The Geek Awakens!

I have a bunch of stuff in my man-cave.

Most of it is science fiction stuff.

It just sits on a shelf and I admire it.  I guess that's the point of collecting isn't it?

The other day, I thought, each of these things tells a story.  Two stories really.

First there is a story behind why it exists, then there is story about why I like it and want it in my home.

I collect things because I personally feel drawn to them, not just because I have to have every little thing.

If there is no emotional connection to something, why waste time and money on it?

I decided to make a video about a few of my items and share the stories behind them.

This one is about a lightsaber that I bought for my son!

If you like it let me know!

When Church Is Different!

Church this Sunday was...different.

First off, our worship team is expanding so more room on the stage is needed.  In order to accommodate this, the drums were moved to the baptismal tank!  It was my turn to play and it was my first time drumming inside what is essentially an empty tub!

But that wasn't the most surprising thing about the service...

Usually a church service runs according to a set agenda.  Music, announcements, offering, more music, preaching, prayer and then dismissal.

Sunday was a day where not much of that mattered because God took care of what He wanted to do outside our set plans.

We sang a song called "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music.  In light of the horrible terrorist attacks in Paris recently, it just seemed that the song lyrics connected in a very specific way.

The goal of church, I believe is to make a "God Connection".  This can happen at any time during the week of course but when we get together on Sunday, there is that extra dynamic of corporate faith that makes church what it is.

During the service, Pastor Shane Fitch recognized that God was doing something out of the ordinary, and we as a worship team just stayed on the platform and played.  He did not preach a message.  He simply allowed God to move and we all stayed in that place for a while!

I believe many people who were there experienced a new level of freedom from fear.

Here is the song, I hope it does the same for you!

A Blessed Anniversary!

My wife of 28 years, Rose Gale!

It's been 28 years since Rose and I said "I do".

The story of our marriage is unusual and is still being told.  I will bring you up to date if I can.

We met in church, in North Bay.  I was in college and she was working for an insulation company.

I was a skinny brokenhearted person who wanted to throw my whole life into this thing called Christianity.  She was just as enthusiastic about God, and it caught my eye.  She was so bold about her faith, it was attractive!  She was stunningly beautiful.  Wow, did I have a shot?

We began to date (with the official sanction of our pastor...lol) and I knew I should scoop her up before anyone else figured out how awesome she was!

I took her out for Italian food and then we took a walk to the North Bay waterfront, where we braved the rocks to sit on the very edge of break-wall of the harbor next to a guiding light for the boats.  (A fitting description of marriage now that I think about it!)  There I opened a ring box and popped the question.  She said "Yes"!

All I knew about marriage could have fit into a tube of chap stick.  I was so clueless.  It's embarrassing now to think about how much I did not know before jumping into it!  I have apologized to Rose many times for not being more prepared and less selfish, but we have lived and learned!

In our 28 years we have had three wonderful kids, we've moved 19 times, had 14 vehicles, recovered from injuries and surgeries, had plenty and had little.

We are now empty nesters and are off on our new adventures together.  It's a new stage of life and I am blessed to have Rose with me as we walk the road together!  We support each other in our weaknesses, encourage each other to chase our dreams and trust God for the future!

Happy anniversary, Rose!  I love you!

Lest We Forget

My mom and her dad sharing a laugh at the Legion. 

Today we thank and honor those who serve in our military.

My grandpa, Charles Benn was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.  If you don't understand what the Legion is, they are an organization that supports Canada's war veterans.  They also are involved in communities and do tons of service work.

My grandpa was a fixture at the local branch in Wallaceburg.  It was his second home you could say.

The Legion is situated downtown where the river forks.

Grandpa loved to make the property look amazing.  He was an avid gardener and his green thumb was evident in the summer as beautiful flowers adorned the building and the grass was neatly trimmed.  When he passed away, a memorial garden was planted there in his honor, with a stone monument that has his name on it.

The Legion building in Wallaceburg.

My memories of the Legion include having fun catching carp in the Sydenham River during the annual summer fishing derby, and a tug-of-war competition where the rope was strung across the river.

Because Grandpa Benn was part of the Legion, I learned about the wars.  During Remembrance Day he would march with other members at the cenotaph during ceremonies.  He did not go overseas to see action, he participated by staying here as part of the forces, none the less, he was proud of his service.

