Awards Night

This past Wednesday was awards night at HCS. Our Kristina made the Principal's List, as well as a number of other academic awards...well done Kristina we are very proud of you!! Also, Kimberly made B Honour Roll after working very hard this ast year...well done Kimberely! We are also very proud of all the hard work you did!

Awards and Birthdays

It was time to celebrate Ashley's Birthday, as well as celebrate Steven's achievements in school! Well done! We are so proud of you guys!

George Grant on Leadership

Inevitable Controversy

All leaders are controversial. They invariably risk the ire of others. Because they stand for certain things, they necessarily stand against certain things. This causes them to stand out. It makes them more than a little peculiar in this plain vanilla world of smothering uniformity. G.K. Chesterton asserted, “A man with a definite belief always appears bizarre, because he does not change with the world; he has climbed into a fixed star and the earth whizzes below him like a zoetrope. Millions of mild black-coated men call themselves sane and sensible merely because they always catch the fashionable insanity, because they are hurried into madness after madness by the maelstrom of the world. The man with a definite belief is sure to be the truer friend. Therefore mark the inequalities of the world and celebrate them as matters of definition and preciseness.”

In order to maintain a sense of equilibrium, a leader must keep several things in mind as he or she does what’s worth doing:

1. To affirm one thing is to deny another. It is not possible to take a stand without calling into question another stand. And that is invariably an offense. There is simply no way around it. A strong leader is always careful, tries to measure language, and seeks to moderate extremes. But no matter how hard he or she may try, someone, somewhere, somehow is going to be offended. Andrew Jackson admitted, “I know if I were to say the sky was blue, someone would take great offense, as if I had purposefully neglected the prerogatives of the multitudes of Chinamen then dwelling under the pall of night.”

2. Accept the nature of the struggle. Our world is inclined to polarization. People take sides. And since there are at least two sides to every issue, folks are going to hurry into opposite lines in order to oppose one another. You can be sure that there will be folks along each flank itching to pick a fight. That is just the way things are. It may not be particularly desirable. But it is reality. The good leader is able to assess the situation as it actually is—not as it ought to be or used to be or one day will be. John Quincy Adams confessed, “It is never my desire to fight but it is always my intention to do so. I am resigned to such a posture only because I know the nature of man is contention and not conciliation. Thus, the vast majority of the moral work which needs to be done will be accomplish only after the clash and clatter of conflict.”

3. If you have to fight, fight fair. All is not fair in either love or war. There are ethical restraints to which we must give heed. We may be forced into conflict against our wills, but we need not be forced into concupiscence against our wills. We can stick to the point. We can avoid personal attacks. We can avoid mud slinging. We can be accurate. We can maintain decorum, respect, and integrity. We can fight fair. If we are fighting for the right thing, the least we can do is fight in the right way. If we are fighting for justice, the least we can do is fight justly. If we are fighting for that which is good and true, the least we can do is use goodness and truth as the ground not only of our ends but also of our means.

4. Admit to the mystery and complexity of the world. Some folks want to reduce everything in the world to simple formulas. They want to be able to summarize everything in an easy to grasp shorthand. They invariably attribute the doings of history to this, that, or another vast right wing conspiracy. But the fact is that history is full of the indecipherable mysteries of providence, and thus any attempt to reduce the process of its legends, epics, movements, heroes, and villains to a mere mechanical or material science is destined to be more than a little ridiculous—as the sad legacies of Marx, Gibbons, and Toynbee so readily demonstrate. It is true that certain undeniably fixed milestones emerge—like the battles of Hastings and Waterloo, the regicides of Louis XVI and Charles I, the triumphs of Bismarck and Richelieu, and the tragedies of the Hapsburgs and Hoenstauffens—and we can, from them, build up certain vague rules regarding the onward march of civilization. But for the most part, the events of history have the habit of coming up out of nothing, like the little particles of ice which float to surface of the Seine at the beginning of a frost, or like the little oak trees that crop up everywhere like weeds in the broad fields of East Sussex. They arise silently and unpredictably. And that surprises us. It is too easy for us to forget—or to try to ignore—the fact that the doings of man are on the knees of an inscrutable providence. One of the most important and most neglected aspects of the story of men and nations is the fact that the story is not yet complete—and will not be until providence has run its resolute course. We can only truly comprehend the issues and events that swirl around us when we recognize them as part and parcel of the ethical out-working of that inscrutable providence. The irony of this is so large that it may be too large to be seen. To admit as much is the better part of wisdom.

