We be movin' on up!

After a ten game losing streak and going from 2nd in the conference to 9th (out of a playoff spot) my Flyers have turned it around!

Last night against Buffalo a shoot out win for the Flyers and especially sweet for Biron & Briere (who after being booed for the duration of the game won it for them in the shoot out - stick that in your pipe and smoke it!)!

Roll Up The Rim (to rarely win)

Ok, so it's that time of year again. I gave up caffeinated coffee at the beginning of the new year. As a result, I don't drink coffee at home in the morning & I haven't been buying it leisurely with the exception of meeting friends at the local watering hole for chats. Buuuuut, you just may see me stopping by Tim's tonight as I head to Joel's hockey game (decaf only)!

ps Did you know there is "no purchase necessary"? Tim's will mail you a cup if you write them and pay the postage. What's even more unbelievable is that I came across the blog of someone who actually did that!

The View From Here

Campfire at Fish Creek

We went to Fish Creek (an oasis in the city) today for a campfire, hot dogs on the open fire & marshmallow roasting. Calgary has been experiencing plus temperatures all week. Much of the snow is gone or going & the kids are getting spring fever - hence the bikes.

Good times, good times!

Back on the bikes & lovin' it!

Jake showing off his sweet skills!

Grandma & Grandpa Frampton enjoying the campfire & sunshine!

Passionate Spirituality

I was at a workshop yesterday where the group was asked, "What does passionate spirituality look like?"

I was squirming in my seat as story after story was told about someone 'inside' the church. "John came to church & at first was aloof then after a few months wanted to help out in Sunday school." "Rich & Sally showed up at church as we were leaving the building one Sunday. They said they were looking for a church home. They began coming, started teaching Alpha and turned the church around."

I wanted to ask (and should have) doesn't anyone have a story of what passionate spirituality looks like 'outside' the church? Are we so narrow sighted that our understanding of passionate spirituality is linked only to Christians carrying out church duties?

What about the story of the woman who has faced numerous adversities? She gets knocked down only to get up & getting knocked down again. She hasn't become critical and cynical, in fact, she lives out what is attractive about Jesus in her life as she continues to put the needs of others before her own and does so with honest joy.

I could be more skeptical of others but I don't measure passionate spirituality by what I experience in the church at a typical worship gathering or during a weekly church program. In fact, (sad as it may seem) I lean more towards what I see and hear at those gatherings as exaggerated and often masking a hidden reality. Jesus in the everyday life of a believer - that's a beautiful & attractive thing.

So, passionate spirituality - what does it look like?

Spiritual Direction

Leslie & I have been visiting Spiritual Directors. Leslie had her second visit yesterday & I have my second visit tomorrow.

It's a first for us both & at this early stage I'd have to give it two thumbs up.

God is speaking & saying things that are both encouraging & terrifying; comforting & unsettling.

In this process of receiving spiritual direction I've found a sacred space here in the city...actually, I'm going to keep it to myself for fear it take on the bustle of the rest of the city!

Missional Journey

My buddy Pernell resurfaced today after a blog break - welcome back Pernell!

From his blog I picked up a link I'll be checking often: Missional Journey.

Watch my sidebar for an upcoming list of "Missional Thinkers & Practitioners" who influence my life & thinking.

Called Up

It's a long weekend here in Alberta & as such one of the Atom teams in our community was short players. Joel is a Novice 3 player and was asked to play for an Atom 5 team. Despite being a little nervous and having had ice time last night and this morning 2 hours before the Atom game - he rose to the opportunity.

Joel scored the first goal, taking a sweet pass from his winger in the corner & sliding it under the goalie!

The team was down 2-0 at the time. Joel made it 2-1. They then went down 3-1 before coming back in the third period to tie it up 3-3. Joel's teammate also played D today and did a great job as well.

Great job Joel & Robbie!

Fringlish

We had some new friends over for dinner last night. They moved to our cul-de-sac last fall from Quebec.

They are a couple with two little girls 5 & 8. The girls speak no English! Our kids speak no French! Yet, they played and had a great time. Sometimes there was translation, most of the time they just winged it!

Our new neighbour friend, a young mom, was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas. She had surgery last month & will soon be having chemo. We will be supporting our new friends through this time as best we can.

If you are a praying person, keep this young mom (her husband & two young daughters) in your prayers - ask God to heal her body from any trace of cancer.

Giving Things Up is so Last Millenium...

People don't give up stuff for Lent much any more. I once went to a luxury chocolate shop and asked them whether they sold less chocolate during Lent - they noticed no difference.

We ran a poll on Christian Connection, 40% said they didn't believe in doing anything for Lent, and about 20% said they tried to give things up, and another 20% tried to do something spiritual. That's apparently active Christians - so for the other 90% of the population, it's probably even lower.

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I missed Shrove Tuesday

I wasn't paying attention and missed Shrove (aka pancake) Tuesday & Ash Wednesday. Thanks to Mike's Facebook I steal his post:

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

That's one reminder worth coming back to!

Disturb Us

A friend shot me this prayer:

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.

attributed - sir francis drake -1577

Thank God for friends in my corner!