Meandering Moose

Not My Vision

I can truly tell you that the Ignite partnerships are Not My Vision! I could not have imagined what one week with 30 campers 10 years ago could become. Back in 2008 I was just looking to fill a few more beds at camp when Bob Johnston, from SU Sportz, put Mark Gray (Toronto Police, 42 Division) and myself together to talk about an overnight camp experience for the youth Mark was working with in the Malvern neighbourhood. And get more campers we did. And more ministry and life change and reaching into neighbourhoods that needed the love of Jesus.

Mark and I now laugh abut the fact that we really had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves into that first and maybe the second summer. God has done so much to bless us in this ministry.

Upward Sports founder & president Caz McCaslin explains that the vision for Upward sports wasn’t about him either. There are two parts; part 1 and part 2. You should watch both because they are powerful to see.

Over half our summer is given over to our Ignite Partnership Camps. Working with kids and youth from at risk and marginalized communities. They’re a different camper than our open enrollment weeks. They use words we don’t used to hear at camp. And yet, we learned that kids and youth from at risk and marginalized communities are still kids and youth that need our love and attention and Jesus.

Our Ignite camps started in 2009 as a way to get more campers. A that time I had no idea what God was about to do. He took two guys from different worlds and 30 campers from the Malvern neighbourhood to camp. And that week got big so we reached out to a church in Hamilton, then Guelph, then Etobicoke, then North York. Who knows where God will lead us next. (Brampton may be calling…)

These weren’t my ideas. Turns out, it wasn’t my vision. It still isn’t. It’s God’s vision. I am a steward of this ministry and He allows me to take part in it. It all belongs to God.

It has changed camp. It has changed my heart for kids and youth from hard places. It has changed the kind of staff we need. It has changed what we do. But not at the core. We will always focus on the Bible as our guide, for cabin devos and opening our day in prayer and God’s word. We’re know for morning money’s and words of wisdom. We’re known for all camp games, for cheering for everything, for lots of other traditions. We went from annual donations of about $5,000 to over $200,000 this summer.

We were created to do good works. Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Moose/Mike

Traditions are the Stories that Families Write Together

Traditions are the stories that families write together. This is a line from a Christmas movie (Reunited At Christmas – Hallmark Channel) that a grandma speaks to her young granddaughter as she shares the cherished Christmas star that has been passed down for generations and sits atop the family Christmas tree.

We have some things that have become traditions in our family. Some are borrowed from each of my wife’s and my families. Some we made up for ourselves. Here are a few of our favourites:

We say something like, “have fun, be good, make good choices and play nice” when our kids leave our house. Of course it started when they were much younger.
The way we open Christmas gifts. Read more here.
Summer camping trips to Port Burwell, Mikesew and a few other provincial parks. Fry truck fries and feeding the seagulls.
Group camping with the Payne, Calleja and Potts families. We added other families as the girls got older & moved away from home. Elaine, Melissa and I still go with this group every summer.
A yearly picture at the bus stop (at least through grade school).
Father-daughter fishing trips, spring fall and winter at a cabin with 3 other families all with girls (13 girls, 4 dads). Yup, we were crazy.
Summer movie nights in the Rosseau Community Hall
Maple syrup making in the back yard when we lived in Rosseau.
Pulling GT’s behind the tractor in the winter and riding in the trailer in the summer. This started with my dad pulling the girls around their yard in a trailer in the summer in Milton.
Attending the annual sled dog race in Rosseau.

What are your family story traditions?

Truth & Lies

A lie only runs until it is overtaken by the truth. Cuban proverb.

Recently a number of my blogs have started by hearing a line in a movie that catches my attention and I see where they go from there. This one did too. As usual, I want to focus on what God says through the Bible about what I’m writing about.

Two quotes you have heard before:

Always telling the truth is easier because you don’t have to remember what lie you told to what person. Just tell the truth.
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. Winston Churchill

Let’s see a few verses of what God’s Word (the Bible) has to say about lying. All the verses are from the English Standard Version.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
Matthew 15:18-20 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Hebrews 6:18 So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Zechariah 8:16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;

Always tell the truth. It’s that simple.

Cooking with Moose: Poor Man’s French Pastry

Some recipes we use at camp and some from Moose’s family cookbook, “That Tastes Like Home”. Today’s recipe: Poor Man’s French Pastry. When we were kids we used to call this french man’s poor pastry to bug my mom (Moose).

