Christmas Lights and Sound Spectrums

I've never been a Christmas lights fan, but this year (along with recording my first single) I decided for the first time to put up a few lights. Check it out here.

Top 5 Of 2005

I got this idea from Jordon.

Top 5 Books Read in 2005:
A Work Of Heart, Reggie McNeal
Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Mountain of Silence, Kyriacos C. Markides
Art of Forgiving, Lewis B. Smedes
Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell

Top 5 Albums In 2005:
U2: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Hillsong United: More Than Life
Keane: Hopes and Fears
David Crowder Band: A Collision
Coldplay: X&Y
UnderOath: They Are Only Chasing Safety

reel spirituality series for the new year

We all watch movies. Some good some bad. At Heartland, we're going to be looking at spirituality present in some of the current movies - reel spirituality.

January 1, 2006
Movie: The Terminal
Idea? Waiting

Janauary 8, 2006
Movie: Minority Report
Idea? Providence

January 15, 2006
Movie: Napolean Dynamite
Idea? Unlikely Characters

January 22, 2006
Movie: Spiderman
Idea? Responsibility and Temptation

January 29, 2006
Movie: Return Of The King
Idea? Fighting With Evil

47th Annual Chilliwack PeeWee Hockey Jamboree - Game #4

It was the Penguins (yellow) verses the Cougars today at the prospera center. Another hard fought 0-0 tie. It got a little physical resulting in the Cougars getting into penalty trouble. Lots of loud parents in the stands.

The boys played hard and put in a good showing at the 47th Annual Chilliwack PeeWee Hockey Jamboree. Levi played well at defense today. He played positional hockey and played the body clean. He got the game's 3rd star selection.

Levi has another tournament in Kelowna coming up in the new year. The team is really coming together. It's amazing to see what we work on in practice show up in the games. The kids have enough skill and understanding of the game to build on and begin to excell.

Great tournament Penguins!

47th Annual Chilliwack PeeWee Hockey Jamboree - Game #3

Just got back from game #3 against Abbotsford at The Twin Rinks. Hard fought game with Levi's team coming on top winning 5-2. The team hit their stride this game. They were a step ahead and were the first to the puck. The defense moved the puck out of their zone to the wingers. Levi played defense this game and played very well. He is a stand up player who knows how to close the lanes and pinch off the offense. As seen in the picture, he talks a lot out there and makes sure the other team knows he's there.

He has a game tomorrow at 4:00pm at the prospera center. Tournaments are fun, great team chemistry. We get to the know the parents a bit more too.

47th Annual Chilliwack PeeWee Hockey Jamboree - Game #2

The Chilliwack Penguins squared off against the Chilliwack Blues at the Prospera Center. Both teams made great showings, yet the Blues edged the Penguins 2-0. The Penguins guns are working hard, but they faced great goal tenders.

Levi (#3 white) played with lots of heart. All out. He played center and made some great plays. He digs hard for the puck, back checks and is a presence out there on the ice.

The team played well but were not able to capitalize on their chances.


Game #3 is at 5:00 pm at Twin Rinks.

47th Annual Chilliwack PeeWee Hockey Jamboree - Game #1

Lots of hockey going on this time of the year. I played last night and Levi is playing first year PeeWee now on the Chilliwack Penguins. Shane and Doug are his coaches. They are great - lots of skill development and both are level headed. They teach skill and fundamentals and allow the kids to play.

They just finished their first game against Burnaby. Levi's team started slow. The coaches decided to mix up the positions a bit this game. Levi was switched from defense to forward. He took the puck up a few times and got some shots on net. After playing D, carrying the puck up and creating a play is fun.

We put a new blade on his stick last night. He has an Easton Jr. shaft and his new blade is an senior Iginla profile blade. The new blade gives the stick another inch in length. He needed it since he has grown quite a bit since Atom last year. He liked how it felt. I was concerned about the lie, but it turned out just right for him.

The team played catch-up hockey after Burnaby got the first goal. Conner, our speedy skilled player was a bit subdued at first ... maybe cause his first shift he got a questionable tripping penalty. But he and the team picked it up and I could see them started to play the fundamentals well. Passing the puck out of their zone, supporting the puck along the boards, and the wingers in the offense zone positioning themselves at the post.

