How to Save a Life...

This morning I woke up to a song on the radio that I have been hearing a lot lately. It's called "How To Save A Life" by "The Fray." I really liked the music and the flow of the song but sometimes had a hard time catching the lyrics especially in the grogginess of the morning. This afternoon as I was working the song came on again so I thought I would look up the lyrics and read along. This decision has slowed my afternoon pace. If you know me then you know that songs tend to hit me in ways that other mediums don't. In case you have never heard the song, here it is with the lyrics:


Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

This really got to me. Upon the brief research I did on the song I know that it is about an experience the writer had working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens. Prior to even reading this, it made me think of what I do. I am a Youth Pastor and I have worked with youth since I was one. I often stop and think (as I did today) about people I haven't seen in a while. Some that I only knew a short time and others that I worked extensively and intimately with. I wonder about where they are in life now, what kind of decisions they have made and are currently making. I wonder if they ever bring to mind some of the things we talked about.

I ponder these things and it kind of makes me sad. You see, I am among the fortunate few who have combined their passion with their vocation. What I do is more than a job to me. It is my passion and the desire of my heart to work with people and do my best to point them to the Lord and the life that brings fulfillment and joy. I do not see the youth that I have worked with as my job or obligation, but rather as my friends whom I love and care for. I do my best to spend meaningful time with people in either a group or intimate setting and pray everyday that it means something. I know that all I can do is share what I think, my life experiences and the word of God to the best of my ability. I cannot change anyone but it breaks my heart to invest in these lives and the stand back and watch some of them follow roads that will certainly destroy them and all I can do is watch.

It hurts because I would do anything to help, sometimes I just don't know what that thing is. What I do know is the one who does save lives is the one I work for, live for and find my being in so I guess I will leave the saving of lives to him.

Blog Blurbs

I know I know

Ok, its been a month or so since my last post. That is in part because of laziness and another part because I couldn't think of interesting enough to make an entire post out of. So I have decided to give you a hand full of blog blurbs of things that have either happened or that I have thought of since no one likes those posts that are all about why you haven't written.

What is with the Snow?

Don't get me wrong, I love snow... I love it in October, November, December, January... by February, I am done with it and I'm ready for it to melt. So the recent snow and even snow storms, like ones that cancel school are kind of a bummer but it's weather and we all have to deal with it right?

Sad Day

This past Saturday was not a great day for me. When I got up in the morning I stubbed my big toe and cracked the nail down the centre enough that it bled. I was of course nervous all day because of the big game that would either put Montreal into the playoffs or eliminate them. They, as you know, gave it back to Toronto after it had been given to them in a game with a lot of goals, a lot of saves and no defense. Didn't really sleep well that night and had to preach the next morning. Oh well, there's always next year!

Blind Star Choice

I don't watch a lot of TV but I do like to use it to unwind in the evenings sometimes. We have a pretty good package with Star Choice but I have been frustrated with it as of late. Not because I think we need a better package but because of the ambiguity of what is on. You see sometimes it messes up and and every show is just listed as "No Info" so you have no idea what is on any channel. Good thing summer is coming and the TV will be reduced to a minimum.

Don't You Hate Pants? 2

Well yesterday I dawned the shorts for the first time this spring! It hasn't looked much like spring as of late but yesterday and today has seen us in plus temperatures and I am letting the great outdoors know that I appreciate it! I suggest you dig out the shorts too and let the weather know that it is time to warm up!

Things Are Looking Up

Well despite the fact that my beloved Habs missed the playoffs, things aren't so bad. At least it is playoff time and although I can't tell what is on TV for most channels I know that Hockey will be on CBC and TSN every night so at least there will be something on. On another note, I bought a cool score board light for our den yesterday and while purchasing it I joked with the cashier asking if there was any kind of discount since Montreal didn't make the playoffs, she laughed saying that she had seen the game and what a heart breaker it was. Then she says well I'll give you 10% off. I thought she was joking but she wasn't and knocked 10% off!! Probably because I have spent a fortune there already but still, I thought that was cool.

Friends

Well last weekend I was able to get away to Prince Edward Island to visit my brother and his wife for a few days. It was such a nice weekend and I really wasn't ready for it to end. One of the major reasons being the time spent with friends. On Saturday night, a whole bunch of my friends from PEI came over to Ben's place for a BBQ. It was so much fun to share, eat and laugh together. We hung out all evening until we finally all had to retreat for a night's sleep. The next day after church a bunch of us (slightly different bunch, and I mean that in every way!) went out for lunch and shared the same kind of fellowship. What a great time.