5. Match medium and message. Leaders believe that how they communicate the riches of truth is no less important than what they communicate. As a result they will actually demonstrate the what in the how. Substantive messages should be communicated substantively. An appeal to history ought to be historical. An appeal to morality ought to be moral. Leaders want to effectively communicate. The question is what do they want to communicate? And how do they best go about communicating it? Hilaire Belloc once said, “If you ask me why I put Latin in my writing, it is because I have to show that it is connected with the Universal Fountain and with the European Culture, and with all that heresy combats.” And again, “Note that pendants lose all proportion. They never can keep sane in a discussion. They will go wild on matters they are wholly unable to judge. Never do they use one of those three phrases which keep a man steady and balance his mind; I mean the words (1) After all it is not my business. (2) Tut! Tut! You don't say so! And (3) Credo in Unum Deum Patrem Omnipotentem, Factorem omnium visibilium atque invisibilium; in which last, there is a power of synthesis that can jam all their analytical dust-heap into such a fine, tight, and compact body as would make them stare to see.” In short, the medium ought to match the message and vice versa.

The battle rages. Leaders never relish that fact—but they always recognize it and then act accordingly.

Ron Rolheiser on Father's Day

Father’s Day. What do you celebrate if you lost your father a long time ago?

My father died 38 years ago, I was twenty-two and just beginning to appreciate what an adult relationship to a father could mean. But he died, at age 62, and our family felt his death as a wound that rubbed raw for three months until our mother, even younger than my father, also died. We went numb after that.

But time heals and now, all those years later, everything about my father, including his death, feels warm and gives off a blessing. The same holds true for my mother. There’s a warmth where once there was a wound.

So mostly I don’t miss my father, at least not in the way we normally miss someone we love. I don’t need him in a certain way any more. In the few years that I had him he gave me what he needed to give me and now I know that no matter what I’m doing, good or bad, he is aware of it. That’s frightening too and I wonder if he blinks sometimes as he sees my life.

Remembering him today, on Father’s Day, I realize, more than ever, that I was lucky. He was a good father, and in ways not so immediately evident.

Jesus was once speaking in a crowd when a woman raised her voice and complimented his mother by saying: "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breast the nursed you!" Jesus didn’t deny that he had a wonderful mother, but added that his mother was wonderful not so much in that she had given him biological birth but especially in that she had given him birth to deeper life. The same could be said about my father. His fatherhood was more than biological.

The externals of his life weren’t extraordinary, though he tended to have a pretty full plate. Besides being a farmer, he was involved deeply in church and community. He worked for much of his life for his favorite political party, was a councillor for the local municipality for many years, and sat occasionally on both the local hospital and school boards. Once he ran for public office, for Reeve of the local municipality (something akin to being a rural mayor) and he lost. It was a tough blow for him. I remember the disappointment in him, even while he was trying to put on a brave face. What hurt was not so much the fact of losing, he didn’t much want the job anyway, but the fact of knowing that the local community preferred someone else to him. There’s pride in us all.

Beyond that, he managed a local baseball team for many years. He loved that but, given local politics, that too was sometimes more of a political joggling act (whose sons got to play and whose didn’t) than a welcome distraction to the everyday grind. But from that I inherited a lifelong love for baseball and would love to have had the chance to go to a major league game sometime with my father.

But what made him outstanding as a father was his personal integrity and his stubborn, uncompromising moral edge. For my father, there were no excuses for moral compromise, for compensating just because you were tired, or confused, or in an over-tempting situation. He issued no exemptions, to you or to himself. The real effort of life, for him, was to measure up, in faith and in moral behavior. It didn’t help to protest that you were human after all and couldn’t be expected to be perfect. His answer: "It’s no great thing being human. Everyone is that! I want someone to show me something that’s divine!"

He made it clear to us, to all of his children, that our lives were not our own, that we were given a vocation from God and that vocation is to give our lives away, even if that means hard sacrifice. I haven’t always lived that perfectly, but his voice inside of me has pushed me always in that direction.

He was a strong, stubborn moral voice, one from which you didn’t easily walk away. But he never bullied, grew nasty or violent, or over-pressured. The pressure came from whom and what he was and, from that, I inherited, I think, more than I wanted. In that moral stubbornness, he was too a reticent man, he didn’t dance easily or with much fluidity. I sense that now in my own life, in my body, in my bones, in my hesitancies, in my over self-consciousness at times, and in my failure sometimes to be able to abandon myself healthily to life.

