Its alive!

Hey gang.  Yep, I'm back.  Long time since I've been on here.  Actually, I had a post with a bunch of pics ready to go about a month ago, and the internet died just as I finished it, so it was lost.   Oh well.  Really quick, here's a few pics of how Bible camp is this year.  Its been going great, and I've had the priviledge of leading a couple young fellas to Christ.  It was awesome! 

Trail Riding.....

Drying somebody's boots over the fire....it rained a lot that first camp!

Elmer taking advantage of a lunch break to take a nap, hoping not to get sprayed with water or have his hat stolen.  I think both things happened to him that day....

Me and George teaching some young ladies how to start a fire...I can't believe how hard it was for them!

Trail Riding again.  That's our Trail Boss at the left of the picture.

We had just climbed Pete's Peak.  Almost straight up in places; quite the climb.

Swimming in the dirty clean water.

Notice the shoes and rolled up jeans for creek crossing....lol

Ride 'em cowboy!  I'm big enough for the saddle to sit nicely on my shoulders, and Craig hoisted Brenden up for a wild ride.  It was a blast!

Me and some buddies of mine.  Carlee on the left was quite a character, and Brenden right behind me was a really fun kid to have in my teepee that week. 

Ah yes, me and the guys.  honestly, we played music for chapel....though it wasn't as crazy as it may look!  But we sure had fun playing.....   Throw in a bass guitar and some enthusiasm, and you're off!

So camp has been going well!  If you want to see more pics, see me on facebook.  Gotta run!  Take care ya'll, and remember: GOD IS GOOD!

Currently Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5 By Michael Martin Murphey see related

This is just plain strange...

The following seems to be a catching exercise that is floating around, and I thought that I'd give in to peer pressure and join the crowd.  This is for those of you who don't associate in the facebook circles.  

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Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

As far as tagging 25 people, i dunno, and as far as 25 random things, here goes (guess I got tagged and am supposed to do this or something?) I never do these things folks...this is just plain weird. oh well.

1. Right now I am sitting in the PRBI Dining Hall.

2. I like working with and riding horses; an 'exciting' one is always fun. I find it a real joy to work an ornery horse into a nice, responsive one (or more responsive anyways). I can ride some horses that won't let other people on their backs. But I also enjoy riding well-trained horses that are already responsive and trustworthy. There is nothing quite like a good horse, unless its a well trained dog that loves you, but still, a well-trained and cooperative horse is a miracle on four legs.

3. I like working at Bible Camps, and have worked at 2 different ones.

4. I do NOT like horror or thriller movies

5. I love playing music; piano, guitar, mandolin, and I would love to play violin, bass, dobro, pedel-steel....maybe drums and cello and harmonica...you get the picture.

6. I enjoy studying the Bible and Theology and related topics

7. I like sports: namely, hockey and vollyball. I might like basketball if I played it.

8. Hanging out with good friends and having good, simple fun is a great way to spend time

9. I want to get my Level 3 or Industrial First Aid course so I can know what to do in situations where it is needed.

10. I have taken piano lessons from Dennis Enns and Karl Anderson

11. I want to go and see the Gulf Islands

12. I think boxing, kick-boxing, ninjitsu, and jujitsu are pretty cool, and would learn them if I could.

13. I would like to play with a real, practicing music band sometime.

14. By now I am probably boring anybody who is bored enough to read this.

15. I don't have a clue how to play Xbox, Wii, or playstation.

16. Traveling is great! I have been into the US (all the way down to Sacremento CA!), and all over BC and Alberta.

17. I have so many ideas of things to do and places to go, it can be hard to decide what to do....I'm fine with just jumping up, grabbing some stuff, and taking off. Its exciting to be going somewhere and doing something new!

18. I sometimes shock people (and enjoy it!) by doing/saying something they didn't think I would say, or vice versa. Seems like some people like to put me in a box and say "he's like this" and then I go and bust it for them....awww, its so sad and so funny to dash their little boxes.

