Sundin

Ok so I'm not sure how many that read this care or know about hockey but I have to write this.

Mats Sundin signed with the Vancouver Canucks today. Honestly I supported the guy as a Leaf, and last year when he wouldn't waive his no trade clause because he wanted to stay a Leaf, and didn't want to be a rental player cause he didn't believe in it ... I didn't like the decision but supported it. I mean for a guy who says he is so thankful to this organization the best thing he could have ever done is take the trade and set them on a road to be better for years to come. Again he signed the no trade clause and thus earned it. It's just all the talk and reasons behind it that stink worse than most of the hockey bags I can't stand the smell of after guys leave them in their trunk all week long.

He wanted to stay a Leaf and wanted to not be a rental player. The leafs offered him a contract if he came back for as much money as he's worth. I don't care if Vancouver wants to spend 10 million on him he is a good player, but not that good. The leafs are really not that bad of a team, they are 9 points behind the canucks but the canucks have played 2 more games. And if you aren't a rental player ... then don't wait till 1/3 of the way through the season to sign with a team. This year he is a rental player for Vancouver, he waited to see how the season was going. I like Canadian team, for the most part outside of Montreal I cheer for them, but I hope Vancouver fizzles out, I hope they miss the playoffs. I don't understand his choices, he goes to a team that is going to have go through San Jose and Detroit to even make it to the finals ... Maybe he'll fit in there, maybe Vancouver will be a really good team as a result of him being there, but a guy that seemed to gain so much respect cause he wanted to stay and help this organization lost all of it. He cost the organization, and smudged his character with how he dealt with it.
So "Rental Sundin" thanks for some great years in TO and for the kick in the head on the way out ... out from a city that embraced you even though you never brought the cup they thought you would bring.

A-Team

Here is a video promoting our upcoming series we are doing at 3:16 in January. Looking at who you need to have around you to help you grow in your walk with God.

2 ends of the spectrum

So I went out today to pick up some stuff for the church and went to 2 different stores. With the economic circumstances here money is tight everywhere, and around Christmas time you often wonder what that means. I went to Food Basics as we had arranged for them to help us out a little with our "Christmas in a Basket". This is a way for our youth to bless the lives of people who could really use it at Christmas. We collect food and deliver a turkey meal to their homes that they can cook up themselves at Christmas. We are working with the Christopher Champlain Center here to find where the greatest need is and meet it. With all the economic circumstances they still chose to give us some gift certificates to help us create more meals.
I went from there to EB Games. I had been there 2 weeks previous to buy some games for our youth wing, but didn't end up getting them at the time. December rolls around and the price of the used games I was looking at had doubled! At most of the games I looked at were all more than when I had been there previous. I had trouble finding a game in the same price range. I walked out empty handed hoping that in the new year things will come back to normal. Although really I hope not - I hate to believe that the price of games there would double at Christmas as people come in to find stuff for their kids. I know businesses have to survive, but the gaming industry doesn't seem to be hurting and at this time of year, stuff like that flies off the shelves. I wonder how many people are going to pay double the price because they weren't there 2 weeks ago like I was.

At any rate - thank you FOOD BASICS for showing the true heart behind Christmas - and thank you EB games for ... well being scrooge I guess.

Christmas

Well Christmas in upon us, I just got through the busy Christmas week for myself - 2 Christmas youth parties and 2 Christmas Cantatas to go to. Now the question everyone asks are you ready for Christmas? Really what they mean is have you bought all your gifts? Here is a good video to watch for all you guys - even if you have bought the gift already.

Hockey

Well since I started playing goalie a couple years ago I've pretty much stopped playing out in hockey. I didn't play at all last year and once the year before I think, and the same the year before that. Needless to say, it's been almost 3 years with out playing at all. In the mean time I acquired a new pair of skates that I have never worn, and a new stick I have never used. I went last night and played with some guys in St. George. I guess goalies don's show up here and there and so I took both sets of equipment, but both goalie showed this week so I played out. I was the oldest guy on the ice - most seemed to be 20. I actually did alright though - scored 2 goals, and only fell flat on my face once. Not bad for an old guy - it was great to get back out and play. Surprisingly I'm not sore today either.

More Christmas

We all enjoy a little Charlie Brown. I showed this to 70 Jr. Highs last night and they loved it. As I watched this again, I was struck with the reminder about the gift that we were given. To often we stop at the miracle of the virgin birth at Christmas. I don't say this to downplay this - I think the virgin birth is one of the most amazing miracles ever. I was reminded of it this week when watching HOUSE. I won't be able to relay this right but I'll try. The idea is that genes could mutate and somehow by a "medical miracle" a woman could conceive a child without ever having sex. In the show House lied to make a couple who was engaged believe this, but it was untrue.
We can't question that validity of this (virgin birth), it is as essential to us as Christ's resurrection. Which takes me back to my original thought - the verse the Linus quotes when talking about the meaning of Christmas. Found in Luke - I'll let you look it up your self. But often what gets lost in all the talk about Jesus being born, the star, the shepherds, the wisemen and stable ... the fact that when Jesus was born, they called Him

Saviour

We don't just celebrate Jesus birth at Christmas. We celebrate the coming, the realization, of our Saviour.

What will you do?

Christmas

So I found this video (click on "Christmas" above to view) a little while ago can't remember where - on someone else's blog, or facebook. Got reminded of it when Steve showed it this Sunday at church. We often talk about things like this as churches, and families but too often it never comes to pass. I know there are a million and one opportunities to serve at Christmas and everyone is asking for money for their organization - but too often that is our excuse. That others are asking and instead of being a part we just don't pick anything. I know this has been me unfortunately in the past both for the reason that I just couldn't decide and would forget and that I just didn't want to give and so "trying to figure it out" seemed like a good way to get out of it.

So, what will you do? It doesn't have to be solving world hunger or the water problem - it could be spending time with someone who has been forgotten by too many or just doesn't have the resources to make anything happen.

We can make excuses all we want, this year in stead

Make memories.

Christmas

I read a story recently about a guy in Tokyo that was doing interviews on the street - asking people about Christmas. One of the responses he got both made me laugh but as well made me really think about where our culture is and how unfortunately true the statement was. A lady responded,

"Isn't it the time of year we remember the death of Jesus".

I mean in some ways I want to know what bubble she has been living in, but in the same sense I look at what CHRISTmas has become and understand a little.

When you think about it, its the leading holiday that has pushed Christ out of everything. It's the holiday season, Merry xmas, the holiday tree. This has infiltrated so much more than this, but really the more Christ gets forgotten in Christmas - the more that statement becomes true. It seems the day is coming when more people may know the other meanings of Christmas and not have a clue about the real meaning.