Scott Elzinga and Heartland Fellowship

On the morning of Friday, May 29th 2009, the Elzinga family buried their son and brother, Scott Elzinga. Scott was 18 years of age and was tragically killed in a farm accident on May 23rd. The Celebration of Life service was held On May 29th at 1:30pm at 1st Avenue Church in Chilliwack.

More than 1200 people in a sea of orange were in attendance to remember Scott and remember the work of God in Scott's life.

Patt and Bouwe along with their three girls Hannah (Matt), Shanine (Chris) and Heidi invited everyone to the family farm for refreshments. Hundreds of people came and with them food. With a harp playing in the background, people visited, grieved and gave thanks to God for the life he gave Scott.

Scott was born on September 14, 1990, baptized on Oct 14, 1990 and professed his faith in Christ publically on Easter morning, 2006. Scott graduated from Unity Christian High School in 2008 and completed one year of college at Columbia Bible College where he played basketball.

Our Heartland family was shocked at the news of Scott's death. Scott was one of us and it is difficult to accept the reality that he is no longer with us. The day after the accident, we gathered for worship as a church family and surrounded the Elzinga's with our prayers and promises from God. It was an emotional and deep time of prayer, worship and hearing the word of God.

When people first heard the news, many people came to the farm right away. Food, offers of help and many loving hugs and tears were given. In the days that followed, the Heartland family was mobilized to help the Elzinga's. There were immediate needs (food and being present) along with short term needs - services and events to plan and the people of Heartland stopped their regular routines and helped and cared.

From my perspective as a pastor, I have never seen that deep and widespread expressions of care and mercy in my 15 years of ministry. So many took the initiative, self-organized, and gave. From my heart and the heart of the Elzinga's, thank-you Heartland!

During the viewing, on Thursday, May 28th at Woodlawn funeral home, the family gathered for prayer. We read together Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Please continue to pray and seek ways to support the family in the long term. The family is coping with your prayer, but the road ahead of them will be difficult.

Scott Elzinga

The Celebration of Life Service for Scott Elzinga will be held on Friday May 29, at 1:30pm at 1st Avenue Church in Chilliwack.

Grave Side Service is at 10:30am at Vedder View Gardens

Viewing is at Woodlawn Funeral Home on Thursday, May 28 from 7:30-9:00pm

Visit Scott's Rest In Peace Facebook memorial page here

Everyone is invited to the Elzinga's 47845 Lindell Rd., after the service for a time of fellowship. If you are attending, we are asking that you please bring a potluck dish, as well as your own plate,cutlery, and lawnchairs. Refreshments will be provided.

Worship Back For A Nickel

Worship back for a nickel. Funny and interesting. Could offend.

Monday/Tuesday

The weekend that was: For me, the week before Easter is the most intense and heavy week of the year. I think the thoughts and reality of why there needs to be a cross brings the heaviness. Also, the realization that as a pastor you need to lead people into the right mindset of Good Friday and then Easter - the two most important days on the Calendar - adds some pressure and thus the intensity. On Easter Sunday, after the service, the VK Fam loaded up the van and went to my sister's place and we had a fun family time - great food and people that I love. It's Tuesday am right now and I feel hopeful and I'm looking forward to the next couple of months.

Where I am at the moment: At home. Just brought the kids to school, sky is blue, and the smells of spring are in the air.

Procrastinating about: Not going to tell you, then maybe it won't be procrastinating :-)

Book I’m in the midst of: I just finished a surfing book called "The Big Drop" stories about big wave surfing - Mavericks, Jaws, Waimea etc. I picked up my Amazon order and in it are a number of books: Two by Richard Rohr, two by John Calvin, Laird Hamilton (another surfing book), and by Neil Cole.

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: Cold play, Chris Tomlin, Abba.

How I’m feeling about this week: Really looking forward to this week. I'm working on a new series on Heart Transformation. I'll be at a prayer retreat today and tomorrow with some other CRC pastors and Levi and I have planned an overnight surf trip to Westport Washington on Friday/Saturday.

best interview ever, really

got this from scott

Goalies and Burgers

I don't like the golden arches but do like the 'tude of this little guy!

Bruins Faith Night 09

Faith Night 09 was on Friday, February 20th when the Bruins hosted the Rockets.  

It was worth all the effort leading up to the event.  This was my first large event that I was a part of - the Bruins staff put on one every home game.  I am amazed at how much work goes into putting on a WHL hockey game.  There are the rink operations staff, the Bruins staff, people that we brought in from the community to promote their cause and the band Sterr who provided great music for us.  It was a lot of co-ordinating for everyone.  

