The plan is for our men's group to work through Peterson's Leap Over a Wall this year. I've read this book once and loved it. So I'm looking forward to reading it again. Here's an exaple of why you should read this book.

We can't be human without God. That's what Christians believe. We believe that this human life is great gift and every part of it is designed by God and is therefore means something, that every part of it is blessed by God and therefore to be enjoyed, that every part of is accompanied by God and is therefore workable.

We can't get away from God: he's there weather we like it or not, whether we know it or not whether we like or not. We can refuse to participate in God; we can act as if God weren't our designer, provider, and covenant presence. But when we refuse we're less; our humanity is less. Our lives are diminished and impoverished.
...
And the David story is the most complete, detailed rendering of God-dimensioned humanity that we have, the common life that God uses to shape humanity to his glory. As the story develops we see everything about us inter penetrated with God; our imaginations expand and we see what it means to live largely, aware of God's grace and beauty in every detail of which we're invited to participate in.

- Peace
Dave

My daughter just made my day.

We were out for lunch and the subject of "posers" came up. She gave the great example of a girl who has a skate board and takes it to school, only she walks it to school instead of riding it.

I gave the example of the Pharisees, a group of people who liked do dress religious and act religious but weren't interested in what God was going.

Sarah: Oh like the guy in the Jones movie

Me: [Thinking Jones Soda] Jones Movie?

Sarah: you know the guy version of Tomb Raider!

Me: Indian Jones?

Sarah: yeah the guy at the end who was dressed in all the robes but was working for the bad guys, and got killed.

Me: [me a bit stunned] Yes that's a great example, you can't be a Nazi and expect God is going to be on your side just cause you're wearing the robes.

What impressed me is Sarah took what was going on in School, connected it to my example from the Gospels and tied it together with a pop culture reference on her own. I didn't even think she was paying attention when we watched Raiders of the Lost Arc. I tend to think pop culture can provide some interesting symbols to work with, seems like my daughter has picked up on some of that. Excuse me while I beam!

- Peace

Seen this email on a list?

Acocdrnig to an elgnsih unviesitry sutdy the oredr of letetrs in a wrod
dosen't mttaer, the olny thnig thta's iopmrantt is that the frsit and lsat
ltteer of eevry word is in the crcreot ptoision. The rset can be jmbueld and
one is stlil able to raed the txet wiohtut dclftfuiiy."

Now I was skeptical cause anything that shows up via email with out specific details as to who did the research and where is almost always a hoax. But it turns out the there is some research done at UC Irving to back this up. Uncle Jazzbeau's Gallimaufrey has the details.

Do you ever feel lost, disconected, ignored? And you know you have no one to blame but your self? It's just one of those mornings...

Need to listen to Jesus Is For Losers.

- Peace

My Handspring Visor died a few weeks back, no doubt a final result of being smashed last November, part of a nasty wipe out on ice. I've replaced it with a Sony Clie Peg - SJ33. Staples had them for 299.97 CDN, but the store near me was out of stock, so I went down the block to Future Shop. Made use of their price guarantee to get it at the same price $50 and 3 cents less than Future Shop's list :) I also picked up a 128 meg memory stick for $59 CDN , so I almost got the memory stick for free! You need the memory stick to play mp3s. I'll be able to listen to music on the c-train with out carrying an extra gadget. Works for me. I can also plug the Clie into the stereo in the Element. The Element comes with an auxiliary port to plug in a walkman or mp3 player directly into the stereo.

So here's what's on my clie right now

One Bad Pig - Man In Black
Ideola - Go Ask the Dead Man
Ideola - How to Grow up Big and Strong
MXPX - Punk Rawk Show
The OC Supertones - Superfly
Pedro The Lion - BigTrucks
Midnight Oil - Say Your Prayers
Midnight Oil - Been Away Too Long
Pierce Pettis - My Life Of Crime
Bill Mallonee - Double Cure
Vigilantes Of Love - She Walks On Roses
Waterdeep - At Least I Got A Car
Jeff Elbel - Miracle Rain
Massivivid - Boomerang
Newsboys - Breakfast
Five Iron Frenzy - Wizard Needs Food, Badly
Dakoda Motor Co. - Sing Hallelujah
Dakoda Motor Co. - Win 'An 'Sea
Downhere - In America
Downhere - Feels Like Winter
Superchick - Karaoke Superstars
Riley Armstrong - Sleep
Breakfast With Amy - Come On, Joan
Breakfast With Amy - Tell Mama
D-Boy - Cease For Peace
Michael Roe - For Crying Out Load
7&7 is - UUUU
Bruce Cockburn - Waiting for a Miracle
Bruce Cockburn - Wondering Where the Lions Are
The Choir - What Is The Cherry Bomb?
The Choir - Enews only secret Choir song
Paul Aldrich - Oh, Thank Heaven
Paul Aldrich - Drivers Test
Sixpence None the Richer - Paralyzed
Sixpence None the Richer - Waiting on the Sun

- Peace

More questions from the Interview Meme.

