The Heart Grows

It is frustrating. We are looking for a family as we try to find a local church to be a part of. We want a family that is active and doing something. Is there a family that has a pastor that wants to do what God wants. Is there a pastor who is honestly and earnestly searching to hear Jesus and do what He says? It seems like there are a lot of good ideas but not many God ideas. I walk into places and can tell they are not interested in things outside of themselves. They are simply interested in getting people to come to them and then they will do something. Words mean nothing compared to actions. We look around. What are they advertising on the walls? What is in the bulletin? What are they talking about and how? What is missing? We don't think our sites are set too high. A warm welcome is good but slotting us immediately into leading and helping is not good. I love Jesus already and feel this way. What about those who don't?

This Chronicle Herald news article about provincial underwater archaeology laws needs more play in the media and among those concerned about archaeology. This is another example of Maritime archaeology law lagging behind the rest of the world. This treasure trove license needs to be abolished. Only qualified archaeologists should be holding these permits. Turning over artifacts without any contextual research data does not cut it. This literally gives people license to destroy our history. Speak up!

Antony Gormley's Fourth Plinth art installation One and Other just finished. Google it to learn more. The great thing about this project is the debate it has sparked. What is art? Should we stop the high art and low art divisions? How do we work together? Can many people with different agendas create one work of art? I simply want to bring recognition to this great experiment and say "let's continue the discussion."

Your never think that your story is that interesting. Or the story of the land you have grown up in. It is too familiar and too close. It is so much a part of you that it is uninteresting. The story is no strange enough to be interesting. Its like running your hand along a smooth surface, we only notice the imperfections. If you run your hand over that surface for hours, days, years then your fingers go numb and you notice nothing. Look at things from a different view point. A different angle shows a new surface. Or travel to someplace very different for a few months. When you return, things will look different. All that to say that every story is interesting… eventually. I used to think that the Maritimes was supremely uninteresting. After having lived ‘away’ for several years I understood that our stories were beautiful and interesting because you don’t hear them from anywhere else. I lived in a dry land at the foot of the Rockies. I lived in the USA during the Bush years. I was dy...