It’s official – if you are part of the opposition in Canada’s Federal government you are required by law to disagree with EVERYTHING the ruling party does…every deal, every thought, every statement…and…you are required to instantly assume this posture without any previous thinking.

 

Note the recent softwood lumber agreement – a compromise finally reached after nearly 30 years of back and forth with the US over tariffs. An agreement which the lumber producing provinces agree with, an agreement which the lumber companies agree with and an agreement which the US actually agrees with. Despite this Bill Graham, leader of the opposition, practically foams at the mouth in his response while in the background some of his Liberal MP’s look to be on the verge of sleep.

 

No wonder we have such a dysfunctional government – compromise is not allowed. There is no such thing as actually appreciating a good decision if it is made by an opposing party. In fact it seems to me that some would actually prefer to pursue a continued course of pain and suffering for Canadians simply to avoid agreeing with an opposition party.

 

Each and every party and MP may claim to support a parliamentary democracy but in their actions and words they REALLY seek ongoing elected five year monarchies with no alternative but to remain in a state of constant cold war till the next election when the crown is up for grabs.

 

Pathetic.

 

(grrrr….I must be hungry)

These are some thoughts which came after finding a CD entitled "Seeing the Unseen Christ". It occured to me that although this was likely an innocent music cd it could also have been more of a manual along the lines of To Serve Man (WARNING: 60’s pop-cultural reference).

 

Imagining the cd as such opened a door to the many methods one could employ to "see the unseen Christ". Here are a few:

 

– While sitting and silently reading your Bible stealthily take a bag of well sifted flour and wildly spread it through the whole room (this works with a fire extinguisher as well). There may be a sudden wing-like flutter and some soft muttering – this is to be expected.

 

Pastor D. came up with a few too:

 

– You know those x-ray goggles sold in comics? Well – they may not work on clothes but the spiritual realm shows up great!

 

– Go into your garage and pray…then, when it is least expected – detonate a can of paint. Search for footprints later.

I stole this off of a friends myspace:

 

"Then the time came when the risk it took,
To remain tight in a bud was more painful,
Than the risk it took to blossom."  – Anais Nin

So I was listening to the local 80’s station the other day (becuase, yes, I admit, my musical preferences are anchored there) and they played Bruce Cockburn’s priceless song – Lovers in a Dangerous Time. There is a line in that song that ends in a way that makes me jealous because it is just that good:

 

"Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight. Got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight"

 

Wow. I mean – wow.

i wonder –

if a ship sank,

would the drowning

seek rescue from the drowning

oblivious of the other’s peril

aware only of their own?

 

what dread.

 

we swim the dark depths

grasping the other –

the dead looking to the dead

                                               for life

 

what dread.

 

there is a high hope

sailing in our midst

casting rings of life

but we seek salvation

on brethren’s sinking shoulders

pushing them down to darkness

cold, airless, black weight

 

and the night is filled with echoes

the drowning cursing the drowning

for failing them

                        while grace walks on the water

 

what dread.

 

Rameau weaves mischief in the night

skipping ’round corners of my living room

serious old man stumbles along

 

wants to follow

                        wants to fly

 

a deep echo of an ageless wonder

young with the aeons

 

it is enough to smile

enough to rest.

What a day!

Saturday was a busy day. I was helping run our churches first Bible Quizzing Tournament (our teams placed first and third – yeah teams).

Caleb won a Silver medal in sparring and a Gold medal in board breaking. Mu Jin also won a Silver and a Gold medal.

To top it all off Matthew beat the main quest in Oblivion – I’m betting he is the first 9 year old on the planet to beat Oblivion.

Great day!

Can you believe it? My junior youth (grade seven girls only tonight – there was a school dance) came up with a creed of their own. We studied the Apostles’ Creed and talked about how a creed was a list of statements that you believed were true and foundational in your life – then I challenged them to write one of their own – this is it (and it amazes me):

 

 

I believe in Abba Father my God.

I believe in communion with fellow believers.

I believe in love, peace and joy.

I don’t serve God because I have to;

I serve God because I want to.

I believe God answers prayer.

I believe all things are possible with God.

I believe God is the beginning and

                                                      the end.

 

Amen.