Happy Birthday

Chris about one year old and I'm about 29. Oh, how time flies.
Happy Birthday Chris.

I support the Peace Makers

Yesterday I was in Sears and saw some new clothes they had. It was shirts, jackets, etc that had the slogan "We support our troops"
I thought , Oh sears has gone from selling clothes to being political. I went home and made up my own logo. "I support the peace makers."
(Click on the small image and it will enlarge)
(One thing I would like to point out, I am proud of my son who has now served 9 years in the Canadian Navy.)

Peace everyone
David

Summer of Love

4th Ave. was rockin' this Saturday. It rained in the morning but the afternoon turned out great. Didn't see anyone I knew, either Biblically or not, :-) , but darn, people probably change in 38 years, wouldn't you say? There was a lot of bands. Listened to two songs by "Mother Tuckers Yellow Duck". Dam, did that "Duck" suck. You think a band would improve after 38 years. Oh well. But if you ever get to see (hear) "the Unknown Soldier" , don't pass it up. What a great band! If you hadn't guessed its a "Doors" cover band. God were they good. Some of the lyrics are more to the point now than then. After a long set they did four encores. (Plus we didn't have to see Jim Morrison self-destruct on stage.) Boy, but the singer nailed it!
A great afternoon --Than I went and cut a lawn and had Indian Buffet for supper.Does it get any better? Love and Peace, man. Ha!

"Imagination is more important
than knowledge"
Albert Einstein

The OM principle

I have been thinking lately about, what I call, "The OM principle".

It works like this:
The O in OM stands for -"Observation". As my art teacher told me ,"We look but do we really see?" When with other adults or children do we observe and really listen? Do we listen to our pets? When on a walk are we mindful? When in a store or at work are we there taking in what is happening around us? Are we there? Yes, I know, I'm working on it.
But as I see it, it shouldn't be a struggle.

Than when we need an "answer" to something we don't let our brains think it out, but rather use the M in OM:
M stands for -"Meditate". We become quite, letting our brains and our bodies rest. When we are in this state of rest our mind, which is as big as the universe, can give us the answer. I've tried it it works. OM.

Don't Forget the paper

My sons, Victor and Chris on our last years camping trip. It was a great trip.

To bad, so sad..They's gone now.

Well, well, well, Roger Waters, Crowded House, Jack Johnson and
Madonna have taken their songs off of Youtube that I had directed you to.
(I would have thought better of Jack Johnson, but I guess the fear of
lose of revenue is quite a deep fear. Live Earth?

Lets all stand up and sing for a better world.
I DON'T think so.

You want to stop "Global Warming"?
So buy a Hybrid car. I don't think so.
..............................
You think Globalism sucks?
So force China to make better and safer s--t.
I don't think so.
..............................
You think all world leaders are idiots.
So vote 'em out. I don't think so.
.............................

Turn away from it.
Buy locally. Support your local farmer.
Support your local artists, musicians, talent and thinkers.
You don't like whats on your new 50" wall mounted fricking TV.
Turn it off and go for a walk with a friend.
I'm sure you get my drift, so I don't have to rant on.

Here's some thing I won't take off youtube, I know it appears pretty
lame but it was my way to say to Grace she would be missed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1maPooUPHg

And here's one by Josh Groban "Don't give up ..you are loved"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls7ila3srzI

"Just one word..."Donovan

....do you wonder what Donovan is doing...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxyhGysriVY

..sing it clear , sing it for us to hear.

Wonderful underwater world

Here's a site to see some of my eldest sons beautiful
underwater photos. When it opens
scroll down to "Photos, underwater"
He's been a long time diver and long time
member of the Canadian Navy.
Way to go son.
http://www.saltspringmarket.com/salt_spring_island.htm

(At the bottom of these pages , if you click on "return to index page"
you will be able to see Mark's complete site, It will knock your socks off!

Remember.....
.."The meek are getting ready."

The Answer is Blowin' in the Wind

Bob Dylan first time singing on TV. It was May 1963 and he was still a teenager.
...and the answer is still blowin' in the wind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUz2OulZ-q4

Don't Give up...You are loved

A beautiful song by Josh Groban.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls7ila3srzI

Some good tunes

First two Great versions of "Effect and Cause" last song on White Stripes latest album-- "Icky Thump"
This first one Jack's voice is having a bad day but I like the closeness to the audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK1IwHPX8Cc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGxVHaBFCqs

---Then Song "Love is the Truth" they did for Coca-Cola Ad in Australia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9zgT3WzTVA

This "idea" was taken from their song/video "Hardest button to button".
see it them you'll understand why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLESpHrtvxs

White Stripes

Eco-Cities

Published in the Richmond News on June 15th on the Opinion page.


http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/jun07/5128

An Alien Cat or...?

Squint and see the Alien Cat..or is it?

No .. It's the Eiffle Tower.

It all depends how you look at things..Humm.

In Loving Memory

My Aunt Mary passed away peacefully on the morning of
June 11th. She was born and grew up in Steinbeck, Manitoba.
After graduating from nursing school she became a missionary
nurse in the Congo. After returning from Africa she continued her nursing career well past retirement age. She was married for the first time when in her seventies. She will be missed.
I wonder if she knew how many lives she touched?

