For the past while I have been really wrestling with what God was speaking to my heart.  I knew that something was up, but I couldn't see the future clearly.  It was really odd.  It felt like I was walking in pea soup fog (which is what my team and I drove through on our way home from Kelowna last night).  Last November things began to heat up - in that I had three or four potential offers - and the weird thing was - none of them grabbed my heart.  They were all good - and would be nice and all - but none that seemed like a YEEEESSSSS, if you know what I mean.  Some of them involved pastoring churches, and that made no sense because we are having such a great time with Doug & Linda at Living Waters.  It is weird to think about changing roles and not wanting to move or change churches!  Kind of limits the options just a bit!  A couple of the potential scenarios were in organizing short term missions trips, and the wild part was that as we thought about that the idea of missions grabbed our heart, but not the part about organizing and taking 50 teams a year.  We headed off to Slovakia and Turkey in late November to see Sheldon and Anna and to put on a Timeout retreat for our young missionaries.  One late night in Slovakia it hit Leanne - and she said... If you felt like God was asking us to go to Africa you would tell somebody in charge of missions that you felt that...  So - Why don't we talk to Murray C. in Turkey about our passion for finding and caring for missionaries?  Murray is the head of missions for the PAOC - our denom..  After putting on the Timeout in Turkey we sat down for lunch with Murray and our friend George and shared our dream.  We followed this up by asking the question - would there ever be a place for us?  The immediate response was - YES... and Murray felt it would be healthiest if we stayed in Langley.  wow.  So (as my friend George always says) we began a journey that culminated in me resigning being the NGM director on Thursday - effective August 31.  It feels really weird to be stepping aside from a role that we've loved and done for 10 years.  Nick was 5 when we started!  We've made so many friends and connections and had so many incredible moments - we'll cry when it's done.  But a chapter is closing and a new dream is beginning.  Still dreaming!  DMc.

March 29, 2007 

Dear Dave,  

I want to thank you and the BC/Yukon District of the PAOC for the opportunity to serve for the last 10 years as the Youth and NGM Ministries Director.  Our family has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the District team.  We’ve made great friends and seen God do AWESOME things!  

In the past number of months it has become clear that God was speaking to my heart about a new role.  My journal began to grow as we listened to the whisper of the Holy Spirit.  As Leanne and I prayed and worked through our values and passions we discovered that missions was at the heart of who we are as people.  Over time I have gradually added missions apprenticeships and encouragement and care for our young missionaries to my NGM job description.  In November we began a conversation with Murray Cornelius and today have been invited to join the International Missions Division of the PAOC.  We will begin this role in September and be based out of Langley.  Our primary roles will be finding, training and caring for next gen missionaries.  Thus I am resigning from being the NGM director effective August 31, 2007.  

It is hard to say good-bye to a great District office team.  They work hard and truly care for our District.  In particular I want to thank our Next Gen team.  We have had an amazing time together and they’ve done a great job.  Thank you Jaz, Shannon, Marlies and our many apprentices!  I especially need to thank Tammy Peterson – who has now been a part of the NGM department for 12 years.  She trained me well and will be a blessing to whoever follows in my footsteps!  Our Next Gen cluster leaders are great men and women of God and I will miss working alongside of them.  

We are going to have a great opportunity to finish well!  There is still a Historymaker to run, two Sparks, a Timeout, District Conference and a full slate of summer camps!  Our kids are disappointed that they won’t be the Director’s kids anymore – but we feel like God knows what He is doing, and we take pleasure in doing His will.  

May God bless Next Gen Ministry in our District and nation – and thank you for caring about and investing in the generation that is here!  

Dream,  

Darcy McAlister  along with Leanne, Nick, Robyn and Ben Next Gen Ministries Director BC/Yukon - PAOC

www.historymaker.hm                                                                             

 

I want more friends.  That is what I have determined.  And apparently males over 35 have usually worked themselves down to just one friend or so they say (whoever they is... probably some guy with no friends who wanted to feel better about himself).  So already I am doing much better than most... but for me, I have to win.  I have to have more friends than our youth pastor's wife Natalie.  Right now she is winning - and that must be stopped.  Natalie is bright, vivacious and grabs friends like a Venus fly trap grabs insects.  So (as my friend George always says), I joined Facebook... here we could have our friendship competition based on real numerical values.  This morning I have 55 friends and she has 65.  By the end of the week I need to be ahead.  It is a deep need - and the emotions that I feel as I reach out to friends via Facebook are palpable - so if I extend the hand of friendship to you with Facebook - don't let your mind wonder if it is just a cheap ploy to beat Nat.  Because (sigh) as I go to the root of the deep need I discover this LONGING TO BE LOVED by people as well as this desire to defeat Nat so convincingly that she sits in her little Facebook profile shaking with awe at the depth and breadth of my friendships that are literally GLOBAL in scope.  whew.  Just a little bit of passion there.  Remember there is no me in you - but there is a little me in us - which is what I'm asking you for... oh and Nat - in the time that it's taken me to write this I have added three friends...  I'm now at 58!  Check out facebook.com and hunt me down!

