tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38679222024-03-08T06:47:36.857+08:00Blogust & Everything AfterChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.comBlogger710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-35990274059167687412010-04-10T00:50:00.006+08:002010-04-10T01:30:07.928+08:00Upcoming Sermon Series a bit "out of the box"I guess the term "out of the box" is what most people use to describe something a bit risky or out of the ordinary. I'm taking a chance with our new sermon series at The Pearl. I've title it "Church Ink: Stories on Skin", it's going to be a walk through the tattoos of our church members...mostly me but a few others as well. Of course not just any tattoos but ones with Christian significance. I've wanted to do this for some time now. I continue to add to my tattoo collection and many of them represent Christian themes in my life. I know that this series will be a stretch for some as the subject of tattoos can still be a bit controversial. Then again when have I been known to stay away from the controversial. We all express our faith in different ways...many people wear chains, crosses, t-shirts, wristbands etc. to declare their allegiance to the world and some of us do it with our ink. Each week the plan is to use the imagery to springboard a sermon topic. It's a great chance to also get creative exploring the connections of art and pop culture with the world of Christian faith. I'm excited by this risk and look forward to sharing my story of faith through the pictures I carry with me everyday. <br /><br />Check out the poster I made:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkKrJAqBl2YJDOzZ2rzJuk3QJhPlhKbdW7b70JsXTjMqjzap9QLu-_LnSRuTDtW1NGG1ChoENy56EqgXZJbw0UH0gpWoyAGEQNRwbr1WENzUwvlwC2CrOrCuf7uxk2YyHU3fJ/s1600/Church+ink+poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkKrJAqBl2YJDOzZ2rzJuk3QJhPlhKbdW7b70JsXTjMqjzap9QLu-_LnSRuTDtW1NGG1ChoENy56EqgXZJbw0UH0gpWoyAGEQNRwbr1WENzUwvlwC2CrOrCuf7uxk2YyHU3fJ/s400/Church+ink+poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458190732402919954" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-33463401392301799882009-12-21T05:46:00.002+08:002009-12-21T05:51:16.557+08:00Twas The Night Before Christmas (Remix)<span style="font-weight:bold;">I reworked this classic poem and shared it at our Christmas service last night:</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Twas the night before Christmas and all through Taipei,<br />Every office was stirring, it’s still a work day.<br /><br />The stockings were hung in markets with care,<br />In hope that the cops were neither here nor there,<br /><br />The children were nestled at their buxibans 補習班, (English cram schools)<br />With visions of phonics, for the nus 女 and the nans 男, (nu=girl, nan=boy)<br /><br />Mama 媽媽 in the lobby and dad on the scoot,<br />It was time to go home to unwrap the loot,<br /><br />When out in the lane arose such a noise,<br />No big deal just the garbage truck boys,<br /><br />Away to the window a building blocking my sight,<br />Drizzling rain, no snow on this night.<br /><br />This poem is usually about a man and his sleigh,<br />But as we know that isn’t really the point of this day.<br /><br />Reindeer are cute, especially Rudolph,<br />But if that is your focus than you’re a little bit off.<br /><br />This story is a baby lying in a manger,<br />With shepherds, and wisemen who were but strangers.<br /><br />God did a great thing to show us his love,<br />He sent us his son from heaven above.<br /><br />It’s nice to get gifts, on this we agree,<br />The greatest gift of all is for you and for me<br /><br />We deserve nothing because of our sin,<br />But God’s gift of Grace let’s us all in,<br /><br />Let us reflect in this season on Jesus as king,<br />As we eat candy canes and listen to Bing<br /><br />He may have no beard and no jelly belly,<br />And the barn where he lay was probably smelly<br /><br />But the earth was changed on that special day,<br />That is why we celebrate even today.<br /><br />So decorate with Santas, say your HO, HO, HOS<br />But don’t forget the real gift, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.<br /></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-72444748840035771452009-10-29T13:27:00.005+08:002009-10-29T13:56:40.252+08:00Diet PopOne of the things that they don't really do here in Taiwan is diet pop. They have Diet Coke & Coke Zero but no diet flavors and Pepsi doesn't offer any diet products. I love drinking pop, always have and probably always will but a few years ago I did start to come to terms with it's negative effects on my waistline. I started to look into the calorie contents of food/drink and surprise surprise pop & beer were bad for me. Ever since then I basically only drink diet pop...i know some of you will have the inclination to share your thoughts on the negative health effects of diet pop but don't bother commenting on that, for me it's about the extra weight. I'll take Splenda/Aspertame over straight sugar any day.<br /><br />So...when i'm in N.America I love drinking diet pop especially Diet Dr.Pepper and Diet Root Beer. During our annual summer vacation in Saskatchewan there is always a supply of diet pop wherever you find me. On a similar note I'm also a fan of some of these new lite beers at home, like Bud Lite Lime. I'm in trouble if they come up with Sleeman's Honey Brown Lite. I like these diet pops so much that the last few times we've returned to Taiwan I've packed up our suitcases with a couple dozen cans. Some would say, and have said, that it's a crazy use of luggage weight but I see it as a very valuable import. On my recent trip to Atlanta I came across an amazing drink that I could probably drink through I.V. for the rest of my life (alternating with bags of Starbucks coffee of course)...CHERRY COKE ZERO. I had a sample at the World of Coke Museum and made sure to pick one up every time we were near a convenient store. I managed to bring back a 12 pack of cans. They lasted for two weeks, and were good to the last drop each time....however, the sad day has come. Last night I drank the last one. :( Who knows how long it'll be until my next batch of diet pop but i'll remember all the good times Cherry Coke Zero and I had.