Hope for Bastion # 4

Hello on a rainy dark Wednesday. It was 8 degrees when I left home this today and it is already 22 in Bastion, with the temp going up to 33 today.

Nikki has arrived in Bastion. She wrote to say that she arrived and was greeted by many friends at the airport, which was a great joy and surprise. She also said that it was hot. There is much to do there and she will be quite busy again.

She mentioned two people who have debilitating illnesses that suffer from the lack of medical care there. These illnesses would so easily be treated in Canada, but she is not in Canada, and they of course are not.

It's a stark reminder that people are in need of basic health care and while it may be a human right, it is not always provided. And then there is "hope" for Bastion. Nikki and others have committed to providing as much care as they can with the resources that they have and that others give and it makes a difference. For less that the cost of a large timmies a day a child can have an education, breakfast, school clothes, some health care and emergency food aid, if needed for their family.

So, what can you do about it. please read the attached website and make contact to help the children. http://sponsorhope.ca/

Have a great week, enjoy the sun, rain and all that you have been blessed to enjoy. I will have more updates next week.

Tuesday Musing #58

Happy Tuesday everyone

I read the scriptures every morning. I have been reading through the bible this year again and this time it is chronological. It's a very interesting was to read through the bible because it reads more like a story than anything else. It certainly has made the completion of the task easier this year. It's more than just a task to check off at the end of a day though. I believe that the words are alive and God breathed. They then provide me with a life infusion so that I can go about my daily living.

One short verse stood out for me today. Jesus is quoted by Matthew, Mark and Luke as saying "don't let anyone mislead you". The quote is referencing His return and the rise of false messiahs prior to that event. I wonder if those 5 little words mean anything else besides the reference to the second coming.

Are there are people in your life who use you and mislead you? What happens when manipulation occurs? The more I study people and particularly the marriage relationship, I see that spouses can be selfish and will do things for their spouse only to to gain something for themselves. It's more than manipulation, it's self absorbed behaviour. At what point do we hearken back to the days when we were courting, what a great word. Those were the days when we did everything to catch the eye of the person we were smitten with. What will it take to restore the love? Don't be mislead, it doesn't come from self serving behaviour, it comes from self sacrificing behaviour.

I challenge you to go and serve your spouse as if you were dating again. Treat them as they should be treated, love, forgive and accept apologies. Don't be mislead by this selfish and vile generation. Love for the sake of loving and giving, not for the sake of getting.

Happy Tuesday everyone

Having a bad day?!

I've been having a tough time lately. Self imposed difficulties, extremely busy schedule (I guess that's self imposed too), Seasonal Affective Disorder (not my fault), way too much pain, frustrated with people, limited in my abilities, away from family and friends, man the list just keeps growing. Even when something good happens like getting involved with Hope for Bastion, I feel defeated because I can only do so much.

Guilt screams its' lies to me about my past and my frailties. Those (except my family) that I depend on leave with no excuse, The lies rattle around my head making more noise than a Dash 8 and more confusion than a 51 year old with Andropause. I got screamed at by a punk 23 year old because in his ignorance, I don't do enough from a social justice perspective. One of my last resorts, my small group, almost all come down with some illness, leaving my prepared lesson unopened.

And then my pity part ended. My beloved calls and says watch this. I dare you to watch this and feel sorry for yourself ever again. I dare you to watch this and say "I can't". I dare you to go and help someone else. Get a life and do something for someone else, I dare you!

Here's another one which allows you to hear where his joy comes from. I am amazed at the phrase, "I love living life I am happy"

I guess it's not such a bad day, week, month or life after all, is it?

Hope for Bastion #3

As I get more involved in things like Hope For Bastion, I realize the need for real "social justice" is greater than I even thought. What I did not know was what amounts of money the current "War" is costing. Check out the cost of war link: http://costofwar.com/

I don't know if it is true, but the numbers are astounding. What would happen if all that money went to feeding the poor? Jesus said to the rich young ruler "Go and sell all your possessions give the money to the poor, then follow me". But that's not going to happen because rich people who own businesses that support the machinery of war need have their own needs. But what can we do?

