them about once a week. "It's getting really crazy here now," he said.

This was the second fatal shooting in the neighbourhood this year.

On Aug. 5, Melbourne Glendon Whittick was shot in the abdomen after becoming involved in a dispute with two men while walking to a bus stop on Victoria Park Avenue north of Finch Avenue. Police said the 27-year-old was heading home from a barbecue with friends at the Morecambe Gate complex. Police believe the suspects may have been after the gold chain Whittick was wearing.

Please pray that these incidents would not intensify in this "turf war", and that rival gangs will not retaliate for this senseless killing. Pray that many youth would turn to the Lord as a result of this tragedy and stay out of gangs. Pray for us too that we would know how to counsel youth and families dealing with this tragedy. Lord help us all!

200th member contest winner crowned!

Well folks, it's now November 1st and as promised the winner of the 200th member contest received her prize! If you check out the discussion forum today you'll notice a picture of MG (the 200th member winner) at the top. Congratulations once again to MG!

November loggin in

30Nov05- Wed - MAC christian fellowship
29Nov05- Tues
28Nov05- Mon- chapel office
22Nov05-Olivia! - in hospital till Friday
21Nov05- Mon-Zoo, chapel, hayley in labour
20Nov05- Sun-BofB, FBH with 5 (Clayon, Kevin, jamoy, deshawn, nabil[first])
19Nov05- Sat-Feast with 5 (Clayon, Kevin, Jamoy, Deshawn, Frank)
16Nov05-18Nov05 - Mosaic Conference@Queensway
12Nov05- Sat - Missionary Breakfast intro, present, pray. CRUX meeting. Hayley at funeral
11Nov05- Fri - Raptors game with 41
10Nov05- Thurs- raptors planning
09Nov05- Wed-Bible study at D.Sutherlands with Clayon, Jamoy
08Nov05- Tues-raptors planning
07Nov05- Mon-raptors planning
06Nov05- Sun- BofB, FBH with 7 (Cookie, Kellz, Jamoy, Kevin, Clayon, Novella, Glenda), 5 over for lunch, Lorrie Fish 50th, evening meeting at Markham
05Nov05- Sat- Feast
04Nov05- Fri- new furnace@house, 25@youth, Brian Doyle spoke, 4 over after (clayon, kevn, cookie, josh)
03Nov05- Thurs- 9AM - read to daycare kids, 50 tracts@MAC,
02Nov05- Wed - 9AM - prayer with Max, CRUX video>Nigel&Greg. Visit Chester Le
01Nov05- Tues - fix car
plymouth brethren

Halloween scary saying of Lukas!!

It was a dark and story night....Grammy MacLeod was visiting from PEI.... and decided it was time for a haircut! Unbeknownst to her, this would be unlike any haircut she had ever had before!! As she sat snipping off her locks, she dispensed the trimmed strands into the toilet! A glob of hairy mess was all that remained after the job was done!

Later that same night her unsuspecting young grandson Lukas hopped up onto the same toilet to do his business, not looking at what lay inside!!

After finishing all necessary toilet duties, Lukas peered into the basin to see what he had accomplished! The shocked 4 year-old, seeing the hairy mess, gasped:
What's that stuff in the toilet!!!"

Mommy replied: Lukas, Grammy cut her hair, that's just grammy's hair in there"

Lukas was puzzled and screeched: I know it's grammy's hair but how did it get in my bum ???

Decisions, decisions

As the debate rages on the discussion forum over wether halloween is satanic or simple fun -> here, Marko in PEI has developed:

Those of you who are having trouble deciding what to be this year, click on the tombstone and give it a try! Also, for those of you in the Toronto area, don't forget the Pumpkin Hunt this Saturday!!! Click - here - for details

You know you grew up in the 80's when....

This is today's ReverendFun comic. Those of us who grew up in the 80's will appreciate the humour!

We have a winner...

Well folks, it's been a week of waiting for the final tally of the 200th member award. After the removal of the spam user "tusk" the next user "jan", was unable to prove her human nature, and hasn't even activated her account. Considering she had a .pl email address, like tusk, we bit the bullet and deleted jan so we could get on with the contest! Jan, if you're a real person and reading this, my humblest apologies to you, and the polish people. Feel free to re-register.

Therefore, the winner of the 200th member contest is MG!!!!Congratulations!!!

As the grand prize winner, mg gets to choose the picture at the top of the forum for the month of November. Stay tuned to see which pic she picks!

Happy Birthday times 2, happy birthday times 2....

Today is our boys birthday! Both of our guys have their birthday on the same day. Lukas was born October 21st, 2001 at 8:13AM and Sylas was born October 21st, 2003 at 5:47PM! Happy Birthday boys!

200th member recount

Like with any good democratic process, there is bound to be those who disrupt law and order for their own persuits. Such is the case with our little 200th user contest. A few "spam users" have registered on the forum so we are still sorting out who will be crowned 200th user. Stay tuned!

200th member contest - Lurkers arise!

Since Januray of this year it's been amazing to see our little website grow! Over 30,000 visitors! Over 10,000 posts! Members have signed up on the forum from at least 15 countries, and every province in Canada (sorry no territories yet)

However, we are about to register out 200th member on the forum!! As of Friday, October 14th we sit at 198 members. To commemorate the registration of our 200th member we're going to celebrate the way we always do on the athensBlog, we're going to have a contest!

Calling all lurkers - this is your chance! If you've been reading this site for some time now, browsing here and there, but never really "getting into it", register today and win! What will you win you ask....well...you'll get to be the 200th member, isn't that enough?

If you're greedy, and if Matt Wilks can pull it off, we'll put your picture on the top of the forum (where my lovely family is now situated) for a month. Sound good? Well don't just sit there - click here to go to the discussion forum- and get registering!

Matt & Ruth updated their blog with a report on how they are doing in Pakistan - click here.

Why I don't give money to panhandlers

Coming off the Allen expressway at Eglinton I spotted a guy at the lights holding this sign. When the traffic stopped he put the sign down and went from car to car asking for change. I managed to snap a pic of his sign.

At least he was being honest, and I'm not even so sure he was all that homeless but my personal opinion is that it's better to give money to organizations like the Salvation Army, or Sanctuary than people panhandling.

The sayings of Sylas V4 - David & Goliath

Reading over some Bible stories today with the boys, when I asked Sylas what he knew about the story of David & Goliath:

Shawn: Do you remember what happened to Goliath
Sylas: ...hit....rock...hit head
Shawn: Then what happened
Sylas: ..go down...(flopping in his highchair to demonstrate)

Pray for Pakistan

Just received an email from our friends A and K who provided us with this picture of their old house in Pakistan.

our house is right there beside the rubble on the first floor & it is slightly damaged from the side

Pray for this country, the people, the government and especially Matt & Ruth.

*UPDATE* Chatting with "A" today who gave me this link for more pics and videos from local pakistani news : http://www.geo.tv/.

Bill Gates, Creationist?

I was reading on another blog when i found this link which states that:

Bill Gates supports intelligent design, and gives 1 million dollars a year to the Seattle Discovery institute

Catechumen V2

Back in June I posted the first installment of my search for early Christianity - here. Reading through Augustine's "Confessions", I discovered a group in the early church called Catechumen:

Catechumens were a well recognized group that would attend church services although they had to leave before the Eucharist. They could call themselves "Christians", not "seekers" or "the faithful".

Since Augustine lived in the late 4th century, I've been searching for earlier references to this church system, and how the "seekers", "cathechumen", "Christians" and "faithful" worked together in a local church.

Much to my delight I was reading yesterday in the "Ancient Christian Commentary", which my bro Matt Wilks has so graciously lent me, when I found this gem about Origen and what meetings at a local church were like around 200AD!

1. There was a weekly service on the Lord's Day which included three readings from Scripture - one from the Old Testament; one from the apostles, that is, from one of the New Testament epistles or Acts; and finally one from one of the four Gospels - each of which was followed by a short sermon. The ministry of the Word was then followed by prayers and communion. Nautin figures that by the time of Origen the reading of a lesson from the Law followed by a lesson from the Prophets had already been consolidated into a single lesson.

