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A story about God

26 Aug

What your about to read will include a heavy dose of God.  There will be talking about, praising, and all around good vibrations of God in the coming words.  So, if you don’t want to be complicit in the glorification of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit then stop reading now…

The reflection, which is the basis for this entry, began last night.  For about a month my brother hounded me to read ‘Shake Hands with the Devil’ by Romeo Dallaire.  It is the accounts of Lt. Dallaire’s time in Rwanda and how humanity basically allowed 800,000 Rwandans to be slaughtered in a few weeks.  I am 30 pages in and I can feel the frustration rise with every flip of the page.  Anyway, I was reading the preface and at the end of it was this chilling paragraph:

“After one of my many presentations following my return from Rwanda, a Canadian Forces padre asked me how, after all I had seen and experienced, I could still believe in God.  I answered that I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil.  I have seen him, I have smelled him and I have touched him.  I know the devil exists, and therefore I know there is a God.  Peux ce que veux.  Allons-y.”  LGen Romeo Dallaire – July 2003

I had to pause a second to let what I had just read to sink in.  He knew God existed because he met the devil.

How lucky are we, as Canadians, that we have the privilege to wake up in this beautiful country every morning.  We wake every morning and go to work without every wondering if we will make it back home to see our families.  We can do, basically, whatever we want.  We get to go to school, have coffee with friends, swim in our rivers, eat our fresh food, etc.  People in Rwanda didn’t , and probably still don’t, get to do any of that stuff.  How come we Canadians are so lucky to be Canadians?  What makes us so special that we get to live in a safe and beautiful country?  It’s not really that fair, is it?  I’ll answer those questions with a story of my own:

When I was building my house I fell into a bit of a depression.  It was a good solid 3 month depression.  I would wake up every morning, stroll over to my house, which at that point was still under construction, and think, “Why am I so fortunate?  How come I get to have this amazing house?  I didn’t really do anything to deserve it.”  And from that I fell into a bit of a spiral.  Every day I would think the same thing about my house.  It almost felt wrong for me to be in the position to have something so great.  Instead of what I was going to live in, I felt like I deserved something much less….say a shack in the woods or something.  Every day I would tell God how guilty I felt that I was getting something so extravagant.  Then, one day, God sent me a message.  I love those.  It’s hard to understand if you’re not a believer but every now and again something will happen in your life that only God will have been able to do.  Lucky me, this particular day I experienced one of those moments.  I was in the drive-through for CIBC bank, about to deposit my pay cheque.  I was in my usual funk of feeling guilty about my sweet house and telling God that I didn’t deserve it, that I actually deserved a shack in the woods.  So, there I was waiting in my car to deposit my pay-cheque, feeling like garbage, and I looked ahead to the car ahead of me in line and the license plate read, “BEGRTFUL”.  I’m still a bit stunned.  A vanity license plate had just changed my life.  I snapped out of my funk and at that moment I thanked God for all I had received, and was about to receive.  That, despite not deserving any of it, I was thankful that my situation had allowed me to build something great.  It was a God moment.  It was something that happened and the only explanation was, “God did it”.  It wasn’t a burning bush or virgin birth.  It was a vanity plate.  But it was still God.

By now you’ve probably figured out this is a blog about grace.  How, despite falling short and being undeserving, God still loves you.  He loves you so much that he sent his one and only son to die for you.  That is Grace, my friends.  So thank God for living in Canada.  Thank God for allowing you to go to work, swim, eat, drink, and live.  Then ask yourself how we can use what God has given us to help people in places like Rwanda, Pakistan, Libya, the Congo, etc. instead of feeling bad about being given so much and them so little.

Here’s some good news:  God loves you, a lot!

peace,

Jimmy

London Riots – Darcus Howe

11 Aug

Watch this video and come to your own conclusions.  This is a very interesting perspective on the London riots.

