God's Baby Steps: A Brand New New

A BABY CHANGES EVERYTHING
We had a baby. Anyone seeing my Facebook must know that. And yes, I know I'm probly overdoing it with the baby pics.

Our lives have never been the same.

Some of those ways are really hard, and I still come to grips with how hard.

Some of those ways are a daily blast of radiant joy, of a quality that surprises me even tho just about everyone told me to be prepared. This too I'm still coming to grips with.

A BABY CHANGED EVERYTHING

The Christmas story is, in one sense, a baby story of such world-changing magnitude that it need a virgin birth.

Life itself was never the same.

The road for the parents was really hard. The baby's grown-up life was no cakewalk either.

The purpose for the hardness was a constant blast of radiant joy, of a quality I (and many others, like Sam and Charlie here) are still coming to grips with.

I'd thought of writing more, but I think I'm happy with leaving this short, and letting you get on this with this day.

May yours be merry & bright. Merry Christmas!

BBC News - What would Jesus do?: The rise of a slogan #WWJD #Occupy

via bbc.co.uk

Interesting context for this slogan to creep up again, with the Occupy hubbub in London. I think u can click a link above for the article, which is quite BBC.

God's Baby Steps Pt 1: Anticipation

NOTE: This ultrasound is of SASHA!
(A few friends are "working on" their second now that their first hasn't soured them on the experience. While we're pretty open to it, we don't have one of these for a 2nd round. Yet).

Advent is the fancy name many church people use for the month leading up to Christmas, the four Sundays before Christmas.

This year, I plan to write a short series matching up my experiences with a fresh new daughter with a certain other baby that lots of us celebrate in the coming month. At this point I'm not sure how many I'll do. Probably three or four.

I've been anticipating writing this first one, about anticipation.
Probably thinking about it most when I'm rocking to sleep the flesh-in-blood manifestation of this ultrasound, which is much cuter and drier and I never knew anything could be so soft or fun to hold.

The spirit of anticipation is one of many things that I believe unites us in this season when we celebrate the season once universally known as Christmas. Apparently in some church traditions, I'm not supposed to hit on anticipation till three or four weeks down the road. But I seriously couldn't wait. To me, it helped me put my Advent series into chronological order.

just before this picture was taken...
It was summer 2010. About a month before we knew for sure, we suspected Dana might be pregnant. At every other point in my life, this prospect was almost pure fear for me. However, at some point in that month before, it dawned on me that a child on the way didn't have to be just fear, that as much as there would be inevitable sacrifices and lifestyle change, I felt released & free to hope for this child and what the potential is for this human being. It was a gentle epiphany, a feeling that washed over me and assured me without connection to a big memorable event or anything. I just felt like things would be taken care of, that we'd be okay, and that now, and not a moment sooner, I was ready to be a Dad.

our life now vs. previous anticipations
One irony (of many) in my life: although "dreaming things up" is often part of my work responsibilities, I've never found myself to be a very specific dreamer. Having a baby was always a possibility but it wasn't the same make-or-break dream for Dana & me that I know it is for others. With that, the whole getting married-buying a home-having a baby set of somewhat universal human dreams... we got 'em, and it often feels like we lucked into them.

In recent rock-to-sleep sessions with Sasha, I've been taking a little mental stock of things I anticipated in the past, and how they measure up to the life I have now. At one point, I'd had hopes for an award-winning career in advertising. Secondary to this, but still strong, was a heart cry to not be alone.

I got the first. Technically. I haven't won huge awards or a huge amount of them. But early on in that life, the awards themselves became not such a big deal to me. Quite early on: at the award show with the biggest audience, I won the student award and missed the speech because I was in a great conversation!

I'll get to the secondary anticipation in a paragraph or two...

anticipations circa Jesus: holdin' out for a hero
Back in Jesus' day, Israel was under the Roman Empire's rule. This was after generations of being under the rule of a few other big-time empires of their day. They were a people itching for freedom, anticipating the promise from their sacred writings: Messiah, which we understand to be "saviour" and had the added connotation of a fighting liberator, probably like their new Moses freeing them from their new Egypt.