Just last weekend a large group of people met for a fundraiser for Nikki. Nikki lives in a pretty rough area of town. The streets are dirt roads filled with things nice people don't talk about and she travels these roads to visit her friends, the children and their families of Bastion. On two occasions recently, one while taking public transportation and the other in a taxi, Nikki has had her life threatened and has in fact had all her possessions stolen. In the taxi cab event she was held hostage (she had another girl with her) by two armed men who robbed them and roughed them up. Thankfully, that is the worst of the story.

We need to get Nikki a car. A fundraiser was held last Sunday night and I have no idea how much was raised, but it will go towards a safe care for Nikki, safe so she can travel alone or with a friend and it will also be a vehicle to transport people and things throughout the city as needed. Will you help? There is a clearing house called MSC Canada for donations for Nikki. Please contact them for more information at http://www.msccanada.org/ You may review more information about the children and their school at http://sponsorhope.ca/

Sponsor hope! The Cambridge dictionary defines the verb sponsor as: "to support a person, organization or activity by giving money, encouragement or other help".

What do you have that you can use to support, give, encourage or otherwise help the children in Bastion?

Tuesday Musing #57

Happy Tuesday everyone

I listened to someone talk about social justice a few days ago. It was an interesting talk and I know that much guilt was attempted in his speech to move the people in the audience. I'm not sure where we were being moved to, but I know the intent was to move us.

Why does an angry generation exist? This person is clearly part of an angry generation that sees the injustices of our world and then deigns to know all and subsequently spews their venom on the next unlucky audience?

I believe that one of the most important things to know when speaking, is your audience. Now, having said that, I don't know my audience in this blog. I know there are some who read this, but I don't know how many and I rarely know who is reading. Back to my point, a speaker should "know their audience" certainly not intimately, but at least have some working knowledge of the people being spoken to. Unfortunately, this speaker did not know the audience, and if he did, then his angry, ignorant outbursts were intentional.

To contrast this, I also heard a person working for social justice in the same time frame (last weekend) speak about the cause that she is most familiar with. The difference was the tenor of the communication. One was anger, incorrect and directional. The other was gentle, expressive and graceful. Guess which one I got more from? I did learn from the angry presentation, but not what was intended.

I wonder why we need to display the angry side of things to get the attention of people? I do know this, there are too many wealthy people out there who could do something to assist a child or even a whole village, but they are not and in the words of Dr. John (the physician not the musician), someday there will be a reckoning. I can't make a difference with regards to all the ills in our society. I can however do something about it, one child at a time. I can provide for education, clothing, health care and love for children as they struggle for an existence so much different from mine.

I am not wealthy, I can do something. I can speak out against the things that are unacceptable. I can work for peace and support children. I won't go about my attempts to change society with an angry approach, I may be angry, but I will do this in love, which is defines as: patience, kindness, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.

So, on this Tuesday, what moves you?

Happy Tuesday everyone

The Obscure Lyric is taking a break

Well, I finally made a decision and it did not include adding anything to my considerably full plate of responsibilities. I know it's just a little reduction in my busy schedule, but it is a reduction after all. To be honest, the post (The Obscure Lyric) was becoming a chore and I don't need another chore. I don't know when it will return, I have many other things to do and say and while music remains a major source of inspiration and method of worship for me, the time spent researching often frustrated me. It is not goodbye, but see ya (and hear ya) later.

As the wonderful James Taylor sang:

well the sun is surely sinking down

but the moon is surely rising

so this old world must still be spinning round

and I still love you

It won't be long before another day

We gonna have a good time

And no ones gonna take that time away

You can stay as long as you like

There will be many other posts, I have many other interests that will require blogging some posts. One of the main ones closest to my heart is regarding Ecuador. Please do what you can to help others by contacting www.sponsorhope.ca and click on the child sponsorship tab and give.

Look for the obscure lyric in your mailbox and on the blog in the future. Cya, Rob!

The big reveal for the week of Oct.12/09

Good morning music fans. It's been a bit cold this week. A week ago, I was anticipating our trip to Virginia and the warm weather there. Now, we are home and freezing. We enjoyed the sun and heat for a while last weekend.

