Seth Godin: live seminar for good causes 10/09

Do you lead, work for or support a charity that is doing good work? If so, take an hour (or so) and listen to what Seth has to say.



Seth Godin live seminar for good causes 10/09 from Seth Godin on Vimeo.

There are limits to self-indulgence, none to restraint.

Mahatma Gandhi

Canadian men's hockey team open with a decisive win 8-0 over Norway. Great photos here http://ping.fm/KRxi2

Work today then Olympic hockey. Can't wait!

“We Are More”

" ... but don’t let your luggage define your travels ..."
The lyrics are below ... watch, listen and reflect. This is great stuff. 





When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we’ve got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world’s anthem has been
"been there done that”
and maybe that’s where we used to be at
it’s true
we’ve done and we’ve been
we’ve seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don’t forget to mention that we have set sparks
we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say “eh?”
and yes
we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you’re welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like “someday”
someday we’ll be great
someday we’ll be this
or that
someday we’ll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday
we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through
and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don’t have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don’t all know what it is in life we’re looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you’ve been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
"keep exploring… we are more”
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it’s true

Canada is the “what” in “what’s new?”
so don’t say “been there done that”
unless you’ve sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don’t say you’ve been there done that
unless you’ve been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you’ll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn’t pack for the first time
but don’t let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what’s more
is that we didn’t just say it
we made it be.

Canada Strikes Gold

Bilodeau wins Canada's first gold on home soil. http://ping.fm/oUVpy?cid=rssctv Great Olympics moment.

IT Daycare in Manila

Another update from Hart Weins ...

We got to the International Teams (IT) ministry centre just in time for John and the staff to round up their little pupils for the daycare. We went down the street where the pupils live – literally on the street.

The squatter community exists in the shadow of the skyscrapers that make up the wealthiest business district in the Philippines. But there is no evidence of “trickle-down” economics here. Squatters live on the margins of society. They have nothing. Life happens on the edge of the street where people cook, bathe and work.

One source of income we saw was what appeared to be a repair shop. There were vehicles and all sorts of appliances being worked on – right on the side of the street where life was happening.

The children were excited to join John and his co-worker as they came into the community to pick them up. Again, I was struck by how neat and clean the children were, inspite of their challenging living arrangements. Today 2 new pupils were joining the daycare. They would not have qualified under the rules that the ministry had established, but John and his co-workers took them in anyway because their parents simply did not seem to have the capacity to provide any care for them at all.

The daycare class itself was lively and energetic. The pupils were rewarded for their efforts with little stickers they could choose from an abundant supply that John had brought with him. The class began with prayer and singing. The pupils eagerly volunteered to lead the prayers and enjoyed the singing. Another thing that would stand out to any Canadian teacher was the amount of physical interaction between the teachers and their pupils. In Canada teachers are strictly forbidden from touching their pupils. Here the children were hanging onto the teachers, hugging and being hugged.

The pupils were obviously lapping up the attention and love being lavished on them and learning was definitely happening, not just among the pupils. John was also learning a lot of Filipino language from his eager and uninhibited pupils.

Manila Update from Hart Weins

Yesterday (Sun Feb 7th) we went to join John and his fellow young International Teams (IT) missionaries at the Church they are helping to plant in a “squatter” community located within sight of what would be the Philippine equivalent of Bay Street or Wall Street. This part of Manila is called Makati, the richest city in the Philippines. Even Rambie, who has lived in the Philippines all his life was surprised that there would be squatter communities in Makati, but they are there, inhabited by the poor, the broken and the marginalized of society. These are the people that the IT ministry and the Church they are planting is trying to bless. As with any new Church plant, there is always something for young energetic volunteers to do. Yesterday for example Brett, one of John’s young colleagues (also from our area in Ontario) learned at 8:00 AM that he was on to preach the sermon. The father of the pastor who had been scheduled to preach had passed away at night and so Brett, who was supposed to have a weekend off, was asked to step in. I thought he did well, given his youth (21 years old), lack of time to prepare and the fact that he is getting married today (the civil ceremony). The Church wedding is schedule for next month when his parents can be here. Brett selected 3 texts. From Micah in the Old Testament – “What does the Lord require, but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” From Jesus in the Gospels – The greatest commandment, love God and love your neighbour. From Paul in Philippians 4 the encouragement to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. Brett is still learning Tagalog/Filipino, so his message was delivered in a mix of English and Tagalog but in language easy enough for most to follow.