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2YYuDmr6Hx8UcU3-jMaalVFznm_I0D1ubLUNfoanm77Jszhp4T68MNM4H1Wm__BEg9Iw3P-FsuXAQ9PPPN3azMotS6TjBI3tESNnUbSXG39x3L5rAGiFsviQMHukd4dv22ML/s1600-h/IMG_0055.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2YYuDmr6Hx8UcU3-jMaalVFznm_I0D1ubLUNfoanm77Jszhp4T68MNM4H1Wm__BEg9Iw3P-FsuXAQ9PPPN3azMotS6TjBI3tESNnUbSXG39x3L5rAGiFsviQMHukd4dv22ML/s320/IMG_0055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397896564035814658" />The Last Can</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-87542056536718020372009-09-04T02:41:00.001+08:002009-09-04T02:42:36.932+08:00Website update (update)I was informed that the videos weren't working...I've made the adjustments and they are now up and running.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-82516971383204231762009-09-03T18:13:00.002+08:002009-09-03T18:17:03.902+08:00Website updateIf you aren't reading this on our website it's time for you to check it out. I've linked all of our family blogs there and there are photos and videos galore. <br /><br />I've spent some time in the last couple days updating some stuff. So check out the photos page and the videos page. The videos have some golden moments with the kids. I also made some superficial changes, our blog headers are all new and pretty.<br /><br />Here's the link: http://web.me.com/chrismckenzie/themckenzies/Home.htmlChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-84947578673035946292009-08-09T02:36:00.003+08:002009-08-09T02:45:33.585+08:00Dreading next weekIf you've talked to me in the last couple months you've no doubt heard me talk about the struggles of having two kids. I don't know how people raise more than two kids, it's been so stressful, tiring, frustrating. I love both of my kids and they still melt my heart daily but it's no easy task. I have an incredible wife who has allowed me to have a lot of free time this summer as she has taken on much of the day to day parenting. She goes back to work this upcoming Monday and so begins my return to at home parenting. I'm petrified. With one kid it was a difficult but manageable role...Gemma and I would usually sleep in a bit, watch some TV, eat breakfast, do one activity or outing then Nevada would come home for lunch, we would nap for almost two hours after lunch and then kill off one more hour with a snack and activity. It was a busy day but worked out well. Gemma now is a lot busier and needs much more stimulation which is exhausting and now there's a second one with a routine of his own and very different needs. I have complete respect and admiration for at home parents who do this job with their whole heart and whole energy. When I began in the role of stay at home parent my focus was to make up for where my father failed. Growing up without a dad has had it's effects on my life and I wanted a chance to out-do him as well as right the ship moving forward. I believe i started strong but almost 3 years in I'm struggling. I've also gained an appreciate for my role in the workplace and have had a change of heart, I now want to be able to work hard at my job and provide for my family. This is not the reality of our situation here in Taiwan. I work at a small church that pays me what it can but it isn't head of household kind of money. So with that being said I maintain one foot in the door at home and one in the workplace. We have had wonderful friends who have babysat for me in the past years so that I could get away from the house to work or to destress a little. This year we're trying something new by hiring our friend Annabelle to babysit consistently 4 afternoons a week. She's an amazing woman who has a gift with little kids. Gemma loves her and has so much fun when they are together. I know she will do a good job. I'm still parenting in the mornings and one full day a week. Please pray for me as I'm totally overwhelmed and feel like I won't make it. I want to be a great dad for my kids but somedays I just don't feel like I can do it.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-83930996197824782852009-07-26T11:49:00.003+08:002009-07-26T12:27:55.219+08:00Communication gapWell, we're back in Taiwan after 6 weeks in Canada and it feels great. This is home for now and as everyone knows if feels good to be at home. Vacations are great but it's tough to live out of a suitcase for too long. <br /><br />Today I shaved off my summer beard. It's a sad thing as I like to have a beard but my beard just doesn't come in that great and makes me look older and fatter. Not to mention the heat of having a squirrel's worth of hair on your face. The next step was to get a haircut. I had grown my hair all summer and was looking forward to growing it out a bit longer. However it needed a trim because it was bushy and shapeless. So I went to my normal place, Yellow Ted, where they give me decent haircuts for a good price. I sat down and gave my usual instructions, "I want it a little shorter here and here, and leave this part long". This is the extent of my haircut Chinese. For the most part it usually works out...today was not like that. The first couple passes of