Clearly, the interest in the "obscure lyric" is waning. I can't remember the last time someone actually wrote to guess. Either that or we are just too busy to stop and enjoy the moments anymore. Whatever the reasons, I need to make a decision as to whether or not the "obscure lyric" continues or if changes are required. Maybe it has run its' course and y'all are no longer interested. No worries, it is one less thing for me to do each week. If I remember to send an e-mail on Monday, then it's still on. If no e-mail, then the "lyric" has either gone into hibernation for a while, gone completely, or once again, I forgot.

Here are this weeks answers:

the name of the song: Lover's Cross
The name of the singer: Jim Croce
The album: Photographs and Memories
The album side and track number: I have no idea, although it looks like side two
from everything I have read.

Here is a lovely version with Jim and Maurie just doing what they did, making beautiful music, telling great stories and communicating what seems like effortlessly.

Have a great weekend. I am leaving normalcy to spend the weekend with between 60 and 75 men on a retreat at a camp in the near north. As most oif you know, I am not a camper of any sort, our family approach to going away is to "go somewhere better than where we live, not worse". However, I know this I have heard the speaker and he is dynamic, the music will be fantastic, I have no clue what the food is going to be like, but I do know that it will be good.

As I was searching for this weeks song on video, I discovered this gem, enjoy:

Ahh, the simplicity of the Muppets and the music of Jim Croce. What else in this world has such joy and sadness and yet no anger, no pointing and squawking about not getting ones way.

Have an awesome weekend. I hope that whatever you do will find you inspired, challenged and encouraged. I expect that I will encounter much of this in my weekend. None of us can "put time in a bottle" we must live for the now. Go ahead , laugh, live, love because we don't know what tomorrow holds. However, life needs to be more than just laughing, living and loving, it needs perspective which is terribly clear from this very sad quote from the incomparable Freddie Mercury:

"What will I be doing in twenty years time? I'll be dead darling! Are you crazy"

Stone cold crazy, I guess!

Hope for Bastion #2

Life as always, has ups and downs. Just over a week ago I felt like I could nothing more to serve my God and people. I was at a spiritual pinnacle and having just given advise to my son about this place, i should have known what was coming. Reality crept or more correctly crashed my little happy dance and I felt like my world was totally squished like the fly on the windshield (for you music fans that's from the band Genesis, The Lamb lies down on Broadway).

Circumstances came into my life that have left me questioning much. I am not at liberty to discuss the details, but suffice it to say, I felt like my very core was being questioned. Before you go calling the crisis line, my family and I are fine. In fact we spent a magnificent weekend together eating, enjoying, worshipping, playing, laughing, shopping and did I say eating? Oh yeah and travelling on two dash 8's (and two real planes too), yikes those "8's" were the loudest plane I have ever been on.

Then life happened. Life in it's funny, cyclical and providential way gave me a shot in the arm today. As discussed before (and the purpose for this recurring post) we have found a new way to serve. Our new love and way to serve has been our involvement in the ministry to people who serve significantly underprivileged children and their families in Ecuador. Today of all days, I received a letter from someone who wants info on sponsoring a child. I prayed and had hoped that my blog and these posts would draw some attention to Ecuador and it did. Man, I am so excited about the possibilities.

I told Nikki that the blog will be a way to reach a different group of people that may never have a chance to sponsor or even hear about Bastion. One of the readers wrote and wants to review the information about sponsoring. My highs and lows are nothing compared with the awful experiences that these children have to go through.

I complain about a cold house when I return from a mini vacation that cost enough to support a child for 29 months, I complain about a simple nail being pushed back when these folks have no medical care and a broken nail means nothing. These people have nothing without the generous support of donors, like this person.

The person who wrote about becoming a donor will remain anonymous, I am sure that this is how they would prefer it to be. They are regular readers, I consider them a friend, I know they are trustworthy, and they are a parent who intends to teach their children they are blessed with about the awful realities of poverty and the amazing thankfulness we need to cultivate, in ourselves and in them.

Did the letter change my circumstances? Of course not! It changed my attitude. It took me from self focus (I did not say self pity) to a reminder that my items of concern are so very real, but, they are not as bad as those that some others have the reality to deal with. In other portions of my world, people are preparing for a trial after the passing of a loved one. While I am immersed in that situation, my beloved and children are alive and well. Did I celebrate when I realized that the shooting in Virginia last year was not at my son's school, of course and I also grieved for the families of the dead. I grieve and pray for the family of the deranged person who decided to take away life from so many others.

