West Coast Chronicles

AV2011 Oct 3: 100 Mile Stopover

2011-10-03T10:21:00.001-07:00

Saturday eve while Carolyn was here we played Rumoli. I won 14 cents, which I will give to France for her garage sale adventures. With that she'll probably manage to buy a new coat for winter, if not an entire spring wardrobe!

Carolyn left Sunday morning. We're puttering around getting ready for the next leg of the adventure. Unhappily, I discovered that I don't have the camera USB cable with me, so until I find another one, I won't be able to post my photos.

Life on the road continues...

-- gmc --

AV2011 Day2: who knew?

2011-10-02T14:46:00.001-07:00

I noticed that trains from both CN and CP were running in the same direction on each side of the river. I wonder if this makes all those sidings such as the one at Spence's Bridge, obsolete?

Here's the technical explanation: (from Trains magazine forum)...

Re: Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Sharing Tracks in the Fraser Canyon
williamsb replied on Sat, Nov 10 2007 9:15 PM

...
CN and CP use directional running from Basque, near Ashcroft to Matsqui / Mission, BC, about 160 miles. They go west on the CN and east on the CP. At Basque both lines are on the same side of the Thompson River, right beside each other. At Matsqui on the CN they use a CP bridge to cross the Fraser River to CP's Cascade sub at Mission. This is basically what they do but they have added a bunch of other agreements to Vancouver and Roberts Bank and you could find either railroad on each others line in a lot of places out there.

Barry, Regina

-- gmc --

AV2011 Day2: Train Spotting

2011-10-02T14:26:00.001-07:00

Many years ago I worked for CN Signals, wiring the metal sheds that contain the control equipment located at each siding along this rail line from Edmonton to Vancouver. I didn't wire each one myself, but I do seem to recall working on the one for Spence's Bridge.

I wonder if these are the same buildings in service today? The ones I worked on were being installed back in the mid '70s... the control relays being installed comprised large physical switches. There was little use of solid state technology then, and even though it was coming of age, Canadian National was notorious for being slow to adopt anything new. The rail cars and bunk cars we used when out on the line installing this equipment were all out of the 1940s and 50s. I'm not exaggerating.

I've got to guess that these have been updated to much more sophisticated technology by now - but who knows. There was something satisfying about the old relays. Each one was about the size of a large university textbook - or a copy of Victor Hugo's Les Miserable. It was a comfortable size to work with, and having clear plastic (how modern!) walls, you could actually look inside and watch the mechanical switches moving up and down, making or breaking contacts as controlled by the magnetic masters.

In those days, this equipment was being installed as part of the modernizing of the train control system. All the sidings west of Edmonton, up to Jasper or some such place were now to be controlled from a central control board in Edmonton. The next sector west was being routed into a control room located in Vancouver. All the bungaloes (as the control sheds located at each siding are called) were being wired in the CN Calder shops and then shipped out on flat car to the field for installation. I originally worked on one of these crews when I started with CN, but then later I was able to arrange a transfer into town after Paul was born. After doing this job for a couple of years I went back to University, but they re-hired me as summer help for a couple of seasons. As I was experienced already, the pay was much better than minumum wage, so it helped finanance my education - and my flight training!

-- gmc --

Autumnal Voyages 2011 - Day 2

2011-10-02T14:25:00.001-07:00

Spence's Bridge in the morning... I'm up and slowly waking up at 7 AM as the sky lightens over the Thompson River. The canyon walls are steep here, but not quite so much as downriver 10 Kms at the Goldpan campground. I'm staying at the Acacia Grove site right in town. This is partly due to the fact that Goldpan is slated to close for the season today, Oct. 1, but more due to the fact that Acacia Grove has electricity and I didn't want to freeze my buttoskis overnight. I kept the little electric radiator running overnight and it was quite comfortable here for sleeping.

The morning peace in the canyon is refreshing. There's a constant background rush from a section of white water on the river starting here. This russshhh sound is puncutated by an occaisional crow call, and just now by the footsteps of some critter - crow? squirrel? on my rooftop.

Every 10 minuntes or so a train rumbles up or down one side of the valley or the other. This seems like a louder, more mechanical rapids of metal and technology that buries the gentler sounds of nature for a few moments, then is gone. The perpetual sounds of the natural environment return. Perhaps this serves as a good analogy for our human presence on the planet? Sound and Fury signifiying nothing, which momentarily seems to blot out the primordial earth, but is gone in a fleeting moment, as the underlyng, irrepressible nature re-emerges, proving once again what true might, power and staying force looks like.

-- gmc --

Autumnal Voyages - part 1

2011-10-02T14:19:00.001-07:00

These are the Autumnall 2011 Voyages of the RV Ship, Westy. It's ten day mission - find 100 Mile House, then Edmonton and return safely to Nanaimo.

Day 1: Hitching a ride on the Good Ship Alberni, the Westy and its valiant crew left behind the comfortable climes of Vancouver Island and headed off into the terrible regions of City-Topia aka Vancouver City and Suburbs. This is a sprawling planet of endless, teaming masses of vehicles and peoples...

I dropped off a microwave and some housekeeping items for Paul and his new apartment. We had a short, pleasant visit during which questions of dog poop arose along with aroma of same. Neither of us could detect the source, of course checking carefully the soles of our shoes. Later however, I detected some brown foreign matter on the side of my shoe which idicated that some canine fecal matter had likely been encountered.

I eventually escaped City-Topia but not without one wrong turn, or rather a missed turn that sent me on a side trip along Marine Drive. I regained the outbound routing via Highway 99 and the Route 10 to the old Fraser Highway, connecting to Route 11 in Abbotsford. This took me across the Fraser river, over to Mission and then finally into the quiet country driving I enjoy.

At supper time I came upon my rest stop for the night at Spence's Bridge. I am almost the only vehicle in the RV campsite and enjoying views of the North Thompson? River as well as the CN and CP rail lines along the canyon... Here comes another train right now. Hang on!!

Mt. Corriveau

2011-06-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

Mt. Corriveau (bottom left)... On the map.

And looming over the north end of Chilliwack lake...

Another view... Mt. Corriveau is to the right, behind the closer peak...

Wander or Wonder?

2011-06-22T09:58:00.001-07:00

Sitting here watching morning rush hour on the Harrison river...

Accompanied by a local beach cat who must live nearby

Wondering if I'll just hang out in Kilby campground today or go a wanderin' ...

Yale, Hope, Harrison and Kilby

2011-06-21T16:19:00.001-07:00

My favorite fuel stop in Yale. This marks the southern end of the Fraser canyon. Paddle wheel boats used to chug up this far during the gold rush.

I dropped into the Yale museum but it was closed today. The parts of the display outside gave some background of the local history:

So artsy... rails and trains are kind of neat - and inescapable all along the valley as both the CN and CP mainlines run through here. I saw one RV park that advertised "No Trains" ... indicating they are far enough away to escape the rumbling train noises I guess. But that's just music to my ears along with airplane noises.

After a false start at one very unsatisfactory campground I ended up at the "historic" Kilby campground. I'll explore their historic stores and buildings on the way out tomorrow. Today I'm enjoying the sandy beach, shady campsite, and ...

Of course "Trainspotting!" as some campgrounds call it - a great attempt to make the most of it! (The rumble of the train fills the background as I type. Amazing how sound carries over water.)

Monday June 20 - Goldpan Campsite near Spence's Bridge

2011-06-21T16:00:00.001-07:00

Goldpan campsite is 10 KM south of Spence's Bridge, right next to the Thompson river. Like all the water around here this year, the river is running high! I have a video of a mother Loon swimming along the wild water with a chick on her back and a few more skipping along behind her. I'll see if I can post it somehow. In the meanwhile, here's my kitchen window view Monday night (June 20):

CAZ5 and a nice CH601XL

2011-06-21T15:55:00.001-07:00

A reminder that there was a time when the Canadian government actually supported and helped grow our network of local airports. Not now.

100 Mile House Airport

2011-06-20T11:23:00.001-07:00

Where's the rest of the runway? Just over the hill... That's the top of the windsock located at the far end. The 100 Mile House airstrip has a definite slope and is generally used as a one-way runway, landing uphill and taking off downhill.

Bridge Lake

2011-06-20T11:22:00.001-07:00

Some images from Bridge Lake, Cottonwood campground. Deb and Tony barbequed a lovely meal for Bill for Father's Day and I got invited ;-) ... The weather's been cool and rainy. Which is fine for me, but some folks who favor heat and sunshine, not so much...

Boat Launch

Gramma says "hi"

Bill by his 'rig' ... next to Westy

Continuing Chaos...

Catching Up

2011-06-19T05:22:00.001-07:00

So, where am I now?

