Wednesday, April 19, 2006

April 20-27 Popcorn; and Thoughts on Prayer

Big news for Torontonian Christians. I just found out today that PrayGTA (PrayGTA.com) and others are praying that God will give them the SkyDome (now Rogers Center) for the Global Day of Prayer (June 4th; aka Pentecost Sunday). They need $150,000, most of the money has been given or pledged, and they are praying that the rest will come in on time. Pray about this remarkable initiative. And if it happens, think about participating.

A way to reach rich people? A friend of mine recently read about a non-Christian non-profit organization that collects still-fresh flowers from funeral homes and other places that are done with them to give to terminally-ill people, shut-ins, and others. He wondered, What if a group of Christians did this to reach people with the gospel--particularly those who are harder to reach? For example, a verse card could be attached to a single carnation and handed to a professional at the end of a workday in Union station. What do you think of this idea? Would you volunteer to give out flowers?

Know anyone looking for an electrical engineer or marketing manager? One of my friends who is not yet a believer, but who is open to discussing Christ, is looking for a job in electrical engineering. Another long-time Christian friend has been looking for a marketing management position for some time. Both people are very competent and hard-working. If you have any ideas, or know of anyone looking for an electrical engineer or marketing manager, please contact me.

Powered by Google. Travelers, you will love this. Go to FareCompare.com, type in your departure city, and *visually* see--on a map--the fare prices to countless local and far-away destinations. This is a first, and it is brought to you by Google. Had it been available a couple of years ago, it would probably have saved me a few hours of frustrating fare searching by now.

Got prayer? According to a 2005 George Verwer sermon ("message 08" of his sermons on SermonIndex.net; 16:30 on) I was listening to this week, a recent study found that the average American *pastor* prays for only five minutes per day. In fact, one mega-church pastor confessed to not praying at all, except for grace before meals. He decided it was time to start praying, but found it so hard that he began by writing out his prayers. End result: he has become a man of prayer.

Maintaining a consistent prayer life is not easy. I have found this to be true in my own life. One week I'm doing a certain amount of focused and breath prayer, the next my focused prayer has dwindled to half or a quarter, and my breath prayer is almost non-existent. So I need to recommit and, asking God for help (a prayer in itself), I restart. It takes discipline, and it's tough - partly, I think, because it's a relationship with someone I never physically see. But it's also the most important relationship I can have. It's a relationship I was created to have. And I find that when I pray, I love more, I care more, I really live more, I'm led more, I do what God wants me to do more... it takes me from living an empty life to one that matters - one I won't regret.

Question: Does a relationship with God necessitate prayer?
ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 5pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue (1) 11:30am lunch (GD) - St. Jacobs, (2) 4pm mtg (AF) - Cambridge, (3) 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue 11am mtg (DAy) (~J school trip w/ ~Co | text BD)
14 Wed 9:30am time w/ BD
15 Thu 4:30pm video mtg (Paul T.)
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride; Jessie's: 5KM) and speaking at GTA after-party
23-25 Fri-Sat poss. SL
26 Mon 2pm Europe monthly call
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
15 Sat aft+ baptism (Saj; NaB may be coming)
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 11am video mtg (SM), (2) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (3) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
2 Wed 11am video mtg (SM+)
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego