Congratulations, Grads!

Dominion Day Adventures

Canada Day this year was spent with our good friends Paul and Darcie. We headed up to Regina Beach for the afternoon and contentedly browsed through the boutiques, basked in the sun at the beach, enjoyed some frisbee and Bocce Ball, and helped some drunkards get their car started. As it grew dark, we headed to the Legislative building for Regina's fireworks show, which was great because it happened to be the retirement celebration of the man who has put on the fireworks for the last 25 years. Very impressive!

But the best light show happened on the way home... Toward the end of the afternoon and throughout the evening we saw lightning in the distance. On the road home to Caronport, the storm met us full on. I haven't been in a storm like that in years! A wall of water and hail came on hard, thunder roared, and so much lightning flashed at once that we had to shield our eyes! It was amazing. I love being in the grip of such power, knowing that at any moment my life could be threatened. I've always, secretly, wanted to be a storm chaser. I'm absolutely thrilled by violent storms. To top all of this off, we saw a funnel cloud begin to form. It never really materialized, but we saw the beginnings of a cone shape start to swirl and angle toward the ground before it dissolved. (The picture above is of the same cloud that was over us, but the picture doesn't do the storm justice. You really had to be there.)

Congratulations, Grads!

10 Baptisms Today!

Today, church at The Gathering was truly wonderful. I always greatly enjoy baptismal services -- it's always so encouraging to hear people's stories, and to watch those who care about them come around with encouraging words of edification and scripture. This morning was more memorable than many others I've witnessed. Originally there were five people to be baptised. Interestingly, the first two quoted the same scripture, Acts 22:16, in which Paul asks, "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised, and wash your sins away, calling on his name." Taking this as a cue, Kevin and Sean (pastors) announced to those gathered, "If anyone of you feels led to respond to these words this morning, then, 'What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised, and wash your sins away, calling on his name'!"

The result was powerful. As the remaining three 'originally scheduled' people were baptised, five more came forward! It was wonderful to see these ten people declare their union with Christ today.

I love these services. Watching each one go under, and resurface anew, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for what God has done through his Messiah for us. What a powerful image Jesus has left us with in baptism, that of entering into his death with him, and rising again.

Collective Disjointment: a Rex Murphy Christmas

It's been a great Christmas holiday. Jenn and I enjoyed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Caronport with my parents, sisters, aunt, uncle, and our soon-to-be-brother-in-law, and then jetted off to Montreal for Boxing Day until New Year's Eve. It's such a nice time to slow down.


One of the funniest things this year has been running into Rex Murphy in the Toronto airport! I've always enjoyed his "Point of View" segments on the news, and his radio show. I'd recognize that face anywhere. I joked to Jenn (after we were out of ear-shot, of course), "Yep. He's definitely as ugly in person as on TV!"  He's the third sort-of-celebrity I've seen in an airport. So far, Regina's mayor, Pat Fiaco, Brent Butt from Corner Gas, and now Rex Murphy. 

It's been a lot of fun here in Montreal with Jenn's family. Lots of relaxing, eating, visiting, music, and napping. All things that make a holiday festive and restive.

I think one of my New Year's resolutions is going to be getting back to exegetical posts...

"It's the most edible time of the year!"

Christmas is here in our little abode. On Friday evening, after Jenn finished a particularly nasty exam, we celebrated by zipping into Moose Jaw to pick up a Tree. We also grabbed all sorts of things to put on it — most of which are edible!

Back before I was married, I lived in Regina with some good friends, and each Christmas we decorated the tree with lots of chocolate, candy canes, and other edibles that make the tree both shiny, because of the tinny wrapping, and interactive, because people can snack from the tree throughout the holidays.

That tradition has transfered into our keeping. Last night my little sisters came over to help us decorate the tree, drink some eggnog, and watch some Smallville. Just a couple of weeks until the big meals and get-togethers! Can’t wait!