So how do we walk hand in hand when we don’t see eye to eye?I find Alberta divided into two camps right now: People who don’t want to die from covid and people who don’t want to die from the vaccine. If I’m honest I’d rather not die period, but I suppose death is still hovering around the 100% mark so I’d better come to grips … Continue reading Throw Sister from the Train

I think the more resources I see people have, the less they generally give away?My dad told me stories of growing up in the Mennonite church and the offerings that would come in at harvest time. Powerful! Inspiring!! So much to feed the poor!We lived in a little town when I was a child that was established by a religious community whose vision with the … Continue reading Old Fashioned Generosity

A old friend of Erin’s sent her a hilarious TikTok song Jimmy Fallon and Kristen Bell did together because it reminded her of my wife. I sent it out to Venue Team Leads on Slack (normally reserved for more? important things like new Venue Building design or equipment) because it was funny. One hundred percent true too. Chorus? “I might meet a dog today”. Now I’m the first … Continue reading I Might Meet a Dog

This Fall Venue Church is opening our brand new building at 2920 Kingsview Blvd Airdrie!When we started Venue four years ago we couldn’t have imagined being positioned to purchase a new building at this stage, particularly following the plague years, but God has been good and people very generous. Also we run a tight budget, just ask my staff if I freak out about every dollar…I … Continue reading Venue’s New Building

I feel like some aspects of the Federal government have lost the sauce a bit. Our girl’s passports run out this month, and we wanted to renew rather than redo something or other (Erin’s department) because whatever it was I wasn’t listening to was hugely painful if we didn’t do it. Turns out most of the passport offices are closed completely, because “People don’t need passports if … Continue reading The Passport Office

My wife Erin and I were driving the other day and I said “Katie should get a scooter!”Katie is 14 and has her learners license, which is all that is required for a 49cc scooter. I had a scooter when I was 14 and could work in the next town without getting a ride from mom. I had independence and I LOVED it. I remember when a … Continue reading The Beast

My friend Barry has a house right on the Bow River down in Bowness, which is an interesting community mix of hood and people with money. Those with resources buy a lot or two backing onto the river, tear down the older homes on them and build lovely places. In the summer I had a great Yamaha motorcycle, but I was (for some baffling reason) checking Kijiji … Continue reading A Day’s Ride

Once again, my wife Erin is an avid green thumber. Only puppies make her happier than pulling weeds and watching things grow. About all I do in the yard is mow the grass, but my neighbour Jackie has managed to beat me every single year we’d been here with having grass slightly greener than mine. It’s not a competition but it is, you know? And the grass … Continue reading The Racket

In a recent camping trip to Grande Prairie, our family rediscovered the beauty up north. The country is so different, the people quite redneck, and literally everyone owns a pickup, multiple ATVs and horses. First of all, I love me some rednecks. I was curious what the definition of redneck was so I looked it up, only to find it related generally to poor, uneducated white folk … Continue reading Side by Side(s)