2. The second type of service was the midweek communion service held on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. These services concluded the weekly fast days observed by Christians at that period. At these services, according to Nautin, there was a reading from the Gospels and perhaps one from the apostels, but probably not from the Old Testament.

3. Finally there was a third type of service, the daily morning prayer service at which there was a reading from the Old Testament and, following it, an hour-long sermon, but no New Testament reading. Only these services were open to catechumens, according to Nautin.
(Old, Biblical Period, pp.341,42, citing P. Nautin, Origene, sa Vie et Son Oeuvre (Paris:Beauchesne, 1977), pp.389-412)

Since this system was in place just under 200 years after Christ, and some of our current church "systems" have been around for only 200 years (Brethren, Baptist, Pentecostal), this "snapshot" of the early church may be an exact replica of how the apostles conducted their meetings! This is authentic New Testament Christianity!

Again the idea of a layered approach, specifically in reference to the catechumen is firmly in place. As was noted in my last post there was not one general service for everyone, but rather levels whereby interested "seekers" could grow in grace and move up to hear more serious teaching.

What caught my attention most of all was the communion services on Wednesday night and Friday night, held after a fast. Imagine the power this would fuse into a community of believers! Imagine if we all came together for our mid-week bible studies knowing that everyone else had been fasting and praying ALL DAY! What power! Then to have communion together would further bind that community together. God help us as we seek to rediscover this New Testament Chrisianity!

Some questions for the discussion forum:

1. Should we be breaking bread 3 times a week?
2. Should we have a system for "seekers", "catechumen", "christians" and "faithful" instead of simply a sermon for everyone on Sunday morning?
3. Should we be fasting twice a week?
4. Should we be meeting every morning for prayer?

Should anything hold us back from changing our assemblies so they are more fitted to New Testament Christianity?

The sayings of Lukas V11 - The vegetarian

Today we were driving in the van and asked Lukas what he wanted to eat at Burger King. Here's how the discussion went:

Mommy: What do you want to eat Lukas? Chicken Nuggets?.....(no response) A burger....(long silence)...How about snails? (hoping to get some response)
Lukas: Mommy, we don't eat animals!
Mommy: (laughing) OK, what do you want to eat then? Vegetables?
Lukas: No, we don't eat animals or vegetables, we eat normal food....I want chicken nuggets!

Q3 report online

Just finished our Q3 2005 report and thought I'd post it here. Click here to download the Word document

CanadaHelps

Seeing as it's the first of a new month I wanted to write a bit about a new service I discovered online called CanadaHelps.org. This site helps charities by setting up online donations for them. I went on the site and found some of my favorites on their like MSC, Hellenic Ministries and Frontiers. You can make one-time donations or there is a neat monthly donation feature. I gave it a try last month, chose MSC, then designated a "worker" in the comments section and the money comes off my credit card automatically each month! Cool beans! Check it out at www.canadahelps.org

October loggin in

31Oct05- Mon - 7:30-9:30 - BBC leaders meeting
30Oct05- Sun - BofB (over 70), FBH with 4, Kellz, Cookie, Mickey, Jamoy. Mom's birthday
29Oct05- Sat - Pumpkin hunt with Nikko, Tricia, Michelle, Mina, Carina
28Oct05- Fri - Spoke at LAM christian fellowship, 50 tracts @ MAC, Dominoes with Jason, Josh, Jamoy, Kevin, Tony at Wilfreds (regular youth at Bridlegrove)
27Oct05 -Thurs - read to daycare kids, 50 tracts @ LAM, visit thursday program
26Oct05- Wed - prayer
24Oct05- Mon - admin, correspondence, planning (9->3PM=6hours)
23Oct05- Sun - 10:30-2:30->FBH with 7 (Jamoy, Cookie, Mickey, Kellz, Kevin, Clayon, Rashad[first]), spoke at Don Valley Missionary Luncheon. Evening 5:30-9:30 Markham Bible Chapel evening service, chatted with youth leaders, friday speakers, farewell for McGraths/Shauna-Lee (8hrs)
22Oct05- Sat - Feast with Jamoy, Cookie, Kevin, Clayon - 5PM-11PM (6hours)
21Oct05- Fri - Daycare closed for water repair, Lukas birthday party at Daycare - night: Youth vs. Fellowship of men (33 + F.O.M - 36), Arnie spoke - 5PM-11PM (6hours)
20Oct05- Thur- 9:30AM-4:30PM Hayley nursing course@baycrest
19Oct05- Wed - 9:30AM-4:30PM (7hrs)- installing Bridlegrove computers (internet, Virus scan, network, wireless), 7:45-9:45 Bible study (2hrs)
18Oct05- Tues-
17Oct05- Mon - Hayley's parents arrive
16Oct05- Sun - BofB, FBH with 5 - Kevin, Jamoy, Cookie, Kellz, Deshawn (first time), Shawn's birthday
14Oct05- Fri - youth - 27 (3 Leaside),
13Oct05- Thurs - Read to daycare kids, speak at Awana
12Oct05- Wed - Pumpkin Hunt planning, Hilltop, Bible study (Clayon, Kellz, Cookie, Sebastian)
11Oct05- Tues- admin
10Oct05- Mon - Thanksgiving
09Oct05- Sun - BofB, FBH (7) with Clayon, Kevin, Jamoy, Cookie, Kellz, Noah, Frank
08Oct05- Sat - prayer n share, CRUX planning
07Oct05- Fri - youth (18), John Merrick spoke
06Oct05- Thurs - 200 tracts @ MAC with Greg Gordon (chat with Mrs. Western, break up Chris/Thanusan fight)
05Oct05- Wed - prayer, (event) Clayon, Kevin, Cookie, Stephen to UAC for Hip Hop Hoe-down with Jesse Weeks
04Oct05- Tues - doctor
03Oct05- Mon - correspondence, Q3 report,
02Oct05- Sun - BofB, FBH with 10 - Kevin, Cookie, Kellz, Nathan, Frank, Clayon, Jordan & friend, Jamoy, Nickey. Markham fair with kids.
01Oct05- Sat - 10-9 Wonderland with Jason, Joy, Ryan, Katherine, Mark, Cassie

CrossMovement concert pics

Click here to check out pics of the CrossMovement concert
I also took a few videos - here -

Crux videos online

On Saturday night, the CRUX rally was half over when Sebastian asked me "Yo why aren't we taping this". Honestly, I hadn't thought of it before, and Sebastian hadn't asked me earlier (perhaps because he came in late, which won him a "CP time award") so I grabbed the video camera, gave it to Sebastian and he started recording. As you watch the videos just keep in mind that Sebastian is doing his best, and keep focused on the Christ-exalting lyrics! Praise God! Praise God! I've chopped the entire video down into little pieces. Jason's talk is 133MB so I'm going to chop it into segments soon.

For now, click here, then choose a video!

News Flash from Veronica

...for you out there who are worried about this new fangled music, news flash! Young people are the next generation and like or not we are in conrol of your future. So better to have good music promoting good values which would encourage young people to come to church, then to have an old fashioned, and tradtional uninteresting sermon which would push away the young people.

Just one of the many opinions you'll find on the rap music discussion - here

Random Ministry pics V1

To help keep everyone updated on our ministry here in Toronto we've developed a new section of the blog called "Random Ministry pics". This will be a regular feature from time to time as new pics become available. These may be informative, humorous, serious or just random pictures. These pictures provide a quick visual reminder for those who pray for us.

This week you've already seen the CRUX pics, but today I saw this picture of Hayley and just had to post it. I'm not sure what she's doing with those chopsticks, perhaps trying to figure out the best way to attack the chinese dishes in front of her? Perhaps planning a way to impale herself so she doesn't have to consume the unkown chinese delicacies? What do you think she's doing with her chopsticks? This picture was taken when we went for dinner at our neighbours house, Sherri and Feng who are new Chinese immigrants to Canada. We have talked to them many times about the Lord, but they remain Buddhist, as was evidenced by the statues around their home. We have given them books like John Piper's "The Passion of Jesus Christ" to read. Please pray for them that they would understand the gospel!

Which childhood hero are you?

