Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Picnic at Diefenbaker Park
Hi,
I hope you are having a great summer and enjoying this wonderful weather, wonderful if you like it hot I guess!
I just wanted to send out an personal invite to you regarding the picnic in the park this weekend(July 22), and next weekend(July 29). We've had some great times the last two weekends and are hoping for even more during the next two. Last weekend we had some tasty food, heard wonderful stories from Carissa Plett, who told us about how God has walked with her in Africa and Ecuador, and how He lead her to be part of our family at Lakeview after moving here from Manitoba. The Kids also had great fun with Warren the Balloon Guy as he made puppys and hats and you name it out of balloons. I personally enjoyed sitting around while my daughter played, visiting with friends and making new ones. On particular nice meeting was with a woman who just moved to Saskatoon six days earlier and found out about our picnic and came with her children and had a great time. It was a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and relax.
The next two weekends look to be very exciting: This weekend will have music from Kim Thieu and Matt Stovall, there will be personal stories of Gods love and grace shared by Tracy Janzen and Kim Thieu. And Lisa Kloeble has a great menu lined up: Souvlaki on pita bread, Caesar salad, chips, pop, and ice cream, and there will be hot dogs for the kids as well. The weekend of the 29 will have music performed by Jatino, more great food, and life stories from Lee Harris, and if possible, Carrie Hilderman will be here to tell stories of her trip to Rwanda.(unconfirmed, but we're hoping!!)
We are very excited taking our community, our part of the body of Christ, out into the blue skies of Saskatoon to share stories, songs, and maybe even a hot dog with anyone who decides to join us. Please make time in your schedule the next two Sundays from noon until three to join in on the fun. And bring a friend.
Peace,
Bart Gilbert
Creative Programming Assistant
Lakeview Church Saskatoon
306 374-6556 ext 240
I hope you are having a great summer and enjoying this wonderful weather, wonderful if you like it hot I guess!
I just wanted to send out an personal invite to you regarding the picnic in the park this weekend(July 22), and next weekend(July 29). We've had some great times the last two weekends and are hoping for even more during the next two. Last weekend we had some tasty food, heard wonderful stories from Carissa Plett, who told us about how God has walked with her in Africa and Ecuador, and how He lead her to be part of our family at Lakeview after moving here from Manitoba. The Kids also had great fun with Warren the Balloon Guy as he made puppys and hats and you name it out of balloons. I personally enjoyed sitting around while my daughter played, visiting with friends and making new ones. On particular nice meeting was with a woman who just moved to Saskatoon six days earlier and found out about our picnic and came with her children and had a great time. It was a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and relax.
The next two weekends look to be very exciting: This weekend will have music from Kim Thieu and Matt Stovall, there will be personal stories of Gods love and grace shared by Tracy Janzen and Kim Thieu. And Lisa Kloeble has a great menu lined up: Souvlaki on pita bread, Caesar salad, chips, pop, and ice cream, and there will be hot dogs for the kids as well. The weekend of the 29 will have music performed by Jatino, more great food, and life stories from Lee Harris, and if possible, Carrie Hilderman will be here to tell stories of her trip to Rwanda.(unconfirmed, but we're hoping!!)
We are very excited taking our community, our part of the body of Christ, out into the blue skies of Saskatoon to share stories, songs, and maybe even a hot dog with anyone who decides to join us. Please make time in your schedule the next two Sundays from noon until three to join in on the fun. And bring a friend.
Peace,
Bart Gilbert
Creative Programming Assistant
Lakeview Church Saskatoon
306 374-6556 ext 240
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Back in the Grind...
Well after eighteen weeks of loving my wonderful daughter and welcoming her into her new home, I am back into the work force again. We had a slogan for the last four months, "We've been independently wealthy without the wealth." I have to say that not working is like way better than working, but the pay check in two weeks will be nice! Work is the exact same as I left it, but there is a lot more snow. I really don't mind the work and the weather today was great, the sun was shining and there was no wind and walked around the property in a serene silence that was very nice. But I miss my Kat and Kim and am very glad when 4:30 rolls around.
I have been part of lead team for the small groups of our church and we had a set of five suppers over the last few weeks where we sat down and discussed the heart of God with may of the small group leaders. It was great to hear people talk about their passion for Jesus and how there group is moving towards him. There was a lot of talk about Grace and Works, and how some seek after God with one or both, but the bottom line is I think is that we need to take time to just sit in the lap of God wanting nothing from him and letting his love meet you love and then after you have been refilled with His life then go and continue his work. It was great people talking about great things and being a wonderful community of His body.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ten More Days.
I have been thinking about how I am nearing the end of my parental leave, and it is making me very sad. I have had the best three and a half months ever. I know that when I go back to work I will miss eight hours of my daughters life each day and that is an awful reality that I can find no way around. She has been the most amazing gift I have ever received and I don't want to think of what she will learn and do while I am away at work. I love to sing and play 'head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes' It is a real joy to have tea with her and pretend that the little cups are full and she will come and stir my cup and fill it after every sip, she defiantly doesn't want me to run out. She gives great hugs and loves to givem to our giant dog as well; they love each other so much too.
I think that God has truly changed me in the last months, there is no doubt that I am a different man, I have had my heart grow beyond the city limits, I have seen what real poverty is, I have read about true injustice, and I can't allow myself to not respond some how. The big question right now is what can I do? How can I make a difference? I guess we will start with a fund raiser...April 28 at 7:00 at Ebeneezer Baptist Church on Konahowski Drive.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
TWO!!!Today was Kat's birthday and we had a little party with my parents and a some of Kat's little friends. They played with balloons for an hour or two and had cupcakes and juice and it was really fun. Kat really enjoyed having here friends around and she was in a great mood the whole time. It was amazing to have her home this year, I watched the video of last years party without her, and this was much better. I still find myself looking at her in disbelief that she is actually her in the flesh. I love her so much!!
Jammin!!!
I also had the privilege of playing in the worship band this weekend and it was awesome, I never know how it really sounds, but all I know is that I worship God in an amazing way during those moments, and I only hope that others are experiencing the same thing. I just love all the people at our church, I could spend hours there just visiting with people and learning about what Christ is doing in their lives. I can't wait until next weekend. Peace!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Word Of God Speak. So I have had a great couple of days. I am feeling in line with my God a whole lot more then I had been a few weeks ago. I feel that He is speaking to me and giving me direction. I have come across a few books that I know he is speaking to me through, obviously the Bible is one, and one of the others is "Tough Choises" by Carly Fiorina. I also feel he is speaking to me through my friends, Last night my small group had a great discussion on stewardship, and Kim and I have been having some good talks about the same, also about our family and our direction. I also am feeling that his spirit is really awake in me, or I am awake in it...His words are flowing from me and I just feel his hand guiding me. His words come to me in the music I am listening to or playing and I am so excited about where he is moving my life. I have felt so burdened by the poor in Haiti and Africa that it brings me to tears, and I am now feeling that things are moving in order for me to do something, even if it is so small, but it does matter and it is a step forward for me in answering my holy discontent.