Well it feels like my ossuary blog sank like James Cameron's Titanic.  The boat not the movie... as the movie did pretty well.  One of our friends saw it 6 times and cried every time but that is the kind of girl she is.  My question is - as a blogging novice - what makes a good blog?  See I only blog once a week - and I have to be disciplined and pushed to do that (thanks Paul) and so at the moment I am trying to elicit comments.  That is my goal... is that a good goal or does it just need to be read? 

 

I have seen a few different kinds of blogs... there is the Dawn kinda blog - which is so random that it makes me howl.  Who else could write about big black plastic penis's and make me laugh about it - or about the world's longest pooh and cause our internet accountability warning system to go off.  I can try and write this way - but I am just not quite as whimsical I think as some. 

 

There is the family with a baby kind of blog - Sopwith's and Armitage's are guilty of this - and it's all about their kids - which is wonderful - but I dunno if I should just go off about the greatness of my kids ( world's best) or tell cute stories about them - like how ___ stole lipstick for ___ from Shoppers Drug Mart when he was five and we found out when ___ came downstairs with sparkly lipstick ALL over her face.  ___ subsequently went back with Dad to tearfully apologize and pay to an employee who had her hands covering her mouth for some strange reason.  But now the kids are older and they can read the blog and they are a bit more sensitive about what is said about them in public places.  Kind of a drag - because the stories are still funny.

 

Then there are the deep thoughts kinds of blogs like Postal's or DeHoog's where theological and life thoughts are posted on a regular basis and people line up to give their opinion on such deep things as whether evangelism should happen on other planets and how to start a Martians for Jesus movement.  Did Jesus die for them?  Or just humans - or are the Martians really the Aztecs?  I enjoy reading those but find that my opinion on a deep thought can change from one end of a blog to another.  And my deep thoughts are generally in the shallow end of the pool not the deep oceans that others swim in.

 

The last kind of blog I have seen is the blah blah blah - share every stinking thing about your life kind of blog where it is like you live with your blinds open so that everyone can see the inane details of your life.  Have you ever noticed that HD tv makes actors/actresses look worse?  Letterman looks particularly bad on HD - and thus - my theory... some mystery isn't a bad thing.  Too much transparency can actually detract from people wanting to be near you.  Like if people really could smell my socks at the end of a travel day - if I just put em out there, I might not have as many friends.  I won't name these bloggers - because that could lose me friends too!

 

So.  there it is.  My last post sucked and now I am wondering what kind of blog to have.  Speak now or tell me later.  Both work.

 

DMac

For the last few years I have heard of people putting God in a box and how that is a bad thing.  Now this week I hear all about how Jesus' bones have been discovered and James Cameron (who made me cry with the Titanic movie but not with Terminator) is doing a documentary about it.

Hmmm... very interesting.  It has been an interesting topic around our house because the kids are asking and so I am trying to answer in a way that isn't 'stupid Christian' if you know what I mean.  The great thing is that my first response isn't fear - but good questions.  Questions like:  hmmm - if it was discovered in 1980 or before - why wasn't this brought up then?  Questions like:  If Jesus was from Nazareth and Galilee why was this ossuary found in Jerusalem?  Or:  If Jesus was a carpenter's son - How did it happen that this ossuary was so ornate?  And:  aren't these common names?  And my favorite was:  If it really was Jesus - do you think that he would name his kid Judas?  Just a thought!

 

I am thinking to myself that James Cameron hasn't had a hit in a while and this is his opportunity to go after a big one with some potential big dineros!  Read an interesting article - http://www.cbc.ca/national/rex/rex_070227.html  - check it out.

 

Another tidbit:  Archaeologist Amos Kloner says that of 900 burial caves found within 4 kilometres of Jerusalem's Old City and from the same era, the name Jesus or Yeshu was found 71 times, and that 'Jesus son of Joseph' has also been found.

 

What do you think?  Any deep thoughts or do I need to go back to my Macpassion?

