Gridblog: Thanksgiving

So I mentioned in an earlier post about my mixed feelings about Thanksgiving - I'm thankful for a day set aside but I'm saddened that we need to set a day aside in order to be thankful. Does that make sense? Anyway, I've faced this reality in my life. Over the summer, I made a commitment to myself to find at least one thing to be intentionally, deliberatly, thoughtfully thankful for every day. My confession is that it has been a hard thing to do consistently. It's not even just the hard days that it's difficult but the good days and the in between days. It's just hard to take the time and remember that I'm not in control, I am thankful and choose to recognize the Giver of Good Gifts. So I'm thankful for a day to stop and be thankful and again choose to be more intentional in every day. For this thanksgiving, I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

• my family - that we like eachother, that we're all still on this earth and can spend time together, for the support and care we provide for each other and for continued health in the midst of struggles. After the year our family has had, it's hard to take this for granted
  
• for Jesus and the life that He bought for me by His death
  
• for opportunities to partner with Him in restoring the kingdom
  
• for the gifts and talents He has given me and for opportunities to put them to use
  
• for my church family and for the risks we have with starting a new church community
  
• for the students at ABC - it's amazing how intwined our lives have become. They grow on a person...kind of like mold...the penicillin producing, good kind
  
• for my coworkers at the college and the team that's building
  
• for good friends
  
• for a great roommate and a beautiful home to share
  
• for hope 'cause even when things are crappy, there's something to look forward to
  
• for music...ah music
  
• and for silence
  
• for the great outdoors and the chances to get away from the city to be in it
  
• for sports
  
• for good books
  
• for children
  
• for a country that's not at war (and I pray for those that are)
  
• for the freedom to speak freely
  
• for summer, for the sun and for warmth (I hate the cold) and for a fireplace in the winter
  
• for coffee
  
• for food in general, let's be honest
  
• for technology that makes staying in touch a little easier
  
• for creativity
  
• for my car
  
• that God's in control
  
• that I'm not...and that I'm learning to accept that
  
• for having so many things to be thankful for
  
• for chocolate
• and that Edmonton beat Calgary last night. I love Roli the Goalie!

Gridblog for Friday

There's no surprises here. This week we're talking about what we're thankful for. Stay tuned. We're blessed people so it's bound to be good!

Let the games begin...

I feel a little weird writing this post. Most of the blog posts I've read concerning this have been the men excited and the women complaining about losing their husbands but here I am finding something good about the fall - the NHL begins again. Last night the fun began. Ottawa beat Toronto...surprise! Are there still Toronto fans left in the world? Poor, poor, hockey fans. It didn't really feel like a real start though. Tonight's the night for me - Edmonton and Calgary face off at home...and for anyone who might be confused, that means they're playing in Edmonton.

Thanksgiving comes early for the Sparshu family

No, I'm not talking about dinner. Our family got some terrific news this week and, since our family is well overdo for some good news (it's been a pretty rough year!), I couldn't wait until the actual holiday to share. Is it odd to anyone else that we have to actually set aside a day to be thankful? Kindof sad, isn't it? Oh, but I digress...back to the good news.

Just about a month ago, my dad had surgery for prostate cancer. He's been healing well and has seemed to be more patient through the healing process which is all good news. Of course I could be making assumptions on the patience part since I'm almost four hours away and hear stories via phone conversations but again, I digress. Back to the story. Here's where the really good news comes in. This week he went for his follow up appointment with the doctor and I think we were all relieved to hear that everything looks good and as far as they can tell THE CANCER IS GONE and everything is clear!

Our God is the great physician!

This makes me appreciate my momma!

"Cause she loves me more than this (and a whole lot of other things too)! Okay, so maybe I just have a warped sense of humor and really enjoy Pearls Before Swine. They even have books. What would be better than that.

The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney, Randy Singer

A Passion for Fullness

That's what I've been longing for lately. Peace. Joy. Rest. The abundant life. Instead I feel this restlessness. Like there's more to life than what I'm living. Like this life, as it is, is not enough. I don't mean to be ungrateful or grumpy but I just feel like there HAS to be more. My prayers have been for this abundance that Christ has promised us - not for a "happy" life or for even better circumstances but for the ability to live a life of joy as Christ intends for me. Chocolate can't provide that (although it is a nice distraction from time to time). All of that is just a preface to the real post going on here. Check out what I read as I was getting ready for the day today:

"God's purpose in pouring His holiness toward us through His Son and by His Spirit, is to save us:

to restore all that has been eaten away by the locusts of sin;

to refill all that has been eroded by the streams of unrighteousness;

to rebuild all that has been broken down by the destructiveness of hell's operations;

to recover all that has been decayed by the works of the flesh."

(from A Passion for Fullness)

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:12

That's both a prayer and a promise of which I can be assured!

