Lately I have felt very stirred about this subject. So I have decided to write down some thoughts regarding my thoughts around Religion and Relationship. While this is not meant to be any sort of defining or definitive article on the subject, it’s a chance for me to get some of my thoughts and ideas down on paper as I feel that I may revisit this many times.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from a friend of mine. We have known each other for 3 or 4 years I guess and while not close friends we are more than acquaintances. We met through a mutual friend and have hung out quite a few times, however we have never really dug into each other’s personal beliefs. So anyway I had sent him a link to my blog as he is going to draw a new logo for it when he has the time (ha ha, yeah right, he’s a college student!!!). After reading my blog he wrote back with the comment “I actually hadn’t realized that you were so deeply religious.” While a harmless statement in and of itself, it actually bothered me a little. Now he meant nothing by it, but for me, I am a far way from deeply religious and it’s this difference that I am trying to explore.

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Here is some screenshots from a few recent games. Good times!!!!!!

Check out this really great video from a group called Flight of the Conchords it’s freaking awesome!!!

Are probably the greatest source of joy, sorrow, laughter, pain, comfort and frustration that we will ever have. So I am always hesitant when I feel a wind of change in my relationships. Even though I am generally open to change, I balk a bit when I feel a change in my relationships. Everybody needs their peeps and there is such an incredible amount of time, effort and emotion put into most relationships that we often hold these closest to our hearts and are most resistant to change in this area. It’s interesting that I/we react this way to change in our relationships, because growth (whether together or apart) is as inevitable as the sunset. I say this because as I reflect on the past 8 to 10 months I feel that some of my relationships are growing apart and I’m not sure what to do about it.

I recently was venting to a close friend of mine, that I am dissatisfied with being unequally yoked in some of my relationships. I notice a pattern that with some people, I will constantly go out of my way or be “inconvenienced” if you will, to ensure that I am supporting, building up and growing that relationship. However, in some cases this effort or willingness to be inconvenienced is not returned. What do you do with that? Even someone with the lowest of self esteems will begin to struggle with that after time. Worse off is when it is with people who you “need” to have a close relationship with, such as family and life long friends.

The struggle is always with to what extent am I responsible to carry these relationships? How much grace do I extend to those people. Maybe the answer is that I carry it as long as I am able. Maybe the answer is to let it go and then pick it up after 6 months to try again? I don’t know, but we will see.

So I haven’t written for awhile and I think I’m gonig to just make this a regular blog and just talk about whatever is up.

So things have been super busy.

I finished my fast.
Went on holidays.
Sold our house.
Bought a new house.
Closed a deal with a vendor at work that I’ve been working on for 1 1/2 years.
and had a house guest from Texas for the past week.
Finished the web-site for the church (just waiting for the leadership team to provide some content)

These are the main reasons I haven’t posted in awhile.

So let me provide some thoughts about my fast. I can honestly say that I miss it. What an amazing experience, it feels so good to have that kind of discipline in your life and it taught me a lot about myself. I feel that in 32 days I was re-energized, transformed, changed, enlightened, renewed, validated, encouraged, filled up and poured into. From the support of my family and friends to the closeness I felt with God, it all was truly amazing. Even though there was some mocking from co-workers at times that started to get to me, I was able to quickly overcome that and not let it bother me. Further more I think it was a great witness to people that I know that life is about more than just living for yourself.

Some of the outcomes of the fast are as follows:

We are moving to Okotoks as we sold our house and bought another with relative ease (thank the Lord) and learnt a ton while we did it.
I’ve decided to get back in shape and pursue police work as a career (will most likely apply next year)
I’ve drawn closer to God.
I feel a deeper and more appreciative Love for my wife, kids, friends and family.
I feel clear direction from the Lord on some ministry opportunities that Cindy and I will start once we move.
I’ve regained a sense of peace in my life regarding where we are and what we are doing.
I am really seeing a change of seasons in some of my realtionships as some seem to be cooling off and some seem to be being intensified.
The Lord has really deepened the teaching and learning that I first spoke about here : faith

Regardless it’s all very exciting and I look forward to this next season in our life.