Laura-Lee Was Here

Happy Valentines Day

2012-02-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks for being you. For stopping by my blog and making my time here worthwhile. I wish you much love , wherever you are or whomever you are. Love Laura-Lee

CANADA POST; They “fussed” with me Again !

2012-01-04T06:15:00.001-07:00

I truly believe that Canada Post is out to get me personally, because it is hard for me to believe that they mess up this much with other people.
I’ve received a returned Christmas card in April, only to discover it was from a Christmas 3 years prior !!!

Then there was the time they decided to stop giving me my mail and stamp it “return to sender” for absolutely no reason. I had lived at the same residence for 6 years, I had had no dealings with them for months and then out of the blue, BAM ! No mail. I phoned after 2 weeks to say I wasn’t receiving any mail and could they check it out. Their response: “it’s probably just a slow mail time for you” (whatever that means???)
Then a couple weeks later after my bank account was frozen, I didn’t get my pay check, my health insurance was cancelled and my mother started getting phone calls from friends and family asking where I was, Canada Post finally decided to look into the matter. They told me that their records showed that I had recently moved. I have no idea why, but neither did they. I spent 4 months trying to prove that I was who I am and that I live where I live. Another huge mess!!!

Christmas 2010, I made a Christmas tree ornament for my cousin to commemorate her first Christmas with her new husband. I pictured them taking out the ornament every year and remembering their first Christmas together. I sent it through “Xpresspost” which is the courier service of Canada Post. It would probably have gotten to my cousins on time if I had sent it by regular parcel mail, but if I sent it by over night courier it would get to their home for sure. It got to their home for sure … at the end of February 2011. UGH!
And those are just a few of a myriad of problems they have caused me. And have I ever gotten an apology of any kind? NO!

The last week of December, 2011 I sent a legal document by Xpresspost again. I paid the extra for a signature to be collected and for the item to be tracked. Three days later they returned it to ME ! They made a mistake reading the address during the one attempt they made to deliver it. They did not even try to phone the recipient or myself but to just leave it at my local post office and send me a “delivery notice card” in my mailbox several days later. No explanation, no apology PLUS I had to pay to get it given back to me. Why do I have to pay again to get it back? I don’t want it back. I want it delivered. I paid to get it delivered, they made a mistake and didn’t deliver it, and if I want it back (and not just thrown away by Canada Post) I have to pay again. As I said, it was a legal document, so you may be able to imagine the problems it has caused for it not to be delivered. I have the envelope still. I need it delivered and proof that it has been delivered. How do I do that? I addressed it correctly, I paid all the money I could and it still didn’t get there. I asked the lady at the Postal Outlet, “what would you do if you were in my position and had to get this document delivered?” Her answer was, “ I dunno”

The worst thing of all is that I can’t get it fixed and my complaints fall on deaf ears. I tried to get a petition signed online so that the Canadian Government would look into all these problems. Not one Canadian signed it. However, people from all over the rest of the world signed it. Obviously, Canada Post messes up beyond it’s own borders, but until more Canadians get angry enough to do something to change this, I will remain just a lone voice crying in the wilderness. I hate incompetence! But I suppose Canada Post can brag it’s good at something.

Book Reviews Coming in January

2011-12-31T00:18:00.002-07:00

In December, 2011, Graf-Martin Publishing (aka. B&H Publishing Group, Nashville, TN) sent me a couple of books to read and review for them. Watch for my reviews in January, 2012 at the blogs:

Laura-Lee Was Here

MAIDRYN'S MEDIA: Treasures & Trash

The Moccasin Mile

I will be reviewing the books:

"Courageous Living: Dare to Take a Stand"

"The Resolution for Women"

See you later.

" CORIOLANUS" Takes Control & Revenge

2011-12-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

The new film from Lionsgate, acted & directed by Ralph Fiennes and also with Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave & Brian Cox is going to be in wide release on January 20 (2012). It's a modern remake of the Shakespearean Classic. But don't be afraid of the language, but maybe just the content. It's dark and disturbing and it will stay with you for days. (just like most things worthwhile do)

Be there or be WARE.

STAY TUNED TO THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFO!!!

But for now, here's a sneak peek at the trailer:

Cure the Post Christmas Blues

2011-12-29T00:18:00.000-07:00

My Three Fathers (Originally written: October 23, 2008)

~ by Laura-Lee Rahn

On a quiet night on December 25th several years ago, I was sitting around thinking about how Christmas had come and gone again for another year. After weeks of increasing frenzy, Christmas is over after only a few hours. Suddenly my phone rang and I picked it up. I heard a man's voice say, "Little Girl? This is your Dad."
A mixture of shock and excitement swept through my body like an electrical current as I felt transformed from a middle-aged woman to a 7 year old little girl.
I responded, "Hey Dad! It's great to hear your voice."
Then the thought hit me that something must be very wrong for him to call after all these years of silence.
"Are you okay?" I asked hurriedly.
"Sure," he replied with joviality, " I just wanted to give you a call to wish you a Merry Christmas".
We made a couple more minutes of excited small talk, but when I asked him a specific question I got no response. After a few seconds pausing he said, " I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think you're my daughter."
He was right. We discovered that he had accidently dialled the wrong number!
I asked him, " When did you first realize that I wasn't your daughter?"
He said, " Actually, I immediately suspected something was different. My daughter is never this happy to hear from me. Usually the moment she realizes it's me, she hangs up."
I told him, "I should have realized immediately too. My father hasn't phoned me at Christmas or any other time for almost a decade."

We wished each other a Merry Christmas and before we hung up the man said,
" I hope you don't mind me getting personal, but your father is a fool if he doesn't want to talk to you."
I told him I thought the same about his daughter. He had grown quiet with the realization that he still had to phone his daughter and he knew she would probably hang up on him once again.
I got even more personal and said, "Let's make a pact. Every Christmas when my Dad doesn't call and your daughter hangs up on you, let's think of each other and remember that you have a "mystery daughter" who would never hang up on you and I have a "mystery father" who calls every Christmas to see how I'm doing".

Every year it seems that families become more fractured and the Christmas 'hurrah' gets more noisy and hectic. I suspect people make such a big commotion so they won't notice how lonely they are. I've puzzled long (and cried much) over people who ignore those in their lives who are desperately ready to love them unconditionally, but their family members treat them with indifference or sometimes even contempt.
Deep inside us God has placed a blue-print of family life that is repeatedly declaring to us, "this is not the way it is meant to be! " In Psalm 68:6 it says, "God sets the lonely in families". A family is suppose to be a haven, a shelter, a fortress in trouble and a place where you are loved independent of who you are or what you've done. Yet Christmas is a dreaded and lonely time for many people, because it seems to put a magnifying lens to our lives and amplifies the fact that things are not quite right.
Now, I'm not going to tell you to love only the people who love you back, but my "wrong number father" showed me that there are people who are waiting and wanting to love me. I just may not have met them yet.
Now each Christmas finds me with three fathers: 1) a biological father who can't be bothered to know me, 2) a "wrong-number-father" who wants to know me and 3) a Heavenly father who knows me intimately. But not only does He know me, He loves me enough to send his Son from Heaven, to be born in a lowly stable, to die an agonizing death on a cross to atone for my entire life of sins, to rise from the dead to give me hope for Eternity and, oh yeah, to give me a reason to celebrate all year through with wonder, humility and deep thankfulness.

"-rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-" (1 Peter 2:4 NIV)

Addendum (December 28, 2011)

I wrote this article in 2008 and sent it to the Edmonton Journal newspaper during the last week of October, 2008. I got no response from the Journal. Not even an automated response. I had the opportunity for this article to be published elsewhere and wrote to the Journal several times to ask them for a decision as to whether they were going to use my story or not. If they didn't want it, I would pass it on to someone who did. I heard absolutely nothing from them. This response puzzled me because it is the first time in more than 20 years of writing that I have not had something I submitted published. Usually God is very clear as to what I should write and where to send it to. Now I realize it may have been the timing that was wrong.
When I wrote this story in 2008, my father was still alive. He died less than a year later in the summer of 2009. Since that time I've thought a lot about what makes a father. I have come up with a very long list. It included such things as compassion, tenderness, protection, sympathy, strength of character, guidance, humour, humility but mostly unconditional love demonstrated through self-sacrifice.
My biological father is gone, my "mystery" father I may never meet, but my Heavenly Father remains.
As I grew up, people used to say to me, "It must be hard to be without a father." But even then, I didn't feel I was without one. Just because God is invisible doesn't make him unreal. He is called the "Living God" because He is. Living, warm, available, compassionate, tender, a refuge, a companion, someone to dry your tears, to protect you and to sacrifice whatever it takes so that you and He will never be apart. Even if the sacrifice is His only son, Jesus.
After my father and mother got divorced my father still had visitation rights every second weekend. I would sit with my little, green suitcase every Friday night and wait for him to show up. By about 10:00 PM I would take off my coat, take my suitcase back to my room, unpack and go to bed, feeling worthless.

