Weekend at Bernie's

I am living the title of my blog. No, there is not another sequel to the hit movie series called "Weekend at Bernies", but i am indeed home-sitting for the loveable yet gargantuan of a man-academic dean known as Bernie.

It has been an interesting weekend, clearly i have not got as much work done as i would've liked to, but these things happen. You know what else happens? Pizza, Pizza happens often and wonderfully. My praises go to the managers and cookers at Pizza 73. We ordered Pizza last night and in a move based strictly on economics i ordered a Pepperoni Pizza and it was so so so so so so so good. Then i had the leftovers for breakfast, and once again, it was so so so so so so so so good. Now, i am getting hungry again, cause it is getting close to supper time, and i am craving a hot pepperoni pizza from Pizza 73. Two things come to mind: 1. 73=1973 which reminds me of 1974 which is a song by Ryan Adams, and 2. One time, actually the first time i ever had Pizza 73 was with some friends from V-Town (neither of which are currently in V-Town, but both of which are currently dating each other. Well someone else was there too, and she isn't in V-town either, but i'm missing the point and so are you) anyway, i couldn't finish my last peice of pizza and so i offered it as a peace offering between me and a pesky squirrell who was trying to get at my pizza anyway. I layed it in the bushes where he could access it. My one friend was astonished and offended by my act of love toward the squirrell who for the story shall now be named Argyle and his family. He was so angry that i was forced to pick it up and put it in a trash receptacle. Anyway, then i went home.

What else to say? We watched some sports. In fact i was even able to view my old pal Gabriel (no, not the angel) play hockey and lose. How sad for the little tyke. Nothing seems to be going his way these days.

My sister was looking at pictures of my fience in her wedding dress, and i freaked her out and pretended like i wanted to see, so i grabbed at the computer and caused her to scream and say a cursive word. Then she explained that she was nearly scared enough to "poop" in her wee little pantaloons. I feel this is awkward. Oh well.

I for one am running out of things to say, but look forward to a future blog where i rant and rave about the evils of liberal hippie Christians. I'm tempted to go off on it now, but i will save it.

Song of the day is "tequila sunrise" by The Eagles. The Eagles are one of the greatest american bands to ever come out of the United States of America. Thier fantastic blend of grassroots, country and rock was a ground breaking combination in the mainstream 1970's and i am so glad that they existed. Many of thier songs hold significant places in my heart, but tequila (an alcoholic beverage i have never tasted) sunrise is one that as i listened to it earlier in the day, it spoke to me. I wasn't even listening to the album version, i was listening to the Hell Freezes Over live version, and it's just so soft and melodious and smooth. The harmonies that the Eagles bring forth in this song are great. I friggen love this song. If you have the means and or the desire, check out this tune. Please check it out, you will enjoy it.

The Gift of Love

So, today i was hanging out with Cara. After some morning and afternoon errands we picked up my VHS copy of the epic Mel Gibson Film "Braveheart" so that we could watch it at Cara's aunt and Uncle's house, which apperantly only had a VCR.

Before settling in to watch this massive film which to me is one of the most, if not the most beautiful film of all time, Cara had to use the washroom and i don't know, do something else, so i being the tired and weak man that i am, collapsed on her bed and tried to catch a snooze while she used the facilities etc. Whilst i lay upon the bed, i happened to notice two things. First, i noticed her stuffed Monkey. Then i noticed her sleeping atire. Cara sleeps in these pink pajama pants and a t-shirt that i gave her. You see when i left Vermilion back in June, i wanted to give her something to let her know that i cared about her, and also something that would remind her of me when she missed me and was lonely, because frankly, when i am not around, people get pretty lonely. I was trying to figure out what i could give her, when it came to me. I could give her an important piece of clothing to me, and so i gave to Cara my black Weezer t-shirt. This shirt was important to me because it was the first Rock and Roll T-shirt i bought at a rock and roll t-shirt shop, it was my first weezer t-shirt, it was the T-shirt i wore to the Weezer concert i went to, it was the shirt i always wore when i travelled, i called it my "Travel Shirt". The shirt to me was very sentimental. So, i gave it to Cara. This is what it looks like. Anyway, she was really happy to recieve this gift from me, and as i said, she uses it as a sleeping shirt, which i think is pretty cool and alright. Anyway, i happened to notice the shirt lying on the bed waiting for Cara later tonight, and i thought of it as my gift of love. And then i thought, Holy Crap, if that's the best i can do that is pretty weak, especially considering the gift of love that God gave to us. In Jesus, God gave us the ultimate gift of love, a gift that allows us to remain in relationship with God for eternity once we die on earth and which also allows us to live and abundant life filled with hope and love here on earth. I'm not downplaying my gift to Cara, and it really was from my heart, and is a true show of love from me to her, but any gift that anyone gives is mediocre and pointless in comparison to the gift that God offered the world. I guess as we head in to the Christmas season we (me included and especially) would do well to consider the gift that Christ was to us as we think of what new matieral item to give, or to ask for. As cliche' as it sounds you can't have "Christmas" without Christ.