But that’s who he was and that’s who I am, for better and for worse. He was my father and I carry a lot of his DNA, both the biological and the other.

And, thirty-eight years after his death, I walk in gratitude for that DNA, with both its strengths and its inhibitions.

My fav Russian Photo

This was taken at Tsarkoe Selo near St. Petersburg.

Marina and I had such a wonderful time, and because we never expected to EVER go there, it was also a very Blessed time.

We are thankful!

Back from Russia

Well....we made it safe and sound. The trip was a success...we have commitments to get teachers who will write a complete Russian language curriculum with a Christian Worldview...and some strong interest by a group of Ukrainian teachers to do the same. Once again our trip was filled with divine appointments.

Greg will be returning in August with a small team from our school to train teachers in online course writing, as well as an enhancer. (No, I won't need to be there for this)

Marina and I did have a couple days off to explore St. Petersburg....it was a wonderful time and we saw many amazing things. I've posted most of our photos on Facebook: Here, here and here.

I must say, this being my 5th visit to Russia, that things steadily improve. There is a middle class now. But my heart is still in the country, where poverty and lonliness prevail. I'm hoping that the model of schooling being set up, will also work in the villages..where the need is still great. Thanks for your prayers...and those who sponsored and prayed for me throughout the years and many visits to Russia..know that your committment has paid off!

This wonderful photo of Marina was taken at Peterhof, a palace built by Peter the Great. The lavishness is amazing!

School of Tomorrow

We arrived safely in Russia and have hit the road running, so to speak. The first day was spent in meetings with teachers and then the admin team. We are endeavoring to explain the concepts of online school to them, they are eager to grap the concept, but it is, after all, outside the box.

The school is located in Moscow and is quite a nice facility. Russian law dictates that all schools must provide both breakfast and lunch to students and staff..so we are well taken care of. The student population gets 2 hot meals per day, in keeping with a nutrition chart. It would be an interesting endeavor in Canada to implement.

We are exhausted, though. Marina has had trouble sleeping and adapting to the new time. She is amazed at the Russia she sees...we went into some Moscow kiosks near the metro...very dirty...yet we were in a new mall and it was like any mall in Canada....with differences in the food court of course.

Friday is Victory Day so everything will be closed to mark the victory of Nazism. There will be a big parade which we will try to see...Friday night we will take the train to St. Petersburg.

No word from Stephanie on how they are doing in Mexico...although we did get an email from Mr. Smith saying all is well. Please pray for Steph...and pray for strength for us. See you soon!

PS: We are staying in the missionary apartment with Julie and 2 girls from South Africa. Here is a shot in their kitchen.

Off to Russia

Wow...the time has crept up on us...Marina and I leave today for Russia! It will be Marina's first visit back to the land of her birth since she left in 1976 at the age of 15. She naturally has mixed emotions.

When we arrive there will be lots of meetings, but it looks like we will have the weekend off to explore...so we may be going to St. Petersburg...a dream of Marina's...and a great Mother's Day gift.

Please pray we have a safe trip...that all our meetings go well...that Greg and I will accomplish what needs to be done to get online schooling up and running for this September.

Off to Mexico!

Our Dear Stephanie is on her way to Mexico for 6 weeks!

It's a yearly trip with the school, for kids in Grade 11, where they finish up and complete various course studies and make a difference in the life of a Church and school down in Puerto Escondido.

Steph raised her support herself, and it took a LOT of hard work...and I mean a lot!

I'm proud of her, the goal she set and her willingness to stretch herself to go on this trip.

Please pray for her health, that she will be ok, and that God will use this time to remind her just how much He loves and cares for her!

With a different father in mind

Written by Tony Woodlief May 2, 2008 World Magazine

Lately I’ve grown ashamed of how often I discipline my children out of anger, or annoyance, rather than a genuine desire to train them up. If three year-old Isaac’s repeated thumping of a table leg penetrates my consciousness at dinner, I’ll tell him to stop it out of irritation, not because I want him to have good table manners. If eight year-old Caleb tells me I said A and not B, I’ll glower and tell him not to correct me, as if it’s a principle I’m standing on, rather than my expansive pride. If six year-old Eli mumbles, I’ll snap at him to speak up, not because I am, in that moment, concerned with the development of his elocution, but because it’s consuming mental bandwidth to discern what he’s saying.