Questions for Christopher

You are an endangered species, the male elementary school teacher. Any thoughts on how other teachers, students & parents react to you as a man in a woman's world?

My worst moment in teaching was catching students cheating. What's your worst teaching moment?

I'm a hard marker, in part cause I've failed courses and survived. Plus after school, no one asks to see your grades. How do you see the role of grades in education?

Across Canada most elementary schools run from Sept. to June. Why does your school year run from August till May?

Would you like to have kids of your own?

Questions for Roy

Fargo best known for the movie of the same name. Is that a good thing?

What's the best thing about Fargo?

What's the worst thing about Fargo?

What do you call someone from Fargo?

A you a native son of Fargo?

Update: Roy get's the fastest answers in the mid west award, for getting his answers out in a flash.

I should also note the Jay has answered his questions.

The Interview Meme

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions — each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal or blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions

From Nowheresville, USA

"In fact, Canyon Hills Church's newest series on friendship is certain to be a draw for bikini-wearing ladies who, as we all know, have difficulty making friends. As an added bonus, Canyon Hills Church in Mission Viejo, California caters to another 'cast off' segment of society - those men (single or otherwise) who want to be sandwiched between two nearly naked young ladies while worshipping God (these are those of a 'best of both worlds' mindset).

You just can't make up stuff like that.

- Peace

We got even more snow over night and I still have the digital camera. Jay I promise I'll give it back.

A friend of mine from Fredericton (east coast of Canada) came out to Edmonton for a summer job at the University of Alberta. She saw two snow storms, one in May at the end of August. That summer (91 maybe) Edmonton had only 90 days between snow storms. Alberta doesn't have seasons we have an on going argument between Summer and Winter with lot's of heckling.

- Peace

My first digital photo. You can see what's left of the snow we got today in the bush in front of our house. Click the image for larger pic.

Read: Snow falls before leaves - Sudden dump typical for Alberta

- Peace

Bye, Aquila; hello, Fortis
Newfoundland utility company scoops up Alberta power assets.

Aquila was a client of mine for almost two years.

- Peace

Jay and Gail both asked for an interview so here are the questions:

Questions For Jay

Deo Omnis Gloria means All Glory to God, how did you pick that phrase as your blog title?

Why in Latin?

The sub title of your blog is “holding out the candle of truth to the world”. Who do you see as your main audience?

One of the things I've found fascinating about the Catholic Church is it's diversity, the Jesuits who are known for their philosophy, the earthy mysticism of the Franciscans, charismatic movements like Couples for Christ, reform movements like the Voice of the Faithful, or the conservative “traditionalists” mentioned in your blog. What flavor of Catholic are you?

Who would you like to see as the next Pope?



Questions for Gail.

How did you first get interested in Live Action Role Playing (LARP)?

How often do you get out to a LARP game?

What type of Character(s) do you like to play?

Does your game character reflect your personality or are you a different character when you play?

What's your favorite thing about a LARP game?

- Peace
Dave

Some parts of christendom are still Up tight about hair.

- Peace

Entertainment Weekly's EW.com | Johnny Cash dies at 71.

Before he covered U2's one, or Nine Inch Nails Hurt, I knew Johnny Cash was cool in 1991 when he appeared on I Scream Sunday with One Bad Pig for a punk version of Man In Black. It's a good day to wear black.

- Peace

Wired News: Westerners Pretty Rich

I've often guessed that I'm in the top 10% of the world population when it comes to money. [It's all the free software I use.] Funny thing is when you say that the reaction is either, no it's can't be, you're not that rich or wow you must be super rich. Thing is it's not that hard to be in the top 10%. People in the USA who make $9300 per year are in the top 12%. I just don't think we know how rich we are. Oh and it turns out I'm in the top %1 on the planet.

Check your self on the Global Rich List.

- Peace

Just haven't been in the blogging mood. Don't know why. but here are some quick notes

• On Sunday I passed the 1000 km mark of biking for the year, my goal is 1200 km. If the weather holds out, I'd love to make it to 1500 km.
  
• SSX3 looks amazing. Christian punk band MXPX is on the soundtrack
  
• Berkeley Breathed is resurrecting Opus the penguin for a new series to appear in Sunday comics this November. Let's hope it's available on the web,
  

- Peace

Canadian Questions for Jen:

For a self described valley girl, you have quite the fascination with Canada, How did that start?

I know you've been to Canada at least once, if you could make another trip where in Canada would you go?

Do you have a favorite Canadian singer / band?

Favorite Canadian author / book?

Favorite Canadian movie and or tv show?

Update: Jen has given her answers. I'd gladly nominate here as an Honorary Canuk.

- Peace

Aug 30 - Biking in Brag Creek

Jay just sent me the pictures:

For thos that don't know, I'm the big guy on the left.

- Peace

VeggieTales Creators File for Bankruptcy - Christianity Today Magazine:

Bob the Tomato and friends sold to company that already has Lassie, Lone Ranger, and Rudolph.

