Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Toronto Zoo
It was a nice summer day. Some would say it's too hot, but it was a relatively pleasant summer day for a trip to the zoo. We saw the pandas, but they were very lethargic. Quite boring. The white lions were more interesting. The lemurs were very active too. I think the last time I was at the zoo was on an even hotter summer day in 1998.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Summer Reading
On May 15th, I had the pleasure of meeting Fred Stewart from the Renewal Fellowship Within the Presbyterian Church in Canada. During our conversation, he mentioned Timothy Keller and in particular his book, The Reason for God. On our way to Marineland last Thursday, I decided to drop by Bookoutlet.ca Store in St Catherines. I picked up two copies of this book (and a whole bunch of other Christian books for myself and others). It's higher brow reading than I'm used to (I'm not a philosopher and my concept of faith is very straightforward - based upon my own experiences and what's written in the Bible). It's a great book I have to admit.
On page 29 he gets at the heart of why the Christian God the Father is so loving and compassionate. It reminds me of how my grade 5 music teacher, Mr Klaudt, described the crucifixion of Jesus during Christmas time and it really moved me (I was an immigrant kid who had no knowledge of Christianity other than a read through of the Good News New Testament and Psalms given to me by the Canadian Bible Society the summer before grade 5 during my citizenship ceremony. It happened that the Gideons gave me a New Testament/Psalms/Proverbs in that same music room in grade 5. However, they gave me a King James Version and that's pretty useless for a 10 year old. On page 40 he notes that observing whether organisations demonise and attack those who violate their boundaries versus treating them with kindness and humility as a litmus test of whether the community is open/caring or narrow/oppressive. Kind of reminds me of how Trinity Western University's Law School is being ostracised by the media. On page 46 he notes the problem Ken Robinson notes in his work - many people aren't developing their talent and thereby waste their creative powers. I'm sure I'll discover more nuggets of wisdom as I read through this book.
The Epilogue would make a great confirmation resource. It summarises what one should do if they decide to become a Christian. Indeed, this entire book would make a great confirmation resource. I would summarise the second half of this book as explaining why Deuteronomy 6:5 is the prime focus of a Christian and how the second commandment (Leviticus 19:18) naturally follows. If God is not truly first in our lives, we can never fully enter into a meaningful relationship with God and are consequently, idolators (family, career, money etc are typical idols). Keller notes that God's way often seems to not make sense, but if we give God our trust and invest in that relationship, we will reach the full potential I often hear about in Joel Osteen's messages.
And, I continue to follow my 10 chapter a day Bible reading plan. I've been using the New Living Translation on Bible Gateway. This reading plan comes from Dodie Osteen's devotional, Choosing Life. I got two copies of this devotional to give to others last Thursday too.
On page 29 he gets at the heart of why the Christian God the Father is so loving and compassionate. It reminds me of how my grade 5 music teacher, Mr Klaudt, described the crucifixion of Jesus during Christmas time and it really moved me (I was an immigrant kid who had no knowledge of Christianity other than a read through of the Good News New Testament and Psalms given to me by the Canadian Bible Society the summer before grade 5 during my citizenship ceremony. It happened that the Gideons gave me a New Testament/Psalms/Proverbs in that same music room in grade 5. However, they gave me a King James Version and that's pretty useless for a 10 year old. On page 40 he notes that observing whether organisations demonise and attack those who violate their boundaries versus treating them with kindness and humility as a litmus test of whether the community is open/caring or narrow/oppressive. Kind of reminds me of how Trinity Western University's Law School is being ostracised by the media. On page 46 he notes the problem Ken Robinson notes in his work - many people aren't developing their talent and thereby waste their creative powers. I'm sure I'll discover more nuggets of wisdom as I read through this book.
The Epilogue would make a great confirmation resource. It summarises what one should do if they decide to become a Christian. Indeed, this entire book would make a great confirmation resource. I would summarise the second half of this book as explaining why Deuteronomy 6:5 is the prime focus of a Christian and how the second commandment (Leviticus 19:18) naturally follows. If God is not truly first in our lives, we can never fully enter into a meaningful relationship with God and are consequently, idolators (family, career, money etc are typical idols). Keller notes that God's way often seems to not make sense, but if we give God our trust and invest in that relationship, we will reach the full potential I often hear about in Joel Osteen's messages.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Beautiful day in Niagara Falls, 2017 July 17
I went to Marineland for the first in about 25 years. The youngest is still too short for the best rides. Too bad. Beautiful weather though. Glad we waited until the kids were older before coming here. The rides are fun and they have kiddy rides as well as the better stuff. We didn't go on Sky Screamer though!
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
The same juvenile from a few days ago?
I saw this fellow on the way to get the mail this evening and I'm wondering if it's the same one as from Saturday.
The male robin was in the nest this morning and wasn't too happy to see me.
The male robin was in the nest this morning and wasn't too happy to see me.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Feeding Time
This male robin has a worm for his brood:
Here are the anxious mouths in the nest. I think there are three of them:
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Foolish Baby Robin
Robins made a nest in our Colorado Blue Spruce this year. Today, the only surviving chick was chirping on our driveway.
I was wondering why it didn't fly away.
It wandered into the neighbour's back yard. In the meantime, mom came back with some food only to find no baby.
The baby was returned to the nest, but it left it again!
Not a very smart move. No sign of mom either.
Eventually, mom returned, but didn't see/hear her baby. The saga continues!
On a second rescue attempt, it was discovered that there were three young chicks in the nest. This little guy is NOT from this brood! This more mature chick will have to figure out how out how to survive or nature will take its course.
On a second rescue attempt, it was discovered that there were three young chicks in the nest. This little guy is NOT from this brood! This more mature chick will have to figure out how out how to survive or nature will take its course.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
GOMBS
I saw Dr Joel Fuhrman on KSPS last night and he mentioned a simple acronym about good foods to eat:
Greems
Onions
Mushroom
Berries
Seeds
He also has a Facebook page. I decided to donate $144 so I could get his 13 DVD package. I've heard some of what he's about before too (AGE's, diabetic medicine making you permanently diabetic etc).
Greems
Onions
Mushroom
Berries
Seeds
He also has a Facebook page. I decided to donate $144 so I could get his 13 DVD package. I've heard some of what he's about before too (AGE's, diabetic medicine making you permanently diabetic etc).
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