We've been back in 100 Mile House since Wednesday night. Carolyn pushed on home Thursday. This weekend there's a family camping weekend planned which will include some father's day stuff for Bill. The weather was poor Saturday, so today, being Sunday should see me back on the road at least as far as Bridge lake, then .... who knows...

If it's Monday this must be Camrose...

2011-06-13T08:15:00.001-07:00

Today we're off to Camrose for lunch with some Vars cousins...

Then home to Sandy's in time for pizza and the hockey game.

The Other Side of the Mountain

2011-06-11T03:55:00.001-07:00

Hanging out in Edmonton this weekend, after a pleasant drive over from 100 Mile House.

-- gmc --

Texture of Reality

2011-06-08T06:03:00.001-07:00

A day for wandering and wondering. Then supper with Mom & Bill to celebrate her birthday.

Lillooet airport...

Chasm near 100 Mile House...

Taberwet, Hot & Dry in Lillooet!

2011-06-07T08:03:00.001-07:00

Today I visited the airport at Pemberton, which is home to several gliders and parachute operations.

I came upon a BC Hydro campsite provided free of charge and as it was time to make camp for the night decided this would be 'it.' This is a remarkable challenge for several reasons. First the bear and cougar warnings will be of interest to France ;-0

Second, there is no WiFi and NO cellular telephone service!! I'm cut off from civilization!!! Oh noooo!!! heh heh. Well, fear not, I do have an iTunes movie downloaded and here I am writing my blog... so I'm not totally roughing it.

The weather is very hot and dry here near Lillooet. At one point my thermometer on the RV said it was 29 degrees...

then we climbed up into the mountains and the temperature dropped to about 21C .... and there was still 3 feet of snow on the ground. ??? crazeee.

Enough to make a person start seeing things!

That's all for now sports fans ... I'll post all this tomorrow (Tuesday) as soon as I find a WiFi hotspot.

Airport Meandering

2011-06-07T08:02:00.001-07:00

Sunday, on the way to Victoria, I stopped in at the Duncan airport. It's a compact private airport surrounded by a gravel pit, which makes for some challenging approaches at the best of times. The runway is about 1500 feet long, so depending what you're flying, you may need to be very accurate on speed and touchdown point.

Augering In...

2011-06-04T17:59:00.001-07:00

An auger is a tool used to dig holes for fence posts, or holes in the ice on a frozen lake to go ice fishing.

"Augering in" is an expression used by pilots to describe what an aircraft does when it spins out of control and hits the ground.

Today as I was helping patrol the aircraft parking area at the Nanaimo Fly-In & Airshow, I turned at the sound of a very low-flying plane behind me just in time to watch the aircraft in the opening act of the airshow, auger in. It was a sickening sight. At my first glimpse I was aware that something wasn't as it should be, and in the space of about five seconds, it was over as the plane snap-rolled to the right and plowed into the grass on the far side of the runway. A sudden squelching of the engine roar. A dust cloud kicked up, and the silence.

That was a few hours ago now and according to the CBC news report "a 71 year old pilot was airlifted to Victoria Airport with life-threatening injuries..."

At least it seems, he survived the impact - he may still live... That's all I know right now.

And in the age of youtube, here's your chance to share the moment. Appropriate comments supplied by shocked spectators.
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=QwM_pqgJlWA

CYCD Fly In Preps

2011-06-03T19:57:00.001-07:00

I'm hanging out at CYCD, getting my RV ready to roll, and taking in the preparations for the annual Nanaimo Flying Club fly in.

House of Cards

2009-07-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

This NBC production is "required viewing" to understand how the current crisis was engineered and spread to engulf the world's economy. Fascinating, living, history.

Well worth the time to view.

Off the beaten track by rail

2009-02-04T10:07:00.001-08:00

I would be so "in" for a crossing of Canada along the rail lines like this - but maybe in a slightly more comfortable vehicle! What fun to be off the beaten track and not have to steer and watch the traffic while travelling through all the amazing scenery!

Old Times

2009-01-10T14:30:00.001-08:00

I love that these old shows and cartoons are out there:

Go! Squirrel!

50 Great Thoughts to Live By...

2009-01-06T11:19:00.001-08:00

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood, but the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24 The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter? A hundred?..."
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36 Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield..
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

"May the Lord's face radiate with joy because of you." Numbers 6

Nanaimo's Winter Wonderland

2008-12-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

France had cause to break her fur coat out of retirement as we got hit with two weeks of snow and below normal winter temperatures! She's still smiling... that's because we haven't started shoveling, yet.

Ah yes - the attitude of a true winter warrior... did I mention we hadn't started shoveling yet?

Food Chain

2008-12-17T00:08:00.000-08:00

It's a standing joke that when you go for a walk in the country in BC you're not just part of the scenery, but also part of the food chain. Case in point from recent news.

Working late...

2008-11-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

I'm often working until after dark these days... of course that just means until about 6 p.m.. Today I got the right wing baggage locker door almost finished, and started on my project to improve the top cowling.

Winter Works Project

2008-11-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

I have a very nice hangar space rented for the winter:
Now I can work comfortably on a couple of larger projects that are due. I originally left the wing lockers unfinished so I could get the airplane flying sooner. Now I can finally finish them. Today I cut a big hole in the top of the right wing - I sure hope this works!

I used to say that I would paint the airplane when I was finished cutting holes in it. Well, now I'm not sure I'll ever finish making changes and improvements and adding little features. That's part of the enjoyment. And now that I'm retired, I have more time than money. I think this will be one of my winter projects. For inspiration, here's how an older Piper 140 looks with a polished aluminum finish:

My Good News "network"

2008-08-02T23:55:00.001-07:00

There is a lot of good news happenings in the world that don't get enough press coverage. So I thought I'd grab a couple and post them:

A miraculous fall:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7539277.stm

Growing freedoms within China:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7537326.stm

Errington Fleet

2008-07-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

While driving along Grafton Rd., I came across this entire fleet of
dry-docked aluminum boats. They seem to be in good repair, as if
ready to fish the forested seas of Errington.

Shogun, Haley M, and Grand Slam had at least enough history to acquire
names. The others are unidentified. Each one seems to be
built for a particular task - I'm curious to know what
those were and why they're here.

Life in Three Dimensions

2008-07-19T17:37:00.001-07:00

The Caribou-Chilcotin region of BC is dotted with many lakes and
ponds:

Paul contemplates Green Lake...

Mount Begbie fire tower and lookout:

The Mount is not too tall, but the climb up has cliffs just high enough to barely kill you if you fell over....

The fire tower commands a huge panorama of the Caribou-Chilcoten plateau which sits at about 3,000 feet above sea level.

Road Trip

2008-07-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

Paul and I drove up to 100 Mile House to visit "Gramma and Bill" ... but a fire in the Fraser Canyon sent us on a detour. We'd normally have taken the Trans Canada Hiway at Hope up through Lytton and then Hiway 97 at Cache Creek to continue north.

Instead we took the Coquihalla as far as Merritt. There we got onto the local hiways again and had a very quiet scenic drive towards Logan Lake, then past the huge Highlands open pit copper and molybdenum mine, then back onto our normal route.

Some photos:

Re: Accountingability

2008-07-01T14:51:00.001-07:00

Response from London Mabel:

Not for me, bebby! I'm allergic to counting calories. (And do keep in mind that the BMI is not a great tool.)

Check out this book next time you're at Chapters--it's coool.

http://www.amazon.ca/Mindless-Eating-More-Than-Think/dp/0553384481/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214948666&sr=8-1

Brian Wansink is a Stanford Ph.D. and the director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. He's spent a lifetime studying what we don't notice: the hidden cues that determine how much and why people eat. Using ingenious, fun, and sometimes downright fiendishly clever experiments like the "bottomless soup bowl," Wansink takes us on a fascinating tour of the secret dynamics behind our dietary habits. How does packaging influence how much we eat? Which movies make us eat faster? How does music or the color of the room influence how much we eat? How can we recognize the "hidden persuaders" used by restaurants and supermarkets to get us to mindlessly eat? What are the real reasons most diets are doomed to fail? And how can we use the "mindless margin" to lose–instead of gain–ten to twenty pounds in the coming year?

Accountingability

2008-07-01T08:26:00.001-07:00

It's a known phenomenon that just the act of accurately tracking expenses leads to improved financial control. Even before implementing a budget, etc... I think it's the same for food intake... Anyway I'm stuck at a plateau in my desire to regain a healthier weight... always fluctuating around 220 to 225 ish...

So I'm getting back on a piece of dieting software I bought a while back - it helped me calculate body mass index, reasonable caloric target for gradual loss, etc... I think I'll put this in my Blog too as a way of "going public" with my goal of attaining a healthier weight and activity level.