I have watched it and I have mine.  This broadcaster was trying to make Mr. Darcus out to be some rioting lunatic and trying to trip him up.  She comes out looking pretty ignorant.

peace,

Jimmy

 

To the ladies of the world

25 Jun

I wanted to get this one out there while the caffeine was still flowing through my veins.  This post is strictly for all of my lady viewers.  I really hope I don’t offend any of you.  I hope to learn more from the responses I get from you gals on what I’m about to say.

Ladies, I don’t understand you.  But, I love you.  You guys are just so wonderfully complex.  If there was one toy from the early 90′s I would compare you to it would be the Rubix Cube.  Whether it’s your addiction to shoe shopping, or your obsession Gossip Girl, there is just so much about you that I don’t understand.  You’re emotional, on average you are smaller than men, and you can get away with punching guys without receiving any kind of retaliation.  Why do rock bands with female front…girls always seem better?  What’s up with the color pink?  How did you claim that as your own?  I want that color back.  I look good in that color.  How come you love Disney movies so much?  You hide you’re farts and burps and are obsessed with scented candles.  Maybe those two are connected somehow, now that I think about it.  Your hands are much softer than mens.  But I think the thing that boggles me most about women is their struggle with body image.

Now, you don’t all struggle with worrying about how your body looks.  Some of you are comfortable with what you look like and to those of you who are, I love you.  To those who struggle, I love you to.  I just don’t know why you struggle.  Is it Hollywood?  Has Hollywood done this to you?  Hmm, let’s go deeper.

See, if there’s one thing I never really got with women of the entertainment industry, it’s that I don’t why some of them are so skinny!  Like, skeleton skinny.  Not that this should matter to any of you, ladies, but men do not find the skeleton look very attractive.  I’ve seen numerous actresses, whom I love also, fall victim to the “skeleton” look.  Zoe Saldana, who I would do anything for….anything, Jessica Alba, very underrated actress, and by looking at her new video, it looks like BEYONCE is even going over to the boney side….shame, really.  Speaking of Beyonce’s new video, I can really appreciate a good choreographed dance.  That’s why the Thriller video is so amazing.

Another question I have for some ladies of the entertainment world is, why you got to sex it up so much?  That question is directed at some female musicians.  Rihanna, that girl can sing and she’s down right gorgeous.  But we know that she is.  Why does she have to be wrapped up in electrical tape on her ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ album?  (That’s all she’s wearing I might add.)  She’s talented and beautiful and I almost find it offensive that her image is all about sex.  The list of “beautiful and talented musicians who feel they need to wear nothing in order to sell albums” is long.  To the ladies who are beautiful talented musicians…keep your damn clothes on.  We know you’re hot.  You don’t have to slip-a-nip to prove it.  Just hit that high E over C and we’ll know how sexy you are…not that that should matter to you.

I’m not even ashamed to admit that I don’t know a lot about women.  However, I know that you girls have come a long way from where you were, the kitchen.  I’m just kidding.  Well, no I’m not.  Unfortunately that’s where the woman’s place in the house hold was.  Not anymore, however.  But you still face an uphill battle in the present.  Many women over seas are still fighting for the basic women’s rights that ladies in most other places have been given.  Pray for those women who don’t have what you have.  SISTERHOOD!

The caffeine has stopped flowing and thus I am putting an end to this blog.  I’ve always wondered about gals struggles with body image and why they seem to struggle with it more than men.  Ladies of the entertainment world, I’ll love you even if you want to look like a Halloween costume or if you want to pose nude for your album cover but please re-consider.

I hope I haven’t offended any of you.  If this entire thing was wildly offensive to my female readership, than please feel free to comment and tell me to sleep on the couch tonight.

peace,

Jimmy

ps.  How come, when couples are arguing, it’s always the man that has to sleep on the couch?  How come women don’t sleep on the couch?  You guys will just go stay with your sister or your parents if the argument is bad enough?  Why don’t you just sleep on the couch?

