on social networking and lurking

I like the internet.  I like Facebook and other social networking sites.  But I sometimes wonder about it all.  It's cool to be aware of what's going on in other people's lives.  I love finding out about people who I once studied with, or went to church with, or whatever.  Sometimes though, we just get a very small piece of the story.  Like reading a newspaper story and having far more questions then when you started.  Sometimes you want to ask a question, but it's been awhile, and you're not sure how to get into those discussions with those old friends.  So rather than make a comment you lurk.  I do this ALL the time.  reading blogs, facebook pages, whatever; often wishing I could contribute something to the conversation, but feel like I am missing too much of the story to say anything.  Has this ever happened to you? -> You make a comment on something trying to join a conversation and others just seem to ignore that you said anything?  I dislike that, maybe it just says something about me.
So I (or maybe you) lurk and wonder.  I am not sure there's anything to do to fix it, but I felt like expressing.

today

Well, we finished another week.  This week felt long.  Had some great connections with people this week.  Got a few things done I've been meaning to get going.  We've had a number of unexpected gifts this week, more than a couple actually.  God is good.
At our evening gathering today, there was some good food, great people and the service, I felt, was significant.  So while I'm tired, wiped out really, it's good.
Rest tonight now, then tomorrow we drive to T-bay and Olivia has teeth yanked out of her head.  Will let that worry hit me tomorrow, now I'm going to veg.

Pictures of Life

(this is a duplicate post from my photoblog)

I've mentioned a couple of times about a project I've been working on.  It's as ready as it will ever be for the public.  It's a gallery of pictures (is this a surprise? probably not). First the pictures... then the details, along with how this might help you...




As some of you know, I'm a pastor.  I've noticed that in some churches it seems a struggle to find good photos to use as a backdrop on their powerpoint presentation, or to slip behind the words when lyrics to songs are projected for group singing.

Over the last few months I've been challenged by many things to try and find a way to help others with my photography.  So I started going through my photos to find images that would work for churches in what I've described above.  Started with over 200 gigs, first cut was just over a 1000 images.  This is a gallery of 200 images.  If you have been following my photography for awhile you'll likely recognize these photos.  They have been shared before.  I am proud of these images.

If you are apart of a church and would like to use these in your services please do so.  You can download them and size them to fit your screen and use them.  Technically I'm putting a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License on these photos.  Click the link to learn more.  However I'm not real concerned with people knowing that I took the picture.  If you do use them, it would be nice if you could send me an email or leave a comment with that photo on the photo gallery page

I went on two dates recently

So, late last week I got to go on a date with someone, not my wife.

All I'll say, is she likes ketchup.

And then today, I went on a date with my wife. You know where we went? The grocery store. It was all good.

today

So, I should have something to say in this space. But I'm struggling. I'll start and see where we end up?

Have you ever seen, or read, or heard, or thought of some really rather inspiring stuff and rather than 'doing' something you just think. Then in your thinking you go around in circles and then you just throw your hands up in the air and say, "well, I guess I wasn't that inspired to do something, just think it" - even though the inspiring stuff was awesome...

Did that make sense?

Ever feel overwhelmed? Ever feel like you have to do something, but not sure what, or how, or with whom? Ever feel like the stuff you write, the stuff you create, well, it is at best mediocre, and at worst, well, dung? Ya, me too.

Then I remember that most of relationship is just showing up. Even if you show up and your socks don't match and there's coffee on your shirt and you dragged mud in on the carpet.

So here's a prayer I'm writing out for those of us who sometimes feel like that...

Uh, God?

It's me again. I know I'm not doing all I should. I know I sometimes do stuff I shouldn't.

I'm trying, kinda, I mean I am, but I get overwhelmed with stuff. And I try to get by on the bare minimum. I know that's lazy, and I know better, it's true.

Thanks for loving me anyways. Thanks for not giving me what I deserve and thanks for giving me so much already and then some of what I don't deserve. I believe in you. I believe that you care for me. That you want me. I come and I bring such as I have, use it. Work through me or in spite of me. You've done so much, I will keep trying to show you how much that truly means to me, more than my words too.

I'm making this up as I go, so you'll need to help. I've learned a few things, thanks for that by the way, so I'll start there and see what happens okay? Have I told you lately that you are awesome? Ya.

Love ya, Amen.

it can be a long way up...

Philippians 3:12-14 (New Living Translation)

Pressing toward the Goal

¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Taken from Bible Gateway HERE.