Ouch. How I wish this was just a silly song. Thanks to Brad Boydston for pointing this out.

- Peace

Jen did a post on the Interview Meme, answering a set of questions and offering to interview others, and in a moment of weakness I said sure. Jen's questions and my answers follow.

Jen: You're Canadian, which means that you stereotypically live in an igloo and travel from place to place by dog sled. You interact with moose and beavers on a daily basis and say "eh" at the end of every sentence. What are some of your favorite stereotypes of Americans (now that I've listed every Canadian one that I can think of)?

DJK: I guess my favorite stereotypical American would be the blissfully oblivious American as seen on Talking to Americans with Rick Mercer.

Jen: What is "ideajoy"?

DJK: Well "ideajoy" would be a variable name, where as "IdeaJoy" is a class. See the Java naming conventions. It's seven letters that returned no documents from Google when I changed the name from Ideola. It reflects the interaction of the mind and spirit. If we had a logo it would be a dove and lightbulb.


Jen: If money was no concern and you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?

DJK: Two answers to that
1) Bike across Canada, Victoria to St. Johns. It's about 7000 km. I'll do 1200 km biking this year so if I had three – four months and was in slightly better shape I could do it.
2) Tour Africa, see Kenya, visit my sister who is looking to live in Angola.

I have a career goal to work out side of North America for at least six months. When I travel, I don't feel it's been a good trip unless I get to spend a significant amount of time talking to local people. I don't ever see my self just doing sight seeing.


Jen: You live in Calgary. Are you into rodeo stuff? Have you been to the Stampede?

DJK: Been in Alberta since 1988 and have yet to go to a rodeo. However you can't avoid the Stampede if you are in Calgary that week. Each year my daughter and I make it to a least one of the hundreds of Stampede breakfasts for pancakes and sausages. Our church holds it's carnival day during Stampede and I've helped out with that. Last year we did go down to the fair grounds. The only part I really enjoyed was the western art exhibit. For rides Calaway Park or West Edmonton Mall are better deals.


Jen: Why do you blog?

DJK: I've been on the net since the early nineties. To me it's the latest, and I'd say best form of online discussion. A set of interlinked blogs have a natural way of keeping the signal to noise ratio high. People don't link to a noisy blog. I believe one of the strengths of the net is many to many communication, Other wise it's just a poor substitute for TV.

I am obviously in love with reading my own writing.

The Interview Meme

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions — each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal or blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions

- Peace

Wired News: Study: Saving Trees Saves Water and Money

A recent evaluation showed it would cost $7 billion to build a water treatment plant, compared with a $1 billion bill for actively managing the forest catchment area by raising water taxes and paying farmers to use less fertilizer and reduce grazing.

- Peace

More on Q & A in Church

A couple of weeks back I asked Why don't we do Q & A in Church?. A freind told me the Westside Kings Church did Q & A in their service. So I emailed Tom Morris, Senior Pastor at WKC and asked him to do a brief interview, and he was kind enough to agree.

DJK: First for context, can you give me the quick answer to what is Westside Kings Church?

TM: Go to www.wkc.org it has all our vision values on it

DJK: I've heard you do Q & A as part of your services can you tell me how that fits into service, how long is the Q & A session and any other mechanics of how you do Q & A at church?

TM: Yes we do have Q & A and have been doing this for a couple of years on Sunday night at our young adult focused celebration. we have done it a few times on the other celebrations but it is a little unwieldy there. We have an evening host and after the message that person walks around and holds the mic while people ask away.

DJK: How many people attend the evening service? How many questions / how long does the Q & A sessions go?

TM: We began the evening celebration two years ago and presently have over one hundred of our regular two thousand that attend. Q and A is for around 15 mins and usually about four questions sometimes a few more.

DJK: Why did the q & a sessions start at WKC?

TM: We did it because it fits with our core ideology as to the interaction. We believe is nessesaty in the context of people influenced by a more dialouge oriented culture rather than the one way communication of the traditional modern church.

DJK: Have there been any awkward moments during Q & A, what do you do to handle them?

TM: A few. Mostly people who expose themselves in a way that shows that they really don't get what is being talked about. we have a very gracious community so it is not a big deal.

DJK: What does having a q & a session say about the WKC culture?

TM: I am not sure, but i think it says we are open and want to learn together rather than a sage on the stage we are a learning community of fellow struggelers.

- Peace

Okanagan Gleaners

Okanagan Gleaners save surplus fruits and vegetables, converting them into dried fruits and soup mixes, and donating the products to the poor and needy through reputable, well established relief organizations, soup kitchens, food banks and street ministries. Their products have been shipped to North and South America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. In 1998, most of the production went to the survivors of Hurricane Mitch in the Honduras.

People go to the Okanagan, camp at the gleaners site, help in the morning and enjoy the Okanagan valley for the rest of the day. What a brilliant idea.

- Peace