This Remembrance Day, think about those that served.  Think about what it would have been like.  It was a very different world during the world wars.  People thought differently and were perhaps more engaged in world events.  I hope we can do the same in the times we live in and then years from now, our veterans will still have the honor they deserve.

F.O.M.O

I have discovered a fear I've had and how to deal with it, but it's given me another one!

Remember YOLO? You Only Live Once? Now there is FOMO. Fear of missing out.

It happens when there is information overload, particularly online.

So many friends on Facebook, so many shows I haven't seen, you become occupied with keeping up on things just so you don't become out of the loop.

“I fear others are having more rewarding experiences than me,” “It is important that I understand my friends' ‘in jokes,’” and “Sometimes, I wonder if I spend too much time keeping up with what is going on.”.

If someone says "Did you see...?" and you fear you haven't...that's FOMO.

I confess, I love to cruise through the news feeds of Facebook and see what people are up to.  I like seeing pictures of their kids and photos of their holidays.  It's great to be able to share life like that!  I don't have anyone in my feed that I feel is abusing being there.  I skip most political rants lengthy religious "devotions" that seem to be cut and pasted, but for the most part I enjoy seeing the day-today stuff that's posted.

What can be a problem is when I feel like I need to post SOMETHING just to be a participant.  I feel bad if I have not "checked in" somewhere to let everyone know who I am hanging out with.  I fear that I am letting my group of online friends down by being absent.  I fear they may even wonder what I'm up to!

My criteria for posting has a few general rules.  It must be one of the following:

a)  Relateable
b)  Fun
c)  Educational
d)  Inspirational
e)  Engouraging
f)  Thought Provoking

This way I feel like I am not wasting anyone's time.  (When they are online...wasting time!)

Ironically I discovered this fear called FOMO online!

I have a new fear...missing out on more helpful studies!

Matrix Control

Control

Ah, The Matrix!

I have learned so many spiritual lessons from this movie!

Every now and then I pop it in the DVD player and re-watch it.

The biggest lesson for me comes from the fact that The Matrix itself is a form of control.  It's a way for the "machine world" to keep the human population believing that they can make choices, when in fact the computer simulation is running the whole thing behind the scenes.  The illusion is that we have a choice.

I know I am getting deep but bear with me.

I subscribe to the idea that there IS another world, a spiritual world where just the opposite is true.

The Genesis account lays out the fact that mankind has been given "choice" as his most unique quality over animals and even nature itself.  Everything else in this world acts on instinct or seasons, but we humans can act outside both.  We can choose hate over love, death over life or weather to have pizza or prime rib.  We have choices to make every day.

I hear your question loud and clear..."Why do we have free will if the creator has a plan already, are we not prisoners to it?"

Not if you don't want to be...and prisoner is a poor choice of words.  Was the marble that gave us the beautiful statue of David prisoner to Michelangelo?  No it was waiting to be made into an expression of the artist.  Get it?

Anyway I know I am a little cerebral but my point is this.  I believe there is a loving God with a master plan, but within that we have the ultimate privilege of choice.  We are the ones who steer our fate.  Want to be better at what you do?  Choose to do it and make steps to get there.  Want a better marriage?  Choose to have it and make a plan to build it.  Want to be free from fear?  Think of your biggest fear and face it with boldness.

It's up to you....

Git 'er Done!

It's a popular saying, made famous by "Larry the Cable Guy".


"Git er Done!"


I want to share some thoughts about doing "things".


With life happening at faster and faster pace, sometimes we can overlook doing quality work over just "getting it done".


Quality Work vs Just Getting It Done


Which would you rather have? Do you have to choose?


I have had to learn the lessons of work in the course of my life and here's what I have found.


Quality work gets rewarded with...more work! (And financial rewards to) What this means is that, when more work is sent your way you have to be very careful not to take on too much, because that can lead to just trying to get it all done. This is where quality can go out the window if you are not careful.


I have often been self-employed and I have had to scale back on what work I could do, so I could instead keep the quality up.


So heed my words young person...do the best work you possibly can, but do not compromise quality for the sake of "getting it done."