On Water

This post is a small info piece for some folks I'd like to corral into a brief trip this spring.

Info:

- Proposed Dates June 15 -18

- Lower Madawaska River (Link to Madawaska on Google Maps)

- About four hours from Toronto

- Well travelled river; many accesses.

a. 46 Km

b. About 12 sets of runnable rapids

c. Great location for easy fun in white water

- One massive lookout (small hike)

- Cost per person: About $170

a. Transportation

b. Rental canoes

c. Shuttle to Put In location

d. Food

e. (We can outfit ourselves beyond canoes)

Some photos from past trips on this same river:

- Paddling at Dawn

- Morning Day 3

- Catching A Wave

- Side Hike + View

- C. D. Clements

On Nouwen

Breaking news:

My professor tells me I had a good idea in class last night! Typically I try to add to the conversation, but I have a sneaking suspicion my classmates (all fourth year PhD candidates) endure me politely.

"Nouwen seems to view the goal of the Christian life as communion with God and relates to our attention and inattention to God. Nouwen’s understanding of being Godly is downward mobility and cruciformity, Philippians 2."*

Not my words, but mostly my idea. Score.

-C.D. Clements

*As opposed to godliness as sinning less / becoming more holy.

On Road Closures

The road in front of the church is common route for folks to bypass the the traffic on the more major routes through town. While the portion of the road immediately in front of the church is open, the road past the church is being dug up for water main repair.

The construction workers have put up very visible signs to indicate there is construction and that the road beyond the church is closed.

From my desk, I look out onto the road mid-way between the "road closed" sign, and the construction. It is actually, the precise point at which a driver realizes that the sign they just drove pass was indeed accurate and the road beyond the church is impassable due to large trenches and construction vehicles.

This has been the situation for about 2 months now, and not a day goes by where a good number of drivers who believe they are the exception have a 'teachable moment' and are forced to turn around and retreat.

This action all goes down right outside my window.

I write this post as a small pack of BMW's admit defeat and are considering how to turn three cars around in one driveway.

Funny.

Peace,

-C.D. Clements

On public speaking

I am developing a new theory on public speaking.

I hypothesize that the better someone becomes at public speaking, the less people feel the need to encourage this individual after an incident of public speaking.

In short: the less people tell you how well you did, the better your presentation actually was.

According to my new theory, I feel today's sermon went medium well.

Nice.

Peace,

-C.D. Clements

On Bank Service

Today I was at TD to submit some funds from our youth’s 30 Hour Famine event. There was a good amount of paper work, as well as much small change, and so I was with the teller for about 20 min doing deposit-type stuff.

This gave me time to notice that more than half of clients were asked if they had any weekend plans.

When he initially asked about my upcoming weekend, I had thought my teller had a keen interest in my life . [Oh boy!]

Then I discovered I was nothing but a means toward a happy manager and a good customer relations grade. [Oh boy…]

What a roller coaster of emotion.

-C.D. Clements

On work

Sometimes I waste time at work and will probably need to stay late to get it all done.

http://somuchepicwin.com/

http://grooveshark.com/s/Billy+Comes+Home/3IdFEp?src=5

-C.D. Clements

On Stoners

Three apartments down from me live a bunch of stoners. And they have a patio. When Nyssa and I had first moved in for the summer, they could often be heard out on the patio until the morning hours yelling about stuff and carrying on about Pink Floyd and how stoned they once got. (No word of a lie; I know it seems stereotypical, but it is true)

It seems they take a winter sabbatical starting in November (presumably to brush up on lesser known Floyd albums) but with the warmer spring temperatures, I noticed them today back on the porch.

My senior pastors tells me I should make friends with them and tell them about Jesus. I think Jesus would draw the line at 12:00am shouting.

Anyway, all this to say... wish me luck this summer.

Peace,

-C.D. Clements