Monday, February 15, 2010

"I Believe"

"I Believe" is CTV's (Canadian network) official song for the 2010 Olympics. I love this song! This video is great and showcases Vancouver and the torch relay across Canada. The singer, Nikki Yanofsky, is the one who sang "O Canada" at the opening ceremonies. In my opinion, she sings this much better than she did the Canadian anthem!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Church on the Mountain at Whistler, British Columbia

Church on the Mountain. Whistler Church.

This is our Canadian National Baptist Convention (CNBC) church in Whistler. Pray for this church as they minister to the people of Whistler and especially the visitors and athletes during the Olympic games. My friend, Marla Wright, from seminary, served at this church for a couple of years after we graduated. Kelly Mabey, a friend I made while in Vancouver in 98 is now part of this church.

Let the Games Begin

What a great way to end an extremely busy and tiring week...watching the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics! Wow...the emotions, the feelings, the excitement! So, if you watched the Opening Ceremony and don't live in Canada, do you feel you know a bit more about this wonderful country?! I even learned a few things myself from the presentation and commentators on our CTV (Canadian) network! Since I don't get any US channels, I don't know what they were showing or saying. My mom called and said that she has already learned things she didn't know. For those of you that don't know much about the country to the north of the US, I hope that you will learn much about this place that has become home to me...

As you watch the Olympics this year, pray for Canada and this nation that so needs Jesus! Our convention has the goal to plant 1000 churches by 2020; we have 275 across the country right now. Pray for us as we seek to meet this God-given and God-sized task!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Less than a Day and Counting

originally written Thursday evening, February 11



I absolutely cannot believe that the Vancouver 2010 Olympics will have started this time tomorrow! I remember hearing about them being held and saying that if I am still in Canada, I am going! Well, I won't be making it, but I sure have been able to experience the Olympic spirit in Calgary. It's been a once in a lifetime experience for me and I am so grateful that the Lord is allowing me to be a part of this historic time. Until you experience it, it's hard to explain. Just take my word for it.

This Olympics holds a special place in my heart because I lived in the Vancouver area for the summer of 98, while serving at Royal Heights Baptist Church in Delta, near Vancouver. It was that summer that I wondered if I would be back in Canada one day. I made friends there that are some of my best ones to this day and I consider Vancouver like my second home. I will be watching this Olympics with excitement and gratitude!

I got to see the torch as it came through Calgary and Cochrane. What an incredible experience! Some friends and I went downtown to Olympic Plaza as the flame made an overnight stop in Calgary. I live in the city that hosted the 88 Winter Olympics, so Calgary knows what this is all about. I believe the Olympic Plaza was where medal ceremonies were held in 88. It's used as an outdoor ice rink and for various city festivities.


WE GOT TO SEE THE CAULDRON, JUST AFTER IT WAS LIT BY THE FLAME!



GREAT TIMES WITH FRIENDS AS WE CELEBRATE AT OLYMPIC PLAZA TOGETHER!

Two days after the Olympic Plaza event, the torch came through Cochrane, the town where I work and lived while I was in seminary. A good number of us from work took an early extended lunch to experience this historic event. It was neat to meet up with Cochrane friends in this town of less than 20,000. We lined the streets and watched as the torch bearer passed by us. Wow! Double wow when we realized the torch was being passed to the next torch bearer just up the road from where we were standing! On our way back to the vehicle, we went to Main Street (we had been at another street), and watched the torch again...and as it was passed to yet another torch bearer! Wow, wow, wow! This was a neat moment because I could see the emotion on the bearer's face.


MY DEAR FRIEND/CO-WORKER, CAROL, AND ME SHOW OFF OUR OLYMPIC MITTENS...JUST LIKE THE TORCH BEARERS AND ATHLETES WEAR!

I'm sitting here now watching the news and the pre-Olympic coverage. Too think things will have gotten kicked off by this time tomorrow. I cannot wait!

Some folks have asked which country I will be cheering for...well, Canada and the US! But how will I decide when the teams meet in hockey!? I may just have to be neutral, though it's really hard not to cheer for Canada when you're living here and it's the host country!

"O Canada...

"O say can you see...