Hey everyone, I'm on the web!
Duhhh...of course you are, you blog, right?
Um, I know but I'm also on another website here. Yes, it's my church website, but it's cool nonetheless. Thanks to Lisa, the title is WAY cooler than any that I would've dreamed of. :)
My car has been on the fritz, so I've become way more familiar with TTC [Toronto Transit Commission] these days. This also means I'm a bit slow on the uptake. I asked the streetcar driver why there were "Sundays Only" stops. He said they're in front of churches in order to make it easier for the elderly people to use. Oooooohhhh, of course!
A couple of cool interactions this weekend with complete strangers. This guy walked up to my house selling his music CDs. I found it so unusual that I bought one! His name is Sid Akowuah and the CD is titled, "Thank You: After 5 Years of Door-to-Door." It was such a great interaction and the music is pretty sweet too, go check out his website.
I was in Chinatown yesterday getting some veggies and ran into a mother and daughter combo who asked for streetcar directions. They looked a tad lost, so I asked them where they wanted to go. They wanted to go to Little India, to a restaurant at the top of my street. After sucking in some air, I offered them a ride since my car was just around the corner. They agreed! I found out that the little girl loves riding in a car and we chatted happily the entire way there. It was so fun getting to know them a bit and was glad I had a newly fixed car with which to give them a ride to meet their family for dinner.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
The New and the Familiar
I just got back from Calgary where I was visiting friends and family. It was an incredible time where I was constantly amazed at the new things I experienced and yet loved how familiar it was to return to where I grew up. I left Calgary 15 years ago, it's hard to believe!
As I came down the escalator at the airport, I was welcomed by an old friend and her 5 week old baby girl. I instantly recognized her in the crowd with the same bright blue eyes and the biggest smile that could always spark a grin in return. It was good to be back, it was the beginning of a trip that contrasted the new and the familiar.
I'm glad I decided to postpone visiting for Christmas until January - I found out that a Regent College friend of mine was going to be in Calgary interviewing for a teaching position at the local seminary and bible college! She just graduated from Cambridge with her PhD in Old Testament studies. I booked my flight to coincide with her interviews. The last time I saw her was at Urbana 06. Before that I was in Oxford for World Assembly meetings, took off to check out Cambridge before we zoomed off for a weekend in Rome together.
Ambrose, the bible college & seminary is affiliated with my old denomination. This is when everything in my world started to collide since the church I grew up in was quite inward focused. So much so, that they held other Christian denominations at a distance, with suspicion. In high school, I once asked why there were other church denominations and what were the theological differences? I pointed out the Anglican church down the street as an example. I was told that "Well, let's just say they're not one of us." End of discussion. No feeding of my spiritual mind that day! I learned years later, during seminary, that during the Holiness movement, some Christians wanted to be so holy, that they distanced themselves from other Christians in order to set themselves apart for a life of purity before God. Hmmm...I thought - that explained my church pretty accurately!
The fact that Ambrose is a collaborative effort on the part of my former denomination and another is a huge step in the right direction, one that gives me hope. A former Regent College colleague of mine has been teaching at Ambrose for awhile now. We grew up in the same church denomination - he stuck it out and I hightailed it outta there after moving away from Calgary. We laughed when I told him my pastor's response to me pursuing my masters in theology at Regent was, "Well Ann, if you hate the _________ church so much, why don't you just leave?!"
The highlight of my trip was definitely seeing friends and family. Yay! I'm convinced my family becomes more and more amazing as time goes by or maybe I just appreciate them more as I get older. We shared Christmas dinner together, postponed until I could join them. I showed them pictures of my trip to China and they were amazed at the stories and pictures of us in my aunt & uncle's living room in the village that have been there for 33 years! The pictures sparked awesome stories and discussions.
I think the trip has brought mom & I closer. We usually go to Chinatown for dim sum on the bus together, which are times that I treasure since she usually opens up about her life & how she grew up. This bus ride didn't disappoint. She recalled some tough circumstances that she went through. I told her that I believe she's a very strong person. Her response was to tell me that we're a lot alike. *Smile*
If it wasn't for my mom setting up my trip to China, it would never have happened. I'm so grateful that my mom has kept in touch with both sides of the family so I could get to know my family more deeply and discover my roots.