In this existence I must choose to bring all of the events that I participate in and those that are foisted upon me into the light of perspective that reminds me that all is seen, all is known and the furniture in heaven has not been rearranged. Do I struggle with my difficulties? , of course I do! Am I concerned about the children in Bastion, in Gaza, In Eritrea, and in every place where the streets are latrines, receptacles of used needles and the other accoutrement of the impoverished life. Of course, but I can do something and not be paralyzed by my own inaction. Just like the person who wrote to ask about sponsorship, I can choose to do "something". A choice is made, a child is fed, is clothed, is educated and is provided with some health care.

So, what are you doing to feed, clothe, educate and provide health care to those who have none?

and once again we are reminded that:

"if you have done it to the very least of these you have done it unto me"

Tuesday Musing # 56

Happy Tuesday Everyone

"This is my beloved son, listen to him." In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke after what is referred to as "The Transfiguration" Peter, James and John were given this command. How appropriate that they were told to listen to him. But, what does listening really entail?

I look at people when I speak with them and often know whether or not they are listening. But not always. All of us, with the exception of the hearing impaired, hear us, but really not everyone listens. There are people that I regularly interact with who clearly do not listen. They are so quick to respond that I can almost see that they are formulating their answers as I speak. So, who cares, right? We all have so much to do and so little time to get it done, that we refuse to respect the other person and "listen" to them.

In my world, it always returns to respect. You see, having experienced the complete lack of respect in some situations, I realize very quickly when someone begins to walk down that road. I know it and I hate it. It takes many forms: faces, attitudes, patronization, words, absence, abuse and sometimes even presence.

What's the relationship between listening and respect. People demonstrate disrespect by hearing, but not listening. On the contrary people demonstrate respect by hearing and then listening. Too many times I have been disrespected and unfortunately, I remember the times. I try to be forgiving, that's part of the listening to His son, but I remember and then forgive. I try not to hold grudges, sometimes though, action beyond cheek turning is required.

Where is the musing going today? If we listen to Him, then we will respect His direction. In a non faith environment, if we listen to, hear, respect and put value into others, our lives will be filled with deeper relationships that will grant us opportunities to walk this life with respect and being respect. Does this post make sense? I'm not so sure it does. I do know that without listening, without hearing and without respecting, life will be/is shallow, self serving and ego centric. If you read this and know it's for you, congratulations, maybe this will be the genesis of a new you.

If you read this and know it is not for/about you, continue to live your life, serve with great abandon. Mark Twain that American writer said: "Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on earth." I'm not sure why that is important here, but I know this I am tired of the masks, there are so many, so when I think you are listening, I will call you on it(respectfully of course).

When I feel disrespected, I will call you on it, if that's my way of dancing, sing, loving and living, then get ready for a new me and a new life, full of listening first to Him, then being honest with you, or at the very least calling you on the things that need to be called. You too may call me out if I am not listening, hearing, respecting or loving you: I expect it and I need it to grow as a lover, father, person and man.

Happy Tuesday Everyone

Obscure lyric for the week of Oct.12/09

Good morning music fans and welcome to Thanksgiving Monday. I am in the big old U. S. of A visiting our son and enjoying the heat and sunshine, it's 70 degrees American and sunny, it is beautiful. We will be home tomorrow and have lots of cool things in the memory bank as well as some nice photos to add to the computer, some of which may end up in the blog some day.

This weeks song was written by a favourite of mine back in high school days. I have already used him in the blog and a friend knew some of the real people who were part of his songs/stories, cause they really were stories. no, it's not Harry Chapin, but if you know me well, and if you have been reading this for a while, you will know that I like musicians that are storytellers, hence the name Seanchai. I mentioned the title of the song in my first paragraph last sentence. This song is a sad one about breakup, I have no real reason to use it except I love the singer, his writing and his music, 'nuff said.

here are some lyrics:

Still I hope that you can find another
who can take what I could not
he'll have to be a super guy
or at least a super god

Pretty rough starting the week off on a sad note. I know that this is not a portent of the events of the week. The writer is no longer with us, but his music and sentiments are. The world of music fills all emotions and sometimes dealing with the difficult helps me to move along and recover and restore.

