journey

i'm leaving in a bit for my cross-Canada adventure, something crazy like 4000km i think, but i haven't taken the time to figure it out. i'm flying toronto to edmonton, then taking the bus to saskatchewan, where i will arrive tomorrow evening at 6:15pm CST, so will talk to you again sometime again in a few days.

i do not like being in continual motion so long.

here goes...

meme

Have been busy doing laundry and getting things ready to leave Ontario, but I wanted to post these for Rachel and Jen… so here goes:

Questions for Rachel:

1. You’re from New Zealand… what would you say are some of the biggest myths/misconceptions that foreigners have about your country?

2. How long have you had your blog and what inspired you to start it?

3. What would you say you have learned the most from blogging or meeting people online through blogging?

4. You speak a lot of your church, what is it that you appreciate most about your personal church family?

5. If you could go anywhere in the world, money being no object, where would you go and why? And, what would you do there?

Questions for Jen:

1. You met your husband, Jon, online. How do people react to this, or do you not normally mention it? What are some lessons you have learned from this?

2. What attracts you to ordained ministry?

3. What would you say is the purpose of your blog? What is one major thing you have learned from blogging?

4. Where did you get your cats from? Why did you chose to name them the names you have given them?

5. If you could go anywhere in the world, money being no object, where would you go and why? And, what would you do there?

Looking forward to reading your answers. :)

email tidbits

i'm watching pop-up video because there is nothing else on. it's kind of interesting but the videos are duds. "walking in memphis" and u2's "where the streets have no name".

i don't like u2. i think i'm the only one.

i bought some new pants yesterday. they are a nice brown cordouroy. ontario has too much tax. and too high a cost of living. that makes me not want to live here. but the people make me want to.

i like cheese. i mean real cheese, not kraft process singles. i didn't have any for about 4 months. now that was a tradgedy.

i should have a nap. i'm tired. i've been up since the crack of 10am.

together

i like that idea when people say you should marry your best friend.

crudbuckets

so i thought it was 11am so i got up, even though i was still deathly tired, and now that i've been up for half an hour i just looked at the computer's clock and it says 10:30...

i cheated myself out of an hour of sleep...

it's my vacation. i should go back to bed.

the interview meme

joining the recent blogging phenom, here is my intereview... it was interesting to see what questions stacey came up with for me. i don't think she had ever been to my blog before, or maybe once or twice, so it was neat to see what a new comer came up with to ask me based on first impressions.

1. You're very open about your relationship with God, do you find that makes people uncomfortable? Do you ever feel like you should censor yourself in certain situations?

sure it makes people uncomfortable. so what? and yes, sometimes i feel like i should censor myself in certain situations. but i think often that is my own timidity that makes me do so. but, "...God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)... which is something i strive to make evident in my life. it's weird to be in a situation where you're the only Christian and people ask you to say grace at a meal. what is appropriate? what isn't? should i not mention Jesus? usually i just go ahead as "normal", i say what i would have said if i had been in a whole room of other believers.

i struggle a lot with being more open about my faith in public. having been to Bible college and now finishing my master's degree in seminary, i've been in a Christian bubble for a long time. sure it's easy to be a Christian there. but out in the world, will it be? i don't think so. i admire those Christians who are out there working in the world in non-ministry, non-Christian environments. i have no idea where i'll be come january when i'm finished school and have to get a "real job". but i'm looking forward to seeing where God takes me in this life.

2. You love the prairie. I've always lived on a coast and feel very landlocked and claustrophobic when in-land. How does the coast make you feel? Have you ever seen the ocean? How did that affect you?

i think what i love most about the prairie is being able to see for miles and miles and miles that look like they never end. which is something the prairie and the ocean have in common. the ocean however, is not a beautiful shade of golden yellow like endless wheatfields are. but the silvery-blue of the endless expanse of water is beautiful too.

yes, i have seen the ocean, both the atlantic and pacific, and i've been to the gulf of mexico. i like being able to go to the ocean and look across the wide expanse of water and think about the continent that is on the other side. it's cool to think that the ocean goes on and on for almost forever.

how did the ocean affect me? well, the last time i saw it was in july 2001, and i still have a perma-tan from the burn i got, and a jellyfish stung me. but the water was nice and warm, although i was not too fond of the hundreds of jellyfish i saw, and after i got stung i didn't go back in. the maine coast was too cold. the oregon coast had too many rip tides. but the ocean is beautiful.