And they got... a baby?
One born from a virgin?
And then this guy who walked around healing people?
Their Moses, their Bruce Willis action hero, didn't come as they anticipated.

However, Mary's anticipation gets more positive airtime than those of her people, recorded in what's known as the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56, a song that seems a direct result of fetal Jesus meeting fetal John The Baptist, who gives a big kick for his mother. The song includes these verses that expressly hint at the sweeping, upside-down reality this Messiah will usher in:

He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.

I'll get more into the nature of this saviour baby in later posts.

anticipation fulfilled
My life's secondary anticipation was much more fulfilled, ironically while I've just about always put more energy into career than family.  

I don't wax poetic about my love life too much, period. Even in private. And yes, Dana has noticed... This seems like a great place to start putting my heart out there, as I start this Christmas writing:  Dana, or more exactly, the life I've been blessed with which could not happen without Dana, that's been the biggest blessing in my life, more than sufficient for all my anticipations past. Again, I'll flesh things out in future posts, but as tough as some days are right now, Dana is at the crux of at least one moment of pure joy every day. I feel truly blessed.

 

Interesting sidenote: the company I now work for is award-winning, not for creativity per se but for being a quality workplace.

let's anticipate
So my takeaway in all this is to feel empowered to anticipate... and keep eyes & ears open to how our anticipation is fulfilled... often not as we anticipate. Occasionally, better.
What are you anticipating?
Time off?
Time with family?
Someone to share life with?
A child?
For your child(ren) to turn out okay?
For the 99% to get a bigger piece of the 1%'s pie?

an interesting albeit church-y summary thought
Bob Swann is one of Dana & my favourite pastors at our church, Vancouver's First Baptist. I like him so much that I "cheated" on our denomination's Advent devotionals for this year, skipping to Bob's that happens to be about Anticipation . For those in town, Bob's one of the instrumental figures in setting up the Tuesday night Shelter lineup outside our church. He encourages "expectancy of a blessed interruption", and to "hold on tight. It will be a great ride."

Our ride's been full of big & little surprises so far, and we're seeing why it's important to hold on...

Next post: a brand new new.

'sall part of my God's Baby Steps series for Advent 2011.

GOD'S WORD Translation. Anyone use it? Vehemently not use it? Pls discuss!...

via godswordtranslation.org

Just wondering what the deal is with this translation. I'm so behind on my theolo-nerd-ing...

American Girl ® | Dolls, clothes, games, & gifts for girls

via americangirl.com

My colleague @BillBonikowsky was telling me about these American Girl® dolls. Apparently it's a new part of his grandparently obligations. Should probably save up, it's quite likely that when Sasha starts asking for stuff, this is what she'll ask for and they're $119 a pop (for doll plus storybook and/or DVD).

Sasha w grandpa

Testing to see if this channel is any more viable w new iPhone os.

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing

@USAtoday: Obama [office] condemns Iran for pastor #Nadarkhani's death sentence

The White House and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, are condemning Iran's plan to execute a pastor for refusing to renounce Christianity and re-join Islam.

The White House says the planned execution "crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations."

Boehner said that, "while Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity."

The White House statement (from press secretary Jay Carney, not President Obama):

The United States condemns the conviction of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people.

That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations.

A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens.

We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion.

And here is Boehner's statement:

"Religious freedom is a universal human right.

The reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani will be sentenced to death by the Iranian government unless he disavows his Christian faith are distressing for people of every country and creed.

While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity.

I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare Yousef Nadarkhani's life, and grant him a full and unconditional release."

Some background on the Nadarkhani case, from the AFP wire service:

Nadarkhani, now in his 30s, became a pastor of a small evangelical community called the Church of Iran after converting from Islam at the age of 19.