the scissors through my hair took off a whole lot more than I expected. And before I knew it it was too late. She cut and cut and buzzed and buzzed...and all of a sudden I basically had a mohawk. Now I dig a unique haircut as much as anyone, in fact I've been known to experiment a lot with my hair but as a grown up with a public role i can't mess around too much. It's not the best move to look like a punk teenager. Luckily my hair grows quickly and this hairdo will see recovery in about a month but for now I'm looking a little funny. This is yet another reason why I need to bone up on my Chinese skills. God has been speaking to me about my life here in Taiwan. If I'm going to be here, living here as my home, I need to work at immersing myself more. Eat the food, speak the language etc. It's ok to be an outsider with a genuine interest in the place but to be effective and really connect with people here I need to jump in with both feet. My hope is to work on my Chinese and take some bolder steps in connecting with the community around me. It'll be tough but the rewards will be worth it. God is faithful.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-77316988883182137282009-07-09T13:49:00.002+08:002009-07-09T14:18:23.317+08:00Vision...As a church leader I've been bombarded with questions about VISION. What is the vision for your church? What is your vision for ministry? I've struggled a bit to answer these questions and I realize that it's probably because I've always maintained a broad, generic, generalized vision of wanted to see people come to Christ, join the church and be strengthened in their faith. These are all fair goals but sort of explain the general vision of all churches. Most people want to know where I'm going in ministry (what is my goal?) and where is the church (the Pearl) going. So I bought a book to help learn about this whole topic: Visioneering, by Andy Stanley. I'm only two chapters in but it's been helpful so far. One of the things that has simplified the whole thing is the idea that one's vision comes out of having a burden for a certain group of people or certain issue. He says that most of us see something and want it to be different. We see how it could be and want to take action to change it. That's where our vision begins. I have some strong indicators of what it is I care about and how I want to see it changed but as I work through what my vision for ministry is it leads me to another question. As a pastor/church leader is my personal burden the one that is supposed to shape the vision of the church I'm leading or am I supposed to have a personal vision and a different corporate vision to unleash? I guess the reason I'm working through this question is that in the fall our church needs to clarify it's vision/focus/goal and I'm not sure if, as the leader, I'm supposed to explain my passion and have others join in or is it more of a democratic process where we try to find a vision that captivates the majority of the congregation. Does our church follow my vision lead or do we come up with a group vision. It's obviously easier to just say "here's my vision, this is what WE are going to be about at the Pearl." That way the goal is set immediately and we can begin to work at it together. The other way can be a major challenge. We all know of scenarios where coming up with consensus decisions is a real pain. Too many cooks in the kitchen, if you will. And then there is the issue of my personal vision not co-inciding with the consensus ideas. What then? <br /><br />You're thoughts on personal/corporate vision would be appreciated? Leave a comment...(and if you can't leave a comment...some people have expressed difficulties...please email me your thoughts chrismckenzie@thepearlintaipei.com)Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-43574860808437531862009-06-26T14:34:00.002+08:002009-06-27T15:07:07.792+08:00I need to blog...I used to view blogging as an outlet for things on my mind and felt like it was a safe place to share knowing that the core of my readers were close and supportive. Through the years though I've scaled back, to the point that many of you are probably surprised that I'm actually writing a post right now. I think that as live goes on I get more guarded about sharing too openly, seems to be too much flack that can be taken. I hate that feeling. The feeling that if I say what's really on my mind people won't like me or respect me. So I'm going to do my best to revert back to my old ways of honesty and openness. I hope you will appreciate that and join in the conversation of my life.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-72282001378351021672009-05-02T03:04:00.002+08:002009-05-02T03:07:31.127+08:00Great night!Back in the day in Saskatoon I was involved with a group called the Worship Freehouse. It was a collective of Christians that met to explore doing community/worship/church in a different way. Something that I really enjoyed were the theological discussions had over a cold pint at the Black Duck. It was an excellent casual environment to share life with each other.