I saw these on Hansens blog and just had to do them myself. Give em a try!:

1. Which Transformer are you? - click here

2. Which Ninja Turtle are you? - click here

CrossMovement concert this Friday

For the first time ever (well at least the first time I can remember) the CrossMovement is in Toronto!!! If you don't know, CrossMovement is the finest in Christian hip-hop. Just check out their lyrics - here. Especially their hit "Lord you are". The concert is this Friday, 6PM @ Canada Christian College! 15.00 at the door. Be there. More details - click here

Lego Bible updated

Just updated yesterday! Click the link ->here<- to see what Samson would look like if he was a lego figure :)

CRUX began

So, how did you like it Kevin?

Check out the pictures of the first CRUX rally -> here <-

If you have a few minutes you can download a copy of the CRUX video we showed - here. This clip is the first copy that Mark Jenkinson put together for us. It's 66MB and will probably take about 5 minutes to download, but shows Nigel and I randomly asking Bible questions to teens in front of local higshcools. Their answers are priceless! My favorite line from the video...

Shawn: If you heard the word Calvary, what would you think of?
Ali: I would think of...uhhh....cows?

Also, comment on how you feel about Christian rap in church -> here <- Some are quite opposed to it, others are using it to advance the kingdom. What's your take? Is it evil? Compromise? Or is it cutting edge ministry? Many have posted their opinions on the discussion forum....

"This whole modern movement about using entertainment and gimmicks to bring people into church to hear the gospel is disturbing. Just give me good old fashion gospel preaching."

CRUX - Saturday - 6:45PM - Be there!

This Saturday we're hosting our first CRUX youth rally at Bridlegrove. CRUX stands for C.hrist R.aised U.p X is the cross. We've got the Markham band, me & Nigel hosting with some videos, Jesse Weeks will be talking about his recent missions trip to Mexico, Mark Jenkinson's got games with prizes, Crux Productions will bring some sweet beats (including R.O.C.K. who performed last summer at the Bridlegrove concert- here), Jason V will be telling his testimony of how he found new life in Christ (the theme of the night is "New Beginnings") and of course food, fun and fellowship in the gym after. This is a seriously packed evening. There is something for absolutely everyone, so make sure you load up your car with as many youth/College kids as you can and come out to Bridlegrove Saturday at 6:45PM. Be there! Directions at www.bridlegrove.com

What's goin on in there?

I have to admit I was much more fascinated with the whole baby process with my first 2 children. Terrible dad that I am, I have hardly payed attention to the 3rd little life growing in Hayley's belly. Last night Hayley and I were up talking and I think God gave us a name for this baby!
So today, as a way to get more acquainted with my 3rd, I pulled out my copy of "As your baby grows". It shows in depth pictures of the baby's development. Very interesting stuff.

Here's what's going on during the 7th month of pregnancy:

- baby can flex muscles (perhaps arnold would be a good name?)
- baby's eyelids slowly open, can regonize light and darkness
- baby can make grasping motions (Jacob & Esau)
- baby's taste buds are developed
- baby weighs about 3 pounds and is about 11 inches long
- mother may be able to sense the baby's personality

PlymouthBrethren.org issue cleared up

Previously, I had posted a concern about a site which left a comment - here. I have since removed that post, and I'm happy to report contact with one of the webmasters of PlymouthBrethren.org, who ran that blog. He was quite gracious in helping me understand their situation. For those who saw that post, here is an explanation.

First off, CMML was well aware that the pb.org folks owned the CMML.ORG site, and were redirecting it to their own page. That puts to rest any fears I had about them doing it without CMML's knowledge. I was mostly confused about this point and seeing that it is clear an all sides I'll apologize here publicly for jumping to conclusions.

Next, the pb/katrina blog expired because it was a typepad 30 day trial. The blog in question has expired and a new blog has taken it's place. The plymouthbrethren.org crew has a new blog - http://biblicalresourcedatabase.blogspot.com - here about the Katrina relief effort. On that new blog they will link to the official CMML page. I'm amazed at how easily things got worked out really. Thanks to the bro's at PlymouthBrethren.org for working things out with me! Shalom!

It's on!

The pumpkin hunt is on boys and girls and Bridlegrove will defend it's championship mightily!! Here's the poster:


The invite:

Where: Sanctuary : Yonge & Bloor : Toronto
When: October 29th, 6PM - 10PM
Who: You, bring your youth/C&C group
What: The event is a race through the Toronto Subway system to find "The Great Pumpkin". Participants from all over Ontario start at Sanctuary where they get into groups of 5, recieve clues, and then head out to find more clues in the subway. The final clue rests with an individual who holds "the Great Pumpkin". When that pumpkin is retreived the victorious team is rewarded with prizes. Last year we won 25 dollar gift certificates - sweet!

Here are the details of last years triumphant victory. Bring your youth group and prepare to be humiliated!! Muwahhahahahah.

Mel's teaching in Timmins

athensBlog team member Melanie Gibbons recently updated her blog - here to let us know how she's doing up in Timmins.

She writes:

I have a week of teaching under my belt. I have met with parents..so nervous, but no throwing up, (from myself or parents) so there's a plus.
I have managed to make a student cry....I wasn't even using my mean voice..but I got hugged after, so it's all good.

Way to go Mel! Keep us posted.

The sayings of Sylas v3

Tonight I was reading bedtime bible stories to the boys. I asked which story the boys would like and Sylas was the quickest to blurt out "NOAH". We started to read the first page, then i pointed to the picture of Noah and said:

Daddy: Sylas, who's this
Sylas: noah...people go in...
Lukas: That's Noah and the ark
Sylas: awk daddy....awk...animals go in...

The sayings of Lukas v10

This morning I was describing to Hayley what Lukas had said yesterday. At the breakfast table I asked Lukas the ways that he could help with the new baby, and we talked about his previous answers.

Daddy: Lukas are there any other ways you can help when the new baby comes?
Lukas: weeeeeelll....I could help keep the baby quiet in chapel-church

The sayings of Lukas v9

Walking to daycare today Lukas and I were chatting.

Daddy: When the new baby comes we'll need lots of help from you. What are some ways that you can help me and mommy with the new baby?
Lukas: weeeeeelllllll.....i can rock the baby
(pause)
Lukas: I can...sing to the baby
(pause)
Lukas: I have boob-boobs
Daddy: ? Do you want to help mommy by feeding the baby milk? (smiling)
Lukas: No...they're not that big

Rachel and Hayley

While I was posting the belly pic I rememberd that we have been told many times that Hayley looks like the lead actress from the movie "The Notebook" Rachel McAdamas. We hadn't seen the movie until we went to PEI where Joel & Amanda had a copy so I got to see for myself. Here's the comparison, notice especially the cheeks, nose, mouth and even similar moles. Click on the pictures to make them larger. Keep in mind that McAdams has had hours in makeup for the movie, and Hayley has had hours of hassles from our 2 boys :)

While I was posting pics, I just had to post a pic I took in PEI of my super boys:

Well we are now into the last 3 months of pregnancy so it's time for the belly pictures:

Hayley at 7 months.

September 11th revisited...

Today we bow our heads to remember the tragedy on September 11th. Since this is the first time September 11th has fallen on a Sunday since the incident I thought I would simply repost the article from last year:

Why did God allow Sept 11th to happen?


Here's the way I look at September 11th:

1. God looked down and saw a mighty and rebellious nation (U.S.A.) and wondered if there was a way to humble it and bring it back to Him.
2. God also saw a little country called Afghanistan, which was ruled by the Taliban and had restricted His gospel. He needed a way to get rid of the Taliban and open up that country to the gospel.
3. With that in mind, God looked down and saw a guy named Osama Bin Laden who was scheming to blow up the trade center.
4. God "allowed" Bin Laden's plans to prosper, so that both of His objectives could be accomplished and people in both countries would repent, and cry out to Him........

More here

The streak has ended

Well folks it is with sorrow in my heart that I am reporting the end of the Sylas toilet streak. Last night we were out with Jason & Joy. I was talking with Jason when he got a concerned look on his face and said "Is something wrong with Sylas"? Turning to the young lad I noticed a familiar scene. Face Red. Grunting sounds. Distressed complexion. Jason thought he was choking. I knew better. One whiff of the child told me that this was the end of the potty training for now. He had soiled his drawers for the first time in 5 days!