I became a Christian for one simple reason, I discovered I had a Father who would "show up". He's been "showing up" every day of my life and has never left me for one moment. Christmas may be over, but the love of God goes on every moment, of every day of my life.

If you're feeling let down because Christmas didn't give you the "warm fuzzies" you thought it would, or that it was over too soon, why don't you give your Heavenly Father a chance to show up. To be a part of your life. To give you all that you've been living without. Quite simply, He will. And if that isn't a reason to celebrate , I don't know what is.

"Hark the Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King
Peace on Earth and mercy mild.
God and sinners reconciled ... "

"He said to me, ' You are my Son, today I have become your Father' " ~Psalm 2:7

WE are "the Reason for the Season"

2011-12-24T12:48:00.001-07:00

Every year I see Christians put up those signs (me included) that say "Jesus is the Reason for the Season". This year I took it one step further and asked, "why did Jesus really come to earth"? He came because of His great & Massive love for us. So the truth of it is, "WE are the reason for the season."
Watch the video and see what I mean.
A Womderful Christmas to you from Me & Mumsy.
Love L-L

God Knows

2011-12-10T15:35:00.001-07:00

Minnie Louise Haskins 1875-1957

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’
And he replied ‘ Go into the darkness and put your hand
Into the hand of God that shall be to you better than light
And safer than a known way!’

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God trod gladly
Into the night. *
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day
In the lone East.

So heart be still what need our little life
Our human life to know, If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife of things both high and low,
God hideth his intention.
God knows. His will is best.

The stretch of years which wind ahead, so dim to
Our imperfect vision, Are clear to God.
Our fears are premature; In him all time hath full provision.

Then rest: until God moves to lift the veil from our
Impatient eyes, when as the sweeter feature of life’s
Stern face we hail, Fair beyond all surmise God’s
Thought around His creatures our minds shall fill.

King George's (VI) Christmas Message 1939

FOLLOW THE ABOVE LINK TO A VIDEO

The Walking Dead : mid-Season FINALLY!

2011-12-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

Technorati Tags: AMC,The Walking Dead,The Talking Dead,pro-life,pro-choice,abortion,Norman Reedus,Jeffrey DeMunn,Steven Yeun,Zombies,Bible,Christian,Christian Reviews,Andrew Lincoln,Horror genre,cult films,cult classic,TV shows,mid-season finale,after death,Centre for Disease Control,Atlanta,CDC,Jenner

If you have been reading my critiques of the second season of the AMC show, '”The Walking Dead”, you will know that I have not been singing it’s praises as much as I did last season. In fact, this season I’m not singing at all! But I am still watching , although for very different reasons and motives (after all everyone needs a good Sunday night gripe session). I usually say most of negative comments to the TV during the broadcast (or should I say broadcasts) of the episode. But there are a few things that have me quite upset and so must “spill over” into my blog.

1) I am tired of the people at AMC calling their reruns “an encore presentation”. When one episode has been played over and over so that AMC can wring every inch of advertising revenue out of it, it’s just called plain, old reruns.

2) In all my many decades of watching TV I have never heard of a mid-season finale. What that basically means is that all the people who make the show want to head off for several months of holidays. They simply call it a “finale” so that we won’t realize that it is actually the first episode this season that actually included something HAPPENING. Do you believe that 1 hour TV shows used to actually be shot live, lasted 57 minutes long and included 46 episodes per year. Ah, the gold ol’ days.

3) You cannot force something to become a cultural phenomena or have a cult following. AMC feels that by following “The Walking Dead” with a show called “The Talking Dead” they will be able to build this show into another Star Trek or any one of dozens of other movies and TV shows that developed cult followings. I’ll let them in on a secret, “those shows were good”. If they make great entertainment and do their jobs well, this show will live on indefinitely. This entire direction of PR might actually backfire on them. Simply because the show “The Talking Dead” is more interesting and exciting then the show they are suppose to be promoting. Oops!

4) As for Sophia being one of the “Walkers” in the barn … my 70 year old mother had that one figured out the moment it was revealed that there were “Walkers” in the barn. Actually, Mom has come up with some really interesting plot lines for this show. I enjoy her story lines more than the actual ones. Maybe I should send in a resume to “The Walking Dead” on her behalf. I hear there’s good money in TV writing and maybe I’ll be able to get her my allowance re-instated.

5) This one will probably meet with the most resistance. We know that the character of Lori is pregnant, took some “morning after” abortion pills and then threw them up. So now her husband, Rick, comes trotting over to “have it out” with her. He’s got his nerve. After all, he’s only the baby’s father ! So after some “Blah blah blah” back and forth Rick states, “Did you really think I would make you have a baby you didn’t want?!”

Lori replies, “Oh sure! Then it would be on my conscience.”

(Now forgive me for being my ‘naive’ little, pro-life self but ) It seems to me that if a woman states that it’s “her body” and “her decision” and “solely my choice what I do with my body” then, yeah, it would be on her conscience! I’ve known about the tenants of the pro-choice movement for a long time, but do they really expect to let no one participate in that decision and then require them to carry the blame AND the consequences for actions they had no say in?

All I can say is, “Beam me up, Lord. It’s getting really weird down here.”

Homemade Christmas Video

2011-11-30T19:24:00.001-07:00

Last year I created a video for my family members. I was re-watching it and realized that it was prophetic and would mean more for us this year. But I want to share it with you too. It turned out well because I feel Jesus was inspiring me to do it. (I'm not really that good at creating videos). And I will take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry CHRISTmas. "Bless You All".
Love Laura-Lee

Bless Us All Video

The Walking Dead: Season 2

2011-11-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

Now let me start by saying that since I am a Christian I do not often watch movies or TV shows that involve aliens, vampires, werewolves and especially not ZOMBIES! It’s not that I’m particularly holy, just that I find that type of genre rather boring. It seems to me that Zombie stories are pretty much like slasher flicks; mostly for boys under 12 years old who get a kick out of looking at gross stuff. But I was very surprised last year when a zombie show called, “The Walking Dead” on AMC (American Movie Channel) caught my attention. It's when the actors and makers of the show kept talking about it being a metaphor for life today. As one actor from the show said, “It’s less about zombies and more about how a small group of very different people keep their beliefs and morals alive in a world where the majority are dead people without any humanity at all and the main goal of everyone is survival.” That definitely piqued my interest and I tuned in. I watched every episode of the first season and then watched it again. Then I went on the internet and raved about this show and told everyone (including all my Christian/Church friends) that this was no ordinary horror show. These stories had depth, posed interesting questions and kept you well entertained (even if I did have to close my eyes for some of the grosser moments).
So it is with some hesitation and much disappointment that I must retract some of my opinions after watching Season 2 of “The Walking Dead”. It seems to me that the scripts have gotten bogged down a lot into how everyone “feels” and the entire show has taken on a soap opera atmosphere. Last year there was non-stop action and we discovered everyone’s feelings and beliefs through their actions, not through a bunch of yakity-yak. In Season 1, just when people started arguing and getting petty, the “Walkers” would descend upon them and there would be no time for talking just for moving. Everyone was revealed through their actions and alliances were formed among very unlikely people out of instinct and not prejudice. This season, an attack from the Walkers appears just when the writers believe their audience is about to fall asleep, change the channel or go to the bathroom (which may actually be more exciting than watching this show).
Plus, also like a soap opera where nothing happens for the entire first part of the show, you need only tune in for the last 10 minutes to get all the plot information and action they mean to give us.
Before all you fans come down on me for being more harsh than Deputy Shane and dumber than Merle Dixon, I must state that I started this season with great expectations and I am still tuning in each week in the hope they will prove me ‘dead’ wrong. But if you take a moment to imagine yourself in the same situation as our motley bunch of survivors, would you be acting the same? Aren’t there many questions you’d like them to attempt to answer, many relationships you’d like explored? Just sitting here on my bed I am wondering why Sophia’s mom isn’t constantly wandering the woods looking for her daughter. If your 12 year old daughter was alone in a forest filled with Zombies , would you just sit around looking worried, or would they have to tie you down to keep you from looking?
What happened to the “French” whom Jenner said “might be onto a cure”? Why aren’t they trying to contact overseas? Why aren’t they trying to find other non-dead survivors? Do they plan to continue “bumming” off the Vet and his family at this little farm or are they going to try and find supplies or maybe plant a garden or maybe do some chores? They keep acting like they are VIP guests there instead of pitching in and helping the others. If your son’s life had just been saved would “cooking dinner” be the best “thank you” you could come up with? And with all the family problems and dysfunctional families in the world , do you really want to see Rick and Lori continuing the same marital arguments through several episodes? Boy, there is nothing like a boring, mundane husband/wife argument to entertain us all. And with all the Dead people walking around didn’t it occur to anyone to put up better defenses than Andrea on top of a Winnebago?