Gridblog: Living Forgiven

Hmmm...well, without having read anyone else's thoughts on this one, here I go. What a great topic!? What a great big ole' can of worms we've opened here!? Let's see if I can keep it short 'cause really I'm supposed to be on the road...here goes nothing.

Living forgiven. Because I am forgiven. Reflecting the forgiver. Extending forgiveness to those God has forgiven and longs to forgive. Experiencing freedom.

I could probably stop there and have summed up what I need to say. It's in the details that I think we get bogged down though. What does it mean to live forgiven? I think that it's in the freedom found there that we are able to live lives that are full and abundant as Christ promised. I think it's there that we realize who it is that we are created to be and find a richness to our own selves that we never would have imagined. It's like looking into a mirror that is finally clean and pure and seeing the reflection that we were intended to see all along. We shall see ourselves as Christ sees us. The things is, as I'm learning, that our living forgiven is not just an inward thing. There's outward ramifications to this whole thing. That's where extending grace and forgiveness come in. How can I not forget those who sin against me if I am fully realizing the full extent of what has been offered me by my Great forgiver? How can I not become more like Him in that area too? An how do I not share what He's done with those around me? How can I not live a life of hospitality and authenticity with that kind of freedom? How can I not?

I love reading the book of Romans on this one as Paul talks about the free gift given, about the grace extended and about the new life of freedom gained. It's because of forgiveness, because of this freedom, that I can be united with Christ. In Romans 6:5-6, Paul says, "For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, tht our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."

It is by His death and resurrection that forgiveness finds its place in our lives. Let's be honest, the cross was not an easy place for Christ to head to but he surrendered and gave us something so beyond imagination. I think of all the petty things I have trouble forgiving people for, and want to hold on to and realize that somehow, in my reflection of Christ, I need to surrender that to Him too...no matter how hard it seems. I guess what I'm realizing that forgiveness is about transformation - mine and the world's- because God wants to restore us all. I'm realizing the forgiveness, while free, has significant implications for how I live my life.

If I really live with thoughts of the cross in my mind would I live my life the same way? I think not. Time to be a little more deliberate and live like the forgiven child of the King that I am!

Journeying Onward

Okay, so here's a little bit of excitment in my world - Journey's official public launch is October 1st! I can't wait to see what God is going to do. We're anticipating big things. I don't really know how that will be seen - whether it will be the number of people there, seeing new faces who have never been to a fellowship of believers before, even just one, come, finding an increased passion fill our number - but I anticipate it none the less.

One of my roles at Journey comes in the form of the servant evangelism director. I'm still figuring out what that title means but I do know that its finding me more and more at the place where my passion and the needs of our community are meeting. I'm learning more and more about what it means to be a follower of Christ through this whole development process and, again, am excited about how God will continue to teach me, mold me, grow me and use me for His kingdom as I am willing and open to His movement. It's an exciting thing.

One of the things I've decided to do as a part of this role is to start a NEW BLOG specifically dedicated to Journey Church as a resource for all things "servant evangelism" related. What I'm hoping though is that it will go even beyond the community of Journey and that it can spur on good discussion throughout the kingdom about this aspect of our faith...'cause we're all on a Journey To The World. So I would appreciate people checking it out, sharing their ideas and growing with me - how's that for a straight up plug!? I wonder how that would fit into a Marketing 101 class. Just remember that the blog, like me, is a work in progress. Anyway, here's hoping that y'all will join in on the discussion!

Isn't he cute??!!

Foccacia bread

I found a great recipe for the stuff that's super good and super easy. I substituted regular old olive oil instead of the garlic stuff they called for and it was still yummy!

What's entertaining?

So I've been thinking about this for a while as I look for things to do and look for things that are fun. What's entertaining? If a group of twenty-some things are planning to get together, what do they do?

I enjoy a good cup of coffee and a visit. Movies are good on occasion - when there's something playing and you really don't feel like being chatty-sociable but like to be with other people, out and about. I've got a couple of friends that enjoy playing games which has been fun. Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Tribond have been some of our recent adventures. Going out for dinner once and a while is fun. A good wander in Chapters is always fun too.

How about when I'm on my own? The TV is on for company quite often (my list of "friends" is in a previous post). I'll read. Perhaps I'll blog or see what other distractions the internet can provide. Occasionally I'll cook, play with photography or something else artistic.

Typically though, its about being entertained. About something keeping me preoccupied. About some form of technology.

I've been struggling with this lately and I'm curious what it's all about. When I was growing up on the farm, it seemed easy to find something to do to entertain ourselves. I say seemed because it was a different time and a different place but it did. There's no hay bales to climb on in the city - at least none that I know of. Bike rides are different and can you see the stars in the city? Do they even exist? Why did it seem easier to come up with things to do, particularity things that didn't cost money and were just plain inventive?