Sex, drugs, and……sugar

9 Jun

This is all going to tie in.  That, or I will lose you all in the word salad I’m about to dish out.

I come from a very conservative family, A loving family, but a very conservative family nonetheless.  I  don’t like to think of myself as “Conservative” rather a good old fashion Jesus loving Canadian boy who likes to think he can tell the difference between right and wrong.  Usually, birthday dinners at my parents house turn into heated debates as to whether or not Jesus would be for “The War on Terror,” or the budget deficit in Canada/USA which inevitably leads back to the argument about the “War on Terror”.  Both debates end with my Dad telling my brother and I that we should move to China if we don’t like our freedom.  I’m not sure how it gets there, but it does.  Which is why I was so shocked when a conversation I was having with my Dad about Barry Bonds purgery trial lead me discover my Dads view on drug use.  My Dad, the Ultra Conservative, thinks that people who get arrested for drug use should not be sent to jail.  I was a bit taken back by this discovery.  First of all because ever since we were little children we have been taught drugs = bad.  Secondly, because we started by talking about Barry Bonds and ended up talking about cocaine and heroine use.  Thirdly, because I kind of agreed with my Dad, which doesn’t happen very often.

When you think about it, jail time for people with severe addictions doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially when you consider that our prisons are experiencing such crazy over crowding as it is.  Also, because it’s naive to think that drug addicts can’t get drugs in prison.  When Trey Anastasio, from Phish, went to jail for his pill problem, he said that drugs may have been more easily accessible on the inside than on the outside.  What I’m saying is, there needs to be an alternative to just sending drug addicts to jail.  Send them to rehab.  Help these people with addiction get over it.  Send the pushers to jail.  We both agreed the pusher man should see jail time if arrested.

Anyway, I then found myself on the train of thought about legalizing marijuana.  It seems like now, more than ever, the campaign to get marijuana legalized is getting stronger and has more support.  To be honest, I don’t see why you wouldn’t legalize marijuana.  Do people really think that if marijuana were legalized that our society would fall into a tail spin of destruction that we would never recover from?  How naive!  If you were to legalize it, the same amount of people would be smoking it as if it were illegal.  I’m not going to smoke it and neither will anybody who don’t already.  I’m reminded of a great Chris Rock quote, yes the comedian.  ”The government doesn’t want you using your drugs.  The government wants you to buy THEIR drugs. “

As children, were taught that drugs are bad.  True?  Maybe.  However, there are plenty of legal things that people do every day that are worse.  How hypocritical a nation we live when drugs are considered bad but sugar is ‘A’ ok.  Sugar, the other white powder, is deadly.  It’s just as addictive as (insert illegal drug name here) but it’s more dangerous (insert illegal drug name here) because it is readily available by the pound at grocery stores around the world and it’s in everything we eat.  Like drugs, if you abuse it to the extreme, you will die.  Obesity has over taken smoking as the leading cause of death in most countries because we are naive enough to think that what we eat can’t kill us.  If the DOUBLE DOWN is legal, then why should we care if anybody gets high?

So, how can I agree with any governments stance on criminalizing drugs when they don’t criminalize sugar.  If you don’t think you can get addicted to sugar, slap yourself in the face right now!

Down with sugar!

peace,

Jimmy

ps.  there is nothing in here about sex, sorry.

O.B.L is O.U.T

2 May

Like many of you, I awoke to the bomb shell that Osama Bin Laden was killed in a raid yesterday night.  When I heard this news, I was bit shocked.  I was shocked for two reason.  1.  The ten year man hunt for him was over.  2.  I thought he was supposed to be hiding out in a cave somewhere not hauled up in a mansion.

Another thing that I found interesting, but not shocking, was the reaction of other people around the world.  It was straight up jubilant.  There were people partying in the streets, gathering at the white house in DC, and over all excitement that this man was killed.  But I felt weird.  I felt weird that people were so happy over a man dying.  Yes, he did horrible, terrible, disgusting things to his own countrymen and to the world but I still can’t feel happy over a man’s death.