Now with all the negative things I just said, let me end on a more positive note. There are three actors I think we should really give credit for doing their characters well, making them three dimensional and keeping our interest (even with some pathetic story lines) while working in 100 degrees (+) Fahrenheit weather. Whatever is going on , you can’t take your eyes off them! (click on the names of each actor and find out more about them and their character and don't forget the links below to the official WALKING DEAD sites)

Walking Dead: JEFFREY DEMUNN (Dale)

Walking Dead: NORMAN REEDUS (Daryl Dixon)

Walking Dead: STEVEN YEUN (Glenn)

Walking Dead Official Site/ AMC
Walking Dead: CAST & CHARACTERS

Safe

2011-11-17T00:50:00.000-07:00

“Help! Help! Can somebody hear me?!
I’m over here. Hanging from the cliff. HELLLP!!!”
“I’m here. I’m here.”
“Help me. I’m falling. Please help me. I’m tired. What do I do?”
“Grab onto my hand.”
“I can’t I’ll fall.”
“Just hang on with one hand and reach to me with the other.”
“ I can’t reach up that far.”
“You won’t have to. I’ll grab you’re hand as soon as you let go and it’s free. On three. Okay? 1 – 2- 3. GOTCHA !”
“ I’m still slipping. My hands are sweaty. No, no. Help, help , help me, I don’t … Ahhhhh. I’m gonna fall! I’m gonna fall !”
“STOP. LOOK AT ME. No don’t look down. Look at me.”
“I can’t hold on anymore. I’m slipping. I’m tired. Nothing more to do. I’m ahhhhh … --- HUH! What the …? “
“Here you go. Safe and sound on high ground.”
“How did you do that? I was slipping . I was falling. I was too tired to hang on any more. I was sure I was a goner.”
“Maybe you had to let go of me, but I was never going to let go of you. You never would have fallen. You just didn’t know it. You didn’t realize how strong I am and that I wouldn’t have left. You were safe the whole time.”
“ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
(Deuteronomy 31:9)

Where's the Newsletter, Laura-Lee?!

2011-11-06T01:18:00.002-07:00

As you can tell, the VCSS Newsletter I mentioned before is not finished. Nor is it going to be anytime soon. "LIFE" has invaded once again and what I used to consider tough situations deteriorated into "major crazy".
I had to leave my apartment on March 30, 2011. I had only a few days to get out and save a few things because of the waterfalls (literally) coming from my kitchen and bathroom ceilings (and I was in a basement suite). My landlady wouldn't fix it and I didn't have the money to move my belongings. I saved a few boxes of things (about 1/2 dozen) and my coffee table. Then on my way out of the building, I fell down a flight of stairs and awoke to discover myself surrounded by 5 , big, handsome firemen. That normally would have been a GOOD thing but they were trying to keep me from panicking because of my injuries and the fact that my purse strap had wrapped around my neck twice and was cutting off my circulation.
So here I sit, many months later, in a dingy hotel room, with winter nipping at my heels and Jack Frost at my nose. It was - 6 Celsius today and I am still no closer to finding a home. What makes it harder is that my mother is sleeping in the bed next to me. Almost 2 months ago , her kitchen sink became a water fountain (not to be confused with a water fall) and neither of us can walk , nor have a car and are a goodly amount in debt, while we watch our options dwindle. Yet it is a huge coincidence to find ourselves in the same boat. And, quite frankly I don't believe in coincidences. It probably looked pretty bleak to those Hebrews who had their backs to the Red Sea and Pharaoh's men ready to slice them to bits from the other direction. But what did Moses say to them? "Let the Lord fight for you. you need only to stand still"
So I think you may understand why the VCSS Newsletter has gone to the bottom of my list of priorities. (Maybe somebody else will take up the idea.)Yet, I received some mailed that was being "held" for me and discovered that Vancouver Christian School sent me something to "hit me up" for money. (Good luck with that guys) But once again, I wandered back, in my mind, to a gentler place and time. Where our greatest troubles was a test score or a new pimple.
Now we are all grown up and we must learn the lesson that "God has no grand-children". You either belong to Him or not. You follow or not. You must make a conscious decision to pick up your cross daily, deny yourself and follow wherever he leads.Christianity is no longer something you stumble into or "give it a try". It is a choice. The ultimate choice!
Two things come back to my memory again and again:When Alan Dunlop was forever practicing the hymn, "Freely we have received; now freely give" and what Mr. Van Oosten wrote in my last yearbook, "Blossom where planted". A hundred times a day those 2 thoughts run across my mind. It's my job to grab hold of them and invite them to stay a while. Just like I wish I could do with each of you.It is my desire and prayer that you each reach the "breakthrough" point when you surrender that last piece of yourself. You no longer keep that one last cookie in the cookie jar. I'm not saying I prefer not knowing where I will be from day to day or what will happen to me, BUT , Jesus reveals himself to me EVERY day. Sometimes to say deep, important things and reveal startling revelations or just to share a silly joke , because He knows I love them best. But when I realize that the Maker of the stars, knows me by name, I can understand the reaction of men like the prophet Isaiah (who told God he was of "unclean lips") or Peter (who said, "Get away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!"). Somebody told me once that , when they were with me they never felt so guilty but so accepted at the same time. That is our Jesus. Correcting us constantly, yet loving us totally. He has filled my hands with blessings because they were not full of other things. And I find great strength in my weakness because it's at that point I must lean hardest on Him. He will gather me under his wings and I will rejoice. A deal where we certainly come out with the bigger end of the straw.
So now I head off to bed this early Sunday morning, knowing that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8)

Oh No. Not Winter Again!

And myLove to you all, my extended & Christian family.
Forever and always, your Laura-Lee Rahn (VCSS grad 1985)

Beautiful Alberta Sky

P.S. DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS AN HOUR.

Is the Anti-Christ Touching Our Mail

2011-06-19T01:56:00.000-06:00

Being a Christian means that I read Bible Prophecy and personally believe that the events depicted in the book of Revelation in the Bible are now taking place around us.

One of the things that the Bible prophecises is a cashless society. It is a precursor to the anti-christ coming to power. He will require that all the citizens of the earth receive a mark on their hand or forehead that will allow them to transfer their money from one place to another. We are very near that exact thing. In fact, we are probably a little past due.

Most people buy things with their "plastic" whether it be a debit card or a credit card. We pay our bills, buy at a store, buy a home , give to charity and many other transactions all without ever touching any "real" money.

But identification theft has never been higher. Because as long as our numbers are on a piece of plastic, they can be stolen. The only logical response is to have all our numbers amalgamated into one and then put it right onto our hand or head. Now that may take the form of a finger print or retinal scan but it's in the Bible and it has been there for almost two thousand years. Yet , only now has it become absolutely plausible.

Now that brings us to our topic. Those of you who live in Canada know that we are currently enduring a nation wide Postal Strike (or actually a lock out). I predicted this would happen by simply looking at the world around us and believing that what God said in the Bible will actually happen. Many, many people still hold to doing things the old fashioned way, with real paper and ink. In computer geek terms, they still want hard copies of everything. Well, this must be STOPPED. The best way to do that is to force people to be online and do all of their business over the computer.

In Canada we are now in a position that the last of us "hold outs" must now get computers and put all our information onto the computer. Recently, I signed up for a wifi account with Bell Mobility. When I admitted to the customer representative that I do not do my banking online, he looked at me as if I was a live dinasaur standing directly in front of him.

