Sandwich Sunday: Jan. 27/08

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Someone makes a point while Doug Jr. sucks.

Kristian wasn't hungry, hungry, but the hippos were.

His photo of Rauni

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Looking for input re. church future

Our church will soon be discussing the possibilities re. our future. There will likely be some connections with our Strategic Planning Process of the last few years. OTOH we may be considering radical steps not yet raised in that process.

I have talked with a few friends/acquaintances who ask how my new job is going and here are some of their thoughts.

1) Churches that focus inwardly instead of on reaching the lost will die.
-- Young Teen Challenge Staff. [I only just met this guy and so he gave this as a general principle, knowing nothing but the little I told him of our specifics.]

2) Twenty-two regular attenders (like us) are a good core for growth IF they are open to change and being servants.
-- American Worship Pastor of English-speaking church in Berlin.

3) Churches tend to structure ourselves for the comfort and edification of the saints.
-- 50-something-year-old member of Redwood Church

Comments anyone?

Skating Jan. 20/08

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Dad and son both seem a bit camera-shy.


Kickin' at old school

Those rink rats look familiar.

Gord Sr. tries to keep up with the younger generations blurring by.

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Getting Ready for Skating: Jan. 17/08

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We will be participating in the public skate at Grandview Arena, Sunday Jan. 20, 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. for $4/adult.

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Some Thoughts on Language

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I play guitar for Pope John Paul the Second



...the school, that is -- their choir.

Anyway, while there yesterday I heard one student ask another, "What day is it?"

My answer would have been "Monday".

The student's was "5".

The 2nd student knew that "day" meant a day in their rotation system.

An awareness of this nature of language (the specialized meanings of words in certain contexts possibly unknown to outsiders. I guess that's called "jargon") is important to keep in mind when trying to interpret anything in language that is some distance from you (especially the differences of time and culture).

This doesn't solve all the problems of Biblical Interpretation (or Qur'anic, I'd guess), but it may provide us with the hope (or the "out"?) that there is probably a solution somewhere if we could only be sure what the writer meant by the word or phrase (which might differ from how another writer uses it).

You might think that God would avoid such possible confusions in His inspiration of Scripture.

You might.

I.e. You MIGHT.


or

YOU might.

Thinking about Isaiah

We mean the same thing whether we say "saw in half" or "saw in two" even though two is four times as big as a half.

Mum's Christmas Decorations: Jan. 7/08

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Doug's Birthday: Jan. 4/08

Shroomapalooza at Shroom's (or Shrooms' if Jenn is also a Shroom): New Year's Day '08

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Kids and them new-fangled video games!

Neil has fun.

Men and doctors only.

"Take the picture while I'm still awake."

He had never met me before, but threw himself into my arms. Before you think I'm a warm and wonderful guy, I think it was more the warm and wonderful fire behind me that got his attention.

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New Year's Eve '07/08 with the Lappalas at the Lappalas'

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His own private tea party in the corner

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