eat, breathe, live

After a summer full of watching soccer during the world cup and Brian's many games, I'm beginning to understand the game a bit more. It is an all-or-nothing sport. The players, the good ones, are completely committed to the game. They train twice a day in sun, rain, and snow... and then go for a 5 mile run. Can you imagine running for ninety minutes straight? (Then imagine doing the dirty laundry.) The fans, the real ones, are insane and pledge allegiance to their team more than they do to their country. Fights erupt and fans face death just to attend a match.

This game is all-encompassing and takes over the lives of billions of people around the world. The United States and much of Canada create a void on the world-wide map of football-frenzy. It is the one language spoken by countless men, women, and children in first, second, and third world countries. It draws people in and bridges the gap across races, religions, and prejudices. Imagine what God can do with that.

Now, I know I don't play soccer, but it is a part of my life. It brings me into contact, and hopefully conversations, with strangers. It is my responsibility and honor to share God's love with them. God chooses to put random people in our lives who need to hear that He loves them. He knows who will be sitting beside me at the next game. He draws the "randoms" to me, through soccer. (Only God could use soccer in my life!) What does God put in your life that draws "randoms" to you? Will you use it?

We have posted a few pictures from Brian's game this weekend. Check them out at our Flickr website in the links to the right.

pictures

Becca has uploaded pictures from this summer and our tour to N. Ireland. If you want to check them out visit our Flickr website. You can also find this link on the right under "relevant links". Look for updates as we post new pictures from our lives here in Langley, BC.

Read the Bible in a Year

Last week a leader in our church challenged us as a body to read through the Bible in a year with him and his family. As a couple, we decided to follow his lead and are on our way! By Labor Day of next year we will have read the entire Bible all the way through at least once. The plan we are following was drawn up by Robert Murray McCheyne, a Scottish pastor in the 1800s. We want to challenge you, too, as our friend, to read along with us. Even if you don't finish it in a year that's ok. Here is a link to a PDF File if you decide to read the Bible in a year. Also, if you do decide to read with us, let us know! It's exciting to do things together, to spur each other on. God bless!

first week

Whenever you are working to further the kingdom of God, you will face obstacles. Satan will do his best to try to stop you, or at least slow you down. It is discouraging and even tiring at times. But we are prepared for battle. We know that we cannot do it with our own strength and so we rely on God, our Warrior. If you think about it, please pray for us.

Last week was my first as an official staff member on campus at Simon Fraser University. It was a crazy week. Every year during the first two weeks of school Campus for Christ (the Canadian Campus Crusade for Christ ministry) passes out Real Life Kits containing a CD/DVD, New Testament, and another book that presents and defends the gospel such as The Case for Christ (Lee Strobel) or More Than a Carpenter (Josh McDowell). In the past, they have passed out about 1000 RLKs each year, but this year we broke all of the records. On the first day alone we passed out more than 1300 RLKs and collected over 500 new contacts! This week we will be following up with those contacts and getting Christians who are new to the campus plugged in with our club. I will be leading a Bible study on campus soon, too.

I'm excited about what God has planned for this school year. I am also a little apprehensive about the coming busyness. It's inevitable it seems. What if there were enough hours in the day to spend three hours alone with God, go to work, exercise, make dinner, fix whatever is broken, hang out and relax, make lunch for tomorrow, run errands, check your email, and still get enough sleep? What if we didn't have to be busy? Wait, life used to be like this not too long ago (for me, much longer for some of you other folks). Before cell phones and before emails all we did was play with our friends, eat, and go to school and that was enough. I miss it. Let's work on not being too busy.

If Jesus drank coffee, then it's good enough for me.

If you have at least one cup of coffee a day does that automatically make you addicted? I'm beginning to wonder if I am. Brian hates the stuff, but I think about it all the time. I think about it more than chocolate. Mmm... I'm thinking about an iced white mocha from Starbucks right now. I guess the best way to find out if it's an addiction is to try to stop, right? But it's so comforting, I don't want to stop. I enjoy being able to relax with a warm cup of coffee in my hands. Water just doesn't do it for me.

Have you ever wondered if Jesus drank coffee? Or tea? He had a quiet time, got away from the disciples and went off by himself quite frequently. I bet he stopped by a coffee shop, got a tall half caff laté to go, and then he could really get started. Coffee gets you ready for the day and gives you that mid-afternoon boost you need. It helps you collect your thoughts and calms you when you are ready to punch someone. Plus it just smells good.

So to all the coffee drinkers, don't let the rest of the population bother you when they tell you that coffee is bad for you and you should lay off it. They are just grumpy because they haven't had their coffee yet. But for the sake of those around you, finish it off with a stick of gum or a tic tac. May God bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you, coffee drinkers!