To put this in perspective, my "ideal" weight is about 190 to 200. A 30 lb. reduction would be nice as this also happens to be how much fuel my little plane burns for one hour of flight. It would be like adding a performance gain in the airplane at NO COST! Wow...

FWIW if you care:

http://www.calorieking.com/software/ckdietdiarymac.php

Another lovely evening

2008-06-20T23:50:00.001-07:00

I went for a lovely evening flight today - the last official day of
Spring in the northern hemisphere....

Backyard Visitors

2008-06-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

We had some visitors in the backyard recently... The new fawns are
here! The new fawns are here! These are 'the twins' ...

Jack Point send off...

2008-06-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

I drove Terri to the Duke Point ferry terminal then managed to find the park and trail to Jack Point. It's in this weird industrial area along the point so at first I was wondering if this was going to be worth it. But it definitely was.

The first km or so of the trail is in an area with highway and industrial noise from the lumber mill, but suddenly it descends into the quietness of a wilderness beach park. A few muted city sounds from Nanaimo make it across the bay along the north/west edge. At Jack Point itself, the view towards the city, then sweeping around to Gabriola island is awesome.

Once I suddenly encountered three huge ravens sitting on a dead branch near the path. I think one was a chick as his feathers were a little ragged like he had just lost his baby down. I began assuring them not to be afraid of me, then realized that as huge as they were, maybe I was the one that should be worried.
Some beautiful photos:
http://www.pbase.com/lady_d/jack_point_nanaimo

A further discovery about the historical significance of the point:

Jack Point Portal fall 2008

Jack Point, or slhthemun, a place of great spiritual significance for the Snuneymuxw First Nation people, is located near the Duke Point ferry terminal. At the tip of Jack Point there was once a salmon petroglyph where several species of salmon were carved into the rock. Each season here the shaman would perform a ritual ceremony guaranteeing an abundance of seafood for his community.

However, this petroglyph was removed from the site in the early 1970s and given to the Nanaimo Museum. The Snuneymuxw people strongly believe that this petroglyph needs to be returned so that the salmon and other seafood will return to the Nanaimo Estuary and the Nanaimo River.

In late fall, during the second portal ceremony, the salmon petroglyph will be returned to its original sacred site.

Tiercel

2008-06-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Gregg had to close his King's Cafe due to many issues - too bad, it had neat potential. But along the way one of his customers gave him a 40 foot fishing boat. Yes, gave! Life is an adventure...
Apparently a Tiercel is a kind of hawk. The motor and gear work fine. Gregg's working on a new coat of paint and then it'll be all shipshape and ready to rock 'n roll....

2008-06-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

For a few weeks I've been learning a little about playing Bass Guitar. Mostly what I'm learning is that I don't like playing guitar. I don't have excellent fine motor skills in my fingers like some folks. I don't like having the guitar slung on my neck or perched awkwardly on my lap. I don't like twisting my neck around trying to see what I'm trying to do on the fret board. I just don't enjoy the guitar as an instrument.

Which is kind of funny because I LOVE listening to what others do on this instrument. I'm enthralled by Steve Bell, and Eric Bibb and others who can tickle those little metal strings into a life of their own.

But as I've often suspected, I don't enjoy the mechanical process of guitar playing myself. I think I'd rather play the piano. Or maybe the xylophone/marimba .... something that's all out front of me, played at arm's length, incorporating percussion and space to play in. Similar to drums but with actual notes...

And learning more about music itself fascinates me. The whole concept of what music is and is not. How different cultures determine and define musical notes (i.e. why is oriental music so different than western music?) ... the science behind it. This all fascinates me and I hope to do more. In the meantime, I guess I'll keep plucking away at the bass guitar. Bassists seem to be in short supply around here...
But I wonder if I can invent a new instrument that I'd enjoy playing more... like maybe a Bass Piano keyboard? A Bass Pedal on my drums that can trigger a normal range of bass notes ...? Something...

La la la la la la la la la la la la la.... er, la?

2008-05-24T04:44:00.000-07:00

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.)
Literature Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Social Nerd
Anime Nerd
Drama Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

May Day Flight

2008-05-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

That's May Day - not "mayday!" Significant difference. Last week I took a little hop over Nanaimo for sightseeing as well as recording some performance parameters for the aircraft. Here's a shot of the Pacific Biological Station in Departure Bay.

I recorded some video, which I've posted on my aviation-oriented blog:

A walk in the park....

2008-05-17T20:22:00.001-07:00

Sunset at the shore

2008-05-16T22:52:00.001-07:00

Summer at last ...

Good Vibe-rations

2008-05-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

So, our new wheels look approximately like this ---

It's a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. It's called a crossover vehicle because it's sort of a mini-van and a car. Or some call it a mid-size sports-wagon.

The things we like it for:

Economy - a small 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter engine should give us significantly better fuel costs than the old van. And the purchase price was less than say a new Toyota Corolla, or similar car.

Utility - the back seats fold flat, along with the front passenger's seat so we can still toss in an 8 foot long piece of lumber, or maybe even an airplane wing when I need too?

Durability and Reliability - the main running gear is built by Toyota and it is mechanically the same car as the Matrix. It has a pretty good reputation for lasting a long time with no big maintenance issues.

Sportiness and solid driving feel - hey, we're not dead yet...

And there's even an online Forum for Vibe enthusiasts/owners. That should prove handy.

Slime of the Earth Award

2008-05-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am officially awarding my newly-founded "Slime of the Earth" award to Bank Credit Card companies. Their tactics promoting excessive and unwise use of credit continues to astound and outrage me.

My current month's Mosaik Mastercard statement says:

"TO HELP YOU MEET UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL DEMANDS WE HAVE MADE THIS MONTH'S PAYMENT OPTIONAL. IF YOU SKIP THIS MONTH'S PAYMENT, INTEREST WILL ACCUMULATE. ..."

First of all, thanks So Much for offering such generous "help." With help like this the average person who doesn't understand the full details of credit cards is doomed to a life of indebtedness. In feudal times we called it "Indentured Servitude" and worse.

Secondly, what is the credit rate that they are offering me this generous "help" at? No less than 18.5% ! The official term for this used to be Usuary.

Merriam Webster: usury

- the lending of money at an ... unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest;

A few years back I recall a public outrage over high credit card rates that forced the banks to lower them. Then the inflation-crisis of the 80s came along and card rates soared up to their current levels. And now with bank rates down around 5%, the Cards keep charging outrageous rates and customers actually buy in.

Hello Customers! Get a bank loan at a much lower rate. Never! Never! Never, buy something on a credit card that you won't be paying off In Full at the next statement.

And speaking of statements. Have you ever noticed how credit card statements use a strange number of days for their payment cycles - never a regular calendar month? Why do you suppose that is? Could it be so we can never get into a steady rhythm of paying off our card balances each payday? And every now and then we will be hit with a double whammy -- credit card statements at the beginning and the end of the same month. Is the bank deliberately setting us up to pay this exorbitant interest on our balance?

So, in recognition of their enormous Greed and Predatory Attitude, I hereby award the first ever "Slime of the Earth" award to all Credit Card Companies who operate this way. (Which is all of them in my experience...)

Summer begins at last!

2008-05-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

Well, by Thursday that is... I love the night time tempertures too. It cools off around here at night which makes sleeping more comfortable and air conditioning is not often needed:

For the Birds

2008-05-13T11:52:00.001-07:00

I spend some time most weeks helping out at the World Parrot Refuge near Coombs. That's just a 40 minute drive up the road from home. One way I help out is by posting updates and features to their website: www.worldparrotrefuge.org

Over the last week or two I put together a couple of videos to illustrate how much continual effort goes into this amazing facility. I thought I'd copy them here as well:
PART ONE

PART TWO

Catch a Wave?

2008-05-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Apparently our trusty red Caravan is no longer so trusty. Our mechanic says that rust is attacking areas of the chassis and this makes it a poor investment to keep repairing. Any old car can be kept running a long time if rust in the frame/chassis can be avoided.

I realized yesterday that there are NO shops around Nanaimo specializing in under-coating to protect cars from rust and corrosion! Guess why.... There is a world of difference in the condition of older cars in this part of the world vs. Quebec and Ontario. Those "down east" cars are subject to the worst salting of the roads because their climate is such that salt is the main tool used to keep the roads clear. On the prairie province roads, the temps are usually so cold that salt doesn't work as well, and plowing/sweeping has to be used more. And on the west coast of course, the roads are rarely in need of winter maintenance of any kind (the interiour is a different story).

We decided to look at some "next-to-new" models around the 10 to 12,000 dollar level as a replacement that we can expect to keep for 10+ years. Perhaps we'll "Catch a Wave" ...