3. You're Canadian, but you've lived in two U.S. states, so, I have to ask... do you think Tim Horton's coffee is better than Dunkin' Donuts coffee? I can't taste the difference.

well, actually, i've never had either's coffee. i don't like coffee. but Canadians are very loyal to their tim horton's. i'd take a tim horton's donut any day over both dunkin' donuts and krispy kreme. although krispy kreme has cool t-shirts.

and you haven't had the true Canadian experience until you've had a tim horton's iced cappucino. ooooooo.... goodness.

4. What is the most "unChristian" thing you've ever done?

i have absolutely no idea. that's a tough question... i don't know what you would consider "unChristian." i've never done drugs or smoked, i'm a virgin saving myself for marriage, i have only ever had alcohol once and that was accidentally because it was on cheesecake. and no, i'm not perfect. i've just chosen to live a different lifestyle because of my beliefs. i won't condemn you because you choose to drink alcohol or whatever. i have Christian friends who do. it's not anti-Christian or "unChristian" to drink. Jesus drank wine.

i did not grow up in a Christian family, but i always had high morals of what is right and wrong. i became a Christian when i was 13, but i really didn't start living it until college. every once in awhile i catch myself lying. that i suppose would be "unChristian" on an ongoing basis.

5. Why did you punch that boy in the face when you were 11? Did he hit you back?

actually, i was in eleventh grade, so i was 16 or 17. it was in gym class, he was bugging me and making lewd comments. ryan wall was a big jerk, but we were friends. we were all standing by the gym doors waiting to be dismissed from class, and i just punched him. right there, in front of everyone. you know how on tv when they make everything slow-motion? that's what it felt like seeing him fall. and that is what everyone said, it wasn't just me.

and no, he didn't hit back. i think he was in too much shock.

***

The Interview Meme

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions—each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal or blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions

thank you to stacey for my questions.

text

i've come to the conclusion that my life relies too much on technology.

more on this later. going out for lunch.

but this i know

How Deep The Father's love for us
How Vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

- Stuart Townend

brand new

i just jumped on the bandwagon and started my own fotolog.

so this is it

pitter patter

cathud cathud

long day

it is almost midnight here in ontario and i am still not in bed. does trading spaces ever end? an hour is seriously too long. and four episodes in a row? i think that's overkill. tlc needs to get back to being a learning channel and being more interesting. i think trading spaces is okay once in awhile, but all the other shows are pretty much the same thing too.

how is that for a totally shallow entry? who really cares about tv anyways?

question

are there any non-cheesy websites out there that are a resource to teens looking to find out more about Jesus or to dialogue with Christians? or is everything happy and smiley and christianesey?

because i can't find them. so how can the people who need them find them?

thirst

check out today's post that starts with "something's gone wrong" here.

reminds me that youth ministry on the net is vital.

trust

i had a conversation tonight that i've needed to have for a long time, but i think it was perfectly timed for today. God is so neat that way. well, in a lot of ways actually.

i love how He, in his subtle ways, tells us to trust Him. trust Him for everything. for today. for the future.

