The Joshua House
a missional community of worship following Jesus...

Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a CBC addict. In the mornings when I’m driving I often listen to CBC radio 1. They have a great talk show where they talk about things like cows on hormones, to flue shot or not to flue shot? What’s the deal with Hybrids? Etc. You know what I mean. In the afternoons I’m all about CBC radio 2 where they’ll play a lot of classical, international, jazz/blues, music. I used to never like Jazz music but most of the people I look up to seem to really like it so I’m in the process of learning to like it. I digress…

At night I’ll often be caught watching either CBC’s The National or more often George Stroumboulopoulos’s The Hour. So there you have it, a peek into Al’s everyday life.

Recently, especially over Christmas but not only then, I’ve been really encouraged by what I’ve heard on CBC radio. What is it? Some great concerts coming to town? Liberal vs. Conservative vs. Liberal attack ads? No! It’s scripture! That’s right, the bible on CBC radio.

If you’ll remember, at the beginning of what I’ve been saying I mentioned that I listen to the classical music that’s played on CBC radio 2. Well the interesting part is that most of those songs are a few hunderd years old and many were written by composers who were Christians, in a time where music about God was actually fashionable. The cool part is, often before playing a particular song the commentator will actually read the scripture passage that relates to or was used as inspiration for the song.

So there I am. Driving down Francis Road in Richmond at 8am in the morning with a Starbucks coffee in my cup holder taking my son Ethan to his grandparents for the day. I take a break from his Raffi songs and turn on my CBC radio and what do I hear? THE BIBLE! The book that I believe to be the very word of God being read over the air. How cool is that?

If we can find the Kingdom of God on CBC radio, where else can we find it? Maybe where we least expect it.

Let me tell you up front, this is another video about AIDS in Africa.  "Another video about AIDS in Aftrica!  I’ve already seen enough of these videos, I know there’s a real problem there" you’ll possibly say to yourself.  But perhaps this is one of those problems where the only way it might start getting better is by first…watching another video about AIDS in Africa.

Click here to watch the 6 min. YouTube story from the life of Straton. 

One of the most popular shows on TV these days is a show called, "Heroes."  You know what’s ironic?  I’m guessing Straton has probably never even heard of it.

For our next few gatherings we are going to be meeting on Sunday nights rather than our usual Saturdays.  Although it is cool to change things up sometimes just for the sake of changing things up that is not the sole purpose in making this change.  More importantly, we thought changing to Sunday night might allow more people to join us as Saturday nights can quickly book up with get-togethers with friends, etc. which are also things we in general want to be able to be a part of as well

If you want a biblical reason then it’s because it allows us to join the historic Christian tradition of meeting on The Lord’s Day (Sunday)…the day Jesus was resurrected. 

General Info
Date: Sunday, February 18th
Time: 5-7:30pm
Where: Terra Nova Co-op common room

Food
Another change is our usual dinner is going to be replaced with a dessert/snack that we’ll take turns bringing.  We still want to have a dinner together every once in a while however this might only happen once every month or two depending on when we start to meet weekly instead of bi-weekly, which is another goal in the next few months.

Children
Wayne

About the only thing that hasn’t changed is that Wayne is still looking after the kids this Sunday.  It’s going to happen Wayne, no use in running…no, "I’m sick" excuses.  Ok, that would be a good excuse.

Next Gathering
As a heads up, our next gathering on Sunday, March 4th will be held at the Towers Baptist Church building as the common room in the Co-op is booked that evening.  This might also be another change we are considering on making to enable better and easier childcare during our time together.  We’ll talk about this…

I just wanted to pass on a very interesting interview that The Hour’s George Stroumboulopoulos had with Chris Hedges on his new book called, "American Fascists" where he compares the American Christian Right to Fascism.

Here’s the write up:

Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer prize winning writer and author of "American Fascists." In his latest release, the former New York Times correspondent compares the U.S. Christian right to 20th Century fascism.

As a son of a preacher, Hedges has a deep knowledge of the Bible which he uses to openly blast the role of Christianity in politics.

Hedges believes the far right Christian believers have been manipulated by the high power, allowing for bigotry and intolerance.

Here’s the interview: "click here"

I wonder how many North Americans having been thinking all along what Chris Hedges finally wrote a book about?

Any thoughts?