Book of the Week

2008-04-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

The snow's all melted but it's still cool for this time of year... a good excuse to kick back and finish reading a book I bought as part of my Christmas cum Birthday present from my sister, Shelley (thanks again)! (If I'd known the online prices were so much better than the store prices I would have shopped online!)

In this autobiography Bobby Ackles describes his career. He literally climbed from his first job as water boy for the earliest incarnation of the B.C. Lions football team, to the front office of the current Grey Cup champs/contenders, with some significant stops in the NFL and XFL along the way.

Like most sports memoires it won't win a Pulitzer, but it's an enjoyable read. I found it interesting to see the transparency that exists between the CFL and NFL. Bob describes working relationships amongst football teams and individuals that move easily across the national boundary and league lines. When teams are looking for the right staff and players, there seems to be a level playing field. The right person for the job, with the right professional team experience is usually considered. That's interesting.

Because he was so much involved with team building and player evaluations and so forth, I would have enjoyed more insights into the key differences at various positions that might determine a player's chance of success in one league versus the other. In the epilogue Mr. Ackles touches a little on this, but more would have been appreciated:

"The NFL is a different kettle of fish - because it is huge. It's a different game. The athletes are different: in general, they're about 20 percent bigger, faster and more powerful. Still the same values hold sway in each league."

"If you have quality Canadians, you can find American players for other positions. There is just such a huge pool of talent south of the border.... Finding talented Canadians who can play at a professional level was more difficult."

He shares some insights regarding how professional players have changed over the last few decades, for example:

"...Kids today are coached constantly and, as they get to higher and higher levels, especially in the U.S., they receive specialized attention. In college and university, they have 10 to 12 assistant coaches... there are as many as 20 assistant coaches in the NFL..."

He's vociferous about keeping the NFL out of Canada, as he believes it would kill the CFL:

"... I sure don't want to see the Grey Cup game disappear, especially just because a few people in Toronto need an NFL franchise to feel good - to feel they're "major league." That's really what it is, isn't it? Ego. ... You will eliminated the economic benefits, the players, the support staff, the money that the Grey Cup brings into each host city. The economic impact of the Grey Cup in Vancouver was between $46 and $48 million. ... Other than for a few people and one city, what is the advantage of a (NFL) franchise -- except, as I say, for a few greedy people to turn $1 billion into $6 billion, while screwing the rest of the country."

I guess that's pretty clear!

I enjoyed seeing how hard work, dedication, loyalty, luck and a little chutzpa propelled Bob through all levels of professional football. It's nice to know this still happens.

Earth Day 2008, April 26, Bowen Park 11, am-4:30pm

2008-04-19T23:02:00.001-07:00

Bowen Park has been transformed. A brand-new stream flows through the forest. Built by DFO last year, as a natural fishway it allows fish access to the Millstone River, bypassing all the falls. It works!

Last year coho swam up the channel to spawn in the river, and some of them spawned in the channel itself. If you haven't seen the new stream, you have never lived. The Goldstream is lame by comparison. On Saturday, April 26th, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this modern miracle. If you want to come down and see the stream, there will be a conducted tour at 11:30 am.

After four months of intensive planning, the Earth Day Committee is hosting Earth Day Nanaimo 2008. It was no small task, but we have set up for a fun event, with music, stuff for kids, and most important of all (to me), a tree-planting tournament. We have purchased 150 native plants, and we need to get them into the ground, to protect and enhance the new stream. We are doing an ivy removal exercise, to liberate the native trees from the tyranny of this invasive parasite. We will provide the tools but if you want to bring a pair of snips to cut ivy, please do.

For kids, there will be a fishing expedition, using fry traps and nets, to see what is there. The kids can go wading in the creek, using special buckets to see the life beneath the surface. Budding biologists will be supplied with waders and nets to do their own exploration. The flowers are in bloom, so you will see White fawn lilies hiding in the forest.

P.S. the White fawn lilies are still out at Piper's Lagoon.

April Showers ... of SNOOOWWW!!?

2008-04-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here's what we woke up to this morning! I guess it's a good day to stay home and read and putter... D'OH!

A Day

2008-04-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

First, a musical theme for this day:

A deer hobbled past my window Saturday morning, unable to put weight on her left rear leg. She'd injured it - probably struck by a car. Some days I hate the world we've made, where our need to move seems so pressing that we've invented hurtling, lethal masses of metal which we drive at speeds harzardous to every other living creature on the planet. I hate our cities and roads that cut swaths through virgin forests, destroying habitat and creating new, incomprehensible mazes for all the forest beings.

And some days I don't know why God loves us so much, because frankly, on these days, I'd just as soon do away with us all and leave the planet in peace.

In my heartache I drove my own hurtling hunk of metal out to the parrot refuge where I spent the afternoon cuddling Ester. His remnant tumor on his tail was bugging him. Some days he can't rest because he seems to have twinges in his legs from the scar. So he fidgets and twitches and scratches at the tumor until he pulls the scab off and it bleeds. And that's okay with me (and Wendy). We don't "scold" him like some do for picking at this. Sometimes a wound just needs to bleed. I think.

So I hold him and massage his legs and stroke his ribs and pray in his ear. I remind him what an amazing creature he is and how beautiful he is. I tell him of his future when he will fly more freely and gloriously than we can ever imagine here in this painful era. And I recall the scriptures telling me how all of creation groans, awaiting it's ultimate liberation on that day when we the children will finally be born and fully revealed.

In the meantime my heart groans and like the psalmist's it cries out: "How long, Lord? How Long?"

Soon a mother and father arrive at the front counter with their daughter. She's about 15 years old but due to autism she seems much younger. She has trouble communicating, but apparently she's been here before with her school and loves the birds. She blurts out phrases from time-to-time which remind me of Dustin Hoffman's character in The Rainman. Her name is Stephanie.

As they begin their visit the parents soon realize that Stephanie cannot handle the continual noise and turmoil of the parrots, so Dad retreats outdoors with her to enjoy the warm spring day. Mom takes her turn to visit the other parts of the refuge before returning so Dad can have his visit. And I take Ester out for one his favourite pastimes - a walk in the sun.

Ester and I finally join Stephanie and her dad on a bench by the front door. Ester is now resting in my arms half asleep. Steph loves having the bird close by and from time-to-time she reaches up to stroke his wondrously soft feathers. Then she pulls her hand back as if she's experiencing something too lovely to endure, shuddering in delight. She blurts out some unintelligible (to me) words.

And maybe this is a good analogy for my heartache today. Maybe life in it's wholeness is just too wonderful for me? I do know that to be open fully to the true joy of the world, we also have to be open to the pains and disappointments as well. It's as if these two extremes are felt with the same sensors. And to live life wide open to the one, means being open to the other. And isn't this what all the poets of the ages have tried to tell us? That in order to truly laugh we also have to truly cry.

Slowly, my heart-sorrow and pity for the deer, and for Ester, and for Stephanie and her parents begins to fade and is replaced by admiration for their courage and strength and endurance. I am gently over-whelmed by their determination. That they dare to go on despite the suffering. Every day, they choose to care. They choose to live.

My heart heals just a little.

Then it's time for me to leave the refuge.

At the Qualicum Beach airport the sun is still brightly shining. A few small planes come and go, but generally I putter in solitude, surrounded by the sounds of life as I prepare my small plane for flight. Building and flying this machine was another experience in emotional highs and lows. There were exhilarating moments of accomplishment and thanksgiving, and there were times when I wanted to turn the damn thing into a huge lawn ornament - or worse. The final test of will came when the engine problems surfaced, causing several near power-losses in flight. I finally tracked down the cause and fixed it. Since then the engine has performed flawlessly. But trust, once broken, heals slowly - one flight at a time.

Soon I'm airborne again, surprised as always. When I really think about it I am still in awe that I can lever skyward borne only by ephemeral wind made solid through speed. The snow capped peaks of Mount Arrowsmith shadow me on the right, while the calm waters of Georgia Straight bracket me on the left. I climb to three thousand feet and put the aircraft through some gentle stall maneuvers, feeling the airflow breaking and re-clutching the surface of the wing. I take note of some airspeeds which I will use later to form a more detailed picture of the airplane's performance envelope.

It's good to be lost in activity.

The radio silence is momentarily broken as a small group of pilots returning from a day-trip to Tofino and back chatter happily. It's been a glorious day for sight-seeing across the mountains. I know how close the west coast of the island is by air and hope to make the same trip myself soon when both I and the aircraft are ready. Sometimes life seems to be about waiting, but its actually about preparation.