So there you have it folks, Sylas' toilet streak has ended at 5. We'll see what the future has in store. Let's see if we can potty train this child by 2 year old!

Brethren helping

Shawn Abigail, who runs www.saved.com and writes for Uplook occasionally has set up a website to update folks on how brethren assemblies in the Gulf Coast area are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The site is located at http://brethrenhelping.blogspot.com/

The boyz are back

Well it was with a bit of uncertainty that Hayley and I went to the chapel last night to kick off our weekly friday night basketball outreach. I had sent out emails to the guys, seen them at their highschools, told them on MSN and called them, but I wasn't sure if they would show up this week, seeing as it was the first week of school.

I'm very happy to report that we had a good turnout and more importantly a good response to the message. Over 20 guys that we know showed up, which means the Lord has helped us to maintain contact with these guys. Last year at this time an entire "wave" of kids disappeared because their "leader" had run away from home and so they just stopped showing up. Over the past year we had put alot of time and effort into the new "wave" and I was afraid that we might have the scenario of a complete turnover this year. Thankfully God has answered our prayers and continues to work in the lives of these teens! Thank you Lord for drawing people to yourself!

It was just like old times as Clayon, Kevin, Deshawn, Jamoy, Kellz, Cookie, Jordie, Sebastian and others poured through the doors. Katherine after that with her Ipod shuffle. Kyle, Dominique and Sabrina after that. A few other late stragglers got to hear the message.

I preached through Revelation 8,9 & 10 talking comparing this warning from scripture with the warning the folks in New Orleans had. I challenged the guys to not ignore the warning but to repent, trust Jesus, start coming to church and reading the Bible. 3 of the guys immediately wanted Bibles, or said that they would bring their own Bible from home next week. This was very encouraging as we had talked about increasing the Bible study, but weren't sure how that would go over with the guys. The community kids were keen to not only study with us on the Friday, but come to our home to study with us, and hopefully we'll see them on Sunday.

It just goes to show you that prayer and love works. We pray for these guys, love them despite their challenges and God continues to bring them out. I'm looking forward to big things this year. Please pray with us, as I can see a breakthrough coming! The soil is good. The teens are interested and keep coming back. The Word is the focus. Christ is lifted up. Please pray for our first youth rally Saturday, September 24th that it would be a turning point for some of these guys and that we would be able to hook them up in discipleship relationships with older believers.

The sayings of Sylas v2

Today at the dinner table I was reading bible stories to Lukas. Turning to the picture of Moses and the red sea I asked Lukas "Do you remember the story of Moses? What did he do". From the corner of the room Sylas answered

...let people go...no

. It's encouraging to know that a 1.7 year old can understand and enjoy the Bible stories too!

The sayings of Sylas V1

Well folks, you've enjoyed the first 7 installments of "The sayings of Lukas", but today we present to you a new feature on the blog "The sayings of Sylas"!! That's right, our second little boy is having so much fun learning to speak that we had to share the joy with all of you! Here's the first installment:

Today we were going out the door to take the kids to the zoo. I buckled Sylas in his car seat and he gave me his award-winning smile. I gave him a kiss and started a brief conversation:

Daddy: Sylas, where are we going?
Sylas: ...Poop
Daddy: (thinking uh-oh dirty diaper) Oh no, Sylas did you poop?
Sylas: No, animal poop

And the winner is...

On the discussion forum, Rob Jones of South Africa registered post # 10,000 recently - here!! Rob runs a site called "South African Bible Believers" - here which has a similar discussion forum for brethren in Africa! Great to see how God is working all over the world! Congratulations Rob!

September loggin in

30Sept05 - fri - cross movement concert (with 12 & Dave Burridge) Jesse, Josh, Sebastian, Clayon, Kyle, Jamoy, Kellz, Cookie, Kevin, Frank, Noah, Davian
29Sept05 - thurs - read to daycare kids, tracts @ MAC, speak at Awana
28Sept05 - wed - prayer
27Sept05 - tues - Zoo with bondts, 7PM Hayley@hospital for course
26Sept05 - mon, tues, wed - bondts stay over
25Sept05 - sun - BofB, FBH with Clayon, Kevin, Jamoy, Akeem, Kellz, Lunch at Evalines
24Sept05 - sat - Open House, Hayley at McMaster conference 9-3, CRUX -> 200 kids from 16 churches
23Sept05 - fri - youth
22Sept05 - thurs - read to daycare, lunch steve vance, highschools, awana,
21Sept05 - wed - prayer with elders, hayley at doctor, lunch with BY, tracts @ highschools, Takish install wires, prayer meeting
20Sept05 - tues - office, Hayley speaks at Ladies fellowship meeting
18Sept05 - sun - BofB, FBH (9 youth - 4 below plus josh, quentin, novella, kelisha), 8 over for lunch (kellz, cookie, clayon, josh, quentin, alpha, jordan, nabil), dinner at Derek & Maggies in Mississaugua.
17Sept05 - sat - Leaside Feast with 4 youth (kellz, jamoy, kevin, cookie)
16Sept05 - fri - office, 32 @ youth, tony hamilton speaker
15Sept05- thurs - office, videos@highschools with Nigel, awana
14Sept05- Wed - Pumpkin hunt planning meeting
11Sept05- sun - BofB, FBH,
10Sept05- sat - Prayer n share, Day of Prayer! Jason & Joy's
09Sept05- fri - First B-unit basketball (over 20), ESL teachers meet upstairs
08Sept05 - thurs - Lukas sick
07Sept05- wed - prayer meeting
06Sept05- tues - first day of school, tracts @ HS
05Sept05- mon - Mark Jenkinson rooftop labour day party
04Sept05- sun - BofB, FBH (2 new families, Lukas' friend Kelsie comes to church with her mom)
03Sept05- Sat - zoo
02Sept05- fri -
01Sept05- thurs- read to daycare kids, filming downtown with Nigel, dinner at Jason & Eders

Saul has posted his thousands, David has posted his tens of thousands!

Well folks the discussion forum is set to go over the 10,000 post mark in the next few days! Thanks to everyone who has made the forum such a success! Currently it's sitting at 9972 posts and, like every other good thing here on the athensBlog, we're going to celebrate with a contest! Whoever registers post nubmer 10,000 gets a special rank of their choosing. Ranks are those little titles next to your name that change as your total posts increase. If you're the lucky winner you get to choose a custom rank like "Grand-daddy", "Master & Commander", or just plain "Emporer", whatever you want!

The contest is open to everyone who is registered on the forum...so, if you haven't registered, just go to the discussion forum - here - register and start posting! Good luck everyone! We'll let you know who the winner is soon!

Thank you to John Doe

Just wanted to say thank you to the person who gave us an anonymous donation through MSC during the month of July. We really appreciate your generosity :) If you're reading this we wanted you to know that your donation covered all our expenses for the trip to PEI, for the Seed Sowers campaign! You enabled us to do more for the Lord, by your obedience to him. So God bless you..whoever you are...for your cheerful giving! God knows and will reward you :)

God's judgement weather service reporting

Thanks to Black Domina for the link to the US National Weather Service - here - warning for Hurrican Katrina.

Here is the text of the New Orleans warning

URGENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
413 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA......

DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED.

DO NOT VENTURE OUTDOORS!