I was left with so many impressions.  The Bruins staff were wonderful.  They wanted to make this event positive for everyone and they went out of their way to do so.   Thanks Barry, Derek, Vanni, Jacob, Andrea, Janice, Zelda, Robbie and Randy.  The coaches, Jim and Dan were very supportive and assisted us with the players when we needed to have their involvement.  

The causes/agencies that came in to promote their cause, they were all very positive about how things went for them.  MCC, Worldvision, Salvation Army, Hungry for Life, BC Teen Challenge, Stoney Creek Expeditions, Unity Christian School were terrific to work with and I'm so glad they were all there.  Hopefully they will be back and maybe be able to have an additional 4-8 more causes/agencies.

The Prospera staff were very helpful and wanted to make this event a positive one and their contributions certainly paved the way.  Thanks Lars, Greg (and his staff) and Willa.

Heartland was tremendous in giving me the permission and blessing to be involved with Faith Night.  Many too were at the game.  

Looking forward to Faith Night 2010.  

Complexity of Issues Surrounding Homelessness

A blog I read regularily - Jordon Cooper - has a great article about the complexity of big picture solutions to homelessness. He works for the Salvation Army two provinces to the right.

This is worth reading:

I was recently with the Inner City Council of Churches giving a presentation on homelessness. It was a good time and at the end of the talk, there was a Q & A time where someone said, "While we all want to do something, we don’t have the resources or the expertise to do all of it. We need to get behind and support those that do have the expertise." It was a nice thought and I appreciate the encouragement and support of the churches in the inner city of Saskatoon. They deal with the same clients that we do and have similar experiences.

more here

Mason and Baja Fresh and Homeless In LA

I love Baja fresh and the two fish tacos were just off the grill as I sat down outside. I had two wonderful bites when an older gentleman walked around the corner and we both noticed each other. He had layers of clothes, soiled ball cap, and walked slowly. "Do you think they serve beer in there now?" he asked. This was a fast food place without a liquor license. "I don't think they do yet." I replied. "Would you have some spare change for a 62 year old to buy some food?" he asked. I welcomed the company, "No change, but I have a fish taco here and if you'd like to sit down with me and we can have lunch together."

He told me his name is Mason and that 15 years ago he was married and had kids, but life became tough and he took off. He disappeared for over 6 years and when he came back on the grid, he no longer had a drivers license, birth certificate and he found out that he was actually dead - not really but considered. So, here he was ready to try life again and he didn't exists. He said he served in Vietnam, had a degree in computer technology, but his eye site was so bad he can't see the screen. He tried to get his disability checks going again, but the paper work without any ID was too tough. He is trying to get his old age security going, but it is proving to be really tough. So, he is living hand to mouth and having lunches with strangers who are eating alone.

Mason is one of tens of thousands of people in the Los Angeles area who are living on the streets. Many of their stories have common themes, hardship, addictions, and handicaps with no options - so it seems. Mason's friendly outgoing personality is serving him well. So many are much worse off. He did like fish tacos (which makes him a brother in my books), said they were one of his favorites. I didn't need all the food anyways.

Glad to have met Mason.

LA Homeless Count 09

I'm staying at a friend's place in Bellflower and he was the site lead for the Bellflower area Greater Los Angeles Homeless count - aka HC09. I tagged along and passed out brochures and drank coffee.

The HC happens every two years and it helps understand the scope of homelessness and gives the bedrock info to bring in federal, state, and local funding for services.

There was 14 routes and about 40 volunteers came to help. It's a massive effort LA county is huge and it was broken down into sections and streets. Our work was a small part of what was going on for 3 consecutive days all through LA.

Volunteers came, received training and left with a clipboard that had their map with tally sheets. Some walked, some drove and it was intentionally done in the winter and at night to get a feel of the scope of the issues involved.

The tally's included individuals, families, vehicles and encampments.

The idea was to keep a respectful distance but to make observations and judgements as to who was homeless. The training included indicators such as wearing many layers of clothing, in poor physical condition, sleeping orlying down on the ground or on a bench. We were to look for blankets on the windows of cars, cars packed with belongings, fogged up windows or campers/RV's in disrepair.

There county dispatched security who were with counters and on call in case there was any issues during the count.