Iranian authorities arrested him for apostasy in 2009 and sentenced him to death under Islamic Sharia law.

The pastor was spared by a supreme court appeal ruling in July, his laywer told AFP, but was again condemned to death after the case was reheard at a court in his home town of Gilan, according to media reports.

See photos of: Barack Obama, Iran, John Boehner

TAGS:

Barack Obama Iran John Boehner

via content.usatoday.com

USA Today story on US response to pastor Nadarkhani's impending execution, for being a Christian pastor. You can email your response to the Iranian government here: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=88&ea.campaign.id=12209

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing

Posterousfolio: Look, Mom, I'm designing in Chinese!

I'm designing in Chinese!

Definitely must give props to Wanda Ho, Chinese Initiative Director here at Alpha Canada, for correcting my Chinese. Really trusting her on this one but she has lots riding on it: if she gets stuff wrong, I can imagine the wrath she faces...

Also props to David Yu for Art Direction.

Also included the English here too, for reference and, as it happens, I'm a few months late for posting this to the Posterousfolio.
Enjoy!

2011Alpha_Poster_ChnSmp-form.pdf Download this file

2011Alpha_Poster_ChnTrad-form.pdf Download this file

2011AlphaInvite_Posterx.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing

Foo Fighters - Keepin it Clean in KC - YouTube

via youtube.com

Main point of this, to me: them Foo Fighters is funny. If I'm ever playing a stadium show and there's a large protest scheduled, this is how I'd like to respond. NOTE: sensitive friends, the language gets crude pretty fast.

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing

How to Rule the Whole Freaking World | Copyblogger

via copyblogger.com

Click on http://www.copyblogger.com/end-malaria/ or above for a very fun sell job on a really neat not-quite-product. I'd heard rumblings of the Seth Godin's Domino Project, now I see some fruit. Neat-o!

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing

Oprahs-Bees.gif 300×169 pixels

via lh4.googleusercontent.com

Kurtis Findlay RTed this (or whatever you call it on Google+. Strange yet somehow appealing. To me at least...

