LifeUpdate...

Well... been a while since I been on here... with the advent of Facebook, marriage, and a move, been quite busy lately. Been enjoying being busy at taking some time off work and collecting some well earned Employment Insurance. Been over 17 years since I remember doing that. It is good. Rest and Relaxation, going to the gym again, getting stuff sorted out from the move, and really getting to spend a lot of quality time with my new family. Marriage is wonderful. I never thought I would ever say that 2 years ago or so, but life has really turned a corner for me. I am in love like I have thought possible, and the whole dad thing is working out. Taking some time to do some of the things I have wanted to pursue, reading, getting in shape, and following my favorite teams the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Flames. Funny thing, I used to almost literally LIVE on the computer, but nice to live in the analogue world and check out what it has to offer. North Battleford is a wonderful place to live, and being in a valley, it is truly beautiful as well. There is lots of history here, and lots to see and take in. The job hunt is half hearted right now, enjoying my holiday in life and soaking it all in. Seems as I get older I seem to appreciate the finer things in life and am more aware of the brevity of it and the need to really make each day count. Our next breath is not guaranteed to us and we must really live life to the fullest or lose the wonderful-ness of it all. I have done things I have wanted to do, things small and some great. Small things like actually watching Casablanca finally after all these years, movies that people say you should watch but never had time to do before.

More time for devotions, Bible Study, ministry... things that actually count for something in the long run. I am pressed with the knowledge that our time on this earth is short and we do not have a lot of it when you think of how fast it goes by, those who have left this earth ahead of us and those who have been wise enough to share that experience. Millions have gone before us and the thought that really presses me is what legacy am I to leave behind? What mark on this earth will I leave, where does it really matter? I am more and more convinced that once all our our deeds are put to the flame of God, only what has been done for Him will be eternal. We scurry about like ants in a hill, focused on moving so much miniscule pieces of dirt from here to there, only to find that there is a larger call, something much bigger we are to do, for when we are gone, all that we have left is dirt and ash, but what we have done for God is real and immortal. Cynical, mabey, but I believe that is the real, reality of life. After we have earned our dollars, paid our bills, lived in the bubble we call our lives, what have we accomplished? Have we healed the sick? Bound up the broken hearted? Set at liberty them who are bruised? Have we REALLY made a difference in someones life of have we hurriedly rushed by in the midst of our small lives filled with indifference or worse, apathy?

(Isa 61:1 NIV) "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,"

(Isa 61:2 NIV) "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,"

(Isa 61:3 NIV) "and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."

(Isa 61:4 NIV) "They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations."

Do we weep over our cities and towns like Jesus wept over Jerusalem? Or do we brush people off as someone else's responsibility, mabey missionaries, or pastors? DO we REALLY believe we are the hands and feet of Christ or just his judgemental voice when we see something is wrong inpinging upon our rights? Do we REALLY love the world and its people or are they just too bothersome to deal with as we go about our self centered lives? These are things I have been noticing in my life and in the lives of other Christians. Why does the world not take the Christian church seriously? I believe this is why. We are truly too focused on our rights, money and our selves to seriously care about anyone else. Further, people are struggling on how little they love themselves to reach out and love others. They can barely make it day to day looking after themselves let alone others. We are truly living in Laodecia. The fires that once burned bright we have let them grow dim. The very one we swore that we would die for has been forgotten.

(Rev 3:14 NIV) ""To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation."

(Rev 3:15 NIV) "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!"

(Rev 3:16 NIV) "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

(Rev 3:17 NIV) "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

(Rev 3:18 NIV) "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

(Rev 3:19 NIV) "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."

(Rev 3:20 NIV) "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

My heart has been broken lately for those I have walked by who Jesus wanted me to love. There is really only one remedy He provides, repentance. More and more I am amazed at the call we leave at the altar for unbelievers to open the door to Jesus' knocking, only in amazement to find that it is us, the Christians Jesus is calling to. May we really be refined in the fire that we could be Gold in faith and deeds, in love and mercy, to rebuild the ruins of our cities physically and spiritually, to be the anchors and hearts and hands of our Lord. These are things I am walking through right now and I believe is on the heart of God. Prayerfully seek God in your life as I seek Him in mine to see where we can best serve Him and not our own desires. Just stuff on my heart. Blessings... Moose

Wow what a WILD RIDE last couple Days!

Hey fellow bloggers traveling the data stream of life...

