Our "aggressively inarticulate generation"

Like . . . is this guy serious?

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

For the past five or six days I've been working hard. Really hard. We had been trying to find a house in Transcona (an area of Winnipeg) in a certain neighborhood for a couple who's house burnt down and there aren't a lot of homes on the market (also, it means seeing properties and working out the financing with the bank as well). We were also trying to get our rental property ready for new tenants which meant repainting, fixing, and redoing some flooring. In the meantime I've also been seeing old and new clients (I now have 9 of them) for my practicum, work at Olive Garden, and occasionally see my family. I've been burning the candle at both ends.

Sadly, we were not able to find a property for these people so that means that particular weight is off our shoulders (it's too bad though, it would have been win-win for both our families). And I should finish off my work at the rental today. And I'm going down to one day a week at Olive Garden. So yes, balance is being restored.

So what was the cost of the past few days? Well, I've been existing on 4 hours of sleep a night, I've lost 10 pounds, almost every muscle in my body hurts, I'm a bit cranky, and I owe my family (especially my kids) a lot of time together. What was gained? Well, we have new renters for a year in an upgraded house so that means a modest monthly income from that and another $10,000ish (conservatively) in equity raised on the property by this time next year. And even though we didn't get a new property we are all set to get one if another opportunity presents itself. Jobina (master painter) and I got to spend some time together working on the rental which was kind of fun (thanks Mom for babysitting yesterday, you are awesome!).

Now I look forward to getting back into my schoolwork and reconnecting with my family and friends. So was it worth it? I think so. When it comes to burning the candle at both ends, I think it can be done, but only for a short time and only if there is great reward. I know some people who seem to live in this state all the time - I don't think I could do that! The question I think about is: how do you know if your life is too busy? Burnout is always a possibility and yet people get trapped in their thinking ("I have to do all this stuff!"). May we all have the wisdom to know what we can handle - and what we can't.

May Light increase!

I'm Still Alive . . . Barely

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, my rental property needs new flooring and so I've been doing that and some other stuff constantly for the past few days. I just came back from there a few minutes ago (it's 3:21am right now) and I must get some sleep. My entire body is in serious pain. Adieu!

Does The Christian Sub-Culture Still Exist ... For Students?

I remember it like it was yesterday; I walked into my dorm room at Briercrest and was shocked to see my roommate sitting on the floor and systematically destroying all of his "non-Christian" CD's. For weeks he'd been getting slack from fellow guys (including me) about some of his pagan musical choices. Unbeknownst to me, he was getting more and more convicted/guilty about some of these choices and in a spectacular display of radical faith/guilty conscience, he was destroying all of his CD's that weren't on a Christian label.

At the time I was impressed and yet there was a nagging worry. Did he really have to destroy all of them? Was it devotion, guilt, desire to impress others, or something else that was behind this action - what were his motives? At that time, there was a great battle between the secular culture and the Christian one. The Christian sub-culture was like a big bubble; it it had Christian alternatives for everything; music, movies (yes, they were bad), books, clothing, candy, art, greeting cards, etc. Look in any large Christian bookstore and you'll see it all for it still exists in some ways. Where I think it doesn't really exist any more is with students.

Growing up in high school as a Christian it was all black and white; Christian or non. Choose! Today though as I was putting away dishes I thought about how much had changed when it comes to students. As a youth pastor, I was in a small rural Mennonite community and I literally saw the transformation with my students. They moved from a closed Christian culture to a quasi Christian culture and then finally into a "vaguely Christan" sub-culture. "The world" was first rejected, then explored with caution, and finally embraced as the norm. By the time I left most of my students were listening to/watching/purchasing most of the same things that their unchurched friend did.

It seems that things are always on pendulum and I worry that maybe the pendulum has swung too far. As my first story illustrates, the Christian sub-culture was way too judgmental. Today though I wonder if we have swung too far the opposite direction. Do we still have discernment? Have we forgotten that we are aliens in this world? Are we different enough? Will spiritual hunger reengage with the next generation of Christian students and will the pendulum swing back to a defensive Christian culture again? Or will we seem something truly different from this next generation - a fresh new approach to being in the world but not of it?

May Light increase!

I Hate Cancer: Part 2

“Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.”