Then another thought popped up.  ”How am I supposed to view this event as a Christian?”  Am I supposed to be happy that the world was rid of such evil or should I feel down that everyone is so jacked up over getting this revenge.  So, I did what any curious Christian would do and emailed my Pastor, Pastor Gord.  What up Gord!  Gord kind of set me straight and sent me to this blog about this exact thing.  I won’t even attempt to explain it but y’all should go here and check out “Red Letter Christians – Whose Death does God cheer?“

As Christians, we tend to think to approach things with an attitude like, “It’s either option A or option B.”  And so often God’s answer is option C.

peace,

Jimmy

Bluesfest or Die

27 Apr

By now, everyone in the Ottawa area has seen or heard which bands will be joining us here in the city from July 5th – July 17th.  For my international readers, yeah right, you will have no idea what the Bluesfest is.  Well, you might have some idea because chances are you will have a bigger and better version of it.

Depending on who you like, or don’t like, the Bluesfest will suck or not suck.  For instance, I’m excited.  The Black Keys, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s, The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Cage the Elephant, Rise Against, Arkells, and Ra-Ra Riot.  Then you will have your classic rock acts who have to be rolled out onto stage in wheel chairs because they’re so old but seem to do well because of Ottawa’s overwhelming population of baby boomers.  Cheap trick, John Fogerty (I’ve never seen him but I’ve heard he does a lot of CCR…wicked), and Steve Miller Band.

Over all, pretty decent.  I’m still hoping they will add another couple of big acts.  Just by looking at the schedule, I can see that there are a few spots open on THE big stage and a couple of spots open on the second to biggest stage.  So let’s all cross our fingers for MUMFORD ANDS SONS.  Seriously, I’d pay obscene amounts of money to see those boys rock out.  Also, hopefully somebody like Tokyo Police club will get added.

However way you want to spin the line up, Ottawa music lovers need to support this event if they ever want it to get bigger.  Will it ever be Coachelle or Lollapalooza big?  Probably not, but it can definitely get bigger and better.  It won’t get bigger unless the number of people who attend get’s bigger.  So, go.  It’s like the election.  You are not allowed to complain about who is running our country if you don’t get out and vote.  So, vote.

The Black Keys:  They have gotten huge after the release of their last studio effort, Brothers.  These guys rock, which may seem odd because there is only two of them.  But, who cares.  If number of people in a band mattered, The White Stripes would’ve never gotten so big and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s would be the biggest band on earth.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s:  Logistics alone is enough for me to want to see these guys.  By now, you’ve all heard of the song ‘Home’ off of their latest release ‘Up from Below’ but that album is chalked full of folky toe tappers.

The Flaming Lips:  I haven’t seen these guys live yet but I’ve heard they are a crazy act to see.  Lots of production value.  Big balloons, lasers, and confetti.  And really, who doesn’t liked to be covered in confetti, hmm?  They are coming off a pretty trippy cover album of Pink Floyds ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ and their own critically acclaimed effort titled ‘Embryonic’.

Cage the Elephant:  ’Thank You Happy Birthday’, the latest from CTE, is wicked.  Simply put, it’s 40-50 minutes of pure rock out.  That’s it.  Go see them.

Ra-Ra Riot:  RRR, clever huh, is a new band I’ve tried out recently.  Think ‘Vampire Weekend’ but less pop and more heart.  I’m happy I bought ‘The Orchard’ because these guys are straight up fun to listen to.  A delight, if you will.

So there you have it.  Mark July 5th – July 17th on your calenders pick your poisons carefully and then digest those poisons on the corresponding date…and keep your fingers crossed for ‘Mumford and Sons’.

peace,

Jimmy

My One day without shoes

13 Apr

I made a point of doing this because I wanted everyone who owns TOMS Shoes, who didn’t participate and knew about it (those of you of you who didn’t know about it are okay), to know that you don’t really care about what TOMS shoes is about.

