Its not whether it's right or wrong, but is it true!

Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound.

Last night at my small group the issue of capital punishment came up. The question was asked of each in the room, "where do you stand on capital punishment?"

I was the only person to stand up and speak out against it. I believed that me reasonings are built on how I interpret the scriptures and most of all what Jesus went to the cross for...to forgive us of our sins, all of them, regardless of what they are. I also hope that my view is built on compassion and forgiveness of others....on grace, His GRACE.

It has bugged me since last night. I have felt very unsettled by all this. Today I have been reading opinions of others who reflect on scripture. There are very compelling arguments for and against.

I am still at the same place I was...and it doesn't matter if capital punishment is right or wrong but is it truly what God desires for His people.

The Old Testament has lots of examples (I think 36) that definitely support that capital punishment was introduced by God. Of those 36, only one for murder would be on a list of capital offenses today.

The New Testament doesn't renounce capital punishment. At no time does Jesus say it's wrong but then he doesn't say it's right though either. Even with the adulterous woman, to avoid being caught between the two laws, Jesus responds by saying "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone." So he doesn't say that the adulterous woman (and the man who she was with) should be stoned to death, but he also doesn't make a stand and say capital punishment is wrong.

Jesus on a few occasions says we are to submit to the authorities and the laws. Romans 13 also is a prescription written by Paul with direction on how we can live in the world even with and under the authority of corrupt governments.

Where I continue to struggle is that for me submission to authority doesn't mean I curl up in the fetal position and just take whatever these authorities wish to dish out and go quietly. I need to stand up and have my voice heard if it's in the name of Jesus. I need to speak out and to stand up for what is TRUE! When I have done that then I submit. It still doesn't mean I endorse it nor support their ideas.

I guess what concerns me shouldn't at all because when I break it done it is me making judgement against others but here is my concern...are we using scripture to support our own opinions/believes or are we going to the scriptures to have God reveal his opinion/believe?

In all the arguments for and against I have read today and what I heard last evening, I am certain there is no answer on whether capital punishment is right or wrong...what is incredibly evident to me is that His Grace must prevail in all situations and that He and He alone will provide judgement on our day of reckoning. So regardless of whether we are made in His image and therefore by that have authority for law and order, He and He alone has authority over life and death!

My chains are gone, I've been set free!

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers

I had a moment this morning and wanted to share it with you.

We are up in Edmonton for the Alberta Missions Fest and I left our hotel early and headed to Tim Horton’s for a hot beverage and some down time.

It is wicked cold today with the wind chill and about 4 inches of snow. I sat nestled in the corner in my nice down jacket and a guy walked in and sat at a table close by. We are in a sketchy area of downtown and he definitely fit the undesirable category.

I watched sipping my large drink as he tried to warm himself with his tiny little coffee. He kept putting his hands under his legs to try and warm himself. He was even shaking some. He did have a touque but I don’t think he had gloves.

It struck me that I should buy him something for his belly. I looked up and the line was really long at the till. I thought, hmm there is a girl cleaning tables. Maybe I could give her the money. I thought about how inconvenient it would be for me to wait and thought about getting up and leaving. Then I was reminded of a person example one of our pastor's used in a message a few weeks back. He shared about having opportunities to reach out but how his fear kept him from doing it. I appreciated those words because I was ready to walk.

I went and got in line. I was surprised how quickly it actually moved. I ordered the sandwich and took it to him. I said “you looked cold and I thought you could use something to warm your belly”. I could barely look at him. I am not sure why. He said thank you (which was all I needed to hear). As I was walking away I glanced back over my shoulder and he had a smile on his face.

I had to walk back seven blocks in the cold and snow. I cried the whole way and all I could think of wasn’t the sandwich I gave him but why didn’t I give him by gloves. In my selfishness all I could say was I needed them.

I am so human…at God’s prompting I acted but then I held back. He has so much more work to do in me.

I absolutely am not sharing this because I want to be acknowledge but rather because I want to encourage you to act when you feel His leading. Even more, don't be like me and just give the shirt of your back. Give your coat and if necessary your boots too.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

I still have tears in my eyes now. I can't help but think of this man's freezing cold hands. Please pray for him and pray for me.

Merry Christmas Mom

Dear Mom,

It's Christmas morning. This is the 8th one since you passed. Can hardly believe it's that long. Most days it still feels like yesterday.

Christmas isn't the same without you. I don't know anyone who loved Christmas as much as you did. You made Christ the centre and celebrated His birth and made sure we grew up knowing what Christmas really meant. You always made family a priority but even more so on Christmas day.

