Disney's reaction to the demotion of Pluto

In reaction to news today that Pluto was demoted to the status of "dwarf planet," the Seven Dwarfs issued their own short statement:

"Although we think it's DOPEY that Pluto has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, which has made some people GRUMPY and others just SLEEPY, we are not BASHFUL in saying we would be HAPPY if Disney's Pluto would join us as an 8th dwarf. We think this is just what the DOC ordered and is nothing to SNEEZE at."

As Mickey Mouse's faithful companion, Pluto made his debut in 1930 – the same year that scientists discovered what they believed was a ninth planet.

Said a white-gloved, yellow-shoed source close to Disney's top dog, "I think the whole thing is goofy. Pluto has never been interested in astronomy before, other than maybe an occasional howl at the moon."

(A not from Willem - a very smart way for Disney to get free publicity and be in the news in a very positive way, also do schools have to revise all their textbooks now??)

Giving to the poor

In the passage where the New Testament says that everyone must work, it gives us a reason'in order that he may have something to give to those in need'. Charity- giving to the poor - is an essential part of Christian morality: in the frightening parable of the sheep and the goats it seems to be the point on which everything turns. Some people nowadays say that charity ought to be unnecessary and that instead of giving to the poor we ought to be producing a societyin which there were no poor to give to. they may be quite right in saying that we ought to produce that kind of society. But if anyone thinks that, as a consequence, you can stop giving in the meantime, then he has parted company with all Christian morality. I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standerd common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away to little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are to small.

- C.S. Lewis

Bocelli

For several days now, I have been wondering what to do with my lack of recent blogging. Even though I knew the answer was start blogging again, I didn't really do that. However, I now have found an insperation, my writer's block has vanished. I am listening to Andrea Bocelli, the perfect music to just sit back and write. What about I do not know yet. I have the option to become highly philosophical orI can what has happened recently in my life.

To be original I will start with the last one. Last saturday I finished my work at Scott Mission Camp (SMC). Seven weeks long I lived on a beautiful property in the Caledon hills. After one week of pre-camp 6 camp sessions followed. After session 1-4 I was certain that even though the challenge was great, I would not return to camp. I was exhausted and sometimes camp just got too much. However, I had to go back for 2 more weeks, first youthweek and than another normal session (session 5).

to large amounts of marijuana. This meant that for the rest of the week there were only 4 campers in my cabin, which was a true blessing from God. During normal weeks we as counsellors prepare devotions and try to get discussion going between everyone in the cabin. However, since we only had 4 campers we gave each camper the oppertunity to share their own testimony and questions. It was really encouraging to see that all these 4 young men (they were all 17 or almost 17) had some form of trust in God. Defining this past that point seemed a greater challenge though. However, God really spoke through us as counsellors and the hunger that these guys had for Christ in their life was fed tThe youth session was absolutely amazing, insteas of about 100 7-14 year old kids there were about 80 14-17 year old kids. The atmosphere was completely different than normal sessions to. Where normally I have to really by on my campers and make them do simple stuff, this week was way more relaxing. Nevertheless, the week started of a bit roughly, the first night 3 of the campers in my cabin got sent home, actually the police took them away, they all had brought stuff on to camp property that was not allowed. This "stuff" ranged from knives and ligher fluido a certain, extend. God let us plant many seeds, seeds that maybe one day will be sowed by the grace of God. My last week at camp was also much better than the weeks before, my cabin was a blessing and God really gave me the strength and patience to enjoy every moment of it.


Here a picture of the Scott Mission Camp grounds (sorry, it is very small!, hopefully you can still see the beauty)

Thus SMC '06 came to an end. On saturday morning, Heather picked me up and we headed to the Joshua House near Cambridge for an absolutely great retreat. 7 people from the church in the box team came together, and we discussed and talked about our heading for the coming year. The amount of work we got done was amazing, and the talks, relaxing, food and worship were all blessings that made the weekend complete. Monday I came home. I am now in Barrie to the end of my summer break. Which is one week from now, on the 30th I go back to start my 2nd year of Redeemer. The way it looks now, it is going to be an action packed year, in which God will hopefully really play the central role on campus and in our lives. When I made a short stop at Redeemer on the weekend to visit Rachel it was made obvious that a lot still needs to happen before school starts (we have no roads at the moment). But, last year we lasted without an entire library for a ful semester, it can't be that bad! Well, for all you Redeemerites I hope to see you soon (very soon). For everybody else, I also hope that I see you soon to.

God bless, Willem

I guess there are no deep philosophical thougths in this post, maybe later.

http://www.myspace.com/crossculture905">


Hamilton Place Studio Theatre, Redeemer U/C

when?

September 23rd, 2006; 9 am - 7 pm

what?

worship through service, service through worship.


Crossculture was born out of a few individuals who were challenged by God to really think big in making a difference in their community. The vision was to have a full day of service in the Hamilton community in order to bless the city in which we live, and to give visible and tangible expression to Christ's love for the city. Last April 1st, this vision culminated in 103 students giving up their day to worship and serve the community.

Check out the http://www.myspace.com/crossculture905">Cross Culture MySpace, including the CH News video clip filmed last April.

This is an event not to be missed: for sign-up or more information, contact Matt Pamplin at mpampli@redeemer.on.ca, or (905) 648-2131 ext. 4289

well...

Well, life just keeps on going. Before I knew that I had started my job at SMC, I only have 2 weeks left. The coming week is youthweek and should bring some completely new challenges. The last week have been filled with many challenges that varied from dealing with broken families, breaking up fights, very very bad language, disrepect for women, disrepect for God, trying to be a strong example of a Christian, trying to stay energized with a lack of sleep, being a sort of a father figure for some campers. However, my weeks are also filled with, awesome devotions, learning to dunk, great food, leading campers to Christ, challenging campers during devotions, finally making a breakthrough with a certain camper, scoring amazing goals in soccer, doing a high ropes course, meeting new people, making new friends, I could go on for a long time.

Yes, God is providing in my life. Only 26 days from now I am returning to Redeemer. And after about a week of planning and meeting, my second year will finally start. I have in recent days aquired 3 new things that should make my life at Redeemer even more comfortable. Just before I left for SMC, I picked up a cheap bike at a garage sale (oh yah!) On friday I bought myself a MP3 player. I finally gave in to the rage (see picture) 6GB and it is alrady half filled 2 days later. And today I picked up a free BBQ that was standing lonely on a nearby street, so know this everybody DORM 36 now has a BBQ to go with their porch out back!

(My new addition to my personal gear, I feel a bit greedy buying something like that, but it is pretty cool)

Well that is it for know, God bless, Willem