Reading over this warning of certain destruction made me think of the judgement in Noah's day, and the judgement still to come. Unavoidable. "Certain death". "Will be destroyed". Imagine the warnings Noah would have given before the flood came, or if they had forecasts back then what the weatherman would have said if he knew the flood was coming! "Do not venture outdoors. Leave all your belongings behind. Go inside the ark or certain death awaits you"

It's also sobering reminder that God will judge this world eventually. Final judgement is coming, and it will be alot worse than this hurricane. The Bible states that Jesus will return with "in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord". That's alot of people. That's some serious destruction. If you're reading this and you aren't a Christian, it's time to listen to God's warning. All of us have sinned. Judgement is coming. Trusting Jesus is the only way to be saved from God's everlasting wrath. More info here

Another day, another shooting

Driving home tonight and heard those familiar words on the radio..."a man has been shot in the Victoria Park & Morecambe area" - click here. Seems a 19 year old was shot, but his injuries aren't life threatening. We drove by and saw that familiar scene. Police tape, police cars, CTV news. Now we'll just wait to find out from our youth group kids who it was that was shot. Please pray for this area. Since the last shooting (3 weeks ago) CityTV has posted a good video about the incident with a clip of the area - here

Back in the swamp

We're back. Lots to catch up on. Pray for the new "season" of ministry. Lots of exciting things and great helpers so pray and let's watch God do his thing (as David Fisher says :) More tomorrow

Jabe Nicholson's "Good News on the move" initiative

For a few weeks now there's been some chatter on the discussion forum - here about a new initiative by Jabe Nicholson. I'm not sure if it's called "Good news now" or "Christian field training" but whatever it's called, it's about time! Jabe has proposed a travelling team of about 12 men, starting in September. This team will rome around North America doing evangelism and helping struggling assemblies! Sounds good to me. The article isn't online on the Uplook site yet, but when it is I'll let you know.

But I'm wondering how this will go over in most assemblies? Will elders be open to "help"? Would yours? Would your assemby admit it's "struggling"? What would this travelling team accomplish? Is this what the assemblies need? More on the discussion forum - here

Quick update from PEI

Well folks we're just back here in Charlottetown. First a picture of Matt's head:. Things are healing well. Thanks for the prayer.
As for the Seed-sowers we're all done! Over 50,000 texts! It's been loads of work, but it was good to know that the seed has been sown. Pray now for the assemblies here, and for labourers on the island to "water" this seed! We wouldn't want the mormons to "get the increase" of our sowing :) As for us, we're here at MacLeods fixing the brakes on our van. More soon.

Pray for Matt

Just on a dial-up connection here. Hayley's brother Matthew had a serious accident at the camp here in PEI yesterday. He went down the water slide and hit his head on a concrete block. They rushed him to the hospital but pray that he'll have no long-term damage. More soon.

*Update* We saw Matt today and he is doing better. We took this picture, but it ain't pretty

Very quick update from summerside

Hi everyone, I found a wireless connection so I have a very little update.
Everyone is doing great, thanks for your prayers. We've completed the city of summerside, so pray that people would come out to the "bible expo" in the city's main market. Yesterday we covered Tignish, had a great chat with a lady named Carmen, who's dad used to run the lighthouse on North Cape. We went up and saw the very western point of PEI. More soon! :) Thanks again for your prayers

Hi from PEI

Well it's Saturday morning and we're here on "the island". No major issues with the drive so we thank God for keeping us safe! Here's how the trip went:

- Thursday night we picked up Linda Peric (athensblog team member) from the aiport. She's in town for "Upward bound", the Sandy Macheachern camping/bible trip in Waterloo. We had a great time catching up with her about the past year where she was teaching in Cyprus.
- Veronica got dropped of as well for the trip and so the three girls chatted till the wee hours while I tried to get some sleep
- We got up at 3AM and loaded up the car. To my shagrin, gas had gone up to 99.1 and we filled up before we left. The highest we got gas for on the trip was 107.9. I was hoping to see *this* meteor shower, but the sky was overcast.
- The trip was pretty uneventful, we had the laptop set up for the kids to watch Dora and Bob the builder so they were pretty good.
- We stopped for lunch in Rimouski, where Sidney Crosby played Jr hockey. It was seriously french and we had a burger at a "poulet frit" chip stand by some beautiful scenery. Hopefully I'll get a picture or video up but don't hold your breath.
- The rest of the trip through New Brunswick was good and when we got to the PEI confederation bridge we let Veronica drive over, since she has her G1. We figured that it was a bridge, and not a major highway so she'd be OK if the cops pulled her over. Well, the funny thing was that right on the other side was a police check!! :) But they were just checking for seat-belts & registration and let us keep going :) So Veronica can now say she has driven across the bridge!

All for now, we're at Hayley's parents in Charlottetown and we should get into Emmanuel Bible Camp tonight where everyone is staying (and where I doubt they'll have internet access). Thanks for your prayers! We'll try to keep you updated.

Fulfilling the great commission on PEI

Tomorrow we leave for PEI to take part in the "Seed Sowers" campaign. Seed Sowers is a group that prints 8.5 x 11 John 3:16 texts in little packets. These packets can be distributed personally or by a group. The assemblies in PEI got together and decided that every single person on the island should get one of these and so next week we will attempt to put one packet in every home in all of PEI! Over 50,000 packets! Pray for this effort and everyone who will be helping!

Clayon's mom in the paper

If you remember a few days ago, there was a shooting on the street where Clayon lives. Today on the front page of our local Scarborough paper there was an article about the shooting along with an interview from Clayon's mom, Glenda! She was the one who came to church for the first time on Sunday.

Click here for the entire article from the Scarborough Mirror

Local resident Glenda Seymour suggested many youths in the neighbourhood are afraid of the police.

"As they see the police come, they start to run away," she said. "This is a senseless killing...the police have to work with the community so that we all can work together to bring justice."

OK Blue Jays, let's pray ball

Hayley and I had the privilege of hearing David Fisher - click here speak on Sunday night at Bridlewood Presbyterian Church. David attends Auburn Bible Chapel in Peterborough, and is the chaplain for the Toronto Blue Jays and Peterborough Petes! It was great hearing about all the Christians in the Jays organization, like Corey Koskie, and how even the coach and GM will call Dave into their office and ask him to pray about decisions they have to make. God has people in all kinds of places!

Another fatal shooting down the road

It seems this is developing into a disturbing new feature on my blog, reports on shootings in the area. Last weekend it was a fatal shooting at our local CIBC, this week it was another shooting on the street where most of our youth group kids live. This one was the closest yet, in many ways.

On Friday night we were driving back from the "Taste of the Danforth" festival when we heard on the radio about a fatal shooting on Morecambe gate, near Victoria Park & Finch. If you remember in March I had written about a shooting at a dry cleaners on Morecambe, next to where one of our main youth group kids Clayon lives. He lives at one end of Morecambe gate. Friday night the man was shot and killed at the other end of Morecambe gate.

We drove by, saw the police tape, the CTV truck, the crime scene, but none of our guys were out on the street so we headed home, put the kids to bed, then went on MSN to see if everyone was OK. At this point all we knew was that someone was shot and we were worried. Clayon wasn't online, neither was Kevin, Jamoy, Kellz, Cookie or the others who live on the street. Jermal, who lives on another street, was online but didn't know about the incident, then finally Novella came online - she lives next door to Clayon on Morecambe gate.

Here's how the conversation went:

Date: 8/5/2005 Time: 23:30:02
Shawn: hey hey!!!
Shawn: u there?
Novella: hey
Shawn: what happened
Shawn: we just drove by your street
Novella: some guy got shot
Shawn: who, anyone we know?
Novella: no
Shawn: was he from chester?
Novella: ye
Novella: he used to live here but he moved
Shawn: ahhh...i was worried cause i saw the police tape around Jamoy's house
Shawn: so is he related to anyone that we know? like kellz? or jamoy?
Novella: he was in my backyard today playing playing dominoes with my mother and some others...

(As the Toronto Sun article puts it:

Whittick knocked off work early that day, stopped by the barber shop to have his beard trimmed, and then crossed the street to a friend's, where he enjoyed a barbecue and played dominoes. He was heading home when he was gunned down....
Whittick was shot in the stomach during an altercation at a Scarborough bus stop on Victoria Park Ave., just north of Finch Ave. E., after leaving a friend's townhouse at 51 Morecambe Gt. around 7 p.m. He stumbled back to the Metro Housing complex and bled to death on the grass.