What a wild few days... Well every one seems to be asking me how the wedding went... Got one good solid answer. I AM MARRIED LOL! MUSTA WORKED! We are officially wedded and Darcy and I are on our honeymoon at the West Edmonton Mall... IT is INCREDIbLE to say the least. Just came from a sealion show that was one of the wildest things i have ever seen, we had an awesome nite soaking in the hot tub in the Roman Room in our suite complete with wine and cheeze and fresh fruit. After a good nite sleep on what I can only describe as the comfy-est bed I have ever slept on, off this morning to complimentary brekkie at the Europa Cafe, bought some swim trunks for the water park, and took pics there and back, the sea lion show... and then swimming later, going to a comedy club to watch some comedians on bourbon street and hit the hot tub again with a bottle of bubbly for tonite... wow what a wonderful day. it is amazing. Gonna meet with a buddy here mabey and stop at a friends in Lloydminster tommorrow am as well as trip back home. GOnna miss living at the mall... it is so incredible here... too many things to just do in a day or so... oh yea found a chinese place with INCREDIBLE bubble tea... had watermelon and it BLEW my mind. It is so incredible doing all this with the lady I now call my wife and sharing such wonderful experiences with her. We DEFINITELY plan to come back! Photos and more to ocme at a later date! God Bless You Good! Moose

Wow I am getting married in a month...

One month to go... and my life becomes altered once again, a paradigm shift from single and living on my own to married with children and not the sitcom... another big move (physically and metaphorically) and a whole new life in a small Saskatchewan city. North Battleford to be exact. The whole North Battleford / Battleford area is beautiful, the pace is slow, and a lot of people do not obey yield or stop signs lol... you don't expect to get anywhere fast out there as everyone seems to be moving at a much slower pace... LOTS of farm plates lol... nice to see there are a few amenities that Saskatoon has, a Canadian Tire (very important if you are a guy), Mark's Work Wearhouse (very important if you are a big guy and thats all you wear), and of course a Walmart. McDonalds and A&W are there too, but I prefer the Subway... even a Vern's Pizza. In Saskatoon the Co-op is a smaller business... in North Battleford they have their own MALL lol... and of course there is a Sobeys... We discovered that one of the hotels on the outskirts of North Battleford has a Smitties and a larger discovery is a dessert with the name ROLO in it... mmmmmm... town is full of history, the Northwest Mounted Police had a barracks there and a fort, and the whole place seems to live up to its slogan "Where the past is present" although LOL my first thought was oh no going to be living in a backwards hick town lol... at 14000 people seems everyone knows everyone there... http://www.cityofnb.ca/ theres the website if you are curious lol...

Oh yeah... back on track here... I love bunny trails lol ya never quite know where they gonna end up... yeah so new life... married with children... hmmm... yadda... yadda... oh yeah, new church... Living Faith Chapel or the "LFC' as it is named my new church... we are still trying to figure out how two entire households are going to meld into one, lots of stuff... and I already pared it down... that is going to be quite a challenge... it really has hit though that in one month this whole new life kicks into gear... seems like not a lot of time and so very much to do... on the other side of this I am sure it will look pretty amazing as well... got a lady who is so amazing beside me through this all, soon to be my wife... It is going to be so awesome. I cannot wait to take a month off either... at the prompting of my sweetheart, I decided that is what I am going to do... spend some time with the boys... do some r&r... do a lot of work getting settled in...

Darcy is getting her dress made... fittings galore... we are making our own cake... she is making all the decorations... what a lady... I just have to pay for the actual wedding... the catering and the location and the photos... some new clothes to get hitched in lol... I am sure looking forward to the honeymoon, some time away just me and her... plan is still for West Ed mall Roman room... I cannot wait to crawl into the Jacuzzi lol... one of the few places where you can go ice skating AND swimming in the same afternoon under the same roof LOL... it should be awesome...

Its all sinking in and looking like it is going to be a wild ride...

Shameless URL plugs...

Been spending a LOT of time on a couple of website lately (still dunno if that is good or bad) and just wanted to share these with my blogging world :) One is www.facebook.com a very interesting site whereby I am rediscovering all sorts of people I havent talked to in ages. Very cool. The other is www.pogo.com purely a game site, got the full membership as a gift from my sweetheart and good way to relax after a day at work...

Of course one site on lots too right now is www.nhl.com for obvious reasons :) I am a Calgary Flames fan but cannot help going with a Canadian team for the Stanley Cup (guess its the patriot in me) GO SENS GO!

My two cents ;)

Check this blog out...

For those who don't know this is my fiance's blog http://afriend4everw3.blogspot.com her name is Darcy. God Bless - Moose

Love, Actually...

