Maple Syrup Taffy Anyone?

The pressure was on. Bryan and I arrived at Ecole Airdrie Middle School at 10:30am to prepare maple syrup taffy as part of Multicultural Day on Dec 22nd. We got 2 large pots and started boiling the maple syrup in the Home Ec room right away. It had to be ready by noon and we thought that we had lots of time. As the clock ticked by we got more and more nervous because the taffy wasn't ready. Then at 12:00 Rebeccah came in and told us that the kids were lined up outside and in the hall for the taffy. One last test showed us that it was ready to go. We brought the pots outside. Rebeccah and a couple of friends filled the cookie sheets with fresh snow and we started serving maple syrup taffy on popsicle sticks. They were a great hit with students and teachers. We had just enough for everyone. Were looking forward to doing it again next year and finding a way to serve even more students and staff.

New Twist to Potluck - Breakfast for Dinner

Last night we decided to have breakfast for dinner at our monthly potluck. It seemed to go over well. We had pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, toast and other fixins. Thanks to Josh and April for helping to plan the event and cooking up the pancakes along with Jimmy.







             We had several new families including Hema's family, Jeff's family, Keith's family and Rob's family. Thanks to the Dolans for driving up from Cochrane. We missed Isaac who was away working on the rigs.

It was also a night to say goodbye to Tim and Ashley as they transition to Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane where Ashley's dad is the pastor. We'll miss you guys, but were hoping you'll come back and visit often.

Junior Girls Volleyball Team Celebrate the End of a Great Season

Savannah, Shawna and Katherine's volleyball team had a lot of fun tonight. 

Their coach Raylene Kennedy organized a night out for the girls including supper at BP and U of C Dinos volleyball  game. Genesis Church and Young Life were pleased to be able to sponsor the meal for the girls.

During the game the girls had a cheer challenge and met Rex the mascot. Thanks Raylene for a great season. The girls loved you and so did their parents.

Fun at Youth Night

Savannah and Rebeccah volunteered to be human targets at Youth Night tonight. Their friends filled their faces with whipped cream then formed 2 teams. They competed to see which team could throw the most Cheetos at the girls' faces and make them stick to the whipped cream.

Volunteering for Middle and High School Hockey

I love playing hockey. My dad signed me up and encouraged me to play when I was a kid. I remember Saturday mornings going down to the Espanola Arena to play, doing my best and dreaming of the big leagues.

Well now that dream is back. I can see me now, the oldest player in the NHL. People flocking for my autograph. Making millions in salary and endorsements... Ok ok so I'm getting a little ahead of myself.




But I am learning lots of new skills and having lots of fun volunteering with the hockey programs at Ecole Airdrie Middle School and George Mac High School.

I did a little bit last year, starting when Savannah was in the hockey program. This year, because the Plainsmen Arena was under renos both the Middle and the High Schools needed to be bused to the Twin Arenas. I got the job of driving them and brought my equipment along just in case. Both teachers let me join them and I've been lucky enough to be able to continue on after the busing was no longer needed.

Watch for my name in the upcoming NHL draft, you'll be able to tell your friends that you know me when you see me in The Game :)

Youth Bible Study

Every Thursday night our youth gather with Rob and Leigh for GPS - God-Pizza-Swimming. This week we looked at Jesus healing a leper, Jesus clearing the temple and Jesus teaching that we must be like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of God. We had lots to talk about in fact we almost missed the swimming. It was a great opportunity to learn more about Jesus and each other and to share a few laughs.

Airdrie Middle School Junior A Girls Volleyball Team Scores Silver

Last Friday the girls of Ecole Airdrie Middle School Junior A Volleyball Team battled Springbank in the divisional finals to earn silver medals. It was the wrap up of a great season which saw them win most of their games, finishing the regular season in 2nd place behind Springbank.

Mrs Kennedy did an awesome job coaching and motivating the girls. Savannah, Shawna and Katherine were all part of the team. Rebeccah participated in many of their practices also.

Missions Banquet at Bow Valley Baptist Church

Last Sunday the church decided to attend the Missions Banquet at Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane. There were 30 tables decorated to represent different outreach missions of Bow Valley Baptist Church. Heather did a great job decorating our table with photos and hand prints on the tablecloth. Great meal and great report from the founder of God Littlest Angels in Haiti. The keynote speaker encouraged us to share our faith and to be careful of becoming such good friends with people that we avoid sharing the gospel for fear of offending.
He challenged us to do whatever it takes to build bridges to present the gospel.
Thanks to those who sponsored our meals.