It was a bit chaotic and organized at the same time. Everyone was invested in the project and there was volunteers, health care professionals, county deputies, and security all involved from what I could see. High school students doing service work hours and others just wanting to help - ages 16 to 60 were involved.

It took from about 7 to midnight to complete the project, but it was a vital project for agencies who advocate for the homeless.

Buy Bruins Tickets and Help Build A House For Homeless Oaxacans

Friday, January 23rd, the Chilliwack Bruins take on the Kelowna Rockets. Game time 7:00pm.

In partnership with the Bruins, Heartland Youth are selling game tickets as a fund raiser for a trip we are planning this summer down the Baja of Mexico to build a house for a homeless Oaxacan family.

Game tickets are $14/each.

We also have raffle tickets for a David Robinson game worn jersey (1st prize) and a team signed hockey stick (2nd prize).

Raffle tickets are $2/each.

Support a great cause and purchase game tickets and raffle tickets.

Raffle draw will be following the 2nd period.

email me "mikevkshema at yahoo.com" if you want to help

Chilliwack Flood Relief and Volunteer Information

If you are wondering what you can do to help flood victims here in the Chilliwack area, here is some info that can help you get connected.

From Leonard Klassen the MDS BC Unit Chair:

Samaritan’s Purse and Mennonite Disaster Service are excited to announce to churches that they are partnering together in providing clean-up assistance to those impacted by the flood and mudslides in the Fraser Valley. Both agencies are cooperating fully with each other, and with other agencies active in the recovery effort.

What can you do to help?
1. Pray.

2. Please encourage members of your congregation to volunteer (please publish this need in your bulletin). Anyone who wishes to volunteer can call 604-393-3901 (volunteer centre in Greendale). Even more efficient is to appoint one person in your congregation to organize a group of volunteers to serve together.

3. Anyone who is requesting assistance should contact the Resiliency Centre in Chilliwack to complete the necessary forms (604-824-8206, Unit 434 44550 South Sumas Road, Chilliwack). Please also remind them of the assistance that MDS and SP are willing to provide.

Any questions can be directed to Leonard Klassen (MDS BC Unit Board Chair) 604-855-2542 mdsbc@mds.mennonite.net or Andy Northrup (Samaritan’s Purse) 604-393-3901.

Pink In The Bruin's Rink

The Bruins was pink in the rink last night - creating awareness and raising funds for cancer. It was a tremendous night (if you ignore the score of the game).

So many things went well. There was no question what the theme was when you walked in the door. Pink ties, pink shirts, pink trucker hats, and pink hoodies. Most of the 4,800 crowd had pink on. Then there were the skin head wanna-be's. There was a shave-your-head station (thanks Michelle) and people could donate money and get their head shaved. During the first intermission, four of our own shaved their heads at center ice- Derek, Barry, Matt, and Vanni. Vanni had the most to loose, Barry the least. Andrea - who just finished treatments and is a huge part of the Bruins organization - was shaving heads and loving every minute of it. Some of the players were using pink Easton sticks that were auctioned off and raised hundreds for cancer.

Cancer is something that has touched all our lives. I lost my mom 20 years ago. I observed the road from diagnosis to treatments to hair loss, to loss of life. It is so tragic and I think that is why so many of us empathize and show up for nights like Pink In The Rink. There is a story about one of the players, Andy Smith, who cancer has affected profoundly.

It takes a huge push and massive planning to put on an event this large and far reaching. I know the Chilliwack Bruins staff have been working on this since this summer, at least that is when I first saw the loud pink Easton stick in the office.

Great work everyone. Great cause. It touched us all.

Try This

This is to much, over the top. Wow.


wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

tithing .... from threat to thrill

We are going to have a fresh look at what the bible teaches about tithing.

We at Heartland believe in the life principle of tithing - giving 10% of your income to God.

So many people are for giving and being generous, but when you bring up the topic of tithing, heads go down, feet shuffle and it goes quiet. Odd response to something that is intended to be a thrilling principle for Christians.

I think people see tithing as threatening rather than thrilling. Threatening to what they have, to their plans, to their theology to their status quo. If people could see the huge benefit to them personally behind tithing and test it and experience the thrill of it, many more would adopt this biblical direction.

TIm Tam Slam

Well Matt is home and the house is filled with new music, old friends and late night sessions.   

We picked up Matt from Vancouver airport.  His flight was scheduled to arrive at 11:30pm, but came in at 12:30am instead.  After getting his luggage we were on the road home at 1:15am.  