On the subject of gifts, and besides the gift of Christ, what is the best gift i ever got? Two things come to mind. I don't remember how old i was, but i know i was much younger, probably 6 or 7 there was a Christmas where i recieved a bicycle. Not just any bicycle but a Norco 12 speed or something like that. A sweet as heaven, midnight blue and white mountain bike that i could not wait to break in. So thankfully being in British Columbia, i was able to go out on the road in front of my grandparents house and give it a whirl (cause it doesn't snow on Christmas in Vancouver). Now that i think about it, i may have been like 9 or 10 or something.

The other thing that comes to mind was my birthday in like 1992 or 1993 or something. Once again, i was nine or ten years old, and i was at my birthday party with sunglasses on. No, not cause i was too cool for that scene, but because four days before i had a run in with a tree stump and my eyes were still swollen pretty shut, and cause it made my grandpa cry to see me all messed up like that. He's an emotional guy and i love him. Anyway, that birthday, i recieved a trio of awesome gifts that i count as all together because they had similar themes. First was a framed Pavel Bure Poster with autographs in the bottom corner from the Canucks, who i love, and loved at the time. Then i got tickets to the Canucks game that night against the Calgary Flames (the canucks lost that night by the way...didn't they know it was my first NHL game and they needed to try harder for me? I guess someone forgot to tell them!) Then i was given something to wear that night to the game. A white (home) Canucks Jersey. I just about crapped my pants. This was by far the best birthday of my life (although the one where i was hopped up on morphine wasn't too bad either).

The point is, as jealous as you may be because of my awesome presents, and as awesome as my gifts were, they still don't compare to the gift that God gave to us. The awesome part about that gift he gave us is, we get to share that and pass it on to others. Think about the gift you've been given this holiday season, and pass it on. Ask God to give you an opportunity to share this gift with someone soon.

Anyway, i think that's enough for today. It's been busy and i still have a wrestling floor meeting to lead this evening. Thats right, giant college guys throwing each other around with reckless abanadon. I hope some of the moves i learned today from Braveheart come in handy as i teach these youngsters a thing or two. Hey also, i've been working out, so that i can really dominate, and this is what i look like now... now ladies, don't get too excited, i am engaged. (but i hear the guy in the picture isn't) (guy in the picture if you are offended by this, just let me know and i'll remove it)

Anyway, song of the day is "Summer Skin" by Death Cab for Cutie. Once again a cut from thier most recent album "Plans". It's a jim dandy of an album and it's a jim dandy of a song. As you well know the part of songs that matters most to me is the lyrics, and i really enjoy the lyrics of this song, as it refers to care-freeness of a summer in the songwriters youth. It also refers to the summer romance that couldn't last. Summers were important back in the day, not working, spending your parents money, having the time of your life, pursuing what you thought to be the girl (in my case) or guy (possibly in your case) of your dreams. It was magic and this song captures it, so if you have the means and or the desire, i think you should hear it. Possibly more then once too.

Peace and Love - The Shaolin

Planet Earth is Blue, and there's nothing i can do

"This is ground control to major Tom"

Ok, so this isn't ground control to mahor Tom, this is the Shaolin to his faithful blog readers, but David Bowie say's it so much better then i do. Anyway, how is life. Mine is pretty good, i started thinking about an assignment that is due tomorrow, only a 3-5 pager, no big deal. It's a journal article critique, and i am critiquing a Focus on the Family article. Also making my life good is the fact that i have Cara by my side. Last night, she made me a fantastic meal of Pancakes and Bacon for supper. It was amazing. Then we hung out, and she went home and i watched a film called "The Rain Man" alone by myself in the dark. It was good. It looks like this practicum for Cara at the pregnancy care centre is going to work out, which is good news for everyone. Speaking of good news both our hockey and soccer teams got destroyed by Rockey Mountain College this past weekend. It was most disappointing. You know what, i'm sorry i even blogged. I have nothing of consequence to say. My brain has been not focused on much good these days. Read Kyle's last blog it was really really good. I have to go now.