 

Some people do wine tasting tours.   Others - like us do coffee farm tours and tasting.  Today we got up early, stopped at Starbucks and then headed out to the coffee farms of Kona.  Our first stop was Kona Joe's - and it was here that Mrs. Mc had her first dark roast...  then off to the next one - where she had her second.  At some point between her second and third coffee farm the caffeine from the dark roasted fancy beans began to have its' impact.  Her speech became - well - faster.  Her eyes were lit with a brightness that scared me - her pupils were dilated.  Her speech was accompanied by large arm movements that became dangerous on the narrow roads of Kona.  It was at this point I knew we had to end our day.  We stopped for lunch and I was served raw chicken.  Mrs McAlister - noticed it first and gave the waitress a dissertation on salmonella.  I took Leanne home to watch Oprah - but she's still not settled down.  Her toes are twitching.  I think we'll need to be getting her back on decaf.  I am hoping that the hangover tomorrow morning isn't too bad.

 

mmmmm coffee....  powerfully good.  What does it do to you?

Well it is the morning after V-Day.  I am sitting on my balcony blogging - listening to the surf and the fountains of our hotel compete for my ears' attention.  Spending Valentine's day in Hawaii is pretty magical.  It started out with breakfast in bed - fruit and cereal in a cup!  We're cheap - but we have fun!  Then off to Starbucks to share a vente mocha - and I have to tell you, the whipped cream was OFF.  What is the planet coming to when Starbucks LETS YOU DOWN.  So (as my friend George says) we tell the lady.  The lady apologizes and says oh dear - I'll make you another one.  I rejoin my Valentine and wait til I see the vente cup.  I see it - I get it and open the lid to get some whipped cream access, BUT it's a regular verona!  So (as my friend George says) I say to the lady - this ain't no mocha!  She says - oh dear, it isn't!  Someone else must have taken your mocha and your free drink coupon.  Well - let me make you another and I'll give you 2 coupons.  Wow.  The day turned in that pivotal moment!

 

Following Starbucks we popped into our Monte Carlo white rental and zipped over to Kona.  We hit the Macy's to pick our fragrance of the day... I picked J'Adore for Leanne.  She picked RSVP for me - nothing like a good free spray!  Just so we're clear.  Music and Lyrics was just opening at noon so we did the romantic comedy thing and totally enjoyed it.  Drew and Hugh make for a good movie generally.  Down to the waterfront after that for  some seafood at Bubba Gump's - right on the water.  Pretty good - not stellar or anything.  Next we discovered the YWAM base and Leanne picked up a prayer book on injustice against women... pretty intense but only $4.  Stopped at Safeway for Sushi and martinelli's and then back to the Hotel for Lost.  Amazing.  Oh - forgot to say that Leanne surprised me with a Ritter Sport bar - dark.  Awesome, and I shared (not like other people).

 

So (as my friend George says) - did anyone else do Valentine's as completely and as cheaply as us?

ok - after being a North American all of my life I have decided - in my view that we are food idiots.  Let me say that again - I  believe that most North Americans are FOOD IDIOTS.  There, I have said it strongly.  It is out.  Ah  relief.  Now let me try to explain my rant.  Too many of us are in love with processed and bland deep fried things when there is a world out there waiting to be discovered.  Ie - Have you ever had slovakian bacon and eggs with yolks so deep in color that you KNOW that you are eating from one incredibly healthy chicken.  Or have you ever had coconut naan bread - wow.  Or a fort roll - banana, crab and a few other goodies in a sushi roll.  Turkish delight - freshly made... mmmm.  I mean - why do we prefer Corn Pops, McDonalds fries that never ever rot because of all the preservatives and velveeta cheese to melted Brie with Mango salsa (thanks for that gift of life Dawn.)  Right now I am munching on a beautiful pineapple along with a few grapes.

 

I think I can summarize all that ails north american food by talking about chocolate....  Big is not always better - and American huge milk chocolate bars should not be on the same planet as chocolate from Vienna... mmm...

 

What say you - the grease eating public?  I feel like running down the aisles of my grocery store and destroying all the crapola and getting back to real food...   Kinda like Jesus clearing the temple - but just Darcy clearing the convenience store!

 

I feel like sushi tonight!  Raw salmon on a wee bit of rice... mmmmm.  (OH - and when I suggested sushi to my youth director counterparts - genuine fear filled the room - and I was left to eat meat and potatoes - again.)  Food idiots and food illiterate folk.

 

Thanks for letting me rant.

Ok - I hear you - if I don't get a mac for my next laptop I am worthless and a bit of an idiot.   Points all taken...

 

When I saw My Mac - I became a believer - (a little Shrek soundtrack here!)

