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