How to widen your blogger column

I've never really liked the layout of my blog. I like the content, I like the colours, but the blog itself seemed too narrow. It seemed to waste a great deal of space. So I googled "how to widen the margins" and came up with this blog posting. So I became a 'follower'.

So how do you like my new look?

Are you a follower? Have you decided to 'follow' me? I would love to have you become a follower.

Today was our office Christmas party. We had a lovely buffet lunch, and while we did not sing any carols, the air was filled with thoughts of carols. So now I really feel like we are into the Christmas season. And of course one month today is my birthday, which is a sign Christmas is almost here too!

What you hear on a Kettle

Last evening a group of us were at the Edmonton Oilers game to stand at our Kettles as we "kicked off" this important fund raising event. The funds raised in Edmonton go to fund our Community and Family Services whose diverse support of those in need.

My greeting at the Oilers Game last night standing by one of our Kettles:

"Thank you and Merry Christmas"

The responses:

"You're the first person to wish me that!"

"I always know Christmas is coming when I see you guys."

"It isn't even December yet! What are you guys doing out?"

"I always donate to The Salvation Army. I know I can trust you to do what needs to be done."

What's the value of your opinion?

I'm not an economist but it seems to me worth is established by the exchange individuals are willing to make. You see that demonstrated on eBay. Someone owns a clock and puts it on eBay - then others offer money based on what they think the clock is worth. Whatever the owner thinks the clock is worth is irrelevant to the final agreement. The value is established by the purchaser.

Now consider your opinion. What is your opinion worth? Most of us willing it give it away freely. We offer it to anyone who'll listen, anyone who will let us step into the conversation.

So what's the option? Waiting until someone asks us? Imagine what that would do to the value of what we have to say.

Loss

We were at Glenmore Temple this morning. There was a definite sadness in the air as they announced some very personal losses for members of the congregation. One in paticular, the 18 year old grand-daughter of one couple, was killed in a severe collision south of Calgary on Saturday. Wendy and I were driving through the city and heard the radio announcement regarding the traffic detouring due to the accident.

I never hear those announcements without thinking about the families involved. For some time when we lived in Mississauga I was on the "on call team" for Pastoral Care at the Credit Valley Hospital. One evening we passed a serious accident, and just as we got past the intersection my pager went off. At the hospital I found a father who was mourning the death of his 16 year old daughter. She had been on the back of her friend's motorcycle though her Dad had forbidden her to be out on the bike! Now he was phoning his estranged wife to tell her the tragic news. There is little comfort in those moments without a sense of eternity.

Believing our days will continue to unfold as they have in the past is how most of us approach each day. It isn't going to always be this way. It just isn't.

Preparing for such moments has to happen in the calm, for in the storms of life there is no time to develop character or hope or faith. As a pastor I've seen to many families torn apart in times that should have driven them together.

So how will you prepare?

The Delta in Kananaskis

Jill, our contact at the Delta in Kananaskis assures us that our dates for the second week of January 2011 are set, and we have some other neat ideas for the week when the officers of the AB & NT Division will gather in this idyllic setting for our retreat. I couldn't help but stop and take some photos of the mountains where winter is settling in.

The hard art of listening

Mr. Caldwell, Calgary's Mayor, Barbara, Darrel and myself at the table prior to our dinner!


This was a hard day. First it was about listening, and listening intently. Second the listening was about a hard subject. Listening is exhausting - or at least I find deep listening to be tiresome.

I was just reading Michael Hyatt's blog about conversation - he likens it to a game of ping-pong where there is give and take - listening and speaking with rhythm, sharing the air! I spend a lot of time in boardrooms, and I'm always surprised by mature leaders who seem to feel that the air is not shared but owned. So my question is, do you share or own the air?

Today was a day of sharing and it sure wasn't easy. Most days I love this position...but today I found myself weighed down by the difficulty of the dialogue.

The feedback we are getting from yesterday's event is good and below is Pam, Darrel Janz, Wendy, Thomas Caldwell and myself. Maybe tomorrow will be lighter.

Mr. Thomas Caldwell

We awoke this morning to a bright sunny day in Calgary. The picture outside our window was striking as we saw again those snow capped mountains towering over the mountains. I like living in Edmonton but I miss that sight! There really is not much like it.

Today was the Calgary Kettle Kick-Off event at The Westin Hotel with our guest Mr. Thomas

Caldwell, Chairman of the Caldwell Financial Ltd.

Mr. Caldwell's clear and authentic witness represented well the work of The Salvation Army and as the luncheon ended several business people attending spoke to me about how impressed they were with the conviction that accompanied the message. If you want to make the best investment of your life, suggested Mr. Caldwell, it will be Jesus.

His address was laced with humour, moving

personal illustrations and the good news of God's love through Jesus.

Our emcee was Darrel Janz from CTV and himself a wonderful Christian man who I have now known almost ten years. He guided the event along getting us through right on schedule.