- Lance Armstrong, Tour of France Winner, Cancer Survivor



I hate cancer, but the way people choose to do cancer can be totally inspiring. Having cancer is going to war it seems, a fight. Part of the battle is against the cancer and part of it is against yourself. Sometimes, I think it can even be against God. War (sorry my pacifist friends) can be fought well or poorly. Although every person who has cancer has times of euphoria, anger, and deep-in-the-pit despair, some people seem to find a strength within them and rise to the occasion. They find God, peace, strength, and a positive spirit. I don't know how they do it, but I've seen it. I've literally seen someone's battle with cancer inspire hundreds of people with their authenticity, faith, and honesty. My friend Ramona has inspired so many people including myself (check out her battle with cancer here).

One of our youth sponsors Lorna also has an amazing story about her time with cancer and in it she tells people (just as other cancer survivors do) that cancer changes you. Something profound happens to these people. They will never be the same again. So yes, cancer is hell, but God can in spite of it even use it to inspire and change people. If you would like to leave the name of someone you know has cancer in the comments section, I (and maybe some others) will pray for them. Never give up hope.

May Light increase!

I Hate Cancer: Part 1

Is it just me, or are more people being diagnosed with cancer? It seems that every week I hear of someone else I know finding out they have it. This week, I've heard about several. I'm not sure if I was just blind to it before, but I'm not anymore. Cancer is everywhere.

I hate cancer. I hate how it is hurting those close to me; putting fear, pain, doubt, and horror into their lives. I have had people in my family get it, I've seen friends battle it, and I've known people who have died from it (good and special people). It can attack your skin, your lungs, your brain, your privates, your blood . . . anywhere really. It's difficult to detect and difficult to battle. Sometimes even when you think you've killed it, it can come back. Cancer reminds me that I'm mortal and that suffering is indeed happening in this world. Whenever I hear of a friend who's been diagnosed, I'm reminded that all is not well - someone new has had their world shattered. Recently I feel like I've heard the bad news too many times. Too many times...

Does cancer scare me? Yes, yes it does - I don't want to get it and I certainly don't want any of those close to me to get it. I feel like it is robbing me and this world of some very special people. I watch even those who fight it and beat it - it changes them. I'm angry about this disease; angry, bitter, frightened, confused, enraged, and even chilled by it. I was going to write something more positive to end this off with, but instead I'm just going to focus on it and express my feelings. Perhaps there will be something more positive tomorrow.

Cancer, I hate you.

The Office - Grief Counseling

Jobina and I have been watching "The Office" lately (after "Survivor") on Thursdays and have been enjoying it's intensely awkward humor. Here's a clip from an older episode that shows what serious grief counseling can look like in a group setting. Watch and learn!

P.S. If the link above doesn't work, check it out here.

The Problem With Zeal

I was discussing the iPhone with a guy at work when another waiter came by and asked us what we were talking about. The new guy began telling us about all the things he loved about this new product and how much he wanted one. "You must really like Apple," I said. "Love them? "No way," he replied. "I hate Apple!"

"Really?" I said confused. "Why?"

"The same reason I hate Christian's. Apple people are so zealous for their product that come across as super annoying to everyone around them. It's the same with Christians, you just can't have a rational conversation. They are so excited about their "product" that they can't have a conversation with you - it's them telling you about how awesome it is and if you try to critique their precious company/religion, they can't handle it. They talk at you, not to you!"

As both a self-confessed Christ follower and Apple fanboy, I was feeling a little defensive. But I had to agree with him. Mac zealots and Christians are often guilty as charged - great at sharing the "faith" but horrible at looking at it objectively. We also are famous for alienating those who question any of our "beliefs." Worse, we often annoy those close to us as we attempt to share with them.

The waiter was trying to pin such behavior on Christians and Apple zealots only, but he had to agree that there are atheist zealots and PC zealots as well. But I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. If as a Apple user I am totally convinced that Apple products are the best out there, why do I have this overwhelming need to make others think the way I do? Why can't I handle them challenging my beliefs? Is it the end of the world if they don't believe what I do? Do I give people the freedom to not choose what I have chosen?

When it comes to faith, we are commanded to share Christ with others. But do we allow people the freedom to reject it? Do we sacrifice the basic rules of communication (listening, seeking to understand others, agreeing to disagree, not being rude)? Does the end (someone coming to Christ) justify the means (being annoying, beligerant, rude, making people angry, refusing to listen to others opinions, etc). Would you listen to someone if they treated you like this? Why do some Christians expect unbelievers to respond to it? Because we have the Holy Spirit on our side? If so, this is twisted logic. I think the antidote to unrestrained zeal has to do with love for God and our neighbors. It's not about us and being right about God. It's about God and we need to humbly remember that people can choose what they will. Are you OK with that?

May Light increase!