<br /><br />With that in mind I decided to start something similar at the Pearl. We call it, quite simply, Theology Pub. Since we are an international non-denominational church it's a great place to discuss our different upbringings and viewpoints. One of my goals is to bring us on to a similar page, so that the unity in our community can strengthen. As we share around the table I believe we all learn something and come closer to understanding each others viewpoint. The goal is not to come up with solid answers or discover who's right but moreso to open the channels of communication that sometimes stay blocked and limit our ability to develop relationships. <br /><br />Tonight we had the best Theology Pub yet. There were about 10 people there representing many different backgrounds and streams of thought. We debated about the Charismatic Spiritual Gifts and their place in the church. Some personal stories were shared, some Bible passages explored and there were some heated moments. I left feeling encouraged that everyone was given a chance to share and that we all have a new spin on things that needs to be chewed on. It's such an amazing thing to see so much diversity in one room coming together in the name of God and building relationship through an unorthodox church activity.<br /><br />The body of Christ embodied in the church is a concept I'm in love with and look forward to many more nights of arms fighting with legs and eyes trying to be ears all in the name of working it out together to be a functioning body.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-76173833063733982202009-04-20T01:33:00.002+08:002009-04-20T01:42:28.211+08:00My happy placeAlthough I’m a loyal Starbucks customer sometimes I step out of my comfort zone to explore the local coffee scene. We live in a university neighborhood and despite what you may think about Taiwan there is a very vibrant cafe culture here in Taipei. There are coffee shops everywhere and although some of them miss the mark there are others that stand out as hidden gems. <br /><br />Today was a tiring day and I spent a lot of time nodding off and eventually crashed after supper for a couple of hours. But with work to do I’ve headed out on the town to find a little corner to seclude myself and focus in on work. My first stop was Cafe Giulano. It’s a great little spot with sort of a Parisienne style. Fancy floral furniture and very old worldly. Most importantly my recent favorite coffee drink...sambuca coffee. It a delightful mix of espresso & sambuca topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Mmmmm...It was a great treat. Unfortunately I got there at 10:30 and they closed at 11 so my stay was brief. Well worth it though for the drink. Funny story side note: While I was sitting on the patio this lady came up with her dog in tow. This isn’t uncommon in Taiwan for people to have their dogs at cafes or even restaurants...especially places with outdoor seating. She leaned her head into the cafe to make her order. Her dog remained outside connected to the leash. While the lady was interested in what liquids would enter her body the dog had other ideas. Before you could even make sense of it the dog started peeing right on the patio and directly on to a fan that was set up on the floor. It was right next to my table and I sat that with a “did that just happen?” look on my face. I shared a goofy grin with some people at another table who witnessed what had happened. What a strange situation...oh well...c’est la vie!<br /><br />After the first coffee shop closed down I was still intent on doing some work and wanted a chill spot to sit down. I skateboarded around the neighborhood to see of any other places were still open. Luckily enough one of my other favs was open until 1 am. So here I am sitting in the cleverly named “Cafe Espresso”. It has the best atmosphere. Tables with comfy antique style chairs. Each table is dimly lit with a light fixture that drops from the ceiling and sits just a foot and a half off the table. Very intimate feeling. They have classic jazz playing with that record player sound and an ecclectic decor that includes antique cabinets filled with collections of old mugs and glasses. They have a big coffee roaster on display as well as burlap coffee sacks spread around the room. The whole vibe is just relaxing and perfect for achieving that feeling of sacred space away from the busy world. It's times like these that I have no complaints about life. The struggles are forgotten, the stresses are melted away and I can't help but be happy. <br /><br />Where is your happy place? If you haven't found one yet, keep looking cuz once you find it your soul will thank you.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-47193852640525721202009-04-10T04:08:00.002+08:002009-04-10T04:16:24.815+08:00Visitors galoreSo Nevada, Gemma, Guinness and I have been fortunate to have my mom here for an extended visit. All in all she'll be here for a month. She came to hang out with us and to help with the adjustment of adding another little one to our family. She's been a great help, doing dishes, washing clothes, cooking the odd meal and of course cuddling/changing Guinness. She's also shopped a lot and we've all benefitted from some of those purchases. Although her and I don't always get along it's fun to have her here to joke with and banter with. Hopefully she'll make this a regular trip in the next couple years.<br /><br />In other news, Nate (Nevada's brother) just booked his ticket to come here. Mom leaves on April 17 and Nate gets here on the 29th. It'll be his first time over here so it'll be really fun to show him around and help him to get his first taste of Chinese Asia. It'll be a different type visit than my mom, a little more touristy so that will be fun. I love giving people a taste of our life here and helping them to see the beauty that can be found on our island. It'll also be fun to have the kids spend some time with their uncle. I know he's not really used to hanging out with little kids but they'll grow on him. I'll make sure he gets enough adult time to blow off some steam. I don't know if I've mentioned it before but it's been awesome getting to know Nate in the last couple of years. I've never had siblings and the more we hang out the more I get a sense of what it's like to have a brother.