My disciplinary actions too often have me at the center — my wants, my ego, my sense of how things ought to be in my domain. I suspect we all fall prey to that impulse from time to time, or perhaps a lot of the time, or perhaps it’s mostly just me. But maybe I’m not the only one who tells himself some subconscious story about the righteous anger of God, to justify my own anger. Maybe other parents repeat to themselves how they’ve tried and tried, in order to justify their barks when the whippersnappers forget yet again to close the back door. Maybe too many of us we pretend that, because our children have become outwardly inured to our browbeating, that our glares and raised voices don’t wound them — worse, that it’s only our anger that gets through their thick little skulls.

So I’ve been practicing patience. Emphasis on “practicing.” When Isaac launches into one of his interminable monologues, right in the middle of a discussion between me and the wife, instead of shushing him, I’m trying get down to his level, put a hand on his small shoulder, and explain that mommy’s talking, and that the polite thing to do is wait his turn. I’m also trying to listen more, to really look him in the eye and stop whatever I’m doing and just listen, so he feels less inclined to interrupt just to be heard. I’m trying to patiently, lovingly guide my children, rather than gripe at them so much.

But there’s so much work to do, isn’t there? There’s bills and laundry and the daily grind of jobs, and meals to be made and dishes to be washed, lawns to mow, and — in our case — fallen trees to cut up and rooms to paint and essays and books to write. There’s much to be done, and it’s so much easier just to shush them or glare at them or talk over them to make my point and get my way.

Yet if you were to ask me what is the most important thing I have to do here on earth, I would say it’s training up my sons. So I’m going to start trying harder to act like it. I’m praying the Lord will have mercy — on me, on them — every time I fail.

A Hero: Kristina Gerk

The last 2 weeks have been so busy! But there is always time to showcase a hero, and for this post, it is my daughter Kristina!

Kristina is a wonderful 14 year-old who made the decision to publicly proclaim that she wants to follow Jesus...so she was baptised!

No easy decision, nor was it easy to deliver her testimony in front of so many people telling us all why she wanted to do this, what Jesus had done in her life, and the choices she wants to make for the future.

It took courage and conviction for her to do this...and I am so proud of her.

Kristina, let the adventure begin!!

Busy Time

Wow...lot's happening. Our yearly convention is this week. Probably the busiest time of the year in our shool....we expect 500+ folks to be attending...

On another note, I'll be traveling to Russia on May 5th, to meet with school officials on the topic of online schooling. The relationships we have developed over the years are set to impact Russia in a big way! It's an exciting time....please pray for the trip...Marina will also be going with me this time...it's short and quick but necessary.

Happy Birthday Elissa!

Our oldest daughter had her birthday today!!

It is so hard to believe that so many years ago we brought this little bundle home from the hospital....that's a lement every parent says.

Enough about me...it's her special day...and a Happy Birthday to her! May God Bless her and keep her, and keep her in His care.

Still Chasing Francis

Wikipedia has more on the Gorbachev statement that he was a Christian:

On March 19th 2008, during a surprise visit to pray at the tomb of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy, Gorbachev announced that he was a Christian. Gorbachev stated that "St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ. His story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role in my life." He added, "It was through St Francis that I arrived at the Church, so it was important that I came to visit his tomb."[26]

However, a few days later, he reportedly told the Russian news agency Interfax, "Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies—I can't use any other word—about my secret Catholicism, [...] To sum up and avoid any misunderstandings, let me say that I have been and remain an atheist."[27]. In response, a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox patriarch Alexei II told the Russian media: "In Italy, he (Gorbachev) spoke in emotional terms, rather than in terms of faith. He is still on his way to Christianity. If he arrives, we will welcome him."[27]

And so will we all!

Chasing Francis

Currently Reading:

Chasing Francis: A Pilgrims Tale

By: Ian Morgan Cron

Nav Press / 2006 / Paperback

I am re-reading this book...it is challenging to the core. Interesting read. The story is of a pastor who has a crisis of faith and then decides to go on a pilgrimage, visiting the places that St. Francis of Assisi lived out his faith.

