Flecks of… Gray?

I really like the sound of 8-bit Nintendo-style music and someone has taken the time to put Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon into the format. Check out the music on youtube

moon8 via npr and wired

pic from readymade

I found this graphic from artist Nick Dewar which he made for Ready Made magazine. I thought it was pretty perfect for Heidi so I printed a little one for her birthday and wanted to pass it on to any other biking/eco buddies that we have.

Keep it simple!

img from michellemeals

Heidi and I got to spend a day with each other in Vancouver for her birthday on the weekend, watching the excellent Ultimate Wave in Tahiti starring Kelly Slater in astounding OmnIMAX at Science World (the biggest screen ever – it fills up your entire field of vision).

We followed it up with a massive plate of nachos at The Foundation on Main and 7th and chased that down with some cauliflower curry on rice which together filled our collective very hungry tummies.

Thanks to Mom and Dad for making the kid-less date happen, it was so much fun!

Christian Audiobooks evidently allows a free download of one of their audiobooks every months and this month is RC Sproul’s book called, “The Holiness of God“. I was able to download it by giving only a name and email address (which could both be bogus) – anyways, if you’re at all interested in the material and the format, I’d suggest you check it out – the price is right!

Thanks Eric for the link!

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have merged awhile ago and now you can manually merge your points and status’ to one airline. This will likely be done automatically at the end of the year, but if you want to get everything combined a bit earlier, just head to United’s special page and get your points and status transferred across right away. I tried it and it worked great for me.

via flyertalk.com

From my limited understanding, I’ve always thought that tithing is simply giving 10% of what you make away; I was never too concerned about who that went to.

In our church we’re trying to figure out how to keep up our facilities and how to get funds to do that which has led to a few discussions about what tithing is.

In talking with Heidi’s brother, we stated that we give 10% away in total but our church gets the leftover percentage after we give to a bunch of other awesome organizations that we think are worth giving to, that has always sat just fine with me. He encouraged us to re-assess this as the church you attend should get your full tithe and if you decide to give over and above to other ministries and organizations, that would be extra. That gave me pause; I’ve never heard someone say that specifically.

Issues like this have to run through my very wise Dad, and in talking with him, he agreed that 10% should go to your church and whatever else you wanted to support financially would be over and above. He referenced Malachi 3:10 which says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” He surmised from this that the storehouse is the place that feeds you which in our spiritual equivalent is the church; therefore, they should receive your whole tithe.

It should be noted that a tithe, if giving grudgingly or under compulsion, is not what God wants of me; so it’s my desire to give with a joyful heart!

I’ve been wrestling with this and trying to figure out where I could get additional money from to meet my new understanding of the tithe while still keeping with my commitments to other charitable organizations. Quite conveniently, the lease on my car just expired, freeing up some monthly money which I can allot to tithing; problem solved! I guess that doesn’t really pad my retirement savings like how I was planning on using it, but I’m sure that God has got a good plan in mind if I make it that far.

It’s hard to believe that 4 years has passed since we purchased our Subaru Forester but it has. The lease expires next month and we’ve been saving to buy it off at that time (good thing too, since we went way over the allotted km’s!) The cheque to GMAC (Ally now) is in the mail and the papers showing my ownership are being returned shortly after – I’m excited!

Now what to do with our monthly lease payment money? I have an idea – check in tomorrow.

Ever since Harry at FGCC recommended it about 11 years ago, I’ve tried to participate in Lent. I’ve been pretty good at giving things up and sticking with it for the season but a little less good at taking things up. I’ve blogged about it in 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

This year, I’m going to give up two things (hopefully). First, no sugary drinks; basically just water and milk. I don’t necessarily have a sody-pop habit that I need to kick (I sure used to) but this is something that would prompt me to think and remember. Secondly, no snacks after supper. This one goes in waves and recently, I’ve been probably snacking more in the evening than I should. Again, I think that this omission should have the desired effect of making me think of sacrifices (however small) and the much larger sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

I haven’t committed to anything that I’m going to pick up so I’m not sure that there will be anything extra there but I am excited for this season to see if I can make it and what effect it will have on me.

I’ve been closely following the heartbreaking case of the Bayne’s for the last year and a half; for them it has been almost three and a half years of anxiety and judgment. I’ve been hitting refresh on their webpage for the last hour waiting to see if they’re going to get their kids back from the government or if they’ll potentially lose them forever.

Here’s an overview of the situation which you can follow in greater detail at Dr. Ron Unruh’s blog.

Paul and Zabeth Bayne’s infant girl was injured by what they claimed was an accident in the home, a sibling falling on the infant. Attendant pediatrician made a diagnosis of shaken baby. RCMP investigation concluded insufficient evidence for charges. Director believed SBS diagnosis rather than the parents’ explanation.

MCFD has authority to act on suspicion. Their three small children were removed by B.C.’s Ministry of Children in October 2007. Paul and Zabeth have maintained their innocence from the start. They have lost home and possessions to cover legal costs. MCFD applied for a CCO to legally keep the children forever. The Baynes obtained medical opinions that disputed shaken baby. During the year long trial Zabeth became pregnant. Their fourth child, Josiah, was born Feb 10th, 2011. MCFD took custody of him four hours after birth.

Judge Crabtree’s ruling will be delivered March 2, 2011.

I want them to get their kids back so badly.