When things changed and we weren't always together on Christmas, you did everything you could to carry on traditions and made sure we were still able to celebrate together. I may not have understood or appreciated it as much as I should have then...but I sure do now.

Today we celebrate with Maren Kathryn, your granddaughter. She is a beautiful angel which is fitting because you loved angels. We will do all we can to raise her as you did us, knowing Christ and knowing the hope and joy found in loving Him and serving Him. We will also raise her knowing the great woman her grandma was and how much her grandma would have loved her.

As I look across at our tree, a real fir tree, atop the tree sits your lace angel. The same one that sat on your trees year after year. It will stay atop of ours as long as it stays together. Seeing it there just makes me miss you all the more.

Thank you for all of the traditions, the love, the hugs and the gifts. Nothing in this life can ever replace what we lost when you pasted away.

Love you mom!

Edmonton Oilers Draft/Free Agency - My Favorite Time of Year

Well it's been a great while since I blogged anything so I figured I'd better get to it. I started sending a Facebook message to one of friends and figured this would be a cool thing for me to blog about. This way people learn a bit more about me and something I dearly love...the Edmonton Oilers. Oh yes I am a fan!!!

Let's begin with the return of #Ryan Smyth. Outside of #Wayne Gretzky I am not sure their is another player that more represents the spirit of the Oil than Smyth. His exit from the city was unceremonious but I blame that entirely on Kevin Lowe. How do you give up arguably your top player and heart and soul over $250K a year...it is a lot of cash but not in the pros. That is almost pocket change. Regardless of Lowe's mistake, #Steve Tambellini has been able to right that wrong and he's home. Ryan will bring strong leadership to a young team. He is a grounded and mature guy who also brings faith to the locker room. Welcome home Ryan.

I like what Tambellini has done so far this off season. He drafted well. #Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall was a no brainer but the whole draft will help us restock the farm and give us so strength in the next 2-3 years. With Kefbom, and Musil we should have some good D in a couple of years. Perhonen may be our goaltender of the future.

Tambellini did well in free agency too. Picking up #Ben Eager gives them some good toughness and he can play a little. #Darcy Hordichuk more grit and he is a big upgrade from Steve McIntyre. #Eric Belanger gives them more speed and some more scoring up front. #Cam Barker is a risk but a low cost one. He is just 25 and former 1st rounder who really hasn't worked out. He'll now be with a young team and a coach who works great with young players. Time will tell but not a bad gamble. #Andy Sutton was a big pick up too. He is past his best-before date but a good solid stay at home guy who can get the puck out of our end.

I'd still like to see them sign a mid-range D man if they can afford it. Although Colten Teubert may be ready to play this year. When they sign RFA's #Taylor Chorney and #Theo Peckham, the Teubert would be competing with #Alex Plante and #Jeff Petry for the 8th spot. If any of those three are ready to step up full time then signing another D man wouldn't be necessary, just preferred.

I think that Andrew Cogliano (RFA) is done. He wants too much money (#Sam Gagner type money) and they have 14 signed NHL forwards now, assuming Gilbert Brule is healthy enough to go. This doesn't include Nugent-Hopkins either. I don't think he'll play in the bigs this year.


I still wish we had another option to the Bulin Wall. #Nikolai Khabibulin is a good tender, just not great anymore. He had a good year last year and maybe he can keep it up this year knowing he'll face fewer shots with our improved defense. # Deven Dubnyk I think has proven he can play so maybe he can take the #1 role away this year. We do also have Olivier Roy down on the farm so goaltending shouldn't be our down fall. If it is, I did let Tambellini know that even though I am older than #Dwayne Roloson, I am good to slap the pads back on and to take it for the team.

We still lack some depth on the farm. If we face injuries, it'll be tough. No NHL experience sitting down there at the moment. #Tyler Pitlick, #Chris Vande Velde and #Ryan O'Marra (RFA) are good and might be able to fill in but not sure any of those there are ready to make a jump.

I am glad to see the Souray debacle behind us for good. We can stop talking about it now. I just hope that he doesn't come back to haunt us in Dallas.

All-in-all we are in a good place. We do have a shot at playoffs this season but I am not thinking we are going to take the cup...just yet!

Trip Recap...by the numbers!

Okay, so what's a trip with out some good supporting numbers. Statistics are a man's best friend.

We did have a great time in Eastern Europe. We met and spoke with MANY wonderful people and learned a lot about youth culture and JV culture too!

I thought though you might be interested in some travel facts so here they are.

