Back To Bubble

It seems like in the world where games like Halo are a common household staple... I miss the day where the simple games were sometimes the best. Nothing against the new stuff....I think it's great, but I tend to be an old school guy in that department :) I have to say I think my all time favorite would be Bubble Bobble! Here's why - the story is simple, so are the graphics.. and the music is...well...pretty original..enough that you start humming the chorus before long whilst spitting bubbles at the monsters and bursting them into oblivion ;-) I think the reason I like this game so much, is for me (as I don't play much computer games at all) it is a "getting back to basics" kind of reprieve for me - it's so simple and uncomplicated. Sometimes life gets pretty complicated and things come up that just either don't make sense... or don't seem fair. As many of you know, a girl in our church was in a serious car accident and is right now in critical, but stable condition. Like the rest of the church - it both shocked and shook me because we don't usually think when we say goodbye to someone in the evening, that it "could" be the last time we talk - this side of heaven!

....how do we uncomplicate things?

I was in Spain recently for my brother's wedding... it was amazing.. the wedding was wonderful...and everything about the trip was different. The concept of "stress" doesn't exist in Spanish culture.. everything is relaxed.. even their work day! They work in the morning till around lunch time.. then businesses shut till around 3pm... (for their afternoon siesta) then re-open and later close in the evening. They then have dinner around 10pm!!! Sounds weird? Of course! Our North American culture wouldn't hear of it... and yet... when we were there it made so much sense and I found myself asking myself over and over.. Why on earth don't we operate this way? It wasn't just about having a nice relaxed lifestyle, but about having a healthy one. I don't recall seeing a single overweight person, and everyone seemed very calm. Tourist observation? Perhaps... But it made an impact on me that's for sure!

So as I ponder the world that's buzzing around me I'm so aware of relationships around us.. some doing well.. others not. Funny how life is like that.. pits and peaks some say! The news is screaming with all kinds of things.. from North Korea's trigger happy stance on Nuclear stuff... to another fallen leader in the church. I should mention by the way, that I'm really saddened by the news of Ted Haggard, but indeed it is another wake up call for the church I'm convinced. Anyways.. in the complexity of things going on around us.. and daily musings about life and friends...church and relationships... I find that perhaps we just need to be still sometimes... and wait ... and listen for that still small voice of the one who actually does know all things.. and let Him assure you that HE is in control..

New Record

Hello out there!!.........

Yes I set a new record for myself, no... not the longest period since I blogged last (although that could also qualify), but rather for the longest sleep ever! My wife and I got back from Scotland last night.... and I slept a total of 12 hours!...Anna actually slept 14 so she beats on that one!!! Had a great time in the home land... forgot how beautiful the highlands were! The only thing I really hated on the whole trip was Heathrow airport... don't wanna be mean, but I just can't stand that place! Anyway... we stayed in the most beautiful manor house.. as seen below, and I wish you could find architecture like that here.

Truly though... there is no place like home!! What's weird is being out of touch in the blogging world for so long I've noticed a lot of updates on blogs everywhere and it's amazing to see the changes God is doing in peoples lives. Of this I am completely convinced... God is intimately involved in the details of our lives! And this is a truly amazing thing when you think about it! Funny... I don't have a whole lot to share at the moment, but at least thought I would post something to signal to the world...I have indeed returned to the planet.

Peace out.

Downpour

Good grief...what a weekend it's been!!! I was sick a good part of last week, then we had after some brief renovations in our place, an old pipe decided that now was a good time to burst!!! So what started (as I observed) as a healthy drip coming out of the ceiling.. turned into a watery mess which continued to pool itself on our floor.. and then got adventurous and made it's way under the laminate floors in our kitchen, dining room... and yes.. bathroom!

To quote the medieval expletive.. ODS BODKINS!

Word from the wise.. (or aspiring wise)... to those of you out there considering the wonderful world of home ownership - I beg you .. have insurrance!!!! This is what it is for - the great unexpected =)

So here I sit.. at home...using work vacation time awaiting the insurrance adjuster (who sounded very nice on the phone) to call...and subsequently knock at the door to tell me how much they will replace! Yes... my friends.. it could be worse, and I know that God always has a way of working these things out for the better! Already miracles have happened... starting with the emergency plumber we called after-hours when we first observed the waterfall that night. On the phone he said it would be time and half... but when we spoke to him the next morning - he said.. and I quote "I won't charge you..."

Praise God!! So below is two lovely pictures of the first signs of the ensuing flood... I'll leave the rest to your imagination.