Giving Tuesday

We've had Black Friday, and we'll have Cyber Monday soon. But here's something new to try out... Giving Tuesday! I know... what? Giving Tuesday. I heard it on one of our commercials and thought what a great tradition to start! it's defined as (by Giving Tuesday.ca) "a new Canadian movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Cyber Monday. The “Opening day of the giving season,” it is a day where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes and think about others."

So why not start this with your home? I think we'll do it with ours! Sounds like a great idea, and very Biblical as believers we're called to look after those in need - widows, orphans, the poor and destitute. Giving Tuesday helps put Christmas back in focus after the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

I like it! If you want to go to the Giving Tuesday website, you can donate to Life by typing in the charity name of Trust Communications Ministries, Barrie, ON, and you can enter any donation amount. We will be notified by them. Cool!

Christmas Flash Mobs!

I don't know about you but I love those Flash Mobs at Christmas time in malls. This one was great - right beside Santa Clause who sat there looking dejected while Christian Christmas Carols were sung all around him!

Here's another one...

And another...

So many great Christmas flash mob videos to surprise people! I once tried this with a few members of my college choir when I was at Word of Life Bible Institute. We were on tour for the Christmas show Ring the Bells and when we tried it we got told by security to stop. Even though they liked it, they said another group had booked the place.

So in order to do a Flash Mob you have to book it, you can't just show up and start singing. Too bad. I'd love to so this myself sometime! Anyone interested in organizing one?

Red Poppy White Poppy

Red Poppy White Poppy...

Hard to believe there's a controversy surrounding the poppy. Yet there is a group made up mainly of university students who try to say that the Red poppy "glorifies war." Seriously? Since when did the poppy become a symbol for promoting war? When I grew up it was always taught as the flower that was growing in Flanders Fields where soldiers died and they grew between the crosses where soldiers lay. How is that glorifying war?

Seem to me these "educated" students have learned the wrong lesson.

It has bothered those in the military because they have had this Red poppy as their symbol to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, and for those who still do. 

I live in a military community and this to me would seem like a sap in the face to them. "Your poppy isn't good enough... so wear the white one instead!" What a statement to make. Disappointing.

The Bible talks about those who have been killed in living out their faith for the Lord from the Old Testament (Able) to the New Testament (John exiled on Patmos) and we have modern accounts of those who die for their faith. Imagine someone said to us - sorry your symbol of the cross isn't good enough - use this instead because you're glorifying death? 

I have a lot of respect for the military and this just seems silly to me.

On Remembrance Day I'll be wearing a RED Poppy.