He was insistent on stopping at Super Store to get some Tim Tams.  I had no idea what they were.   It was a little late, so with some gentle persuasion and promises of going the next day, he was okay with not stopping.  We got home and when I crawled into bed I looked at the clock and it was 3:15am.  Short night.  

The next day, Matt passionately introduced us to possibly the best snack food ev'arr  - the Tim Tam Slam.  

Tim Tam Slam 101

1. You make a cup of hot chocolate - not too hot. 

2. Take a Tim Tam, either variety will do.  Bite off a small piece of one corner, flip it to the opposite end and bite off another small piece off of an opposite corner.   

3. Place the modified corner of your Tim Tam in your mouth.  You will have about 1/8 of the Tim Tam in your mouth at this point.

4.  Place the opposite end of the Tim Tam in the cup of hot chocolate facing down.  Dip in about 2 centimeters deep. 

5. Produce a sucking action and notice the fluid flowing upwards through the modified Tim Tam into your mouth - similar to what a straw may do.

6. Once you sense the fluid entering your mouth, stop sucking and quickly place the whole Tim Tam in your mouth.  Enjoy.  WARNING: if you do not stop immediately and delay putting it in your mouth the Tim Tam will self destruct all over the counter.  Not good and not to mention a huge waste of a Tim Tam.  

7. If you have followed all the above steps you are successful.  Welcome to the Tim Tam Slam club!  Only a few have made it this far.  Congratulations.

If the above was confusing, here is an instructional video on how to do a Tim Tam Slam!

Covenant Eyes

I'm a user of covenant eyes --accountability software for the Mac (it's also available for the pc).

It doesn't filter or even slow down my computer, but it works in the background to log internet usage onto their server. Then once a week it sends it to my accountability partner - which is my wife Patti. Hit a questionable site and it flags it. Hit something on the edge and it flags it. Hit something you don't think is on the edge but is, it will flag it. It's relentless.

Once covenant eyes is installed, you can't get on the internet without first logging in and you can't uninstall it without getting an uninstall code. If you ask for one, they notify your accountability partner.

It provides peace of mind and accountability - both of which I need.

last and this week

the weekend that was: i'm through the cold/flue that has been dogging me for the past 10 or so days and to feel and think at a normal level has been relieving. we went to a friends b-day party and enjoyed the conversations, kassi's soccer game was entertaining (no cards this game), sundays advent message on peace came in a way that i think was reflective and many questions emerged about peace in our own lives and world peace -- big topics. we had friends over sunday night and shared family night with them - great time with wonderful people.

on my to-do list this week: working on the advent series, putting together gift bags for the players - more later don't want to spill the beans, creating and refining a marketing plan for bruins faith night, recruiting some more leaders, planning for the new year, and getting my blackberry to work with the new unibody macbook pro.

procrastinating about: organizing the office (still)

books i’m in the midst of: "leading with a limp," by Dan Allender - the most helpful book for me this year on making sense of my life and battling the old nagging thoughts of disillusionment, hopelessness, and wandering in leadership.

down the road: faith night, youth mexico trip, new series in the new year, try to create a rhythm of working out.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: ELO, matthew.joel, little river band, and some christmas music.

how i’m feeling about this week: i'm attending the funeral for an uncle today and i'm anticipating the emotions that come with saying good-bye to a family member. tough to think beyond today.

Matthew and Conflict

I've had a fair bit of conflict in my life the last 10 years. Matthew Joel writes compelling thoughts about the benefits of conflict.

Involving stories are built around conflict. With out conflict, there is nothing to be resolved, nothing to learn from, and nothing to give the story relevance. As humans in a world of prosperity, health, and resources, we need conflict. We live for it. Conflict is the force that gives meaning to our own stories. Day by day, life is lived in anticipation for the issues, problems, and disagreements that are sure to rise. Smoke alarms are installed, security systems are instigated, second keys are cut, godparents are assigned, car insurance is bought, diets are started, and savings accounts created. All of this is our indemnity, our protection against the conflict we are sure life will bring ...

From here

U2 Father Christmas

Church As Family On A Mission

From Neil Cole, quoted at Church Planting Novice:

We must transition from seeing church as a once-a-week worship event to an ongoing spiritual family on mission together. Then people will see church as something worth giving your life for. Honestly, people need one another more then they need another inspiring message. You would be surprised what people will do for Jesus, or for a brother or sister, that they will not do for a vision statement and a capital giving campaign.

