Yep, that's right! During the first quarter of the game, Richard recovered a fumble, ran for 50 yards, and scored a TD!! Woohooo!! You can imagine how proud I was! BC Lions win the game 36-31!
Here is the best video footage I could get of it since the game didn't air in the states! Enjoy!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
what a weekend
Well it has been an interesting past few days up here in Canada.
On Thursday I drove to Seattle to pick up Romeyo from the airport. The drive there and back wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I left Surrey early because I didn't know how much traffic I would get into crossing the border, but I ended up getting to Seattle early. I drove around trying to find a shopping center to walk around in while I waited, but I didn't have any luck. I did find a nice little lake, though, and ended up stopping there and reading my Bible for a little bit. Here are a couple of pics of the lake.
On Friday, I took Romeyo up to watch the BC Lions practice before their game on Saturday. Then on Saturday night we headed to the game. We were playing the Edmonton Eskimo's and we really needed to leave with a win. The first half of the game wasn't super interesting, but we ended up in a tie at the end of the 4th quarter and lost in overtime.....again.
(us before the game)
On the VERY first play of the game, our friend Alozie got injured and had to be carted off the field....not good. We later found out that he, in fact, broke his leg and dislocated his ankle. Let me give you a little background on him. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos for his first few years in the CFL. During one of his games with the Eskimo's, he broke both his tibia and fibula. He was out the rest of the season with hopes of returning the next season. His recovery didn't go as planned and he ended up having to have 2 more surgeries on his leg. When training camp came around for the next season, he wasn't ready and the Eskimo's cut him. He took the next year off, unsure if he would return. During that next year, he and his wife began to pray about whether or not he should return to the CFL. They felt that's what God was leading them to do, so he found out about the BC Lions try-out, went for it, and was put on the team. This is his first season back since the injury and now he has broken his fibula on the same leg and dislocated his ankle. We don't know what this means for him or his family's future, but we do know that this has to be a difficult time for them. It's so easy to ask God "why me?" when stuff like this happens, so please pray that he would have quick healing and that his family would trust the Lord during this time!
On a better note, we took Romeyo to White Rock yesterday. We ate lunch at a cute little restaurant right off the beach and walked down the pier. We took lots of good pictures while we there! Romeyo really seemed to enjoy how beautiful is it there! Here are a couple of pictures of us while we were there....
This morning I got a text message from Richard saying that someone told him he might be up to play this week. Neither one of us thought much of it because we have been told that SO many times since we have been here. But he is, in fact, starting this week! Their game is away in Calgary on Friday. I'll find out if it will be playing online and let y'all know. Anyway, we are really surprised. We honestly didn't think he would play anymore this season for multiple reasons, but we are grateful that God has given him the opportunity!
This past week, Richard has recorded a couple of new Christian rap songs so hopefully they'll be completely produced and ready before we leave here so that we can come home with some new music for you guys!
Tonight, we're going to take Romeyo to downtown Vancouver to sight-see a little on his last night and then tomorrow I'll take the drive back to Seattle to drop him off. Please pray for safe travel as we drive and as he flies!
On Thursday I drove to Seattle to pick up Romeyo from the airport. The drive there and back wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I left Surrey early because I didn't know how much traffic I would get into crossing the border, but I ended up getting to Seattle early. I drove around trying to find a shopping center to walk around in while I waited, but I didn't have any luck. I did find a nice little lake, though, and ended up stopping there and reading my Bible for a little bit. Here are a couple of pics of the lake.
On Friday, I took Romeyo up to watch the BC Lions practice before their game on Saturday. Then on Saturday night we headed to the game. We were playing the Edmonton Eskimo's and we really needed to leave with a win. The first half of the game wasn't super interesting, but we ended up in a tie at the end of the 4th quarter and lost in overtime.....again.
(us before the game)On the VERY first play of the game, our friend Alozie got injured and had to be carted off the field....not good. We later found out that he, in fact, broke his leg and dislocated his ankle. Let me give you a little background on him. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos for his first few years in the CFL. During one of his games with the Eskimo's, he broke both his tibia and fibula. He was out the rest of the season with hopes of returning the next season. His recovery didn't go as planned and he ended up having to have 2 more surgeries on his leg. When training camp came around for the next season, he wasn't ready and the Eskimo's cut him. He took the next year off, unsure if he would return. During that next year, he and his wife began to pray about whether or not he should return to the CFL. They felt that's what God was leading them to do, so he found out about the BC Lions try-out, went for it, and was put on the team. This is his first season back since the injury and now he has broken his fibula on the same leg and dislocated his ankle. We don't know what this means for him or his family's future, but we do know that this has to be a difficult time for them. It's so easy to ask God "why me?" when stuff like this happens, so please pray that he would have quick healing and that his family would trust the Lord during this time!
