:: Sunday, March 26, 2006 ::

Ginny Owens . Blind since 2 years old. Blessed with some of the most powerful lyrics. Here are the lyrics again for the songs from Coffee House:

If You Want Me To
The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley
If You want me to

When I cross over Jordon,
Gonna scream, gonna shout
Gonna look into Your eyes and see
You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
Then I will walk through the valley
If You want me to

:: Jesse 12:56 AM

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I'm SOOOOO sick of studying... 2/8 exams completed... and that means 6 more until I NEVER HAVE TO WRITE ANOTHER EXAM AGAIN IN MY LIFE!!! (for now heh heh.)

Gotta love these pictures! Taken from Jeff's Xanga: http://www.xanga.com/Jeffo_82




Some more traditional regalia. I thought this was one of the most beautiful ones displayed there.







The Longlac family. I only know about half of the people here, but it is so encouraging to see so many others who have a heart for them. There are some people in this picture who have been going every year since Toronto Korean Presbyterian Church got involved with Longlac 7 years ago. Some of them go bianually!







One of the many opportunities to join in corporate worship and prayer.




Here are some of the things I learned at Ishkwaday:
1. We need to appreciate what indigenous people have to offer: So many times in the past, I have been so overwhelmed by the hurt and the problems of the Natives. However, assuming that position that we have so much to offer to them, it places them in a position of tragedy, of pity, and of helplessness. They have so much to offer us! On my previous mission trips, I have needed to remind myself of the unity and mutual blessing that is offered when we humble our North American standpoint and embrace what they have to offer us.

2. We need to empower them to serve themselves: There was this one point in the conference where all Native people were called to stand, and the Native leaders prayed a blessing on them. This was the first opportunity I had to see and hear Inuits! They look incredible, kinda like old Japanese grannies but with a lot longer hair and a lot cooler. And Inuit sounds so beautiful... it sounds like the closest thing I have heard to speaking in tongues! But not only that, it was so powerful when you can witness a people group reaching out to themselves.

3. There is a lot of work going on, and I need not be discouraged: The Lord is faithful, He has called and is continuing to call people of different nations (especially the Asians... as we don't look white... we resemble them and they trust us more often) with the same heart to see the Aborginals freed from their sin and set loose to the nations to bring the blessing of the Father!

Incredible. Thank you, organizers of Ishkwaday, and fellow brothers and sisters who have laboured in prayer, dedication and love. Continue. Let us join in love.

:: Jesse 2:00 PM

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Images taken from Tae Soon (http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2108120381)





Ishkwaday was powerful. I had seen something like this at Urbana 2003, but never had I ever imagined that it would come here, to Toronto, and most importantly, for my Native friends from Longlac to witness. There were MANY opportunities to worship in Native fashion, many chances to dance, many chances to embrace.





Beauty is what you witness when someone is worshipping freely.









Richard Twiss was our keynote speaker. He was enjoyable to listen to, he was a giant compared to everyone else in the church. Richard pretty much covered the topics in his book: A redemptive view of native culture, what the Native people have to offer to the world church and to the spreading of the gospel.





Jonathan Maracle from Broken Walls.

:: Jesse 12:10 AM

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Many know that the First Nations people of Canada have issues, but many don't know the details nor solutions. If you have a moment, please take the chance to view these following videos.

Video 1: (http://www.tkpc.org/em/down/Ish.wmv) Documentary and interviews with inhabitants of the Longlac Reservation. This is a very intimate and close encounter with the problems and endless list of issues.

Video 2: (http://www.tkpc.org/em/down/Ish3.wmv) A promotional video for the conference that is happening this Friday and Saturday, March 17-18.

If you have the slightest interest or desire to see justice for our neighbours up north, I highly recommend you to attend this conference. There are some very prominent native speakers coming. For those of you who went to Urbana 2003, you will remember a native worship band named Broken Walls. They will be leading the large group meetings. Also, Richard Twiss (author of "Every Church, Every Tribe", the first book I had read regarding the Native church) will be one of the keynote speakers.

It has been beautiful to watch the birthing of this conference. Years of committment and concern have led several devoted believers to seek the unified help of others in a joint effort to reach our Native brethren in an effective and powerful way.

I am in great expectation for the Lord to do a powerful work.

:: Jesse 1:33 PM

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CRAZY WEEKEND! So Rob, Christina and Cal came up to visit London... and boy did we have a crazy time. Kudos to Rob for his awesome camera shots with his D70 and honking huge lenses. Super sharp! Enjoy!

:: Jesse 11:32 AM

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There goes Cal

:: Jesse 11:30 AM

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Me and Cal splashing through the flooded waters of Thames River

:: Jesse 11:30 AM

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Victor splashing me up...

:: Jesse 11:29 AM

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Too exhausted to lift my bike..

:: Jesse 11:29 AM

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All in all a great day. Thanks Vic for getting all those bikes for us. From Left to Right: Victor, Christina, Cal, Jasper, Darana, Me, Rob.

:: Jesse 11:29 AM

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Ishskwaday is almost here. I just finished watching the documentary found here (http://www.tkpc.org/em/down/Ish.wmv) in the middle of my study break, and I was moved to tears to see the youth on the screen that I had come into contact with while working with the Native youth back in 2003. Even little baby Brady is so much older now. It pains me to see that not much has changed while our efforts in reaching out to these people have been so consistent, but it reminds me of the labour that the Lord calls for those who love Him to reach those that are lost and afflicted.

The conference is this Friday and Saturday at TKPC. Registration is still open. The form can be found down at a later post in the page. There will be over 40% native representation from people all over Canada coming to this conference with a common focus and vision, to see Jesus Christ moving in our First Nations people.

It's the role of a body of believers, not one or two brave souls who want to spend their life dedicated to this cause. That is why I am so excited to see such a unity of Christians coming for this common cause. Please pray for this weekend, that the Lord may move people to make some long term committments to our brothers and sisters up north.

:: Jesse 2:44 PM

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FATHER, You are faithful!

Father is good. Father is faithful. He has done everything through Jesus, and all we need to do is claim them by faith. Claiming our inheritance, such as freedom from sin, fellow heirs to the throne, all love, power and righteousness, or all given to us not upon what we acheive, but upon a profound yet simple position of faith... that God, these things are for me. The moment I look unto my own righteousness, freedom from sin, power, I will discover that His grace and power are not living in me. That's the beauty of the Holy Spirit, the person of the trinity who enables us and works in us to do all the things that are available for us.

It is so simple, even the striving of "less of me, more of you" is still striving. Father, You have done it all. Bless you God!

:: Jesse 6:03 PM

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"Boom Boom Wall"

:: Jesse 12:04 AM

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"Boom"

:: Jesse 12:04 AM

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"Boom Door"

:: Jesse 12:04 AM

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"Boom Bridge"

:: Jesse 12:04 AM

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"Boom Bridge"

:: Jesse 12:02 AM

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"Boom Bridge"

:: Jesse 12:01 AM

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"Bent Pole"

:: Jesse 12:01 AM

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"Screws"

:: Jesse 12:01 AM

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