Ingredients

Graham crackers
1 instant vanilla pudding
1 package Dream Whip or whipping cream
Icing sugar, milk and margarine to make icing
Bitter-sweet bakers chocolate

Directions

Place a layer of graham crackers in a 9 x 13 pan (trim them to fit right to the pan edges)
Then a layer of vanilla pudding on top of that
Then a layer of whipped cream or dream whip
Then a second layer of graham crackers
Then ice it with a butter cream icing (leave it runny so it spreads easily)
Finish up with shaved or grated bitter-sweet Baker’s Chocolate over the top
Decorate with sliced maraschino cherries if desired

Every Kid Deserves to GO to Camp

Do you remember the first time to saw a sky full of stars? Or the first time you shot an arrow for archery? Or the first time you heard the name Jesus and it wasn’t swearing? Or scaling a climbing wall or jumped off a blob tower or been on a high ropes course or played Widji ball or learned to ride a bike or eat three full meals every day or so many camp activities that we sometimes take for granted.

For hundreds of kids that happens every summer at Camp Widjiitiwin through our Ignite partnership camps. We are impacting one camper to impact one family to impact one neighborhood to impact three cities to impact the world!!

We’re working with local churches and agencies to engage kids and youth from at risk and marginalized neighbourhoods in a manner that leads to a transformational faith development consistent with the Truth of God’s Word.

Ignite: A brand that clearly expresses the objectives of the program to potential partners and donors. The campers will typically just know Camp Widjiitiwin.

Ignite a desire to change their status quo, to break the cycle of poverty, or poor education or abuse or drugs or alcohol, or whatever their situation is, to be a better version of themselves, to…
Ignite a spark for the love of God
Ignite a passion for helping others, serving,

A strike anywhere match has two chemical components that come together to produce the flame. It brings two things together to produce change.

Widjiitiwin and our partners
The camper community and camp
Heaven & earth
Communities and churches/ministries

Verses

See how a small spark can ignite a great forest fire. James 3:5b
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 ESV

Partners

Fresh Air Camp in partnership with Toronto Police, 42 Division in Malvern going into it’s 11th summer, targeting 50-60 campers.
Escape Camp, Hughson Street Baptist Church in Hamilton, going into its 8th summer, targeting 60 campers.
Royal City Camp in its 7th year partnering with Church of the City in Guelph. Plus a group of volunteers from Guelph YFC, targeting 60 campers.
Capstone Camp with partner Capstone Community Bible Church in Etobicoke is going into its 5th year, targeting 80 campers.
Ephraim’s Place Camp, from Ephraim’s Place and Church of the Nazarene in North York (Jane/Sheppard), going into its 4th year, targeting 55 campers.

Fill The Cups Of Glasses Half Full People

What if you could be the pitcher that fills up the cups or glasses of half full people? How could we do that? What would it look like? Is the group you hang out with better or worse for you being in it? Is the room better or worse for you being in it? Or leaving it? Are people more positive and encouraged in your company?

Here are some things I’ve learned that can help you fill the cups of glasses half full people. The first part is called Charisma Quotient © Eagles Flight.

Smile
Be decisive
Be knowledgeable, in your area of expertise
Listen first, then respond
Have ideas – prepare for meetings, tasks & assignments
Speak clearly with conviction
Encourage others
Create an atmosphere of FUN
Speak the truth, always
Be enthusiastic, it’s contagious

And some lessons I teach our summer staff and SALTers

Know yourself, what are your strengths and weaknesses, how you fit into a team, what your role is
Influence – it can be good, bad or mediocre, your choice
Hold others in esteem – they have intrinsic value as made in God’s image
Learn from others, you don’t know everything and you never will
Celebrate successes – individual & team, friends & family
Servant leadership (the leader serves all to make sure they have everything they need to succeed)
Example of Jesus, we don’t get a better one. Read about him in the Bible.
Character; have a good one. Someone said, character is how we behave when no one is looking

We all have natural talents and abilities, but those can be enhanced by learned behaviours. We can all be better at making sure the people in our lives are encouraged and feel good about themselves. It can be at home, at work, in our neighbourhoods, at church, on the bus or subway, even at a sports event. In fact, it can be anywhere you interact with other people.

2019 – How Did That Happen?

Happy New Years!!