I was reminded of a post I read on Lily's blog this past summer. It was all about friends and the significance they hold in our lives. Especially the friends who are our brothers and sisters in Christ we hold a special bond that stretches onto eternity.

When I got back from PEI on Monday, another event reminded me of the significance our friends hold. I praise God that I have friends who call me out when I am in the wrong and who have graciously accepted rebuke from me when it was warranted. Although not always fun, that's what friends are for.

Either way, I say time and time again that blessings fall on me like rain and they do. Thank you God for my friends.

Gifts

On Tuesday I went out and bought the new Relient K CD, Five Score and Seven Years Ago and it is incredible. When I got the the Lighthouse, our Christian book store, they had two versions of the CD. The regular one and a limited edition one that came with a DVD. I couldn't resist! The CD is unbelievable, once again the songs are so smart, fun and really speak to me. The DVD for the most part is the video of them recording some acoustic stuff that will probably come out on an EP later.

As I listened to the CD and watched the DVD, I pondered how amazingly gifted these young men are and how great it is that they are using their gifts. I joke sometimes that I wish I had Matt Thiessen's voice but it is definitely better that he does! Sometimes we find ourselves in weaker moments like a spoiled child at a birthday party. Instead of being happy for the one with the gifts we are jealous, wishing we had what they did or even had them instead of them. Rather we should be glad that God has blessed them and given us the ability to find enjoyment out of the gifts of others while blessing us with our own.

RRRRRRRoll Up The RRRRRRRRim to Win!! or not.

After a rather busy week, I am actually glad that it is Monday! Weird eh? March break has its way of slowing things down which is a nice time to catch up and hopefully get a jump on things. We'll see. Either way, on the way to work this morning I treated myself, as I often do, to a large double double from Tim Horton's. Have you been buying more coffee than usual this past week? Well I have and we both know why, Roll up the Rim to Win is back!

Up until this morning I was 0-6. So with great anticipation this morning I rolled up my rim to become 0-7... oh well, as my friend Graham says, "You are always a winner when you drink Tim's coffee." Seems to make him feel better anyways!

I never get too upset about not winning, not even after seven coffees! Roll up the rim is not a guarantee. It wouldn't be wise to bank on the new hybrid Toyota Camry, the Panasonic Plasma TV, the thousand bucks or even another coffee. As my record indicates the odds are not really in your (or my) favor.

It does make me glad however, that my trust is placed in a guarantee. The Lord has promised a perfect and eternal life simply for acknowledging what he has done. Almost as easy as roll up the rim! On that one I am 1-0! I have already won and the prize is better than any car or wide screen TV... even though it would be cool to win at least a coffee before this thing is done!!!!

Keswick Valley Coyotes 2007

What Are We Coaching?

For the past two days I have been taking in the Keswick Valley Coyotes Girls final tournament. They are an excellent team, losing only four games the whole season, who didn't really have a tournament that accurately reflects their play. Their proformance however, is not what I am talking about. I have been running the clock or score sheet. On many occasions students run it but not for final tournaments. The reason being that coaches will often give teens a harder time whereas they won't take the same liberty with adults.

Today as I ran the clock, I was disappointed with coach of a certain team in the finals. His girls played well, as did the other team and as KV was not in the final I objectively felt that the officiating was excellent and very fair. He made every call he could think of from the bench in their total absence, travel, foul and so on. He argued every call against his team and even argued when the call was in his favor. I was impressed with the patience of the officials who didn't even give the guy a technical foul.

I thought to myself about what this coach was teaching his team. Don't get me wrong, I don't know the guy from Adam, I don't even know his name, maybe he's a great guy, certainly a good coach, insofar he took his team to the finals... It makes me wonder what is being learned however. I think a coach should stand up for his team and his students but I also think a coach needs to be an example for his students. This isn't the NBA or the WNBA or anything like that. These are kids. This is communicating that this is an appropriate way to act. It makes me wonder what we are coaching. Basket-ball, yes. Something more, I hope so. I hope I don't miss out on that opportunity.

2nd The Best

Wow, what a day it was yesterday! It was the finals of our basketball season. What the league had done was divide itself into two divisions. A for the top teams and B for the bottom teams. That put us in second place in division B, not bad for a school that hasn't had a program in 5 years! Either way all of the teams were pretty well evenly matched which makes a better tournament.

