Is Somebody Singing

My brother-in-law Brian who lives in Toronto passed this on to me. Chris Hadfield was the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station. He wrote this song with the lead singer of the Canadian band, The Barenaked Ladies. Brian tells me that every Canadian kid knows it; it's a cool song.

A Proud Papa and a Happy Day

Yesterday was a marvelous day for me; ironically enough, the day was 9/11. Grace Chapel, the church that Tanya and I planted in 2000 with folks from our mother church, recently voted on their 2nd senior pastor (to succeed me as our family is now in Canada: unaware? see the call to BC) Ben Loos received an overwhelming majority by the Grace Chapel congregation to become her next senior pastor. What can I say? I am a "proud papa." When I was on the phone with Ben earlier today, I told him, I think I am more excited for this than even you (Ben was simply humbled and sober about the whole bit- I was telling him that he needed to go out on the town with the elders of Grace Chapel and celebrate!) Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 

To hear a bit more about Ben's story and relationship to Grace Chapel, watch the 5:05 - 6:20 mark of the video below, a video that was produced by the church-planting arm of the Presbyterian Church in America last year, before we took the call to BC. I am happy.

Striving Together To Reach The Heart Of America from Mission to North America on Vimeo.

The Beauty of BC and the Photo-Bomber

So we are missing our friends in Nebraska but settling in well to BC. We are getting to know and enjoying the people of Grace Vancouver Church. Undeniably we are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In this photo we are at Garry Point Park in Steveston, BC grabbing some fish and chips at the famous Pajo's. The personalities of our children are highlighted in this picture as Mia and Isaac are enjoying the water and the sand, and Calvin our youngest is doing what he does best, running like a crazy man and photo-bombing.

Culture of Renewal

I was greatly encouraged by this piece recently:

CULTURE OF RENEWAL - DAVID BLANCHARD from Trinity Grace Church on Vimeo.