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You may notice by the word “cult” in culture that something distinctive makes a society what it is.  Not that it’s bad, or even jarringly different.  But there is something that an onlooker can detect.

Yesterday I headed to a “glow bowling” night with our youth.  Now, I’m naive enough to think that this is about bowling.  WRONG!

As I walked in the dress code was apparent.  And I had missed it!!  White T shirts that glow with ultraviolet light.  And yellow highlighters that, when written on skin, stand out in that same ultraviolet light.  Interestingly, when the regular lights are turned on you don’t notice the mustache that has been placed on an upper lip, or the words written on bare arms.

Of course, you will also often be subjected to “funky” bowling.  Lying on your belly, or left-handed, or through the legs of your team.  That game was less than stellar!

In the end, the yelling was inspiring, the bowling less so, and the fun great!  And next time?  I’ll wear a white T shirt!! 

I’m having great fun learning about legal documents. 

In the 90’s I served as a public notary in Saskatchewan.  The task was not onerous, nor was the influx of people wanting documents verified.  My expired stamp/seal sits in my closet.

With my father’s death there has been more than one occasion where a copy of a document has been needed.  And not just a photocopy, fax of email attachment.  The document must be notarized.  There must be an actual piece of paper with a statement that this is a facsimile of the original – verified by an honest person authorized to do so.

Two of us are doing the paperwork.  We live four hours apart.  Only one of us will have the original documents.  Every time verification is needed, we have to ship “real” paper back and forth.  That takes time – and money, as compared to an email or fax.

Is there a way to make that verification quicker and easier?  As a registrar years ago, that debate was just getting into full swing.  Now, 15-20 years later the “real” paper is still the preferred thing.  And may be into the future.  As one of my library science colleagues said, “paper will never be replaced”.  Maybe they are right.  Or we could revert back to rock and chisel.  Might take a little longer to transport, but it would be rather difficult to alter!!

As our local general Christian ministerial meets this Friday we will be considering the level of cooperation we will have.  For the past year there has been a fade in terms of meeting and attempting activities together.  Smaller groups within the ministerial have been meeting, but as a whole we seem fractured.

This trend is evident across the globe.  Where there has been an attempt by Christian denominations to come together around like causes and a sense of brotherhood (oops, that’s a word that isn’t inclusive enough!), now there is a return to the realization that doctrine and practice are equally important.

Issues such as abortion and homosexuality are just the tip of the iceberg.  Many push back to an understanding of the Bible as primary for belief and practice.  We even hear the same words, like God and Jesus, being defined in completely opposite ways.

Is there a place for cooperation?  For us here, we will need to communicate with each other and decide what are terms of consideration are. 

So Friday, a local seniors residence will provide the general ministerial with a breakfast meal, we’ll hear how we can contribute to the lives of the tenants of the residence, and then the ministerial will sit down and talk.  Amongst themselves, about themselves, for the sake of themselves!  Let’s pray for clear words, open hearts and God given direction!!

Tonight is the first go at it!  Our year end is December, our annual meeting is in February.  The budget is approved at that point.

So, the need is to be realistic in budgeting and courageous in vision.  That’s easier said than done.  There is the vicious circle that says e need resources to fulfil the plans.  But we need to see the plans to release the resources.  Somewhere in between you realize that budgeting is an exercise in faith.

May our faith be great!!