(from here)

Why Calvinists are so Negative

What The New Humanity Sounds Like

Welcome Samantha Kate and Phoenix Marlene!

Heartland's nursery got a little bigger with the births of Samantha Kate and Phoenix Marlene.

Moms and babies are doing fine.

Congratulations!

Update On Jadon Potter

Some good news about Jadon Potter today.

Jadon will be released from the hospital soon. Here is the article from the Chilliwack Bruins site:

November 22, 2008

After being injured in Friday's game vs the Tri City Americans, Bruins Captain Jadon Potter was taken to Chilliwack hospital where he was given a series of tests including a CT scan. He was moved to Vancouver General Hospital at 1am. Some damage to the vertebrae in his neck was discovered. As a result, he has been fitted with a neck brace which he will be wearing for approximately 6-8 weeks. No damage to his spinal cord was discovered and no surgery was required.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Jadon has been released from the hospital and will be returning to Chilliwack this evening.

The Chilliwack Bruins on behalf of Jadon Potter and his family would like to thank everyone for their concern and their support.

Continue to pray for his full recovery.

Pray for Jadon Potter

During last night's Bruins game, Jadon went headfirst into the boards. Here is a write up from The Province.

In the second period of last night's Chilliwack Bruins/Tri-City Americans game at Prospera Centre, Bruins' centre Jadon Potter slammed head first into the boards behind his own goal, racing back to defend what turned out to be a short-handed goal.

There's nothing official from the team at this point but assistant coach Dan Price did say "the current information from the medical staff is positive and the prognosis is good. He's expected to make a full recovery."

No one on the team would comment further at this point, but early suggestions are that Potter could have a fractured vertebra that would keep him out for the rest of the season, but again, nothing is confirmed. The Bruins expect to have more information tonight or tomorrow morning.

Potter was taken by ambulance to Chilliwack General and after X-rays there, moved to VGH by ambulance around 1 a.m.

Teammate Matt Meropoulis, who was on the ice at the time of the incident, said the team was really shaken last night, but their spirits were lifted after talking to Potter post-game and again today.

"In the room it was just dead silence," Meropoulis said of the time the teams were sent back to their rooms while Potter was attended to. "It was beyond the game.

"I spoke with him today and he's actually in great sprits. He's a tough guy to get down."

Potter's mom flew into Vancouver this morning. Potter is Chilliwack's leading scorer, with seven goals and 22 points in 26 games. Chilliwack lost 2-0 to Tri-City.

At the time of Potter's injury, the ambulance crew was already responding to a woman in the stands who was having a seizure. The crew split up and both the fan and Potter were transported to Chilliwack General together.

update: another article in the chilliwack progress by eric welsh (here).

podcast

We re-designed our website awhile back and one feature that people were asking for is to create a podcast of the messages. They wanted something that they could subscribe to from iTunes or listen to from the site.

Before I came to Heartland they had a tape ministry. Raise your hand if you still have cassettes kicking around the house. Recording on tapes was a bit easier, I think, than onto a digital file. The tape player has LEDs that flash with the audio levels telling you if things are recording. But since we went to digital, the recordings have been about a 70% success. Which in baseball is a pretty good batting average - but this ain't ball. Lately we have been using garage band, then import into iweb, then publishing into a folder, then uploading with dreamweaver. That's alot of steps and alot of programs. Then there are issues with garage band. The levels are different from week to week, file size and compression - anybody know about this etc.

Anyways, there are now podcasts on the site and you can subscribe through iTunes. So, if your working in children's ministry and want to catch what happened when you were with the kids, you can subscribe to the podcast.

Adopt A Player Program

When the Bruins came to town, we at Heartland began to ask the question how can we support the team and players.

One idea that came was the idea of having people from Heartland regularly pray for the players. We wanted to pray for each player for safety with all their travel, safety during the games and we also wanted to pray for God's blessing on their lives.

So, we created the adopt a player program where a family from Heartland would "adopt" a player and pray for that player every day.

We didn't know how if it would work, or if people would want to adopt a player, not to pray for them, but as a fan with the hopes of meeting them or getting their autograph etc. But we found that Heartland people have been more than willing to just pray. Just serve.

For the past three seasons we have been doing this and it has been a way for us to serve and help where we can.

It's amazing how many ways there are to serve other people. It just takes some time to think of them, risk and try them and learn along the way. This reverses the mindset that church is only to be blessed. Instead church is a place to receive a blessing to pass on a blessing. Without the passing on the blessing part, the church borders on narcissism.

