Heaven and Hell and Me

I'm writing a sermon for a funeral on Saturday. Not surprising that I'm thinking about what life looks like beyond the grave. It's particularly focused when the funeral is for someone who led a troubled life and who appeared in some ways to love Jesus and in other ways participate in behaviours quite to the contrary.

I read two books a couple of weeks ago that are in the news in church circles these days: Rob Bell's "Love Wins" and Francis Chan's "Erasing Hell." What about heaven and hell? As one of the authors stated, we need to find out because "We cannot afford to be wrong on this issue." These are deep but important things to think about. I'm working on it.

July 2011 Update

It's been a long time, as you can tell from the posting below this one, since I've updated things. So much has changed. I don't know why the picture of the two women on the scooter always tickles me -- I had it mounted on my file cabinet for a long time -- but it really tells the story of life today as well. There's joy. There's a sense of "get up and get at it". There's a bit of the "wild side" to go and do things or do them in a way that's a bit unexpected at this point in our life. I just like what this picture seems to say. It's never too late to do something wonderful with God for the sake of His kingdom. We're never too old to have a lot of fun doing it.


I'm enjoying the new eyes that I see with after cataract surgery last year. It seemed to take a while to get all the healing that was needed but what a difference now that the blur and the darkness are gone. I've worn glasses since I was pretty young and just going to school. Who would have thought I'd be able to get rid of the glasses at this point in my life? Now don't mention how I run around looking for the "readers" ... I do need a bit of help in that regard.


And then all the changes in Partners in Hope as we seek to make this next season of our ministry here in Vancouver even more fruitful than the first. Who would have thought life would look as it does? I certainly had a desire in 1994 to do "something" that would demonstrate God's loving presence among those who felt they were on the margins of society. Didn't quite know what and who knows exactly what God intended but here we are. In God's gracious generosity I've had 17 years of watching God surprise me and bless me over and over again. I'm sure there's more yet to come.


It's my plan to do a better job of communicating what's happening here and on the other blogs connected to Partners in Hope (see the links to the right of this message).

It feels like a new season in my life. Life "as I've known it" in Vancouver is done but something brand new is being opened up before us and I'm excited to walk forward with God into it. Anyone who's been around me knows there are couple of verses from the Bible that a mention over and over again. These will be the foundation of what is yet to come and I'm excited. Keep watching. More to come!!

What is Mother Up To?

Mother went to dinner in Deep Cove last evening. The weather was warm and the sun was shining. They were loading up the fast ferries to transport them to the Middle East and that was interesting. But it seems that Mother found someone else who was "more interesting". You'll have to ask her about her time with the "mayor" of Deep Cover (an unofficial title for a well known long-time resident of the Cove.)

Vacation Days in Sechelt

Lorna and I have had great weather and restful hours in and around Sechelt the past couple of days. Here are some photos.

Sierra and the Sprinkler

Okay, so the plan was to go with Jen and Sierra and say hello to Mother, who returned yesterday from Ontario. Well, the sprinkler and the flowers ... what can I say .... I'd like to think that Sierra got wetter than I did but I'm not sure. You can't feel the "kisses" on the cheek but that's what's happening while we sat by the flowers. Sweet! Then she got interested in running up and down the ramp Stephen built for Mom's walker ... then it was her mom's shoes as she ran up and down the ramp ... and the lizard she was talking to on the TV and looking for Lorna who was resting on the couch.

Arriving

Thursday Morning - ChengDu

I safely arrived here yesterday afternoon with all my luggage. Koert and Gea met me at the airport and we headed home in a taxi to sit down to coffee and cake and stories. Lots of catching up to do.

However, some things are important to get to right away, to just around the corner in the hairdressing shop we HAD to get our hair washed. After sitting for many hours on airplanes I wanted to walk so we headed off up the street. You'll see a couple of pictures of what we saw. Life happens all around. Dinner was wonderful and it included the green veggies with lots of garlic, a fish dish that actually had the cloves of garlic whole in the sauce -- YUM! -- tou fu and so on and so on!

I've had 5 or 6 hours of sleep and am catching up on some e-mails and making plans for the next days while I'm here. Want to make the best use of every hour I have.

g

Heading Out to Asia

So it begins ..... after many "up in the air" moments over the past several weeks, I'm through security and at the gate awaiting departure. There are still a couple of hours so the chances of having a snooze between now and boarding are pretty good.

I'm grateful for all the people who assume responsibility while I'm gone and do the good work that goes on from day to day around Partners in Hope. I've fired off enough e-mails to enough people these days to remind me, and anyone who things otherwise, that this truly is "partners" in hope. It takes the commitment and service of so many to make the welcome felt and to provide the open heart that people enjoy when they come through the doors of the house or a meeting.

I'll be arriving in Hong Kong around 4pm pacific time and have about 3 hours there before connecting on to Cheng Du. The temperature in Hong Kong today was 27 and in Cheng Du it was 28. I have long sleeves and long pants for the airplane but I'm ready to get changed in Hong Kong.

I'll post here and on Facebook for the first few days I'm away.