Secular Faith

Every once in a while something comes your way that seriously rocks your faith, values and beliefs. Usually when I run into new perspectives, most secular, I find my faith strengthened. But today unfortunately was not the case, I was completely discouraged. During a discussion around self concept and its evolution it was expressed that we are born into this world as an empty shell with no predetermined traits, or future values. We are empty internal vessels that will be created by our external environment. We alone are responsible for creating ourselves from life experiences as we are nothing when we are first born. Of the twenty individuals present almost all of them agreed. But as a clause, some one threw in a statement of, "ya but nobody has an edge on truth."

HOLY CRAP! What about God our Father who knows us each my name, He knew us in our mothers womb. He knows how many hairs are on my head, he knows who I was, who I am , and who I will be. He even knows if I will reside in heaven or hell. I am not an empty vessel, I've got my savior deep inside. I wanted to scream,

"I HAVE AN EDGE ON TRUTH AND HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST!"

Welcome to the secular world. I am discovering very quickly that in the secular world religion is viewed as an old fashioned pass time that includes strict useless disciplines. "But I mean, if people get something out of going to church, by all means they should go." Yet all these new terms such as; humanism, phenominism, feminism, holism, and self concept are popping up all over the place in conversation. Most of these words revolve around beliefs, values, experiences, traditions, and social traits. One professor was stating that the elements that shape an individual can be found in a combination of three (only three) areas; political, economic and social. Is religion just a social aspect of who we are? Or maybe it comes under politics as there is so much of that in our churches today. But then again, as a church we go out and feed those who are hungry....So maybe it is economic.

Is not religion the foundation of all of the above mentioned concepts? Was it not Moses who brought God's law to the people? The very Law that has foundations in our political and judicial systems (yes they are corrupt as well)? The term Humanism screams Gods fallen creation. Holism, I am truly fulfilled by the living water that will sustain me for all eternity. Feminism is all about correcting injustices.

I probably should not blog when passion speaks before wisdom. Then again I have wisdom in Christ Jesus, thus I am passionate. Or maybe I am just a narrow minded Christian. You know those Christians, its "God's way or hell."

Perserverance

Perserverance....God is DEFINITELY teaching me a lesson in perserverance. Perserverance to wake up each day and head to classes, perserverance to wake Jacob up every day so that he can perserver in his school, perserverance to study, study some more, and then study a little more. Between work, school, family and other obligations, I have not a moment to myself. I think tonight I will force myself to take a moment and enjoy some fresh air along side Damien Rice...not sitting, not writing, not getting motion sickness starring through the oculars of a microscope, not learning greek via anatomy and physiology and definitely NOT reading.

One major thing I learned this week....."we cannot possibly be everything to everyone, so be genuine and stop trying so bloody hard." This came from a professor regarding the personal care of patients and it hit really hard. One of the main focuses in training college was, "As officers we need to be all things to all people...... And be genuine.....:)" I understand the principle that they were getting at, but for petes sake lets be realistic!

This first semester is proving that so much of nursing ideologies are based on theology. In place of God is each persons own ethics and beliefs. We are taught that all truth is relative, and that no truth stands outside each individuals own knowledge. . . . . Interesting to say, at the least. I understand what these wacky classes are getting at, but me being me, I have to put my own two cents in. My words of, "there is only one factual truth," were actually accepted and respected, but only because everyone in the room is applying the above statement, that my truth was relative only to me, even though God's truth, effects every single person in that room--they are all going to hell. (sarcasm-of course)

We were told to bring a writing or piece of an article that with held our own personal meaning of health. I brought the bible and said that it was too long to read in class, so I just gave a short passage from James 5, The Prayer of Faith. There are actually many Christians in my classes as well as Buddhists, proclaimed atheists, nauturalists, Catholics and an few eastern decendents. The discussions are intense and quite enjoyable. And back to grade school...in a couple of Saturdays we get our first field trip, to science world to see, "Body Worlds 3".

Front lines

There is so much I'd love to say, yet no words will be written nor spoken on the matter. Each day I praise God for the gifts he has so graciously bestowed upon me, and each day I pray, begging for the strength to carry out his will in a holy and upright manner. Nursing school is incredible. Each day I attend, I receive confirmation that this is in fact the road God has placed before me to walk. At the same time, nursing school is a ton of work. (literally a TON! You should carry around my back pack for an afternoon!) I am thriving in an educational setting, yet I am exhausted balancing work, school, homework, social life, commitments, mom and wife. I am battling the front lines, and I have turned to God for my armor.

Jacob is absolutely loving French immersion kindergarten. Within three days he is counting to twelve in French and he even called me his little lady bug in this foreign language. Every morning as we near his kindergarten door his excitement cannot be contained. He will jump up and down and state, "Mom I can't wait to go inside!" What an answer to prayer. Jacobs amazing attitude is God given.

If I become sparse and spread out on this web page it is not because I am struggling or in hiding, rather I am thriving and allowing growth and opportunity to take over. Speaking of opportunity, it is no hidden fact that I have always had a heart and dream of working in Africa. Nursing was the route I felt called to many years ago to carry out this dream. From May 15 until July 2007 there is an opportunity to experience my nursing practicum in Togo Africa. It was a huge step of faith to commit four years of my life to study to achieve the calling and dream God has placed in my heart. He is faithful.