I would like to know:

The name of the song:
The name of the singer:
The name of the album it is from
Which side and which track(that's for the Chief):

Have an awesome week. I trust that the Thanksgiving feast has already been (or will be) wonderful and the reasons for the thankfulness are remaining as the week continues. I am cooking ham, potatoes, tons of veggies and lots of other stuff, so we will be well fed. We often play a game as we sit around the Thanksgiving dinner table, maybe some of you do this too, we ask: "what are you thankful for"? I am thankful for my God who loves me, my beloved who loves me, my children who love me, my friends who love me and for all who respect me because you put the disrespectful ones in their place...............out of my mind. I am thankful for those who create some difficulty in my life, it gives me more reasons to work harder at loving and respecting them too, cause that's the only way to win that war, I attempt to follow the direction in this command: "do not return evil for evil".

The big reveal for the week of Oct.5/09

Good morning music fans. Friday is here as is the Thanksgiving weekend. For most if not all that means a long weekend and for me it means an extra long weekend. I have added Tuesday to my Thanksgiving celebration. I intend to place next week's song on the blog on Monday and will e-mail you on Tuesday or Wednesday.

No guesses this week, that may be because I forgot to send an email advising you that the obscure lyric was posted. I'm thinking of taking a hiatus from the obscure lyric, I may either drop it to a month by month appearance, or I may just stop for a while, keep reading to see what happens. The blog will remain, though, I have way too much to say about other things.

Here are your answers:

The name of the song: Fly like and Eagle
The writer: Steve Miller
The writer's godfather: Les Paul (yes that Les Paul)
The name of the band: The Steve Miller Band

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the time with family and friends. Take time to be thankful for who you know and for what you have. Canada is an amazing country, I would not want to live anywhere else.

"The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you"

Hope for Bastion #1

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday and a new series on the blog. This is the first post of a series that I intend to write each Wednesday to bring attention to the plight of those who live in abject poverty in a part of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Actually, the area is know as Bastion, but no one willingly says that they are from Bastion.

Tonight, one of the people who has been led to assist the people of Bastion is coming to our house for dinner to introduce us to the wonderful and terrible things she has seen as she serves those people. I wrote about Nikki in my Monday and Tuesday posts and now she will have her own post until the work is done. With permission, I will post photos, stories, crime stats, births, deaths and all the information required to measure some of the things that go on there. There is also a spiritual side to the work, you see Nikki and the others she works with are Christ followers and they do this to show their devotion to Him. That gives them power, peace and hope.

They are not misled people who are only on the mission field because they can't find jobs or husbands(or wives as the case may be), no, they are there because they believe in the people they serve and want to to their best for them, no matter what.

Tonight, my beloved and I have the privilege to sit and share a meal with Nikki and to hear her story. I hope (with her permission) to share a little of her story each week as the "Hope for Bastion" post comes alive (somehow I hear Peter Frampton in the background, you knew there had to be a music reference, right) every Wednesday morning.

As soon as I have photos or videos I will post them. While I will not solicit from the blog, I will educate with regards to child/family sponsorship. I will provide links to websites that can be accessed and will also provide contact information should you wish to learn more about sponsorship.

Why the title, Hope for Bastion? Well, to be honest, the website for the mission group is called "Mission Hope for Bastion" and I want to make sure that what I say, do and write are aligned with the mission, so that's a pretty good start, eh?

Enjoy your Wednesday.

Tuesday Musing #55

Happy Tuesday everyone

In Monday's music post I talked a little about a friend named Nikki. I don't have permission to use her name yet, so we will call her N for now. She is a missionary in Ecuador and she works in an area that no one goes to visit (except other missionaries and people who are called to help) and no one is willing to say they are from that part of the country. They live on the edge on society, so many are penniless and given the two tier medical system in that country, those who have little or no money find themselves in the lower (in most usages of the word) tier of the medical system. Today's post is not about the loss, depravity, gangs, kidnappings, theft and all the other things that might and have already happened to her, today's post is about the hope that she and others bring to the people and children of Bastion Popular Guyaquil.