As I came down the escalator at the airport, I was welcomed by an old friend and her 5 week old baby girl. I instantly recognized her in the crowd with the same bright blue eyes and the biggest smile that could always spark a grin in return. It was good to be back, it was the beginning of a trip that contrasted the new and the familiar.
I'm glad I decided to postpone visiting for Christmas until January - I found out that a Regent College friend of mine was going to be in Calgary interviewing for a teaching position at the local seminary and bible college! She just graduated from Cambridge with her PhD in Old Testament studies. I booked my flight to coincide with her interviews. The last time I saw her was at Urbana 06. Before that I was in Oxford for World Assembly meetings, took off to check out Cambridge before we zoomed off for a weekend in Rome together.
Ambrose, the bible college & seminary is affiliated with my old denomination. This is when everything in my world started to collide since the church I grew up in was quite inward focused. So much so, that they held other Christian denominations at a distance, with suspicion. In high school, I once asked why there were other church denominations and what were the theological differences? I pointed out the Anglican church down the street as an example. I was told that "Well, let's just say they're not one of us." End of discussion. No feeding of my spiritual mind that day! I learned years later, during seminary, that during the Holiness movement, some Christians wanted to be so holy, that they distanced themselves from other Christians in order to set themselves apart for a life of purity before God. Hmmm...I thought - that explained my church pretty accurately!
The fact that Ambrose is a collaborative effort on the part of my former denomination and another is a huge step in the right direction, one that gives me hope. A former Regent College colleague of mine has been teaching at Ambrose for awhile now. We grew up in the same church denomination - he stuck it out and I hightailed it outta there after moving away from Calgary. We laughed when I told him my pastor's response to me pursuing my masters in theology at Regent was, "Well Ann, if you hate the _________ church so much, why don't you just leave?!"
The highlight of my trip was definitely seeing friends and family. Yay! I'm convinced my family becomes more and more amazing as time goes by or maybe I just appreciate them more as I get older. We shared Christmas dinner together, postponed until I could join them. I showed them pictures of my trip to China and they were amazed at the stories and pictures of us in my aunt & uncle's living room in the village that have been there for 33 years! The pictures sparked awesome stories and discussions.
I think the trip has brought mom & I closer. We usually go to Chinatown for dim sum on the bus together, which are times that I treasure since she usually opens up about her life & how she grew up. This bus ride didn't disappoint. She recalled some tough circumstances that she went through. I told her that I believe she's a very strong person. Her response was to tell me that we're a lot alike. *Smile*
If it wasn't for my mom setting up my trip to China, it would never have happened. I'm so grateful that my mom has kept in touch with both sides of the family so I could get to know my family more deeply and discover my roots.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Paul Borthwick's Urbana Top 10
I'm just resurfacing after resting for a few days after Urbana. I plan on writing more in the near future. In the meantime, here's something Paul Borthwick a missiologist that Urbana consults with wrote to keep you entertained. Enjoy!
URBANA 2009 – Borthwick’s Top 10
Upon returning from Inter-Varsity’s Urbana 2009 Student Mission Convention in St. Louis (December 27th - January 1st), I reflected that I thought Urbana 2009 was “one of the best ever” Urbanas that I’ve attended (and I’ve been at 10 since 1973). Immediately the question came back, “Why?”
Objectively, it was not the largest Urbana on record: the 16,000+ attendees this year is still remarkable but I think that Urbana 2000, 2003, and 2006 were all larger.
Urbana 09 was not my most significant public ministry role. Nothing will compare to the awesome privilege of giving the call-to-commitment address at Urbana 2000, and though I taught seminars and participated in the Pastor’s Program in 09, I wasn’t in charge of anything. (My friend Ken Fong [Bible expositor, Urbana 2000] & I wanted to start a group of “Urbana has-beens” but no one cared)
So why one of the best ever? Here are my combined objective-subjective highlights – with a little prioritization.
HIGHLIGHT #10: Convergence. For me personally, God deeply encouraged me by helping me see how the ministry of developing leaders with Development Associates International (DAI) serves the other networks we touch – like Gordon College, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and Urbana. At Urbana 09, I met at least half-dozen college-age children of our peers and DAI support team. I saw former and future Gordon students who are preparing for overseas service. I interacted with leaders DAI has served or will soon be serving in Nigeria, Bangladesh, India, and more. And I met international leaders who have been DAI trainers or students (or both).