The flight ends with a smooth approach and touchdown as I see how slowly I can land and how little runway I can use. More information for the flight manual. As I pull back into my parking spot, and shutdown the engine and pop open the canopy I sit peacefully for a moment, feeling the freshness of the breeze and the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

It's been a day of huge emotions and now I'm spent. I'm calm.

The Life goes on. The Day is just a little closer. Even so Lord Jesus, Come.

And now maybe I'll close on this hopeful note:

April Showers

2008-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you believed the forecast you'd think it was rainy here most of this week. But it wasn't. The showers were fairy sparse with many sunny breaks. But the temperatures have been around plus 8 degrees each day which is a littler cooler than the average of 13°.

I see the weekend is forecast to be mainly sunny and a balmy +16 or so! Whoopee.

Rainy Morning and King's Cafe Article

2008-04-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

So, just to tell the truth, it does sometimes rain in Nanaimo - like this recent morning. But happily, by afternoon the sun was breaking out again. We seldom get those long dreary rainy spells that many associate with the west coast. And at least the trees are blooming.

This recent newspaper article was published about Gregg's new restaurant adventure, The King's Cafe:

Walking Near Nanaimo Lakes

2008-04-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

The snow in the hills around town is largely gone although there's still lots on the moutain peaks. We drove with our neighbours up the Nanaimo River road and then walked on some of the forestry roads that aren't currently open to traffic. The huge S64 logging helicopter showed up and was apparently doing some training in the area:

Englishman River Falls

2008-03-29T16:17:00.001-07:00

We hope to develop the habit of getting out and about more regularly for some walking, exercise and fresh air. So this afternoon we drove over to Englishman River Falls Provincial Park and hiked the short circle tour past the upper and lower falls. Next time we'll have to visit French Creek...

France took these photos:

The Upper Falls disappearing into the crevice...

Some Mysterious Forest Creature...?

The Lower Falls

Spring Snow...sss

2008-03-28T08:13:00.001-07:00

I better not get too smug about weather - we're still on the verge of some weather that could actually leave some accumlation on the ground... Nooooooo! ;-)

Where the wind blows...

2008-03-27T11:42:00.001-07:00

After spending thousands of hours cruising over the world at 30,000+ feet, I look forward to revisiting some spectacular places at much lower altitude. Bryce Canyon comes to mind.

Here are two photos from a Swiss pilot who's already doing this:

Somewhere in North Africa:

Somewhere in the Swiss Alps

(The strings on the wing are part of his aerodynamic testing of some wing modifications. This is a standard way of making airflow "visible" during such tests.)

Refuge

2008-03-27T11:28:00.001-07:00

France and I went up to the World Parrot Refuge last Saturday for a special event (see previous post). Here's a shot of me with my buddy, Frodo taking video of the presentation:The Casino regularly donates money from the unclaimed winnings fund, to charity. Last Saturday they contributed $11,111 towards a future, on-site avian veterinarian facility.

World Parrot Refuge Donation

2008-03-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

My sense of celebrating Easter with a weekend-long festival was enhanced by the news that Great Canadian Casinos just made a significant contribution towards an onsite veterinary facility at the World Parrot Refuge. We went down on Saturday to help them celebrate and witness the "big check" event:

King's Cafe now open

2008-03-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

King's Cafe is now OPEN on Haliburton street in Nanaimo. Located in the old Balmoral Hotel, it specializes in fish and chips, and other seafood. The owner, Gregg Hoffstad also plans to sell fresh/frozen seafood. Seeing as he used to make his living as a commercial fisherman, he has good sources for fresh product.

The atmosphere is 'laid back' ... kind of a 50s cafe/diner. The decor is eclectic - from faux Coke lampshades, to fishing floats and nets and rods, to old musical instruments ... It's the kind of space where folks will feel welcome to sit and visit and relax over a meal or cup of coffee.
Gregg is planning to host special events. Maybe an evening to watch a movie on a big screen? I'm sure live music featuring local musicians will be on tap as well. Right now background music is provided by an old turntable and record albums. If you don't find what you like, drop into Heritage Music at the bottom of the street where you can find most any album ever produced. Bring it on in and drop it on the platter!
Gregg's menu also features hearty breakfasts. The front window offers a great view of south Nanaimo harbour. Come on Down!

The Cremation of Sam McGee

2008-03-06T18:39:00.001-08:00

When I was young I recall how much fun it was having my gramma come for a visit and stay over. In the morning my sisters and I would crawl into bed with her and cuddle and have her tell us stories. One of the favorite things she'd do is recite from memory some poems from Robert W. Service. Our favourite was the Cremation of Sam McGee, which I've now passed on to my own kids. A strange sort of family tradition, but I guess it suits our macabre sense of humor:

In memory of Grams, heres a slightly stranger version - as read by a robot:

The Chicken Coops vs. Nature

2008-03-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

While I understand that people like a high viewpoint of the fantastic scenery around here, it troubles me that this is what some local developer (with city approval at some level) considers acceptable. I don't care how cheap or how expensive such units are, these "chicken coops" constitute a disaster for both the environment and the people.
The famous north Nanaimo deer may not last long with developments like this wiping out the forests, so appreciate the next two views while we can:

La Corriveau

2008-02-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

Doing family research on the family name always brings up the sad story (become legend) surrounding La Corriveau .... (dark ominous music...)

Here's a video on the original site:

And here's the wiki story in French.

Here's an English version from an official source.

Syrup video on facebook

2008-02-24T18:06:00.000-08:00

Lauren remembered to bring a camera ... (ooops - I forgot mine) ... She posted a short video of us all at the Maple Syrup Festival this afternoon. It's inside her facebook so you may need to be signed up to that to see this:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=21872960522

Maple Sugar Fest

2008-02-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

After church today we're going over to the arena for lunch. France can have her maple syrup on snow thingy ... they truck in snow from Mt. Washington for this because we sure don't have any around here. Beautiful sunny day today - going up to ? plus 10 or so (I'm guessing)...

Cheers!

More Blah Blahs...

2008-02-18T11:58:00.000-08:00

I've wandered away from the original theme of this Blog - which is to relate some of the things we're doing around here - nothing too deep, philosophical or religious - just "blah blah" ... how's the weather? What you been up to lately? Like that.

I'll start posting my bible-related, and faith-related musings at another blog: Under His Wings.

There's a link to this, and my aviation-related blog in the upper right corner ->

Cheers!
Grant

Winter Blahs... Procrastination Warning!

2008-02-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

Caution: this posting includes links of interesting web cams in the area that could lead to many pleasurable minutes of procrastination and time-well-wasted....

Although the "days" have been getting longer and we're seeing more daylight, this is still officially the winter season until about March 20th. So, we have about 37 more days of winter left. That's not so long....

In the meantime we have to break the habit of sitting inside when the skies are grey, thinking that it's miserable outside - because usually it's not! Like today. The sky is mainly cloudy, but there's a lovely mildness in the air. The forecast high is +6. And the humidity just makes the air smell "delicious" and refreshing.

Also, I've discovered that in Nanaimo, the sun often peeks out for at least part of every day. The secret is to be ready for when that happens. Then we should drop whatever we're doing and burst outside for a short walk.

I've decided to collect as many weather/traffic cam views of the town (and around) as I can find:

1 The hiway near Malaspina U

2 Downtown corner at church street and the old bank building...

3 Nanaimo Harbour...

4 Piper's Lagoon - near our home.

5 Mt. Washington ski resort near Comox...

6 Boundary Bay near Vancouver - you can control the camera!

7 All the B.C. ferry terminals...

8 A whole whack of camera views of the lower mainland area and around!

9 Webcams galore! Around the world in eighty links!

10 A plethora of B.C. locations - including 100 Mile House.

11 Uclulet light house Surf Cam

12 Tofino beach and surf cam

Enough procrastinating by me making this list... Now I'm going to go back and explore some of those views! A whole new way to procrastinate! Winter blahs... meh!! har har..

Canadian Aboriginal Genocide

2008-01-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

"...It quickly became obvious that business, government and the
church had been working together for more than a century to grab the
lands and resources of west coast native people like the Ahousahts,
using missionary work and the residential schools as a pretext to do
so. It wasn’t about “Christianising the heathen” at all, but about big
money, and getting rid of the indigenous people, who prevented the
European takeover by their continued occupation of the land. "

"Love and Death in the Valley" by Kevin Annett

Muggin' at the Mermaid's Mug

2008-01-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

It occured to me that I've been mostly sharing items of interest lately, and opinions etc... but not much about what we're up to these days. Well, here's something I was up to last month:

Memoirs of a former Playboy centerfold

2008-01-24T13:31:00.001-08:00

This story of the power of God's grace, is worth sharing
...(from PTM newsletter:)

Susie Scott Krabacher shares her wild ride from an abusive childhood to the Playboy Mansion -- from a life in disarray to one of faith, love and charity.