We are still learning how to do this at Heartland

last and this week

the weekend that was: entered the weekend running on fumes. not much in the tank with time or energy. i sat in meetings/training for about 26 hours last week and entered the weekend with the message about 10% done. take out 3 work days with the same volume of work needed to be done and you have a very anxious mike. needless to say, saturday night was frantic.

on my to-do list this week: working on the curb appeal series still, lots to study and figure out for this sunday yet. i have a backlog of emails I haven't looked at or responded to. my new laptop arrived (15" mac book pro) and i have apps to install and get everything working on it that is important to my work style. currently the usb drivers for my blackberry pearl are not working and no one on the discussion forums have answers. i have 5 book shelves being delivered this afternoon. pull out the screw driver and hammer and put them up. maybe levi can help me. dan is lending me his compactor, so maybe on friday i can compact the crusher gravel in the backyard in prep for paving stones.

procrastinating about: organizing the office, figuring out how filing will work in the new space, updating the church's web site.

books i’m in the midst of: humility, andy murray (still), i picked up a book off the shelf again that i bought about 5 years ago called "emergence: the connected lives of ants, brains, cities and software." its not about church ministry (although the name may suggest it is) its about science and making associations - it reads like an engineering text book. i just started archibald hart's new book, "thrilled to death." absolutely fascinating - again, archibald is helping me make sense of my complicated inner world.

down the road: got some stuff cooking with the bruins that i'm really excited about. we are carving out a concept called, "faith night" where one game has the theme of faith. our goal is to sell out and get the message of faith out to the 5K plus fans in the building.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: nazareth greatest hits (remember "turn on your receiver" - i'm in this kick of reconnecting with my high school music preferences, david crowder band

how i’m feeling about this week: relieved last week is in the books, but this week is slipping away fast, so peaceful and anticipitory (is that an emotion?)

Coptic Church Under Siege $60 million ransom

Patti came home from the pool with a newpaper in hand.  "Read this" she said.  I opened the newspaper, sat down and began to read the national post article on the Coptic church.  It grabbed my attention so fully that I read it from start to finish without stopping -- quite an accomplishment for someone with ADD.  It was a shocking to read.   

Read it yourself and leave a comment on your thoughts.  

It starts here: 

Last week I was supposed to interview Father Zakaria Boutros on my television show. It would have been the second time I had spoken to this gentle, thoughtful man, one of the leading figures of the Egyptian Coptic Christian community and now obliged to live in exile in the United States after twice being arrested in his homeland. But on this occasion the interview was suddenly cancelled. A $60-million bounty had just been put on his head by Muslim extremists in Iran and Saudi Arabia, al-Qaeda were thought to be intent on fulfilling the fatwa and it was considered too dangerous to allow him to travel to Canada. The fact that the United States government bounty on Osama bin Laden is a mere $25-million rather puts the case of this disarmingly gentle and jovial priest into proportion.

More here

Sidney Crosby's Top 10 NHL Goals

I love watching NHL highlight clips.  Here is one that has Sidney Crosby's top 10 NHL goals.

 Just awesome!

from puck_daddy

Last and This Week

the weekend that was: a great weekend. Dorothy announced at the church gathering she was officially in remission. we all celebrated. Kassi was gone to Dordt checking the school out and seeing the family. Our thanksgiving gathering at my sisters place in Cloverdale was wonderful. it was the probably the most peaceful time we have had together as a family in a few years, not because of disagreements, but because there has been so much pain and difficulty in some of our lives and this year things are going better for many of us.

on my to-do list this week: alex painted the office and so I'm moving things around and trying to organize stuff. I'm a horrible organizer, actually I can organize but just can't keep it there. i'm too all over the place. I need to value simplicity and minimalism more. I'm a piles guy and to have an office that is neat and tidy doesn't last. i'm sketching out the advent series and the series after church without walls.

procrastinating about: probably more than i realize

book i’m in the midst of: humility, andy murray

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: little river band - remember "cool change" and "help is on its way?"

how i’m feeling about this week: focused.

Church Without Walls

I kept Peterson's book, "Church Without Walls" in a handy place for 10 years not thinking I'd use the title for a sermon series. It best describes what we are trying to figure out at Heartland -- meaning how to be the church when we are not within the walls of a church building.

Churches are pretty good at doing events, such as worship services, youth night or bible studies. But churches are lousy at acting like the church when they are not gathered together in some meeting or event. What I mean is that the call do be the church tends to be lost unless there is some official function. The reality is that most of our time we are not at a church function.

