Dave’s Journey

Sunday morning I was in Vancouver to take part in the RONA MS Bike Tour. The weather was just right for riding around the city. The bike ride began at Science World and went along the beach out to Spanish Banks and then through UBC. After UBC the route divided into two directions. I took the one that continued on to Burnaby. It eventually turned around at Central Park. Eventually we all returned to Science World where there was a BBQ for the participants.

Cycling along the beach.

Science World where the start and finish took place.

I would like to take this opportunity to those who sponsored me in the ride and supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Its only a day away, the MS Bike Tour in Vancouver. According to my countdown timer its only about 15 hours away. I’m looking forward to this ride and have been doing quite a bit of cycling in preparation. I took my bike to have a tune up and I’ve been riding in Chilliwack on a regular basis. Thursday morning I had an enjoyable ride along Cultus Lake and around Columbia Valley. For the upcoming ride I’m looking forward to the chance to cycle around some familiar areas in Vancouver as it goes through UBC where I once studied. The weather forecast right now doesn’t show rain at this time so that is looking good. Well, I’ll let you know how it goes when I’m back.

Christine Sine shares a prayer from the book “Blessings for the Fast Paced and Cyberspaced”. It is a prayer that technology would be a blessing and not something that just adds more stress to our lives.

Summer has come again and the weather has changed from a cold spring to warm sunny days. That means I’m back again out on my bike. I particularly enjoy cycling around Fairfield Island.

As in previous years I will be riding in the MS Bike Tour. This summer I have signed up to take part in the ride around Vancouver on Aug. 10. To support the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada you can sponsor me for the ride. Select the link on the right hand side of my blog.

I’ve added a new section to the Cheamweb Gallery with photos of wetlands areas near Chilliwack. Cheam Lake and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve both provide places for looking at nature here in the Fraser Valley.

Tomorrow, Wedenesday April 23, at 7pm Mustard Seed Associates will be hosting an MSA Conversation: The New Ends of the Earth: A learning party about the Kingdom and technology with Thomas Knoll. It will be held at the Mustard Seed House in Seattle. It will also be accessible online by going to http://www.msainfo.org/ for anyone to participate from wherever you may be. The evening will discuss the following:

“This is the social age of the web, where online communities, tools, and resources make it easier to extend relationships, expand influence, and invite participation. During this event, we will explore some of the latest technologies, dream about their best application in spiritual/social/justice communities, and learn practical implementation.”

Songs often speak of travelling, either of going to places or speaking of the journey day by day. Below are a few of them.

Dusty Tracks - Helma Sawatzky
The way of Christ is not always the easy or popular route.

Far Away Places - written by Alex Kramer / Joan Whitney
Dreaming of going places. A song that was a favourite of mine while I was singing in a barbershop choir.

I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) - The Proclaimers
How far would you walk? Personally I’d rather bike.

Lonesome Traveller - Lee Hayes
Sung by the Canadian group The Travellers among others

Step by Step and Sometimes by Step - Rich Mullins
Following God’s path day by day

Looking for some missions videos on the internet? YouTube is a place that organizations are using to share about their ministries and how God is at work throughout the world. Mennonite Church Canada recently added a channel that features videos of missionaries in different parts of the world. You can also find other videos by mission agencies by going to Ministry Tube.

Some books that I have come across that speak about the journey of life.

Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan.
This book, which is written in two parts and I just finished reading the first part recently. The book is a classic among Christian literature, through allegory, tells the story of the life of a man as he journeys through a life of faith in God. It speaks to how one needs to remain focused on Jesus avoiding the temptations of life and the encouragement of other Christians. If you are wanting to read this you can find sold in different forms, including ones where the English has been updated.

Travelling Light by Max Lucado
Releasing one’s burdens is what this book is about. It is based on Psalm 23. I haven’t read this one yet, but our Sunday School class is using it to learn and discuss the Psalm.

The Way is Made by Walking by Arthur Paul Boers
I just ordered this book and I am looking forward to reading it. One year I was living in Spain at a place called Burgos. It is one of the cities along a pilgrimage across Spain known as the Camino de Santiago or Way of James. In this book a Mennonite professor tells of his experience as he walked the Camino and the lessons of life he learned. Sidenote: There are many websites on the Camino de Santiago where people tell there stories. One that I like is the one Cycling the Camino de Santiago, which would be my preferred way of doing it.

I’ve just come back from another weekend at Missions Fest in Vancouver. It was a good weekend. I was running a booth again that has several computers that using a web search tool helps direct people to different organizations present at the conference. If you would like to check it out visit the Mission Opportunities Search site. I had some difficulties with the computer setup at the beginning, but it improved as the weekend went on.

During the weekend I was also able to take in a couple of the sessions and enjoyed listening to the choirs and speakers that they had. One of the interesting things was at the beginning of one session they had a video playing highlighting the fact that it was the 25th Missions Fest with the first one taking place January 1984. They also showed some pictures of what else was happening in the world at that time. One of the items mentioned was, well, the introduction of the Macintosh.

The Macintosh and Missions Fest both began at the same time. The Macintosh is known as a computer that changed the computer industry and throughout its history has had an impact beyond that industry, such as the original iMac’s colourful design that had an impact on the fashions of the day. Many of its users are also fans and passionate about the computer, what it can do and its design. Missions Fest is an event held that brings together Christians from many different churches and backgrounds to share in a vision to see people worship and go out and let others know of the good news and love of Jesus Christ.

Things here on earth don’t last. Some things like Macs come and go, such as what I experienced with computer problems with a couple Macs I was using: one that I couldn’t get started again. Missions Fest is a place where people come and are challenged to live for God in their lives, whether at home or in another part of the world in such a way that they honour God. While Missions Fest as an event may come to an end someday it draws people to have a passion and vision that looks both to the present and eternity.

What is your passion? Do you want to change the world? Have you considered that Jesus came to earth and changed things eternally and we only need to look to him. That is my desire for my life. That doesn’t mean that one can’t be passionate about other things: I still like using Mac computers as well :-).