Song of the day: Space Oddity, by David Bowie.

"....and forget about life for awhile"

It's been a while. I'm sorry. I haven't felt very inspired lately. Well, maybe thats not true, but i haven't been in a state of mind where i feel good about sitting down and writing stuff out. For instance, i have had a headache for the better part of three days, and even today, the ache in my neck and the pounding in my head will not allow me to linger long here at the computer. It's been a very intense few days, with doctrinals, travelling to and from Westlock, Cara losing and then finding a new practicum at the very last second, and so on. There has been a lot going on.

I'm doing alright, Cara moves down here tomorrow and i will be house-sitting for the dean again this weekend. This weekend also holds great opportunities for our school soccer teams who will be battling rival school Rocky Mountain College. Both our mens and womens teams defeated them last time and i hope we will remain unbeaten.

Anyway, i can't focus and none of this is very interesting to anyone.

Song of the day is "Piano Man" by Billy Joel.

"It’s nine o’clock on a saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There’s an old man sitting next to me
Makin’ love to his tonic and gin

He says, son, can you play me a memory?
I’m not really sure how it goes
But it’s sad and it’s sweet and I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man’s clothes

La la la, de de daLa la,
de de da da da
Sing us a song, you’re the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we’re all in the mood for a melody
And you’ve got us feelin’ alright

Now john at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he’s quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there’s someplace that he’d rather be

He says, bill, I believe this is killing me.
As the smile ran away from his face
Well I’m sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place

Oh, la la la, de de daLa la,
de de da da da

Now paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he’s talkin’ with davy who’s still in the navy
And probably will be for life

And the waitress is practicing politics
As the businessmen slowly get stoned
Yes, they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it’s better than drinkin’ alone

It’s a pretty good crowd for a saturday
And the manager gives me a smile’
cause he knows that it’s me they’ve been comin’ to see
To forget about life for a while

And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, man, what are you doin’ here?

Oh, la la la, de de daLa la, de de da da da"

I'm off to see the Wizard....

...the wonderful wizard of Westlock!
That's right, me and my three travelling companions leave in about 35 minutes to go to Westlock, to visit our friends the Kramers and also to work on something known as our "Accreditation Packages", and i know i would talk more about Women in Church Leadership, but i don't want to anymore. For any of you who just happen to be dying to know what i think. I don't feel comfortable with all aspects of it, (ie: I would feel weird with a female sr. pastor) but my comfortability does not always indicate the truth and or correctness of the situation, and this is no differant. Women who are gifted in areas that point to eldership and pastoral ministry, leadership etc, should be allowed to use them in the Church.

"whew"

Anyway, i'm off for a few days, so don't expect to see much blogging unless of course i get a chance to blog from the Kramers home, because you know i love to blog from other peoples houses. Like remember that time i blogged from Bernie's? Hopefully this working on accereditation will give me some stuff to think and talk about with you my faithful bloggers, stuff that i can tranlate into meaningful blogs and comprehensive ideas that you yourself can comment and respond to, having been down this road yourself.

"Also"

For this weekend to be a success, i need (ok well i don't need, but i would really appreciate it) if the Vancouver Canucks won all of the games that they might be scheduled to play in the next four days, because due to the poorness in the last two results, i am feeling a little, oh whats the word, malnourished? no thats not it, apathetic, yeah apathetic towards the team that i love. But thats not a rant i want to have now.

For some reason, the song "Soul Meets Body" (not to be confused with Boy Meets World) by Death Cab for Cutie has be running through my mind ever since i awoke this morning at the un-godly hour of 7:30 am. I attempted to watch Pirates of the Carribbean with my floor last night, but was unable to complete it due to my old man nature these days, so i went to bed at 12:30, and woke up 7 hours later with the song "Soul Meets Body" in my head, and it's still there folks. I'm glad i packed that CD in my CD case of music to bring to Westlock, cause i need to listen to it at some point today, and besides, if you have the means and or the desire to listen to this fantastic song, then i think you should. Don't any of you have I-Pods, or anything like that where you can legally download music and listen to it on your I-Pod? Well, if you do, you should get this song and listen to it. It's a great song, from a great album (Plans is the name of the album) from a great band.

