White

OK - so since my last post, I did start "He That Is Spiritual", but it is a harder read for me (non-fiction), but a lot of the book is familiar. Perhaps that is why it is hard for me to dive right in. It is familiar because it influences another writer that I read a lot, Bill Bright. The first three chapters are entitled, "The Natural Man", "The Spiritual Man", and "The Carnal Man".

But I haven' gotten around to "Why Men Hate Going to Church" because I started two other books - "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels and "White" by Ted Dekker. Now, I finished White in two days as it was just a great read. It is the third book in the Circle trilogy that Dekker has. Dekker has a uncanny way to write supernatural thrillers that parallels the truths of the Bible. I loved the Circle trilogy because it answers people's questions about spirituality, God, and the gospel without being up front preachy and obvious. But through storytelling, he tells the truth and makes great points that make you think about life and how we view Jesus. Check it out! I read all three books by loaning them through the public library.


Hybels' book, I'm halfway through it and even though it is a non-fiction book, I love the content. I'm not a big fan of his writing style, but the substance of the book is great. I look forward to finish it and post some thoughts on this blog soon.

Why Men Hate Going to Church

As discussed in a previous post, I'm a slow non-fiction reader. And I give it up to the fact that I have a really short attention span. I love new books ... and I am hooked by the titles and different themes, but I don't think I have the patience to read a whole book through. Thus, I get stuck in 5-6 books never to finish them and preventing my wife from reading them because she thinks I'm still "reading" them.

So, there is a new book that I picked up over the summer that caught my attention. "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow. Now, I bought it because a lot of men have recommended the book to me. I don't know the premise, and I don't know the author. Is church too boring? Is it not adventurous enough (aka. Wild at Heart)? Is it not challenging enough? Well, I think I will start reading it and posting up what I read. I am also to start reading "He That is Spiritual" by Chafer lent to me by my friend Luke.

Too many books, not enough attention span.

Additional pics of this summer

Here are some other pics from this summer...

Our church C&C camping trip to Rissers...

Me and my Amazing Race partner - I'm eating some really gross, dried and hardened anchovies and the photographer caught me when I was just making a face. It looks like I'm looking at my partner in disgust. LOL

Our new co-worker who is coming in a couple of weeks! Welcome Matt!

Deb playing with huge plastic chess pieces at Anna and Drew's wedding reception - a beautiful day!

Blueberries

I think I just had a shift in my favourite fruit. It used to be strawberries, but now they are blueberries. In large part is because I have been blueberry picking lately and they are just plain yummy. However, they are very healthy. Here are a few facts about blueberries that I found...

1. Blueberries are antioxidants. This means that they help neutralize "free radicals" (that are by-products from metabolism) which cause cancer and other age related diseases. Blueberries are ranked #1 compared to 40 other fresh fruits in this area.
2. Blueberries prevent urinary tract infections
3. Blueberries help improve eyesight
4. Blueberries have potential to lower cholesterol

So, in light of these facts, I think I can eat blueberries forever. You can also make once unhealthy foods into healthy ones...

For example:

1. Ice cream - just throw a handfull of blueberries on top and it is healthy
2. Milkshakes - blueberry milkshakes (yummy)
   
3. Pancakes - healthy already, make it more healthy by adding blueberries into the mix
4. Blueberry pie
5. Poutine - add just a handfull into ... (JK)

Home At Last

You don't really miss home until you have been away and that is exactly what I have been feeling lately as my wife and I have been travelling quite a bit. Pics from the places and events we've been involved this summer... (sorry, not in chronological order as I can't seem to get the pics in order with the blog tools)...


Yarmouth


My brother!



Camping in BC


Coast off of Yarmouth



Strawberry picking in the Valley


The boys from the summer trip


Camping with Matt and the rest of the gang from the summer


Being tourists on a gondola

U2

So, I haven't been always a U2 fan due to the fact I had a sheltered childhood. I never really got into pop culture and music was one of them. However, I have discovered U2 later in life and I must say I am a fan now.

(Deb and I was browsing in the local Future Shop and we found the Best of 1980-1990 and 1990-2000 for $9.99 each! Yep, that is right - we were looking at used CD stores and we couldn't get it at that price!)

After watching Rattle and Hum on DVD and seeing the impact their music it has on my friends, I have been able to sit and listen to the lyrics. Yes, these guys are talented, but they also have great things to sing about. My wife's favourite song is "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" as it talks about heaven, a favourite topic of her's.

Slowly, but surely, I will discover the greats of music that I missed when I was young...

Older Women Younger Men

There is a strange phenomena in my hometown - a lot of my friends are in a older woman younger man relationship. Not only that - some are engaged and some are married. Now if it was only 1 or 2 couples like that, that is not a cause for alarm. But the fact that there are over 5 couples like that in one church does cause me to pause and think what that is.

Not that I have anything against older women younger man (OWYM) relationships. I think it is perfectly fine, but I do think it does make me do a double take in my brain every time I hear of a OWYM relationship. Is it because society is generally older man younger woman (OMYW)? Or am I just hearing from women that they prefer older men?

I think society thinks OMYW makes more sense because men mature later and thus women can relate to older men better than younger ones. However, I think there is also a underlying (correct or incorrect) psychological comfort for the woman knowing that an older man can take care of you better. They feel more secure in an OMYW scenario.

I guess a plus for the OWYM side is that men usually die earlier and thus the woman in the relationship doesn't have to endure widowhood longer than their OMYW counterparts. But then again, what do I know?