It has many words of wisdom so it is worth a read...especially in light of the following post:

Chasing Francis: Mikhail Gorbachev admits he is a Christian

Mikhail Gorbachev admits he is a Christian

By Malcolm Moore in Rome
Last Updated: 3:04am GMT 19/03/2008

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Communist leader of the Soviet Union, has acknowledged his Christian faith for the first time, paying a surprise visit to pray at the tomb of St Francis of Assisi.

Accompanied by his daughter Irina, Mr Gorbachev spent half an hour on his knees in silent prayer at the tomb.

His arrival in Assisi was described as "spiritual perestroika" by La Stampa, the Italian newspaper.
"St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ," said Mr Gorbachev. "His story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role in my life," he added.

Mr Gorbachev's surprise visit confirmed decades of rumours that, although he was forced to publicly pronounce himself an atheist, he was in fact a Christian, and casts a meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1989 in a new light. Mr Gorbachev, 77, was baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church and his parents were Christians. In addition, the parents of his wife Raisa were deeply religious and were killed during the Second World War for having religious icons in their home.

Ronald Reagan, the former United States president, allegedly told his close aides on a number of occasions that he felt his opponent during the Cold War was a "closet believer".

Mr Reagan held deep religious convictions himself. However, until now Mr Gorbachev has allowed himself to express only pantheistic views, saying in one interview "nature is my god".

After his prayers, Mr Gorbachev toured the Basilica of St Francis and asked in particular to be shown an icon of St Francis portraying his "dream at Spoleto".

St Francis, who lived in the 12th century, was a troubadour and a poet before the spiritual vision caused him to return to Assisi and contemplate a religious life.

Even in his early days, St Francis helped the poor, once giving all of his money to a beggar. As well as spending time in the wilderness, he also nursed lepers and eventually became a priest.

"It was through St Francis that I arrived at the Church, so it was important that I came to visit his tomb," said Mr Gorbachev.


"I feel very emotional to be here at such an important place not only for the Catholic faith, but for all humanity."

He also asked the monks for theological books to help him understand St Francis's life.

Father Miroslavo Anuskevic, who accompanied the former Soviet leader, said: "He was not recognised by any of the worshippers in the church, and silently meditated at the tomb for a while. He seemed a man deeply inspired by charity, and told me that he was involved in a project to help children with cancer.

"He talked a lot about Russia and said that even though the transition to democracy had been very important for the world, it was very painful for Russia. He said it was a country which has a great history, and also a great spirituality."

Why Blog?

There are a variety of reasons. For myself, it allows me to voice, even if it is only to myself, my thoughts on various life lessons that I'm learning through many means, ie. books, friends, etc.

It's also a tool to help other people. I've started a few other blogs, one of which is dedicated to the village my family lived in and helped establish: the Volga German village of Josefstal. Through the posting of photographs, I've already helped one family find relatives living in Argentina. I'm hoping it will do much more as well...it becomes a way to get historical material out that I've been collecting for 20+ years.

As many of us document the history of our people, blogging can be a rich source of information that no one even knew was available. I've also set up a blog dealing with the refugee camp my grandfather was in, located in Frankfurt/Oder Germany....just after he escaped from Russia. This will provide an outlet for a number of hisorical documents I and others have collected on the Volga Germans and the persecution they underwent. As well, it provides a rich resource of stories...of great faith and great tragedy...amazing how those always seem to go together!

And, naturally, there is my abortion blog, which seeks to document some especially grizzly abortion practices here in BC and elsewhere. As I come across information...why keep it in some dusty old file? Blogging allows all of us to get these stories out.

So there...just a few examples of how we can impact our culture and society!

Tolerating Infanticide - Tolerating Murder

Stand to reason blog reports:

A recent study indicated that young Christians are interested in a broader array of social issues and ending abortion has become a lower priority. Some theologians and social activists encourage us to broaden our agenda, but somehow in that broader agenda abortion is not usually mentioned, and ending it is not a goal. There are a number of important concerns wrapped up in "social justice," but abortion always has to be a high priority because it has tremendous ramifications on our view of humanity, and that in turn results in further social injustices.

Wesley J. Smith warns that our society is growing more tolerant of infanticide because we've sacrificed the fundamental principle of intrinsic value in accepting legalized abortion and its philosophical companions that undermine the humanity of the most vulnerable.

A few years ago we were introduced to the "Groningen Protocol" from Holland. Shocking. Yet, the ideas weren't greeted by universal horror. The New York Times and the New England Journal of Medicine wrote sympathetic articles about Dutch infanticide. Princeton ethicist Peter Singer has been endorsing infanticide for years.