 

I really enjoy going out for coffee - Starbucks - Grande decaf mocha 2% (which doesn't really exist) and whipped cream.  But then I heard that only .6 % of their coffee is fair trade.  Is this true?  Have I been duped by a large corp into believing that they are better than they are?  Do I need to return to my fair trade coffee shop - whose coffee I have been hating lately - or do I give in to the feeling that I feel when I sup from the cardboard cup?  Or - do I do the French press thing secretly in my home... by pouring my Komodo dragon bold Starbucks decaf beans into an unmarked plastic container.  Thus when I pull them out - noone will know but me and I won't be identified as an evil North American mega consumer!  oh.  yeah.  forgot.  My french press is the beautiful stainless steel one from Starbucks - (clearly labelled) and I don't think it would look good with a tea cozy on it.

 

I dearly want to be a person who makes a difference on the planet.  Is it WRONG to like Starbucks?  Do I HAVE to drink fair trade from a store that I don't enjoy?  Is this some kind of large life lesson - or do those coffee growers do all right?  HELP me in my moral dilemma - and tomorrow I will read your answers while sipping my beautiful, full bodied (I do feel wrong saying that here) Starbucks Christmas blend french pressed, double shot of cream with a wee bit of sugar.  Maybe it will be my last one?  (until Sunday - when good coffee is a need not a want as we now have 2 services and one of them is pickin' early!)

In my dream I am seeing myself open a box... a white box and inside is a mac laptop - the pro one.... and I am SOOO happy.  It gives me creativity, I have no viruses and I look EVER so stylish.  I use the intel duo core chip to full advantage and run office and easy worship and sync effortlessly with every network known to man...  then I wake up and realize I still have my HP PC laptop and I feel so down.  Even though I am on the prairies where the sky is bright for as far as I can see - my world just doesn't feel as full as it should.  A McAlister should have a Mac, it's a Scottish pride kind of thing! And it will work great with my ipod (don't have one) and my i-phone (don't have one) and my apple tv (don't have that either). 

 

So when I get my next laptop - which should it be?  Speak into my life o computer gurus!  Just don't suggest any commodore 64's...

 

Help me choose - and tell me the features I shoul be gunning for? 

 

ah - it feels good to have something to look forward to. 

We kinda love our dawg - that is that dawg named Pippin.  She is cute and cuddly and definitely sees Leanne as her mother.  I am only  Alpha male.  The difficult part is when the dawg gets snuggled more than Alpha male.  Then the dawg is smuggled into the laundry room - banished as it were.  The aforementioned dawg does not appreciate this treatment as she believes cuddling is her birthright or something.  But I have needed to express to the love of my life (not the dawg) that I, as Alpha male, would appreciate at least equal cuddles.  So we have worked that out - it was close for a while, but yeah - the love of my life is still the love of my life - and she has expressed to me that I, not the dawg, am still the love of hers.  After this relational conundrum was defined - the dawg took it upon herself to try EVERY strategy to get into Alpha male's good books.  Things like - being obedient, doing tricks etc.  But this week - the dawg ramped it up another notch.  She discovered a tube of Mac lipstick that the love of my life had gotten just before Christmas - thus wrecking all my well laid plans for a MacChristmas at the McAlister's.  But I digress.  The dawg took the lipstick and chewed it to bits - all the while covering her beard... that's right - I did say HER beard - and her lips with Dubonet from Mac.  This is - in my opinion taking the quest for affection just a little bit too far.  Especially considering where else those lips have been.  The great part is - that the love of my life discovered the dawg in said condition - and banished her to the laundry room.  ahhh.

 

Today - seeing how the ice was on the pond in Fort Langley - I took the kids down after lunch for some hockey and skating.  It was WONDERFUL to do something with the kids that I had used to do.  It was indeed a wistful moment - skating like the wind on wide open ice, deking your son right out of his socks and scoring that wonderful goal.... whew!  still feels good.

Well.

 

Tonight I have heard two interesting expressions.

 

Leanne told me not to be so high off the handle.  That would be fly off the handle actually.

 

Then she encouraged our kids by saying as we cleaned the kitchen -

 

Many hands make light loads.

 

Hmmm...  I am starting to worry about whether Leanne has spent so much time in cross cultural contexts that she has actually crossed cultures and is now struggling to get back!

 

I am still trying to figure out what high off the handle could mean?

 

Any thoughts?

 

And I am also wondering if we, as a family, need to ban RP Moores from our blog for accusing us of being posers about listening to Johnny Cash.  I still am in shock that that happened.  The only poser I know is JGhag - who when drafting in our hockey pool tried to draft Wayne Gretzky for his top forward.  

 

Any fav Johnny Cash songs?

 

This is kinda like the Queen's address - happens every year and is the formal communique of the McAlister family - so here ya go - more info than you ever wanted to know... 

Welcome to the latest McAlister Christmas Update blurb… it’s condensed but good! 