On a better note, we took Romeyo to White Rock yesterday. We ate lunch at a cute little restaurant right off the beach and walked down the pier. We took lots of good pictures while we there! Romeyo really seemed to enjoy how beautiful is it there! Here are a couple of pictures of us while we were there....
This morning I got a text message from Richard saying that someone told him he might be up to play this week. Neither one of us thought much of it because we have been told that SO many times since we have been here. But he is, in fact, starting this week! Their game is away in Calgary on Friday. I'll find out if it will be playing online and let y'all know. Anyway, we are really surprised. We honestly didn't think he would play anymore this season for multiple reasons, but we are grateful that God has given him the opportunity!
This past week, Richard has recorded a couple of new Christian rap songs so hopefully they'll be completely produced and ready before we leave here so that we can come home with some new music for you guys!
Tonight, we're going to take Romeyo to downtown Vancouver to sight-see a little on his last night and then tomorrow I'll take the drive back to Seattle to drop him off. Please pray for safe travel as we drive and as he flies!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Canadian Thanksgiving
Yesterday (Monday) was Canada's Thanksgiving. Like in the States, watching football is a part of their Thanksgiving. The Lions played in Winnipeg in the afternoon. We were down a few points in the first half, then by the 3rd quarter we were up 32-11. I thought we had it in the bag. Then the 4th quarter rolls around and our players started behaving like children, fighting and getting penalty after penalty. In the last few minutes of the 4th quarter, one of our defensive linemen got disqualified for punching an opposing player in the face, then our only true center injured his leg and couldn't play, so they brought in the back-up who isn't a true center and caused several more penalties. :( Winnipeg ended up coming back to tie the game, then we lost in double overtime! It was NOT fun to watch! And after the defensive player was disqualified, they REALLY needed Richard there...oh well, their loss! There are only 4 games left before the playoffs and we really need to do well in these next 4 games, so say a little prayer for the BC Lions! :)
Earlier this week, Mrs. Dolly (our landlady) invited us to have Thanksgiving dinner with her family! So after the game, we followed her to her son's apartment where we met up her son, Fraser, and his roommate, TJ, her other son, Grant, her daughter, Lesley, & Lesley's boyfriend, Rob, Lesley's daughter, Brooke, and Rob's friend, Chansler (?). Fraser's apartment was so nice and everyone made Richard and I feel so welcome and really comfortable! Fraser prepared an incredible Thanksgiving dinner! Different than our family's Thanksgiving dinner, but SO good! He's a great cook! It was so fun to spend time with a family who have such a good time with each other like ours do! I was so grateful that they included us in their holiday celebration! They really are like our family here in Canada. Such a blessing. :)
On Thursday, our friend, Romeyo, is flying in to spend a few days with us. He is flying into Seattle, so I'll be driving to pick him up while Richard is at practice. Pray he has a safe flight and that we'll have a safe drive to and from Seattle. I'm glad Richard gets to have a visitor since he hasn't seen family or friends since May. This is Romeyo's first time to visit Canada, so hopefully we can show him around well!
That's all for now!
Earlier this week, Mrs. Dolly (our landlady) invited us to have Thanksgiving dinner with her family! So after the game, we followed her to her son's apartment where we met up her son, Fraser, and his roommate, TJ, her other son, Grant, her daughter, Lesley, & Lesley's boyfriend, Rob, Lesley's daughter, Brooke, and Rob's friend, Chansler (?). Fraser's apartment was so nice and everyone made Richard and I feel so welcome and really comfortable! Fraser prepared an incredible Thanksgiving dinner! Different than our family's Thanksgiving dinner, but SO good! He's a great cook! It was so fun to spend time with a family who have such a good time with each other like ours do! I was so grateful that they included us in their holiday celebration! They really are like our family here in Canada. Such a blessing. :)
On Thursday, our friend, Romeyo, is flying in to spend a few days with us. He is flying into Seattle, so I'll be driving to pick him up while Richard is at practice. Pray he has a safe flight and that we'll have a safe drive to and from Seattle. I'm glad Richard gets to have a visitor since he hasn't seen family or friends since May. This is Romeyo's first time to visit Canada, so hopefully we can show him around well!
That's all for now!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Luke 12 & an update
Today, my time with the Lord was full of lists...
I read Luke 12 and the commentary that went with it. I thought some of the commentary was really interesting and insightful, so I thought I'd share a few things.