And now in "Ending the Life of a Newborn," the Hastings Center Report —the most important bioethics journal in the world—has just published another pro Groningen Protocol article, granting even greater support for Dutch infanticide among the bioethics intelligentsia. Not only do the authors, a Dutch and an American bioethicist, support lethally injecting dying babies, but also those who are disabled, writing, "Critics charge that the protocol does not successfully identify which babies will die. But it is precisely those babies who could continue to live, but whose lives would be wretched in the extreme, who stand in most need of the interventions for which the protocol offers guidance."

The article assumes that guidelines will protect against abuse, but infanticide is by definition abuse....

With growth of personhood theory that denies the intrinsic value of human life, and with the invidiously discriminatory "quality of life" ethic permeating the highest levels of the medical and bioethical thinking, we are moving toward a medical system in which babies are put down like dogs and killing is redefined as a caring act.

But bigotry is bigotry and murder is murder—even if you spell it c.o.m.p.a.s.s.i.o.n.

Reading....

Currently Reading:
The Shack
by William P Young



An interesting book that will impact you as you read. I will not give out too much of the plot here, but I must admit that this book has the potential of changing the way you see and relate to God. As each of us walk through and are involved in our "story", from time to time something or someone comes along and makes things a little clearer. I'm still mulling over the potential I see in this book...and the impact it will have on my relationship with the Creator. Stay tuned...and in the meantime, why not read it with me...and then we can talk about its impact?

There is even a web site, forum and testimonials you can visit for the book here.

Writing again....

It feels good to have a venue where I can write and share. My Pastor, Dave Kalaman asked me to write a column on abortion for his weekly Castanet column.

I was honoured and so here it is. Enjoy.

Not Blogging

I haven't been blogging for awhile...sorry....these pages have been boring, not that my life is boring, it's anything but, I just have not had the time or energy to add thoughtful comments here. I still debate wether I should switch to my Xanga site, but have not yet decided.

Stay tuned...I'm reading some interesting books that I'll post here.

Happy Birthday David!!

18 years ago today we were given a wonderful gift....a young man who God has great things planned for. He is now 18, and we love David dearly. He is leadership material and our prayer is that he finds his calling, his destiny, and that he pursues it with all his might.

Happy Birthday Kimmy

Ahh, our dear Kimmy is now 13. Look out world.....

The First Sunday of Advent

Blogger and friend George Grant writes of the season:


"There is something about saying, 'We always do this,' which helps keep the years together. Time is such an elusive thing that if we keep on meaning to do something interesting, but never do it, year would follow year with no special thoughtfulness being expressed in making gifts, surprises, charming table settings, and familiar, favorite food. Tradition is a good gift intended to guard the best gifts." Edith Schaeffer

Throughout history, Christians have marked the passing of the days, weeks, and months of any given year with the sequential details of the Gospel story—with an anticipation of the coming of Jesus during Advent, His birth at Christmas, His trials, temptations, betrayal, and death during Lent, His resurrection at Easter, the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost, and then the growth and maturity of the church thereafter until the cycle is repeated the next year. In other words, the keeping of the seasons is a way for us to retell the Gospel every single year, from start to finish.

Advent is thus, the beginning of the “church year” or “church calendar.”

This season is one of those rare times when even the most spontaneous of us loves to recall old traditions and familiar legacies. We love to sing old carols. We love to break out the old dishes, the old recipes, and the old stories. Advent traditions abound.

For instance, the Advent season begins today--four Sundays prior to Christmas. Traditionally, Christian families and churches have celebrated this season of preparation each Lord’s day with the lighting of one candle in a small table-top evergreen circle--known as an Advent Wreath--accompanied by an appropriate Scripture reading. The candles vary in color from culture to culture, but generally the first three candles are red or purple and the last one is white or golden. For families that find themselves each year vowing that their celebration of the season will focus more on the real meaning of Christmas and less on the brouhaha, this is the place to begin to set the tone for the holidays.

Another enduring tradition is Saint Nicholas Day. Celebrated on December 6, this day recalls the selfless service of Nicholas of Myra (c. 288-354). The fourth century pastor ultimately inspired the tradition of Santa Claus. In reality, he was a model of graciousness, generosity, and Christian charity. His great love and concern for children drew him into a crusade that ultimately resulted in child protection laws that remained in force for more than a thousand years. His feast day is celebrated around the world. In the Netherlands, cookies and gingerbread treats are often placed in shoes or laid out stockings for the sleeping children--which may well have been the origin of Christmas gifts and hearthside stockings.