The way it was set up the fourth and fifth seed would play for a chance to play the first seed which would take either team to the finals. The second and third seed would play for a chance to go straight to the finals. The Keswick Valley Coyotes were the second seed playing the third place Nackawic Jay Hawks for our first game of the day. This was a crazy close game but our defense was lacking through the first half and we just were not making our layups or shots from in close. At the end of the first half we were lucky to be down just 31-30. We talked about what we needed to do in the second half but we didn't see immediate results. My team was getting frustrated and some of our key players were in foul trouble. Luckily so were theirs. With four minutes left we were down by twelve so I called a time out. I did my best to calm down and inspire the troops and sent them out telling them to bare down, play our game and have fun. We went on a rush with seven straight baskets! With thirty seconds left we were up by two! I called another time out and told them to play keep away and not to shoot or give up the ball. They ran it out perfectly and we won! I was ecstatic!

This took us to the final where we were to play the first seed Harvey Lakers. We kept good pace with them in the first half but fatigue set in and they pulled away in the second. Regardless, the boys were having a blast just being there in the finals. The final buzzer went and we were the silver medalist Keswick Valley Coyotes!

What a day!

Five Score And Seven Years Ago

Welly welly well, as per their last few albums I feel the need to plug the new Relient K album, Five Score And Seven Years Ago, that is coming out on March 6, 2007. I am so pumped for it and I cannot wait for it to come out. I absolutely love their music. I have said time and time again that God speaks to my heart so often through music in ways that other mediums just will not do. So many of their songs speak of things that I have felt in my heart or speak an old truth to me in a new and refreshing way.

They just seem like such stand up guys too, who just really love the Lord and enjoy so much what they do. Anyways, it is my absolute recommendation that you check out the album, you won't be disappointed. You can give a listen to some samples of the album here. Check out this video too of another song on the album starting off with Matt Thiessen's Beyonce impression!

Major Happenings

Isn't it amazing how God will send something that really makes your day in a major way? Yesterday was a pretty normal day for the most part. I worked, coached a basket ball game and went to my Dad's for supper and planned to stay there the evening because I had hockey later on. While eating supper my cell rings and and it's Ben. This led me to believe that something major must be up because we don't regularly make long distance phone calls to cells, especially in the middle of the day. It was.

Those of you who read this thing might remember that on my birthday this past year Ben and I both posted the videos we had done as toasts to each other's weddings. Well Ben called to tell me that he had recieved a youtube message from none other than Charlie Major, the writer of the song my brother and me, to say what a great video Ben's was! I couldn't believe it!! After hockey I checked my email too and I also had recieved a message from him. It really made my day.

It is such an amazing thing to me that he actually saw the videos, contacted us and even added them to his favorites. Is that cool or what?

Our Song

This is the video of RelientK's new single off their upcoming album. I really wish this song had been written before my wedding because this song describes my relationship with my wife perfectly, especially the first two lines! Anyway, give it a listen, really good stuff! Click HERE

TMNT

Spider-Man 3 is not the only movie I can't wait for and this one is even sooner!!!

McAdam Has Class

Well if I am going to blog and complain about unsportsmanlike conduct of certain teams, it is only fitting that when a team shows amazing sportsmanship I should blog about that too. On Thursday this past week our team , now 3-5 on the season, traveled to McAdam to play what we heard was the best team in the league. Previously after our win over Nackawic, a parent told me that there were three players on McAdam's team who were taller than I am. He also tole me that these players were in grade seven!

We arrived in McAdam to find the rumours were true. As we began our warm up the McAdam Warriors ran out to pumped up music and ran some impressive warm up drills. A large percentage of the town had shown up to support their team and I was pondering on the pounding we should soon encounter when the coach of the other team came over to introduce himself to me. We chatted about our teams and the kinds of seasons we were having and he seemed like a really nice guy.

Well the game began and McAdam jumped out to an early lead but pulled back after only leading by ten or so. They pulled their top line off and took most of their shots from outside. They applied zero pressure and their players even helped our our players with things like three in the key. My players raved about what nice guys were on the other team. They could have easily destroyed us but instead of running up the score they worked on weaker aspects of their game and helped our players out. I was really impressed.

McAdam has class.