Well... just a couple more months until the wedding... seems it is drawing so close and days when it cannot get here fast enough lol... every day is a gift from God and the more days I live it seems these days, the more convinced I am. There is absolutely nothing in this world that isnt laid up by God's own hand, good or bad all things work to the good for those who love God. I am truly amazed at His blessings that are truly new every morning, how redemptive of a God He is and how much He truly loves us. I am blown away by agapao love, unconditional, pure and sweet from God the very source and who is comprised actually of love. In the Gospel of John we find that God calls Himself Love itself.

(1 John 4:8-10 NIV) "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

9 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."
10 "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

What a God! The very essence of love, the very ingredient in our lives in its purest form. And that He not us, made the first step in loving us, the God of the universe. Think about that for a moment. WOW. He sent His son to die for us, His son. How many fathers would send their children to die for someone else? Not for Himself but for us. Amazing Love. This is never so evident when we read in 1 Corinthians 13 called the love chapter the following:

(1 Cor 13:1-8 NIV) "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."
2 "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
3 "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
4 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
5 "It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
7 "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
8 "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

If God is Love, and we substitute God for Love in this chapter we find a very wonderful picture of God's love for His children.

(1 Cor 13:4-8 NIV) "GOD is patient, GOD is kind. GOD does not envy, GOD does not boast, GOD is not proud."
5 "GOD is not rude, GOD is not self-seeking, GOD is not easily angered, GOD keeps no record of wrongs."
6 "GOD does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
7 "GOD always protects, GOD always trusts, GOD always hopes, GOD always perseveres."
8 "GOD never fails."

Did you catch that? Did you see that? God never, ever, will ever fail. Ever. He is more solid than the bedrock beneath your feet. More true than the North Star. That will all pass away but He still will REMAIN. What a God. And this is the unwavering love He has for us. The love He expects us to have for the world. Unconditional love.

I have been so amazed at how, when we fail, God never does. When we have given up, God is still on our side. When we sin, God has already provided a way of atonement. He already did the work, we just have to accept what He is and own it in our hearts. Amazing.

How does that fit in my life you might ask... lol... looking at what I have written above I had to ask my self that same question lol... well... not really...

I am the most in love with anyone I have ever been in my life. I am experiencing agapao love like I never have before. A pure unconditional love that only seeks to love me back. I am convinced that my finance is a gift from God as there is no way the two of us could be so made for each other by accident. The past experiences bad or good have moulded us each to be exactly who the other would ever want or need and I am truly amazed. I cannot live without this woman it seems, we live in two different towns until the wedding and I long to be close to her whenever I am away. I have never written so many love letters or sung as many love songs to anyone in my life. I have never dropped all my walls of protection around my heart like I have with her. It is like I expected her to fight her way into my heart and she walked right in to the center of it without firing a shot. Never have I ever had my heart so conquered so amazingly and it was with unconditional love, pure, kind, gentle and simple. I believe that is why there are so many allusions to God's love being to that of a groom for His bride. A love like that cannot be stood up against. You can try, but when someone is pouring out pure, agapao love on you it is pretty hard to keep hard against that person lol... and in this case I didnt even want to try.

I find it amazing that a heart can be broken so hard and still have the capacity to love again. Each day, my heart heals more from my past, and each day past hurts dissapate more like a bad dream. Each day with my love seems like another day of opportunity to love again and the longing to be man and wife preoccupies my mind.

I know what love sickness means now lol... it is true that absence does make the heart grow fonder. Not being able to see my fiance daily is hard. Harder than I thought it would be. Of course never had a relationship quite like this before. I cannot wait for the next email, phone call, webcam, or trip out to see her or her to see me. I have never had my heart long for someone like I do for her outside God.

I guess that is what it is quite like really and I have a whole another appreciation for what God must be going through. He wants Jesus to come back for His bride the church... I cannot imagine how stir crazy God must be going longing to wed with His church. The love and longing God has for His bride. WOW... if He is experiencing even half of what I am WOW... lol of course I know that His love is so much more for us than man for woman, but WOW... that is some kind of love. The fact that He is waiting is even so much more amazing. I have a lot more empathy for God's heart for us now that I am actually experiencing kinda the same thing, though obviously not on the same scale...

And God wants the same with us that we want with our bride, communion, to be together, to talk, to love. How He must long for us when we are too busy for Him. That is why we must know Him, not know about Him, not of heard about Him, KNOW Him... Know what is in His heart, what makes Him laugh, cry, makes him happy or sad. I hear His voice and know who it is on the other end of the line.