They tied it up at 2's at the end of the game.

Each team does a shoot-out at the end, regardless of the score. Each player gets to go once during the tournament. Levi didn't go this game and is already looking forward to his turn next game.

The tournament people supplied hot dogs and slushies for the team after the game, even James got a hot dog - no ketchup of course. I passed.

Next game at 12:00 noon Wednesday.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the VanderKwaaks!!

Grounded Vertigo

It's early Monday am. Just coming off another advent Sunday. We opened the Word and sat in the middle of exile. Exile being away from home, bad stuff went on at home and you can't be there anymore. Carried away. These thoughts are still fresh in my mind.

But I was sitting here alone in my study cave and my reality began to spin concentrically through the pivotal points of my life. I'm here early, it's cold outside. The furnace kicks in and out trying hard to regulate the temperature for the frail lone human. Growing up in Terrace, I would hear my Dad getting up early to clear snow. He'd be up before most. Layering clothes, walking in the freezing air and firing up the snow blower. I can still smell the exhaust. I'd get up with him and stay clear -- just to watch and be in the excitement of starting early. That was 35 years ago - vertigo.

I'm reading Christ and the Caesar's mining Stauffer's concentrated work on myth, eastern tradition and the advent of the King (Steiner would be pissed) - signaled by the star and recognized by the wisemen from the east. I feel connected with others who are juiced by these studies. Who love to go places behind the reality to understand what we see and touch today. I feel connected to mike, rob, ray and others who are there. I study knowing they have been there, generations have been and I am merely understanding for the first time what others have pondered for generations - vertigo.

In the background, pumped out by iTunes and airport express is David Crowder Band's new work, "A Collision." Modern, vintage and creative ... with the background of new rhythms, cord progressions, voicing revolution. Revolution of Jesus followers who passionately want to identify with Jesus and his way of life today. Turning their backs on happy, shallow, manic triumphs of doctrine and more living deeply with the pain of the world and the despair of our and other's brokenness as we navigate in this short life - vertigo.

I'm working on a powerbook G4 laptop. Whatever. It's just a computer. CPU, RAM, ROM, interface ASIC's, address and data buses, with I/O devices like keyboard's, screen's and airport express. Computer's are all the same. They can stuff more transitor's into a black chip these days, the bus speeds are faster, the efficiency is better - less heat dissipation. But really they are all the same. Yet people become cultic because of what fruit or house component is branded on the outside. We just want something to work without issues cropping up. Which is what my job as an engineer was all about -- creating new computer's without "issues" - vertigo.

Will we ever get away from "issues" - not here, not now - but there is something of this king that signals a new humanity, a new age -- the call is revolution. Living in a way that smokes of intoxicating grace, bold and passionate living that is as close to Jesus life as we can, and being radically hospitable so that people are not even aware there is an us and them. We are all in. A part of it. On the way. Vertigo.

Chilliwack Garage Bands Unite

Went to Garage Bands Unite last night. Matt and his friend Stephen were there and I went early to pick them up. I made it for the last band - "Blind Situation." Drummer, electric guitar and base (vocals). It was really cool seeing 15 and 16 year olds playing together in a band. They played heavy metal and punk. Lots of distortion and screamo. They composed some of their own music and sounded quite good. The organizers of "Unite" are doing the kids a great service, giving them a place to play and flaunt their talent. This was the first performance for "Blind Situation." They did a great job.

My First Single

It is the Christmas season and generosity is contageous this time of year.

So, in the spirit of generosity, here is my first single. Free. My producer (Rob) suggested I try to market via the web.

I hope it will be a hit and I will be producing more depending on the demand. Let me know if I should start a podcast. Enjoy.

My First Single

Chilliwack Bruins Unveil Team Logo

From the Chilliwack Bruins website:

The Western Hockey League’s Chilliwack Bruins franchise announced today the colors and design of its logo and jersey. Most will recognize the traditional ‘Spoked Wheel’ logo as it is patterned after the logo of the NHL’s Boston Bruins. The ‘C Wheel’ logo pays tribute to the original Chilliwack Bruins hockey team which began play in the BCJHL in 1970.