19. I do NOT like it when Christian exhibit the symptoms of wishy-washy theology, ethics, or morals. As ambassadors for the King of Kings, you have a responsibility to know what the King demands from those He has chosen for His service. BTW, I don't like it when I see this in me either.

20. I think that big, black crew-cab GMC's, with black windows and a bit of chrome, with about a 5 inch lift and big tires, with a good deisel (with nice muffler) is the way to go. Not that I will ever be able to afford one.....

21. The "Bourne" series are my favorite action-movie series

22. I have been at Ness Lake Bible Camp, Lake of the Tree Bible Camp, Maple Springs Bible Camp, Clearwater Bible Camp, Sagitawa Trail Rides (Bible Camp), and Sunnybrae Bible Camp for different and varying reasons. But you get the point...I have been around the Bible camp world a bit. And I have friends that have been to a whole bunch of other ones like Echo Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Camp Little Red, Hope Bay, Sagitawa Base Camp (at Moberly Lake), and Blueberry Bible Camp.

23. For work I have done yardwork, taught piano, done construction (framing, concrete, electrical, plumbing, siding, roofing, drywall sanding, painting), fencing, planted trees, worked on a ranch rounding up 900 cattle, dividing them, sorting them (on horseback), worked on a 4500 acre farm (and been sole care-taker of said farm for 3 days), and operated a road packer.

24. I have traveled hundreds of miles and the equivelant of many days on the Greyhound Bus Lines, starting when I was about 12 or 13 years old, but mostly in the last 4 years. That is a long time on the bus folks.....

25. I can't stand it when people are fake. Believe me, just 'cause you think you are wearing a good mask doesn't mean people can't see through you. Either take it off or change. And don't waste your time thinking I won't notice; if I don't catch on soon, I will later, and it won't take too long.  

I'm Home!

Hey ya'll!  I'm home!  Yeah, I'm home for 2 weeks for Christmas holidays.  Other than enduring a stomach flu for a day(from which I've totally recovered), its been great to be home again.  I haven't been here since the Monday that Family Camp ended; I flew from Kelowna that afternoon while everybody else was on their way home.  So yeah, its been awhile, and its been great seeing everybody again.

So I left PRBI on the 12 with Gavin and Melodie at about 5:30 a.m.  In Whitecourt (I think) we had trouble with an idler, and spent an hour figuring out what to do with it.  We ended up in Three Hills around 4, and I spent a couple hours working with Justin & Co. at a house they are building in Three Hills. 

We stopped for awhile at the North Saskatchewan River on the way down, and took some pics.  We also had a great time 4-X-ing!   

On Saturday night Justin and I went down to Calgary where we spent the night at the Braun's.  That was a lot of fun!  I also got to hear the homeschool Revive Choir; they are pretty good.  On Monday and Teusday Justin and I went Elk hunting, and camped out in the mountains.  Now there is something that you should know about our camping trip.  This wasn't an ordinary camping trip, as it was between -20 and -25C. at night, and between -10 to -20C during the day.  But it was a lot of fun!  The country out there is absolutely beautiful!  We didn't get an Elk, but hey, the trip was great! 

There were whole herds of wild horses all over the place out there; this is one of the horses.  I did not realize how many Alberta had until this trip; literally, they are all over the place out there, roaming around in herds as wild as the moose and deer.  They are free for the taking.....if you can catch them.  Some of them are built really well too, and would make great horses if they could be tamed.

And here is the humble abode suitable for adventerous types...

And inside it....Justin is on the right, and Nathan, his oldest brother, is on the left.

And another AB sunset....

Oh, we had fun in the snow!

On Teusday Justin and I split up; he went following some older Elk tracks, and I went trying to cut some more.  We had radios and binocs and a rifle.  I had his 30-30 lever-action Winchester with a tubular magazine; one of the last Winchesters of this model made.  It is really neat gun, done in the 'western' style.  And if you are thinking, "It must have been warm 'cause he's not wearing gloves", think again.  Bundle up like an onion and then hike up a mountain through a foot of snow and see if you don't find the weather becoming rapidly warmer! 