I do not expect that this Postal strike to end any time soon. It is all part of the plan to push us into a direction that the "higher ups" feel we must take. We must be cashless before the anti-christ can take over and he is in the wings , itching to do just that.

I take comfort in knowing that God knew all this was going to happen before it did and actually took the time to make sure it was put into a written record and that those of us living in these dangerous an exciting times would still have the ability to read it ... and be warned.

I have attached to this post the first page you come to when you go to the Canada Post website (http://www.canadapost.ca). But remember that God is still in control and even though a few battles are still left to be fought, the whole war was won when Jesus died on that cross and then came back to life. And most importantly ... still lives today.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

FROM THE CANADA POST WEBSITE HOMEPAGE:

2011/06/17

On Saturday June 18 and Sunday June 19, Canada Post will publish full-colour ads in 19 Canadian newspapers, promoting epost as the ideal solution to receive, pay, and manage bills.

In doing so, Canada Post recognizes the inconvenience that Canadians have had to endure as a result of the current labour situation. In addition to keeping you informed on the state of negotiations with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), by promoting epost, we wish to inform our customers that Canada Post offers an alternative way for Canadian businesses and consumers to stay connected at all times.

This is in the spirit of many recent promotional campaigns launched by billers, such as phone, cable, and power companies, and credit card issuers, leveraging the current labour situation to convince Canadians to switch to electronic direct billing solutions.

In the full page ad, headlined "An Important Message To Canada Post Customers", Canada Post apologizes "for the inconvenience being caused by the current postal disruption."

The ad acknowledges that Canadians are increasingly being solicited to sign up to receive their bills electronically. Consumers have to go to several different websites and maintain passwords, which many find both confusing and time-consuming. (amalgamate, amalgamate, amalgamate! L-L)

　

Electronic Services:Canada Post’s website, canadapost.ca, is fully operational and offers up-to-date information on the labour situation.
The Electronic Shipping Tools and Online Business Centre are operational, but some functions may be limited.
epost is fully operational and remains a recommended tool for consumers to use for important communications and to receive statements and effect payments to many financial institutions, utilities, and retailers.
　
Duration:Canada Post cannot predict how long the current labour situation will last.
(they're in no hurry. L-L)

We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this situation is causing. We are making every attempt to reach a settlement and resume normal operations as soon as possible.

　

Christmas Spirit for Family & Friends 2010

2010-12-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

A video I created in honor of my family for this Christmas. If you're in this video , you're family. (also, don't be afraid to share this with as many other family members as you want because I don't have everyone's email and I would hate to think someone felt left out.)
All my love, LAURA-LEE (Rahn)

Guns Of Navarone,

2010-12-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

GarageTV - Guns Of Navarone, The (trl.) (03:41)

There have been very few times in my life where I believe a film transcends the medium it is in. Where you actually think, "If this is the only film they ever made, it would be still worth all the time, energy and effort to invent the film process. There's nothing about it I would change."
The "Guns of Navarone" is one of those movies for me.

Still Kicking

2010-08-17T16:45:00.000-06:00

I`ve barely been on my computer at all lately and I thought it was time to say something. Anything at all. Especially since the name of this blog is "Laura-Lee Was Here". The fact remains is that I have been sick all the time and when I finally get my head above water (healthwise), then Mom gets sick and she gets way worse than anything I could ever stand if I had to endure the amount of pain that she does.
Lately I feel sleepy and tired all the time. I have actually fallen asleep in the middle of one of my own sentences. I have so much going on in my head, so many things I want to say, and a comment on just about everything and yet I have not even the energy to pull out a pen and paper, let alone boot up my computer (as fast and as beautiful as it is). I couldn't even begin to tell you how far behind I am in my chores and housework. I've wanted a haircut for two months and now I feel lucky if I'm strong enough to wash it at least once a week (which usually doesn't happen that frequently). How can I feel like I'm actually contributing to society or my family or friends or my Lord? Sometimes I force myself out of bed to do the smallest thing so that I feel I have meritted the amount of oxygen I have used up during the day.
When I lay in bed just about ready to drop off to sleep I have to stop and "count my blessings". It sounds like a hokey thing to do but it seems to give me just enough strength (emotionally and mentally and physically ) to face another day.

THINGS THAT I KNOW:
1. God loves me
2. God will never abandon me
3. This life will end at some point
4. The Lord is all powerful and all knowing.
5. Nothing can happen to me unless He gives permission first.
6. Everything I experience and endure is for my best.
... this is usually about the point where I fall asleep. So I will say good bye to you now and hopefully I have earned my oxygen for this day by letting you know that you are not alone. Others feel pain too but it doesn't have to be an end to things only a part of the path of our journey on the way to our real Home. The one that Jesus himself is preparing for us. (John 14)
P.S. Laura-Lee Was Here

44 and Still a Spinster

2010-05-06T02:13:00.000-06:00

I am about to turn 44 years old on May 7th. I've never been married and that seems to freak out a lot of people and I'm not really sure why. I mean, if I'm content to be single I think every one else should loosen up a bit.
I think the tension comes from the fact that people think I'm not married or have never been married because I CAN'T GET A MAN! I have made sacrifices to be single and sometime I've just said , "No". When it comes down to it, the only thing worse than being single is being married to the wrong person. That's a hell and loneliness I will never know. I've seen domestic violence and I can count on my one hand the amount of couples who had a marriage that truly lasted. So if my friends have had a marriage and divorce or several marriages and divorces ... how does that make them "ahead of me".

I made a decision a LONG time ago that I was going to do things Jesus' way or "no way". I am happy to not be married but I'm sure I'd be happy married too , if it's what Jesus has planned for me. That's the true key to happiness. It doesn't matter who you're with or where you are, just that you are faithfully following Jesus wherever he goes. I know what it means to have him in my life and I never want to be without him again. So, relax everyone. I don't mind being single. I may just become the "grooviest", "coolest" Spinster that ever lived.

I've earned my wrinkles and grey hair. I'm proud of them, because each day I get older, I also resemble my Heavenly Father more and that attracts all sorts of people. I don't need botox and I don't need to be nipped or tucked. I've got Jesus inside and I've been told I'm more beautiful now than I've ever been. I'll hand the credit over to the Lord, because he is the author of my life and the author and perfector of my faith.

So "happy birthday to me"...

LARGE PRINT BIBLE

2010-04-21T11:34:00.000-06:00

Yes. It has finally happened. I bought my first Large Print Bible. I suppose that means I am getting old (not just older). However, when I did open up my new Bible, it was wonderful to not have to squint. I didn't realise that I had been avoiding my Bible because it was giving me a bit of a headache to read it. I know you think I should just go get a pair of glasses, but I've already got a pair because I can't see things far away. So it would mean bi-focals. And if a large print Bible makes me feel old, then I don't think bi-focals are going to make me feel young. But having to have glasses sitting on my nose for a long period of time also gives me a headache. So, for now, I have solved the problem the best (and least painful) way that I can. I'm glad I put my pride away, admitted my age and found the answer to the problem. It's good to be able to see God's words of encouragement, love and even discipline up close and personal again. Just like my relationship with Jesus: up close and personal.
"Charm and beauty are fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised." Proverbs 31. Let the wrinkles and grey hair come, I'll stick with Jesus through whatever it takes. And if taking a few hits to my vanity is the beginning... then so be it. (translation: "Amen")

Saturday Suffering

2010-04-02T12:00:00.000-06:00

As Easter approaches I've been thinking a lot about Easter Saturday. The Bible doesn't talk about the day after Jesus died. It must have been such a horrible day for all those who loved him and had put all their hopes in him. They thought HE was the ONE! The long awaited messiah. But he was dead. Over. Finished. They didn't know back then, what we know now. That Sunday was coming! And boy! what a day that was going to be. But to those suffering through Saturday, it must have seemed like it would never end.

I heard someone say once that a person can live without food for several weeks, without water for several days but without hope they will almost instantly perish. I met Jesus and became a Christian just before my 12th birthday but I can still remember what it was like without him. I had decided to kill myself the day before. I had figured out that life was too painful and I was too small to get through on my own. Little did I know what would happen the very next day. A day that would forever change me in ways that I still don't comprehend and never fully will until I see him "face to face".

But the day before ... the day of pain, of grief, of suffering ... it seemed like it would never end. It stretched on forever in front of me, because I didn't know what was coming.

