There's a wideness in God's mercy
like the wideness of the sea.
There's a kindess in God's justice
which is more than liberty

I am writting this blog coming out of a 48 hour period of complete silence. The topic of this weeks week of training was listening to God's voice. After four sessions in which this topic was explored some more, we entered into a silent retreat. When I speak of silence I speak of the abscence of communication. There were 19 people at the Mark Centre who were trying not to acknowledge the other presence. To some extent it was surreal and to the other extent it was a really good experience to just be together in complete silence. People dont do that enough.

Have you ever wondered if God speaks to you? If you have, join the team, cause I have found myself wondering about the same thing. But I have found that if we really think about and are completely honest with ourselves and God we can say with all confidence that God did indeed speak to us. I was reminded of this once again this week, and it was a really good feeeling. I spent 48 hours in silence and it was amazing how God was just at work in all of us. I personally spent a lot of time in the Bible, going on walks, praying and trying to sleep. I will not share with you some of the amazing things that happened, just to give you a taste it did include Air Traffic Control chatter (I would love to tell you about it when I get back and... STOP LAUGHING, hehe). Anyways, one of the Bible passages that I felt God gave me this during this retreat was from Jeremiah 31:3

I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfullness to you.

How true and wonderful.

Today I went to a new church once again, and I was reminded once again that apparently we are in the land of endless and huge Mennonite churches (although some of the seem to be to scared to be called Mennonite, I wonder how long it will take for "community church" to be become a synonim to "mb church." Sometimes I think we spent to much time on these little things) that often appear more to be more like concert halls or movie theatres. But anyways, the church I went to today has three services, all of the in different worship styles. Some of us went to the liturgical service. Yes, there is such a thing as an MB liturgical church service, and let me tell you it was wonderful. I found it amazing that people of all age came to a liturgical service and shared in this form of worship and truly passionately wanted to meet Jesus. It's interesting how I felt some of the superficiality of other services not present this time. I just really like this service and I will try to go there again as the opportunities present themselves.

In the bulleting at Bakerview MB, one of the topics for next weeks Adult Sunday School is why the US elections are of importance to us. That of course sparked something in my head which will lead to a rant in the very near future, but here is the condensed version. I don't understand why in Canada we care so much about the US elections. I guarantee that a majority of Canadians has heard something about McCain and Obama. However, ask these same people and they will not know that we have an election coming up here in Canada to choose the rulers of our country. What kind of schizophrenic state are we in, that we as Canadians we could not care less who wins the Canadian election. Sure, if we HAVE to vote, I guess we will and we will vote not based on issues but based on the fact that Steven Harper is Christian, as oppossed to the other leaders. But lets please not waste to much time on this, because something of real importance is going on over on the other side of the border, thats where we will spend all our energy on. Sometimes I wonder whether we would not rather be part of the US then continue in this ambiguos game of "I hate everything about the US, except I wish I could be like them." Anyways, that rant is to come.

That my friends is all for today, let me finish with another verse from Frederick W. Faber's "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"

If our love were but more simple
we would rest upon God's word,
and our lves would be illumined
by the presence of our Lord.