A break: longer anyone?

Here's my house that's been blown by the wind in the biggest snow storm for a November in a very, very long time.
Today I've realized how very lazy I can be. I really don't want to go to school tomorrow. I'd much rather stay home and read quietly, do some art, play some music for the rest of the week. I think my real reason is that sometimes I really am afraid of substitute teaching. I never know what classroom I'm gonna end up in. It's hard to always have to take charge over new students (or any students for that matter). I think I'm just far too "kind" for my own good. Grrrrr.... I can be tough. Oh yes, I can. Well, at least no one can accuse me of being a workaholic. That's a good thing.
All I can say is thank you for a warm house with warm food. I always enjoy a good break.

Pro-life: for my sistuhs

Yeah, I'm pro-life and "feminist." I heard a great definition for feminist before: One who believes woman should be first recognized as human beings and then by their female gender. Yup, I'm one of those. The words on the shirt say a feminist is "powerful, compassionate, and a balanced woman" Good words to describe who I'd like to become. What woman doesn't want to and need to feel like she is powerful in life, lives compassionately and balanced (now there is the challenging one for me). The "compassionate" word is the one I think feminists need to think about even when it refers to their unwanted babies.

I'm kind of one of those quieter pro-lifers. I believe that taking the life of a child in their mother's womb is wrong, but I rarely do anything to speak out about this belief. My sister is the vocal one on this topic. I generally don't like talking about topics that might separate me from people I love and care for. Today I was reading in my Bible about Jesus' birth and how Herod, the king of the time, had all the baby boys in Bethlehem under 2 killed. He was jealous of the new "King of the Jews" (Jesus) and wanted to have him destroyed at all cost. Let's just say I got challenged. I was so disturbed about this story. How awful! What a massacre! It made me sick. Suddenly, though, I realized in our nation the same thing has been happening for quite some time through abortion. How could I be so angry about one and not the other? I realized for me it's because abortion is out of my sight, out of my life. I don't have to deal with it on any kind of regular basis.

I want to be one who protects "little ones" (fetus), but also (and perhaps even more) one who fights for young (or old) mothers who have to deal with devastating circumstances around "unwanted pregancy," "negligent fathers" "family disapproval"etc. Sistuhs, we gotta think twice before we let any boy take sex from us. It's just not worth taking that risk for ourselves or our children.

I'll have to write more sometime soon.

Keep on dancing

So I've been taking some dancing classes lately-trying to become the "dancing queen. " I've been paying the price for it too. I've had a pinched nerve in my right leg for about three weeks now, basically limping everywhere I go and feeling like an elderly woman.

So I've asked God why? I just wanna have fun with it and get good at something I've always liked to do. I think I've come to realize I actually wanna get good at dance, so people will look at me and be like "Wow, she's good!" (Kinda sick, but I'm sure if you look kind of deep in yourself, you'll find some of the same pride).

I've also finally noticed God likes to keep me humble, because it keeps me looking at Him. He is a whole lot more interesting than me. Most people don't recognize that dance is God's idea. He loves it. There is actually a verse in Zephaniah 3:17 that says "God will rejoice over us with singing. " That word rejoice in the Hebrew actually means to "spin around" and "dance with intense, even violent motion." Please don't tell me my God is boring, because I will not believe you.

If God wants to send some supernatural grace on my body to help me dance (not only have I been in pain, but I do tend towards downright clumsiness) that would be absolutely wonderful. If not, I'm gonna keep on dancing like those ladies shaking their barn skirts around and teaching Grade 3's how to do that, cos it just brings joy

I love dance from different countries. The pictures show some dancers from China (in the Green) and Kazakhstan (in the pink). [I haven't seen the movie Borat, but I must say Kazakhstan does win the prize in my mind for having beautiful dancing ladies and costumes].

Comments on Nov. 11 continued

Seems to me, most people like the justice aspect of God's nature (Psalm 72- He shall spare the poor and needy etc) especially my left wing friends(whom I love and believe in very much). It is a whole lot more difficult to accept that God has some moral standards that He expects us to follow. What we fail to see is that our free choice (which our Father God has given us) to follow whatever moral code we like may actually be very detrimental to our families, societiety and nation. Drugs, STDS, divorce, prostitution, pornography are just a few of the social problems that have plagued us as we have chosen actions far from God.

