The Greatest Movie Ever

What is better than Vikings going around waring? How about Vikings fighting an alien monster?

Baptism

"Jesus' Baptism anticipated his death on the Cross, and the heavenly voice proclaimed an anticipation of the Resurrection. These anticipations have now become reality. John's baptism with water has received its full meaning through the Baptism of Jesus' own life and death. To accept the invitation to be baptized now means to go to the place of Jesus' Baptism. It is to go where he identifies himself with us and to receive there our identification with him. The point where he anticipates death has now become the point where we anticipate rising again with him."
-Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth

I first read these words a couple weeks ago while I was in a car driving back to my beloved Winnipeg with some good dudes. In many ways these words on baptism are highly complex, loaded with much theology, but at the same time there is something profoundly simple about them. Through baptism Christ has identified himself with us and through baptism we accept this identifying with us. It is a beautiful thing to hear that God loves humanity enough to identify with her. In identifying with humanity Christ takes on death and arises as victorious. I look forward to the day when we will rise with Christ. I am sick of people dying of things like cancer. I have a strong longing for that day when the mystery of the Kingdom of God and this resurrection that is promised comes to be reality rather than mysterious promise.

nail guns and personal salvation

Today as I pulled up to the site, prepared for a good day of setting up some forms and pouring a grade beam, I was instantly disappointed to see a coworker with a bucket removing water from where we were to be working. It was the start of a bruce-hole of a day.

My day involved mud, a nail gun that doesn't work, the inability to hit a nail in straight, and many other frustrations.

As I reflect on the parable of the sower (which I need to finish a paper for) I think that I am not a seed on rock. My bruce-hole of a day and the temptation to leave all I know for the sake of a cursed nail gun ended with me still being a Christian. I guess I am still a disciple. Thank God it is over for today.

My new ride

In an effort to live a simpler life, to leave less of a footprint, and to promote an alternative reality to the oil soaked North American reality I am trying to ride my bicycle as much as possible. I still need my car for work but weekends and evenings are bike time.

I have my bike all ready to go. New tires (tyres?), a helmet (I figure if I have paid this much for education I should probably protect my brain), a tire pump (no use in have new tires if they don't have air in them), and a lock (keep your hands off my smurf blue Sekine). I have also decided that my bike shall be called Papa Smurf. It is old and blue, and possibly a bit too small.

Part of my post Haiti thoughts have been about the pace of life we live and our feelings that a car is practically a human right. Don't get me wrong I love ambulances and fire trucks and the fact that little kids can be driven around on cold winter days. Haiti reminded me that it is very possible for people to exist with out cars. I'm not romanticizing Haiti, I'm not saying it is a utopia but I think there is a simplicity that is closer to the heart of the gospel than what we have.

I heard on the radio that the US consumes 1.2 Billion litres of gas (most likely gas, diesel, and all their weird ass cousins) a day. Mind you that most likely includes military, navy, and all those things but seriously? We should probably be a bit less consumptive. The hilarious thing is that few people will change their petrol spending despite stupid high prices. We are slaves to our cars.

Me, I have a new life partner in my Sekine. He loves me. I love him. And I probably look damn sexy riding it too.

Rain

A 6:30 am call to say its a rain day is a good thing. The only logical thing to do is stay awake listening to Bob Dylan and read some Brueggemann.

Excellent

If I was to exercise

Rush

I saw Rush play at the MTS Centre tonight. It was incredible. Great music, hilarious videos, lasers, pyrotechnics, and boomers acting like they are in high school again. Not to mention the Rickenbacker even made an appearance.

I do not understand how they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.