Novella: then he walked down the streeth and some people tried robbing him for his necklace so he fought back and thats when they shot him
Shawn: are kevin and clayon ok?
Novella: yes everyones fine
Shawn: k good, we're praying for you guys
Shawn: do you know who shot him?
Novella: nah
Shawn: craZEE!!
Novella: i know
Shawn: where did this guy live?
Novella: i dont know where he lives now but he used to live in chester
Novella: yo it was scary
Novella: a bunch of cops, everything, ctv
Novella: he got shot where the parkinglot after my house is
Novella: i was at my friends house when i heard
Novella: my friends mom was terrified
Novella: there were more than 20 police cars
Novella: i'm leaving now but i'll tell you all about it
Novella: on sunday ok
Shawn: k see you then! we'll keep praying
Novella: so good night
Shawn: say hi to kevin/clayon for me
Novella: ok
Shawn: night
Novella: night
Date: 8/6/2005 Time: 00:22:59

Here is an article with some brief details, as well as the Toronto Sun article - here

It's sad because the local paper just did a big front page article ->here<- on how the area was getting better, and then this

Please pray for this area and the teens we minister to. Clayon brought his mom and brother to church on Sunday for the first time. Pray that this incident wouldn't just be forgotten, but it would motivate some of our guys to get their lives right with God.

Quick go to www.google.com and do a search for Jabe Nicholson...or if you're too lazy, click here. Lemme know what you find. Thanks to Keith for the tip.

Is church discipline dead?

My man Matt Wilks sent me *this* great article from Christianity Today about church discipline. It goes along with my post ->here<- about the recent events in the NHL as a lesson on church discipline. Here's a clip from the article:

The Protestant reformers named three "marks by which the true church is known": the preaching of the pure doctrine of the gospel, the pure administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of church discipline to correct faults...
In fact, every society on the face of the earth, past and present, has its codes of conduct, identifying behaviors it will not tolerate. The only questions are: first, who or what defines that code of conduct; and, second, how are violators of that code dealt with....

Very intersting stuff. I can't help but think about one of my pentecostal friend who talks about a church he used to attend. If a church member fell into sin, they had a ceremony where the member would be "handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh". This was done via a group cursing ceremony where they would actually pronounce death upon the individual, "destruction of the flesh", and then boot the offender who was never to return. That's the most intense I've heard. But what about you? Have you ever seen church discipline in action? What's your take on church discipline? When should it be done? How public should it be? Comment below, or on the discussion forum topic "Church discipline stories" ->here<-

The sayings of Lukas v8

In the middle of the night Lukas ran into our room.

Lukas: Mommy, I had a bad dream about a king who was trying to eat me
Mommy: Ok Lukas...it's OK...it's all over now
Lukas: I'm going to send my bad dream back to God
Mommy: Ok, do you want to pray to God
Lukas: Here God, here is my bad dream back

One year ago tonight....

Can't help but think back to one year ago. Twas the night before Athens. We had already seen God provide, but it had barely hit us that we would embarking the next day. We were in fear and trembling and looking back on all the amazing things that happened on the trip ->here<- all we can say is thank you to Jesus, and all of you who prayed!

Todd's back

Todd Anderson returned today, hopefully with the rest of the Pakistan team. Soon he'll be over the jet-lag and will be posting his adventures ->here<-
Matt the Cook, Ruth the wife, and Joseph the son are still over there, where Ruth will begin her teaching job soon. Let's pray for them as they adjust

August loggin in

31Aug05-Wed - meeting @ Hopedale, Shauna-lee stays over
30Aug05-Tues -
29Aug05-Mon- Jason & Joy for dinner, Paperwork, catch up, Crux, B-unit, september
28Aug05-Sun- BofB, FBH, MIC meeting, evening service, open house meeting
27Aug05-Sat- Crux plan, Jones wedding
26Aug05-Fri-
25Aug05-Thurs - drive
24Aug05-Wed - 3AM leave PEI, arrive 5PM at Dallaire's in Chicoutimi
23Aug05-Tues - Wheel alignment, dinner with grandparents
22Aug05-Mon - Ger fix brakes, dinner with Amanda & Joel
21Aug05-Sun - BofB, FBH, lunch at Matt & Leah's, Victoria Rowe, ET, stay over at Matt & Leah's
12Aug-21Aug - Seed sowers, our team + veronica gave out around 2000 texts
12Aug05-Fri - 3AM leave for PEI, arrive 9PM
11Aug05-Thurs-Bridlegrove leaders meeting, pick up linda from airport (Linda, Veronica, Mike & Jeanette, Saju & Andrea stay over)
10Aug05-Wed - prayer meeting

Plymouth Brethren

plymouth brethren

More from the neighbourhood

On the way home tonight I wanted to cash a cheque, so we pulled into the local CIBC, located at Warden & Finch here in Scarborough. My first clue that I wouldn't be able to do my banking at this location was the 2 cop cars and police tape blocking the entrance. Not only is this the plaza where we do our banking, but it's also where our family doctor's office is. Now I had heard earlier that there was a shooting near Warden & Finch, which is the next intersection over from the chapel, but I didn't realize how close it was. As the article says:

Very little is being released about another shooting in Scarborough, but police say the Homicide Squad was called in after cops responded to a report of gunshots in the Warden and Finch area just after midnight.

As we drove to the next CIBC, Hayley and I were trying to figure out if this shooting was closer than a shooting in March, next to one of our youth group kids houses - here. I think this latest one is closest to home, as we can almost see this bank from our backyard. Pray that the day will never come when we are asked to take the funeral for some young person killed in one of these shootings.

*UPDATE*:
1. More details in ->this article<- from this mornings Globe & Mail
2. This article from the Toronto Sun has more details on the family:

Toronto Police Staff-Insp. Jeff McGuire said officers found Thiyagarajah's bloodied and lifeless body lying on the well-lit pavement adjacent to 3420 Finch Ave E. after gunshots were heard in the area at 11:51 p.m.
Although Thiyagarajah had been shot near a CIBC branch, investigators weren't sure yesterday if robbery was a motive.

Who are the people in your neighbourhood?

Well it's 2 days until August, depending on wether this post counts as Friday or Saturday, and I've been reflecting alot on last July 30th - click here - and the year that has passed since then. Maybe it's the contrast between Matt Cook's group that is just coming back from Pakistan this weekend, or that we're not going on a trip to the Olympics this year, but whatever the case, it's been on my mind to reflect alot lately (see athensBlog one year contest) and God gave me a few moments today playing basketball to consider the people He has connected us to right in our neighbourhood. As I was bouncing and shooting, God showed me just how multicultural the area is and how He has brought many people to us.

The most obvious, and I'll repeat the link - here- was our Chinese/Jamaican neighbours down the street Tien, Mindy and Paula, who I wrote about last July 30th. Tien, who is 6, often drops by quite unexpectedly and even invites himself over for dinner. :) They are about 8 houses down from us, and we've had many good chats with them since meeting them last year. They are right across from our Chinese friends Sherri & Fung, the first neighbours we met on the street. Their house caught on fire the first week we moved in and through miraculous circumstances they ended up at our place filling out police reports while Hayley tried to watch their 2 kids, along with ours. A few times we have visited them with the Jesus video, books or other chinese Christians for meals (we even took Isaiah & Isabelle along once for the fish-heads :). In fact, just yesterday Hayley had a good chat with Sherri about putting her son in daycare.

Thinking about daycare now, I look over to about 5 houses in the other direction where Kip and his daughter Erika live. Erika is in the same class in daycare as Lukas. Come to think of it Lukas is the only white kid in the class...maybe even the daycare! Thank you Lord for this area! Next door to Erika is Stany and his two daughters Lydia and Cadia, from Somalia. Last year both girls came to the daycamp and they even came to church once! Hmmm...come to think of it Kamran & Anila and their family from Pakistan also only came to church once, for Christmas, even though we've had many good bible studies. A new girl who moved in down the street Katherine, and her mom came once. Rebecca, from the daycare, and her mom only came only once. Names flooded my mind - Quentine, Jamoy and now the latest person who only came once is Kimberly. Man, I thought, there have been alot of people over the past year who we have built relationships with, gotten on a spiritual level and then brought to church, but only came once. Why is that, I began to wonder as my lay-ups bounced off the rim. Is it only me? Do other full-time workers face this dillema?

It must be a good thing that these people are at least coming. Or is it? Why are they coming and not staying? Does everyone have this problem at their assembly? Does every assembly put so much effort into outreach, but make so little connection to "church on Sunday". Why are people so drawn to us and our outreaches, but won't come for the "main event" on Sunday? Why don't we talk about this more?