HIGHLIGHT #9: A true kaleidoscope of cultural diversity (Revelation 7:9). We were led in worship by a multi-cultural team who led us into a different cultural “neighborhood” in each session. Speakers and teachers came from around the world – Kenya, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Costa Rica, Rwanda, India, and many, many more. One estimate reported that attendees came from more than 100+ countries.
HIGHLIGHT #8: In Christ Alone at communion. Bringing in the New Year with a 16,000 person communion service is always a highlight, but this year was exceptional. While singing “In Christ Alone,” students around us spontaneously stood and lifted their communion cups towards heaven as they belted out the crescendo: “No power of hell; no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.” Given the dangerous places God will call these students to, it was a profound moment.
HIGHLIGHT #7: Managing tensions of ministry in the modern world. Greg Jao, a brilliant emcee and primary Urbana host, summarized each session by articulating the tensions of living as salt and light in the world. He noted the complexities related to Kingdom living – the Gospel preached and lived, incarnational ministry in the tough places, and balancing our "this world/next world" motivation. He challenged students to wrestle with the Scriptures as they address these global and local realities. One vivid illustration sticks in my mind: one speaker is a zealous advocate of pacifism, but another ministers to gang members and carries his own gun. No easy answers indeed!
HIGHLIGHT #6: Seriously reflective, passionate students. Any Urbana attendee will tell you that the worship is a highlight at every conference, but this year seemed different. Rather than the emotional response of standing ovations after a challenging message, students seemed quieter and more contemplative – as they pondered the meaning for their own lives. Seminars were filled to over-flowing, even on the last day. As York Moore stated in one of his reports:
Many Inter Varsity staff who have been to Urbanas for decades have said this is the most spiritually hungry group of Urbana students they’ve ever seen. Seminars have been pouring out onto adjacent halls and floors, long lines to get into Bible studies, and students weeping in the main session as speaker after speaker challenged them to live for Christ!
HIGHLIGHT #5: “Live to be forgotten.” Dr. Patrick Fung, International Director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship, told the story of learning of the hundreds of name-less men and women who sacrificed their lives to bring the Gospel to his native China and many other places. Maybe it’s just because I’m 55 and sometimes feeling like a ‘has-been,’ it was a powerful reminder of living with a “Jesus must increase; I must decrease” value system. [For any who have heard the “Make Me a Footnote” sermon on Ananias, it was a loud Amen!]
HIGHLIGHT #4: Connected to history. Maybe it’s just my age again, but I deeply appreciated the intentional commitment to and honouring of those who have gone before us, so that students understood that our contemporary ministry opportunities in the world have often been made possible by others who paid a price. Patrick Fung paid tribute to the sacrifices of Hudson Taylor and the early missionaries to China. Ramez Atallah honored leaders like Rene Padilla and Samuel Escobar for their prophetic call for a holistic Gospel. On decision-day, Dave Howard – who attended the first “Urbana” as a student in 1946 – got front page coverage as he testified to living out the decision he made 63 years ago.
HIGHLIGHT #3: Testimony from Disciple X from Y. I can’t tell you a name nor a location, but I think this testimony – of a family living for Jesus in one of THE most difficult places on earth since the 70’s – was the most profound challenge to long-term obedience that I have ever heard at Urbana.
HIGHLIGHT #2: Jim and Beth Tebbe’s decision. I’ve had the privilege of working with Jim and Beth since he started working with Urbana 2003 as Urbana Director and now V-P of Missions. BUT they provided one of the greatest memories at Urbana 2009 when Jim announced on the call-to-commitment night that they will be leaving Inter-Varsity to go as cross-cultural workers in a very tough place. Jim & Beth are in their later-50’s, but they vividly reminded everyone that openness to God’s call is a lifetime commitment.
HIGHLIGHT #1: Manny. The last time I had a college-age roommate at Urbana, I was 19 years-old myself (Urbana 73). But Manny Arango, a senior at Gordon College, accompanied me this year. It was great to see things from his perspective, to learn from him about the challenges young people face, and to let him interact with people I know. We actually got to talk 1-on-1 with Disciple X as well as with David Howard (and actually hold his [now-laminated] 1946 Decision Card!). It was great to be with a young leader who is gifted, understands brokenness, loves Jesus, and is looking for God’s direction for the “what’s next?” of life.
