Missions Trip - NYC

On Tuesday I'm heading, along with a team of 20, to Brooklyn for a missions trip. We're going to be doing renovations and light construction on a new ministry facility for Metro Ministries. It's going to be a great trip, I have no doubt.

For all of the background, click here and check out the description and the promo video.

I'm excited because it's a great opportunity to contribute to a ministry that's doing great work, reaching out to the community in Brooklyn. It's going to be a good chance to work alongside a team from a mix of Halifax area churches and to enjoy the whole road trip aspect. I think we'll get some chance to check out some sights and sounds of the big city while we're there. I always love getting into Manhattan. It's got such a fun, hyped atmosphere.

I know I'm supposed to go on this trip. This summer, through the Bell/Aliant transition, I was unexpectedly given an extra 5 days vacation to use this year. When I found out that news I prayed that God would give me an opportunity to make good use of it in a way that didn't cost me too much (as a new homeowner!) . I tried to do some other things like counsel at kids camp but nothing worked out. About a month ago, I received an email from Mike Miller inviting me to fill one of the final spots on the team for this trip. A couple of days prior to Mike's email I was doing some work around the house and I got a sense that I needed to build my construction skills so I started trying to figure out how to do it. When I got his email I kind of laughed because it fit exactly with what was going on in my head.

I'm looking foward to the trip and to see what God's going to do through our team.

Please pray for me and for the team. I'd ask that you pray for safety in travelling and in our work, for success in meeting our objectives, for learning and growing through the experience and for God to fulfill whatever purposes He has through the trip.

Thanks. I'll be back on Halloween with pictures and stories.

30 is the new 20

Here are the top 10 lists, all mixed together. I alternate between reasons why I’m old or not old and a counter. Feel free to add comments !

Is Bryan old, the Top 10 Lists

Not Old - I’m going to a rock concert next month.
Old – The band’s last big hit was 15 years ago.

Old – I drive a “family car”
Not Old – I drive a Corolla because I can’t afford a better car

Not Old - Just bought a PS2
Old - Waited for several years before buying PS2 to ensure I really wanted it.

Old - I’m addicted to coffee (but I could stop if I wanted, right Margaret?)
Not Old - Starbucks is my coffee of choice

Not Old - I hang out with Jr. High and High School kids regularly
Old - Jr. High and High School kids think I’m old

Old - I can date girls born in another decade without fear of the law (gotta love the 80's)
Not Old – Nevermind :-)

Old - I didn’t get on the Internet until University (it's true!)
Not Old - I run an Internet business

Not Old - I like to hang out with my friends
Old - Most of my friends are either married, have kids, have their own houses or any combination therein

Old - I like to talk about ‘back when’ areas of the city were undeveloped
Not Old - I live in an area that wasn’t developed 5 years ago

Not Old - I play on my grass
Old - When someone mentions illegal and grass together I think of Roundup.

Shopocracy

There are a lot of both happy and unhappy people today with the opening of Sunday shopping. The NS government has decided, based on a court decision, to remove restrictions on store hours.

I question, why did the courts get to decide? Two years ago there was a plebicite, a democratic vote, which was communicated as binding legislation. The vote was close but more people voted to keep stores shut on Sundays than to allow them to open.

Have the courts not just trumped the democratic process? This decision is counter to the expressed will of the people.

It is the job of the government to create legislation. We, the people, elect representatives to create laws that represent our interests and protect those who can't protect themselves. The courts are established, independent of the political process, to interpret and enforce these laws.

Increasingly in Canadian society we've seen courts determining laws and setting the moral tone in lieu of the appropriate government body. Judges, appointed and not accountable to the people, are determining the foundations and common principles of our society.

If judges are being given this power, should they not be elected with predefined terms in office?