Justin giving the hills the last glass-over of the day.....

It was amazing!  On the way home we stopped in Olds at Timmy's, and left with 40 timbits, some of which we thought we might take home.....hahaha...well, very few made it that far!   

I found a good deal on a plane ticket from Calgary, and was supposed to leave on Wednesday at 11.  But.....like sometimes happens in the winter, the flights were really screwed up, and my plane was about 5 hours late!  So I finally made it to Kelowna where Wes picked me up, and so now I am home. 

So everybody have a great Christmas!  I know that a cliche saying is "Jesus is the reason for the season", but hey, its true.  Don't let familiarity with the concept of Christ's birth dull you into forgetting the extreme significance of it, and the eternal repercussions that it has had-will have on mankind.  Merry Christmas folks and God bless! 

Currently A New Journey By Celtic Woman see related

Hi Ya'll

 Howdy ya'll!  Well, it looks like Christmas is on its way!  We've got about 2 weeks left here at PRBI; one week and 2 days of classes, and three days set aside for exams.  I've only got 2 final exams, so it'll be an easy three days.   Here's some random pics.....

You gotta love the Albertan sunrises we get up here!

Ah yes, hugs anyone?  So this is what happens late at night, everyone over-tired, papers coming due, pressure building,........ 

And no, these guys are perfectly normal young fellas having some simple fun late one evening....nothin' weird about 'em!    So anyways, hope ya'll are doing great.

Currently Reading Conformed to His Image By Kenneth D. Boa see related

Hey

Howdy peoples.  So last weekend we had Mission Conference here at PRBI.  It was really eye-opening for me to hear first-hand from missionaries what God is doing in other countries.  Our care group was teamed up with three missionaries from the Arab countries, so we got to here about ministering to Muslims.  Apparently there are a lot of Muslims turning to Christ...about 400 a day (if I remember correctly).  These Muslims face intense social persecution from their families, friends, and the rest of their society.  Similar to what the early Christians faced in some Roman cities.  Anyways, I learned a lot, and my perspectives were really broadened in a good way.  It also made me think about what is happening here in North America.  Or rather, what isn't happening.  Ask yourself the honest question, and give an honest answer: "How much do I care that almost everyone around me is going to Hell?"  Now that doesn't meant you desert your family, go sell everything, and live in a cardboard box, but what is your attitude?  Do you have a genuinely concerned attitude for the lost of society?  While the Bible may preach election, it is also very clear that as believers, we have the responsibility to share the Gospel.  That is how God has chosen to get His word out.  Think about it.  What is your attitude?  It is something that I have been personally thinking about recently. 

And if you think that intense persecution is a thing of the past, go on the web and google Christian Martyrs, or Martyrs for Christ.  Find out what is happening to Christians in India right now.  It might surprise you.  Folks, we live a soft, luxurious life in a feather bed compared to what is happening in other areas of the world. 

Anyways, here's some more pictures for you all.

There was a balloon race-show here last month, and a couple of them got really close to landing right in town!  These ones here went right over top of us...we could see the people, hear the torch...it was pretty cool.

A sunrise.  Building with lights is the main building with library, offices, and dining hall.

Some drummers at Missions Conference

Missionary with Wycliff from Kenya, Africa (I think)  He had some really nice tasting Chi tea from over there.  From what I gathered, you couldn't even buy the stuff in Canada, but it was really, really, good!

A "widow" trying to sell some goats and chickens for money for her family.  The African dude thought he could just walk in a kill one and take it, but she implored him to leave it alone.

The Mofia.....they broke up the secret church meetings, physically getting people out.....also arrested and dragged away a street preacher that was drawing to many people to hear about that man, Jesus.  Crooks like these are dangerous....they followed victims, frisked others, and made others uneasy.

'Tis beautiful, is it not?

TTYL  God is SO INCREDIBLY AWESOME!!