So at a church service, we may be friendly to someone new, but not that friendly to new people we meet elsewhere. We may bring cans of food for the food bank collection at a church service, but we pass hungry people on the street daily without thinking that we are the church and what our role with the hungry is.

We may listen intently to a sermon at a church service, but won't crack the Bible after. We may tithe or say we do at a worship service, but don't help someone who needs some furniture or a meal, or shoes.

We are good at doing things when a whole group is doing it or when we are asked, but we as a church are not very good at doing things spontaneous as part of a desire to be like Jesus. We can be busy being a part of a ministry, but we don't engage with culture or people outside of church programs unless we are asked to.

There are several problems with this. How genuine and heartfelt can people be if they are only doing it because they have been asked to? How much more would it mean to the city if people of the church began to look for needs and meet them just because - even if no one is looking.

How can people take individual responsibility for living out their faith when the only time they engage in the kingdom is after the phone rings from a church leader trying to recruit someone? There is so much more to living within the kingdom. Its an everyday, 24 hour a day venture. It never shuts off or takes a break.

How can the church make a dent in the needs of gospel-less living when people will do something only when they are asked?

That is the limiting factor, I believe, of the church. We only get stuff going when a leader within the organization initiates something then invites others to be part of it.

What if all church people considered themselves to be leaders and just met needs as they run into them?

This has been Heartland's philosophy from the beginning and we are trying to figure out how to do this at new levels. We feel that ministry activity follows ministry values. In other words, values first then practices. We are doing our best to live this way, but the dominate culture and the dominated expectation is that people will "serve the church" only when they are asked. So they wait around waiting to be asked.

What if we would turn this around and say we would like to serve as the church - anywhere, anytime. Not just because a leader is trying to recruit others, but because there is a self-motivating, heartfelt desire to serve others because of what we have received from the cross.

This Week

the weekend that was: a great weekend. the weather was fallish, went for multiple walks, enjoyed the kids. kassi played hard in Burnaby, worked most of saturday on the message and support material, Levi designed a new bike, James won all the games during family night last night. Sunday am was a morning of 1sts for many and the coffee was great but the gym was cooooold..

on my to-do list this week: well, there is a bruins chapel (so, food, setup, talk, networking, etc.), multiple meetings with individuals, writing "going public" material for youth (at the barn), podcast is up already, fix a toilet, and begin planning for new series.

procrastinating about: working out, writing, and some house projects

book i’m in the midst of: unfailing love of Jesus, R.T. Kendall; reimagining church, frank viola.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: tomorrow's worst enemy, daft punk, david crowder band

how i’m feeling about this week: peaceful -- it's going to a great week.

Air Quality And Office Space

I've worked in lots of offices over the years. Some good, some not so good. When I was just starting out as an engineer, there was the first job with the office in the converted horse barn. The walls were drywalled but not painted, the floor plywood and the desk tops were rejected doors bought at discount at the local door factory. There were many challenges with that space. Keeping a regulated temperature was one. It was either blazing hot with kmart fans trying to move air, or really cold in winter with small heaters trying to keep the air warm. There were a few critters that also leased the space with us - mice, cats, and big ol' spiders. Each had to be convinced we had the 8-5 shift and that they should scram until the door closed at 5:15pm.

Then there was the space where we were all in a big open room with low walled dividers. We could hear each others phone conversations, see what we were working on and observe how much coffee or big gulps the other person consumed. From there it was in a multi-floor high tech space with mazes of cubicles. I think there was 3 underground levels of parking. My first day I was shown my cubicle, I left to go to the bif, got disoriented and couldn't find my space back. That's how I got to be good friends with the janitor.

Now, I'm in a warehouse converted into office space place. Where I sit right now, used to be a truck loading bay. Since I've been here we have had troubles with the air quality. Not that it stinks or anything and the temperature control is perfect - there is A/C and a heater. But its the lack of fresh air input into the building that is a problem.

At first I thought it was just me. I'd get here and within 1/2 hour I'd be lethargic, flush cheeks and feeling really old. So, I'd go for a walk and get more coffee to try and salvage the day. This went on for 3.5 years until this summer when the lease was up and I raised the issue again in a firm, I'm not going to let this one go manner. Air quality is important, right? They inspected the HVAC system and discovered there was no fresh air input into the building. None. No fresh air - just the same old air being breathed in and out. It was like being in the car with 4 kids all day with the recirculate on.

