Real Estate Thoughts: Things Are Looking Brighter

Today I saw this article on Yahoo, talking about the values of pre-existing homes in Canada going on the rise.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Sales of existing homes in Canada jumped 31.5 percent in the second quarter from the first and saw their first year-over-year quarterly increase since before the peak of the financial crisis, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Tuesday. The industry group said actual home sales totaled 147,351 units in the second quarter of 2009, up 1.4 per cent from the same quarter of 2008. Home sales rose 8.7 percent in June from May on a seasonally adjusted basis. They were up 17.9 percent from June 2008, using nonseasonally adjusted figures. "This is on par with the record for the month of June set in 2007 and is the fourth highest ever for activity in any month on record," CREA said in a report. . .

I take this as encouraging news. Even thought the numbers are skewed by the major markets rebounding, overall things look like they are stabilizing. Here in Winnipeg we haven't had a decline in any values (miraculously) but it has slowed down recently. Jobina and I are strongly considering getting another rental property as we have equity that we could use for this very purpose. Although interest rates will probably slowly rise, getting a rental property in Winnipeg is a very good idea. I would encourage anyone who has a lot of equity in their house to consider getting another property as an investment. Unlike say, ahem, GM shares, which can lose all their value, real estate is definitely a more stable and reliable investment (of course risk is involved - discernment is still necessary). Also, by using your first home's equity you can actually purchase a home without a big down payment. We bought our first property and since I got a little extra on the mortgage to help pay for some repairs and cover the closing costs! I love real estate.

Voluntelling

"We either love people or we control them. There’s little room for anything else. And its far easier to control them than to love them." - John Eldredge


In Mennville this past Sunday I spoke about loving one another as an antidote to controlling behaviors. Controlling behaviors (pressuring, criticizing, nagging, blaming, complaining, etc) are loveless as they lack the respect for other's free will. It is impossible to love and control at the same time - despite what we think or feel. The abusive man who controls his wife (all the time saying he loves her) is not loving her. The nagging wife says she is nagging her husband (because it is the only way to move him to action) is not loving him. Controlling behaviors always damage relationship as we always resent those who do not up respect our freedom to choose our own destiny.

This evening in our small group we discussed controlling behaviors, especially attempts by family members to control us or us controlling them. Although they may have the purest of motives, it's amazing how much we resent and rebel against mother, fathers, brothers, and sisters who overtly or subtly try to control us. Dave gave a good example of this, the technique of "voluntelling." Here's the definition from the Urban Dictionary :

voluntell
	(verb) To unwittingly volunteer someone's services without allowing them the opportunity to decline. Variations: voluntelling, voluntold "Who are we gonna get to finish copying and collating the TPS reports?" "I'll voluntell Steve to take care of it."

Classic controlling technique, a variation of manipulation. Are you guilty of voluntelling? Or are you a constant victim? Driver style bosses or managers can sometimes be terrible with this technique, not to mention church bullies. I have been both victim and assailant when it comes to this technique. If you are the victim of a voluntelling addict, try this:

1. Just say no. "I'm sorry, but no. If you want to ask me, fine, but what you said isn't asking."
2. Point out that they are not asking you, but telling you. "You make it sound like you are asking me, but you're not - you're telling me. How come?"
3. Ask them "Is there a question you have for me?"

Any other ideas?

The Power of Pee

According to this story, urine may be an ideal power source for hydrogen powered cars. Yay science! Also, in case that idea does not totally gross you out/inspire you, how about pee powered batteries?

Speakage

Just a quick post to say I'm speaking this Sunday at Mennville Church so if anyone wants to pray for me, feel free. I'd really appreciate it!

P.S. My speaking will be somewhat different from Mr. Spurgeon's (at right). Nice pulpit though, wouldn't you agree?

ASBO Jesus Friday: Local Church

(Click to enlarge)

I thought I would try something different for awhile: ASBO Jesus Fridays. In case you weren't aware, ASBO Jesus is Jon Birch's cartoonist's Blog. A little left of center, his cartoons are sometimes funny, sometimes controversial, but always challenge me in some way. I don't agree with everything he say (or implies!) but I often enjoy his artistic approach to exploring faith issues. As a caveat I will say that I don't support everything he writes but believe I can still learn something from those I disagree with. Enjoy, and feel free to comment on what thoughts and questions the cartoons bring out for you . . .

The Secret To Good Sex: Aging?

The Globe and Mail had a short but very interesting article about some research done by Peggy Kleinplatz at the University of Ottawa. Apparently when she put out the call for "great lovers" she was contacted by many older married couples - those who had enjoyed marriage for over 25 years. Kleinplatz found that:

-Several ingredients for “great sex” emerged: being present; connection; deep sexual and erotic intimacy; extraordinary communication; interpersonal risk-taking and exploration; authenticity; vulnerability, and transcendence.
-Optimal sex gets surprisingly better with experience and becomes self-perpetuating.
-Aging may be an asset towards optimal sexual development.
-The findings go against how popular culture portrays fantastic sex, a depiction that stresses performance, technique and novelty. This image of sex sends mixed messages that create unrealistic expectations, anxiety, shame and guilt.