Relax

So far this season the Keswick Valley Coyotes are 1-3 in league games with one exhibition win. It seems we either win or get beat really bad. We never seem to lose close. Not that I am discouraged by this. Despite my competitive spirit I am really focusing more on improving our play than winning games. I tell the boys to remember that this is the first year we have had a program in years and that the teams we play have been playing with each other for some time. The other thing is that I am a rookie coach and this is all new to me as well.

Aside from being new to this, I do understand that there are certain ethical rules that need to be followed by coaches. One of these rules is that if your team is up by twenty or more and are obviously superior, you call your players to pull the press. For those of you who don't know what that means, pulling the press means that you tell you players to get back to the defensive zone when they don't have the ball especially after scoring baskets. It is just common courtesy as there is no need to embarrass teams beyond what is needed.

Well last night we were playing against one of my old schools Albert St Middle. We were missing our top scorer from the last game which also messed up my top string as he is one of our point guards but that is what it is. Either way we were losing by a lot, maybe 35 or so and Albert St was still pressing the court! After they had just scored a basket the intercepted our inbounding pass and and got another, so I politely (I mean that too!) asked the coach if he could pull the press. Now I was completely calm here, I honestly wasn't all that upset about losing so bad as we have done it twice previously. But the other coach sternly tells me to "Relax."

Now I am a patient person, but nothing will stir up a person quicker than to tell calm person to calm down. It made me so mad. He was the one in the wrong and when I , very calmly, ask him to show some sportsmanship he tells me to "relax." Ben and I used to do that to stir each other up and man did it work. Anyways, despite my desire to hurt this guy and retaliate I didn't. But man that bugs me!

Snow Days and Satellite Eyes

While snow days are great I must admit that they are not what they used to be. When I was a kid, a snow day meant a day off school to lay around and watch TV, play in the snow, wrestle with the dog and so on. Ben and I would lay in for a while then usually shovel off the deck, jump off the deck wrestle for a while and then go inside and watch TV or if we were feeling adventurous we would walk to the store and rent a movie or video game.

Today not much of that is happening, I have some things to work on but I am here by myself today because Janelle has to work. I did shovel off the deck and jump off (the whole half a foot) but I can't even watch TV because, my guess is, the eye of the satellite is covered with snow.

This used to happen back when snow days were awesome too but when it did Ben and I would just grab the ladder, climb to the top of the house and clean it off. I remember holding the ladder for my brother on one occasion while he cleaned off the satellite. When he was done he jumped off the roof! Not into the snow or onto the deck but onto his brother, ME!

While I lay limp on the ground, he took off inside and locked me out leaving me to put the ladder away myself and promising I wouldn't get him back in order to gain entry to the house again.

I am sitting here chuckling to myself now. Good times.

The Name Game

Before you all start singing banana fanna bo banna that is not what I am talking about. For me the name game seems to happen almost weekly. I am talking about when someone approaches you and calls you by name with confidence. They know you, they know who your family is, they know where you are from and where you currently reside. They know where they know you from and probably have at the very least a hand full of stories about you.

You on the other hand have no idea who they are. Actually chances are (if you are like me) the only idea you really have is that you recognize them from somewhere and know them enough that you SHOULD know their name, but that is about it. You know you know them well enough that you CAN'T ask them their name. All you can do is stand there and hope that the bring up something familiar that will connect the dots for you.

Really the best thing you can do is just ask. Just ask them outright from the beginning. You have to do it at the very beginning of the conversation or not at all. You can't carry on the conversation and then ask at the middle or end who they are. My best attempt at tactfulness seems to leave me carrying on as if I know while I wonder throughout the conversation and still wondering at the end. Anyways, if I haven't seen you in a while and you come speak to me try to work your name in somehow to rescue me and don't be offended if I forgot, half the time I can't remember my own name... anyways, how is that for the first post of 2007?

Whatever,

Sam...

D'I mean, Dan

Well Staffed

Well yesterday I attended our staff Christmas party and most of you have figured out by now that I mean Graham, Murray and I went out for lunch. We went to Bruno's at the Delta for the pasta buffet where for a very reasonable price you get all you can eat soup and salad, pasta with unlimited ingredients, rolls, deserts and a refillable drink! It was so good. We were lucky to get in too. Only one table in the restaurant was not reserved and we got it! What luck!

The food was amazing but that was not the draw nor the highlight of the meal. You the faithful readers know that I get overly excited about food and believe me I was, the pasta buffet comes highly recommended by yours truly. The fact of the matter is however that we could have been eating at Wendy's or even someones house and it wouldn't have mattered.

