On the Road Again

Tomorrow I leave to go west and to tell you the truth, I'm not that eager to go. Not that I am not looking forward to the people I'm going to visit and the events I'm going to attend (2 weddings and a conference), but I'm not eagerly waiting for the airplane rides and the driving involved.

Years before, I loved to travel and every time a trip came up (specifically, a plane trip), I would get these butterflies of anticipation in my stomach. I'm going to fly! I would treat the actual plane ride as an event to be enjoyed and savoured. I'd soak in the movies, order a can of Coke (always felt bad for asking for a can, but once I saw others do it, I felt better), and eat my fill of airplane snack mixes.

Now, I just see it as a good excuse to read another 100 pages of my current book or sleep.

Fiction vs. non-fiction

I love fiction. My wife recently remarked how I can go through fiction like nothing while it takes me years to go through non-fiction books (I am currently stuck in the middle of approx. 5 non-fiction books). But ever since I picked up "The Lord of the Rings" when I was in junior high, I have been going through a healthy diet of fiction books!

Currently, I am going through Ted Dekker novels. Dekker's novels combine supernatural phenomena with edge-of-your-seat adventure - and doesn't come off sounding corny. The novel "Blink" was a great read and highly recommended.

Last 4 fiction books read this summer:
1. "Blink" Ted Dekker
2. "The Broker" John Grisham
3. "Black" Ted Dekker
4. "New Spring" Robert Jordan

Non-fiction books I am trying to finish this summer:
1. "Let the Nations be Glad" John Piper (started 3 years ago)
2. "Reading the Bible for All Its Worth" Stuart and Fee (started beginning of the year)
3. "Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer" (started 2 years ago)
Another 2 or 3 books that I have started long time ago but haven't touched this summer... (sorry Brad)

Clothesline

I was looking forward to using the clothesline to hang dry my clothes. It saves energy, the clothes smell great afterward, and it just looks like a very home like thing to be doing on the weekends. One problem - the hedge underneath it was neglected by the previous owner and is overgrown to the point where you can't hang the clothes above it.

So, out I go to buy a ladder (ladders are expensive!! What do they build them out of - titanium?) and some shears and go hacking away at the hedge.

Don't you like the black socks and great visor? Fashion setter!

Halfway to being done, I ask Deb to hang a few clothes to test how much I need to cut the hedge down to. We had just done a wash and I was excited to see how the clothes work out... but lo and behold after putting a few wet clothes, the clothesline gives way and breaks.

sigh - the joys of a homeowner.

Looking sad with broken clothesline

Dying a slow death

Computers come and go - and mine is on the brink of dying. Yes, it is an obsolete computer (AMD 600 MHZ, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB HD for those who care) but it lasted for 4 and a half years.

First, it was the fan - it couldn't cool down properly so it would whine and sputter until it overheated and shut down. There were times of calm, but lately it has started up coughing again. Then it was the keyboard - the "f", "j", and "m" didn't work. Soon all the numbers didn't work and I had to plug in an external keyboard to use the computer. Finally, the 30 GB was just too small and since filling it up, it has taken it 10 min. to start up the computer.

Alas, I think I need a new computer. Yes, it is time.

(written on Deb's laptop because mine overheated last night and I'm afraid to turn it on)

Camping

I love camping. Ever since I was a little boy when my family went on vacations through the mountains, I loved to live out in the open air - especially waking up to the view of the mountains. Creation is great!

I try to go camping every year and this year I had the opportunity to go backcountry camping with some friends in B.C. this summer. I have only done backcountry camping twice - once in junior high and once with friends in Calgary during my university years.

After our trip to East Asia, Deb and I (and some friends) went to Manning National Park. It is a great location with great scenery - the only catch was that it was snowing!!! Here are some pics - my wife tells me it looks like scenary from the Sound of Music (a movie I can't recall seeing).

It snowed!!

The week we came back home, we went camping again with our church. Except this time we drove in with cars and only stayed a night. It was fun, but very misty and wet. After the trip, I had upwards of 50 mosquito bites. Lesson: use Deep Woods Off (not any other ones - they don't work). I would show you a picture of my legs with all the bites, but that would be gross and I would like to keep this blog rated G. lol

More than one way to heaven?

Reading the news and I came across an article saying that the world's second most wealthiest man, Warren Buffet, is going to give $37 billion to the Bill Gates Foundation. Wow - that is a lot of money.

However, what caught my eye was this quote, "there is more than one way to get to heaven but this is a great way". He was referring to his giving to the the Gates foundation that is aiming to eliminate the world's top 20 diseases.

It is comments like these that make me think how we, as humans, like to make our own way to heaven by doing good things. I'm not against good things and I applaud Buffet's move, but I hope that is not what he is banking on to get to heaven.

Jesus said that there is only one way to heaven and after thinking it through, it makes sense. Why create many ways to heaven when one way is enough? As well, that one way is unique from all of the man-made solutions of this world in that you don't have to do anything for it - it is by grace we have been saved through faith. That is the beauty of Christ!

If you want to check out the site:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/27062006/2/world-buffett-s-billions-might-help-cure-world-s-worst.html

There and Back Again

Wow - it has been a long time since I have been at home and it is quite the feeling when you get back from a trip. It is interesting to reflect back on the things that happened in the past 7 weeks and also to think about what the 7 weeks would have looked if I stayed at home.

Things That I Found Different When I Came Back Home:

1. We have a house sitter (thanks Ian!)
2. We have ants in our basement
3. There is a baby bottle in our car (no, we are NOT expecting)
4. Our furniture has been moved around (thanks Ian!)
5. We have flowers blooming around our house (thanks mom and previous owners)
6. There is an annoying high pitch sound that is coming from our attic that is irregular and intermittent

Anyway, pics to be posted soon of our summer trip!