Since leaving Victoria on April 29 we will have logged more than 20,300 kms. The majority of those (19,229 kms) have been for our trip.

Interestingly for the trip mileage, 17,301 have been by air and 1,948 have been car, bus and train.

Not counting our Victoria to Airdrie trip, when we arrive home we will have spent more than 21 hours in planes and 32 hours in buses, cars and trains.

We will have encountered seven languages - eight if you include you include whatever it is JV's Terry English speaks. He is from Britain and says he speaks British but I am not buying it. These languages are British, Polish, Czech, Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian, Estonian, German.

We have also used five currencies (well six really but we used US because we didn’t have Euros at the time). Pounds - Britain, Zloty's - Poland, Korunas - Czech Republic, Lats - Latvia, Euros - Estonia and Germany.

From April 27th, when our furniture was picked up until we return home on May 29, we will have slept in 14 different beds.

While in Latvia/Estonia we saw daylight for 4am till 1030ish pm

We started at 51 degrees Latitude in Calgary and went as far north as 58 degrees in Estonia. 58 degrees on North America would be equal to Juneau, Alaska.

AND HERE IS THE BIGGIE...

Since we left Airdrie for our trip, I will have used TWENTY NINE DIFFERENT BATHROOMS.

I am sure there are some more stats...and I will likely compile them but this is it for now!

If you've never been to Eastern Europe, plan to do it. It isn't a place that typically jumps to mind when you think of holidays but it is beautiful, there is such a rich history and the people are amazing.

Catching up...for lost blogs!

Wow...talk about slacking off. I went to check my blog. Thought it was about 4 weeks ago since I wrote something. Try THREE months. Yikes. Sorry blog world.

This won't be anything spectacular but it will reset the clock. Heck I am not even gonna proof for typos and misspelled words.

Today I sit in pain...with a toothache...waiting to see the dentist this afternoon...not my dentist though, he's on holidays for spring break...but thankfully another dentist friend. I did mention I am in pain though right?

Really my thoughts today are more about the absence of pain and on how God just remains faithful to us.

We have had a very, very eventful couple of months with the selling of our house and purchase of a new one as we relocate to Alberta for our ministry work. The process took forever...we made it painful at times for ourselves...in retrospect though (hindsight is a good thing) it really did all happen in God's timing. We can see the plans He had and how things came together in perfect timing.

The offer we received had a closing date of April 29. Significant because we wanted Erin to work up to very close before we have our ministry trip Eastern Europe...we leave around May 6 for that. One of Erin's has been her work. They have been so wonderful to her and to us. Erin felt bad for having to leave but in God's plan He had someone already part of their work family who is able to join the organization on March 30 and after training with Erin will be able to take on her role.

He looked after all the details...He is the big Kahuna after all. Because of the short time I have been with JV and having to raise support, it made qualifying for a mortgage a little more challenging and a little unconventional. We had some amazing people who worked with us and getting that done was a breeze (in the midst it felt like chaos to me because I am so not used to that).

Our role in all of this has had only a single focus...to seek, trust and follow...we have but in our own strength we also caused ourselves some pain...through it all He has just been so faithful!

Thanks for loving us when we are less than lovable, thanks for your grace which we so do not deserve, thank you for your forgiveness which we need so often...thank you for the empty cross we will celebrate in just a few weeks!

Peace

How to Find a New Church - Part II

So earlier this week I was sitting with a friend James and chatting about what God has in store for us in this next chapter. We wandered on to the finding a new church topic. He's moved a couple of times and was sharing his thoughts. It was all building on what I had in my last blog about being comfortable in a church vs. being in the church God wants and allowing Him to make you comfortable. James had a slightly different but very cool take on things.

He shared that the worship, the people and the sermon do matter some but really have very little importance at the end of the day. As he explains every church, no matter what the denomination or style, has a common and unifying characteristic...God is there expecting us and He has invited us.

So rather than trying to be comfortable and find the perfect worship and pastor...just show up with a big appetite and be prepared to be fed.

James talked about our relationship. We can talk on the phone and it's good communication but not really personal and close. We can meet over a table in a coffee shop and we become closer but when we invite someone for Thanksgiving dinner and the feast and festivities that comes with sharing that meal it changes our relationship and draws us even closer together.

Going to church is like God's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner with Him. He has prepared the banquet feast just for us with all of the fixins.

So rather than seek out the best of everything or the place we are comfortable, we just need to show up hungry and ready to dine with Him. With that as the expectation, He will meet us there and He will quench our appetite and we will be drawn in closer to Him.

The Message - 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.