As I thought of these questions, our neighbours 2 doors down came outside (which is rare, the husband is a limo-taxi driver and is barely home) to drape an Iraqi flag over their car. It seemed like after a while they were trying to attach it on the antenna, but took it inside when they were unsuccessful. I haven't made much contact with them at all, and wondered what would happen if I did? Would they also just come for one Sunday?

It made me wonder if I should put my efforts into making more contacts, or instead seek ways to connect the existing contacts to "church on Sunday". It also made me wonder if I'm alone in this dillema, or if others are experiencing this "disconnection"?

So I thought I'd blog and ask all of you - How do you connect people with church? Maybe others have ideas? What has worked for you? What has your church done? Do you find there is a "disconnect"? Am I crazy here?

The sayings of Lukas v7 - The wisdom of Solomon

Alright, while we wait to see if anyone will attempt the impossible athensBlog one year anniversay contest - here, I thought I'd post another edition of "The sayings of Lukas". Soon we may also be having "The sayings of Sylas" as he is beginning to string together words like "no poop", "me daddy" and my favorite so far "luka head", while preparing to pour a pail of water over Luke's head :)

This edition focuses on Lukas' growing biblical understanding:

Daddy: So God chose a king for Isreal. His name was Saul...
Lukas: Daddy, what is Saul's last name?
Daddy: uh....

Later on...

Daddy: One night God asked Solomon "What would you like to have Solomon?". Solomon said "I just want to be wise". What would you say if God said to you "what would you like to have Lukas"?
Lukas: (excitedly!) A bear!!

Don Welborn laid to rest

Today was the funeral for Don Welborn - info here. If anyone would like to sign the online guestbook, it's on the DonaldWelborn.com site

The little blog that grew. Enter the athensBlog one year contest!!

Well folks, it's been one year since the first post here on the athensBlog way back on July 21st, 2004.

To commemorate this one-year anniversary, we'd like to celebrate the way we usually do...with a contest!! Since this contest will only come around once, we made it extra hard for you to win. But we also made it extra sweet for whoever gets the prize!! Here's how it's gonna work. The first person who can:

1. Correctly identify every member of the AthensBlog team by first, middle and last name,

2. Since team members might know that info, we have another way for them to enter. Folks that went on the trip to Athens can tell us how many total posts there are on the athensBlog. All of them. You can either guess, or spend a good couple hours counting them all. Think of it as the "count the jelly-beans-in-the-jar" way to enter :)

And the prize???!?!?????

If you're successful....and the first person to get the right answer, YOU get an email from US with the gender of our 3rd child!!!!!!....that's right, we do know!! And so can you!! Be the first to complete the task and you could know if we're having a boy or girl!! Enter in the comments below, or on the discussion forum. Enter once, enter often. Help us celebrate! There's no harm in trying, even if you're completely wrong! :)

Disclaimer: One condition for the winner of this contest, is that you will not be allowed to tell anyone the gender of our child after finding out yourself! No one! Before receiving your prize, you will take an athensBlog oath, in Greek, under a bottle of olive oil promising the wrath of the Greek gods will come upon you if you leak the gender info to anyone! Be warned, Mary knew what gender she was having and only an angel could reveal it to her! Don't forget her example. Once she found out she "kept all these things in her heart" :)

Don Welborn with the Lord

The brethren world suffered a great loss yesterday when preacher Don Welborn died in a plane crash in Northern Texas.

...the pilot was Don Welborn, 74, of North Richland Hills. The single-engine plane crashed and burst into flames Wednesday afternoon, killing all three people aboard, authorities said.

We'll miss you Don. For more updates and news on the discussion forum - click here

The NHL lockout and church discipline

Well folks, this post has been brewing for quite a while, waiting for the day when the NHL lockout ends. Forgive me if this is the longest post my blog has ever seen, but it seems like the NHL owners and players finally resolved the hockey lockout!! Hooray!! If all goes well and the agreement gets ratified, we could actually see a hockey season this fall. And with Sydney Crosby being touted as the best player to come along since Wayne Gretzky, we might even see the game of hockey recover fairly well from this dispute! Good times for us Canadians!! (My apologies to the Americans, Aussies, Brits, Scots and others who are reading this, it does have a point besides a rant about our beloved passtime :)

Throughout this whole "labour dispute" (even Wikipedia is getting in on the action) I couldn't help but draw the parallel between the hockey lockout and church discipline. What do I mean, you ask? Well stick around for a not-so-brief summary. For those who are not familiar with what went down in the NHL hockey lockout, here's a brief synopsis:

1. Summer 2004: After the end of the 2003-2004 season, the "collective bargaining agreement" (CBA) between the NHL (league/owners) and the NHL players association (ie: union) was set to expire on September 16th, before the next season.

2. Like any labour dispute, both sides mainly thought of their own interests and so no progress was made on a new deal over the summer of 2004

3. Sept 16,2004: When the CBA expired, the league "locked out" the players (as opposed to most disputes where the players/union "go on strike", basically in this case the management went on strike)

4. Feb 16,2005: Because of a lack of an agreement between the two sides, the entire 2004-2005 NHL hockey season was cancelled by the NHL league/owners. The first time this has happened in any major sport.

5. June 13, 2005: After an entire year of "negotiations", the NHL owners and players finally resolved the hockey lockout.

Now, it is easy to see how this "dispute" has effected the league, players and the game of hockey itself. The league, who initiated the lockout, racked up some serious losses:

1. CBC reported that: "the league lost out on $2 billion worth of revenue"
2. The fans themselves are quite upset and some may never watch hockey again.
3. The league lost it's network deal with ESPN! Ouch! 70 million

What am I getting at here? Well let me generalize a bit. First let's look at the big picture in the hockey dispute and then see if we can learn something about church discipline in the process.

All of the "losses" that the league suffered are simply "short-term" losses. They will get the fans back eventually, they will get the TV deals back. Sure it might take a while, but none of those "losses" are what I call "league threatening". Compare those short term losses, with the ongoing "long-term" losses that the league was facing before the lockout - namely deficits of between 100-200 million per year. The main issue then came down to players salaries being too high. I know I'm generalizing and there were other issues, but basically big name players were not willing to take pay-cuts so that the game of hockey could continue. I mean, as if going from 10 million per year to 8 million is really going to affect your lifestyle. In my humble opinion these big shots felt they were more important than the game. The long term situation for the league/owners was simply this: We cannot afford to keep paying these guys, so either they take a pay cut or else we're stopping the game.

Think of how the players must have felt (again I'm generalizing): The nerve! How could the league think that the game is not about us. Who do they think they are telling Jaromir Jagr, Mats Naslund or Brad Richards (had to throw him in their for all you Islanders) that they are not important. Doesn't the league realize that without us, the players, they don't have a game at all?

Maybe some would sympathize with their side, but when we look at the big picture, it's not about those players, as important as they may think they are, it's about the game of hockey. It's about hockey being around for generations. That type of arrogance from the players (spoken or otherwise) was exactly what the league was trying to combat. They sent a message loud and clear when they locked out the players. We don't need you. The game is more important than you. Get over yourselves and start thinking about the good of the sport, instead of your own ego and paycheck.

Pretty harsh, but pretty true.

While I was watching this all unfold over the past year, I couldn't help but draw the comparison to the local church, as far as discipline is concerned. I'm not sure about you, but I have been on the receiving end of church discipline. That's right folks, I was kicked out of "fellowship" for one summer. If you want the details you can email me, but basically the elders at my church put the best interest of the congregation above me and my little ego. And good for them. Looking back I'm glad they did it. Their church is still around, and so am I, and much more humble because of it.

Sadly, I had a discussion with a pastor recently who was unable to follow through on church discipline. A highly respected member of the congregation (chairman of the board) was cheating on his wife, and other members of the board knew about it. This had gone on for some time, but when our pastor friend confronted him, and the board, tragically, they buckled under pressure from the adulterer and did not kick him off the board, or out of the church. To make a long story short, there was no discipline, the church no longer exists and the pastor is going to employement training for the first time in his life.

So what am I saying? Well, I'm glad that the league locked out the players. I'm glad they put the interests of the game of hockey above certain big shots. If they hadn't, and kept on in the financial situation they were in, the NHL could very well have ended up like my friends church. Like I said I'm generalizing but like Alcoholics Anonymous says "principles before personalities". It doesn't matter that the league lost an entire season, what matters is that the game of hockey lives on.

