Ontario Teachers Strike, Government Blinks, Kids Lose

On Wednesday my children brought home papers informing us that on Monday December 10th there will be  no classes for them as the teachers are striking for one day. Later that night, I heard that the union has picked 2 school Boards - Avon/Maitland in Southern Ontario (60,000 students) and Ontario North East - a relatively small school board. That is where my children go. 

Across the street from my house is a French Catholic School (also know as private school that is funded by the public) They will be teaching on Monday. The students that go there will be getting an education.
Now before you start putting your comments on what this strike is all about...save it for the spin doctors. I have heard both arguments and I know how each side is "staying on message". The French Catholic & French Public Teachers unions both accepted the same deal that the ETFO rejected. Here's what it boils down to. The Union is in a power struggle with the Government. A struggle that in all likelihood will be won in court. That is what the experts are saying. Unfortunately that is not good enough. 

Then is the locations of the strikes...2 relatively small boards - Not Toronto...that is where the majority of the Liberal seats are...but in Northern Ontario (NDP) and in Southern Ontario (PC). Does no one else see what is happening here. First of all, it is a test. A test to see what the Government will do...the answer is - Nothing.  Second, there is a Provincial election coming up...soon - The Union recognizes this - they have been very close to this Government for the last 8 years - they don't want to burn all the bridges. Third, this effects a relatively small number of students. The Union doesn't want to upset the cart totally until they see what the Government will do.

I have family as teachers, I have friends as teachers. They  are hard working, energetic and devoted to their jobs. I also went through a teachers strike when I was in high school....a long strike...very long. I lost a math credit - I couldn't "cram" everything I needed to know in a short period of time when the teachers returned. And all through the strike the message was "no student has ever lost a credit because of a strike" I would disagree.

This is not the right move by the ETFO - They talk about Democracy...having their rights taken away. Yet if a teachers breaks rank and chooses to teach while a strike is on that teacher can be fined up to $500 a day. Not very Democratic. 

The Government has been voted in to lead. The government has been voted in to make tough choices. I see neither leadership or choices....I see politicians looking towards the next election.

In all this - The kids Lose.

Fishing through the Ice

For the last few days I thought - should I post this? I shared this with my Assembly on Sunday and wanted to expand upon it.

About a week ago during prayer at our church I saw something very interesting: Here is what I saw - There were two rolling hills, one to the left, one to the right. In between was a large bay - I was standing on a dock looking out over the bay. The bay was frozen and there were people ice fishing all across the area. As I looked to my left - boats were tied to the docks, the ice had locked them in. They were perfectly good vessels, just frozen - bound by the ice. 
As I turned and looked over the bay again, I notice that an icebreaker was coming. People that were fishing were happy - they would soon be able to use their boats again. Closer it came. I could see the water now appearing through the breaks in the ice. Good things coming - 

As  I thought and prayed about this, this is what came to me: 
Often our lives are like the people fishing on the ice - we are drilling a hole and trusting the Lord to catch a fish here, catching a fish there. All the while our our boats are locked in the ice. Then along comes the spring and the ice breaker.
But between the ice fishing and boat fishing there is a dormant time - a time when you can't go on the ice and a time when you can't go out in the boat. What are you doing with that time?
Are you preparing your nets? Are you refreshing your supplies? Are you fuelling up? Are you excited about the opportunity to go back out and go fishing?

I believe that Jesus is asking us the same thing - How are you using your time? Have you prepared? Are you ready to venture out when the time is right?  Are you ready to catch not one fish but thousands? Are you tired of being bound by ice, and are you ready to move freely?