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-30172005826898323612009-04-06T04:54:00.001+08:002009-04-06T04:54:32.380+08:00New McKenzie WebsiteNew website address: http://web.me.com/chrismckenzie/themckenzies<br /><br />With the arrival of Guinness (our new son) I realized that we would need a new blog for the little guy. I also started thinking of you the readers (potential readers) and how bothersome it would be to jump back and forth between 4 blogs and a Flickr site. So what I've done is created a website that hosts all four of our McKenzie blogs and that gives us an opportunity to share so much more....like photos and videos. I'm using a hosting service that tends to be a bit slow loading, so I apologize for that, but I hope you'll enjoy the new look. Please remember to "bookmark" this page or save it in your "favorites".<br /><br />From now on rather than going to our individual blogs just head to our one main website and everything you need is there.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-48038126934005564042009-03-23T04:33:00.003+08:002009-03-23T04:39:12.627+08:00Practice post<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOenGoqJx0GBDdQ1iDVnrA0kDk6PcvIAILVBdL7ZLzTLTOSOqQPza6-vSgv8o4oOWQljDgc15odJtQbAHWeJqHz_wZG95QEXBpCrkYLGnlX7UPJ8IgOYA-y946HHDc6RTkQo8o/s1600-h/DSC_9256.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOenGoqJx0GBDdQ1iDVnrA0kDk6PcvIAILVBdL7ZLzTLTOSOqQPza6-vSgv8o4oOWQljDgc15odJtQbAHWeJqHz_wZG95QEXBpCrkYLGnlX7UPJ8IgOYA-y946HHDc6RTkQo8o/s320/DSC_9256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316114381126953666" /></a><br />trying to create a new site and checking how it works with bloggerChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-17789443097070203262008-12-31T21:42:00.004+08:002009-01-27T05:14:04.934+08:00Dearly Beloved...(original drafted on Dec.31/08)<br />Some friends from the Pearl got in touch with me today with a challenging proposition. They are getting married here in Tapei on Jan 10th and they would like me to be the officiant/pastor at their ceremony. The groom's childhood friend, who is a pastor, backed out at the last minute and they need someone to do the ceremony. They've been off and on members of the Pearl and I totally want to help them and support them on their big day. It's quite last minute and I'm freaking out but I know that it's the right thing to do. This will be my first wedding gig so despite the nerves it's an encouragement as I move into my ministry calling.<br /><br />So I sat down with the couple to discuss the wedding plan. In my mind we were meeting just to discuss some of the "pastoral" details of the wedding, such as what vows to use, sermon style and ideas and rehearsal/ceremony times. But to my surprise they had no plans at all in place. They had no music/musicians, no readings/readers, not many ideas about personalized ceremony structure....wow! So not only was I speaking on stage but i was also wedding planning. AAHHH! I think it was the short notice that freaked me out. To explain a little...the wife is Taiwanese and here they don't do wedding ceremonies (since they aren't Christian as a culture), here they have a family get together that officializes the union and then they have a big banquet to celebrate. In general, in western culture, the wife plans the wedding but in this case the wife didn't know what a wedding entailed. With Nevada's help and some great internet resources we sculpted a nice traditional wedding that ended up going smoothly and totally meeting the couple's expectations. <br /><br />It was an unnerving but amazing experience. I felt like I took a step in the right direction as far as being a "real" pastor. God really came through in giving me a calmness and a confidence to stand up there and deliver. It's a rewarding thing to see two great people joined in marriage especially in this world that seems to be less and less interested in the value of a lifetime commitment before God. It was also a good growing experience to put together a wedding sermon. Of course I've heard many and am familiar with some of the standard wedding Bible verses but I wanted to come up with something a little bit unique. I'm sure that doesn't surprise many of you that I wanted to be different. So here's what I did...I put together a little gift box of four items. The purpose for the box was that I wanted to leave the couple with something tangible they could reflect on in the future. I feel like people are so frazzled on stage at their weddings that they don't really take in the sermon. They listen and appreciate it but the whole experience is a bit of a blur. The four items I included were: a Cross, a piece of Rope, a stuffed toy Heart, and a bottle of Glue. The Cross represented sacrifice, referencing Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice. Marriage, of course, needed each person to sacrifice and serve like Christ. The Rope representing the cord of three strands from Ecclesiastes. This was to remind the couple that they needed to have God involved in their marriage for strength. The Heart to represent romance and fun. I read from Song of Songs (Soloman) about passionate love and encouraged them to keep the spark alive. And the Glue was to re-enforce the idea of commitment. They are now stuck together for life (not in a bad way) but in a blessed union, two become one sort of way. I thought it was creative and unique. Mostly I hope that they can pull out that box every couple of years and remember what the lesson on marriage was and re-evaluate where they are at from time to time. <br /><br />I hope to be a able to officiate many more weddings in the future and see many people commit to a life together under God. Another first for me in a year of firsts in my life as a pastor...