Susie Scott Krabacher with Vicki, a resident at one of her facilities for children in Haiti.

ASPEN, CO (ANS) -- Drawing on her own pain and experiences - the beatings from her mother, the sexual abuse from her grandfather, the denial of her father about everything going on, a centerfold spread in Playboy magazine, eerie encounters at the Playboy Mansion, the suicide of her brother -- Susie Scott Krabacher's book Angels of a Lower Flight: One Woman's Mission To Save A Country. One Child At A Time weaves a story that culminates with her resolve to never let any other child suffer the way she did.

The children she has chosen to help are the sick and orphaned in Haiti. With passion and an eye for detail, Krabacher describes what drove her to Haiti as well as what she has accomplished during her many visits to this impoverished country that the United Nations has termed "the worst slum on the planet."

There she encountered extreme poverty like she'd never seen before, as well as countless abandoned children, deadly gangs roaming the streets, a government oozing with corruption, and filth and despair at every turn. Her passion and desire to help these forgotten children led to the creation of the Mercy and Sharing Foundation, a non-profit organization which she runs with her husband Joe Krabacher, an Aspen attorney and real estate developer. The foundation is dedicated to providing a safe haven for abandoned, malnourished, and impoverished children in Haiti. Under Krabacher's direction, Mercy and Sharing now runs three schools, two orphanages, feeding centers, a hospital and an abandoned baby facility in Haiti. Krabacher's compassion knows no boundaries. She has held dying orphans so that they didn't pass away alone, and she has searched the morgue in order to give a proper burial to those she tried to save while they were hospitalized.

Prior to her current work, Krabacher worked extensively as a model and actress, appearing as the centerfold in Playboy magazine as Miss May 1983. She credits her renewed Christian faith and the purpose she found in caring for the world's poor as the factors that led to her life's transformation.

"To enter into suffering is why I was placed on earth," she writes. "From the time I was four until the moment I set foot in Haiti, I wondered what assignment God had in mind for me. Although my life's calling in Haiti is difficult, I hope I never run from it. To care for others is what I was created to do. My ability to care came from my own struggles."

In 2006, Krabacher was honored by World of Children, Inc., an international children's advocacy group dedicated to honoring exceptional child advocates from around the world. In 2004, she was granted The Humanitarian Rose Award, presented by The People's Princess Charitable Foundation, Inc., which was established to further Diana's commitment to help the needy. In addition, she has received the International Humanitarian Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Haitians, the National Achievement Award from E-Town Radio, the Citizen Cool Award from the Ben & Jerry's Corporation, and the Gift of Life Award from Rotary International. She is a member of the Miami Children's Hospital Hall of Fame, and has been awarded honorary citizenship in Haiti. Krabacher spends nearly every waking hour working for the children of Haiti, either fundraising in the United States, or providing hands-on help in Haiti for the 3,300 children in the care of Mercy and Sharing.

Susie with children in a Haitian village.

Krabacher's book, Angels of a Lower Flight, takes readers inside the turmoil and eventual triumph of Krabacher's life -- everything she has been through, from childhood to the present, including the coup overthrowing Haiti's dictator Aristide. Not for the faint of heart, her memoir is a wake-up call to all Americans about what's going on just a few hundred miles from our shores, in addition to what still goes on in abusive homes right here in the United States. By sharing her story, Krabacher hopes to save children from misery, wherever they may be.

Cassie Nelson and Lori Ames
Assist News Service

Joshua 'fit the battle of Jericho...

2008-01-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in a joint effort with some other church members to read the bible in just 90 days. It's a challenge. But, I got through the "begats" of Genesis, and the meticulous and often bizarre details of law-keeping lists in Leviticus... whew!

Now, as I move into the book of Joshua, it's interesting to link Biblical events with archaeological evidence. While it can be a self-defeating trap to try to "prove" the bible by archaeology (thereby raising doubt in the bible when the archaeology is used to refute it), it is fun to watch the evidence as it unfolds.

For example, while it's proven that the walls of Jericho did collapse and the city was burned, there continues to be controversy over how the biblical timelines and the historical timelines overlap. It's also interesting to note the concurrent widespread destruction across Canaan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho
Kenyon's date of around 1550 BC is widely accepted based on this methodology of dating. Notably, many other Canaanite cities were destroyed around this time.

And we're still singing about it some 3,500 years later - cool:
Check this classic version by Mahalia Jackson: (click for the link)...

And the Seycove Junior Concert Choir in Nelson, B.C. gives a good performance:

Passed On...

2008-01-19T14:33:00.001-08:00

I discovered today that Floyd Red Crow Westerman died last month. Here's a short survey of his life from Wikipedia:

Judging from the Youtube comments and Google-hits related to the man, I don't think the Wiki report does him justice. He's obviously made an impact on people, especially in the First Nations communities where he was so well known.

This song, "Missionaries" decries the legacy of damage done by Imperialistic Religion operating falsely under the banner of Jesus Christ. It will take a long time and a lot of humility by those who truly follow Jesus, to hopefully undo some of this hurt:

Worth remembering

2008-01-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

God doesn't make mistakes. That baby is there for a reason.

Interesting article on the New Atheism

2008-01-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

This article regarding current trends in Atheism and Chritian philosophy proved to be interesting. Here are a couple of excerpts. Click the title or the link below to see the entire article:

The "New Atheism" as "Good News"
While the new atheism has generated worry among Christians, perhaps it isn't warranted. One gets a sense of growing worry among atheists as well, and for good reason.
by Randal Rauser

The last few years have seen the rise of the so-called “New Atheism”. a loose coalition of vociferous atheists who have denounced Christianity and religion generally in a number of high profile, bestselling books including Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion
...
While the new atheism offers little new by way of argument, it conveys the erroneous impression that orthodox Christianity is on the ropes intellectually speaking. On the contrary, Christianity has experienced renewed vitality through recent work in New Testament scholarship and philosophy of religion.

With regard to New Testament studies, just a few short decades ago it was widely assumed that the historical Jesus was all but inaccessible to critical scholarship. However, today works like N.T. Wright’s monumental The Resurrection of the Son of God (Augsburg Fortress, 2003) defend an orthodox picture of Jesus Christ on solid historical and evidential grounds. (Indeed, such is the evidence that even Pinchas Lapide, a Jewish scholar, has concluded on wholly historical grounds that Jesus was resurrected!)

..., the new atheists, to their credit, acknowledge that Christianity makes factual claims about the world, and thus that it is disingenuous to consign it to the realm of private feelings. Not only have they returned the question of factuality to discussion of Christian faith, but they have thereby placed discussion about God at the center of national consciousness and serious public debate. As such, they have unwittingly provided a golden opportunity for Christians to enter the public discussion and set the record straight. And that, it seems to me, is good news indeed.

http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=5307

Current Western Economic Pardigm

2008-01-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

Where does the current western Economic Paradigm come from? ... how did it arise? We once were an agrarian society ... and way before that we were a society based on subsistence hunting...

Today, we are a manufacturing society - we take basic resources from the earth, reshape them, and produce "stuff" ... Our food supply has transformed from being the center of the activity to being now just one more product... and it is truly a "manufactured" product now... is this good?

Of the stuff we produce, some is Fundamental Stuff - housing, clothing, health care ... But usually we have gone way beyond the basic needs. So a huge amount of what we produce is 'luxury' stuff.. But something like 80 or 90 % of our stuff and activity is consumed by something like 10 or 20 % of the world's poplulation. Why is that?

We have become a society that lives at a level of consumption that the planet cannot susttain. Why has all our "increase" been folded back into ourselves? Rather than spreading out to others ... I suppose the answer to that is the old standby - greed; human nature's self-aborption tendancy etc... Our western economic is now spreading to huge parts of the population for the first time in history (China, India)... At a time when one of the basic "fuels" of this system (oil) is peaking out... So what sort of crisis does this cause?

The western economy threatens to engulf the planet at an unsustainable level... Where is the solution? Downsizing our demands and "exporting" a less consumptive business model? Or finding an entirely new paradigm - a new reason for our existence... Right now it seems the main reason for our existence in the west is "to make stufff" or "do stuff" - and most of that stuff and activity is NOT basic stuff but secondary/tertiary industry - non-essential stuff but certainly comforts us. Where's the sustainable level?

I keep coming back to the book of Revelations and Babylon (Chapter 18) as one of the best, most accurate metaphors for an economic system that controls and uses up human beings and indeed the planet, (as opposed to an economic system that is under our control and serves our long-term best interests).

