Rev - The Bikers’ Church Pastor

Well folks,

I don’t know an easy way to do this, so hopefully we don’t lose too much momentum here … but I’ve decided to move over to TypePad for hosting my blog.

There are a few reasons why I’ve decided to do this … I am finding TypePad has a few more easily configured widgets that meet some of the needs of what I want in the blog. It also allows for unlimited blogs under one umbrella, and as we build more blogs from within Bikers’ Church, I want to have the structure set.

So … if you have set up a NewsReader to automatically inform you when a new post is published, please take a minute - RIGHT NOW - to change the address from this one to the new one : http://bikerschurch.typepad.com/rev/

You’ll only have to do it once

Thanks for your understanding.

Less than 25 days. That’s right. In less that 25 days, my 15 year old daughter gets on a plane and flies to Costa Rica where she will spend an entire year. For one year, I will not get to touch her, hold her, smell her, or tickle her.

This is going to be hard. These next 25 days are going to be difficult. (We are not exactly sure of the day that she flies out - her ticket will be purchased on Monday. We know this: her language & culture camp begins on July 13th. Most likely, she flies out that morning.)

Once she leaves, it will be easier. I know that she’s going to have an amazing time. I know that this will be an experience that she will look back on for the rest of her life. I have no doubt that her life will change as a result of what happens during this next year. Her goals, dreams, plans, will all be influenced from what she experiences over the course of the next year.

We will spend many hours on the phone. We will hopefully have the opportunity to Skype on a regular basis. We’ll video conference together. She is the most amazing young woman in the world, and I am so incredibly proud of her and confident in her ability to make the most of this experience.

But she is still my baby girl. And the next 25 days are going to be very, very hard.

It has been interesting to see people’s reaction when we tell them about Brit going away. The most common thing I’ve heard goes something like this: “Wow! You are amazing parents. I could never allow my kid to do something like that. There’s no way he/she would be allowed to go. How in the world can you handle it?”

I know they mean it as a compliment (I think!), but it always causes me to have a little doubt. Am I being a good parent by saying yes to this whole thing? Should I be stepping in and putting a stop to it? Are we trusting foolishly?

And yet, it keeps coming back to one thought for me. Brittany is a gift from God to Heather and I. When she was born, we dedicated her back to him. We acknowledged before friends and family that we would do our best to raise her, love her, empower her, but ultimately we would always remember that she is not ours, but his. And we would trust God with her future.

And so, we trust God with Brit. I look at this opportunity and find myself asking, “God, what are you preparing her for? In what way is this experience going to shape her for the rest of her life?” Of course, I don’t have the answer to that. I can only trust.

This blog is averaging around 70 views a day. I don’t know who is reading my thoughts, but can I ask a favour of you? Would you pray for us over the next few weeks. Some days I’m weak, and my trust isn’t what it should be. Some days I’m just scared at the thought of my girl going away to another country for an entire year. Would you pray that God would give us the strength to keep trusting?

I want this blog to be real. I want you who read it to get a glimpse of what the life of a pastor really is like. And so, at times I share my geekiness. At times I express my opinions on some event that is being played out in our media. At times I get all spiritual.

Pastors are not super spiritual people. At least I’m not. I’m just a guy who tries to love Jesus everyday. Who has to work out what it means to trust God with his life and with those who matter to him.

How are you doing in that area? How is your “trusting God” doing? If you’d like, feel free to post in the comments section something that you are struggling to trust God with. I’d be happy to pray for you just as you are praying for me.

Okay … so I’m feeling a little better … Last night I did my initital set up wearing my jeans & t-shirt … this morning I went to try out the “game” and it turns out I didn’t save my set up, so I had to start over. So, I did, only this morning all I was wearing was my housecoat (yes, I know … a very appealing picture for you!).

Well, I’m no longer “obese” … just “overweight”. Actually, I’m right on the line. My BMI is 29.3 (30 is the start of obese). My Wii Fit Age also dropped … to 52 years old … so I’m actually only feeling 12 years older than I really am … still not good, but at least I’m not about to retire!

We picked up Wii Fit last night. It was actually quite fun to set up … well, sorta fun. Once I entered my age and height, and the game figured out my BMI, the cute little Mii informed me that not only am I slightly obese, my Wii Fitness age is 58! That’s right, on a health scale, I feel 18 years older than I really am!

Well, if I needed motivation to get back into working out, I guess that’s it! (BTW, Heather set up her info as well, but I’m no fool: you’ll have to ask her for her numbers! All I can say is that she is in MUCH better health than I am.

