WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES (Your old men will walk 25 K and sleep outside GULU Style)

Friday 9:00 p.m. headed off on "Gulu Walk www.guluwalk.com 12. 5 kilo. downtown (2.5 hours), then slept (???) on the grass at City Hall for 5 hours and made the return trip. Ten hours, five hours walking, five hours attempted sleep.

These guys are doing it for a month - creating awareness, raising funds, lobbying through a petition - well-connected - one aspect is creating an athelete's lobby for social justice comparable to what Bono is doing. I connected with a lot of neat people on the way down, and then John and I were the sole accompanists on the way back.

My feet were sore, I'm still tired - young kids do that all the time in Uganda do avoid capture as child soldiers, or sex-workers.

We gave out pamplets on the cafes along Bloor and Yonge - about 75 of us. William Booth said "do something" - somtimes you just got to do something.....

God does good work....

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Yesterday was a glorious day. Bev and I picked up Rochelle downtown Toronto Regent Park and headed north for cottage country.

We arrived at Bala Muskoka, and started connecting with places and extraodinary memories going back 50 years.

We met with my Uncle Gordon and Aunt Eileen who have been married for 64 years. They and the cottage have been a fabric of our family's lives for a long time.

We shared memories, did a few chores, sat on the deck, and the dock, shared some refreshment and prayer together.

What memories, God is faithful; what scenery, God is creator; what richness of fellowship, God is redeemer. Got more of his glory with the huge harvest moon, coming home.

Thank you Lord!!

Today in a devotional time in our office, the thot was shared that we can see God in the ordinary - it was ordinary, but extra-ordinary.

Feedback/Jesus freak (Deja vu all over again)

I feel like I have either dreamed writing the contents of this post, or it has happened before with some names changed. Hmmm......

Preached last night at 614 - I'm a "feedback freak" although in claiming that fact in recent months, I don't need it as much - still like it (who doesn't?) however.

One gentlemen, whom I had met the previous week, came up after the meeting and in his strong spanish accent, pointing to his eyes, shared "I wept a tear".

Something connected with his spirit - a spirit connection which transcended language, culture, age - we all respond differently, but we all are made to "know", connect with our maker.

Thank you Lord for the privilege of being your vessel, your conduit, your connection so that your spirit might awaken in all of us hopes, longings, dreams.

Woe to me if I don't connect with others when sharing your life-giving word!

In a similar vien it was neat to see Company 150 connecting Saturday p.m. - Dave Rawlins does this spirit inspired edgy Hendrix-like extended riff with Joel spontaneously reading from the Psalms and people were responding.

How great is our God!

London Bombings....terror in the streets

It just takes one.....

.....one misguided lunatic to blow up a bus.

.....one deranged soul to take away the innocence of a child.

.....one bomb to ruin your whole day.

.....ONE BREATH TO BREATHE DEEPLY AND CONNECT WITH OUR CREATOR

.....ONE PERSON, ONE CANDLE, TO KEEP SHINING IN THE DARKNESS

.....ONE RECOLLECTION, THAT THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD, THAT EVEN THOUGH WRONG SEEMS SO STRONG, GOD IS THE RULER YET

STARRY-EYED OPTIMIST - NO!

MUDDY-EYED PESSIMIST - NO!

OPEN-EYED REALIST - YES!

WE CHOOSE EACH DAY WHO WE WILL SERVE - AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD! WE FOLLOW THE PRINCE OF PEACE - MAY HIS KINGDOM COME, MAY HIS WILL BE DONE IN HIS WORLD, IN ME...one moment by one moment.

HE HAS BEEN HERE ALL ALONG - THERE'S STILL TIME TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME...

To obey God's will for my life - what a shattering thought! If I took Jesus at his word, would I be living differently - in relationhip to the poor, hungry, thirsty, sick, imprisoned, naked, lonely.

We say God loves the world, and then we live as if God loves ourselves - there's still time!!!

If you want your dream to be, build it slow and surely.Small beginnings, greater ends. Heartfelt work grows purely.If you want to live life free, take your time, go slowly.Do few things, but do them well: simple joys are holy. Day by day, stone by stone, build your secret slowly. Day by day, you’ll grow too; you’ll know heaven’s glory!

(from Donovan's music for the film 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon')

Great days to be in mission!

Roots and Wings and spirit travel....

While in Newfoundland recently at a congress meeting, we sat with a delightful gentleman, 71 years of age who spoke of a genuine transformation in his life several years earlier. He spoke of being an "intellectual snob" and how God had transformed him.

He spoke of John Powell (Catholic writer of the 70's who I knew), Keith Green (another prophet from the late 70's, early 80's, CS Lewis "Mere Chrisitianity" and JB Philips translation. I knew he was a good friend of Jesus. I think earlier in the day I had prayed to have a significant conversation with some-one. We connected - this man had roots and depth and something to share with me and generation NEXT. While we were waiting for the meeting to start, so many people came to greet him - not fawning over him, greeting him - a man of God....hmmm.

The next day in the Halifax airport we met a young 16 year old from a little place outside of Seal Cove - he was reading an Edge magazine and so the conversation started. He wants to be an officer or a medical doctor serving Jesus. His life has changed dramatically for the last two years. He was so open to our conversation about mission, spiritual growth, church culture. I think earlier the day before I had prayed to have a significant conversation.

These two gentleman - Newfoundlanders whom God had found - different look, different tastes, same passion for Jesus - ROOTS AND WINGS - I think they could have a great conversation together - I know they both genuinely love Jesus and we are all connected in spirit.

Spirit travel - ask Jesus to lead you to significant conversations. Spirit travel transcends generations. God is transforming, revolutionizing - together we move forward.

The smile, innocence, wonder, trust, picture of Jesus in a child....

Time is racing - vapour....gotta' blog...

Taking out the garbage early the other morning - a mother (veiled and covered - of a culture different than mine) and her son were passsing.

I was conscious of the mother, and the little guy - a cute, innocent four year old - our eyes met and I was going to say hello, but the Mother and I hadn't had eye contact - what would she think of me, a stranger, an older male caucasian, in the big city, establishing contact? So though some energy had been established, and a connection - no action BUT then the little guy turns around oblivious to his mother and extends the most significant smile I've ever seen - a grace-filled smile, and he said "hello" and darted off just as quicklly, with my "hi" in his ears.

Doing a lot of processing about "incarnational living", "community", "relationships" - how to "do it" naturally etc. I'm just going to keep seeking Jesus, following him, listening to him, abiding in him, and if his spirit is in me - it will flow out and the connections will happen.

It's not the great things always, but the small things done with great love, (sometimes unconsciously - perhaps the best times) that count.

I just feel my maker smiled with my friend and I the other morning by the garbage...the wonder of a child....seeing Jesus in children...