Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A Fitting Song To End An Amazing Journey

You can have your Marvel cinematic universe . and that galaxy with the force ( more of a Trek guy anyway ) for me , the journey I have loved to take has been Middle-Earth . Don't get me wrong I like movies from that genre I mentioned but my excitement or looking forward to new movies pale to what I have looked forward to over the last 3 years with Peter Jackson's The Hobbit . Just like in the past with Lord of the Rings , for 3 years near Christmas , I looked forward to going back to the Shire , Erebor , Laketown and seeing those grand characters .

Bilbo Baggins , Gandalf the Grey , Thorin Oakenshield , Elrond , Galadriel , Legolas , Tauriel , Bard and the Dwarfs with the company Balin , Dwalin , Fili , Kili . Gloin ,Oin , Bofur ,Dori , Ori , Nori , Bombur and Bifur . They became friends and ones I enjoyed going to see in the halls of the modern theatre . But now it has come to an end . One that I truly enjoyed . But before I review and give my thoughts and insights on the Hobbit  , I will share this amazing song by one of the original Hobbits , Pippin played by the excellent Billy Boyd .



Back in the Blogging Groove

I marvel at people who Blog with regularity . Last year I just didn't feel like it , nor did I have the discipline . But as this year kicks off I'm attempting to challenge myself to do certain things with more consistency and Blogging is one of those things.  So with that in mind , I will launch again my views , opinions and reviews of things that connect and concern me.

Hopefully if anyone is still reading any of my post they will be amused or annoyed , but not bored out of their minds . Hopefully I will endeavour to write each day . So here goes 2015 with good intentions .

Monday, February 24, 2014

2013 A Brief Overview

Since I promised a overview of 2013 so I can kick off a proper start to blogging a new in 2014 , here it it is . A quick look back at 2013.

As I reported last year , my wife in February was given the 5 year clean form cancer . Needless to say we were both truly grateful and thankful . Its a strange thing really because after we were told no more trips to the city for checks , it took me a while to really feel that it was done . So that was a true highlight of the year .

Turning 50 . On November 15 last year , I entered into my 50th year on this planet . Half a century if you will . I can't say I was bothered by it , but it still felt different and a bit strange. It was a great birthday . My boys both got some really cool stuff for me  , had a small gathering just with my family and truly felt blessed and grateful .

On a sad note , I lost a a friend to cancer in August of the last year . He was only 59 . We had worked together years ago and had our ups and downs but we had remained friends and I always looked forward to chatting with him about  life , hockey and whatever else came up . I was asked to speak at his funeral , and I was truly honoured to speak . His wife and son both said I did him proud and I truly hope I did . It was a very hard thing to do . One thing I took away from this is the brevity of life and how I truly wished I had more time to connect with him more over the last few years . Yes it caused me to regret time wasted but it also taught me how precious friendship is and family.

Christmas was an excellent once again , with lots of food and family .

In general it was a year of highs , lows and struggles . So that is enough about last year . I look forward to writing with new vigour and hope it will be a regular thing . So 2014 here I come .

Friday, February 21, 2014

Slow Start or What

Ok , I had every intention of blazing into Blogging like a crazed fiend , but as they say best laid plans . However , my first real kick off will be a over view of 2013 . So be ready for the epic , OK more like the ordinary review of a year in the life of a guy living in the valley in the province of Nova Scotia , Canada .

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Back in the Blogging Mood

Its been a long time between blogging. I just decided to take a break from writing . Not that I didn't have stuff to say or topics I wished to cover but one has to know when its time to be silent. Well now its time to put to blog again what is on my mind and heart . Much to reflect about and much to think about as I move forward as well .

As normal I will cover whatever I wish , some about the past , some about the present and musings about everything in between . The good , the bad and fun , I hope so anyway. So the few that may read my rants and ramblings , welcome back and enjoy .

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Living in the Shadow of Cancer

Today was a day of liberation . A day when the shadow of cancer has been put  prayerfully and hopefully away forever.

Yesterday , my wife was given her 5 year clear . For all intent and purposes , she is considered cancer free. It was over 5 years ago when the cancer first presented itself . From the point of official diagnose , the family entered into the world of cancer. It has a way of creating a shadow , a cloud over the whole family . Especially in the first year with the surgery , the treatments and the recovery . It seems to consume the whole household . But after the first year , and the treatments seem to be going well , you still pray and wait and see what will happen with every check up , every trip or test you wait . Quietly you pray and hope .

As I watched my wife , get stronger and pass every check up , my confidence grew but always in the back of my mind the shadow lingers . Until the 5 year mark comes , you know that there is still a chance and possibility it can still present itself and come back. Over the the last 5 years , we have seen others be diagnosed .  Some are still fighting and a good friend and wonderful support for us lost his battle , when his cancer came back with a vengeance. So when that occurs , you take a breath , move forward and realize , it isby God's grace and mercy alone one lives.

So yesterday was a good day . No , it was a great day . But its also a reminder of the brevity of life . It is truly a shame it takes something like this to smack you in the head and make you take stock . Even then you still lose at times ,  the preciousness of life . But I will say in many ways this past 5 years has been a blessing. Let me list a few.

It has brought both my wife and myself back to the Lord . In fact it has been a wonderful thing to see my wife grow and become more solid in doctrine and boldness. She has more opportunities to share  her faith and witness than ever before. Even though we had both highs and lows over the last 5 years , I do believe that even in our weakness , our testimony to God's goodness has been a solid witness to our sons .

Plus I would like to openly thank all those who prayed , wished us well and supported Kathy and my family with so much generosity . Especially in the first year , when money was very scarce . People amazed us both with  giving and support. I will ever remain humbly grateful.

Last thought , as I know others who are still fighting this dreadful disease , my prayers are with you and your family . To those who have lost someone way too soon because of this blight , I say I weep with you knowing the pain ( having lost my Mom over 20 years ago ) . But ultimately my prayer is for all to know the one who will undue the results of sin when He comes in His glory .

Friday, October 5, 2012

Can One Fathom To Hear God Sing

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

My heart was restless today . As I looked at my life, my sin and where I'm at I was troubled . It made me feel defeated . Then later on during my reading of numerous blogs I came across this passage of scripture used in the piece that was written over a very sad event in a father's life . The loss of a child . So as it moved me away from thinking about me , which we can do way too much at times , I said a silent simple prayer for this man I do not know personally . Then as I read this passage , I realized that I must trust that it is God who will quiet my soul with His amazing love . A love that showed itself on the cross . A love that showed itself on that third day . A love that one day will come for me .

But what really blew my mind away is that the God of the whole universe , the one who created the planets , the stars and every living thing exults over me with singing. Singing , God singing over my soul . Should that not calm ones heart . Should that not give one a peace that the world cannot comprehend. The peace that this father and family needs as well can only come from God . God is singing with this man's daughter and singing over this father's soul as well . He is over all who trust in Christ for salvation . He is not a impersonal force or a far away God but in Christ , through the Holy Spirit is near , He lives within you by His Spirit  and is singing over you right now .  Oh what a God , oh what a Savior .