(read Luke 12 if you can :))
Luke 12:1,2
Signs of hypocrisy:
1. knowing the truth but not obeying it
2. living a self-serving life
3. faith is reduced to rigid rules
4. outward conformity without inner reality
"discern you own heart. consider the signs of hypocrisy and make sure you are not guilty. then ask God to help you live rightly."
Luke 12:8,9
We deny Jesus when we:
1. hope no one will find out we are Christians
2. decide not to speak up for what is right
3. are silent about our relationship with God
4. blend into society
5. accept our culture's non-Christian values
We acknowledge Jesus when we:
1. live moral, upright, Christ-honoring lives
2. look for opportunities to share our faith with others
3. help others in need
4. take a stand for justice
5. love others
6. acknowledge our loyalty to Christ
7. use our lives and resources to carry out his desires rather than our own.
are you doing more to deny Christ or acknowledge Him?
Luke 12:22-34
Overcoming worry requires:
1. simple trust in God, your heavenly Father: expressed by prayer rather than worry
2. perspective on your problems: develop a strategy for addressing & correcting problems
3. a support team to help: find believers who will pray for you to find wisdom & strength to deal w/ worries
"Jesus commands us not to worry. Worry is pointless because it can't fill any of our needs; worry is foolish because the Creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need."
Luke 12:40
People who are ready for their Lord's return are:
1. not hypocritical but sincere
2. not fearful but ready to witness
3. not worried but trusting
4. not greedy but generous
5. not lazy but diligent
"May your life be more like Christ's so that when he comes, you will be ready to greet him joyfully."
As I was sitting there reading, there was an older man sitting at a table near me. He saw me journaling and asked if I was writing an essay. I simply told him I was just reading and studying my Bible. From there he proceeds to tell me that He does not believe there is a God. He shared all sorts of other thoughts and opinions that indicated he hadn't based them on biblical or religious study but rather on his own ideas. I had just read Luke 12:11,12 which says, "don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said." So I said a quick prayer to myself and asked the Lord to give me the words to say. He didn't give me the opportunity to say much but when I did speak I tried to be as open and honest about my faith as I could. It was a very minor conversation, but I pray that the Lord will cause our paths to cross again at the coffee shop or that the Lord would place someone in his life to speak truth to him. Please pray that this man would have a divine revelation about the God of the universe and his Son, Jesus.
Football update: The BC Lions won again last Saturday, which is really good for their chances to go to the playoffs. Richard did well, but still didn't play as much as he had hoped. On Monday, the head coach called Richard into his office to talk. He told Richard that he likes how he's been playing but they can only travel with 5 defensive lineman and they need a defensive end more than a tackle. He even told Richard that they might have him drop a few pounds next season so that he can play defensive end, which he would love. So anyway, Richard is back on the practice roster this week. We're not sure what that means for the rest of the season, but we'll continue to trust the Lord's plan for us here.
On Wednesday, Richard had the chance to meet up with a guy who has a recording studio in Vancouver. He recorded a couple of new songs and re-did a song he had already written. The guy who has the studio asked Richard to come back to Vancouver on Friday to perform his song and share his testimony with some kids. I wasn't able to be there, but Richard said he wasn't nervous at all and felt really comfortable as he performed and shared his testimony. We are so grateful for the opportunities God has given Richard here.
As we go back and forth on this roller coaster from practice roster to active roster back to practice roster, we continue to remind ourselves that God has us here for a purpose that is greater than football. Continue to pray for us to trust God with his plans for us. Pray we would be content with his plans. And pray that we would desire His plans over our own.
"The Lord will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever."
-Psalm 138:8
I read Luke 12 and the commentary that went with it. I thought some of the commentary was really interesting and insightful, so I thought I'd share a few things.
(read Luke 12 if you can :))
Luke 12:1,2
Signs of hypocrisy:
1. knowing the truth but not obeying it
2. living a self-serving life
3. faith is reduced to rigid rules
4. outward conformity without inner reality
"discern you own heart. consider the signs of hypocrisy and make sure you are not guilty. then ask God to help you live rightly."
Luke 12:8,9
We deny Jesus when we:
1. hope no one will find out we are Christians
2. decide not to speak up for what is right
3. are silent about our relationship with God
4. blend into society
5. accept our culture's non-Christian values
We acknowledge Jesus when we:
1. live moral, upright, Christ-honoring lives
2. look for opportunities to share our faith with others
3. help others in need
4. take a stand for justice
5. love others
6. acknowledge our loyalty to Christ
7. use our lives and resources to carry out his desires rather than our own.
are you doing more to deny Christ or acknowledge Him?