But once we know something we can't un-know it. Now we know that Jesus lives, that his home is inside of us, he has gone to Heaven to prepare us a place, that he will come back for us and (most importantly) he never breaks a promise!

So hang onto that one promise and the loving God who will never break it. Then every week, when Sunday rolls around, realize that God is reminding you once again that Sunday always comes. Once his grave became empty, it stayed empty! And that for thousands of years, billions of people have believed:

" I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;"

(Job 19:25-26)

Remember: Sunday is always just a day away.

Easter Blessings to All

Firefly Jayne's Hat (pink-Chick version)

2010-03-31T00:21:00.007-06:00

This is basically me making a fool of myself on camera. But I LOVE all things Firefly. What can I say? I'm a hard-core Browncoat.
(Click on the Green Link at the bottom of this post to go to my Firefly Group)

Hope you enjoy the video. Feel free to leave a comment.

My Firefly Serenity Browncoat group at MySpace

Jesus Gave Me My Computer

2010-02-20T12:08:00.007-07:00

Here is the story of how I got my new laptop, when I prayed for it and Jesus answered me.

Why I Believe Again by A.N. Wilson

2010-02-10T10:47:00.001-07:00

Why I believe again
A N Wilson

Published 02 April 2009

39 commentsPrint versionEmail a friendListenRSSA N Wilson writes on how his conversion to atheism may have been similar to a road to Damascus experience but his return to faith has been slow and doubting

Unlike his conversion to Atheism, Wilson's path back to faith has been a slow one
By nature a doubting Thomas, I should have distrusted the symptoms when I underwent a "conversion experience" 20 years ago. Something was happening which was out of character - the inner glow of complete certainty, the heady sense of being at one with the great tide of fellow non-believers. For my conversion experience was to atheism. There were several moments of epiphany, actually, but one of the most dramatic occurred in the pulpit of a church.

At St Mary-le-Bow in the City of London, there are two pulpits, and for some decades they have been used for lunchtime dialogues. I had just published a biography of C S Lewis, and the rector of St Mary-le-Bow, Victor Stock, asked me to participate in one such exchange of views.

Memory edits, and perhaps distorts, the highlights of the discussion. Memory says that while Father Stock was asking me about Lewis, I began to "testify", denouncing Lewis's muscular defence of religious belief. Much more to my taste, I said, had been the approach of the late Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, whose biography I had just read.

A young priest had been to see him in great distress, saying that he had lost his faith in God. Ramsey's reply was a long silence followed by a repetition of the mantra "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter". He told the priest to continue to worship Jesus in the Sacraments and that faith would return. "But!" exclaimed Father Stock. "That priest was me!"

Like many things said by this amusing man, it brought the house down. But something had taken a grip of me, and I was thinking (did I say it out loud?): "It bloody well does matter. Just struggling on like Lord Tennyson ('and faintly trust the larger hope') is no good at all . . ."

I can remember almost yelling that reading C S Lewis's Mere Christianity made me a non-believer - not just in Lewis's version of Christianity, but in Christianity itself. On that occasion, I realised that after a lifetime of churchgoing, the whole house of cards had collapsed for me - the sense of God's presence in life, and the notion that there was any kind of God, let alone a merciful God, in this brutal, nasty world. As for Jesus having been the founder of Christianity, this idea seemed perfectly preposterous. In so far as we can discern anything about Jesus from the existing documents, he believed that the world was about to end, as did all the first Christians. So, how could he possibly have intended to start a new religion for Gentiles, let alone established a Church or instituted the Sacraments? It was a nonsense, together with the idea of a personal God, or a loving God in a suffering universe. Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense.

It was such a relief to discard it all that, for months, I walked on air. At about this time, the Independent on Sunday sent me to interview Dr Billy Graham, who was conducting a mission in Syracuse, New York State, prior to making one of his journeys to England. The pattern of these meetings was always the same. The old matinee idol spoke. The gospel choir sang some suitably affecting ditty, and then the converted made their way down the aisles to commit themselves to the new faith. Part of the glow was, surely, the knowledge that they were now part of a great fellowship of believers.

As a hesitant, doubting, religious man I'd never known how they felt. But, as a born-again atheist, I now knew exactly what satisfactions were on offer. For the first time in my 38 years I was at one with my own generation. I had become like one of the Billy Grahamites, only in reverse. If I bumped into Richard Dawkins (an old colleague from Oxford days) or had dinner in Washington with Christopher Hitchens (as I did either on that trip to interview Billy Graham or another), I did not have to feel out on a limb. Hitchens was excited to greet a new convert to his non-creed and put me through a catechism before uncorking some stupendous claret. "So - absolutely no God?" "Nope," I was able to say with Moonie-zeal. "No future life, nothing 'out there'?" "No," I obediently replied. At last! I could join in the creed shared by so many (most?) of my intelligent contemporaries in the western world - that men and women are purely material beings (whatever that is supposed to mean), that "this is all there is" (ditto), that God, Jesus and religion are a load of baloney: and worse than that, the cause of much (no, come on, let yourself go), most (why stint yourself - go for it, man), all the trouble in the world, from Jerusalem to Belfast, from Washington to Islamabad.

My doubting temperament, however, made me a very unconvincing atheist. And unconvinced. My hilarious Camden Town neighbour Colin Haycraft, the boss of Duckworth and husband of Alice Thomas Ellis, used to say, "I do wish Freddie [Ayer] wouldn't go round calling himself an atheist. It implies he takes religion seriously."

This creed that religion can be despatched in a few brisk arguments (outlined in David Hume's masterly Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion) and then laughed off kept me going for some years. When I found myself wavering, I would return to Hume in order to pull myself together, rather as a Catholic having doubts might return to the shrine of a particular saint to sustain them while the springs of faith ran dry.

But religion, once the glow of conversion had worn off, was not a matter of argument alone. It involves the whole person. Therefore I was drawn, over and over again, to the disconcerting recognition that so very many of the people I had most admired and loved, either in life or in books, had been believers. Reading Louis Fischer's Life of Mahatma Gandhi, and following it up with Gandhi's own autobiography, The Story of My Experiments With Truth, I found it impossible not to realise that all life, all being, derives from God, as Gandhi gave his life to demonstrate. Of course, there are arguments that might make you doubt the love of God. But a life like Gandhi's, which was focused on God so deeply, reminded me of all the human qualities that have to be denied if you embrace the bleak, muddled creed of a materialist atheist. It is a bit like trying to assert that music is an aberration, and that although Bach and Beethoven are very impressive, one is better off without a musical sense. Attractive and amusing as David Hume was, did he confront the complexities of human existence as deeply as his contemporary Samuel Johnson, and did I really find him as interesting?

Watching a whole cluster of friends, and my own mother, die over quite a short space of time convinced me that purely materialist "explanations" for our mysterious human existence simply won't do - on an intellectual level. The phenomenon of language alone should give us pause. A materialist Darwinian was having dinner with me a few years ago and we laughingly alluded to how, as years go by, one forgets names. Eager, as committed Darwinians often are, to testify on any occasion, my friend asserted: "It is because when we were simply anthropoid apes, there was no need to distinguish between one another by giving names."

This credal confession struck me as just as superstitious as believing in the historicity of Noah's Ark. More so, really.

Do materialists really think that language just "evolved", like finches' beaks, or have they simply never thought about the matter rationally? Where's the evidence? How could it come about that human beings all agreed that particular grunts carried particular connotations? How could it have come about that groups of anthropoid apes developed the amazing morphological complexity of a single sentence, let alone the whole grammatical mystery which has engaged Chomsky and others in our lifetime and linguists for time out of mind? No, the existence of language is one of the many phenomena - of which love and music are the two strongest - which suggest that human beings are very much more than collections of meat. They convince me that we are spiritual beings, and that the religion of the incarnation, asserting that God made humanity in His image, and continually restores humanity in His image, is simply true. As a working blueprint for life, as a template against which to measure experience, it fits.

For a few years, I resisted the admission that my atheist-conversion experience had been a bit of middle-aged madness. I do not find it easy to articulate thoughts about religion. I remain the sort of person who turns off Thought for the Day when it comes on the radio. I am shy to admit that I have followed the advice given all those years ago by a wise archbishop to a bewildered young man: that moments of unbelief "don't matter", that if you return to a practice of the faith, faith will return.