WE HAVE RELOCATED TO GENESIS PLACE !

After a year of getting together in our homes it was time to make the big move to a rented facility. We looked at many options and God provided the perfect place for us to meet. And to think it was named after us... Genesis Place. Actually Genesis Church's name was inspired by the name Genesis Place. It is a great place to meet. It has an amazing aquatic center, a track, weight room, gyms, indoor soccer fields and much more. The staff is really friendly and helpful. The rooms are very clean, bright and modern. The move has been very positive for us.   I'll post some pictures soon.
http://www.airdrie.ca/genesis_place/index.cfm

God Set Us Up!

     Most God-moments are unexpected and occur along the way to someplace else. They don't normally happen in church, even though you'd think that would be the place for them to happen. God-moments will seem like interruptions, but if you look for God's fingerprints in your day and in every relationship, in every coffee shop, in every conversation you have with your neighbor, there is a good chance you will begin to see God's presence in your every day.

   My friend Cesar and I were driving across the country from Calgary to Toronto this past week and we ran into a delay that was not of our choosing. God set us up. We entered a restaurant and there was no one in it. After 5 minutes a waiter showed up who had been in the job for 1 hour and knew nothing about the job. Then his boss showed up and served us our drinks. We both ordered a steak sub and the boss went to work in the kitchen, calling out to us that it would take 15 minutes to make the bread. 15 minutes!! Then he had to make the sub. We were in a hurry. We wanted to get back on the road! We have to get going. We had a quick huddle to decide whether to pay for our drinks and leave or stick around for the meal. We chose the high road and decided to wait.

   A few minutes later a young man walks in with a portfolio under his arm. He shows his wares to the new guy who isn't interested then comes to our table. He's selling jewelry in support of a kid's charity. Within minutes we are talking about God. He tells us that he is a Christian from Mongolia and says that he's sure he is going to heaven because he is helping little children and Jesus loves children. Cesar shares with him the truth of the Bible that no one can go to heaven by being good only by putting their faith and trust in Jesus. Once convinced of this truth the young man prays with Cesar to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

   Our sandwiches eventually arrive and we share a meal with this man, our new brother in the Lord. We exchange contact information and then hit the road again. No fast food for us this time but the delay was well worth it. Often God-moments come when we least expect them... When delays and interruptions happen in our lives don't get upset but look for God's fingerprints instead.

Kid's Camp 2011 a Huge Success

God you are awesome!  June 26th to 29th we hosted our 1st ever Kid's Camp at Fletcher Park and it was a great success.  103 kids attended in all with 75 kids on Thursday alone! Seven children made a decision to follow Christ and we met some really great families.

A large group of people from Riverside Baptist Church in Denver Colorado drove 1000 miles over 2 days to organize and run the event for us. They were great to work with. Their key words were positivity and flexibility and they needed it! They brought soccer balls and nets, basketballs, tables, chairs and tents but best of all big hearts and lots of smiles to encourage the kids.


The Genesis team had fun helping out in coaching basketball and soccer and organizing the BBQ. God allowed us to meet many new families through this event as well as serve the community that we love.

On Tuesday, our first day of camp, it rained hard but 16 kids showed up and had a blast. They showed the Colorado team what Albertans are made of.

Friday night we hosted a BBQ with bouncy houses, snow cones and popcorn. There were plenty of people there. The Colorado team stayed right to the end, helped with the cleanup then said their goodbyes until next year. We'll miss yall! A great big thanks.

The Airdrie Echo newspaper ran an article on the Kids Camp at http://www.airdrieecho.com/2011/08/03/genesis-baptist-partners-with-colorado-church

Current Team Helps Out at Mobile Home Park

When Pastor Dwight from Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane asked whether we could use a team of students from the USA this summer I wasn't sure what they would do here in Airdrie. Then through a series of circumstances we needed them to help us with an outreach to the Mobile Home Park off of Main Street. 

Byron, John, Debra, Deanna, Amy, Kyle and Amelia worked real hard for 7 days scrapping, and painting fences, sheds and homes and mowing lawns for any resident that wanted it done.


Bryan organized the work and the supplies and worked alongside of them often into the evening finishing up after the team left.






The team's hard work encouraged one resident to build a new deck for a couple's trailer. Thank you Current Team for helping out. Hope to see you next summer.