Luke 12:22-34
Overcoming worry requires:
1. simple trust in God, your heavenly Father: expressed by prayer rather than worry
2. perspective on your problems: develop a strategy for addressing & correcting problems
3. a support team to help: find believers who will pray for you to find wisdom & strength to deal w/ worries
"Jesus commands us not to worry. Worry is pointless because it can't fill any of our needs; worry is foolish because the Creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need."
Luke 12:40
People who are ready for their Lord's return are:
1. not hypocritical but sincere
2. not fearful but ready to witness
3. not worried but trusting
4. not greedy but generous
5. not lazy but diligent
"May your life be more like Christ's so that when he comes, you will be ready to greet him joyfully."
As I was sitting there reading, there was an older man sitting at a table near me. He saw me journaling and asked if I was writing an essay. I simply told him I was just reading and studying my Bible. From there he proceeds to tell me that He does not believe there is a God. He shared all sorts of other thoughts and opinions that indicated he hadn't based them on biblical or religious study but rather on his own ideas. I had just read Luke 12:11,12 which says, "don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said." So I said a quick prayer to myself and asked the Lord to give me the words to say. He didn't give me the opportunity to say much but when I did speak I tried to be as open and honest about my faith as I could. It was a very minor conversation, but I pray that the Lord will cause our paths to cross again at the coffee shop or that the Lord would place someone in his life to speak truth to him. Please pray that this man would have a divine revelation about the God of the universe and his Son, Jesus.
Football update: The BC Lions won again last Saturday, which is really good for their chances to go to the playoffs. Richard did well, but still didn't play as much as he had hoped. On Monday, the head coach called Richard into his office to talk. He told Richard that he likes how he's been playing but they can only travel with 5 defensive lineman and they need a defensive end more than a tackle. He even told Richard that they might have him drop a few pounds next season so that he can play defensive end, which he would love. So anyway, Richard is back on the practice roster this week. We're not sure what that means for the rest of the season, but we'll continue to trust the Lord's plan for us here.
On Wednesday, Richard had the chance to meet up with a guy who has a recording studio in Vancouver. He recorded a couple of new songs and re-did a song he had already written. The guy who has the studio asked Richard to come back to Vancouver on Friday to perform his song and share his testimony with some kids. I wasn't able to be there, but Richard said he wasn't nervous at all and felt really comfortable as he performed and shared his testimony. We are so grateful for the opportunities God has given Richard here.
As we go back and forth on this roller coaster from practice roster to active roster back to practice roster, we continue to remind ourselves that God has us here for a purpose that is greater than football. Continue to pray for us to trust God with his plans for us. Pray we would be content with his plans. And pray that we would desire His plans over our own.
"The Lord will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever."
-Psalm 138:8
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Caught up in the grace of God
On Sunday, Richard had practice, so I went to church by myself. We had a guest speaker who is the pastor of the Hillsong Church in New York. He came with a great message about being "Caught up in the grace of God". I definitely can't paraphrase what he said without completely botching it, but I thought I'd try to share some of his thoughts.
He talked about how us as believers must be good stewards of the grace God has given us. If the people in our world are ever going to meet Jesus, they have to experience grace in action. We have to extend grace to those around us. A little bit of grace goes a long way!
2 Corinthians 12:8-12: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
We don't have an excuse to not give grace to others or to not share the love of Christ with those around us. In our weakness - our lack of words, knowledge, confidence -Christ's power is made perfect.
Acts 20:24: "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."
Our life is "worth nothing" if we are not using it to finish the work God has called us to - "the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God". I want the my life to be worth something according to God's standard. This doesn't mean you have to be in full time ministry...it just means using your opportunities to tell others about the grace of God.
Hebrews 4:16: "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
There are people we try to extend grace to who think they don't deserve it. They think they are too "bad" to come to church, to have good friends, to be loved, to have good things. But we have to remind them that though we all are undeserving of God's grace, we are all able to "come boldly to the throne of our gracious God." Boldly in our weakness and in our sin we can come to His throne and "we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most"...when we're in the depth of our sin. Praise God for His grace and mercy! Praise God that His power is made perfect in our weakness! Praise God for the calling to share His grace with those who need it most! We've got to get caught up in the grace of God so that others can experience it, too!
I want to know -understand, be certain of, grasp, experience- the grace of God. I want my life to be lived in such a way that I literally need the grace of God upon my life daily. But more than that, I want those who don't know the grace of God to experience it in the depth of their soul. To know that they have a loving, forgiving, merciful Father who is longing to give grace to them, regardless of how "bad" they are. The grace Christ extended on the cross was enough...people desperately need to know that.
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