The idea behind Wii Fit is to make exercise fun. I’ve read enough online reviews to know that it can actually work. I know that it can be fun to earn points for each exercise you accomplish. Anyway, I’ll keep you all up to date on my progress using Wii Fit. Sometime today I will set up my goals and see where we go from there.

I am constantly amazed at the growth of The Oil Change, my daily spiritual thought that is sent out via email. Every week, more people sign up for it (and yes, a few unsubscribe).

I figure I’m connecting to a vastly different audience on my blog, but thought I’d give you guys the link in case you wanted to recieve The Oil Change in your mailbox each day.

You can sign up for it here.

When does “free speech” cross the line? Any ideas? I am mulling that question over in my mind after reading the this article at cbc.ca.

According to the article, Mark Steyn’s book, “America Alone” may be banned in Canada because in the book he allegedly insults Islam. A British Columbia tribunal has been set up to review whether or not Steyn has committed a hate crime with his comments in the book. 

Now, I have not read the book and really have no idea of Steyn’s views (before this morning, I had not even heard his name before). His book is on the New York Time’s Best Seller list.

I also recognize, as does the author of the CBC article, that Steyn is using the potential ban in Canada to fuel more sales of the book (The most recent copy has “Soon to be banned in Canada” stamped on the cover).

I guess I am just wondering what limits should there be on free speech (if any?). And for those who read this who are of the “Christian persuasion”, think about that question before you answer. If you argue that we should allow books that criticize Islam, then we must be equally okay with books that criticize Christianity. Of course, if we’re honest, we know that we would never see an anti-Christian book banned in Canada, no matter what it said!

So, what do you think? Should there be limits on free speech? 

So … some people suggest that Twitter is going to soon replace Blogging … Hmmmm … does that mean I need to get on another communication method? I know, I know, Twitter has been around for some time now - it certainly isn’t new - but it’s becoming bigger and bigger each day.

I love communicating, but when is it enough?

So, what do you guys think? Do you follow people’s twittering?

So, they finally announced the iPhone coming to Canada. I know, I read the announcement on my iPhone (which I’m using in Canada). The funny thing is - and here comes the geek in me again - it is still exciting to me. This phone is so amazing and far superior to any phone I’ve ever owned, that I am excited to see it arrive in Canada. Finally, I will be able to get accessories in my local stores. 

Since I bought my phone, I’m amazed at how it’s changed how I do some tasks. My laptop has been relegated to very limited use (although I am starting to turn to it more often again). Email, web surfing, YouTube, etc. has all been done on my phone. It’s that quick and nice an interface.

I know some of you are thinking, “It’s just a phone!” A number of years ago, Apple revolutionized how we listen to music with the iPod and iTunes. The same is going to happen with cell phones. Wait and see.

As many of you know, I’m a big reader. I always have a book (usually three or four books) on the go.

When I picked up “unChristian” (see side bar link), I was really looking forward to diving in to it. It seemed that everyone I talked to found it to be a very revealing book. So, I cracked it open and was ready to dive in.

Yawn. Perhaps it’s because we spend so much time with people who are not interested in church and/or Christians, that I just found myself thinking, “Yeah, I knew that. Yeah, I knew that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I think it’s a great book for someone who is wanting to try to understand secular culture, but certainly not for someone who is already connected to that culture.

The other issue I have with the book is that the stats are American (of course). The spiritual mindset of Canadians is far different than the U.S. mindset. Far different. And so, for a Canadian to use this book as the basis of understanding secular culture, it would be a mistake.

There you go … my first book review!

Okay, as many of you know, I’m an avid hockey fan. I’m not JUST a Sens fan (like so many others). Yes, I like watching the Sens play - and cheer for them as long as they are in it, but I also am a fan of hockey. I did watch the finals. I did get into the games. I’m pretty crazy about my hockey.

But I just don’t get the uproar over the possibility of CBC no longer using the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. I mean, really - is that the biggest issue that some people have? A Canadian soldier was killed this week. A woman was bruttaly murdered here in Ottawa. And our biggest concern is what song they use to introduce a hockey game???

The rest of the world must look on us and shake their heads sometimes. Really.

Let me lay this out really clearly: BREATHE PEOPLE! Your life will go on even if CBC doesn’t use their “song”. In fact, if you have to do it, just mute your television and hum the song during the opening. You’ll feel so much better.

I just wonder what would happen if people took the energy they spend on foolishness like this and actually used it for something productive. Maybe this world would be a little better place. But what do I know.