If He loves us like I love my bride, His heart must jump whenever He hears from us like mine does when I hear my fiance on the other end of the phone, to hear the words I love you to Him must make His heart soar like mine does when my love says that to me. To have His love poured back to Him like my bride pours back hers to me must be truly amazing on a celestial scale.

Wow... I guess our needs and His needs are not really that different at all... The need to be loved.

God Bless... Moose

Its My Birfday ;)

Well... had to change my age from 38 to 39... yikes... 1 year away from that old age 40 line... lol... downhill? Uphill? Dunno until I get there won't know... Somedays I can feel it in my body, but then again am outta shape lol... Got friends who are 40 and they don't seem worse for wear, and about this mid life crisis thing... when does that happen? Have I been through it? Lord I hope so lol... I think about my new life in a few short months, it is truly amazing... Got a new place to live, my house is sold... gonna have a new wife, TOTALLY head over heels in love... divorce is finalized... gotta new (new to me) car (1989 Corolla), Camry was totalled this Christmas... gonna have... kids... wow... I am a dad in training imagine that! ... 3 boys... with much fear and trepidation I might add and a bit of humor... The 12 year old stared wonderously at my face and declared... "WOW are you EVER getting a LOT of grey hair" lol... Geez... thanks kid... lol... to which I commented its you guys LOL... KIDDDING!!!! To which we all got a good laugh. My fiance swears that my hair is gonna go grey real quick once I move in lol... I am thinking to myself... SELF... strap yer butt inna chair... gonna be a WILD ride lol... Was awesome hanging out with the boys this weekend watching my team (The Flames) lose and their team (The Canucks) win... I find myself more and more loving those kids... especially when in amazement we are watching American Chopper and I find the little one snuggling up to me to watch TV... wow cannot describe that feeling... I kinda feel... well... like a dad... and the look on my lady's face when that happens is amazing... sure feels cool to be part of family. That and discussions about a possible little one in the future... wow never been there before... God truly is amazing... I feel like Job from the Bible after satan wrecks his life... the blessings pour in. If you never read it before it is quite a read... sure lets ya know where you stand in the spiritual food chain of God's kingdom... Man this really got longer than I intended it to, but thats ok... my heart had more stuff in it than I thought it did. God Bless. Moose

Added Wedding Countdown...

Figured I wanted a good way to track and share when I get married... going to be so awesome... life is incredible these days, going to church lots at Living Faith Chapel in North Battleford, an Apostolic Church with my honey and a couple of her boys. Here is their website here: Living Faith Chapel Although not quite the family atmosphere or freedom to worship as Hope Fellowship, it is a good bible based church with an awesome pastoral team with a great heart for its people and its community. Been spending quite a few weekends out in North Battleford with my new family so thats why I haven't been around much Hopers :) Am hoping to get out to Hope this weekend though and see you guys. Miss you all. Got a new car, well new to me now after my Christmas car wreck... its a 1989 Toyoto Corolla, bare bones no frills car, but runs good and is certified and has been gone through with a fine tooth comb. House Sold so now awaiting possession and so now focus is on wedding August 4th and the move out to North Battleford. Which reminds me, if anyone has a truck i could borrow, or hitch a ride with to North Battleford with a couch and a boxspring, let me know. I got to get those out of my landlords garage asap... Hmm what else is new... Lotsa Juno hype around Saskatoon, big name music industry hits small town Saskatchewan lol... Bike Show is on this weekend, as well as Tattoo show... Still working at Leah Brisdon & Associates, brisk real estate market now, not much out there for sale and whatever is getting snapped up by investors... still working at SAI until mid July, working this weekend... Spring has finally sprung so now getting the bug to get my bike together and riding... Heading home weekend after next for Easter with my family... well better get back to work here... God Bless All... Moose

An Interesting Perspective on Muslim Extremism

Wow Haven't Been HERE lately :)

