Im not much of a movie person. I prefer to spend two hours talking with people then sitting and not talking. I find movies often boring and a waste of time - and if you watch it in a theatre a waste of money too. Tonight I did watch a movie and it wasnt boring and it wasnt a waste of time and well worth the $8.25. I just got back from Blood Diamond. It was amazing. Ill try not to ruin the movie but there are some great scenes I must share.

So this guy has a son who is kidnapped and taken as a child soldier. He risks his life over and over to find him. When he does this beautiful anger, love anger I like to call it, comes upon him and nothing would stop him from getting his son back. God is so like that. He has this beautiful anger, a love anger, where He beautifully destroys the wicked, where His love anger tramples upon the enemys who take his children. God is a warrior. Mighty in battle.

A few scenes later, his son who has been brainwashed and tortured into life as a child soldier denies and regects his father. His father does not love him less...his love doesnt change. Later the son points a gun and is ready to kill and the father gently begins to speak truth..."I am your father, You are my son, You are a good boy, You are not a killer, You have been told you are, but you are good, You are smart". This gentle love and powerful truth is enough for the boy to return to his father. Again, God is so like that. We can regect Him, we can even try to kill him, but His love overcomes. He is constantly speaking truth to us. His truth will set you free. God is faithful. God is love.

Good movie - you should see it.
There are other great scenes, but we can talk when you see the movie. And I will likely come back in the next few days and include more thoughts from this film. It is filled with gospel parrellels.

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Different note. Did you know that the Hebrew word for Righteouness and Justice are the same. So you cant have one without the other. Tsedeq. Which also means cleanse. I was praying this morning and I asked "HOW?". I know 'what' but I want to know 'how'. Amung answers was 'justice'.

A little random, sure, but really - Tsedeq is the foundation of His throne.

God is here.

Go see blood diamond.

God is here.

Christmas Caroling is soooo fun!
Ive never been before. Last night was my first night ever and I loved it. A bunch of us went out and dressed in funny hats and went door to door spreading the good news with song!

Christ was born to save!

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You know whats awesome. Family. Seriously those people that just make everything seem better. Those people whom you havent seen in a while and when you do it feels like they never left.

I love you mom.

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God is here.

I think I have like 4 unrelated things to say in this post.

In cell last night we were discussing the role of the Wise Men. One question asked was why did the Wise Men worship Jesus? Really, Jesus, at this point had done nothing overly miraculus. I mean sure he was a baby and thats a mirical in itself, and sure he was born from a virgin...but I mean, he hadnt raised anyone from the dead, he hadnt preached, he hadnt healed the sick or cast out any demons, heck he hadnt even died on the cross yet. So why did the Wise Men worship Jesus. I think its somewhat simple really.

They saw Him.

They saw Jesus, and at the sight of His beauty and holiness they fell in worship. I reckon its the same today. Once we see Jesus we fall in worship. *Random thought - worship is love...we fall in worship, or we fall in love*. But back to this worship thing. Its because we see Jesus that we worship Him. If people think they have seen Jesus but have not fallen in love, then I dont think they actually saw Jesus.

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So if you recall from the last post the mall here in Victoria has a sweet deal. You buy a gift from a store and a kiosk will wrap it for you, for free, no strings attached. So I bought a gift and went to this place and got it wrapped. I went back to pick it up, and as I was waiting this other guy was doing the same thing. This guy had a dodgy look to him I guess. He was scruffy and maybe smelly. And the lady asked to see his reciept. Implying that he didnt pay for what he wanted wrapped. I got so angry! I debated saying what I was going to, but I quickly got over myself and asked how come I didnt have to show my reciept? I was floored by the ladies answer, I couldnt beleive she actually said it outloud. Her answer was becuase I look innocent enough. Man, this guy, I could only feel how hurt he must have been. She asked me if it would make me feel better if I showed her my reciept. I told her it would, and showed it to her. She asked me if I felt better, I said yes...and then the other guy said "ya I feel better too."

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I was at the mall again today! I love the mall!!! And I was washing my hands. When I went to get a paper towel a flippin razor fell on my hand. It didnt cut me, but it was clearly placed so that when someoen was reaching for paper towel they would get a handful of blood instead...crazy. It looked just like this.

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Tonight I was cleaning up the bathroom at Sancturay (a youth drop in for street kids). When I was cleaning up I found a Jib pipe. I held it up and asked if anyone had a good reason why I shouldnt throw it away. The answers I heard were "its mine" or "i use it". I said - nope those arent good reasons, actually I dont know if there is a good reason to it. Needless to say, it went in the garbage.

God is here.

To check out a brief clip of the engagement spoke about last post click here.

This is our ghetto Christmas tree. Let me give you some details.

The tree itself is against building regulations. Aparently we arenot aloud real trees. But really we couldnt afford a fake tree, and Ive never had a real tree before - I was really excited to have one.