When I think about atheist friends, including my father, they seem to me like people who have no ear for music, or who have never been in love. It is not that (as they believe) they have rumbled the tremendous fraud of religion - prophets do that in every generation. Rather, these unbelievers are simply missing out on something that is not difficult to grasp. Perhaps it is too obvious to understand; obvious, as lovers feel it was obvious that they should have come together, or obvious as the final resolution of a fugue.

I haven't mentioned morality, but one thing that finally put the tin hat on any aspirations to be an unbeliever was writing a book about the Wagner family and Nazi Germany, and realising how utterly incoherent were Hitler's neo-Darwinian ravings, and how potent was the opposition, much of it from Christians; paid for, not with clear intellectual victory, but in blood. Read Pastor Bonhoeffer's book Ethics, and ask yourself what sort of mad world is created by those who think that ethics are a purely human construct. Think of Bonhoeffer's serenity before he was hanged, even though he was in love and had everything to look forward to.

My departure from the Faith was like a conversion on the road to Damascus. My return was slow, hesitant, doubting. So it will always be; but I know I shall never make the same mistake again. Gilbert Ryle, with donnish absurdity, called God "a category mistake". Yet the real category mistake made by atheists is not about God, but about human beings. Turn to the Table Talk of Samuel Taylor Coleridge - "Read the first chapter of Genesis without prejudice and you will be convinced at once . . . 'The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life'." And then Coleridge adds: "'And man became a living soul.' Materialism will never explain those last words."

Norford's Publish Book

2009-06-18T17:52:00.002-06:00

My friends Ann & Bryan Norford have just published a book about marriage called, "Happy Together" where they draw on 5 decades of marriage to draw couples to each other and to God - the source of all true love.
I highly recommend this book. I haven't read it but Ann & Bryan are living examples of Jesus (although they would never say that because they're too modest) and I know that I want to hear whatever they have to say.
Congratulations to both of them .
You can buy their books at Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.
Click on the Title of this blog and it will take you to their blog.

My Three Fathers

2009-01-17T00:49:00.005-07:00

In October of 2008 I wrote a short article that I thought would be appropriate for the days directly after Christmas. I sent this article to my local newspaper, the Edmonton Journal. After several weeks I sent them another message inquiring whether or not they would be using my article. I figured that if the Edmonton Journal didn't want it, I would pass it on to someone who did. The Religion Editor, Janet Vlieg, not only didn't print my article but never even responded to me. So I was unable to give the article to any one else who was interested in it (their publishing deadlines having come and gone). I have now decided to put this short story on my blog for you to read. It is a bit late but I am hoping that you will be encouraged by it.

MY THREE FATHERS

On a quiet night on December 25th about 6 years ago, I was sitting around thinking about how Christmas had come and gone again for another year. After weeks of increasing frenzy, it is all over after only a few hours. Suddenly my phone rang and I picked it up. I heard a man's voice say, "Little Girl? This is your Dad."
A mixture of shock and excitement swept through my body like an electrical current as I was transformed from a middle-aged woman into a 7 year old girl.
I responded, "Hey, Dad! It's great to hear your voice." Then the thought hit me that something must be very wrong for him to call after years of silence.
"Are you okay?" I asked hurriedly.
"Sure," he replied, " I just wanted to give you a call to wish you a Merry Christmas."
I made a couple more minutes of excited small talk, but when I asked him a specific question I got no response. After a few seconds of pausing he said, "I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think you're my daughter."
He was right. We discovered that he had accidently dialed the wrong number.
I asked him, "When did you first realize that I wasn't your daughter?"
He said, " I immediately knew something was wrong. My daughter is never this happy to hear from me. Usually the moment she realizes who it is she hangs up on me. "
I told him, " I should have realized it immediately too. My father hasn't phoned me at Christmas or any other time for more than a decade."
We wished each other a Merry Christmas and before we hung up the man said, "I hope you don't mind me getting personal, but your father is a fool not to want to talk to you."
I told him I thought the same about his daughter. He still had to phone her and he knew she would probably hang up on him once again. I got even more personal and said, "Let's make a pact. Every Christmas when my dad doesn't call and your daughter hangs up on you, let's think of each other and remember that you have a "mystery daughter" who would never hang up on you and I have a "mystery father" who calls every Christmas to see how I'm doing."
Every year it seems that families become more fractured and the Christmas 'hurrah' gets more noisy and hectic. I suspect people make such a big commotion so they won't notice how lonely they are. I've puzzled long (and cried much) over people who ignore those in their lives who are so desperately ready to love them that they would be willing to take any scraps of affection thrown their way. It hurts all the more when it is our family members who treat us with indifference or even contempt. Deep inside us God has placed a blue-print of family life that whispers to us, "this is not the way it is meant to be". In Psalm 68:6 it says, " God sets the lonely in families". A family is suppose to be a haven, a shelter, a fortress in trouble and a place where you are loved, independant of who you are or what you've done. But Christmas is a dreaded and lonely time for many, many people, because it seems to put a magnifying lens to our lives and amplifies the fact that things are not quite right. Now, I'm not going to tell you to love only the people who love you back, but my "wrong number father" showed me that there are people out there who are waiting and wanting to love me. I just haven't met them yet.
This Christmas found me with three fathers: a biological father who can't be bothered to know me, a wrong number father who wants to know me and a Heavenly Father who knows me intimately. Not only does He know me, but He loves me enough to send his Son from Heaven to be born in a stable, to die on a cross to atone for my every sin, to rise again to give me hope for Eternity and, oh yeah, to give me an entire life to celebrate it all with wonder, humility and deep thankfulness.
" - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-" ( 1 Peter 2:4 NIV)

New Years Resolution 2009

2009-01-17T00:15:00.003-07:00

For more than 4 decades I have been making new years resolutions. I am sick and tired of making one that I usually break by the second week in January. So, this year my resolution will be to "Run Amuck". That's right. I'm giving in to the chaos. I am constantly trying to "get my act together", or "get my paper work done" or "trying to organize myself". This year I will be setting the bar low, realizing my limitations and setting goals that are actually attainable. If this leads to world wide anarchy ... then let it be.
I also wish to start the year with praises to my Heavenly Father who will always love and accept me , no matter how much I fail or how many "messes" I make.
Happy New Year to Everyone.
Love Maidryn

" And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28

Gerard Butler

2008-12-19T00:24:00.003-07:00

The more I know about Gerard Butler the more impressed with him I become.

I've seen several interviews of him and he seems to have two very important things that I sincerely like about him: 1) he keeps his sense of humor no matter what is happening to him and 2) he seems to truly like his mother as a person (I can really relate to that).

I hope he takes his time and picks his next projects well. He also has a lot of talent and I would hate to see his career dissolve into that latest hunk, when he has the potential to be so much more.

I have a group dedicated to him over at Yahoo. It's primarily for Christians. We talk about his career and prayer for him as well as for each other.

If that sounds like it might interest you, please feel free to stop by and join up. We would love to have you.

Sincerely, Maidryn

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/Jesus4Gerard

Life is Hard

2008-12-01T15:51:00.002-07:00

You know that old saying: "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger" ?

Well I have re-vamped it for my own personal use:

"What doesn't kill you, will eat you ALIVE".

Perhaps that gives you an idea of how tough times have been for me. Thanks for listening while I get pessimistic.

YouTV Cribs

2008-12-01T15:42:00.002-07:00

I have a channel at YouTube dedicated to showing tours of peoples' homes or a specific room. I started by giving a video tour of my place and now it's your turn. If you are proud of your home, did some renovations, some great interior decorating or just want to prove that your place is messier than mine ... then record a video tour of your home (under 10 minutes) and send it to me as an attachment to a message in my Inbox. (You will have to have a YouTube account for this -which is free and easy to get). Let's take a look at your "diggs".
Click on the title of this blog and it'll take you where you need to be.
Or go here:
www.youtube.com/ChristianMaid

Absolute Dollar Store Kicked Me Out

2008-09-18T15:55:00.008-06:00

I just love to go into the Absolute Dollar Store ( Jasper Gates Mall, 15007 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB, Canada) and look at all the cool stuff. It amazes me what good things I can get for only one dollar. On their door is the sign, "you must give up large bags and knapsacks", but I've never been asked to do that.

Two weeks ago I was on my way to visit my mother and I was carrying an overnight bag. I went into that store and was told I had to give my bag to the cashier. I refused because it contained several personal items and a few hundred dollars of medication. I was asked to leave. I couldn't believe it. I'm the kind of person who carries dirty Kleenex around until I find a proper garbage bin because I don't want to litter. I shook off the bizarre experience and thought, "maybe it's just some dollar store employee with power issues".