Pray that I glean some nuggets of wisdom from the ever wise (not to be confused with Everwood, or 7th Heaven, or Gilmore Girls, or any other show Cara likes) Jon Kramer and his wife Kim, who once told me Pepper is bad for my Colon....well, we'll see about that won't we?

Women Part 1

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

2I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,[a] just as I passed them on to you.
3Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Don't take this the wrong way, i am writing a paper on women in leadership in the church and that kind of thing, so i am going to post a couple more scripture referances in the next few days for you to chew on and then i will make my case. So chew on this scripture passage from the New International Version, and get ready for some more. Allow this to permeate in your heart and mind and soul, and as i do, figure out what you really believe about women leading in the church.

Song of the day: American Girls by the Counting Crows. Yesterday, i listened to this as i walked to school and it gave me a better then average skip in my step. It's a great song, from a great album that always reminds of me of the Philippines, which is where i managed to purchase that great album. If y'all got the means and or the desire, check out "American Girls" by The Counting Crows.

R.I.P. TGUK

As i sit here, reflecting on the past days, and listening to the Get Up Kids, live at the Granada Theater, nothing is all that clear except that i wish i had seen the Get Up Kids live before they broke up, and also that this cd rules. Also, that i don't smell all that great.

I had a rude awakening last thursday morning. I woke up, showered, started getting ready for the day and my classes, not to mention the arrival of my love that night, when my roomate Kier told me there was a note for me on the door. It read "Mike, go take a look at your car" and then there was a sad face drawn on the paper next to the note. With a heavy heart and a sense of overall dread, i began the long march down the stairs to where my car is kept at all times in an underground parking garage. Upon arrival i noticed my back, driver side, triangle window was smashed in. Upon further inspection, it was found that all my stuff was thrown everywhere, the dash was taken apart, but the cd player was still there and intact. All that was missing was all my change, and my mini-mag light that my uncle David gave to me. So, now, i didn't lose much, except my temper. I was very angry that these people somehow got into the underground parking, and smashed up my car. Didn't take much, just made a mess. WHO DOES THAT!? I mean i'm glad they didn't steal my car, but i just don't understand who breaks into a car and then only steals some change and a mini mag light? Anyway, i need to get that fixed pretty soon.

That night Cara arrived, just in time to see me and my good friend Troy Dunham perform the seven songs we had been working on for so long. Thats right, the coffee house was that thursday night, and Troy and I rocked it. I think, "Afternoon Delight" "Don't tell me" and "I want it that way" were our biggest hits of the evening, though we did also perform some other beautys as well. Troy and I had som much fun that we have contemplated recording an album, but we don't really know anyone who has the electronic equipment needed to make this grassroots compliation for us. I wonder if we could scam the church troy works at? I should ask him.

From there, it was off for wings, which were amazing as usual.

I was just doing this down in the computer lab, and then the keys went all screwy, so i now type this from the second floor of the rez in Adam Ayer's room at Adam Ayer's computer. What a good lad.

We went to Urban Rice for wings which is a chinese place right by the school. They have good wings but they make you buy an expensive beverage in order to recieve the 20 cent wings, not to be confused with that gangster rapper named 50 Cent. Who by the way i dispise.

Last night was Futsol night. It means it was the season opener for the CBC-AUC-NUC-CTS-Whatever, soccer teams. It was a beautiful night of goal scoring, goal stopping, ref sassing, fan battles, and overall mayhem. We destroyed our enemies from Rockey Mountain College, emphasis on the enemy part. Some people think one of my comments was over the line, i don't neccesarily, but it was really funny.

I don't have much else to say, Cara and I hung out a lot and watched movies and visited with freinds, ate meals with friends and so on. It was one of the best weekends we have had since we have started only seeing each other on weekends when we get lucky enough to see each other. She was sick, but it was so good to see her. I missed her a lot, a whole friggen lot. We saw "Elizabethtown" which was actually a fairly good movie. Ok, thats it.

Song of the day is "Campfire Kansas" by the Get Up Kids, which originally appeared on thier album "On A Wire" which is a highly overlooked TGUK album. Anyway, the version you want to listen to is the one from their last and final release "Live at the Granada Theater". It's pretty good, maybe even mix cd worthy. If ya got the means and or the desire, check it out. It's worth it, as is any album by the aformentioned Get Up Kids.

Ok, I'm done.