Retreat, Prayer, Reading, Working Out

As I mentioned in my previous blog post that the school was going on a retreat to Southern Alberta Bible Camp. We left at 4:00 PM on Tuesday and got back at 9:30 PM on Wednesday. The main purpose of this retreat was to have a time of solitude.

We had a worship service on Tuesday night after we got to the camp. It allowed us time to just worship our Lord and God. Then on Wednesday we had another worship service.

We in fact did have an hour of solitude on Wednesday after the worship service. It was time to sit and write or just reflect. I just sat and reflected. Even though the weather wasn't the best, we made the best of it.

We also had to look for rocks in which we could write one or two items that we wish God would help us in. I wrote humble and humility. I am trying to justify why. God just wanted me to write those two items on that rock. I chose a big rock. I guess God wants to work on me during these next eight months. This school year will be very interesting to say the least.

Then on Wednesday evening we had a service with communion. Not only that, we had a time of deep reflection. It was moving. I know my friend Mark A.R. Jensen aka Marf felt the presence of God. I know that a few people felt God as well. People were brought to tears during this service. The power of God was in the room.

When it was time for the communion part of the service, we would take a piece of bread, dip it in the cup, and then place our rock in front of the fire place. It was like we built an alter for God.

It's like in the song "Here By The Water:"

Here by the water
I'll build an alter to praise you
Out of these stones that I found here
I'll set them down here rough as they are

I guess it was only fitting that we did that. It was great growth experience for a number of people including myself.

What else is there? There is more.

Last night my friend Mark found out that his younger brother recieved a collapsed lung. It even moved his heart which is could have been fatal. I just hope that you keep Cory and his family in your prayers. He will recover, but he is in hospital. It's unfortunate that this happened. But if I know Mark then he will stay strong. They are definantly in my prayers.

I still have some reading to do. I have to finish the rest of my five chapters of Blue Like Jazz. I also need to finish reading that learning styles sheet. Even though it is borning and gives me a headache, I will try to finish it soon. Finally for the Old Testament, I will try and finish the reading on Foundations of Jewish Belief. We have to write a reflection paper on it. It only has to be one or two pages. So that isn't too bad.

Finally for you on this blog post, Mark and I started working out. We made an oath before the retreat to start working out and get in shape. We even shook on it. I want to lose weight because of health reasons. So tomorrow we will hit the weight room again. We focused mainly on our chests today. Tomorrow will be legs.

That's about it right now. I will post tomorrow. Have a good night.

Song, Test & Retreat

Marf and I wrote a song yesterday. I wrote the lyrics while Marf pounded out the tune and melody. I sounds great. I feel so anal about listening to myself on tape. But I did sound good. At least I think so.

There is a test today. It is on geography. I am feeling confident actually. I studied with some people yesterday and I feel that I am going to do pretty well on this test. At least that is what I my get feeling is.

Also at 4:00 PM today, we are leaving for Southern Alberta Bible Camp or something like that. It is for our retreat. We will be coming back tomorrow sometime in the evening. Around 10:00 PM or something like that. It will be a chance to my getting caught up on my reading. I want to pound the Bible and get way ahead. I hope to be done Genesis soon.

I will post those lyrics for the song "Ballad Of Steven Reid" either tomorrow or the next day. Well, I guess I should be going. Worship is at 8:30 and class is at 9:30. I need get dressed and whatnot. I also need to get over the stuff for the test as a last minute warm up.

The Ballad Of Steven Reid

Marf Jensen and myself wrote a song called "The Ballad Of Steven Reid." Steve Reid is the youth pastor at the church I go to back in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. I am hoping to play it at Extreme Impact if they have an open mic night. It is going to be great.

I still have to finish my reading for class. I will read one chapter of Blue Like Jazz today then one tomorrow. I will read some more of my Bible as well. I am up to Genesis 36 where they list the decendants of Esau. I hope to be done Genesis today or tomorrow. I am actually ahead of schedule. Well I am going to study for the test tomorrow. I guess I will post tomorrow... maybe.

Reading... Lots Of Reading

The past few days I have been trying to get my reading all done. I have to get started on Blue Like Jazz, Emerging Worship, continue reading the Bible, and finish reading those booklets for Old Testament and Christian Formation. We also have to read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I am probably going to have to re-read some parts of Mere Christianity because C.S. Lewis is a complex writer.

Today we have church at Hope Community Covenant Church. One service is at 9:15 and the other is at 11:00. I don't know which service I will go to yet.

Yesterday (Saturday) we went to Spruce Meadows although a lot of people were dreading it. But it turned out to be pretty. There was way more then watching horses. There were tents that were set up as different nations. I got something from Germany, England, and Scotland. There was no France. Those four are some of my ancestory. Also, I don't know if I am Welsh or not. There was dog agility you could watch which was cool. There was music and dancing you could watch. There was a Rembrant exhibit. Rembrant was a painter in like the 1600's or something.