Idea For Garden City Lands

Over time I have had ideas for the use of the Garden City Lands. I have sketched them on napkins and scraps of paper. The day before the town hall meeting I put it all together in a little land plan. During "open mike" at the Town Hall meeting I was able to present some of these ideas.

After the meeting I had a good chat with Harold Steves and the panel members.

"Idea" Light Bulb to lose job

The government has given the "Idea" Light Bulb his Pink Slip. Even after decades of dedicated work, it's been decided that performance and efficiency standards were not being met.
Plus it was stated that whether on the job or at home, he "just got too heated."
When Mr. Bulb was asked what his plans were now?-he mumbled that things looked rather dim.
Mr. Bulbs' co-workers said they were sad to see him go, and that his replacement was "not too bright" and "rather low wattage".
Happy retirement L.B.
Your warm glow will be missed.

(sorry picture is small. "click" on picture to enlarge. )

Earth on a cycle ?

Global Warming ...

..Fact or Fiction ?

Ice core samples show that the
Earth has gone though many
changes over it's long history.
Europe has been through many
cycles of being very hot to very
cold. We now realize that these
changes were caused by the
North Atlantic current slowing
or stopping. The Mastodons in
Siberia were flash frozen into
an Ice Age. When these hairy
beasts were discovered ions
later, they still had vegetation
in their mouths. The discoverers
dogs were able to dine on the Mastodons with no ill effects. World wide
discoveries show a world that has always been in constant change.
Hot, cold, dry or too wet. The Earth has gone through many changes, long

before humans were on the road with polluting cars or smog producing
factories. Yes,the evidence shows that there was a rise in carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere with the coming of the Industrial Age.
As stated, the earth has gone through many cycles in the past.
We are now in the beginning of one of these cycles or Earth changes.
This cycle is our "Buffalo Jump", with the one big difference.
This time in history WE are stampeding the buffalo as they thunder
over the edge of the cliff. Are we prepared for the mayhem and
carnage at the bottom ?

Someone said to me "interesting, but how do you know. Where did you get your information?"
Well, below are places on the net to start the quest.

Interesting Info on:
Buffalo Jumps: www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Alberta/buffalo_jump.htm
Ice Core Samples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_core
North Atlantic Current: www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/
2004/0415gyre.html
Who killed the electric car?: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=kHQ4cEr5Wao

A Tender Moment

My Mom being
serenaded by
my Dad.
They were
both 47
years young
at the time.
( I was 10.)

" I think it's a wall."

My children petting an elephant when we were in India.
(Our youngest daughter had not arrived yet,
she was born in Bangalore.) - So cute !

"You say it's your birthday."

Yes, today is my birthday. --So I thought I'd post some of my birthdays from the past.
1. The first one was when I was one year old. I'm holding a cake on my lap with one candle on it. (sorry the picture is faded--it was a long time ago. HA.)
2. Second picture is when I was nine years old. My sister Doreen, who was, and still is, seven years older than me, made the "birthday hat" I'm wearing. (she's sitting beside me.) My other sister, Marilyn, is sitting beside her, barely visible because of over exposure. That's my Dad eating the pickle with a fork.

3. 33rd birthday. My son Chris, who's now 30, is helping me blow out the candles. It's chocolate feather pudding with bananas on top (we were into "healthy" eating back then.) Hats made by the kids.

Thanks to all those who celebrated my many birthdays . The best "gifts" that I ever received, are my wonderful children, who are now exceptional adults. THANK YOU.

When does Life begin?

Many have asked this question. Does life begin at conception? At the second trimester? When the little heart starts beating? When the brain awakens? With the newborns first breath?

Let's observe: With the union of male and female, the sperm and the egg meet. They join, grow, cells divide , more growth, more change until nine months later a "new life" arrives kicking and screaming into the world. As I observe it, life did not begin. It always was. The egg was alive. The sperm was alive. Life did not begin. Life is a constant. Life always is. What we call life, or the soul are those brief moments when life becomes aware of it self. Our brain is not us. It is living cells that interpret the input it receives. Life is the hum of the universe. "We" are but a brief awareness of our glorious part of it all. So rejoice in your awareness of life. Life grows, changes, enfolds on it self and becomes "self" aware. When we see that everything is alive and living, there is no death.

Life is the radio station. We are the receivers. "Turn on. Tune in". We hear it loud and clear - "We are part of this mind blowing thing called LIFE. - Rejoice!"

The earth is in crisis.