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing

I'm #5! NASPA CrossTable from the #BCScrabbleChampionship this past weekend

Back to monthly index

NASPA Cross-Table: Vancouver, BC, CAN, August 27-28, 2011

Vancouver, BC, CAN
August 27-28, 2011
					Rating
Rank		Name	W–L	Spread	Old Perf	New +/−	Round-by-Round Results
1		James Leong	12–2	+1153	1967 2201	1991 +24		W24 490 257		W6 514 262		L10 384 390		W14 430 361		W3 409 392		W21 427 355		W22 550 280		W2 383 359		W8 412 346		W13 430 410		W18 432 410		L3 368 560		W3 532 413		W3 502 315
2		Mark Schellenberg	10–4	+1137	1763 1841	1776 +13		W28 508 305		W21 532 283		W11 571 382		W4 383 355		L22 437 444		W13 461 324		W14 416 351		L1 359 383		W7 383 364		L3 404 462		L3 336 421		W5 445 302		W6 422 357		W5 511 298
3		Chris Williams	10–4	+565	1804 1948	1822 +18		W27 373 306		W23 397 316		W12 402 395		L13 460 494		L1 392 409		W22 451 304		W16 453 376		W10 490 370		W18 462 374		W2 462 404		W2 421 336		W1 560 368		L1 413 532		L1 315 502
4		Chris Tallman	9–5	+246	1544 1650	1562 +18		W16 431 288		W26 388 353		L7 345 561		L2 355 383		W6 481 286		L8 316 454		L10 308 441		W11 445 345		W19 390 350		L15 365 436		W21 427 318		W14 424 352		W17 424 309		W7 405 382
5		Lam Tang	9–5	+153	1585 1644	1595 +10		W9 406 398		L22 346 355		W17 503 390		L20 355 382		L7 344 434		W27 405 328		W11 449 348		W12 360 277		W16 435 372		W8 485 361		W17 377 326		L2 302 445		W7 369 354		L2 298 511
6		Ted Bryde	9–5	+37	1261 1676	1342 +81		W10 532 379		L1 262 514		W24 371 316		W7 437 320		L4 286 481		L14 301 412		W12 420 338		W21 397 341		L17 382 404		W22 434 360		W13 383 365		W17 410 333		L2 357 422		W10 377 327
7		Dean Saldanha	8–6	+688	1897 1579	1854 −43		W26 427 321		L16 357 421		W4 561 345		L6 320 437		W5 434 344		W18 349 332		W21 515 318		L13 299 387		L2 364 383		W10 557 387		W15 491 374		W8 420 319		L5 354 369		L4 382 405
8		Dielle Saldanha	8–6	+444	1835 1513	1792 −43		W25 492 331		L19 337 387		L13 361 475		W23 496 277		W27 366 324		W4 454 316		W17 445 262		W14 421 330		L1 346 412		L5 361 485		W24 459 333		L7 319 420		L10 420 490		W14 368 359
9		Kim Proulx	8–6	+130		1331		L5 398 406		L17 287 428		L22 308 444		W24 396 281		L25 376 435		W23 450 345		L26 323 347		W19 384 342		W28 392 381		W18 425 339		W14 382 326		L10 350 359		W15 357 324		W15 432 373
10		Kevin Lee	8–6	+37	1582 1592	1584 +2		L6 379 532		W24 363 320		W1 390 384		L18 342 422		W21 442 364		W15 523 299		W4 441 308		L3 370 490		L14 391 420		L7 387 557		W16 413 337		W9 359 350		W8 490 420		L6 327 377
11		Dion Saldanha	8–6	−69	1303 1369	1315 +12		L21 371 390		W28 429 306		L2 382 571		W16 377 351		L17 326 386		W12 367 359		L5 348 449		L4 345 445		L15 327 356		W26 366 353		W20 391 345		W19 455 330		W13 471 415		W17 379 347
12		Reuvena Ross	7–7	+232	1304 1152	1275 −29		L23 358 370		W27 445 281		L3 395 402		W22 463 335		L15 313 358		L11 359 367		L6 338 420		L5 277 360		W25 385 356		L21 369 413		W28 423 355		W24 404 392		W26 416 344		W19 449 409
13		Murray Weber	7–7	+172	1536 1466	1525 −11		W19 437 400		W25 440 341		W8 475 361		W3 494 460		L14 409 414		L2 324 461		L18 308 458		W7 387 299		W22 376 315		L1 410 430		L6 365 383		L15 329 337		L11 415 471		W20 410 277
14		Gabriel Wong	7–7	+105	1516 1501	1514 −2		W15 416 386		W20 370 310		W18 400 361		L1 361 430		W13 414 409		W6 412 301		L2 351 416		L8 330 421		W10 420 391		L17 334 356		L9 326 382		L4 352 424		W21 484 269		L8 359 368