Another Youth Night at Mark and Anna's

Mark and Anna opened up their home again yesterday for youth night. Savannah and Rebeccah were joined by Brody and Jared and 2 other friends. It sounds like they had fun hitting each other with a cucumber and making animal sounds. I'm not sure what else they did but the girls said they had fun. Thanks again Mark and Anna for your heart to love and value the youth of Airdrie.
Rob

Rob and Leigh Commissioned as Nehemiah Church Planters

     We are currently in Tampa for 4 days to be commissioned as Nehemiah Church Planters with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention.
     Nehemiah is a program by NAMB to support and encourage couples who feel called by God to start new churches in North America associated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Canadian National Baptist Convention.
    These four days have been spent learning about NAMB, networking with Nehemiah Church Planters and other NAMB missionaries and learning about what others in North America are doing in their church plants.
     We have met tons of awesome people with a heart to reach others with the gospel and see lives transformed. Its been very encouraging to see how God is at work.
      It has given me a much bigger vision for what the Lord may want to do in Airdrie through Genesis. The church planters here don't talk about planting one church. Most of them see themselves as church planting catalysts who will be planting multiple churches.
 
Rob

Praying for Youth Night

      This Saturday Savannah and Rebeccah are inviting their friends to a Youth Night at Mark and Anna's home (see details under the EVENTS tab). Please pray that those whom God wants to be there will come. Pray that all who will be there will feel loved and accepted and that their hearts will begin to be open to the truth that God loves them and that He has a great plan for their lives.

Rob

Are there any other Christians out there?

   Elijah once complained to God that he was all alone (1 Kings 19:14). God answered that He had many God-followers that Elijah knew nothing about. I was reminded of that story today when I was hanging out at the Airdrie Public Library.
   To begin with a man named Casey walked up to me and seeing my Bibles and study books asked what I was doing. He told me that he is a Christian and is part of a Presbyterian Church plant in Airdrie.
    A short while later a worker at the library named Ryan asked me the same question. He told me that he was a Christian and that he attends the Alliance Church.
    Before leaving I introduced myself to the Korean man who was sitting nearby. He told me that he was a Christian and that his father was an officer in the Salvation Army.
    I met 3 people this morning at the library and all 3 were Christians. The next time you think that you are all alone in this world ask God to open your eyes and show you the God-followers around you.

Rob  

What is the Father up to today?

         Do you expect the unexpected? When you go out for a walk or a drive does God ever surprise you? He sure  surprised Leigh and I today. For our date night we decided to go for a walk to Starbucks since there was no good movie at the Roxy, the bowling alley was team bowling only and the Airdrie Jr B hockey team wasn't playing.

        On our way there we met a woman who was shoveling her car out of the snowbank. She explained that it had been there all winter and the town was threatening to tow it away. I took her shovel and finished the job for her then Leigh and I pushed her car out. We also helped her dig out her other car. She was very thankful and offered us a bottle of wine. We said no thanks and told her we were headed to Starbucks. A short while later she walked in with a $40 gift card from Brewsters!! It was her New Year's resolution she said to do this kind of thing.

     She lives on our daughters' flyer route so we hope to meet her again some day. We also met her husband Jason when we were walking home. He introduced himself to us and thanked us again.

      The Father chose to bless us tonight and we are so thankful to be able to see Him at work. Who knows what He will do next! One thing is for sure, when you walk with God always expect the unexpected.
Rob

     

Potluck dinners are a hit

I always look forward to the first Sunday of the month when we share a  potluck dinner. We get to talk a lot, eat a lot and get to know each other even better.

 

December 5th was a special night as Dr. Rainey led us in our first celebration of the Lord's Supper as a group. We also got to meet Isaac, Megan and Elijah for the first time as a group. What a beautiful family. Leigh organized a huge, delicious turkey dinner. It turned out that most of us were more stuffed than the                                                                 turkey by the end of the meal!


January 2nd was another great potluck dinner. Tim did a great job of leading us in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. We were also blessed with Josh, April, Cecile, Nadia, Josh and Ethan who all came for the first time.They were a joy to have with us and added excitement and intensity when we played catch phrase. It was great to have Bryan join us also for the first time, bringing an arm full of gifts as well as chocolates for the children.

Jim, Heather, Summer and Gracy and the Raineys and Kelly were really missed. The highlight for me was when we shared the best moments of 2010 as well as our hopes for 2011.

Can't wait for February 6th!!     Rob