New Stuff:  And it all happened in only 10 days… March 3 - moved into our new house. March 4 & 5  - annual youth pastor’s Timeout.  March 6-8 - our District Conference.  March 8 – Leanne was ordained – made a Reverend (new reverend).  She can now marry & bury according to the government!  March 12 - we were ‘inducted’ along with Doug & Linda Smith at Living Waters Church in Fort Langley (new pastorate).  Then we collapsed at home – & proceeded to watch every episode of Lost (new show!) in order to catch up to our friends – Corrie & Dawn.  No new F150 though – bummer. 

Milestones & Marker points:  At Historymaker this year – our team honored us with gifts & me with an HM jacket – as it was our 10^th Historymaker as a team.  We couldn’t have done it without Tammy Peterson, the Moores, Andre F, Val, Mark D, Anthony H – & tons more who invest countless hours making a huge weekend for students happen. 

2006 was the year of Robyn’s 13^th Birthday & we had a houseful of people for our special ceremony.   We gave her & Leanne matching rings, to stand for a pledge of integrity & purity until she is married.  It was incredible to hear the words that were spoken over her life.  We have got one special girl!  And speaking of special girls - This fall – my sister Cor had a baby – long awaited Elissa Lauren Coe – we are over the moon about our new relative! 

D & L Escapes:Getaways!  Love ‘em!  Darcy got away with Phil Cann, Mitch Curby & Brian Brown up to the Yukon to do some fishing – amazing – 13 fish in 13 casts one night on Little Fox Lake – it was a wow moment for a non fisherman.   Leanne said to me – why do you always get to go away?  And I said – You’ve got to plan it – do it!  So Leanne snuck down to San Francisco with Val Vandermeulen & Kim DeHoog.  They shopped & saw the sights like crazy – & I was grateful that the shopping didn’t add up to too much! 

Summer of coffee and fish:  This summer we did some camps & some camping!  For the camping part we headed up the Sunshine Coast, which was not always sunshiny.  We had a few delicious moments – which included running into a Starbucks coffee tasting, & in the process discovering Komodo decaf coffee & the legendary French press.  mmmm hooked.  The same day we discovered KT Tungstall who we sang our way across the highways & byways of BC & Alberta... had to change one word in the CD so we could sing without feeling too guilty!  “Why the heaven it means so much to me” is what we came up with.  Nick & I went up to the Queen Charlotte’s to do their youth & kids camps – we had a great time playing ping pong, canoeing, doing archery, crabbing & even catching salmon out on the ocean.   Nick even enjoyed eating his salmon that he caught!   We also headed over to Alberta to Eagles Nest Ranch.  This has really become an annual thing where we connect with friends & get to share Jesus with some amazing teens – many of whose lives have been brutal to say the least.  On our way we stopped in to see family & friends – a Toews family reunion, Penticton’s 75^th, & Mom & Dad Mc in Cranbrook (intense croquet playing).  The unusual part of our summer was – we were home for part of it!  

Missions adventure:  Leanne & I just returned from doing a missions adventure.  We joined Sheldon & Anna Armitage for a brief excursion with much food & many meetings in Slovakia (loved Anna’s country) & then off to Turkey to do a retreat for young missionaries with George & Eileen Werner.  It was awesome – we’ve made some great friends & dreamed some great dreams.  Leanne has now got bazaar bartering down to a ruthless art.    We loved it all!   

Kids’ Update: 

Nick – Nick is now as tall as me… & in this present growth spurt I’m thinking he’ll be past me by Christmas.  He is playing guitar regularly – & blew us away by playing Clapton’s – Tears in Heaven.  He still plays sax in school – & was named the Gr. 8 Musician of the Year in June.  Nick attends LWA youth (the Lab) & hangs out with a few great friends.  Our eldest is kicking butt in Grade 9.  We wonder if he’ll be an engineer or a musician… hmm – fun to watch them grow! Nick’s b-ball team won the League championship this year.

Robyn – Robyn has had a cool year – she is doing rocking in music – playing the standup bass at school & piano at home.  We think she’ll be playing in church by next year.  She sings & it’s a wow.  She was able to attend a jazz vocal camp this summer – & so we are treated to many songs constantly.  She just auditioned for the high school musical & was the only gr. 8 vocal student to make it.  Robyn maintains a high level of passion for injustice type stuff – & is dreaming of winning the Nobel Peace prize… & she’s taking pictures of everything with her digital camera…. Thanks mentors Korinn & Les for that! Robyn has continued her soccer career – scored a couple great goals last year – I continue to coach her and ask for at least one foul a game – she plays better when she’s feisty!

