It's almost here! 3 more sleeps until our family is off on a missions trip to Mexico. I am so excited. Travel is always an adventure - but this trip is even more special. It will be our whole family serving God together. If that isn't exciting enough - we get to do it in the beautiful country of Mexico. I am so grateful to be able to go with our children, I am so grateful that so many people were so very generous, and I'm so grateful to be a part of a phenomenal team that could have only been put together by God. We range in age from 6 years old to 70 plus years. What a gift.

Time to make a packing list!...

It would seem that Canadians are no longer peace keepers. I can't tell you the feelings that this fact creates in me. I am profoundly sad. So now as the Canadian troops enter into combat in Afghanistan we are seeing a rise in casualties.

Now I do not in any way support what this "mission" in Afghanistan has become. I don't think we should be there. I am fully, totally and in every way against war.

BUT I will honour and respect any soldier and their families that serve. And when they die I will mourn. Loss of life is devastating. period. But it would seem that our country will not be lowering the flag in their honour any longer. They are permanently "reinstating protocol." So I guess the simple gesture of flying a flag half mast was breaking protocol. Wouldn't want to break protocol for the sons and daughters who have chosen to serve their country in this way and end up sacrificing their lives. Nope. They get their day on Nov. 11. I'm sorry but that is absurd. It is disrespectful to both them and their families.

The cynical side of me believes the Mr. Harper (in true George Bush fashion) desires to prevent the public at large with seeing the number of casualties this mission will produce. Out of sight - out of mind. If Canadians start seeing too many caskets... well, those who do support this mission, may start changing their minds -

As I read over yesterdays rant - I had to laugh. The aggression I felt certainly came because I had just put the book down. Now in thinking it all over well, I still agree with Mr. Chomsky and I still would agree with what I said.

However.

While Mr. Chomsky writes with detailed historical facts and political awareness - he does not know Jesus. He inspires in me a desire to become more aware of the world around me, he makes me want to seek justice for the oppressed and the oppressor. He makes me want to affect change - to join my voice to the protest - and while feeling the task is mammoth, understanding that any change, be it civil rights, or womens rights - takes time -a great deal of time. Especially in considering the level of change that we are talking about here.

But at the core of who I am - I am a follower of Jesus Christ. HE is who I am. It is His laws and truths that guide my life. I can reconcile the above feelings with my being a Christian. In fact I think that justice is a Christian concept, just like caring for the poor and holding up the cause of the disadvantaged. But there is something more important. When we look at Jesus - well, there is a reason He didn't throw His hat into the political arena. He changed people one at a time, one relationship at a time.

So my question today is how to live and share my faith so that lives are changed. Keep informed, keep challenging the establishment, join the outcry against injustice and seek justice BUT to understand that true change comes only through knowing Jesus.

and so we circle back to relationships. That really does seem to be what it is all about.

I have finally (after many many weeks) finished reading my first Noam Chomsky book. You may not be familiar with this man if you are from the US but he is quite famous here in Canada. Although it needs to be said - he is an American linguist professor. But chiefly he is known for his activism.

The book was titled "Imperial Ambitions" and is a written interview done following 9/11 , but before George Bush was re-elected. ....makes me wonder what he makes of that?! He is a brilliant and learned man.

Just to say straight out - he is very much against the Iraq war. He makes some strong assertions and has the ability to back them all up. I can't sum up everything he said. I wish I could. In remembering back, I think his number one challenge for Americans would be to THINK. Think on your own and ask questions. Lots and lots of questions. Don't assume you can trust the government. Don't believe automatically. Automatic trust and implicit faith do not make you a good American. Questions make you wise and informed. They allow you to draw your own conclusions, they allow you to discover ALL the facts - not just the ones one particular group of people want you to find.

It is difficult to see how more than 50% of Americans believe that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. It didn't. NOTHING. There were no weapons. NONE. The US has broken numerous international laws - and admitted it - but because they are the biggest and the richest - and they are creating their own new laws. For many years the US Government gave millions to Saddam & his regime for weapons development among other things. This was not hidden. They chose to look the other way when he committed the numberous atrocities that he is being tried for today. That is they ignored him until he stopped being willing to be controlled by them. NOw they are saying they are fighting for a democratic Iraq. Really? What if that democracy elects a government that is not partial to the US? Is that ok? Realistically, the government will probably be Shiites, since they make up the majority of the population. So if they are elected, then they join together with other countries (Iran and Saudi Arabia to name a couple) who also have Shiite majorities and together they start wielding some power - do we really believe that the US will be okay with this? So the truth is that the US doesn't want a democracy in Iraq - they want a US controlled "democracy" in Iraq.

I could go on. BUT fortunately I've got Spanish class. I'd better walk there so that my blood cools down a little....

Adios hermanas y hermanos.

I feel great! Still walking my 3 miles - I'd like to say it's getting easier but....well, I can't - not yet anyway. 2 pounds gone this past week. yeehaw.

I had an opportunity to sit quietly with the Lord this morning during our Ladies Bible Study. What a much needed time of solitude. I would highly recommend solitude - even a brief hour - as the solution to a head full of chaos. Here are some of the things that God put heavily upon me after reading Number 21:4-9 (look it up)....

Forgive me Lord for complaining
Forgive me for lack of contentment
Forgive me for my wants
Which become so far greater than my needs
My sin is against You. The Lord. And from You alone do I seek forgiveness.
Forgive Lord, my impatience. Forgive me for knowing You are far wiser than I,
but for acting like it is I who should lead.
Forgive this silly woman her lack of wisdom.
You.
You alone do I desire as my guide. I do not wish to walk on a path of my own choosing.

Lord it is You who knows the best course my life should be set on. Grant me grace to accept should this course take me through a dry and barren desert.

By looking at my sin and allowing God to transform it - I will be healed.
God had Moses fashion a bronze snake fastened to a pole and any who were bitten by a poisonous snake need only to look at it and be healed.
In humbleness,
I must acknowledge that I must accept God's provision as the only way to be healed.
I embrace the cross as God's provision for healing. Physically, spiritually and emotionally.
It is the only true path to healing - to life...and it was only necessary because of MY sin.
The bronze snake too was only necessary because of the Israelites disobedience.

And then love.

What love You, Lord, must have to even bother making this provision! It is overwhelming.
To choose the cross. torture. pain. agony.

what passion does this require? what mercy.

It seems inconceivable that I may, in any way, be capable of such a depth of love.
But I am made in YOUR image. That love must be in me in some, albeit, tarnished form.
Father, continue to clean me, to wash me - let the love that You have created to be in me continue to root itself, continue to be polished, and nurtured, that I may grow in great love for You and for my fellow man.

And to come full circle in my thoughts...May my ever growing love for you and those around me, choke out my complaining, my discontentment, my desire for wants.
May it create in me wisdom to allow You - and only You - to guide my life.
May the path chosen for me, by You, be the path I ever choose.

Selah. So be it.

Update: no weight - 1/2 inch on my waist. BUT I'm feeling more fit. I've been "Walking away the Pounds" and walking through the course of this video 3 miles. Miles NOT Kilometers. Woohoo. So while the weight is at a standstill - I'm feeling great. I did have a couple of special events this week that meant I ate less than ideal....but hey, that's life!