First Nations

For the past 10 days we've had a bunch of First Nation Canadians (crazy indians) staying with us. It was a really special time for our family. I loved conversing with them and sitting up late at night listening to their stories. All the man in me felt alive! So thanks to Nicole Yellow Old Woman, Darren Curly Rider, Robyn Weasel Bear and friends!

People who know me know that my two earthly obessions are U2 and 'The Last of The Mohicans movie'. My brother shares this love and last night we were able to fulfill one of our life's goals. We made our own 'Last of the Mohicans' recording with the help of the Natives. Results are hilarious...I'll try to work out how to get movies up here. Here are some pics of us setting the scene!

Ghana's Glory!

I'm loving the world cup. I drew Argentina in a sweep stake that could earn me £100 but my heart is with the African teams. Wasn't going so well until Angola got a great draw with Mexico. Not bad for a country that The Lonely Planet describes as being, 'out of bounds to outsiders because of a lack of infrastructure (roads) and communication, combined with landmines'

Then last night was awesome to watch Ghana beat the Czechs....C'mon Africa!!!

Life With God

As I’ve struggled recently in thinking about how messed up all of us are I’ve been drawn back again to my favourite writer and a paragraph that resonates more powerfully with me than any in any other novel I have read.

I don’t pretend to know where Douglas Coupland stands on Christianity, but he has an ability to explain our postmodern predicament in words. Life After God is a collection of short stories set around a theme of a generation raised without God. This theme is set in the introductary line-
"YOU ARE THE FIRST GENERATION RAISED WITHOUT RELIGION”

The stories are meant to show how the lack of God affects the characters and how they try to understand concepts such as death, love and meaning in everyday life from the secular world around them. These characters appear to be stuck with the TV on mute, drifting through relationships and having no insight into what is going on in the world or in themselves.

In the end Coupland comes to this conclusion, one that I have come back to many times:

“My secret is that I need God- that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love.”

Jacob's Ladder

Got back from an amazing week at Boreatton park with P7s. I ended up having some of the best craic I've had in years. I've been worried all year about getting too friendly with my kids as it makes it much more difficult to have a position of authority when they become too familiar. However this week I could just chill out and have a laugh with the staff and kids. Have such a feeling of fulfillment tonight in the knowledge that I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in the world at this period in time than teaching these kids. I am so thankful to God for a job I love.