Now, today I went back to the Absolute Dollar Store and picked up a green shopping basket as I entered the door. I was just reaching for a roll of paper towels when I hear someone yell, "Madame. Madame!" I looked up and saw an employee about 30 feet away waving. I asked, "Are you talking to me?". She yelled, "you'll have to give up your bag to the cashier". I looked down and all I saw was my green, eco-friendly Safeway shopping bag. I had just been to London Drugs and the bag contained a few computer supplies. I walked up to her and said, "I'd rather not give up the bag because it contains some expensive things. Would it be alright if I allow you to look in it before I leave the store?" She responded, "You have to give the bag to the cashier at the front. It'll be safe there." I said, "If you don't trust me, then how do I know I can trust you?" Once again, I was asked to leave.

I'm still pretty shocked. In school I was never even sent to the principals office or had a detention. Now, to be kicked out of a dollar store... twice! I thought, "why don't they just invest in some scanners by the door. It would be a lot smarter than insulting everyone who walks in with a shopping bag." I mean , it is a MALL. There's bound to be several people carrying bags. Or maybe I just have the face of a criminal. I figured that maybe they think they can treat their customers that way because they assume most of them have a low annual income.

All the people that I told " you must stop by the Absolute Dollar Store because there's so much great stuff there", I take it back. Unless you wish to be VERY publicly humiliated , then I would suggest you go to one of the other dollar stores.

I admit that I will miss going there, but I'm rather shy and my ego just isn't big enough to endure being publicly demeaned ... even for a good deal. I'd rather pay extra and be treated with the common decency and politeness that is due everyone, not just the people who have money. I suppose poor people will just have to endure the abuse. Doesn't quite ring fair, does it? Why don't you leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Take a look at my photo too. Do YOU think I look like a thief?

Abducted by Aliens?

2008-09-14T01:24:00.004-06:00

I don't know much about UFO's and aliens, but I know a lot about fear. There are many, many people who live in horrible fear of being abducted by aliens. They never feel safe anywhere (not even in their own homes). They believe the aliens will come again for them and there is nothing they can do to stop it. Now, add to that the fact that very few people believe them, let alone can protect them ... then you have people who are living a nightmare every day. One they cannot escape from.
I know that God wishes no one to be afraid. He is full of love and He tells us that "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." (1 John 4:18)

I have an idea that may work for you, because I've used it for many, many years. I will list a few Bible verses and I want you to memorize them and when you are afraid, say them out loud. The Bible also tells us that the Word of God is like a sword. So think of each verse as a bullet against fear and those who would harm you. And if these work for you, then go get a Bible and memorize more. The more verses you know, the more "bullets" you will have. Here are some to get your arsenal started:

*"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns" (Revelation 19:6)

*"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)

*" Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8)

*" God says, 'Never will I leave you: never will I forsake you.' The Lord is my helper: I will not be afraid." (Hebrews 13:5-6)

*" Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)

Here are a couple of websites that might be of help to you:
http://www.intouch.org

http://www.rbc.org

Maidryn's Myspace Profile page:
http://www.myspace.com/main_de_dieu

Prayer for Fallen Soldiers

2008-09-11T23:39:00.003-06:00

I just read in a book a beautiful prayer given for many warriors who fell and died during a battle that took place to protect their country and their homes. I never thought I would live to see fellow citizens of my country going off to be killed in a foreign country, but such is the world we now live in.

So for all the soldiers (past and present) who gave all they had so that the rest of us can live free, this is for you:

" Merciful Jesu, great of might, whose name is Light and Life, be light and life to these your fallen servants. As you delight in forgiveness, forgive them; do not count their sins, rather consider this their virtue: that when the call came to defend their homeland they took no thought for themselves, but roused courage and went forth to do battle, knowing death awaited them.

Hear me, Lord Jesu, gather our friends to your hall; seat them in your palace in paradise and you will not want for finer companions."

( from the book "Merlin" by Stephen R. Lawhead)

Obama the AntiChrist?

2008-09-11T21:32:00.003-06:00

A year ago almost no body had even heard of Obama. Now he is everywhere. Both Democrats AND Republicans love him. He is famous all over the world not just the United States. People use the following words to describe him: Redeemer, Saviour, Leader, Messiah and even more.
"But" you say, "he quotes the Bible all the time". Well, so did Satan. The devil quoted the Bible to Jesus himself. Now, Obama comes from out of the blue and it looks like he will be the next President of the United States ... and perhaps even more. People love him so much they are ready to vote him both Pope and King. This makes me VERY suspicious. I'm not making any judgements. It's not my place to. All I ask is that you use some discernment. Don't follow him blindly. Don't follow anyone blindly. Jesus looked into the future and saw us here in our time and gave us a warning, "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. See I have told you ahead of time... For as the lightening that comes from the east is visible in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:23-27)
There is only one Saviour of man and that is Jesus. And He will literally appear as the lightening in the sky. Coming in the clouds. If you don't believe me, then read the Bible. I did not cook this stuff up on my own. This is too important a subject to let yourself be fooled. If you idolize or worship anyone else but God nothing less than your eternal life and soul are at stake. You can't risk being wrong.
I realize this will provoke many, many people who like Obama. I have not said he is evil. All I say is use your sober judgement and discernment. Please feel free to leave a comment. (However, use polite language because I only delete comments because of hate mongering or swearing NOT because of the ideals of the writer).

Christian Fans of Gerard Butler

2008-09-05T00:39:00.005-06:00

We have a group dedicated specially to the Christian fans of Scottish actor, Gerard Butler. We discuss him, his movies, pray for him and for each other. If this sounds like it might interest you, than please stop by and join up.

Follow the link below:

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/Jesus4Gerard

Rosh Hashanah : Rapture

2008-09-05T00:05:00.005-06:00

There is something that I discovered about 5 years ago. Every feast on the Jewish calendar is reflective of something Jesus did or will do. For instance, Passover is echoed in his death on the Cross. As the blood of the passover lamb caused the Angel of Death to pass over the Hebrews, so the death of Jesus (the Lamb of God) causes death to pass over each one of God's children.
As September comes around the Jewish feast of Rosh Hashanah is soon coming. This is echoed in something Jesus has yet to do. It will be fulfilled in the Rapture of the true believers in Jesus. Those who have put their faith in Him to cleanse all their sins and make Him the Lord of all of their life. For us true Christians, we will hear a trumpet and will be "caught up" (meaning of Rapture) to meet the Lord in the air. For those of you left behind, it will simply seem like millions of people have suddenly vanished. There will be several empty graves and all children under a certain age (the age of reason) will also disappear. You will experience fear like you have probably never known it before. Times are about to get even worse. It marks the beginning of the Tribulation. Yet, as God lets Satan have his day, it is all for a reason. That as you see the results of Satan (anti-Christ) being in charge of the world, you will recognize the difference in what it means to worship the One True God. You still have another chance to turn to God.
I don't know if this is the year God will Rapture us. Most Christians agree that it will be very soon. Perhaps any day. (and Christians rarely agree on anything, so that in itself is a miracle). Take comfort in the fact that we all knew about it before hand and that this blog is written to show you that God loves you, will accept you and you are not beyond hope as long as you still draw breath. Maybe this year... maybe the next one, but whenever He comes, I'm going to "live like I'm leaving. Like Heaven is in view. Live like I'm leaving. I will be evidence of you. In the shadows of my doubt or tomorrow come what may. I'm going to live like I'm leaving. Like I'm leaving today" (song by Philips, Craig & Dean).
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

For further information follow the links below. These websites specialize in Jewish Feasts and Bible Prophecy.

http://www.zionshope.org

http://www.firstcentury.tv/

Maple Leaf Meats

2008-09-04T23:49:00.004-06:00

For those of you who haven't heard yet, several of the products of the company "Maple Leaf Meats" here in Canada have been found to be tainted. Many have gotten sick from eating these meats and some have even died. Even though Maple Leaf took immediate action when the meat was linked to the sickness and death, still more victims were found.
Now I suppose that confidence in Maple Leaf Meats is extremely low. I have personally stopped buying all kinds of processed meats. Even those from the local deli. The name Maple Leaf Fine Meats has become synonymous with dirty machinery, bacteria, illness and death and the company may never recover from this. What I find ironic is that, in the future, Maple Leaf Meats will probably be the most cleanly and safe sellers of meat in Canada and perhaps the entire world. I can only imagine the lengths to which they will go to make sure this never happens again. They will never cut corners and no effort will be too much for them to insure clean and safe meats. They have learned their lesson. At the cost of lives it is true, but while we take our business elsewhere, the safest meats in Canada will no doubt be Maple Leaf.