My day without shoes started…well…it actually almost didn’t start.  I woke up with every intention of flaking that morning.  I mean, it was wet, cold, and grey.  I even had socks on that morning and was just about to put my shoes on.  But, after finding my balls hidden underneath the “Welcome” mat, I threw off my socks and journeyed out into the wet and grey abyss that is the Canadian spring.

I will tell you this, the hardest part of the whole day was to try and pretend like you didn’t know that you didn’t have shoes on.  I had to practice my “I don’t know I don’t have shoes on” face whenever I passed someone that day.  The practice started early.  As I walked out my front door a neighbor of mine was on their morning walk and we crossed paths when I walked out to the curb, on my gravel front lawn, to get the garbage bins I had forgotten out there the previous day.  The drive to work was alright.  Nobody can tell you aren’t wearing shoes.  But, driving without shoes is more difficult than you think.  My first close encounter without shoes on came at work when my co-workers had noted that I walked in the front door without shoes on.  Nothing I couldn’t handle.  I think I even sold two pairs of TOMS in that opening interaction.  Let me preface this next interaction with I had been talking about doing this for at least a couple weeks.  I had no alternative BUT to not wear shoes that day.  I got my first “Oh my god he’s not wearing shoes” look from my Dad, then from my other boss.  The whole day was leading to me going to hockey without shoes on.  It would be my first and only real interaction without shoes that day.  My interactions with co-workers and nosey neighbors all helped me prepare my “I don’t know I’m not wearing shoes” face for my trip to the rink.

It had just started to sprinkle again on the walk to the front door.  So, the ground was wet and cold.  My feet were smacking against the concrete floor after every step I took and that noise was bringing some, much wanted *wink*, attention.  With my head held high and my “I don’t know I’m not wearing shoes face” on I BURST through the dressing room door to…..an empty room.  With the proud look on my face fading rapidly, I sat down and started to get dressed for hockey.  I wouldn’t be able to talk about ONE DAY WITHOUT shoes to my friends just yet.

After an hour long session of fast and furious hockey in which I probably scored 4 or 5 goals (………..), it was time to get undressed and face the questionable looks I was going to undoubtedly face when I tried to leave the dressing room without shoes on.  I made an effort to try and be the first one out of my hockey gear and into my clothing.  I actually reached for my shoes when I had my shirt/undies/pants/jacket on.  But it was time to make the trek from the back of the change room to the dressing room door without my shoes on.  With my “I don’t know I don’t have shoes” look on my face I went for it.  I could feel the eyes of all my hockey mates burning holes in my feet with their eyes, then at my face, then at my feet again.  Then finally, “Hey Jim, are those your shoes?”  Jackpot.  What a perfect time to talk about TOMS’ “One day without shoes”.  ”No, actually.  I’m not wearing shoes today.”  The room erupted with a sort of confused/nervous laughter.  Were they dealing with a crazy person?  No, just an incredibly stubborn person trying to prove that everyone who didn’t participate in the day was a pussy….and to talk about TOMS’ shoes, of course.  So, I walked back into the room to declare that “No, I’m serious.  I am not wearing shoes today.”  Again, more nervous/confused laughter filled the dressing room.  ”No, seriously.  I am not wearing shoes today.”  After the confused/nervous/humor energy in the room was replaced with only confusion, I took the time to talk about what the day was all about.  I wasn’t wearing shoes that day to bring awareness to all the children in third world countries who don’t own shoes and face numerous health risks on a day-to-day basis because of that.  They can’t even go to school without shoes.  No shoes = no education.  And on down the line I went trying to rhyme off what I was doing and why I was doing it.  Then, the confused energy turned into curious energy and then that energy turned into compassion.  ”Are you raising money?” one of my teammates asked, all but ready to sign a cheque to whatever foundation I represented.  ”No, just awareness” I replied.  ”Whenever you buy a pair of TOMS shoes, they will donate a pair to a child in a third world country who doesn’t own a pair.”  That then lead to more compassion.  I may have sold more shoes with that conversation.