The older I get, the faster time seems to go. 2018 is now gone, but it was a busy year in our house. I started back to work full time after being out of commission for May and June 2017, on sick leave July to September, part time in the fall. The most exciting part of 2018 was our third grandchild, Liam, was born on August 22nd. I also continue to learn that I need to slow down and make sure not to cross my enough line.

In 2018 I resolved… to establish guardrails so I don’t cross over any lines into things I shouldn’t do. One of those pieces was a Bible reading plan to read through the scripture in one year. The plan was to read 4 chapters per day and get it done. I started late and I’m not quite done, but overall, I have only missed a few days of Bible reading in 2018.

Peter said, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7

Don’t let your 2019 resolution be anything like this: My goal for 2019 is to start the goals from 2018 that I meant to accomplish in 2017 which I should have done in 2016 because I promised to do them in 2015 which I planned in 2014. 😉

Rather something like this, “Resolved, to be a better person on December 31, 2019 than I am today through prayer, Bible study, and service to my fellow man.”

Christmas Morning Traditions

What are your Christmas morning traditions? Our (Moose & Mumz) traditions are a collection from my family and Elaine’s. Christmas stockings get opened before breakfast and all at once. There is a small hammer that always ends up in my stocking that has been wrapped and re-wrapped many times. Then for a quick breakfast. We have a long tradition in both our families of opening one gift at a time so everyone can watch. Sometimes this takes us last lunch time.

One tradition we adopted from Elaine’s family goes like this: A ho and a ho ho and a ho ho ho. An what do we have here? Followed by a very detailed description of the Christmas paper wrapping each gift. The colour of paper, characters, snowmen, Santas, princesses, designs like stripes or stars, words like Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, the weight of the gift, who it’s for and who it’s from and on and on… and so it continues with each new paper that comes from under the tree. It took a very long time this year for one gift that had 20 layers of wrapping paper.

And then there’s the guessing. Back in the 80’s it was “is it an 8 track?”, “is it a pair of undies?”. Then it it got updated to cassettes, CD’s, DVD’s, etc. Now it’s more about is it a book or socks or clothes, a tool, a loud toy, etc.

Lunch is “lapatizers”, defined by Carolyn (Tundra) as lunch appetizers eaten on your lap. It consists of meats, cheeses, shrimp & sauce, crackers, hot appetizers, punch, cookies, butter tarts, short bread cookies and other baking.

Dinner is of course the traditional Canadian Christmas fare of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce (if desired), gravy, rolls, etc. Dessert is pies pumpkin, pecan, maybe blueberry with whipped cream and icing. Naturally there’s coffee and tea and more sweets that follow.

Nicole added a beautiful new tradition last year. Later in the evening, we were in the basement and each person had a candle. After a person’s candle was lit, each of us took turns speaking affirmation to them.

What are your Christmas morning traditions?

Cooking with Moose: Apple Cake

This one is so good and it’s perfect for Christmas or anytime, this can be made ahead and even frozen until needed. Recipes we use at camp and some from Moose’s family cookbook, “That Tastes Like Home”. Today’s recipe: Apple Cake

Ingredients

3 cups unpeeled apples
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup raisins
2 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar

Directions

Combine first four ingredients and set aside
Beat eggs, oil and vanilla together with a fork
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and sugar
Fold dry ingredients into apple mixture
Press into well-greased and floured Bundt pan
Bake at 350 F for 65 minutes
Invert and cool on plate, leaving Bundt pan on top until cool

Optional – mix up a thin cinnamon icing with water, icing sugar and cinnamon to drizzle over the cake. mmmm!

Mary Did You Know?

Guest blog by Nicole Rose Ankenmann

Thinking about Jesus’ momma tonight. We celebrate four weeks of #advent these days, but she had roughly forty weeks to anticipate the Messiah’s birth — to fret over the growing infant, to think about their future family, to wonder how long she’d be permitted to keep him.

I suspect there were many mingled emotions in Mary’s heart as she plodded towards Bethlehem with her husband: joy and burden; hope and concern; peace and fear. Ultimately, Jesus’s earthly life led him to the cross. Only because of that truth do we now have access to joy and hope and peace that conquers all burdens, concerns and fears.

#godwithus #heisrisen #marychristmas

Mary, Did You Know? by Pentatonix, song written by Mark Lowry & Buddy Greene

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God

Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am

Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?

Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Oh

Mary did you know?