| Link Blog |
[Aug. 3rd, 2005|06:42 pm] |
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You may have noticed I added Link Blog to my navigation. I'm not really blogging about the links alot right now, but I'm just moving most of my book marks to it at the time being. And the reason for the tag cloud, is because I've always wanted to be able to just find related links on ceratin subjects, and found this to be the best solution. I'm using the MiniBlog plugin for wordpress, that I hacked around with a bit, so it will use tags. View this post on my blog |
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| My Escape: Photography |
[Aug. 3rd, 2005|06:15 pm] |
Whenever I just can't make sense of anything any more, whether it be because of stress, work, various family situations, I can always count on one thing: Photography. So when I just need an out, an escape, or just need some alone time, I've started to just go wander off, and see what pictures I can snap. I'm starting to realize, that I love to just capture beauty, especially in everyday things. It helps me realize that there's so much to be thankful for, and I find it soothing, peaceful and relaxing. I get to just forget about everything, and just enjoy what's around.
What about you? What's your escape, and how do you put it into practice? Leave me some comments, I'd really like to know how other people just escape from reality for a bit, and refocus.View this post on my blog |
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| Toronto Airplane Crash |
[Aug. 2nd, 2005|06:39 pm] |
I just heard an air plane crashed in Tronto at the Pearson International Airport. From what I hear no one has died, which is good. My prayers go out to those injured, and the families of the passengers.
More details at CNNView this post on my blog |
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| Want to stop Pop |
[Aug. 1st, 2005|02:04 pm] |
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We brought 2 cases of Coke, and 1 of Sprite up to camp this weekend, we bring pop (same as soda, or cola for those non-Canadians) up every year. It's always good, and we ussually have lots left over. But this year, we ran out before the second last day. This meant a a bit of withdrawl, and an overwhelming sense of fatigue. So, I want to stop pop. Stop drinking it, COMPLETELY. I've tried before, but then I convinced my self it was okay just to have non-caffeinated pop, and it soon didn't matter, cause I drank it all. So, this time around, I'm making my commitment public, and if you ever catch me slacking, I want you guys to get on my case. It's going to be hard, but I think pop is a big factor in my constant battle with fatigue, and poor sleeping habits. So here goes nothing! View this post on my blog |
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| TN 2005 Recap |
[Aug. 1st, 2005|12:11 pm] |
So, this years True North overnight Camp was a great success. The kids had fun (they were also crazy) and things were better prepared, and it was less hectic. Mind you, there's A LOT to be improved on for next year, but this year is definitely a big step up from last time around. I'm looking forward to being a part of the process again next year.
The food was good, but it seemed that for the first day or two, that we didn't have enough. But by the end, they started bringing around extra, and giving us left overs if we were still hungry. Any ways, we never starved, thats for sure. The kitchen staff were great.
Games and activities were great, lots of fun. The program team worked hard, but there was some conflict you could tell. But when it got down to getting down and doing things, they worked as a team. We played a rendition of a game called Ninjas ( usually played at dark, but we played in the light for the smaller kids ), and the kids loved it, for the most part, unless they were crying, if at first they thought it was real. It was interesting to see the kids look after their own though. They totally took care of each other. I got a lecture from one of the kids that carrying a crocket mallet A.K.A. a "Sludge Hammer" was totally wrong. The girl went to City Kidz, and used what we taught as evidence that violence is wrong. So I gave in gracefully and put away the "Sludge Hammer" I carried. I dunno why I wanted to carry it, Ninjas tend to carry swords and stuff, I wanted to be different. Any ways, there were lots of games that the kids loved.
Campfire's are always good it seems, the kids love them. Kim, the program director totally brought some new inspiration to this year's camp fire. There were some awesome skits and songs. But of course, returned some old favourites. I don't understand it, it confuses me, but every year The Beaver Song instantly becomes a camp favourite. It is certainly my favourite, but I'm a complete weirdo. The song is so simple, but fun at the same time. I think thats what does it, unlike some more complicated songs. the skits were good, but off the top of my head I can't really think of any that stood out.
The songs and worship for session (which is where we gather the kids and teach and stuff) were rocky to start. We found out two or three days before that we were doing the music. So we had to skip out on cabin clean up every day and go practice. We really did pull it off though, we noticed that we messed up some places, but the kids didn't notice, and thats all that matters. The kids enjoyed the songs, especially Trading My Sorrows, Days of Elijah, and Pharoah, Pharoah.