So, on I journeyed, with my head held high, out into the wet and grey abyss that is the Canadian spring.  Oh, and because it’s Canada, it started to snow while I was walking to the car.  That was the highlight of my “One day without shoes.”

Click here to learn more about the day and how you can participate next time.

peace,

Jimmy

TOMS’ One day without shoes – April 5th, 2011

22 Mar

One day without shoes is an event held every year (For the last two?) by TOMS shoes, founded by Blake Mycoskie, to let everyone see what it’s like to live ONE DAY without shoes, like many children who live in third world countries do everyday.  ”Why shoes are important:  Mountainous and muddy terrain makes farming difficult, both physically and economically.  This leaves kids exposed to infection, intestinal worms, and cold weather illness.  Long-term benefit:  With additional protection from illness and infection, kids can spend more days helping their families and building up their potential in school.”  From onedaywithoutshoes.com.  Children in third world countries cannot go to school if they aren’t wearing shoes.  That’s why TOMS’ are a pretty awesome company.  For every pair of shoes you buy they will give a pair to a child who doesn’t have shoes.  You can buy TOMS at Slaysh (775 Bank St.)

So, will you go without shoes on April 5th?  That is the challenge.  I will be going without shoes because not only is it a cool challenge but I think it’s important that people know what some of these kids go through on a day-to-day basis.  Below is a little video TOMS put together about what the day is about fully equipped with celebrity endorsements.

Challenge laid.  For me, challenge accepted.

peace,

Jimmy

Red Fish Blue Fish, Hi Fish Bye Fish

11 Feb

When I started this blog, it was going to be about sports. I thought that the only thing I really knew much about was the sports world. As time went on I discovered that I really knew a lot about sports but I cared very little. Point is, I like sports but I didn’t feel like writing about sports, until now.

Yesterday was a rough day. In case you didn’t hear, Mike Fisher was traded to the Nashville Predators for a return that is irrelevant to this particular blog. I’m not going to get into whether the Senators should have done it or if they should have gotten more for him. Again, that is not what this blog is about. It’s about how Ottawa, not just the Senators, lost a hard working, big heart having, genuine, all around nice guy and somebody your kids could look up to, guy.

For a team, and city, that has been plagued by whiny, lazy, selfish, couldn’t give a damn about this city athletes, and individuals (Mostly politicians), a guy like Mike Fisher was a breath of fresh air. Damn, he was more like an oxygen mask strapped onto your face. He was the unofficial King of Ottawa. He was everybody’s favorite country boy. He was a ROCK star. So, I was sad to hear the news. But, there is a silver lining.

Mike has given us so many good years, 11 to be exact. Going to Nashville will be great for him and his family life. I’m sure it will be nice to not have to hop on a plane just to spend a weekend with your wife. Ottawa needs to be happy for Mike. It is hard to see a guy like that go but it kind of feels good to know that where he is going is the best possible location for him and his wife. (Wouldn’t you move to Nashville if Carrie Underwood asked you to?). They can spend more time together there and, let’s be honest, he is going to pump some life into that franchise. Crowds of people will be showing up to Predators games just because they might get a chance to see Carrie Underwood-Fisher.
It’s hard to see my favorite player and such a classy individual go. But, since he got traded I couldn’t be happier to know that the trade will result in a better life for him.

Good luck Mike! Ottawa is going to miss your hard working, do anything to win, GREAT, personality…and your chin.

peace,

Jimmy

Weapon of Mass Construction

3 Jan

LOVE IS A HIGHLY UNDERRATED WEAPON!

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