The study brings up an interesting point, what if most of the messages we hear about sex in the media (magazines, TV, movies, internet) are based on untruths? Maybe sex before marriage isn't "normal" or "healthy" and maybe it's not impossible to wait til your wedding? Maybe you don't have to be super skinny/buff/attractive to attract a sexual partner and be able to enjoy great sex? Maybe seeing soft or hard porn actually does affect a person in their heart and mind and will affect their relationships in negative ways? Maybe sex is not only for the young but can actually be better and hotter as you age? I love it when research shows us that our ideas, the ideas we are fed everyday can be wrong, even damaging. Perhaps for us Christ-followers we need to be reminded every now and then that the media isn't the best source for our ideas and info on sexual intimacy . . . and that sometimes we start to believe the lies that we hear - and shouldn't.

Surviving The Fall

This is one of the most unbelievable things I have ever heard of:




Read the story here.

Camp Morton Yurts Review

Camp Morton Yurts Review (and suggestions)

This past weekend my family did something new: instead of our usual tent camping at the wilderness area of Camp Morton Provincial Park we accepted the invitation of the illustrious Howe's (a very cool families in our church) and went "yurting" instead. Yurts are modern outdoor tent structures based on the refined designs used for centuries by Mongolian nomads.


Let me just say, for someone who is mostly a wilderness camper staying in a campground (even in yurt) seemed in principle to be a betrayal of my camping philosophy. My philosophy can be summed up like this:

1. Be as far away from other campers/people/civilization as possible.
2. As much as possible, carry all your own gear, be self propelled.
3. Travel light and simply.


All of my philosophy had to be thrown out the window. Instead I tentatively tried what Manitoba parks calls "comfort camping." What does this mean? Basically, you are coddled. Instead of a tent you get a large 16 foot diameter yurt complete with rustic bunk bed, table/chairs, futon, armoir, and coat tree. Not only this, but the yurt has lights, yes that's right, ELECTRICITY. You have dimmable lights, power sockets, a fan, and (I kid you not) an electric heater. A large transparent (and openable) dome in the ceiling lets you see the stars or sky at all times. Outside your door you have a nice covered deck and kitchen area which is great for cooking (no cooking in the yurt). There is also an outside light there. In front of your deck you have your own firepit, a picnic table, and you own personal wagon for transporting your stuff from the car to your site. It was so cushy that it was overwhelming. And I'm ashamed to say that we did, ahem, use the heater when it got a bit cool in the evening. Yes we did and I enjoyed it's toasty warmness. Here's a few pics:

Skylight dome and top of bunk bed


Front of yurt and deck.

Jobina cooking in her al frescoe outdoor kitchen area.

The lakeview from inside yurt #2 , looking out.

For a family, this kind of camping is just way to ideal. It's so easy. During a short rainstorm we just hung out in the yurt and when we got hungry we went outside onto our deck and cooked our hotdogs on our stove (which we'd brought ourselves). The yurt was so esthetically pleasing - round rooms feel better for the soul somehow - that I usually didn't want to leave. Of course I did as Camp Morton Provincial Park has lots to offer: trails, swimming (our yurt had a nice lakeview), the gardens, etc. Definitely more then enough for a young family for one weekend. We had the Howe's over at our yurt for campfires in the evening and had a blast. Also, since the yurts are brand new at the park this year we were presented with a cheezy T-shirt to mark the occasion. Sweet unexpected additional value! Also, unlike some campgrounds (yes, I'm talking about you Bird's Hill and Ambrose), firewood is free and plentiful.

Will and Keith testing the waters (literally).

Do I recommend the yurts at Camp Morton? Absolutely. If you are a family with 2 or 3 young kids it is easy and enjoyable to enjoy the park. The extra money required ($47 for a yurt per night as compared to $15 for a campsite) is so worth it. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed. I'd also go as couple looking for some time away. Unless absolute privacy is your highest ideal, you could have a very nice and relaxing weekend for two for under $100 (plus food and gas of course). Very cheap for what you get. We will be going back.

Suggestions: If you are booking online, I'd try for yurt #2 first. It has in my opinion the nicest blend of privacy, view, and a bit of a bigger deck as it has a nice wheelchair accessible ramp that my son enjoyed biking down. Yurt #2 is also close to a water source which was nice. My second choice would be Yurt #1, my third choice Yurt #3, and my 4th choice Yurt #8. Yurts 1-3 and 6-8 are kind of grouped together, something to keep in mind if you come as a group. If you have lots of kids in your group and you want to hang out as much as possible with others in your group, keeping them constantly within line of sight, choose yurts 6-8 as you there is little foilage between them. There is also a nice (but tricky) path to the beach just south of them. Bikes are not essential but are nice to help you get around quickly. If you have any questions about the yurts, feel free to post them in the comments below!