Gratefully,
Paul Borthwick (January 3, 2010)
Friday, December 04, 2009
Trip It
Some time ago I joined this online tool that tracks your travel, just for kicks called "TripIt."
It also says who of your Twitter friends are closeby to the places where you're going and whether or not your paths will cross.
Here are my stats as of today:
2009
Trips 14
Days 66
Distance 104,532 km
Cities 7
Countries 4
That's a lot of travel this year, and I'm not even finished yet! Another trip to Madison for ops team meetings and then Urbana itself in St. Louis.
It also says who of your Twitter friends are closeby to the places where you're going and whether or not your paths will cross.
Here are my stats as of today:
2009
Trips 14
Days 66
Distance 104,532 km
Cities 7
Countries 4
That's a lot of travel this year, and I'm not even finished yet! Another trip to Madison for ops team meetings and then Urbana itself in St. Louis.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
David's Laughter
Do you ever take a step back and look at your life? That's what it felt like every 6 months for the past 2 years with Arrow Leadership. All 24 of us + staff would gather together from across Canada at beautiful Barnabas Retreat Centre on Keat's Island and at an auberge in the Gatineau, Quebec to learn from instructors, leadership partners and each other; pray, eat delicious food and play.
On the first night, they would ask us to give one word that summarized the past 6 months since we last met. It was good to review the last 6 months and remember highlights of what happened during that time. After each meal, 3 people would stand up and have a chance to explain why they chose that word - it was awesome to hear how everyone was doing and what God was doing in them.
Jason Hildebrand, an actor came during the week and acted out the story of King David in the Old Testament. It gave me a chance to take a longer look at my life, remember where I've come from and be grateful to God for his grace in my life. It helped that I went to China in May, to see where I come from and meet my family. My friend J recently mentioned how he sees a vast difference in me from when we first knew each other in university.
At one point in the play, King David has some one-on-one time with God in his throne room. God reviews his entire life in a few sentences and foretells his future, that out of his line will come One who is greater than he and that his kingdom will never end. It's a very powerful moment.
David's reaction? Dead silence, and then he suddenly flops onto his throne and just. cracks. up! He laughs and laughs and laughs, squishing up his eyes and holding his stomach while trying to catch his breath. I mean, this is the same David that wasn't even considered by his own father to be a suitable candidate for the future king of Israel!
It struck me that this is kind of like my life - I wept while remembering the painful moments in my life and shook my head in amazement as I remembered the many incredible experiences I've had and how blessed I am.
2 Samuel 7:8-16. “‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own...I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“ ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son... But my love will never be taken away from him,...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”
On the first night, they would ask us to give one word that summarized the past 6 months since we last met. It was good to review the last 6 months and remember highlights of what happened during that time. After each meal, 3 people would stand up and have a chance to explain why they chose that word - it was awesome to hear how everyone was doing and what God was doing in them.
Jason Hildebrand, an actor came during the week and acted out the story of King David in the Old Testament. It gave me a chance to take a longer look at my life, remember where I've come from and be grateful to God for his grace in my life. It helped that I went to China in May, to see where I come from and meet my family. My friend J recently mentioned how he sees a vast difference in me from when we first knew each other in university.
At one point in the play, King David has some one-on-one time with God in his throne room. God reviews his entire life in a few sentences and foretells his future, that out of his line will come One who is greater than he and that his kingdom will never end. It's a very powerful moment.
David's reaction? Dead silence, and then he suddenly flops onto his throne and just. cracks. up! He laughs and laughs and laughs, squishing up his eyes and holding his stomach while trying to catch his breath. I mean, this is the same David that wasn't even considered by his own father to be a suitable candidate for the future king of Israel!
It struck me that this is kind of like my life - I wept while remembering the painful moments in my life and shook my head in amazement as I remembered the many incredible experiences I've had and how blessed I am.
2 Samuel 7:8-16. “‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own...I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“ ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son... But my love will never be taken away from him,...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
All A-Twitter!