The polar ice caps are melting. Many Chinese cities are running out of drinking water.
The high hormone content of England's rivers are turning male fish into female fish. Famines, floods and "prefect" storms are the news of the day.
Global Warming is the ecological buzz word, with many solutions being presented.
The Green Plan I'm presenting is both simple and personal.
It is not a five year plan, a ten year plan but a Now Plan.
This is how I envision it:

G - Grateful not Greedy

R - Respectful not Resentful
E - Enough not Everything
E - Everyone not Exclusive
N - Now not Never

Grateful not Greedy

When we are grateful everything changes. When we are grateful a bowl of rice becomes a feast. When we are greedy a banquet becomes bitter. When we are grateful for the automobile, the bus, the ox cart or our shoes, the journey becomes joyous. When we are grateful for our relationships we see others for who they really are. When we are truly grateful for what we have we can not be greedy. When each breathe becomes a prayer of thankfulness then things will change. I believe gratefulness is the first step to change.

Respectful not Resentful

When we are respectful everything changes. Respect is the calm embrace that protects and nurtures everything and everyone. Respect for the earths resources makes our footprint not as heavy. Respect in our relationships, whether friends, family and even our enemies will begin the healing the earth needs. Respect can not wage war. Respect is not wasteful. Respect is the world seen through compassionate eyes.

Enough not Everything

When we know we have enough everything changes. If we have the attitude that "we can have it all" we will never have enough. Enough sees beyond ourselves. Enough does not waste but knows "there is enough to go around". Enough knows the consumer is powerful and not global industry. Enough knows that when we are awake and mature we will know what we need and not have to have advertisers tell us what we want. Enough knows the economy will not collapse if we are green but will grow healthier and flourish. Enough is the trust in abundance and not the fear of scarcity.

Everyone not Exclusive

When we see the world through everyone else's eyes everything changes. Everyone is not my country, my possessions or my beliefs. Everyone is not "I am always right" therefore I need enemies to fear. Everyone knows the world is home to one big family. Everyone feels the pain of the parents of a large poor family who know most of their children will die of decease, hunger or war. Everyone knows great pain but also great joy. Everyone has hope. Everyone embraces, listens to and values all things.

Now not Never

When we live now everything changes. Now is enjoying what we have and not grasping for what we don't have. Now is knowing what things are for. Now is being humbly grateful not arrogantly possessive. Now knows that when we have abundance it is to help others and not to build our own kingdom. Now sees everything and everyone as glorious. Now knows how to rejoice. Now is the time for us all to wake up and grow up.

Being Green means waking up to who we are and growing up to be adults who chose to live our own lives not someone else's. The day of the Guru and the Priest is past. The age of Rulers and Kings has long crumbled. The time has come for us to speak and live our conscience and with open hearts gratefully and respectfully nurture each other and the beautiful earth we have been gifted.

............................................

Some added G.R.E.E.N. words

GROW some of your own food to NOURISH your family. If you don't have enough space join a Community GARDEN. Do some RESEARCH. READ some books.Find out where what you consume comes from. Don't rely so heavily on the ENTERTAINMENT Industry. Make your own ENTERTAINMENT. Sing with friends. Join a choir. Learn to play an instrument. ENCOURAGE local talent. ENROLL in a healthy cooking class. EXERCISE by playing sports not just watching. RELAX. Get a massage at a local Massage school. Meditate. Pray. EMBRACE the ones you love more. BE GREEN.

.....................................
Copyright March 2007
Can be reprinted in full with credits given.

.....................Bone Box Controversy...................

With the resent news of the bone boxes found in Jerusalem, I realized it was time to release my Jesus box "discovery". The photo above is proof of it's authenticity. An infant Jesus is clearly seen popping out of a decorated box. I bring my "find" out every December and place it at the front of my house. DNA testing has not been done, but many have attested to the validity of its' concept. The box is real (I made it myself) and the concept is ageless.

Remember...

..no matter how tempting it might seem
"never pat a burning dog."
Paul de Bruin

Some thoughts from Martin Luther King Jr.

"Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper the darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that..." "Strength to Love" (1963)

" I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant." -Nobel Prize acceptance speech (1964)

"I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems....I say to myself that hate is too great of a burden to bare. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality." -"Where do we go from here?"- Address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1967)

(Posted to remember "Black History" month in the United States.)

Great Movie to see..
Opening on the 23rd of Mar. all across Canada--

Amazing Grace

See trailers and other info at ..
www.amazinggracemovie.com

...coming soon..
the personal account of Yonah's encounter with Yeshua, Mirjam of
Magdala , Yochanan and others and their stories and teachings.
(To be released chapter by chapter.)

.....BALANCE.....

How I Learned To Care

When I was seven years old I learned a valuable lesson about compassion. A fellow student of mine was a little boy from a large and poor family. He was always being picked on by the bigger boys. They would taunt him about his tattered clothes. They would laugh at his white bread and lard sandwiches. It made me sad to see how this meanness made his life so miserable. One evening at supper I told my family about this little boy, his dilemma and his poor family. Sometime later shortly before Christmas my father told the members of our church about this families needs. Groceries, cash and special gifts for all the children were given, to which my parents added even more. My father asked if I would like to come along when he and my mother went to give these gifts. As we drove up to the house I noticed how run down it was. Once inside we kept our coats on as the family had little money for heating oil. As my parents put the boxes on the table I saw how humbly these gifts where given and how gratefully they where received. That day I learned how to care.

Happy Valentines Day. Love someone today.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels"

What the booklet on the box says