<br />(pics will follow soon)Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-84358980023655719962008-12-10T23:39:00.004+08:002009-01-27T02:55:55.798+08:00Fatherhood(Originally written on Dec.10/08)<br />Something fairly heavy has been on my mind in the last few months and I was reminded of it with something Nevada said. As I was hugging Gemma and laughing with her Nevada said "Can you believe your dad missed out on this?". (maybe not exact words but something like that) My father wasn't the man he needed to be when I was a baby/infant and although I don't know all of the details what I do know is that he ceased to be a part of my life when I was 2. Ever since I got married and started thinking about a future with children I knew i had to be different and do it differently than I experienced. In my mind a big thing I could do is make a commitment to being with my child, loving on my child. Although it's still not the standard, I wanted to be a stay-at-home dad. It seemed the best way to "be there" for my child. I've been lucky to have a wife that has been willing to support that. I've really enjoyed growing up with Gemma and spending time with her. Sometimes it hasn't been fun or easy but every time I get a hug, a kiss or a giggle I can't imagine doing it any other way. With only two years as a dad under my belt I'm a changed man and can't wait for a lifetime with my little one(s). <br /><br />With that in mind my ideas and heart have been adjusting. I think my original idea (of being a stay at home dad) was a bit based on emotional parenting. I am a touchy-feely kind of guy and missed out on having that kind of dad so I wanted to be that for Gemma. I don't regret it but I'm moving into a new stage of my fatherhood values. I've never been ignorant to the provider role but chose the emotional provider role over the practical/financial provider role. Nearing 30 years old and with a second child on the way I'm trying to make that adjustment to figuring out how to take care of the future of my family. As a person pursuing my calling in ministry I will never be wealthy but I want to always do my best with what I've got to provide for my family. The next year may bring some big changes in our life as a family but with some aches and pains my hope is that we will move into a stage that is both rewarding and secure. I believe God has us firmly in his grasp and as long as we seek hard after what He wants for us we will be taken care of. I am positive that God is calling me to step up into my role as a man and not just a young man.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-67221646016124788752008-12-04T23:56:00.004+08:002008-12-05T01:38:42.421+08:00Bittersweet DecisionI guess this is a bit of an official announcement...we have signed on for another 2 years in Taiwan. We've been mulling over this decision almost every day since we returned to Taiwan from our summer vacation. More than any time in the last four years we were very conflicted. We've both been missing home....people, comfort, lifestyle etc. But it came down to a matter of faith. Taiwan is where God wants us and has big things in store for us. I know some people who read this won't understand but as Christians we don't just follow our own desires, we make choices based on what God wants and where He wants to use us. Our life is good here. We have a place to live, we have food to eat and we have wonderful people around us. It just isn't the typical life that most of us (in Saskatchewan) envision living. At this stage Taiwan is where our lives make sense. Nevada and I both enjoy our jobs and have potential to learn and grow in our professions, our callings. We are able to take good care of Gemma (good medical system, benefits through Nevada's work) and there are so many people here that love on her. These things will also be true with the new baby. Our church is awesome and has been a major blessing. Not to mention some of the frivolous things in life that we enjoy here: travel opportunities, tropical climate, international big city culture, fun exercise (basketball whenever I want it, biking for transportation and enjoyment), chance to learn Chinese etc, etc. <br /><br />My heart does break when I think of missing out on life with certain people. We both miss our families a lot. It's been so sad for me that we haven't had Christmas together in 4 years and that our daughter only gets to see her grandparents/great grandparents briefly each year. For me, I miss Tom...my best friend. I feel that we get more and more disconnected as time goes by and that kills me. I hate that I don't get to see his daughter growing up and that our new families don't get to spend time together. Lastly, I miss our old church family at Lakeview. There are a lot of people there that i value and have lost touch with. A lot of people to learn from and grow with that I may never bond with again. I think that in the end one of the tough things we have to do as adults is make the best decisions for ourselves and our families and this comes with a cost. This disconnect with our "home" city and the people we've left behind is the biggest cost for us. <br /><br />We do envision a time when we'll make a return to Canada. We both feel strongly that I need to finish a Bible college/seminary program in order to fully reach my potential as a pastor and that will bring us home so i can be a student at Briercrest. We're just not sure when that will be and how that will happen. Please pray that we will make the right decision in regards to how to complete those studies and pray that somehow the finances for that will be in place when the time comes. <br /><br />I could probably write pages and pages on this decision but this post sums it up nicely. If you are a reader from "back home" please keep in touch with us and we will do our best to stay connected with you as well.