Drycold.com

Strange but one of the joys of my life has become photography. Go figure.

I remember when I was but a lad, just beginning to aim the camera. You encouraged me in it, and it has been a bit of fun.

So I've been thinking things over for some time now, and I do believe it's time to let you know about a little project I've had going on the side for a bit more than a month. A photoblog.

I started it to encourage myself to continue to take pictures. And you know, a years worth of images is 365 pictures. That's a lot of pressure for an anal perfectionist to keep producing pics!

So it's forcing me to take pictures and to get better at it, which is a good thing.

So, for those of you so inclined you are welcomed to drop into drycold.com and take a look. Leave any and all evaluatory comments and I shall incorporate them into my skill set. (Big words for you all helping me learn.)

I now return you to your regularly scheduled programing. 

Hmmm

I'm hungry for cheezies.

...i wonder...

"HEY LAUR"

Just a guy who's a pastor

Tonight both Lauralea and I had to be at meetings. To bad they weren't together, we could have shared a cab.

My meeting was long and profitable. Lauralea's meeting was long, but I haven't heard the profitability factor yet. Apparently she just got in before I did.

Anyway, during the course of our work tonight we got to talking about the different kinds of churches I've pastored at. I was kind of surprised by what the last 20 years of my life looks like, doing this pastoring gig.

Started out as laypastor in a church of hundreds. Two official languages, one unofficial. Mostly a church of immigrants. Good, hardworking people. I worked at Canadian Tire during the days and the church at nights and weekends. What a start.

Then we took on a new churchplant in the south end of Winnipeg. When we got there the number added up to nearly 20. Oh man we worked hard there, getting it established.  I'll never forget the day we finally had a Sunday morning service and a hundred people were there. We worked a lot with broken people then. Many were just getting to know God at that time. We started a community foodbank and I believe we tried every kind of outreach known to mankind. It was there that I learned to pray.

Then we moved to Prince Albert, to this different conference of churches. The fifty year old church was hurting deeply and the average length of stay for their pastors had been 3 years each. When I showed up the only thing I knew for sure was that I heard God say just love them, so I tried to do that. Often I failed. Occasionally I got it right. She hasn't grown a lot in numbers, but what she lacks in numerical growth she has made up for in maturity and spiritual growth.

There it is. Three different places with three different stories. They've left me with a nice little body of experience. Wow, where did those 20 odd years go to?

As I drove home reflecting on this history of mine I came to some conclusions.

Boy, God likes me and has blessed my life so deeply. I honestly figure I have one blessed existence.

Boy, have we worked hard. From the days of driving to the church right after work still wearing my Canadian Tire uniform, to the multiplicity of attempts made to reach our community, to the experience of having people fight against healing. We. Have. Worked. Hard.

Boy, I haven't eaten enough pizza in my life. (That came while I was driving past Venice House pizza)

Boy, I'm tired. Suddenly I can't believe how tired I am. 20 years straight (24 years if you include my training years) packed into this 42 year old body. (At least my cholesterol is good!!)

 

And now, I'm tired and going to bed. Didn't sleep so well last night, don't ya know.

g'nite.

Many Realities

Well, we got a couple of hours sleep last night, finally.

This morning I was in contact with a family from the church. One of the family members was in the process of having a major dark breakdown last evening. A very terrifying and dangerous incident.

Reflecting on it this morning, I'm sure that was a part of last night. I was praying for safety and protection for the people, for the church.

But there is yet something more I need to pray through.

I'm not sure yet if it's training oneself or if it's a gift of sensitivity given to the individual, but this will happen occasionally to me. Usually it's not this urgent. Last night it was.

It's difficult to communicate, but there has been a subtle shift in the church I care for, I can sense it in my spirit more than I can give it words. And while that kind of language is loaded and somewhat mystical, it is what it is. Much of my prayer last night was asking God to bring the fuzzy picture into focus. What is the shift, where should I turn my attention, how should I be responding.

It's almost StarWars-esk; "There's a disturbance in the force..."

It's something you sense, not see. And it's not even about good or bad, it's just a subtle shifting that gives me clues where to put my effort and time.

So I remain in listening mode. Straining to hear, watching for leading. Waiting on the leader of the church to give direction.

Then I will seek to obey and follow.