Very interesting site.

If this link works it will take you to a web page that shows the middle east and surrounding countries and how the known wars have effected it.

Retreat!

Not in the military sense but as a choice to drawback from the rush of day-to-day. CFNBC is going on a three day retreat up to Camp Stillwood. It is just out in the valley towards Mt. Baker and it is supposed to be beautiful.

We have events planned but there will be plenty of free time. Time to think, plan, pray, read and draw closer to God. I think of the 80 something song about "the warrior is a child" and plan to do as the song indicated. Draw close to my father.
There will be a bit of separation anxiety too. No cell service, internet, e-mail, TV or radio. Of course no blogging. But there will be coffee. Or so I am told.

I have been with people in the past that refused to use the word "retreat" as it gave place to the enemy. "Why, we can't retreat and pull back! Stay the course, never give up! Keep that old nose to the grind stone." Well we are going on a RETREAT and will come back stronger and better equipped to defeat anything that comes our way.

Never ending road repair!

Or as we like to call it, "the bumper car track" at Cedar Point. It is the main Provincial highway, just lower in traffic to the Number 1 expressway. It is Fraser Highway and it is undergoing a major improvement project. Our portion, the part we drive on daily is going to four lanes, yeah! But before it gets there we endure a slalom course of telephone poles left in the road. That's right, the new road was built and paved around the poles. As the picture shows it is a mess. Every now and then a pole gets hit, broken off and has to be replaced. Last night on our bike ride, we stopped and talked to a crew fixing one of the poles. After laughing with them about it's location in the middle of the road, the foreman of the crew started to complain about the lack of pre-planning concerning the poles. He said that the new plans, read that as the new location of the poles, has not even been worked out yet.
Here you have a multi million dollar revision and the last thing to be moved is the poles! That should have been first, or near the first item to be planned. He said they may even bury the lines. Now that makes sense except that the curbing, grass, landscaping and sidewalks are all in already. The time to bury is long past.
Oh well, at least they painted the lines.

Redefine Disaster

A good friend wrote me this account of her personal thoughts just after the Amish killings this past week. She alludes to a chilling experience when her daughter and granddaughter were killed. The grace she walks in has always amazed me.

Redefine Disaster



Yesterday I'd spent an hour or more trying to put my thoughts together when suddenly "glitch!"– and I lost it all. But within seconds I acquiesced; the writing wasn't getting anywhere. Most likely an angel popped in and erased it right before my eyes.

This week I am moved so much by the sight of an Amish mother walking with a police officer between a battery of cars, reporters, ambulances etc. It threw me back to the picture of myself on the front page of the paper the morning after Nora and Lauren's murder -- my being escorted by a policeman away from the scene.

I wanted to talk about it, but with all the anguish coming back, even numbness creeping up my arms, everything seemed to evaporate no matter how much I wanted to say something. I surmise that big angel knew exactly what I needed: a quiet day by myself.

An empty house (her daughterher and son in law away), a foggy day; snack and sleep, finish my knitting, mind the store and remember God.

The Bible study lesson, back in May, 1983, was this: The Word of God is absolutely dependable, no exceptions. If your experience contradicts the word then you need to reexamine your experience.

How could that be?

I made an appointment with Bob Stevens, who wrote the study, and challenged him. "It says right here in my Bible that '‘no disaster will come near your tent.'’ How then can you explain the murder of my kids?"

At that very moment when I stared him down and his kind eyes across his desk transfixed mine, the Holy Spirit showed up, almost like a spot light across his desk. "Then we have to redefine disaster." He said the words, but I heard them simultaneously in my heart. "There is no disaster except separation from Christ!" (The truth is shocking when it hits like that!)

I haven't spoken to him since, but I called him up, introduced myself, and reminded him of my visit. Do you remember how the Holy Spirit showed up and what He told us, that day?

"Well, yes," he said thoughtfully. "That's true, isn't it? It will always be the ultimate disaster. Dying without Christ." (Oh, how I thank God for a steadfast Christian brother!)

The sweet Amish community has shown the world their faith in God. Even the children, one whose last words were, "Kill me first, and let the rest of them go."

[Jesus told his disciples, "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt.10:28] Sunday. Another quiet day, and much to ponder.

Love and peace to you all. B****

Hit the road

One of our staff\students, Patty has left today to join other recruiters on the annual CCUFair tour. She will be promoting CFNBC in nine cities and several schools from Winnipeg to Vancouver. Please pray for her as she represents not only CFN but Christian Higher education in general. As more people see Christian Higher ed as a viable option more students will enter the whole spectrum of schools. This will have a positive effect on the quality of leaders and lay people in our churches. The choices are broad, there is a school to fit every need (well almost) and CFNBC has benefited from these tours in the past.
So pray for Patty.

I wish I could have gone again!!!!

How sweet the voices sound

Today as I listened to the students gently singing "How Great is our God" I was reminded of what we here at CFNBC are actually doing. The passion and desire of the students to know the heart of God, their father, comes out is their voices. These voices will one day join with the never ending chorus singing around the throne. In the mean time, taking what they learn from the whole college experience these laborers will take to the "streets" to touch others for Christ. Whether in the workplace, further schooling, the home, even in the church they will spread their passion to others.

What are you thankful for?

School begins again this morning after the October break. It is called Thanksgiving but I wonder if any of us really stopped to think of our blessings?

For Such a time as this Pt 2

It is always amazing how God brings a consistent message to us. In the opening rally of the new term I spoke from Ester about the timeliness of everyone's presence at CFNBC this year. In a nutshell, God had\has a purpose for us being here and we are to allow the fulfillment of His plan for this time.

Last night, normal Tuesday service, the speaker came from the same set of verses and brought another timely message. His points were:
1. That we need to understand the call or task we have been given.
2. We need to see the power of unity in fulfilling that call and
3. Be spiritually prepared for it.

Same verse, different message. That is one reason why the Bible continues to speak to us despite being used for 2000 years. It is as current today as the people who use it to guide their lives.