My friend Q & I took off a couple of weekends ago to Montreal for a bit of R&R. It was great fun! We almost didn't go, as we borrowed her uncle's car that needed to pump through some air every time we started it - quite a nerve wracking experience, but Q has the midas touch!
We had a marvelous time chatting away without any huge agenda. My goal was to go shopping and eat yummy food!
We stayed at a hostel for our first evening, and realized that we were the only women in the place. I enjoyed chatting with another hostel traveler at breakfast.
I couldn't believe my eyes - we drove down the streets of Montreal and I saw a head that I recognized....one of the professors that I took a course with in the summer of 2002! I couldn't help it, I asked Q to pull over. I jogged down the street wondering how I was going to introduce myself without scaring the poor guy. It was him! He was there with other Regent College alum at a relgious conference. I introduced myself and he remembered me! He asked what my first name was, and then remembered my last name. This is a professor who inspired me to consider doing a PhD - I thought about moving to St. Andrew's in Scotland just to study under him! I heard he's at Duke now. I kept breaking out in laughter for the rest of the day - from a wee bit of embarassment, and yet pleased that he remembered me. :D
After that completely surreal moment, we were off to Simon's for a bit of retail therapy! I forgot to bring warmer clothes, so was glad for the sweater that I bought.
I gave a GBUC staff a call, and they were having a dessert party for some students at the Université de Montréal that night! It was so much fun meeting students from S. America, Africa, Quebec and Canada. We played a charade-like game in French - I was totally nervous! Eureka, the right words came to me and we only needed one word answers. ;)
We switched from the hostel to the W Montreal the next night - yay! It's apparently a boutique / luxury hotel. My name is on our corporate account for the Sheraton, and they gave me a gift for a free night's hotel stay anywhere in the world. I thought it would be super fun to share it with a friend. It was indeed a very chic hotel, and I felt very sophisticated walking up to the desk. They saw that I have a membership with their hotel and upgraded us to an incredible room with a view. You can pop your ipod into the speaker system in the room and listen to your own tunes! My friend J laughs at the discrepancies in my life.
We had an awesome lunch with her dad and took off for the trip back home. Thanks Q, I'm grateful for good friends to share a wonderful weekend with in Montreal.
We had a marvelous time chatting away without any huge agenda. My goal was to go shopping and eat yummy food!
We stayed at a hostel for our first evening, and realized that we were the only women in the place. I enjoyed chatting with another hostel traveler at breakfast.
I couldn't believe my eyes - we drove down the streets of Montreal and I saw a head that I recognized....one of the professors that I took a course with in the summer of 2002! I couldn't help it, I asked Q to pull over. I jogged down the street wondering how I was going to introduce myself without scaring the poor guy. It was him! He was there with other Regent College alum at a relgious conference. I introduced myself and he remembered me! He asked what my first name was, and then remembered my last name. This is a professor who inspired me to consider doing a PhD - I thought about moving to St. Andrew's in Scotland just to study under him! I heard he's at Duke now. I kept breaking out in laughter for the rest of the day - from a wee bit of embarassment, and yet pleased that he remembered me. :D
After that completely surreal moment, we were off to Simon's for a bit of retail therapy! I forgot to bring warmer clothes, so was glad for the sweater that I bought.
I gave a GBUC staff a call, and they were having a dessert party for some students at the Université de Montréal that night! It was so much fun meeting students from S. America, Africa, Quebec and Canada. We played a charade-like game in French - I was totally nervous! Eureka, the right words came to me and we only needed one word answers. ;)
We switched from the hostel to the W Montreal the next night - yay! It's apparently a boutique / luxury hotel. My name is on our corporate account for the Sheraton, and they gave me a gift for a free night's hotel stay anywhere in the world. I thought it would be super fun to share it with a friend. It was indeed a very chic hotel, and I felt very sophisticated walking up to the desk. They saw that I have a membership with their hotel and upgraded us to an incredible room with a view. You can pop your ipod into the speaker system in the room and listen to your own tunes! My friend J laughs at the discrepancies in my life.
We had an awesome lunch with her dad and took off for the trip back home. Thanks Q, I'm grateful for good friends to share a wonderful weekend with in Montreal.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Saint Theresa's Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
Thanks Sandra!
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