Focus

Sometimes it's so hard to stay focused. Sometimes all I see is what my eyes allow. My mind and my spirit know there is more but my vision is so limited, so it seems. Throughout my year at PRBI (2005-2006) I was spurred on to think about and focus on eternal things rather than temporal. It seems that year was planned for me to prepare me for February 28th. Although, you can never be fully prepared for the loss of someone so close. But my eyes wander; they don't always see the Truth. The pain is a nagging finger tapping me on the shoulder forcing me to look back and see what I've lost. It won't let me face forward and look up to the heavens.

I said I was going to post some writing I've been working on. I can't yet. It's too much right now.

Friends In High Places

Well, there was sun and fun in Alberta. The weather was good. I would say the average temp. on the weekend was about 15. On Thursday we went for a bit of an adventure along a creek. Friday brought garage sales and lots of 'em! Brendan and I hit up 20+ sales in Grande Prairie and spent only about $20 each. His trunk was full of treasures. I came back with a scratching post (for my roommate's cat), a camping stove and lantern (both run on propane), a can opener (Brendan's can opener is better but he paid 50 more cents for it...hehe), and Deer Hunter II (for PC). It was rather disappointing to find no DVDs, deep socket sets, or more camping gear. I knew I would know what I was looking for when I saw it, but I didn't see much of it in GP. Oh well! It was fun to drive around and look at what kind of junk people thought they could get money for. On Friday we also hung out with a couple of mutual friends. Saturday brought some hard labour. About an hour northeast we met Brendan's dad to help him put axles and wheels on a mobile home he had bought. The only problem was it was sitting on wet, soft ground. Turns out it took us the whole day to get it mobile. It was good to be able to help a friend. I didn't mind the workout. All in all it was a great trip and it was so good to see Brendan, Jared, and Jer.

I heard it's cold in Alberta, wish me Godspeed!

Sun and Fun!

I'm going to Alberta for a few days. A road trip will be nice. I will be staying with a friend I became close with during my time at PRBI (2005-2006). There are a couple things we have planned. We might go camping. I'm bringing my fishing rod because you never know! The plan is to relax and get some sun. Until next week...

The Insider

It took me eight years to discover it but I just finished watching the movie "The Insider" (1999). Wow! A spectacular presentaion of the influence and power tobacco companies have in our society. It is sad realizing that millions of people are caught up in the addiction of nicotine. (To think that the government benefits from the taxes on the billions of dollars worth of cigarettes sold each year!) This movie focuses in on a former producer of 60 minutes (Al Pacino) and a former tobacco executive (Russell Crowe) who fight to get the truth told. It is a meticulously intense emotional battle that is worth the two and a half hour sit. I recommend "The Insider" to everyone. (Rated "R" due to course language.)

Birthday Blues

Hmm, well today was my 26th birthday. It was an okay day, kind of boring at times. I thought about my dad a lot today. It has really been hitting me a lot in the last week that dad is gone. My mind still thinks he's alive sometimes. I dream about dad quite a bit (probably 2-3 times a week). There is a re-occuring theme to my dreams--God has brought dad back to life and people are amazed at the power of God. When I wake, it usually takes a handful of seconds to realize that dad is still gone. Mom and I were talking tonight and she said she has had similar dreams. I think reality is setting in for us and we are missing dad more. We really believed that God would heal him. I think this is because, well for one, we know that God could have if that was His plan. Secondly, with all of dad's wisdom and knowledge, we figured that God would use Him for years to come. Thirdly, dad was still in the midst of a church ministry. The interm pastor has been around for a while but the church was still waiting for dad to return. This just goes to show that Gods plans and thoughts are so different than ours, He knows so much more than we do. But God is revealing to us the "why's" and His peace has never left us since February 28th. Mom and I were talking and we have to attribute the fact that we are not depressed or living in sadness due to your prayers on our behalf. For this, we thank you.

I worked the whole evening tonight with my support job. There was a party last night to celebrate my b-day but everyone was on their way home by 9:30pm! You know you and your friends are getting older when sleep is more of a priority than having fun. But I don't feel any older. I don't believe 26 is old. In fact I am very young. Jesus did not start his ministry on earth until he was 30. Life expectancy was a lot lower back then and so 30 would have been pretty late in life. But I that I am on the right track. God be free to use me how you would!