The tree skirt, which cannot be seen from this picture was found on the side of the road.

The Star of David on top of our tree is made from tin foil and cardboard.

(The stoking with the teddy bear on it is mine from when I was a kid!!!)

Christmas is fun. I havent even blogged about it and all the joyus festivites this season brings yet.

Kettles - I love kettles. Some one thought I was a CD player the other day. I liked hearing that. But really, while on kettles this year I have heard more then one person comment about never hearing bell ringers sing before - shocked I was. One great thing about kettles is the people you get to meet and share the love of Christ with. No salvations yet - but a really fun conversation with a fellow named Rob.

Baking - My two roommates and I, we are not very experience cooks I must say. Today we attempted to make Christmas cookies. The bakign and cutting shapes part was fun...Im not too sure how they managed to taste like bread though.

Shopping - I love shopping - and when I can justify shopping I love it even more! The mall here in Victoria is sweet. They have a free gift wrapping station! How rad is that! You buy a gift in their mall, and as a Thank-you-for-shopping-in-our-mall token of appriciation, they wrap your gifts for you. Saves some good cash on wrapping paper and tape.

Christmas Carols - Isnt it great how during this time of year people worship our Lord in stores, radio stations, walkign down the street, on busses or whatever. Some favorites of mine this year include "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel" "Oh Come Let us Adore Him" - and this other one we sang this mornign that I never heard...but I forget.

"Remember Christ our Savoir was born on Christmas Day.
To save us all from Satans power when we have gone astray"

God is here!

I called it!

Two comrades of mine, session mates infact got engaged last night! Congratulations to Trevor Regan Lipsett and Jeni Lynn Parsons. Man how much joy fills my heart!

These fellow Martyrs were getting enrolled as Salvation Soldiers when, so Im told, Regan goes down on one knee. For the record I so called it! I remember a conversation I had with someone recently about our friends current courtship and their upcoming enrollment and I said "he is so going to propose!" I win!! But of corse, not wanting to take away the glory....congratulations agian to Regan and Jeni.

Regan and Jeni...what can I say? Amazing, beautiful people. You cant help but see Jesus when you look at them, when you look at their love, when you look at their lives. Their relationship and courtship has been a perfect of example of this. My life is much so blessed to know these two wonderful people.

God is here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LISA STEWART

Wow.
I had a really cool day! I got to do something I never have done before. I went to my friends ultrasound with her and got to see her baby...it is this big...<---->....oh and I got to see its heart beat...the baby is too little to hear it, but we could see it. Man it was so awesome. Ya that word can be overused, but really, nothing else can describe today other then awesome.

Life.
Its an amazing thing. I found myself reflecting on life a bit after todays events...real life...pure life. Jesus came to give us life in the fullest.

Death.
I am fed up with the enemy stealing life from my friends. I see it all the time. I see her trying to find love and only finding hurt. I see him scared and alone. I see him reaching for the needle to take away all away. I see her reaching for the knife to cut it all away.

Life.
Jesus is here. He is here. He has allready given us this life, life in abundance. He has allready taken away the hurt, the pain, the sorrow. What else is...there is more. There is more life. There is more love. More joy. More. More. More. More life.

Choice.
We have the choice. We can choose death. We can choose to suffer in our defeat...or we can choose life. We can choose to walk in freedom. We can choose to walk in joy. Choose life.

Worship.
How do we fight against this death? How do we drink from this cup of life? Worship. Simple really....we are called to worship our King. Tonight I was at Sanctuary (a youth drop in we are involved with) and by far the crazyest night ever. Just alot of darkness. I was in the middle of doing this art thing (I know what youre thinking - Nicole and Crafts do not go together) and getting really spiriutally upset with the wickedness floating around. And I was battling with what to do, and finally I just dropped what I was doing and grabbed a guitar, sat right in with the conversations and behviors and worshiped. The result....worship makes death flee. Death you have no sting!!!! Jesus is Lord. Hallelujah.

An amazing end to an amazing day.

God is here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

SHAWN HILDEBRANDT

CRYSTAL LOZEE

TARA AYER

God is here

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KYLE BELTON


God is here.

I have a friend who has two kids. Their names are Mercy and Asher. Man I thought those were pretty cool in themselves. I was told what there middle names were, and it is on a whole new spectrum of cool. Ready for this?

Mercy Danger and Asher Thrasher.

Thats rad.

God is here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ROBYN PETRIK

God is here.

We are called to serve. And just like love and grace, expect nothing in return. Because really isnt that what serving is anyways...just a cover up of love and grace. We have someone living with us and when I asked Jesus what it was suposed to look like he said we are to serve her, and serve her extememly (or extravagantly) aswell. I guess this should be common practice with anyone hey. Not limited...becuase if we limit our service then we are limiting love and grace.

God is here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREA CASTLE

God is here.