Ben – Benjamin has moved over to do French immersion which he is diving into with gusto.  He is doing the music thing as well.  Kicked on his piano exams – & has now moved over to guitar (which he practices mostly during our breakfast!).  He started playing sax this fall, until Leanne’s old high school sax officially fell apart – so Ben has moved over to trumpet – which is significantly LOUDER.  Ben is our empathic guy – who takes care of everyone on our street.  He’s kind of like the Pied Piper with the little kids… very fun to watch!   Ben CAUGHT fish with me this summer and was high as a kite about it for days!   He also started b-ball this fall.  Ben’s team has yet to win… but he did score a basket off a 360 before spraining his pinky finger.   

There’s our update!  Have an amazing, joy filled Christmas from us! 

Television shows:  Lost &  The Amazing Race.  Books:  Exiles by Mike Frost

Our blog:  http://dnlmcalistermayhem.spaces.live.com/  (more details of our year here!) Movies of the Year:  The Devil Wears Prada & Over the Hedge

Music:  KT Tungstall, Leeland and Johnny Cash – especially “A Boy Named Sue”

Food find:  Sushi in Fort Langley – we’ll never be the same & Pret A Manger Christmas Crackers (Christmas Dinner in a wrap) and of course - Komodo coffee

ok - we have survived the first part of Christmas - and we thought we'd give you a window on what a McChristmas looks like!

 

So last night is Christmas Eve - obviously - and the day starts with FAMILY CLEANUP.  It's our word for that 40 minutes of *ell for the dear little children.  Kinda like we've asked them to run a marathon with shoes full of tacks all pointed upwards.  Heaven for Pippin the schnoodle arrives shortly thereafter - we take her around the Houston Trail - 4.5 km's of FUN.  We play hide and seek with her - we hold her, the kids hide and then bang - off like a shot she whips around looking for them in the bush.  She literally tags them before moving on to the next person.  She also shreds moss - which is interesting.  Not a retriever, but a moss shredder.  Hmmmm.

 

We get home close to one and whip down to Greyhound to pick up Ma Toews (Leanne's mom) and get her and us a Starbucks before heading back to the house.  It's prepare the appies time.  Teriyaki wings, mango salsa with melted Brie, mini quiches, and those other baked pastry kind of things..... These are all set aside for the evening.  Now it's run around the house with music, story book picture taking and other last minute prep for the Christmas Eve service.  We manage not to go to war or forget anything and make it to the church for 3:15.   Powerpoint is polished, music is practiced one last time and Ben is kicked off of the drums one last time.

 

Ah - Candles are lit, music starts, apple cider is ready and we begin making our way through the Christmas story through music, song, Scripture and stories....   Robyn sings Happy Birthday Jesus - Nick does a sax solo for Silent Night - Ben plays Silent Night congregationally - first time!  Leanne and I sing a quartet of Winter Wonderland with Linda Smith and Troy Goodman, I read Alabaster the Christmas Angel - and we have a hoot.  There was lots of laughter, plenty of cider and some good times!  Then we do it all again... as for the first time LWA does 2 Christmas Eve services.  There was chocolate inbetween to fortify us. 

 

Got home and ate appies, called my mom (birthday) and got the world famous stuffing ready.  Thought  I should put the recipe down as it kicks butt on all other stuffing.  Rodney Paul Moores makes good guacamole but nobody beats our stuffing (called Ma Toews stuffing - morphed over the years into a piece of art)

 

Here goes:

 

8 cups cubed bread

1/5 tsp poultry seasoning

1/5 tsp sage

1/4 cup dried parsley (or fresh)

2 medium onions - diced

1/2 cup celery diced

1 cup mushrooms - diced

crushed walnuts - or whatever kind of nuts - 3/4 cup

NO GIBLETS - that is just sick.

1/2 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 tsp pepper

one garlic clove - pressed

 

Saute it all together - then add the bread crumbs... add a cup of chicken stock to make the stuffing really moist.

 

Rinse the inside of the turkey with lemon juice

Massage the bird with olive oil and go to town!

 

By the way - I have never, EVER just made one of these - it's always doubled or tripled.

 

We watch stupid Christmas movies and at least 5 minutes of It's A Wonderful Life.

Stuff stockings - it is sooooo close you can taste it.

 

Christmas morning - nobody is sleeping.  Robyn has a throat infection - most years someone goes to the hospital it seems!  Stockings are opened first - everyone gets a Ritter Sport bar and a mandarin orange.  Socks and underwear are also a must.  Nick's boxers have electric guitars on them and are definitely the coolest.