Regardless of what particular traditions our individual families celebrate, as we begin this new season of glad tidings, let us enter into a new season of Gospel retelling with great joy, remember the old paths, the old ways, and the old traditions, with new and fresh faith.

Happy Birthday Becky!

Our dear daughter, Becky, is now 23. She is a fine young woman who has a heart of gold. Her love of her family, her loyalty to family and friends, and her ability to bring a smile is deeply precious to us.

Becky, we love you dearly! Happy Birthday!

Chris Rice - Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) Lyrics

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Chris Rice: Come to Jesus

The Most Beautiful Picture in the world....

This past Sunday, the kids sat us down and presented us with a large photo they had arranged to be taken this past summer. Telling us it was instead of a party for our anniversary, it has to be just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

My thoughts ranged from are they all ours, to who is this crowd of people? But the truth is, their all ours, given to us by God as a gift.

I, above all men, am truly Blessed.

More photos coming....

Happy Birthday Stephanie!!

Here is a recent shot of 2 of our gorgeous girls....Kristina and Stephanie, taken at the recent wedding of Josh Baskill.

But today, Stephanie has turned 16! Wow! It seems like only yesterday...yadayadyada...I know...the typical rant of a parent...where does the time go anyhow?

Stephanie...may you do great things for God knowing that He has chosen you for great things! Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Marina

The love of my life is having a birthday today! Alas, she is still in Germany but returns home this week! Yahoo!

Happy Birthday my sweet!

A story that can now be told

Just shortly after the Russian revolution, during the time of the civil war in Russia, scores of young men found themselves trying to eliminate Bolsheviks that ruled them with an iron hand. While the Red Terror spread across Russia, one of my grandfather's older brothers, Jakob Gerk, fought alongside various groups of men trying to oust the commissars that ruled them. Communist officials sought to arrest Jakob, couldn't find him, so they arrested my grandfather instead. While languishing in prison, my grandfather heard a familiar voice...that of his brother Jakob who they had found after all! Not quick to correct an error, it took the forging of documents by Josef Hoffmann to arrange the release of all the men from our village. Near death, my grandfather and his brother returned to the village, with my grandfather having made the decision that he would flee Russia.

Uncle Jakob, for whatever reason, chose to stay. The next few years would see him marry and have children. One of those children, Lydia, we would meet at our family reunion.

The Stremel Family (Lydia Gerk Stremel on far right)

Lydia would fill in for us the missing information on what happened to this brave man. He would go out of his way to look for ways to feed his children, even as communist officials would make it more and more difficult for people to survive. "Sow what you have hidden" was the command from these cruel taskmasters, to people who had nothing. Thousands would starve in the 1930's (that's another story). Jakob would be arrested in 1938, charge with the crime of stealing grain to feed his children. He would be sentenced to 5 years in a labour camp, where he would die of starvation sometime in 1942. I say sometime, because our family never heard from him again. A fellow prisoner would later contact the family to let them know how Jakob perished. But this would be years after the fact.

But Jakob was a hero. I have one of the secret documents detailing communist officials disdain with Jakob and my family, dated 1938, from the archives. It's a fascinating read...accusing members of my family with anti-soviet activity...even my great-grandfather is accused of fighting against the Bolsheviks, and of course, our family was branded as "Kulaks".

One of my kids once suggested I worked on this hobby to show how we were related to royalty. How wrong that is! No royal blood flows in our veins. Instead, our family is made up of simple people who were, in my opinion, heroes. They loved their families, protected them, fed them, and then died for them. These are the stories I want to pass down to my children and their children.

I was proud to get a copy of a photo of Jakob and his wife, which I've posted here. It's amazing to see how our lives are made up of such stories, and that in the midst of hurt and tragedy, there are hopeful stories of faithfulness.

Happy 10th Birthday Steven!!

Steven is 10 years old! This young man who is so serious and already has plans to change the world! Wow...I never looked at life that way when I was his age. May God continue to shed His grace upon Steven...and we are so thankful he is a part of our family. We love you Steven!!

Summer...