The staff at our church is really something. I count myself blessed to be able to work with my long time friends and mentors. Graham has been a friend to me and my family since before I knew it! He has been a bright spot in my day on countless occasions and continues to be one of the wisest examples I have ever had the privilege of learning from. Murray became my youth minister when I was in junior high and quickly became one of my best friends. He has been there for me on numerous occasions and was perhaps my biggest inspiration to enter ministry. He has kind of been the Mr. Fini of my life, moving when I do.

Lunch was great because we are so well staffed and I praise God for these men everyday.

The Persuit

This past week I have found myself on a few missoins or persuits if you will. The first was on Wednesday, after hockey which ended very early due to a lack of attendence. For once we actually had enough interest for a bunch of us to go out to Tim Hortons afterword. I have been wanting to try the new Holiday Spice hot smoothe and finally got one Wednesday night... It was really good! Success.

Next on Thursday, I ran my first basketball practice. I have been to a bunch of them but I actually led this one. It went pretty good although I had one of my best players go down during suicides and we needed to call parametics to check him out. Little sceary but he was ok. Other than that I felt it went well.

Then on Friday, I had perviously heard a rumour that the Tim Hortons on Prospect St had hot apple cider! I have been nothing short of devestated since they stopped serving it, so I went and ordered a large and yes Anna it was a really good mix! My mouth and taste buds celebrated with me as we enjoyed every drop.

Finally today, I coached my first ever Basket Ball game. I have to admit I was a little nervous, but I rallied the troops, or the Keswick Valley Coyotes, agaist the Nackawick Jay-hawks and WE WON! 67-48 I was so pumped, and apparently quite loud as Janelle has informed me.

Anyways, it was a crazy week of multiple persuits, really only of basket ball and Tim Hortons but still. Good times!

Why Pack A Lunch?

Every morning that my bride and I have to work we have a similar morning routine. You probably do too. We get up, get cleaned up, dressed and so on and so on. Every morning Janelle makes breakfast and packs herself a lunch. Personally, I eat breakfast but never pack a lunch.

Janelle is a great wife. There are many reasons for this and making a nice breakfast almost every morning is merely one of them. The reason I don't pack a lunch however is not because she packs it for me. I am sure she would if I asked but why pack a lunch?

I don't because my office days are spent in Burtt's Corner. Around 11:00 I just call my grandparents place and let them know I will be there around noon. Usually Gramps and I eat leftovers, which is fine by me! It is always a nice meal and great conversation. Today however, I called to find that Grammie and Gramps were just on their way to town so would not be available for lunch. As I began to ponder what I would do since I hadn't packed one my grandmother checked with my cousin Dustie if she would be around.

So today for the first time in a long time, just Dustie and I had an awesome lunch that she made. Baked pasta and fresh cinnamon buns for desert. We had a great chat and it was just a really nice time.

I praise God for the way that he takes care of me. Today he has blessed me with a great wife, a great cousin and great food and it is only 1:00 in the afternoon!

Life is good.

Great Trip

Well on Saturday Janelle and I and Ben and Jac got up at 4:00am to drive through the snow and rain all the way to Montreal. Dispite the poor driving conditions, the drive was really enjoyable. It was so nice to spend time with Ben and Jac agian, we had some great conversation and big laughs.

We arrived in Montreal around 1:00pm EST and actually did pretty well with the Montreal driving. We got rigged up for the game and walked to the Bell Centre. We took the tour which was awesome and then had an afternoon meal at Le Cage aux Sports. Really cool place. We then spent "some" money in "Le Boutique." My Habs room loved it!

At this point we went to stand in line to get in the Bell Centre for the game but they don't open the doors until 5:30. When we got in the atmosphere was AMAZING! There were so many Go Leafs Go chants and Go Habs Go chants before the building was even half full!

When the game started you couldn't even hear! It was unbelieveable. I was high fiving and hugging strangers like crazy!! Things looked bleak for the habs all the way up to the beginning of the 3rd period but with two late period goals from Captian Koivu and a shoot out goal, the Habs took it.


This Janelle and I at the press conference after the game

We drove back Sunday morning and I think Ben and I laughed the whole way. It was SO fun, I can't wait to do it again next year!

Audi Later!

(that was for you Ben, the rest of you don't ask)