Christians and Entertainment Forum

2008-08-10T22:49:00.004-06:00

I've just started a Forum for Christians who love their entertainment and can talk about it ALL THE TIME! So why don't you stop by and check it out? Easy, free and we actually want to hear what you have to say. Movies, Music, TV, Books, Gaming, Whatever. The floor is yours.
Sincerely, Maidryn
http://maidryn.proboards55.com/

Rapture, You're Left Behind

2008-01-27T05:26:00.000-07:00

This is a message I am leaving behind in the event that I have suddenly vanished from the earth, along with millions of other people. We all share one thing in common: we have given our lives to Jesus. Somewhere during the course of our time on earth we came face to face with the question, "Who is Jesus"? We have answered it with , "God's one and only Son". Acknowledging Him as our Creator, King, Redeemer, Saviour and Best Friend, we have bowed to Him with heart and will and given the remainder of our lives into His capable hands to do with us as He wishes.
The world calls us many names and has placed many labels on us: Religious Fanatics, Moral Majority, Evangelicals, Jesus Freaks, the Enemy. But we are simply ordinary people who have realized our great debt of sin and the price it requires: death. Knowing this we have accepted the greatest Gift of all, Jesus' death on the cross to pay for that debt and thus we are forgiven. We are not better than anyone else, we have just been cleansed by the precious, spilt blood of our Saviour.
Jesus has promised us that He would return for us and never would we be separated from Him again. He may do it for me on the day I die or He may take me in the Rapture. In English the word means, "to be caught up". If we are now all gone, then "caught up" is what has happened to us. At this point the greatest proof I can offer is the date attached to this Blog. You must accept that I knew it would happen before it ever took place. Jesus always keeps His promises! If I no longer walk the earth, then I walk by His side with all my brothers and sisters who also bended their knees and wills to God.
If you still remain...God, in his mercy, offers you ONE more chance. You must live as His friend or His enemy. Middle ground no longer exists. Perhaps it never has. Soon, Jesus will return to the Earth and "every eye will see Him". You WILL bow before Him and proclaim Him to be "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." The only choice you now have is if you will declare this as His friend or as His enemy.
In a very real way you have missed out on doing things the "easy way". If you are a Christian, you will suffer the wrath of the anti-Christ; If you are NOT a Christian then you will suffer the wrath of the REAL Christ. The Bible says, "Do not fear those who can destroy your body but only those who can destroy your soul".
But, if by chance you have happened onto this Blog and the Rapture has NOT happened yet, then please do things the "easy" way. Give your life over to Jesus right now. Stop messing around. It's time for you to answer the question: "Who is Jesus?" I pray that you will find the right answer. I have also prayed for each person who reads this, Christian or Non-Christian.
For the Christian: Know that your troubles of this world are only temporary. Jesus WILL come back for you and He will wipe every tear from your eyes. He NEVER breaks His promises. "Heaven and Earth may crumble but the Word of God stands firm forever".
For the Non-Christian: God makes sure that each person has an opportunity to accept Him or reject Him. This moment may be here for you right now as you read this. If you feel your heart beating faster and the huge emptiness in your life screams out to be filled, then know that Jesus stands ready to come to you at the smallest whisper of your heart. I have belonged to Jesus for almost 30 years and He is "trust-worthy and true". Now, is your chance. You may not have another, so don't let it pass by. Because, even if the Rapture never happens for hundreds of years, I can guarantee that you will face death much sooner and you need to put your soul in the hands of the only Person who ever overcame death and still lives to tell.
"O death, where is thy victory? where is thy sting?" Jesus, the first born from the grave. Lead on.....

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

2008-01-15T00:55:00.000-07:00

I've just finished watching the first two episodes of the new TV series based on the Terminator movies, called "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles". I must say that I am very impressed with their efforts.
I orginally decided to watch because I enjoyed all the Terminator movies, and I am a big Firefly/Serenity fan and the new cyborg is played by actress, Summer Glau, who is familiar to all of us fans of Joss Whedon's Firefly.
Considering that the writers had to work in the plot lines of 3 movies with a lot of action, not to mention time travel going on as easily as someone going through a revolving door, it's obvious that some time and effort was put into the scripts. The three main actors do a wonderful job (especially Lena Headley and Summer Glau) and the action is riveting , yet balanced well with quiet, intimate moments. All in all, a solid and entertaining piece of television.
I highly recommend it. For those of you who missed the first two episodes or simply want to know more about it, the Fox website is the place to go. May I also recommend by Firefly group at MySpace where we are discussing the show in the Forum section. With those of you with Christian faith, there is also a group at MySpace dedicated to Christian Film Buffs where we are likewise discussing the show.
I look forward to hearing from you wherever you are and I sincerely welcome your opinion whether you agree with me or not.
http://www.Fox.com

http://groups.myspace.com/FireflySerenityBrowncoats

http://groups.myspace.com/ChristianFilmBuffs

MySpace Group for Christian Movie Fans

2008-01-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

http://groups.myspace.com/christianfilmbuffs

This group is dedicated to members of the MySpace website who have profiles there and would like to participate in a discussion of the topic of favorite films from the main viewpoint of a Christian. It's completely free and all are welcome to join. I hope to see you there and I anticipate some lively discussions as our group continues to grow.

Thank you.

MySpace Group for Firefly, Serenity and Browncoats

2008-01-13T04:35:00.001-07:00

http://groups.myspace.com/fireflyserenitybrowncoats

This group is dedicated to the 'verse of all Browncoats for those who have profiles at the international MySpace website. It's absolutely free to join and we would love to have you. Hope to see you there.

Thank you.

New MySpace Groups

2008-01-13T04:25:00.000-07:00

http://groups.myspace.com/christianbooks

This group is dedicated to those who are interested in discussion and networking in regards to Christian books. From fiction, non-fiction, devotionals, reference works, Pastors aids and the Bible itself. Any genre. Feel free to stop by and join up. We would love to see you there.

A German Speaks to the Jews

2008-01-12T00:23:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by saying that I am of German descent. I am also a dedicated Christian which means I spend a lot of time reading the Bible. I have developed a great sympathy for the Jewish people. They truly are chosen by God, evidenced by all the persecution they suffer. I feel a sense of shame about being German. The few German citizens who stood against Hitler can be counted on one hand and they are now famous because of the fact that there were so few Germans who stood against Hitler. Germans say, " I was only following orders", "I didn't know it was happening" or "It happened before my time". I have yet to hear one of them say, "I'm sorry". In my mind the German people will never know redemption until they admit what they have done wrong, because that is the first step to making those wrongs, into rights. So, here and now, I wish to apologize to all the Jewish people who have suffered under the hands of someone German. I know it is a drop in the bucket as to what kind of reparations you deserve but I am going to state that I am sorry it took place. We did it and there is no excuse good enough to undo the horrors done. I will spend my entire life trying to make it up to the Jewish people. It is a very small consolation after all the damage done, but as the survivors of the holocaust leave this earth for their eternal reward there will be fewer left to remember the way it really was. I for one will remember the dignity, strength, honor and perseverance of every Jewish person who walked into a shower room never to come out again. I will pass the truth on to the next generation and I will carry the true memories on as long as I live and will leave the pathetic excuses behind.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you."

Welcome

2008-01-08T02:12:00.000-07:00

I have finally joined the great community of those who Blog. It seems that everybody has something to say and I am no different. The wonderful thing about Blogs is that there are so many times in our lives where we get worked up about something: whether for good or bad. Having an outlet to express ourselves publically can be a great comfort. I realize that most of my Blogs will never be seen but I still feel that I have done my part: exposed an injustice, asked a question, told a joke, shared an experience etc etc. Maybe you will find my ramblings boring but at the very least they will allow me to sleep better at night. I have been writing my whole life. My ideas burn within me. I have kept a diary for almost 25 years. Now I will send my "wisdom" out into the world. If it helps someone I will be extremely pleased. Even if it ticks someone off I will still be pleased because it's when our notions and ideas are challenged that we do the most growing. That being said... I welcome you to leave me all the comments you wish: good or bad. Please be polite so that I can allow your writing to be published as well. Let the games begin...