The summer is whizzing by. Thankfully, we got a week of camping in and the weather was wonderful! But of course, our tent trailer died and sits in our driveway broken. What to do next? Who knows..it is ancient - from 1972 and they don't make them anymore. We love camping..I guess we will see what God will come up with.

Marina leaves on Monday for a whole month!! Her Mom and Dad had a holiday planned to Germany - Marina's Mom won't travel on her own so she is using her Dad's points and travelling with her Mom...it will be a good break for Marina but a month is a long time. I think I'll be OK but the little things like doing Ashley's hair and doing laundry do intimidate me. Meals and everything else I can handle. I'll keep on going into work at 6 so I'm home with the kids relatively early. This will be an adventure that is for sure. I'm feeling positive about it and I know God will take care of all of us!

Derek, how about lunch?

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

Our oldest son, Andrew, is now 19 years old. Wow!!

Andrew has grown into a fine young man and we pray that God will continue to lead and guide him into his destiny!

Andrew, we love you and we pray for good things for you!!

Weird Guy

Gotta love this post:

Weird GuyTopic: "God Is Not Great"
Christopher Hitchens is interviewed in the latest Atlantic Monthly about all the debates he was in promoting his book on atheism. That would include, of course, the CT debate he had with me. Some fun stuff shakes out in this.

"What I haven’t had from anyone, in print or in person, is any argument that surprised me, that I couldn’t have completely predicted."

This is amazing stuff, really. I have never met anyone before who could completely predict all the questions he wouldn't be able to answer.

And the interviewer -- a very sharp someone named Jennie Rothenberg Gritz -- brings up the CT debate:
"What about the question of morality without God? Al Sharpton spent a lot of time grilling you on that. And it was also a major theme in your email debate with the Christian author Douglas Wilson at Christianity Today."

Hitchens responded here with a two word answer: "Weird guy." Okay, so we don't disagree completely.

The interviewer then summarized my argument, showing that she understood it completely.

"Wilson insisted that if you took Jesus out of the equation, the words 'right' or 'wrong' would have no meaning. Thoughts in the brain would just be a series of chemical reactions, like bubbles in a soft drink. As he put it, 'If you were to take a bottle of Mountain Dew and another of Dr. Pepper, shake them vigorously, and put them on a table, it would not occur to anyone to ask which one is ‘winning the debate.’ They aren't debating; they are just fizzing.'"

Quite admirable. But then Hitchens soars off into something that a translator of the King James Version would have described as an observation "that followeth not, no way."
"What he’s saying is that if he ceases to believe in Jesus, he’s going to instantly become an immoral person. It’s a terrible admission to have made! It’s an awful insult to human self-respect to say that. And they don’t seem to understand that they give themselves over in that way. It’s like saying that nothing would stop me from raping you now if I weren’t under the supervision of a heavenly dictator. And I have a higher opinion of myself than that."

Oh, well. One more time, for old time's sake. No, I am not saying that I would become an immoral person. It is in the highest degree likely that I would become an irrational person, like Hitchens, using words like "self-respect" and "awful" and "immoral" when I have no concrete way of defining those terms, or defending the definitions once I had hauled them out of my pile of emotional residue from my Christian upbringing. I would be, in short, just like Hitchens, pinned to the wall. I would extricate myself by saying that "I have a higher opinion of myself than this."

We dare say you do.

Happy Birthday Kristina!!

Wow...our "American" girl is 14...A delight to have around and a great basketball player.

May she do great things for the Kingdom of God.

We love you Nina!

Father's Day

Ahhhh, once again I am a man blessed like no other. My family gives in to my chocolate cravings at various special events, and today was no exception!

Thanks gang, for thinking of me!!

So I'm busy....

Sigh...am I so predictable?

Your Russian Name Is...

Igoryok Jeirgif Novikov

What's Your Russian Name?

You Are Ned Flanders

A good neighbor and a devout Christian, you are a community leader. And you are called to make the world a better place, especially for left handed people. You will be remembered for: your goofy expressions - "hi-dilly, ho-dilly!" Your life philosophy: "I've done everything the Bible says - even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!"

The Simpsons Personality Test

Mexico

As I've written before, the Grade 11 class from heritage Christian School is in Puerto Escondido on a misisons trip for six weeks. I encourage you to read their blog...the kids are writing some fascinating accounts of life there and the lessons God is teaching them. David is among them. We heard from him the other day as he was tring to call home for Mother's Day. He's sick with an ear infection and working. We miss him but this is an adventure like no other.