They got some tools out and worked on it and they said they "fixed" the problem and it should be better now. But it wasn't any better. So they checked it again on Monday and reported that the filter was very clogged and the fresh air intake damper was not all the way open and it should work now. But as I sit here, the issue is still not fixed. I want some more coffee, need to go for a walk and try and salvage the day. At home, the coffee is better, maybe I should just stay there and work.

Randy Merkley

With the Chilliwack Bruins season just starting, Chilliwack got their first experience with Randy Merkley, the new Bruins radio voice.

Following the Kamloops game on Saturday, where Randy called his first game here, the discussion boards were buzzing with high ratings. I think he's going to bring another level of passion to an already impassioned hockey town.

Before the game on Saturday he was working the rink doing interviews. At one point, while interviewing a coach, he was so involved with the interview he didn't notice that a Zamboni just about ran him over - what did bother him is that interview may have been affected by the engine noise. Great moment.

Here is a write up in the Chilliwack Progress on Merkley's arrival:

In three years of existence, the Chilliwack Bruins have rolled three different guys through the radio play-by-play role.

In year one, veteran Denny Larochelle handled the gig, followed by Dave Sheldon in year two.

This year, it’s Randy Merkley, and here’s hoping he hangs onto the job for a while, because it’s a position crying out for stability.

“Yeah, I’ll agree with that one,” said radio colour man Jacob Bestebroier, who called his first game with Merkley Saturday night. “I think that’s why Randy’s a good hire. It’s a big move for him and I don’t see him going back the other way any time soon.” More here.

Year Book Pictures

I have to be honest, it took me a while to graduate from high school. Here are all my high school grad pictures.

This Week

the week that was: it felt like a great week. the bruins won in OT on saturday, we are deep into the new series and i feel like i have a handle on it now, had some difficult/sensitive conversations, i figured out some technical stuff with the website, glad the belay analogy wasn't a gong show on sunday (but podcast didn't record), we had a great elder's meeting, and our first youth event at the corn maze got things going - it's going to be a great year.

on my to-do list this week: date with Patti tonight, sermon on value #2, prepare materials for bruins chaplaincy promotion, get material ready for youth sunday night at the youth barn, keep going on fixing and updating the web site, pending bruins chapel (first one) and visit some people.

procrastinating about: lots of projects at home that need attention.

book i’m in the midst of: subversive spirituality (eugene peterson), my amazon shipment will be picked up friday!

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: U2, Creed, Bill Marley and Brian Doerkson's today

how i’m feeling about this week: good, dreading somethings, but this will be a building week. maybe i'll get my CT scan appointment booked this week ...

Your Home's Address

About 4 years ago, our family moved from Los Angeles to Chilliwack. The moving truck left a few days before we did, and we drove up the I-5 and got to the Canadian border crossing. We had to declare our items, and take care of some paper work associated with moving from one country to another. It helped that we had lived in BC before and that I am a Canadian citizen. When all the paper work was finished and they gave us the approval for entering into the country, we stepped back from the counter and then the immigration officer said to me, “Welcome Home.”

Those words drew considerable emotion from me right then and I have often reflected why.

It could be that I was Canadian and was living in the US for 5 years and now I was returning back to Canada, even BC the province I was born in. That certainly had a part to it but I don't think all of it.

I think there is more to it. Near the end of our time in Los Angeles I experienced personal trouble associated with my work as a pastor. Conflict developed between myself and my co-worker and a few others. We both believed in our positions and they concluded I was a bad person and developed a campaign of sorts to make sure I was “exposed” and that I would leave.

So, when I heard the words “Welcome Home” it was like God saying, "It will be different now. It will be better. I am with you. Your safe here."

Don’t get me wrong. I loved Los Angeles, the weather, good friends, surf, the city – it was home to us. We were not looking to leave, but suddenly our home was no longer there, but here.

I don’t think finding your home has much to do with the address you live at.

Home has more to do with the condition of our heart than the address on the house.

Brother Lloyd Is Now A Doctor!

Lloyd (my brother in Des Moines) successfully defended his dissertation late last week!

"We’re just back from Minneapolis where we spent the last 36 hours. We were there for Lloyd to defend his dissertation to his dissertation committee. “Defend! Defend! Yea!” “The closest thing to sport in years”, says Lloyd. “Defend” is exactly what he did yesterday afternoon, from 1:00-2:30PM. And he did well! He passed with flying colors, and is now officially DONE with the dissertation process ... " More here.