It's given me something to think about, it's encouraged me - We are watching you break the ice Jesus - now we have to be ready to fish :)

"Early in the Morning" - a recap of Easter Service

Ark of the Covenant as depicted by bibleplaces.com

I have a vivid imagination - I can't remember a dream that's never been in colour. When I read a book, the story becomes alive to me. When I tell a story, I like to explain, expound and entice my listeners with details that capture their attention. 
As I was preparing for Easter Sunday's service, my mind was running...so many thoughts coming into my mind. I was excited. 
I read from John chapter 20 - the story of Mary going to the tomb of Jesus on that wonderful Easter morning. I couldn't help but picture what it was like...Cool morning air, the birds just starting to wake. The dim light of a lantern as Mary walks toward the garden tomb. How was Mary feeling? Was she nervous? Was she concerned that she was going to a tomb? What was she expecting to find?
Then imagine her astonishment, the stone rolled away. This tomb that was sealed. She immediately ran to tell Peter. She was frantic, her Lord was gone. 
(Here is an interesting thing...did she look into the tomb before she got Peter? She tells Peter that the Lord's body has been taken out of the tomb...Did she look before getting Peter or did she just assume that someone had stolen Jesus's body?)
One other interesting detail that I really like is when the Peter and the other disciple had left, and Mary was at the tomb..she looks in and sees 2 angels. Remember her eyes are filled with tears, she's crying and weeping. 
One angel at the foot of where Jesus laid, and one foot at the head of where Jesus had laid. This got my mind going - where else do we see 2 angels - one at the head and one at the foot? The ark of the covenant. Here is a little history on it - This ark was in the Holy of Holy's in the Jewish temple. The top of the ark was named "The Mercy Seat" This "Mercy Seat" had an angel at the head, and one at the foot. The High Priest would sprinkle blood for the atonement for himself and his family, the other priests, the Tabernacle, and the people of Israel.
Now go back with me to the story of Mary looking into the tomb. 2 angels...one at the head, one at the foot or where Jesus was laid...He was the Sacrifice for our sins...Do you see the similarity?
Just some thoughts :)


Blessings to you.

Busy, Busy, Busy...but to what end ? part 1

It has been a little while since I last posted. Life right now is very busy. Busy at work, busy at home, busy at church, busy planning, busy re-planning, busy writing, busy...busy...busy. Over 40 years have passed me... A little over 15 000 days... 360 000 hours...21 600 000 minutes...1 404 000 000 heart beats ( One billion 404 million heart beats)  and counting. My body is busy without me even thinking about it.

Then I read Haggai 1...⁵ Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”  ⁷ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways"... And I can't help but reflect on what is being said in this chapter. Twice the Lord says "Give careful thought to your ways." What is the Lord talking about? People being busy with what they want to do. For several years the Jewish people had returned to Jerusalem and they did not rebuild the temple...God's house. Their priorities where out of sync. they had a "me" first mentality. I think that today, in our busy lives, we often have this mentality. Me first. 

The prophet goes on to write:

⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. ⁹ “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. ¹⁰ Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. ¹¹ I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Here we have a very clear, concise, cause and effect. God's house was neglected...and God was not happy. People were busy doing "their own thing." The result was this - there were consequences. There was accountability. 

to be continued....

What if the Bible was as important as a Cell Phone

What if the Bible was as important as a Cell Phone?

1. If you forgot it, you would go and get it
2. it would be checked daily for messages
3. it would be treated as we couldn't live without it
4. it would be close by in case of emergencies
5. it would not get dust on it
6. it would be used hundreds of minutes each month
7. it would always close to you
8. it would be a great communication tool
9. it would be with you during church
10. it would be used during church
11. it may even save your life...

Just imagine....a Bible being as important as a cell phone.

2012 - A New Start to a New Year

I saw this Osprey nest yesterday while out for a drive with my family. Initially I thought that it would make a good picture....sort of unique. Then this morning, the Lord showed me something. This nest once served a purpose, is now empty, but it will be used again. Much like my life...that is why I am excited - 2012 will be a year of renewal. Just yesterday morning while reading the Bible - this is what popped out at me....“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 NIV

2011 is over - and I am so glad that it is. Now it is time to focus on future, not to dwell in the past!

Streams of living water are going to flow, wastelands will be made fertile, and paths through the wilderness will lead to amazing accomplishments! 

My family and I are SO looking forward to this New Year !!!