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-45754157878297933452008-12-02T03:07:00.001+08:002008-12-02T03:09:21.125+08:00Gemma's 2nd BirthdayThis weekend we celebrated Gemma's birthday with two parties. Feel free to check out the pics on Facebook and Flickr.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-12502002089043058402008-12-02T03:06:00.000+08:002008-12-02T03:07:30.289+08:00Who is this guy?There’s this guy that I see from time to time at Starbucks and every time I see him it makes me think. He’s quite ragged looking, disheveled perhaps but has this look of innocence on his face. He sits with his coffee and an old IBM thinkpad. He’s always working on computer code, or that’s what it looks like to me. The black screen with the text based commands, kind of MS DOS like. In the chairs around him and on the floor are his many bags, 3 or 4 at last count. I’m not sure what’s in those bags but all indications based on his appearance point to the possibility that his entire life may be in those bags. I don’t have much, if any, real life experience with homeless people but he fits the stereotype. The thing that intrigues me is this, if he is homeless or going through a rough patch what is doing with a laptop and drinking Starbucks? I’m all for people having equal opportunities to the various perks of life it just seems like such juxtaposition. That also makes me think that maybe money is not the issue but maybe it’s something else. In moments of realizations like that my heart wells up. I want to know more and try to connect with him. (Unfortunately the language barrier holds me back) I want to hear his heart and walk with him through whatever it is that’s bothering him. I haven’t mentioned his feet yet. To be honest, the first time I really took notice of this guy was because of his feet. He doesn’t wear shoes and his feet are calloused, cracked and there are various scabs going up his ankles. It’s all a very weird package but I’m intrigued. The famous cliche of “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” runs through my mind. I suppose in this case I would have to walk a mile in his feet. Where has he been? Why doesn’t he wear shoes? What’s in those bags? What’s his heart? What’s his Starbucks drink of choice? For now, all i can do is wonder and pray.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-16048097354707693412008-11-26T23:36:00.007+08:002008-11-26T23:42:33.696+08:00Chilling in the mountainsI'm beat and need to get to bed but have to share these two pics cuz they are making me smile from ear to ear.(BTW, i just finished uploading those and a bunch more pics on my Flickr and Facebook...check 'em out.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqQNdHzZiWLyExC3yxNxQpsk2Ql2nCuuLIB_ryjykeJaHaxcLi-r77f8gCGXguswTAvmo9AA12bKbZo8kTBRpVpxT4P6O0MkDH2ZyQkf9waFB7KWDfOk1kvsBEz3jSQCimjtg/s1600-h/DSC_7276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqQNdHzZiWLyExC3yxNxQpsk2Ql2nCuuLIB_ryjykeJaHaxcLi-r77f8gCGXguswTAvmo9AA12bKbZo8kTBRpVpxT4P6O0MkDH2ZyQkf9waFB7KWDfOk1kvsBEz3jSQCimjtg/s320/DSC_7276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272991157075408450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-8i8noFmZ0CQLqcN_NOT8LLiflnaEYvZy5NP5On7e1elMRHeaiehnh4mwkZE9GlNJaJ9-dLn9SN4W0zfHKsc1EeGtHP8lQh9jyal2h1ju8QKL-ws3RnNZ0KCx_i1-eDhzJwv/s1600-h/DSC_7281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-8i8noFmZ0CQLqcN_NOT8LLiflnaEYvZy5NP5On7e1elMRHeaiehnh4mwkZE9GlNJaJ9-dLn9SN4W0zfHKsc1EeGtHP8lQh9jyal2h1ju8QKL-ws3RnNZ0KCx_i1-eDhzJwv/s320/DSC_7281.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272991151698655778" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-9056410471098960522008-11-20T00:34:00.004+08:002008-11-20T00:38:24.633+08:00By the way...I guess it's worth noting that I reached a blog milestone a few posts back. My post on Nov.1 was my 700th post. You may not believe it with my lack of blogging lately but it's true. It took about 5 years to do but it makes my pursuit of 1000 seem a lot closer. I feel like setting a goal of reaching 1000 posts before my 30th birthday in August. Let's do it...stay tuned as i pick up my blog production. I hope someone has stuck around to listen to my ramblings...if that's you, thanks for reading.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-17133867034206929932008-11-20T00:34:00.001+08:002008-11-20T00:34:40.083+08:00Baby#2A month ago our doctor tried so hard to identify the sex of our baby and although he made an educated guess it wasn’t clear. Needless to say we were excited to hear what it would be. The answer was clear when Nevada went to see the doctor last Monday....It’s a BOY! <br /><br />I thought I would be more excited because I’m a man and men are supposed to want boys. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted a boy but after living two years with a great little girl it’s hard to say that there’s a preference. I could’ve had another little Gemma and it would have been just as precious. I think it’s just nice to have a balance and get to experiences the joys and pains of both genders growing up. I am looking forward to doing some of the cliche male bonding things: playing football, going fishing, smoking cigars, going to a Rider game etc. But more and more I’m understanding how those things can just as easily be done with girls, girls who are interested in those things of course, but that there aren’t many things these days that we regard as exclusive to specific gender. I don’t want to be a parent that boxes my child in to something they’re supposed to do or not supposed to do based on their gender. I just want us to enjoy quality time together and what we do is not what’s important. All that being said...I hope my little boy is a baller like no other. I can’t wait to coach him and watch him star in some big games. And we’ll see if God has us in Saskatoon when high school rolls around cuz I’ll always want my kid to play for Holy Cross.....green white dynamite!