15		Jordan Campbell	7–7	−138	1179 1377	1215 +36		L14 386 416		W18 407 374		L20 297 357		L17 395 437		W12 358 313		L10 299 523		W27 444 384		W26 496 315		W11 356 327		W4 436 365		L7 374 491		W13 337 329		L9 324 357		L9 373 432
16		Stuart Craig	7–7	−152	1258 1299	1266 +8		L4 288 431		W7 421 357		W26 420 403		L11 351 377		W19 405 372		W20 436 353		L3 376 453		L17 315 322		L5 372 435		W20 348 332		L10 337 413		L23 342 353		W24 361 343		W21 349 329
17		Ryan Burgess	7–7	−258	1267 1368	1288 +21		L22 350 358		W9 428 287		L5 390 503		W15 437 395		W11 386 326		W19 387 360		L8 262 445		W16 322 315		W6 404 382		W14 356 334		L5 326 377		L6 333 410		L4 309 424		L11 347 379
18		Jesse Matthews	6–8	+552	1813 1219	1723 −90		W20 411 364		L15 374 407		L14 361 400		W10 422 342		W23 544 276		L7 332 349		W13 458 308		L22 379 384		L3 374 462		L9 339 425		L1 410 432		L27 434 447		W28 474 327		W23 520 357
19		Tony Verma	6–8	+90	1185 1144	1177 −8		L13 400 437		W8 387 337		W25 459 346		L21 312 569		L16 372 405		L17 360 387		W20 403 347		L9 342 384		L4 350 390		W27 400 268		W22 468 307		L11 330 455		W23 462 283		L12 409 449
20		Bill Kinsella	6–8	−218	964 1134	994 +30		L18 364 411		L14 310 370		W15 357 297		W5 382 355		L26 351 385		L16 353 436		L19 347 403		W28 346 328		W23 374 345		L16 332 348		L11 345 391		W25 427 315		W27 316 305		L13 277 410
21		Yukari Balabanov	6–8	−430	1103 1269	1132 +29		W11 390 371		L2 283 532		W28 425 317		W19 569 312		L10 364 442		L1 355 427		L7 318 515		L6 341 397		W26 409 338		W12 413 369		L4 318 427		W22 393 326		L14 269 484		L16 329 349
22		Mark Stedman	6–8	−586	1063 1298	1122 +59		W17 358 350		W5 355 346		W9 444 308		L12 335 463		W2 444 437		L3 304 451		L1 280 550		W18 384 379		L13 315 376		L6 360 434		L19 307 468		L21 326 393		L25 443 451		W27 411 246
23		Jennifer Nip	6–8	−833	1160 1129	1155 −5		W12 370 358		L3 316 397		L27 312 412		L8 277 496		L18 276 544		L9 345 450		W28 405 331		W24 399 367		L20 345 374		W28 398 309		W25 422 329		W16 353 342		L19 283 462		L18 357 520
24		Lilia Murnane	5–9	−372	1011 990	1008 −3		L1 257 490		L10 320 363		L6 316 371		L9 281 396		W28 388 348		W26 393 377		L25 337 396		L23 367 399		W27 351 327		W25 494 338		L8 333 459		L12 392 404		L16 343 361		W26 394 309
25		Sunshine Gudlaugson	5–9	−741	969 905	957 −12		L8 331 492		L13 341 440		L19 346 459		L26 341 359		W9 435 376		W28 350 329		W24 396 337		L27 269 399		L12 356 385		L24 338 494		L23 329 422		L20 315 427		W22 451 443		W28 351 328
26		Marilyn Batchelor	4–10	−495	985 842	960 −25		L7 321 427		L4 353 388		L16 403 420		W25 359 341		W20 385 351		L24 377 393		W9 347 323		L15 315 496		L21 338 409		L11 353 366		W27 364 331		L28 346 354		L12 344 416		L24 309 394
27		Julia Szwet	4–10	−501	903 891	901 −2		L3 306 373		L12 281 445		W23 412 312		W28 379 348		L8 324 366		L5 328 405		L15 384 444		W25 399 269		L24 327 351		L19 268 400		L26 331 364		W18 447 434		L20 305 316		L22 246 411
28		Vern Giesbrecht	1–13	−948	769 312	723 −46		L2 305 508		L11 306 429		L21 317 425		L27 348 379		L24 348 388		L25 329 350		L23 331 405		L20 328 346		L9 381 392		L23 309 398		L12 355 423		W26 354 346		L18 327 474		L25 328 351

via scrabbleplayers.org

This is an overly complex diagram to show my 5th place standing in the BC Scrabble Championships this past weekend in Steveston/Richmond, BC. Thanks to James, Jesse, Kevin, Nick & probably Chris W too for everything you did to make things happen, and sorry I bailed early: was late for supper plans with my babies!

Posted via email from ThatGuyLam's posterousizing