Fugitives and First days of school

An interesting scene played out the other night that got me to thinking of how God must feel at times when he is looking down on his foolish disobedient children. Our neighborhood is definitely a "hood" and it is quite often we see the police speeding across the field behind our house, or we heard the brawls, the sounds of the undeniable intoxicated and high, those getting stabbed(unfortunately it is becoming a common event), people trying to smash in windows... etc.

The other night was no different. A heated argument between 10-15 youth, the fists, screams, words such as, "His blood is all over me" and "quick lets take off before the cops get here." Finally we hear the sirens, and one kid attempts to smash starbucks window before fleeing into the park. As he is half way across the park, right beside out apartment building, he sees the cops waiting for him on the other side. He runs to the corner of our fence and lies down in the tall grass. Literally he is five feet out from our balcony, and three stories down, we can hear him breath. A cop car comes in from the other side of the park trapping the young man where he is hiding. Pat is on the phone with the police who are giving directions of the kids wear abouts to the cop car. Mean while I am standing the balcony watching this young man lay still, hoping to evade his deserved punishment (later we found out he stabbed another kid). From my view I can see the two cop cars closing in, watch the kid panicking and sweating in the grass till I can't stand it any longer. I leaned over and spoke to him, "dude just give yourself up." He looks up at me suprized, says, "oh shit" and takes off running, the cop car in full pursuit. Of course he is overcome, tackled, slammed and arrested.

Watching the whole scene from my birds eye view was really quite disheartening, (and oddly funny). I knew the ending of the scene, it was only a matter of time. Yet there was the kid hiding, thinking that he could get away with his actions, evade the police, and evade his rightful punishment. I wonder if this was how God felt as he wandered through the garden of Eden in the cool of the day. He called out to Adam and Eve, yet he knew where they were. He knew what they had done, he knew what grave consequences lay ahead. Yet there were Adam and Eve, hiding their bodies covered in shame hoping to evade YHWH.

Seriously, who do we think we are that we can go around sinning, hiding in secrecy thinking that we are "all that" for getting away with our actions. YHWH, the almighty sees all of our actions and we will be held accountable. We will be punished and will face the consequences. Our God is the God of grace. Grace that is free if we would only believe and receive.

Confess, receive it and rejoice.

"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin."
Ezekiel 18:30

"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. "
Revelation 3:18-20


Here's the update on everything else...

This is it... Jacobs FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARDEN!!!! Jacob came home and exclaimed that he absolutely LOVED school and he couldn't wait to go back tomorrow. He even asked if he could go everyday FOREVER! (I told him yes)

There is lots of change in our house as I don't get to hang out with my little guy as much as I used to. At least we can do our homework together! (his is in French)

This was the hard picture to take, yes I cried!

Here are some other random pics:

Pat and I took a day bike trip and met up with my parents and niece and nephew

This is my niece Alex, is she the most beautiful thing you've ever seen!

I swear this is one of the greatest reasons to have a kid, you get to be one again!

Schizophrenic neighbor

Pat and I used to live in this apartment building before taking off for Newfoundland. Back then we had this sweet and absolutely dear schizophrenic man living beside us. He would bring us peanut butter on a weekly basis for no apparent reason at all. We always graciously accepted and he was always super friendly as if we were his family. Strange thing was, he would always call us Dave and June. And who ever Dave and June actually were, this man obviously held in high regard. At first we corrected him, but he would never catch on so for the past 5 years on and off that this man has known us, we have been Dave and June.

So this evening this fine young man was sitting outside the front door of the apartment building. Pat asked him if he was coming in. To which he replied, "DONT BE IGNORANT, AS IF YOU DONT KNOW!!! THEYRE IN MY APARTMENT." Pat not really knowing how to respond to this strange behavior just shrugged and proceeded to enter the apartment. As he walked away the man said, "AND YOUR COVER IS BLOWN, I KNOW YOUR NAME IS NOT DAVE!"

Great! Our cover is blown, but what on earth! And now I'd love to know the purpose of this man weekly gift of skippy smooth peanut butter!

Speaking of peanut butter, today was my first day as a Registered Nurse student. What a blast! I was quite nervous and was praying continually for an easy transition back into a college where I knew not a single soul. I had barley stepped onto the bus by my house when a girl my age said to me, "Hey your starting the nursing program aren't you!" I guess my books gave it away. Zoe and I got a long quite well and stuck together the entire day. Strange thing was, of 180 students and 8 separate divisions, we both ended up with the exact same schedule.

God I praise you for your provision,
I praise you for your faithfulness.
You have placed these desires in my heart, and now you are providing the strength to see them realized. For you alone will I use what ever gifts and skills are gained from this endeavor.

Saanichton Fair

Well it seems that this summer has been nothing but one exciting adventure after another, all to end tomorrow. Here are the latest.

Jacob and Alex hooked up once again and conquered at least a dozen rides each

One of my more humbling moments, yes I am riding a giant bumble bee!

Here we are about to embark on the second scariest ride at the fair, "The hurricane." Of course "The Zipper" is the scariest and even with begging, dragging, pleading and threatening...I still bailed on that one. Just for the record Tasha and Nicole went for three rounds with "The Zipper." I am simply, A BIG WUSS!

The after shot, not so shabby.

CHICKEN LITTLE!!!

Maybe it was a little heat stroke BUT (HAHA) for some reason these next shots seemed ridiculously funny at the time,

(Some of the above were first prize winners at the fair...Others were not.)

Its funny Tasha called the Saanichton fair, "The ghetto Fair." But the entire parking lot for the entire fair takes place in an enormous hay field.