We seem to believe that if we would come to God, He would take away all our fun and put us in some legalistic straight jacket. That deeply saddens me, because the idea is so prevalent. God does call us to a higher level, but only because He wants the very best for us. We are like spoilt children who want everything (especially sex) right away.

I can't help but comment that some have a hard time with me calling God a He, and to be honest I do understand. Humans-male and female, however, are created in the image of God, to me that means God must have what we have deemed "feminine qualities" as well as masculine qualities. God is not some masculine, chauvinistic, patriarchal God. Human religion has done this to how we approach and see God. I believe we call God "He" because it is a metaphor/picture for God's love for us people. He calls us His bride and He is the bridegroom. There's supposed to be such a high level of intimacy and love between the Creator and people that it's like a husband and wife. Have we messed up that picture or what (no wonder God gets upset with our sexual immorality- we're messing with his most beautiful picture)? Could you imagine if men and women would get this picture right? God calls men to love women just like Jesus did. Jesus laid down His entire life and bled for people. That's love. And all I know is, as a woman I would have no problem respecting and loving a husband in whatever way he needed if he acted like Jesus Christ. If both spouses lived and loved like this we would have some unbelievable, lasting marriages!

Comments on Nov. 11

I know Remembrance Day is weeks past, but something has struck me which I just have to speak out about. This year was the first year I went to an acutal Remembrance Day Ceremony. I have wanted to go for many years , but it just hadn't worked out. This year I went with my grandma, Uncle Jim and his lovely girlfriend Kate. I really did not know what to expect. We arrived a little late and was pleasantly surprised by the first song a Christian hymn "Abide with Me." It is a beautiful song calling for God to stay alongside us through all the trials and hardships of life. How very fitting when you talk about how war veterans have endured much suffering and pain.

Seems to me, we like to include God only when we are very desperate for help. I rejoice that we recognize Him in our suffering, but it seems very hypocritical to me that outside of these trials we ignore Him, mock Him, reject Him. We blame God for the evil in this world and then don't take the time to listen to how He might want to help us. Honestly, I feel sorry for God. We treat Him like our Sugar Daddy, our very final "person" to call for help.

Recently, I heard that Australia made a very bold declaration that God will be a part of their country and their government. They, like Canada, have a very multicultural society, but they have chosen to not let "political correctness" dictate what they will allow in their nation. God has been and always will be a vital part of our country Canada. From its conception in 1867, founding fathers such as Sir Leonard Tilley declared "He [meaning God] shall have dominion from sea to sea" from the Bible in Psalm 72:8. That's why Canada is called the Dominion of Canada.

If you read the rest of the chapter you will find how God would affect our nation. "He shall judge the people with righteousness (true morality) and your poor with justice. The mountains shall bring peace to the people... He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.. in His days those who live honestly shall flourish and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures... for he shall deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him that has no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in His sight."

I'm sure we could all agree we need more of this justice in our nation (and the nations of the earth). To be continued.

First time teaching dance

This week I got to teach a dance class for my very first time! It was Grade 3, so it didn't have to be some highly "technical" dance, which was just fine with me. We played a mirroring game, a shape game where you have to hold a shape for 20 seconds after I stop the music, and then finally the students' favourite "freeze dance." Students get to dance around the very bright studio until I stop the music. When I stop it, they must freeze. If they're the last one dancing-they are out! It was so fun to watch super talented, dance genius kids dancing around with some gooood attitude. Breakdancers, ballerinas, hip hoppers-good times.

Love is Coming

Here's a little rhyme in response to how young girls are treated all around the world, but in particular some African countries where women are sometimes raped by men who know they have AIDS, basically handing them a death threat. I couldn't stand by quiet, so here goes.
Please know my intention is not to stir up anger and hatred against men, because there are many amazing men in this world. I only desire to give these women a voice, which has been taken away from them. My Jesus is interceding on their behalf right now and I intend to join him. Look out enemies of love (the pure kind), your time is very, very short. Love is coming!