 

Before getting to the main presents - we have to read Luke 2 and pray.  I decide to do a word study of the chapter until my family totally rebels.  Haven't you always wanted to know more about Quirinius?  The presents are AMAZING - and there is much excitement.  Leanne found Robyn's secret Ikea shopping list - and so nailed a bunch of stuff.  I have my Petzl head lamp - whee haw - now I can find Leanne easier at night!  I scored by getting Leanne a Jacob gift certificate and a slooooowwww cooker (our marriage counselling taught me that women are like slow cookers - they simmer all day and then - well ... who knows who reads this so I'd better stop there).  Ben got his Ipod Nano - and now owes us some dosh.  Nick got a hard shell guitar case.  As a fam - we received an Amazing Race game - already played and Leanne and I won.  Ma Toews got us all teen packs from Zellers - another weird tradition - but you can never get enough pit stick.

 

Breakfast is next - Egg Strata - or wife saver - not bad, first time - little on the heavy side - augmented with oj and French pressed Christmas blend - mmmm.  Turkey gets in the oven and now it's time to shower up and I think we'll head over to the Caplin's and Smith's for coffee number 2.

 

My sister Cor and her husband Al and baby daughter Elissa arrive for 1 - and then we partake of the Christmas beast! 

 

So what did you do?

 

 

Press conference – 

Thank you for coming to our press conference – is everyone here – all right let’s begin…

We’re here to announce this morning that Mary has gone into the Royal London University Hospital – to prepare for the birth of “The King of the World” also known as the Messiah.  We know that the world has been anticipating this for some Millenia and so we wanted to give you a bit of a synopsis of his life mission.

He is here as the supernatural son of God – come to save the world.  Thus we have booked him into the top hospital here with top gynecologist Dr. E.Z. Labor.   

Fox has successfully aquired the rights to videotape and subsequently tastefully broadcast the birth.  And People magazine will be doing a full issue on the world renowned figures who visit in the 48 hours after the birth.  Tony Blair, George Bush, the Pope and Madonna have all requested to be included on the visitors list.  Madonna would like to adopt – but that offer has been refused. 

U2 will be the artist of choice on the night of December 25 – and they have changed the words of their hit single – I still haven’t found what I’m Looking For – to I’ve Really Truly Found what I’m Looking For. 

The Commerative DVD – Elton John’s Candlelight Messiah - has been sold out before it’s gone on the market – our producers are scrambling to catch up with the backlog. 

The baby’s name will be Jesus Christ – also known as God’s son, Messiah, Prince of Peace.  Descended from the Royal Lineage of King David – giant killer.  The family tree poster will be available in the new year along with a series of dishes and fridge magnets. 

His life plan is already well laid out.  He will be attending the top prep school here in the UK - Eton (same as Princes William and Harry) – and Oxford University for his college education.   

We assume that he will have taken over the world by age 33 – I mean what Army is going to be able to handle God’s Son?   

The Baby’s first public appearance will be on the Oprah Winfrey show on January 1 – and Mary and her husband Joseph will make the rounds of the networks on the following day.  That evening will be filled with a Barbara Walters special – the 10 most fascinating people of the year -  3 of them will be Mary, Joseph and Jesus with Mary sharing on what it felt like to deliver God’s Son. 

So – once again – the Saviour of the World – Jesus will be born on December 25 here at the Royal London University Hospital. 

Any Questions: 

I recognize Anderson Cooper from CNN:    CNN – One of the things you stated was that he was going to take over the world – is this going to be done alone? 

Answer:  Of course not,  we’re assembling the best of the best – a team that will leave nothing to chance!  The best politicians, the best business people, some of the best armed forces personnel – and we have already assembled significant finances – almost like a pre baby shower if you will, but on a scale that includes billions of dollars. 

I recognize Clyve Clemons from the BBC:   BBC World – As you know much of the Western world has been involved in the war on terror – will this Messiah have any security net? 

Answer:  Of course – we have the SAS – elite forces of the UK – surrounding the Hospital as well as all the top electronic security devices – many of which are – shall we say – top secret, so I cannot even disclose to you what they are.

 Let’s have a question from Peter Mansbridge from the CBC

 CBC – We have heard rumors that Joseph is not the father of the child.  Is there any truth to those allegations?

 Answer – I care not to comment on that area – it is indeed too personal – except to say that both Mary and Joseph are thrilled at this amazing birth.  With that - I will formally end this press conference.  If you have further questions you can get the info from Jesus's MySpace online.  Thank you - and will update you further on December 25.  

Any thoughts?   Photos of the actual press conference with reporter Luke Knight.

This morning Leanne and I preached on the intentional ways that God reached out to connect with humankind.  He had Jesus come to the poorer end of town - the Messiah born in a stable/cave or someone's little old home with animals inside.

 

God chose for his Son to be born on the wrong side of the tracks.