Leavin on a jet plane

Luke Bruce + 48 hours = Ecuador!! Way to go buddy! Have a great trip! Keep us updated when you can, we're praying for you!

The sayings of Lukas v6 - Jesus doesn't love me

Lukas: Yes, Jesus doesn't love me
Yes, Jesus doesn't love me...

Daddy: Why are you singing it that way?
Lukas: Well some days Jesus doesn't like us
Daddy: So does he still love us when he doesn't like us?
Lukas: Yes, Jesus loves us but some days he doesn't like us.
Daddy: Oh really, which days does he not like us
Lukas: Saturdays and Thursdays

Crazy curls wants to know:

A forum visitor named "Crazy Curls" posed this question on the discussion forum:

"ok if u were a girl and u french kissed a girl would u still go to heavan is u asked for forgivness??¿¿??..and no it is not me!

What advice would you have for her? Click here to post your answer

Update from Matt & Ruth

Matt Cook posted an update from pkstan, check it out by clicking here

Being "full-time"

Anyone who was, or ever plans to be in youth ministry must read this post on "Suppository Preaching's" blog. Simply Spectacular.

The sayings of Lukas v5

Lukas: Daddy, can we put the tent up?
Daddy: Just wait please
Lukas: Mommy....he said no :(
Mommy: No Lukas, daddy said wait

This conversation really made me think about how often we do this to God. We pray for something, God wants us to wait upon him and so he does not do what we've asked immediately. Our next response is usually whining and thinking God has forgotten us. Well, at least that's what I do :)
We forget that we need to "wait upon the Lord", really seek him, maybe fast and pray a bit. I remember seeing a video of a Gospel For Asia missionary fasting (at least 2 days a week) and praying for 2 year for the village he was trying to reach. Only after that type of intense "waiting on the Lord",and "fervent prayer" did God break through and save the city. What a rebuke. James says that God gives us trials to develop patience, man do we need patience. Thank you Lukas for that wonderful example.

Jason & Joy's wedding pics - thanks to Steph Jenkinson - click here

53% think we are having a girl

Just over 4 months left until baby #3 makes an appearance and so far, in the Cuthill baby pool 53% say it's a girl, 47% say it's a boy. click here and enter to win big baby prizes! :)

Kimberly - A stranger on the road to salvation

This morning at church I met a lady named Kimberly. She just walked in off the street. While this is fairly common at our church to see new people, Kimberly just moved in across the street last month from China. Her englihsh is still developing. She told me that there are no churches in China and so this was her first time ever in a church! Ever. She came this morning because she "wanted to learn more and believe in God." Sweet.

After introducing her to a few people at the chapel I went upstairs and got her a childrens bible and sat her with Gloria, an ESL teacher, who was seated with a few other Chinese new-comers getting ready for the service.

Think about this setting for a second. How successful do you think Kimberly was in getting to know God? How well do you think we did at bridging cultural, language and spiritual boundaries? Do we feel it is her responsibility to learn, or our resonsibility to explain things to her? What is the purpose of our "service" anyway?

I guess the only measure of success in our North American churches, the only way to possibly know if she got the message, is if she comes back next week. We really have no other mechanisms to connect with her. It's sad really. Many churches I know are like this, we're stuck between thinking we are seeker-sensitive (because we have a one hour gospel service Sunday at 11) and at the same time thinking we are building up the believers. Which is it? I really wonder what Jesus would do if he met Kimberly, and which church he would direct her to? Or if He would direct her to church at all? What would you say to Kimberly? Is church supposed to be an outreach, or to minister to believers?

Cuthills Q2 report online

Hi everyone,every quarter we produce a prayer letter to keep supporters updated on what we've been doing. Here is a list of previous reports:

http://bbc.quist.ca/Reports/

Here is our latest, the second quarter 2005 report:

http://bbc.quist.ca/Reports/Q2%202005%20Cuthill%20report.doc

It opens in Microsoft Word. Enjoy!

Doctrinal Goon-fest?

Saw this strange article on CBC about a hockey "goon" competition and it made me laugh.

Hockey goon competition given green light
Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:31:30 EDT

Fearful of a legal reprisal, officials in a northern B.C. community have backed down and will allow a controversial hockey fight competition to take place after all.

On Monday, Prince George's city council gave the green light to the "Battle of the Hockey Enforcers." The competition will feature hockey "goons" fighting on ice in a series of one-minute bouts without any hockey being played.

What a strange event. I had to laugh at the last line "without any hockey being played". It made me think that sometimes we can be like this as Christians. We get so caught up fighting one another and seeing who is smartest, or quickest with a bible verse, or has the best doctrines that we miss the whole point and spend our time trying to win fights with each other instead of "playing the game" that God has for us. He has a comission for us, and it's been such a contrast this past week seeing Matt & Ruth Cook, and their team, actually getting on with "playing the game".

Let's get on with it, and not spend all our time on these petty doctrinal goon-fests. As Rey says:

Drop the name calling. Drop the charges against each other. Drop the mindless repeated proof-texting. In these conversations weve seen the same thing, over and over and over and over again. Its the same junk and it merely illustrates our vanity that we think we have it (or dont have it).

We have a world to reach, we have a life to live, let's put down our gloves, pick up our sticks and play like a team.

Ruth speaks

Ruth updated us on the situation at their blog: http://matthewcook.blogspot.com. Check it out, and keep praying.

July loggin in - Q3

25July05-Mon - Reformat laptop
24July05-Sun - BofB, FBH daycamp sunday, Pucci comes, Lunch, evening service
23July05-Sat - GTA crux youth leaders meeting
22July05-Fri - Daycamp
21July05-Thurs-Daycamp
20July05-Wed - Prayer, elders meet, Daycamp, prayer meeting
19July05-Tues- Daycamp
18July05-Mon
17July05-Sun - BofB, FBH,
16July05-Sat - MC for Eid at Multicultural music
15July05-Fri -
14July05-Thurs-home
13July05-Wed - daycamp, KW, stay at Josh & Colleens
12July05-Tues- elders meeting, pack for KW
11July05-Mon - Daycamp
10July05-Sun - BofB, FBH, Kimberly from China, pick up kids at parents
09July05-Sat - Jason & Joy's wedidng
08July05-Fri - Speak at daycamp, meet with Eid, Amy Sutherland
07July05-Thurs- Read to daycare kids. Bill Gothaard seminar
06July05-Wed-Bill Gothaar seminar
05July05-Tues- Jake & Catherines
04July05-Mon- Jake drops off van, paperwork
03July05-Sun-4AM drive Joe to Airport, 10AM Joan picked up, BofB, FBH, Lukas scarlet fever, to after-hours clinic
02July05-Sat- AA conference, dinner with Ruth
01July05-Fri- AA conference, fireworks with Kamran & Anila

Pray for Ruth

Got to have dinner tonight with Ruth Cook and hear about her adventure. If all goes well she is flying out Wednesday. Keep praying!

A good atti-todd

Todd Anderson is on the trip with Matt & Ruth Cook. On his blog, he has a pretty funny story about his first experience with a subway, while staying with us here in Toronto. Todd has a great attitude through it all, but let's pray for the folks who are going with Matt & Ruth on the trip, that everyone would keep this positive outlook no matter what crazy things happen along the way! :) I'm excited to hear all their stories of how they adjusted to strange situations. As Tim Rogers used to say: There's joy in the journey.

Pray for Matt & Ruth

*Update* Ruth will be in Toronto until Tuesday because of documentation. Thank you all for appreciating that there are no details that we can share. Keep checking Matt's blog for details. Pray for Matt as he will be arriving without Ruth and will have difficulty communicating. Ruth will still need to purchase a whole new ticket (at least a few thousand) so give that donation link a look over :)

Just got off the phone with Matt Cook's Aunt who asked us to pray for Matt & Ruth. Ruth was denied access to their flight because it went through the UK. Everyone else went on ahead without her, and so now she is stuck here in Toronto with the baby without a flight. She will have to pay for another flight so pray for them and if you would like to help them out you can donate online via MSC. More soon.