For session we took an idea and ran with it this year. Our skits were based on American Idol, we called it Bible Idol, bringing to the future David, Moses and Jesus to tell us their story, and what impact they made. Of course, Jesus won. It's funny, because we let the kids vote, and they totally voted for Jesus. Originally, we were all a little bit scared they may vote for David, because there was a lot more energy and fun brought into that part of the skit than with Jesus. Jesus was more serious, but while I was up there, talking, the kids were actually listening. Like, all of them. At City Kidz, when we get to the serious part, half the kids tune out it seems, and are all over the place. I don't know, I think they just needed to hear that story, and they were totally in to it.
Well there's just so much I could talk about, but I'm not going to. I'll probably write a little bit about specific experiences that I had that I thought were funny, or important, but I think thats a good recap for this year's True North Camp.
I Just wanted to thank Austin, my cabin co-counsellor and Paris, my group co-counsellor for picking up the slack when I had to go off and set up, or practice. They were absolutely awsome, and I'm sure things would have fallen apart if they weren't so understanding, and co-operative. Thanks guys!View this post on my blog |
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| Back from TN 2005 |
[Jul. 31st, 2005|11:09 pm] |
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Got back from True North earlier this evening. It was a good weekend all in all. We left Wednesday, a few of us, and had a fun time lighting a fire with wet wood, and no kindling. It took a while, but if you burn through enough newspaper, it gets the wood hot enough to light. Any ways, the kids had fun, and so did we. Children can be quite entertaining, especially the ons who are A.D.D., they like to run and climb, and do lots of fun things. Any ways, I'll write more on it later. View this post on my blog |
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| True North Camp 2005 |
[Jul. 26th, 2005|11:15 pm] |
Wow. Its just come so suddenly, tommorrow I go up to Ryerson Camp for True North Camp, which is run by Mission Services. On Thursday about 60 Hamilton inner city kids will arrive, and then we will run camp until Sunday June 30th. This year I'm not the program director, not even on the program team really. Im going to be counselling, and playing guitar for the worship band. As always, Im going to be involved in campfire, cant miss out on that, right!?
True North basically serves the same kids over at City Kidz, that lets them experience over night camp, a chance they probably wouldn't have with out the help of Mission Services. Most of these kids are in the poverty bracket, and don't have all the luxuries that many families do, so we just wanna give them the best weekend we can. Pray for us, that we can just work in God's will, and show love and mercy to these kids. The theme this year is basically that your past doesn't determine your future, and God uses people who you least expect. I'm really pumped, the only thing that I'm scared of is bad weather, so keep that in your prayers too.
Just a note, this is probably my last post until the 31st.View this post on my blog |
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| Make Poverty History |
[Jul. 26th, 2005|01:43 am] |
A prisoner of war that is given a dark cell, with a crack of light that shines through, has a better chance of surviving, than if left in complete darkness.
Poverty is rampant through out civilation, in the third world, and in our own backyard. If everyone gave up a little comfort, and put a little effort to demand change, the world would be a better place, and poverty could be abolished. Right here, in the city I live, Hamilton Ontario, one in three children live at, or below the poverty line. Most of those children are within central Hamilton. The national average of children at or below the poverty line is one in five. This is in Canada, one of the best places in the world to live in. I work with inner city children all the time, with City Kidz, and True North Camp once a summer, and its amazing to see how little it takes, to make a huge investment in a child's life. It can be monetary, or just giving up some time to help out, but everything makes a difference.
Any ways, help give hope to children and families all over the world, and help the Make Poverty History cause.
Make Poverty History Videos
MakePovertyHistory.Org
MakePovertyHistory.Ca
One.OrgView this post on my blog |
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| Church Marketing Sucks Face Lift |
[Jul. 25th, 2005|03:55 pm] |
A favourite blog of mine, Church Marketing Sucks, recently got a face lift. I'm loving it, I wasn't a big fan of the old dreary layout, but who stays for the design? It has some sweet, and thought provoking content for the Church, and its leaders. Check it out.
*note:* Their slogan is "Frustrate. Educate. Motivate." Haha, love it! Keep up the good work guys.View this post on my blog |
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| Brand New Design |
[Jul. 25th, 2005|03:15 pm] |
I re-designed the site and had it up on Saturday, and would like some thought sone it. What do you think?
I went with a simple design, removing a bunch of the stuff that would ussually clutter the right side. I just didn't like it there, it looked ugly, so I threw most of it away, made a slimmer more robust design. Also, to cut down on the clutter, and size of the page, you will notice, all the posts, except the first, on the front page are hidden. You can see them if you click on the Show/Hide button at the right, and then hide them again, by clicking the same button. The same goes for the archives.
Let me know what you like, don't like, anything that can be improved, all you have to do is leave a comment here on the site.View this post on my blog |
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