All the dark language in the chapter to me represents the spirits behind the decisions we all make that lead us into this kind of economy. As most of us are merely reacting to what happens around us we end up being managed into a kind of economy that was not necessarily of our own choosing - if you get my drift. We are being 'managed' by the over-arching summation of all our "small" spirits of self-intention and greed that we all succumb to at least part (if not most) of the time.

Here are two interesting videos that provide more insight and hopefully point towards some solutions:

1. The Story of Stuff
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

2. The Fast I Choose
http://signpostvillage.com/thevillagevoice/2007/07/the-fast-i-choose-steve-bells-journey-to-ethiopia/

When Travel Agents get lost...

2008-01-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

Can you spot the error in Geography here...? Hint - Lake Ontario is not actually considered part of the Atlantic ocean!!

Trans-Canada Rail Adventure
Vancouver to Toronto

Discover Canada's diverse scenery and culture on this cross-country journey from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast and featuring all the highlights in between.
Canada is a country built by rail. What better way to explore it than by train? This tour will take you between Vancouver and Toronto, with visits to Niagara Falls and the mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper included along the way.

Carlson Wagonlit travel may need to brush up on their geography?

At the Mug

2008-01-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

We've been doing a few "open practice" evenings at the Mermaid's Mug in Nanaimo - a rather unique setting! A great place by the way for a bite to eat or mug of coffee...

Here's a few minutes of Gregg and me making it up as we go along:

Dr. Phil out of touch? Oh my!

2008-01-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

Too Modest for TV?

WENDY SHALIT

Girls gone mild? Not for Dr. Phil.

...
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0157.htm

Religious persecution...

2008-01-04T09:53:00.001-08:00

I liked this article for the sense of accuracy in what is reported as persecution. And it admits that persecution against Christians in Canada is almost unheard of, though there are some trends to be aware of.

Mainly, I was impressed with this vision of the persecuted church:

"Living on the edge—never knowing when the knock on the door means you will be taken away; whispering hymns for fear of being heard; being arrested, imprisoned or tortured—one might expect the persecuted to be resentful or in despair. But reports and pictures that come back from China, Sudan, Indonesia, the Middle East and other parts of the world show Christians who exude joy. They seem to go about their tasks with peace in their hearts. They appear to be strong in their faith. And they pray for those who persecute them."

http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1735&srcid=817

Super Paul

2007-12-31T23:27:00.000-08:00

Football Field sized asteroid vs. Mars!

2007-12-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Scientists raise odds that asteroid might hit Mars

Winston-Salem Journal

LOS ANGELES - The chance of a asteroid the size of a football field crashing into Mars next month has been raised to 4 percent, scientists said yesterday after analyzing archival data.

The asteroid, known as 2007 WD5, was discovered in late November by the NASA-financed Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona. Based on the latest information available, scientists said last week that there was a 1-in-75 chance the asteroid could hit Mars on Jan. 30.

The odds were increased to 1-in-25 this week after a Ph.D. student pored through the archives and plotted the asteroid’s motions before its official discovery.

Here's another article on the topic:

Around the Bible in 90 Days!

2007-12-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

A group of us are embarking on a project to read the entire Bible in Ninety Days. We'll meet once a week to encourage one another and discuss what we're reading.

Here's a website that explains how it goes - and includes the schedule if you'd care to join us:
http://www.biblein90days.com/

All this got me thinking again about the origins and reliability of the Bible as we know it today. I recall learning a few years ago that there is much evidence for the authenticity of the bible. Apparently, archeologists who specialize in evaluating all kinds of historical manuscripts have specific standards by which they judge these things. (Go figure! Who'd of known...?! Sometimes things make so much sense when you "discover" them for the first time.. D'OH! ;-)

And apparently, according to these standards of measurement, our modern Bible "passes" with flying colors. In fact, it's probably true to say that the book stands the tests beyond any other significant historical document.

This website summarizes the topic nicely:
http://www.allabouttruth.org/Origin-Of-The-Bible.htm

The Sixth Extinction

2007-12-28T04:28:00.000-08:00

I thought it was just a fabrication of some paranoid X-Files episode writer - until I Googled it this morning. The Sixth Extinction, and the five previous versions, are actually recognized and described in science. Here are some links to scan:

National Geographic Magazine (1999)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/9902/fngm/index.html

BBC News Article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3667300.stm

Science Daily (2004)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/03/040319075340.htm

Feast of Seasons - Steve Bell and WSO

2007-12-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

Steve Bell's Feast of Seasons Concert is available here:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20071221sbel

These performances are some of the best music I've heard in ages. The WSO seems to really "get" Steve's music - the more they play together, the better it gets! And with the choir.. wow.

I suggest you pour yourself a favourite beverage, put on your best headset, turn up the volume, hit "play all tracks" and enjoy the inspired creativty of this musical feast. Truly delicious!

No Ramada Inn?

2007-12-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

The traditional Christmas Eve service was great. Audrey Veal did another fine job of re-telling the ancient story with fresh insight, relating it to our day-to-day lives two thousand years later than the actual events. All while keeping it simple enough for the children in the audience to understand.

Not an easy feat.

Since viewing a documentary a few years ago that discusses the concept of inns and travelling accomodations in that culture, I've viewed the "no room at the inn" part of the story a little differently. Rather than picturing Mary and Joseph parking in front of the Bethleham Ramada and being told the rooms were all booked up for the night, I see it now in the context of family hospitality - or rather the lack thereof. Further rejection of Christ's entry into the world. This website does an excellent job of presenting the details of this translation of the key words:

http://blog.bibleplaces.com/2006/12/in-typical-christmas-pageant-one-of.html

My comment relates to the question of why would Mary travel to Bethleham at all so late in her pregnancy? And my conjecture is this: In a culture where the punishment for marital infidelity is death by stoning, (i.e. even to this day, some related cultures practice Honor Killings - the deliberate murder of any female relative who brings dishonor to the family name), could it be that Mary was safer staying close to Joseph than being left behind in Nazareth? This would fit well with the interpretation that family members in Bethleham chose to offer them shelter only in the lower household area with the animals, and did not offer any greater comforts in the "upper rooms" with the other family members.

It would also solve another difficulty for me. Surely Mary would have needed and had some minimal help from midwives or female relatives during her birth process? I can easily imagine someone in the extended family attending to her with minimal care, despite her "disgraced" condition, but then leaving her and the baby to rest afterwards in the stable area.

Anyway, no matter how we interpret the rather sparse language of the biblical accounts, the point of the story remains the same. God chose the lowest, least glorious route imaginable to enter into his creation.

How can we NOT be attracted to a God who, with all the power and glory of the universe and beyond at his disposal by which he might seek to glorify himself, instead comes to us like this, seeking our allegience. Proving himself (as if he needed to prove anything) to be the One and Only King who's intentions for us are completely honorable and selfless. The kind of King worthy to be chosen as ruler by anyone from the lowliest, humblest shepherd to the richest, wisest Scholar.

Kinshasha Music - Wow!

2007-12-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

That 'Polio Band' video led me to this page - wow!

http://www.youtube.com/florentdelatullaye

I loved the quote in "Jupiter's Dance" about music in every home...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxkaVmpgHcs

And this woman (Mimi Mongo) apparently died early this year -- and in this song I don't understand a word she is saying, yet her passion, pain and joy all so evident, brings a tear to my eye as I watch, listen and can't turn away no matter what. Wow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51ny0HhOwpk

"Special" music ...

2007-12-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

Story of developing world issues, poverty, disease, musical rights, and the politics of peace-keeping ... complicated yet fascinating ... As the song itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxfULv7uIhY&feature=dir

Be sure to read the side-bar story and/or the BBC story linked at the bottom of the video notes.

End Hunger, Fast

2007-12-15T22:57:00.000-08:00

Are you related?

2007-12-12T16:18:00.000-08:00

Here's the place to find out, apparently:

For the curious - maybe this is for you:
http://www.dnaancestryproject.com/retail/

Steve Bell on CBC Radio

2007-12-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

CBC Radio (Canada’s national broadcaster) will be recording Steve Bell with his band, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Prairie Voices Choir in Steve’s Christmas concert “The Feast of Seasons”...

The concert will be broadcast on
CBC Radio One on December 24th at 10:00 p.m. and on

CBC Radio Two on December 25th at 7:00 p.m.

Tune in, and have Steve Bell, the WSO and Prairie Voices over for Christmas!

And for those outside of normal broadcast signals, try this page for a possible webcast:

http://www.cbc.ca/listen/index.html#

Old Testament law and Christians.

2007-12-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

I thought this Q & A was worth posting - from The Plain Truth weekly update newsletter:

Q. In the November 26 PTM Update you said, "The law fails to bring righteousness and holiness. Righteousness and holiness can only be imputed, by grace; produced by the indwelling of our Lord and Savior. No human or group of humans, no law or combination of laws, produces holiness. It never has and never will."