Wow... lots to catch up on where do I begin... hmmmm HAPPY NEW YEAR for one I guess... hoping this next one is going to be better than my last 2 lol... lots has happened since my last blog(s) I am divorced now... and have a girlfriend... she is from North Battleford and a sweetie... I am now engaged to be married and we did the official ring thing this weekend... am on holidays from December 15th to January 15th, moving, selling my house and moving into a basement suite... hmmm totalled my car off trying to clear an intersection as the light turned red, girl clipped me coming through on a green... still gotta see where that all turns out... still going to Hope Fellowship MB in Saskatoon, though have not gone there for a while, been going to my fiance's (wow that word sounds weird) church in North Battleford when I am out there, an apostolic church which is pretty cool... I go back to work at Century21 on the 15th of January so have to be all moved in to my suite by then, cool thing is it is only 2 blocks from work... my fiance has 3 boys so instant family, 15, 12 and 8... she is so cool, works as a nurse's aide and loves God... It was a total miracle how we met on cupid.com and amazingly worked awesome. She is a perfect fit for me like God custom built her and me for her. We are both the same age (38) and we are so compatible it is amazing. The big day is going to be August 4th 2007 and we are going to have a small wedding at the Western Development Museum in the little Anglican church there. It is so cool they have an entire downtown street built there, the church being an entire building they moved right indoors and the only one not a reproduction. It seats 24 people, but can squeeze 35 in if some stand... going to have it catered and rental etc. is only going to be $800 which is cheap for a wedding... cool thing is pics can be taken at the old time photography shoppe there and catering is in the restaurant in the building as well so no rain outs... going to be a small wedding with family and close friends... honeymoon will be west edmonton mall fantasy hotel rooms should be a blast. Lots of changes in my life and seems in a lot of ways starting over again but feels so right. Am really excited about how God has been putting this together. I have always wanted a family and to have a ready made one there is amazing.

I can only thank God for His goodness one song I had been singing lots was Blessed Be Your Name, one of the key verses is "You give and take away" it had been seeming that God had been taking and taking away for so long I never ever thought about the giving end, seems all that taking was so that He could bless me and remould me after I was broken and shattered. Through it all I have Blessed God, not that it all has been easy and good and I have kept it together because I have not, but He did, He truly carried me when I could no longer stand or walk. Blessed Be His Name. God is good.

Another song I have been listening to lots is the last song on the disney movie "Cars" It is called "Find Yourself" by Brad Paisley. Here are the words.

Find Yourself
Brad Paisley

When you find yourself in some far off place

and it causes you to rethink some things

You start to sense that slowly you're becoming someone else

And then you find yourself...

When you make new friends in a brand new town

and you start to think about settling down

The things that would have been lost on you are now clear as a bell

And you find yourself,

yeah thats when you find yourself

Well you go through life

so sure of where you're headed

And you wind up lost

and its the best thing that could have happened

Cause sometimes when you lose your way, its really just as well

because you find yourself,

yeah that's when you find yourself.

When you meet the one, that you've been waiting for

and she's everything, that you want and more

You look at her and you finally start to live for someone else

And then you find yourself,

yeah that's when you find yourself

Well you go through life

so sure of where we're headed

And you wind up lost

and its the best thing that could have happened

Cause sometimes when you lose your way, its really just as well

Because you find yourself,

Yeah that’s when you find yourself.

This song is so powerful to me, because for a while I was so lost, hangin on to Jesus was all I was doing, practically losing my faith for a bit, life had knocked me down so hard was not sure where I was... seemed I had bearings and all together before my marriage break up but your faith is never as crucial as it is when it is tested. This song expresses where I was and where I am now. Sometimes God takes us places and through trials that clean off a lot of crud and sometimes when we lose our way it is really just as well as God needs to sometimes break and crush our hearts before he can use us. But after the breaking and the crushing, there is the remolding and the recreating. Interesting things about this song is that I did find a new friend in a brand new town, who stands with me and encourages me, who helped lead me back to my faith, who encouraged me and showed me that I could love again, that there is such a person is a soul mate and that I can love again and live for someone else besides just living in survival mode. Everything does become clear as a bell as I realize now I had to go through all the bad stuff all the valleys to climb up on the mountain. I realize now that every thing be them bad or good experiences mould us into the people we are today, we do slowly become someone else, that person is Jesus. Our hearts broken become to beat as His does, unconditional love begins to flow where only judgemental religiosity or conditional love once did, gentleness and kindness, real love and joy flow where pain and anger once flowed, in a real sense God has to make the channels of our lives, the bedrock of our river beds cut out through pain so that He can pour His blessings through them. Joy does not cut the bed of a river of life, pain does, and then He can pour out more joy because we are them moulded to hold it. God then can use us to full capacity. In finding myself, I have found my faith again, peace, joy and unconditional love. God has given me the gift of Darcy to show me that His blessings do indeed still flow. God is so Good.

I am still working at Saskatchewan Alternative Initatives as well and will need prayer when I move to North Battleford to find a job as I will be leaving my job of 9 years or so at Century 21. As well if anyone has an extra vehicle I sure could use one while SGI drags their feet lol... any extra hands in moving would be cool as well... Anyways thats a quick update, not sure when again I will be on here again but God Bless until I do.