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-56120869994263549852008-11-20T00:33:00.000+08:002008-11-20T00:34:07.413+08:00MoviesI don’t get to much chance to watch movies these days. With the busyness of life and Gemma controlling the TV a lot there just aren’t many opportunities. However a couple weeks ago i carved out some time to watch a couple flicks. The first one I watched on the Nov.1 as a part of my annual Halloween scary movie watching. The show was called “23” starring Jim Carrey. It was an interesting show about a man becoming obsessed with the number 23. He’s reading a book about a character who becomes obsessed with the number 23 and eventually becomes a killer as the craziness eats him alive. Just to clarify it’s not necessarily the number itself but how things such as dates and addresses correspond with the number 23 or sometimes the 23rd thing like word on a page, page in a book, house on the block etc. Without boring you with too many details I want to say that it was a good film that explored the idea of life imitating art imitating life. I have a weird fascination with thriller type movies and this one fit the bill. It blurred the line of reality and fantasy and brought it together in a great finish. It is scary to think that this happens to real people, many people allow some of the distractions of life to eat at their state of mind until it takes over and they lose themselves entirely. <br /><br />The other movie I saw was “Once”. It’s a film set in Ireland about two people who are struggling to get through life and happen to meet as they are both working on the streets of Dublin. The guy is a singer songwriter busker and the woman has odd jobs throughout the show. Their whole connection is based on their passion for music but they come to develop a friendship as they learn more about each other. They are both broken and clinging to past relationships and this allows them to write and perform some beautiful songs with raw emotion and intense lyrics. Throughout the movie they draw closer and closer and the movie taunts us with the impending romance. The music laces everything together as it allows them to explore emotions and moments of honesty. Near the end the finally take the big step of recording their music. The studio scenes are brilliant and the music is amazing. With musical success now inevitable the only thing left is to solidify the romance but this is the kicker...they don’t end up getting together. They both go back to the old partner and their connection becomes just a fond memory. Hated that ending but what can you do, that’s real life...it doesn’t always tie up in a nice bow. Despite the ending being a let down I really enjoyed the movie. I would recommend it to indie movie fans and anyone who loves raw passionate folk singing (ie: Damien Rice). I’m always a sucker for an Irish made movie, I try to see any movie that comes out and has an Irish connection. After the movie I looked up the names of the actors only to find that they are actually both famous musicians, it did look like they were really playing and singing in the movie. I jumped on iTunes and bought the soundtrack right away. I’ve been listening to it constantly for a few weeks now...great stuff!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-68168705966639445222008-11-01T17:12:00.002+08:002008-11-01T17:18:37.629+08:00Pics of our houseSome people (mostly our parents) have asked for pics of our new place. We moved into a new apartment just before summer holidays after being evicted from our last place. The owner of our last place decided she wanted to sell the apartment rather than renting it out. Our new place has grown on us and is in a great building. It's fairly new and many of our friends live in the same complex. Click <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60944314@N00/sets/72157608551406546/">HERE</a> to see the photos on Flickr.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3867922.post-75636590894524931862008-09-28T16:50:00.002+08:002008-09-28T17:01:54.130+08:00Another TyphoonYet another typhoon is pounding our little island. This time it's <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hc7SHGgWBGtnP6Q5OVyc8dpA7saQD93FGQM00">Typhoon Jangmi</a>, it's still a couple hours away from official landfall and it's quite hairy outside. Tree branches, umbrellas, signs and other various objects flying around and of course the torrential rain. It's a dangerous thing for the coastal areas of Taiwan so please remember them in prayer today if you think of it. For us in the city it's more of an inconvenience than anything. In my old age and introvertness I've come to love these days. I get to stay in, read books, watch tv, drink coffee, take a nap and spend some time computing. I also get to spend some good family time with my girls...we play, color, eat together etc. We're also waiting on possible news about tomorrow being a day off for Nevada. She hasn't had a typhoon day in a couple years so it would be nice for her to get an extra day off and I know a husband and daughter who wouldn't mind having her around.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157484885730699837noreply@blogger.com3