Could you expound on the value of the Old Testament law as David expressed it in Psalm 119, (and others). I feel like there must be a balance in our attitude toward it, not of course to procure or complete salvation but David seems to have a perspective that I would like to have. Thanks.

A. Before beginning, let me explain that my immediate response is not hostile, but designed to ask you for further input, and hopefully to inspire you to further thinking and study. What kind of "balance" about the OT law do you propose? When reading any passage in the Bible, Christians always "balance" their understanding of that passage with a Christ-centered perspective. All that we know of God, as Christians, all that we experience, is based in Christ. Anything that happened before the cross of Christ must be read in a Christ-centered perspective -- i.e.. the individuals and the values they espoused were before the cross, and while there is much prophetic material in the Old Testament that is Messianic (pointing toward Messiah), it does not diminish or modify Jesus. For those of us who live after the cross -- in our case almost 2,000 years after -- our reading of Scripture always keeps in mind the fact that religion, with its traditions, legalisms, ceremonies, rituals and practices may have taken us off the path of a Christ-centered perspective -- so we too are looking for an authentic Christ-centered view of Scripture.

What did David mean about the law? He meant what all those in the old covenant understood -- that the law was the foundation of their relationship with God. What does the cross of Christ, and his victorious resurrection teach Christians? That Jesus is the basis of our relationship with God, and he gave us new commandments -- commandments which he will live in our lives if we accept him.

What good is the law of the old covenant? Does it save us? No, Jesus saves us. Jesus alone, without any help from the law -- the law of the old covenant, of the new covenant -- any law. What good is the law? The law leads us to Christ. The law shows us that we are dead meat/road kill -- without Christ. The law -- any law -- shows us that we are imperfect, that we are unable to be good enough for God on the basis of our own internal character and ability to perform. The law thus leads us to the place that we yield to Jesus, who does for us what we can never do for ourselves.

Is the law of the old covenant a "balance" in the life of a Christian? No, authentic Christianity is based on faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone. The law of the old covenant -- all of it -- is irrelevant for Christians. We live by faith in Jesus, who died and gave himself for us, that we might be in him, because of the blood of the new covenant. The New Testament tells us the life that Jesus will produce in us as we yield to him -- it will be a moral life, but it will not be produced because of morals. Morals don't produce Jesus -- it's the other way around. Jesus produces morals.One can be a good moral atheist, Buddhist or Moslem -- "better" morally than some professing Christians -- but not "have" Jesus. If we are in Jesus, and he is in us, then we will be moral -- law-abiding -- but we will be that way because of him, not because of our own efforts in building character.

Christianity is all about Jesus -- whereas religion, including any counterfeit of authentic Christianity, is all about the individual and how hard he/she works to please God.

ATC Listening Post

2007-12-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

Interested in listening to air traffic control frequencies? This is a useful site:
http://www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php?type=canada

Space, and other bodily functions...

2007-12-02T19:18:00.000-08:00

Wings of Hope - with feathers...

2007-12-02T09:25:00.001-08:00

My buddy Ester has been living with cancer for over 8 years now so technically he’s a cancer survivor -- that's him with the pink feathers - and he's not actually headless - he's just ducking under grooming his leg. And yes, Ester is a boy. It used to be Lester, but when he introduces himself he often leaves off the 'L' - so now we just call him Ester.

Now, I'm going to be talking about a bird, but maybe you or someone you know is struggling through tough times. Facing trials of different sorts. An illness. A broken relationship. A terrifying setback. Then you know about pain, sorrow and suffering. Because ultimately, it’s all the same pain. It is common to all of creation.

Ester, a moluccan Cockatoom is 23 years old (his normal lifespan is about 80 years). Because human beings "love" cockatoos, Ester finds himself confined to a cage for his entire life. No one asked him if he wanted to be a pet. He’ll never know what it is to fly freely and be everything that God intended him to be.

But I have high hopes for Ester. Hope has already saved Ester from cancer. When he was scheduled to be killed because his vet bills would over-tax his families resources, someone rescued him and paid for his treatments — because they Hoped. After several weeks of chemo-therapy the vet performed a lumpectomy to reduce the size of Ester’s tumor, (you can see the sore on his backside). And Esther fought through all this and still lives! Today Esther is one of the happiest and friendliest little birds at the Refuge. He shows what can happen because of HOPE. And the dedication of people willing to go where HOPE leads.

Jesus asks us to be compassionate - to suffer with those around us. But to encounter pain and sorrow in the world without being anchored by an unshakeable hope, is folly.

So, hope serves as a tether that guides us safely through a world of suffering towards a better future and prevents us from being over-whelmed by the ‘here and now’. But hope for this life alone is only a foretaste of our ultimate hope. The bible encourages us towards a greater hope for every creature who suffers - a time when suffering will have worked its miracle in us and all creation will be released into a new Era!

Romans 4:18-25 (the Message)
That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Hope fully realized - the return of Jesus Christ, is the ultimate hope that allows me to enter into compassionate ministry and be not swept away by it.

And HOPE is usually all I can hold out to someone in the midst of their trials. A cup of hot chocolate. A shoulder to cry on. A kind word or deed. That’s not much. But often it’s enough and it’s that first step towards salvation.

A salvation that we merely glimpse in each small healing in this life - like Ester’s (This video shows just how well he's healed and how much joy he experiences just being alive!):

Carol Burnett Show

2007-11-30T22:40:00.000-08:00

It must have been hard to get a "take" they could put on t.v.! The live audience is sure having fun though. Tim Conway is ad-libbing a long tale about an elephant, preventing the skit from progressing :

The Advent Candles Tradition

2007-11-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

Our little community church is not very liturgical, but we do have an informal observance of Advent that leads up to a special Christmas eve service. Because Advent was never a significant part of my previous church experience, I did some research. The traditions vary quite a bit in various churches and denominations. Some are more heavily laden with symbolism and iconic representations than others.

These excerpts convey our church's experience of the season as I understand it:

The light (itself) reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God's grace to others (Isa 42:6). The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the various aspects of our waiting experience. As the candles are lighted over the four week period, it also symbolizes the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed into the world. ...

Finally, the light that has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lighted at Christmas, and worshippers rejoice over the fact that the promise of long ago has been realized.

The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope. This draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of a Messiah that weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history. As God’s people were abused by power hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and lulled into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, there arose a longing among some for God to raise up a new king who could show them how to be God’s people. They yearned for a return of God’s dynamic presence in their midst. And of course now it represents our hope in the ultimate Advent. ...

It is truly a humbling experience to read back through the Old Testament and see how frail and imperfect all the "heroes" actually are. Abraham, the coward who cannot believe the promise and his wife Sarah who tries to take matters into her own hands. Jacob, the cheat who struggles with everybody and Leah, who participates in deception to become his first wife. Joseph, the immature and arrogant teen. Moses, the impatient murderer who cannot wait for God. Rahab, the turncoat harlot. Gideon, the cowardly Baal-worshipper. Samson, the womanizing drunk. David, the power abusing adulterer. Solomon, the unwise wise man. Hezekiah, the reforming king who could not quite go far enough. And finally, a very young Jewish girl from a small village in a remote corner of a great empire.

It never ceases to amaze me why God could not have chosen "better" people to do His work in the world. Yet if God can use them, and reveal Himself through them in such marvelous ways, it means that He might be able to use me, inadequate, and unwise, and too often lacking in faith that I am. And it means that I need to be careful that I do not in my own self-righteousness put limits on what God can do with the most unlikely of people in the most unlikely of circumstances. I think that is part of the wonder of the Advent Season.

Interesting reading this morning...

2007-11-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some articles I read this morning that moved, challenged and inspired me:

1. The Power of Hope:
I'm giving a short testimonial on the topic of Hope at church this Sunday. This is in conjunction with the Advent tradition that lights a series of candles each Sunday leading up to Christmas and each candle represents certain keys within the Christian faith. I came across this article that reveals how powerful and essential hope is as we confront the terrifying realities of life - in this case, spinal chord injury:
http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=5171

2. Wisdom and Miracles:
A physician takes a closer look at claims of "miracle healings" and reminds us of the importance of truth. And the fact that ultimately all healing, whether through medicine or otherwise, is still a miracle.
http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=5160

3. Better Good News:
Some interesting thoughts about presenting the Good News in a wider context beyond the method popularized in guilt-based Western culture.
http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=5169

How to make a zine

2007-11-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to keep this one handy because I could use this to make checklists for the a/c:

Christ is Love in Action

2007-10-27T00:01:00.001-07:00

A good example (in my opinion).

http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=5096