 

He had Jesus born in a situation where for the rest of his life he would be known as illegitimate (some thought I could have said it stronger - but I didn't) - In Mark - Jesus is called son of Mary in his home town of Nazareth... in other words - THEY all thought that he was illegitimate - not born supernaturally.  I mean who would ever believe that. 

 

God chose for his Son to fight an awful reputation

 

Then Jesus' birth was announced to shepherds.... kinda the gypsies of the time.  They were seen as sinners - because they worked 7 days a week, they couldn't keep the Sabbath.  They were known as thieves as they moved about the countryside with their sheep. Most of all - they were not allowed to testify in court - they couldn't be a witness.   

 

God chose for the witnesses to Christ's birth to be unacceptable in a court of law.

 

God did it all backwards - all upside down - to emphasize the value of connection with ALL of humanity.  Noone is excluded - Jesus can relate to us all.  I love that about God.

 

Any insights to be added are welcome - love to hear from you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPh9F1_jKGo  - Just wanted you to be able to see a bit of our crazy antics on the mountaintop last week!

 

Sorry now for the stupidity - but it WAS fun!

This week I had the wild experience of being on top of a mountain.  One of our more creative friends - Matt Hawkins - is working on our promo video for Historymaker this year.  He had the brilliant idea of filming me on a mountain top with a Canadian flag... so he and I and Jaz Ghag were dropped off on top of a 7500 foot mountain covered with ice and snow.  It was all a bit freaky - especially as there were winds buffeting the helicopter back and forth.  It was at that point that I realized - this is really fun - and if it doesn't work, I'm dead.

 

So we videoed (not sure if that is a word) away - and hopefully the footage turns out amazingly well.  The helicopter did donuts in the air above me as Matt leaned out the side of the helicopter (the door was removed just for that purpose).

 

A few things I learned while up there:

 

1.  Saucony runners are great to run in but are not built for snow.

2.  Cell reception can go from 4 bars to 0 bars as you move from the Fraser Valley side of the peak to the 'nothing's there' side of the peak.

3.  Snow angels are just as fun to make now as when I was a kid - but it's harder to get up without breaking them when you're - um - bigger.

4.  Trust equals really believing the helicopter will come back for you.

5.  Mountain tops are really windy - so audio on video gets kinda scratchy

6.  There are no trees to pee behind - so ya gotta hold it.

7.  Canada is stunningly beautiful period - and God made it all!

 

PS - Sorry to Mark Dehoog, who apparently had other appointments and had to miss out on the adventure.  Well I'm not really sorry, I'm just saying it to make him feel better.  Which how can he feel better about it at all - when he missed such an amazing adventure?  What kind of appointments win out over that?

 

2 Christmas parties and a Christmas letter to do - so am exiting cyberspace for another day. (I've included a mountain top pic in the roll to the right)

George and Eileen Werner were a part of our trip to Turkey.  And as you probably have figured out - we play the Amazing Race with anyone who we travel with.... so if we were seated ahead of them on the plane, in the line, on the bus - it was OBVIOUS that we were winning.  G and E have their own game that they play with each other (besides Settlers of Cataan) when they travel.  They give a prize of $5 to the person who sees someone they know in a strange city.  Well OF COURSE we had to compete in that as well.

 

Leanne and I spent a bit of time in London between flights and so we decided to walk as much as we could - because you sit so much on planes.  We left the Victoria and Albert museum, grabbed a coffee and started walking down Brompton Road towards Kensington.  Throngs of people are everywhere - London is sooo full of life!  And then there he was - Tim Hughes was walking down the street towards us... hey Darcy and Leanne - and there we were catching up.  We've had Tim into a number of our events.  And we talked about his song - Be My Everything - which we're loving.  So no matter how many adventures George and Eileen had with the Pope in Istanbul (they were trapped downtown because of high security - didn't see Papa but did see riot police) we still won 5 Euros.

 

ah... we are just champions naturally I guess... natural winners - hey it's Scriptural!

 

Our encounter totally reminded us of Mike Pilavachi's minor Christian celebrities stories...

We are home...

 

And coming through security in London was downright funny.  Security was tight - guns everywhere and a very long lineup.  Just ahead of us was a heavy set man - looking cool in his low rise jeans.  He leaned over to get something from his bag and exposed 3/4 of his hairy backside to the hundred of us behind us.  There were a few murmurs and chuckles - and we thought the show was over.  The next turn of the line happened and he leaned down again - still more was shining out onto the world - and the murmurs grew louder.  We were having a hard time not busting open... then it happened again - by this time dozens of people were down right giggling - and the security guy had no idea why all these people are laughing and mr low rise hasn't a clue.

 

I confess - Leanne and I totally participated in the laughter.  Were we breaking an ethical code of crack?  What do YOU say when a plumber is about?