Link

Homelessness In The Fraser Valley

Here is a great study that outlines the issues surrounding Homelessness in The Fraser Valley area (including Chilliwack and Abbotsford).

Link

Chilliwack Bruins Annual Bantam Draft

From the Chilliwack Times:

... May and his scouts have approximately 200 young hockey players rated in anticipation of Western Hockey League's annual Bantam draft, usually held on the first Thursday in May. Add to that a list of protected players who've slipped under the radar of other major junior clubs.

Link

mercy of Jesus

This is one part of the deacon's calling.

prophetic voice

This is one part of the elder's calling.

Church Structure Improvements

Heartland started 10 years ago as a church plant. It had a board of directors for the first 8+ years. The board of directors handled all the admin and leadership issues for the church. About 2 years ago, the structure changed to include elders, deacons and a council that is made up of the elders and deacons. As we've been going along, we've noticed some issues with the structure that needed to be addressed. For example, our elders were doing to much admin work; our deacons didn't feel connected to the elders; and we all felt we were keeping our heads above water, but not making progress as we all hoped to. So last night we got together and talked and planned and worked out a tweak in our structure that we think will help Heartland considerably.

Bible Baffle

Patti and I were looking for a Bible Trivia game for our kids for Christmas. We found one at Amazon. I read one of the reviews aloud to Patti and we both were laughing so hard. Here it is. Merry Christmas from Bible Baffle.

Bible Baffle is a real bungle. I've purchased many bible toys over the years, and I was a little disappointed with this one. Bible Baffle didn't pose the challenge worthy of the good book. There were also some blasphemous wrong answers that even a novice Bible Baffler would be embarassed of. I commend the makers of Bible Baffle for their good intentions, but next time, get it right. And insted of playing games, we may want to get down to the point, lose the "Baffle" and just spend time with Bible.

Link

Chrystal Meth Forum: Meth is Death

I went to the Chrystal Meth form at Tzeachten Hall. It was informative and educational. Here is a list of links that I got from one of the presenters.

RCMP Division Drug Awareness Service

Reasearch/Facts
Addictive Drug Information Council
Canadian Centre On Substance Abuse
Drug Watch International
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Marijuana Information
Meth Resources
M-Files (Marijuana and Methamphetamine)
National Centre On Addiction and Substance Abuse
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Nation Families In Action
National Institute On Drug Use
Street Drugs

Programs/Treatment/Parents/Youth
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (BC)
Health Canada Youth Website
Information Services Vancouver
InnerVisions Recovery
Join Together On-Line
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Compaign
Odd Squad Productions (Vancouver City Police)
Pacifica Treatment Center
Prevention Source BC
The Anti-Drug
20/20 Parenting

online tools for bloggers

Jordon Cooper went public with his list of online tools.

Check it out, you may find something that will be helpful to you.

Link

why are people leaving the church?

John O'keefe has an informational on why people leave the church.

Link

Sto:Lo Meth Forum Set For Dec. 7

The second form being hosted by Sto:Lo is set for Dec. 7th from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Tzeachten Hall on Promontory Road. For more information call 604-824-5209.

I’m planning on going, anyone want to come with me? Give me a call at 604-824-4040.

B.C. Guide To Crystal Meth Announced

From The Progress

A guide to help parents and communities combat crystal meth has been developed by a task group of the Fraser Health Authority.

The manual is available here.

Crystal Meth Battle Set To Begin In Chilliwack

From The Progress

B.C.’s battle with crystal meth began in earnst Monday with the release of $2-million to support community anti-meth programs. ...

Along with the $2-million for community-based programs, the BC government has also committed:
• $2 million to enhance existing treatment programs and ensure that professional care is available for meth-addicted youth;
• $1 million for school-based crystal meth awareness campaign;
• an additional $2 million for a broad-based public education campaign, to ensure that youth and their parents are informed about meth use and addiction.

May the battle be successful.