RETREAT!!!

This past weekend, House Famous took a step back in order to get some perspective and look forward. We retreated to Ben's grandparent's cottage (Thank you Gresiks!!!), where we spent some time reflecting on the past few months, and dreaming about what the future could hold. We looked into God's word, prayed for each other and discerned the direction of our next few actions. We also ate really well, and watched awesome movies. For your viewing pleasure, here is a snapshot of what our time away from home was like:

ever onwards

The House Famous is now 1 year old. I thought it was worthwhile to acknowledge that since it seems like only yesterday that 4 of us moved in together in downtown Kingston with really no idea of what was going to happen or if this community was going to last any amount of time at all. But, nevertheless, God has kept us here on York and we now start this year with a full plate and we pray that He continues to bless us and have mercy as we try to find Jesus in the people and places that have been ignored by the broken culture we live in.

So we shall continue to progress with joy in the faith as we continue to ask God to change us and free us into the people He wants us to be.

Here we go again!

PROTEST BOMB-MAKER’S PROFIT FROM CANADIAN CENSUS!

In 2006, Lockheed-Martin (an American weapons manufacturer and direct profit-maker from the war in Iraq) was paid millions of Canadian tax-dollars for census data collection software and services. If you don’t want this American bomb-maker profiting from the next Canadian Census (coming soon!), let our government officials know!

LETTER WRITING PROTEST
SUNDAY AUGUST 17th 1pm to 11pm
@the Sleepless Goat Café
91 Princess Street, Kingston
Come write or sign letters, learn more about Lockheed Martin and tell our elected officials your opinion on this important issue!

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE EVENT, PLEASE CHECK OUT:

http://www.census2011notbombs.blogspot.com/

Joseph's Coat of Many Colours

Tonight we prayed through a passage of Genesis 37 using a form of prayer called Lectio Divina. We read the passage a few times through, once to listen for a word or phrase, a second time to capture an image of scene of scripture, and a third time to hear what sense the Holy Spirit could make of it all for us.

The passage of dealing with Joseph getting thrown into a well and then getting sold to the Ishmaelites is one we had heard often in Sunday School, however with some prayerful reading in a community of believers, it became all the more rich. We thought about how money was able to appease the bloodlust of Joseph's brothers, much like it does in the rich, materialistic Western World, where we look down on poorer nations for their barbaric killing. Perhaps it's only the comfort of our money that lets us seem peaceful towards one another. We also pondered who the man was who met Joseph when he was wandering in the fields, he knew Joseph's name and where his brothers were staying. Most of our thoughts ended up pointed right at ourselves and our own situations. This is a good thing as if scripture is supposed to be living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, I imagine that sword is best put to use when pointed at our own hearts.

If someone asks you for a ride out of town and you suspect they might be running from the police, do you do it? Would Jesus?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

More news on the census

Chelsea, Brendan and I went court on Friday. Again, it was pretty uneventful, but I was able to speak to the Crown Prosecutor who offered me a deal if I would fill out the census. It was kind of exciting. I told him I would rather not do that...

I was also interviewed by the Canadian Press on Friday. It was nice but scary as the Canadian Press gets a lot of exposure... Anyway, this time the article avoided anything about the Christian motivation behind our census refusal, but it's still very helpful as our reasons are getting a lot more exposure than they were previously.

Here's the article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080705.wcensus-jail0705/BNStory/National/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080705.wcensus-jail0705

We also got another encouraging letter to the editor in the Whig:
http://www.kingstonwhigstandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1096193

home.

And it made sense to me on my last night in the Dominican Republic as I descended the hill into the village: I still haven't found what I'm looking for. It's been this idea that's followed me around for a while, the first time it came across me was the first night we had stayed here at The House Famous, this idea that no matter what we accomplish in the name of Jesus will not compare to the Glory that awaits us, it's a feeling that always leaves me with this craving for more and more and it always reminds me that we truly are refugees from our Father, looking to fill the void with whatever we can until the day of Judgement.

But this really doesn't explain my trip too well...

I was in the Dominican Republic for 2 months, I was with my friends Katie, Amber and Taylor and we lived a Haitian village called Ascension. My official "project" while there was to work at the Mustard Seed orphanage and to work with Rachel at the fair trade co-op known by everyone as La Tienda.
The Mustard Seed is a beautiful place. They are an international organization and have many orphanages in the Carribean and elsewhere and they house abandoned children with severe mental and physical handicaps. Without using words or other means of normal social interaction it was amazing to make connections with these kids and to see their personalities come out in ways I wasn't used to. The great thing about this place is that they also hire locals to work in the orphanage as well which is a great way to employ the people living there.
Everything you've heard about La Tienda is true. It was odd finally going to a place that I had heard about for 2 years, but it was a joy to be there. And working alongside Rachel was a particularly great job to have, I learned much from her.

I realize as I type these words down how limited I am in explaining this trip to you. It is frustrating to have feelings that can't be named or described. But I experienced a new culture and the new temptations that came with it, I experienced real community in that Haitian village, I experienced real beauty in the children's faces and their laughs, I was pushed to my limits, I experienced more of God's truth, I fed widows and orphans, I witnessed a people who have had to leave their country and live in a place that's not their home. In other words, I was changed.

I have been blessed with what I have seen, and maybe one day I can make sense of it all...