I ain’t just a body,
I ain’t just a thing
I’m a woman who’s alive and I’m gonna sing
I’m a woman with a mind
I’m a woman with a heart
I’m a woman with a soul and I’m gonna let it go
My rhyme it’s comin’ at you fast and strong
Bringin’ out the juices singing my song
You stop! You’re preying on me, layin’ on me, slayin’ on me
Cos I command respect, reprimand, defect out of your arms
Cos I’m gonna live, I’m gonna give but not to you
Cos I hear the sound love is comin’
I hear the sound love is comin’.

Uganda orphans

So, it's almost 3 am and I am ready to go to sleep. The snow outside has made my home undeniably frigid ie. freezing. I finally turned on the heat, even though we usually don't do that at night. I can't help but think about children in Uganda and many other countries living out on the streets with no parents to give them a warm house, food etc, and I finally recognize I can handle one night of cold (but man, my body's not used to this coldness).

On Saturday December 2nd we are having a Fun Fair fundraiser to raise money for orphans in Northern Uganda (the area where the Lord's Resistance Army has been recruiting child soldiers). These children are being given a home and refuge at the Uganda Jesus Village. The people in charge of the Village are also seeking to put these children into already up and running villages and families, which I think is important in order to readjust the children back into their own society rather than trying to adjust them to our "white," "Caucasian" orphanages and society.

At the Fun Fair there will be a silent auction, open mike (yipee-I'm hoping to play a few tunes), cake walk (win a free cake-delicious), and games for kids. C'mon out and check it out at 1pm. It's gonna be held at Global Harvest in Abbotsford BC.

Fun in the Classroom

This week I stepped out in faith into some new grades. I love Kindergarten to Grade 4/5ish. I feel kind of safe. Kids are usually pretty nice and still not full of attitude. This week I went to Eugene Reimer Middle School- a Grade 8 French classroom. Oh my! I was frightened went I got the call, but then thought hey, what can a bunch of 13 year olds do in one afternoon (didn't even have to deal with them for the whole day).

I couldn't use my trusty clapping rhythm sequence that Grade 2 students do back for me. My usual 1,2,3 eyes on me sounded childish as a way to get their attention. So I just said "Excuse me....Listen up, please." They were working on rhymes/ raps using the French verb "aller" meaning "to go." They used the "Barney" theme song, "I'm a Little Teapot" and other interesting songs. The students got a little excited. After they were done, they asked me to play a song on the guitar which I did and then they asked if I knew how to rap. I got to rap my "Maybe I'm just a little white girl" rap for them and the Grade 8 boys really liked it. That made me feel pretty dang cool. Thank you, Father God.

My Canadian Roots

Today I had the day off from school and was able to go to the Bible school. Yeah! We were praying for Canada, and God was speaking to me about my Canadian roots. Many times I am excited about other countries (such as places in Africa) that I forget about Canada. Maybe it's because I don't really think we have a "culture." While praying though I realized we have such a rich culture. Where else do you find both French and English cultures, First Nations cultures, and immigrants' cultures from all around the world? I also realized that I know almost nothing about the French culture. As a true Canadian, I think it's important to know even a little about the different cultures that make up our nation. I believe that God will use Canadian "multiculturalism" to take down walls between people groups.

Last week too I was at North Poplar, the fine arts school in Abbotsford and a popular Canadian musician (Michael Mitchell) was singing songs about Canada. His album was called "Canada is For Kids." I appreciated his songs. They had very much an East Coast feel with lots of fiddle sounds. I want to go to Newfoundland now and learn to play that kind of music. It's great stuff.

Beginnings of a testimony

So, I've been really asking God what is my testimony? What's the story you want me to share with the world? What does my life speak after 20 years of being in His family? I think some things are finally getting clear. About time eh?

I think God spoke three words to me. "Intensely personal relationship" with Him- the Uncreated One. He sees my whole life- every time I feel guilt about eating too much cake, every time I feel lust towards a guy, every time jealousy jerks at my heart when someone sings better than me. Every time I let fear rule me rather than trust in Him, every time I'm incapable of loving my brother or sister. He sees it all and loves me still.

It could be kind of freaky to think God sees it all, but then again it could be freeing. We do not have to hide in shame anymore. He already knows it all (old news). He just wants us to come into the light and confess we need help, which we really, really do.

Lately I just can't get away from the thought that My Father loves me with the same love (same intensity) that He loves His absolutely perfect Son, Jesus. He wants me to succeed and to become more like Jesus.