13 Hours of Rain

I'm proud to be Canadian! Here are my highlights of Vancouver 2010: Record results - 26 medals, 14 of them gold. Third place finish overall, highest amount of golds earned in any Winter Olympics. Wayne Gretzky's trek to light the external Olympic flame amidst giddy fans. Alexandre Bilodeau going down in Olympic history as the first Canadian to win gold on Canadian soil. It was beautiful to watch his brother, who struggles with cerebral palsy, cheering Alexandre on. Watching Maelle Ricker's infectious smile as she became the first female to win a gold medal at home. What an achievement in snowboard cross after numerous knee surgeries! Figure skater Joannie Rochette winning bronze with courage and determination just days after hearing about the sudden passing of her mother. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's breathtaking dance on ice that captured the first Canadian gold in that event. What a beautiful couple! Kevin Martin finally winning gold in curling after a gruelingly lon...

Well, the following words have been added to my daughter's vocabulary: "Stop it?" she inquiries. "Yes, you need to stop it," I reply. "Listen?" she asks. "Yes, you need to listen," I respond, trying to suppress a giggle. "Naughty?" she offers. "Yes, you have been naughty. What do you need to say?" I ask. "Sorry." Then I pull her out of her "time-out" zone, the play pen (or play yard to be politically correct).

In conversation with family and friends, I have come up with the following definitions that may reflect the experiences of some Christians. Bi-Polar Spiritually Since Christ's principles are difficult to exemplify, the believe feels like giving up. Thus, he or she settles for maintaining a lower set of ideals. Yet, the believers yearns for something deeper. These yearnings can lead to moments of brilliance, where the believer leaps from the doldrums of life and achieves spiritual valor. Christian Service Quagmire As a believer enters the life of the church, he or she is encouraged to engage in Christian discipleship and service. The believer's spirit of volunteerism entangles him or her in numerous church activities. Within a short span of time, the believer is singularly dedicated to the programs of the church and has no time to spend with individuals outside the church. Hegemonic Church Practices In an attempt to revolutionize the practices of Christianity to be more aligned ...