The service was conducted in a lively “charismatic” manner led by an energetic worship ensemble of young volunteers from the Church. As I might have expected, I was asked to share a few words of encouragement from the Scriptures and to demonstrate that I too could speak a little “Filipino.” There was a separate program for the children lead by the young IT interns, but some of the younger children who needed to be near their mothers were in and out of the adult service. It struck me that there were many more women than men in the service. I learned later that in some cases mothers had been abandoned by the fathers of their children. At least one young woman was married to a man who lives in another country, something that is quite common in the Philippines where there are not enough good jobs to go around for the millions of young adults who need them. The radical difference in demographics between Canada and the Philippines struck me again wherever I went yesterday. The city of Manila is teaming with people, overwhelmingly young people in their twenties.

After Church we joined John and his colleagues for a nice Filipino lunch – rice and fried chicken. Then I and Rambie returned to the SIL Guest House where we are staying, for a little rest as I was feeling the effects of my jet lag. We travelled through Manila by “jeepney” the ubiquitous and unique Philippine mode of public transit serving the residential parts of the city and linked to the high speed light rail transit connecting the various cities that make up metro Manila, a city of 15 million people. The light rail system is a new feature since we lived here and it has certainly helped to relieve some of the traffic congestion which has always plagued this city, but only slightly. The growing population continues to put pressure on the infrastructure and overcrowding is evident everywhere – a continuing source of stress (on top of the heat, humidity and pollution) for the people who try to make their living here.

We agreed to meet John and his colleagues again on Tuesday when they hold their Church run day-care, an experimental new program where John is applying his passion for teaching. Some the beautiful artwork of the day-care children was on display at the Church. We will not see all of the ministries in which John is involved in this short visit. On Wednesday John and Jarred will have their Tagalog lessons while Rambie and I go out to the Taal volcano where the Catholic Bishops group is holding their Bible conference – about 3 hours south of Manila. Then on Wednesday night we will all meet at the bus station for our overnight trip north, first to the beautiful Ifugao rice terraces and then on to Tabuk in Kalinga, the province where we began our ministry. 

More on all that later.

Hartmut (Hart) Wiens                        
DIRECTOR OF SCRIPTURE TRANSLATIONS
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 
Canadian Bible Society           
385 Frederick Street                        
Kitchener, Ontario  N2H 2P2
TEL:   519.741.8285
FAX:   519.741.8357
CELL: 519.504.9548 
www.biblesociety.ca 

A Strong Sense of Place

Enoka Dumo (50) was born to Sudanese parents in the Adjumani refugee camp in northern Uganda during the war. When Enoka's children grew up, they applied for refugee status in Australia and escaped the camp. Enoka, however, turned down the offer. He believes he is called to lead his people.

Enoka is the national leader of Impact Southern Sudan and the Director of SERM, an International Teams partner organization that equips and trains pastors. International Teams provided SERM with bicycles that they use to deliver the gospel to neighbouring villages and tribes. In addition, with the help of International Teams, Enoka is building schools for his people in Kajo Keji, Southern Sudan.

In thousands of villages across Africa, children fortunate enough to afford uniforms attend mud-walled schools with straw roofs. Every year during the rainy season the entire structure is weakened or often washed away and must be rebuilt.

With the help of International Teams, Enoka is rebuilding schools out of solid brick with galvanized steel roofs.

The government and local leaders have even started to take notice. Nevertheless, in spite of being a respected elder in his community, every weekend Enoka crosses the border back into Uganda to his home in the Adjumani refugee camp. Enoka's strong sense of place and commitment to his people keeps him in Kajo Keji and Adjumani building schools, preaching the gospel and leading his people.

You can help Enoka build schools in Southern Sudan. To donate to this great program, go to Give NOW.