The thing about yesterday is that it was FREAKIN' hot. I put the empahsis on freakin'. Other then that it was a pretty good time.

Here is a quick story for you people especially Pastor Randall. Earlier this week when I was telling Todd Slechta and Brian Frable which church I am from, I would just say "Church of Randall Friesen" and they would immediatly know where I come from. Randall is on the CBC Board.

I best get going and get moving. I will talk to you people later.

Here I Am To Worship

Well, it's a been awhile since my last blog post and rightfully so. I was busy working and getting ready to come to school. College that be. I am now here at Covenant Bible College in Strathmore, Alberta and I have been here almost a week. I am starting to get to know some of the people here.

I don't have a roommate unlike my friend Marf Jensen, but that is another tale for another time or you can just go to his blog and read all about it.

I have been having trouble with my wireless internet. It is hit and miss. But Marf gave me an ethernet cord to use since his mother bought him a very long ethernet cord.

I have to say that my dad is wrong about the food here at school. He said that they would be making food that I don't like. I can officially say that he is wrong. They have been making some awesome food. This year I made the promise to myself to lose some weight. Hopefully I can achieve that goal. I will see how I make out with that.

I can't say that I am home sick. I hope that I can make this year truly awesome and that I can grow in the Lord and just become a better person overall. I will be proving to my mom that I am not here just for the social experience. I need to be here for myself spiritually. I just I grow by leaps and bounds. But before I go, let me finish with a prayer.

Lord, thank you for allowing me to be here. I just pray that everyone can grow in their faith in many different ways. Just make this a year that many of us will never forget. I just ask this in your name. AMEN.

Ten Days Left

I have ten days left then I am finished work. Work has been boring because in the summer it is not so dirty and messy. So I usually get done what I have to do in good time. But I shouldn't complain because I didn't really do much to get this job. I was given this job on a recommendation.

If I come back to work for PA Janitorial Services after I am finished school I don't know. I just want to have a career in many different fields. A radio station DJ, a singer in a band, professional wrestling commentator, or professional wrestling ref. There are so many different things I want to do. I guess I will make a decision when time comes. Right now finishing work, getting a laptop, getting funding is the main priority right now.

Busy, Busy Weekend

What a weekend I had. I had reunion stuff to do. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday I did stuff with family. There was family from all over Saskatchewan, Canada, United States, and Wales at the reunion. I was staying at the farm on Friday after work, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Saturday Afternoon:
Saturday afternoon there was a come and go tea at my Auntie Merle and Uncle Harvey's place on 22nd St. E. in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. There was a lot of family from all over at the come and go tea. Some people I never even met. So it was good to see people.

Saturday Evening:
Saturday evening there was a wiener roast at the farm. My dad's farm that be. My dad's cousin wife Eileen and their three kids didn't know what a wiener roast was. Eileen said: "Is it like roasting marshmallows?" Yes it's exactly like that. It was windy and John (dad's cousin from Coneticut) were freezing because they were not used to 50 degree F weather. They came from 100 degree F weather. But it was a good time. The wiener was roast was the Sheldon side of the family.

Sunday Evening:
Sunday evening all of the family went to my dad's cousin Carmen's place. He had the perfect place to hold a few hundred people. He used to have dairy cattle, but not anymore. So he converted his loft into a place where people can have dances and whatnot. So we ate more food and had a dance. The Cottonpickers were the entertainment. Seen a lot more family I didn't know. So it was a great time. I was in charge of the name tags.

Monday Afternoon:
My dad's cousin Gwyn was staying out at the farm. So I had to go pick up my dad's cousin Anna's husband Bryn from Carmen's at around 4 PM and bring him to the farm to stay the rest of his time here in Prince Albert. I gave Bryn the grand tour of the farm and he was fascinated by all that I shown him. Bryn does some farming back in Wales. He really enjoyed the tour. Here is a bit of trivia for you. Bryn told me that sheep out number people in England. There are nine million sheep and three million people.

Then on Monday evening after John, Elieen, their three kids, my Grandman Sheldon, Uncle Jack, Auntie Irene, Stew, Gwyn, John and Joy, Uncle Harvey and Auntie Merle came back from Waskesiu (Prince Albert National Park), we had pizza for supper.

All in all it was great weekend to see some new faces and see some old familiar faces. I am thankful that everyone arrived safe and made their way home safe. I am also thankful that all the functions during the reunion went off smoothly and safely.

The whole point of the reunion was to get people together and see people because we only got together at funerals. Busy weekend, but busy in a good way.