Archive for November, 2012

We Need To Tell The World

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

While reading through a series of links that a friend of mine, Paul Wilkinson, publishes in his blog (Thinking Out Loud), I ran across an interesting quote from magician/illusionist Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller fame.

Jillette (and Teller) is a rabid atheist and libertarian.  The article I was reading was talking about how one of his six favourite books.  But by his way of looking at it, if you read it all, cover to cover, with commentaries or “spins” put in what it says, you’ll become an atheist.

While of course, I totally disagree with him, it was a citation later in the article that caught my attention.

The article said…

In a YouTube video that went viral three years ago, Jillette criticized atheists who argue that Christians should not share their faith with others.

“I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize,” Jillette said, “I don’t respect that at all.

“If you believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell, and people could be going to Hell … and you think it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, … how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?

“How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, … there’s a certain point where I tackle you, and [everlasting life] is more important than that.”

Now THAT’s where I can totally agree with him!

It’s the Christmas season.  Get out and tell someone the good news of this season!!  Don’t let them get hit by an oncoming truck!!

TTFN

Posted in Church, General, Personal | No Comments »

Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 22nd, 2012

I know that today is Thanksgiving in the USA and for us Canadians, the holiday passed in October, but I was doing some poking around the Internet today and discovered that dispite the fact that Canadian Thanksgiving has nothing to do with the Pilgrims and Indians Native Americans the holidays are in fact nearly identical.

According to Wikipedia (the fount of all knowledge in the 21st Century) US Thanksgiving is described thusly…

It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens”…

Canadian Thanksgiving is described…

On Thursday, January 31, 1957, the Parliament of Canada proclaimed: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October”

 So we’re not that different afterall.

And we should BOTH be exceedingly thankful.

TTFN

Posted in Church, General, Personal | 1 Comment »

Christmas Shopping Again?

Sunday, November 18th, 2012

Wow!  It’s that time of year again, isn’t it.  In the USA, this is the big kickoff to the Christmas shopping season.  “Black Friday” is this coming week.  Have you made your list?  Have your kids sent you theirs?

If so, pull out your list.  Take a GOOD look at the list.  How much of it do you NEED?  Nothing?  That’s what I thought.

This year, I’m not asking for anything (I actually rarely do).  I’ve got WAY too much stuff.  The message at our church this morning talked about de-cluttering our lives.  Something I can totally relate to.  De-cluttering our house wouldn’t be a bad idea either 🙂

This year, I would LOVE it if people would take the money they would normally spend on each other, and cut it in half.  Buy something for your loved ones, but not 100 things.  Take the money you “saved”, and why not spend it on something for someone else who likely won’t get anything for Christmas this year?  Why not send someone a goat, or a chicken, or a water filter, or books, some skills training, or a malaria net?  Of course, I’m not talking about these for your friends or neighbours.  I’m talking about giving a gift of compassion to your global neighbour.

Compassion Canada has what they call Gifts of Compassion.  You can buy a whole variety of things for someone in another country who really NEEDS it this Christmas.  Prices range from $16.00 for a chicken, all the way to $5,000.00 for a heart surgery for a child in need.  And if it’s been a few years since you took a look at the Gifts of Compassion catalogue, I sincerely ask that you take another look this year.  There’s lots of new things you can buy.

So why don’t you consider a Gift of Compassion this year, instead of a gift for yourself.  It’s a great way to spread some of Christ’s love to those in need.

TTFN

Posted in Compassion, General, Personal | No Comments »

In Flanders Fields – Stop to Remember and Give Thanks

Sunday, November 11th, 2012

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

– John McCrae

I pray we never forget, nor every stop being thankful for what our forebears have done.

TTFN

Posted in General | 1 Comment »

Further Info on Sandy’s effects on Haiti and DR

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

Here’s an additional update from Compassion regarding the hurricane’s effects on Haiti and the Dominican Republic…

Compassion Haiti has provided more information regarding the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

Disaster Alert:  Hurricane Sandy (Haiti)

  • Nationally, flooding waters have decreased but communication and transportation remain difficult.
  • An additional 584 children from seven ICPs have been affected.  These families have had their homes damaged or destroyed.  As well, their gardens have been damaged and farm animals have been lost.  Personal belongings have also been lost.
  • Currently, 1336 children from 32 Implementing Church Partners (ICPs) have been affected.
  • As well, the homes of five Child Survival Program (CSP) families from HAC38 Croix Hilaire Child Survival Program and four CSP families from HAC59 Bainet Child Survival Program have been affected. The homes of these families have been damaged.
  • Water and emergency food items have been distributed to affected families.
  • Currently, Compassion Haiti is using Complementary Interventions (CIV) reimbursable disaster funding.
  • The country office continues to monitor the situation and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Also, the other side of the island of Hispaniola … the Dominican Republic has likewise suffered serious damage from the storm:

Disaster Alert:  Hurricane Sandy (Dominican Republic)

  • Compassion Dominican Republic has submitted information regarding the impact of Hurricane Sandy on October 26, 2012.
  • Currently, 378 children from five ICPs in the southwestern region have been affected.  The homes of these families were damaged or flooded.  These families also lost personal belongings.
  • The roofs of DR-455 Peniel Student Center and DR-800 El Buen Pastor Student Center were damaged during the hurricane.
  • Compassion Dominican Republic has shared preventative and relief measures with all Partnership Facilitators (PFs).  The PFs are working directly with the ICPs and affected families.
  • Currently, Compassion Dominican Republic is using CIV reimbursable disaster funding.

Please pray for the families who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Compassion Dominican Republic will keep us updated as more information is available.

TTFN

Posted in Compassion, General | No Comments »