Nikki told us about the very difficult results of illness, poorly funded medical care and the subsequent losses that come because of those issues and others. But she also spoke of the hope. The hope that she and the others do make a difference in the lives of children and adults. When permitted, I will post some pictures from Bastion. The hope is also in the name of Jesus. Not all of you who read this agree with my personal position with regards to faith and that's ok. I know this, the hope that people of faith have, is real. These good people: Nikki, her family and others bring that hope to those living and dying.

People do things to support them. There is an opportunity for supporting a child or family where for little money(in our accounting) would pay for school, clothes, medical care and some food for a child. That being spread around can make a huge difference in the lives of family members. When one has hope, then there is hope for others. I know that there are many of you who read this who can afford $50.00 a month to support a child and their family. That is about 60% of a timmies if you have one every work day in a twenty day month. I mean no guilt here, I mean to present you with an opportunity.

Maybe it's one less itunes card a month that pays for the remainder of the fee to support a child's in need. If you want more information about this opportunity to serve someone, many people in fact, in great need then please contact me and I will hook you up with Nikki or some of the others who can explain the benefits of child sponsorship.

And yes, these are not just empty words, our family sponsors a child. We just received a letter from her and she refers to us as the "god parents". When our daughter spent 11 days helping at a camp for some of the kids in February, they had a chance to meet, I think it blessed my daughter more to meet, see and spend time with someone who has so much less from a possession perspective, but who also has much from a happiness perspective.

Happy Tuesday everyone

Obscure lyric for the week of Oct.5/09

Good morning music fans. The first full week of October is here and we are inching towards Thanksgiving weekend. I will be travelling on that weekend, but will have the obscure trivia prepped and ready to go for next Monday. It has been a little strange weather wise lately. I guess that's fall for you. You just never know what is gonna happen, we had rain, sun, hail, wind and thankfully no snow all in this one weekend.

I heard some stories recently from a missionary friend who lives in Ecuador about the difficulty the poor has with the lack of medical coverage (now don't get me started on the "freedom of choice/health care lie" from the states). She told about holding the hand of an 11 year old boy just as he was about to die and another about a mother of 7 children with ovarian cancer who had limited options. Both of these families faced their difficulties with faith, bravery and perseverance. Thinking of those circumstances lead me to the chorus from this song, quite appropriate as we move towards Thanksgiving.


Here are some lyrics:

Feed the babies

who don't have enough to eat

shoe the children

with no shoes on their feet

house the people

livin in the street

I would like to know:

The name of the song:

The writer:

Who was his godfather:

The name of the band:

I'm not sure what this song is about. Some suggest that the writer is trying to get away from something. If there's not enough food, clothes and safe housing I suppose I would want to get away too. The message is timely as we look forward to family reunions and gatherings in comparative luxury and a bounty of food on our Thanksgiving table. Please take time to do more than be thankful this weekend, do something for the poor, hungry, naked and those without a roof. A very wise man once said:

"when you have done it to the very least of these, you have done it to me"

The big reveal for the week of Sept.28/09

Wow, it's Friday. This week dragged, usually my weeks go by pretty fast, but this one dragged, something to do with unattained expectations and many other things taking time that they should not. I said things not people.


I received no guesses this week. I though this might tickle the fancy of some of you, but my thoughts about your guesses are clearly not in sync. With that in mind, you will find the answer below along with two videos, one of the song from this week and another from that wonderful song about Puff.

here are your answers:

The name of the song: Day is Done
The writer: Peter Yarrow
Who wrote Puff the Magic Dragon: Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow
What was Puff based on: An Ogden Nash poem entitled, "Custard the Dragon" about a "realio, trulio little pet dragon"


Enjoy these videos and who can you identify in the "day is done" video besides PPM"? There are several other "famous" musicians.





Have a great weekend. In one week the annual celebration of Thanksgiving for Canadians will happen, I wonder what would happen if we were than thankful all through the year, of course without the excesses of turkey and pumpkin pie? In anticipation of next weekend, here is a wonderful quote from someone often referred to by his initials JFK.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them"