What is there to do for fun?

When did I lose the ability to think of my own fun?

Here's what I mean. A friend of mine came in to the city for the evening on Saturday. We had no idea what to do. None of the old stand by options held any appeal. There were no good movies playing at the theatre. We didn't want to go to the mall since there's far too much risk to spend money there. We ended up having a nice dinner and conversation, renting a movie and going back to my place. While that was good (I especially love the conversation part!), I wonder what it is that keeps us from knowing what to do in the company of others? When did we forget about good and fun? How is our community so falsely shaped that the "mundane" of life isn't worth doing together? What is there to do in this city anyway?

I know there's probably people with young kids that actually wish they had the time to be asking this question! Truthfully, I bet they face it too. Let's just say that someone offered to take those kids for an afternoon, what would they do? Go to a movie? Go the mall? I wouldn't be surprised if grocery shopping or paying bills ended up on the list.

Seriously, I'm wondering where there's creativity in the whole thing and when mine disappeared!

I joke that I don't get out much. That's not necessarily it but I do want to get out well if that makes any sense. I want to enjoy life with the people around me and I've got this sneaking suspicion that life is more than the movies played or the displays in the mall. Yes, it's a part of it and I'll admit I love both BUT I'm convinced there's more. I just need to figure it out. I want to be able to use my mind in different ways than what its used at work. I think that's freeing too (Trivial Pursuit can be fun, folks, as long as you avoid the American history...unless of course you're American). Being creative together. Fun!

But how!?

Perhaps someone can share some ideas that will inspire something new. Perhaps we should even do a gridblog on this sometime! Anyway...

Speaking of entertainment, know what day it is? Tuesday. Chris Tomlin CD release day. And guess what!? I can't go pick it up until tomorrow. After all that!? Arg.

Know what else? I finally entered the world of the ipod. Yes, I know, congratulations are in order. I picked up my ipod nano yesterday and spent the evening playing with music and podcasts so that it was ready to rock 'n roll (yes, the pun was intended).

See what I mean...it's all about technology.

Current Read

Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson

From the mouth of Nelson Mandela

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, now our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be. You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so the other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us...and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

I'm a believer!!

Sing the song with me (for those of you too young, think Shrek)...Yes, I saw their face, and I'm a believer...we may not have Pronger, Peca may have jumped ship but I believe! Yes, I know it's only the preseason. Yes, I know that the points don't really count...heck, they don't even exist. Yes, I know that teams are still testing players out and shuffling rosters. But I also know that last night, my Edmonton Oilers took the first go at the battle of Alberta, sitting most of their starting line while Calgary heroes like Iggy and Kipper did see action. That's right, our second string beat the Calgary flames. Take that calgary fans! See you again on Saturday...

For next Friday

GRIDBLOG: Next Friday September 29, 2006: “Living Forgiven”

So that's what's up next week. I don't think there's anything for this week so I guess I'll just have to find something fun, or maybe even inspirational (yikes!), on my own. Wait for it....

Blogger Templates?

So I normally just rant and ramble, not really expecting a response but this time I need a little help. I've noticed some of my blogging counterparts have figured out how to change templates to more fun and exciting ones than our blogger given options. "How do you do it?" I ask! Even better, how do you do it without losing all your links, etc? Where do you find all of your fun fonts and backgrounds? Can I use my own pictures to create boarders, headers and backgrounds?

Will someone please share some wisdom with me?

The problem with pre-purchasing!

So yesterday, I went and pre-purchased Chris Tomlin's new CD that releases next Tuesday, Sept. 26. It's great! I got it for a great price and all I have to do is walk in on Tuesday and pick it up. The problem is that I have to be patient...and I'm not. I don't know if I can wait until Tuesday....Oh sweet Tuesday, please come...

Finally!!!

Tie Domi retires from NHL What more do I need to say? I shouldn't pick on all those poor leaf fans, however, if there's leaf fans around, they probably deserve to be made fun of. Oh, I love the NHL!

Meet My Friends

I know it might sound weird but being a single woman who spends a lot of time alone when I'm at home, I've found that I like to have the TV on as company. It's like having friends visiting that I don't have to pay attention to (sidebar: if I have friends over, I LOVE to pay attention to them). Even though I don't always pay attention, there are shows that I enjoy watching. Seeing that this week seems to be fall premiere week, I'd let you know who some of my favorite TV "friends" are:

Tues: NCIS, House
Wed: Criminal Minds, CSI: New York
Thurs: CSI, OC, Grey's Anatomy
Fri: Numbers
Sun: Cold Case, Without a Trace

Of Course the favorite of them all doesn't start until January...Keifer Sutherland and the cast of 24 will be back!

Want to find out the fall schedule for yourself? I went to TV.com: Fall Schedule 2006 for a pretty descent list.