He's so neat.

ahead

i start classes september 8th. i only have three left. and one of the beauties of the seminary i attend is the fact that my classes are all only a week long. my first one is called "Spiritual Formation for Ministry" and includes a retreat at the end of the week. :) my second class is the end of september and is called "Romans: Studies in Righteousness." should be interesting. my final class is something about philosophy of ministry and mission, and is done october 24th. then, after that, i just have to work on my thesis. it's 60-80 pages.

now, i'm not exactly sure what i'll be doing my thesis on, but i have some general ideas. it needs to be something youth ministry related as that is my major. i did an independent study on adolescent webloggers last winter, and i think i might like to expand on that somehow, something on using blogging as a ministry tool, or reaching adolescents on the internet. something like that. i'll have to see.

and, once the end of december rolls around, i am planning to move away from school. right now, i have no idea where i'll be going. i have no idea what kind of a job i'll get. i have been kicking around a few ideas though. nothing concrete at all though yet.

so if you hear of any cool jobs, pass my name along. ;)

soon

soon i'll be flying out of ontario and heading back to school. leaving not only a province, but also a job, friends, and many memories behind.

i wonder, will i be back this way again?

i hope i will. but i don't know for sure. but i continue in trusting in the One who does know.

back to your regularly scheduled program

so, as of today, i am back to blogging on a regular basis. i think i am at least.

camp ended yesterday. i almost cried several times, got slightly teary even, which is a big deal, because i haven't cried in at least two years now.

sometimes that makes me sad.



more to come.

comments

i updated my template for the first time this summer today, and now the comments aren't working. i'm hoping that this is just a problem with my commenting service, but i am not sure...

but you can always leave comments via email at michellejohnston@NOSPAMbriercrest.com .

have a great week everybody.

:)
michelle

statement

i could talk to him for hours on end or just sit with him and say nothing and never ever get bored.

beautiful

at my friend heather's house they have this way cool little bathroom that just has a sink and a potty in in, it's beige with a neat seashell themed decor. but what i really like about this bathroom is the mirror.

this mirror seriously has the ability to make anyone look fabulous. no matter what. no matter how dirty your face is or how messy your hair is or how ugly your shirt is. i wish i had a mirror like that to wake up to every morning.

i hope my husband sees me like i see myself in that mirror.

alone

tonight i am all alone at my friend heather's house for the evening.

tv dinner.
mello yello.
tlc's "while you were out."
high speed internet access.
laundry facilities at my disposal.
msn messenger (but no one's on, cruddy deal).
no one else around at all.

i've been waiting for this night all summer.

overheard

guy: so you slept outside in a tent last night?

misscellaneous random child: yes. it was cool.

guy: oh. were there any lions out?

m.r.c.: um, no. i don't think so.

guy: so no lions came in the tent to sleep with you?

m.r.c. nope.

guy: i think a lion would make a good pillow.


i like guy.

at the beep

i'm curious as to who's around here these days. please be kind a leave a message after the beep. well, in the comments would be nice.

;)

surfing

i haven't done a technorati search on my page since at least may, and i was happy to see a few new links, thanks to peter and rebecca wood and jake for linking me. i know i've been to your pages before and i hope to be able to stop in more frequently starting this fall.

and i was stunned to be called an "absolute favourite" by neely. thank you, you humble me.

unconditional question

have you ever thought about how God's love is unconditional... yet ours pretty much never is? should ours be? would it be more proper? if we
are striving to be like Christ, then shouldn't our love be unconditional like his is? i don't get it.

forever

so it's been, like, forever since i've blogged, but life has been a whirlwind and i have not been in a position to blog (due to lack of computer time and internet availability). and now, the summer is almost over and i will soon be back to school and being able to blog more regularly. that will be fun.

but, i am not looking forward to the summer ending because... well, i have to leave here. i love camp. i love the people. i love the kids. i love my job (why can't it last forever?).

last night i saw one of the most beautiful evening skies i have ever seen... with no pink glow of the toronto lights due to the massive power outage. there was a full moon, yet still hundreds of beautiful stars and constellations... casseopia, the big dipper, etc. the horizon was a lovely shade of light purplish-blue outlined by the black silhouettes of willow trees.

for now i must run, but hopefully tomorrow i'll have time to write more. have a great evening everyone.

years

tomorrow is my parents' 30th anniversary.

i hope some day i can celebrate a day like that.

:)

yay

* for long weekends

* for sleep

* for friends

* for beaches

* for sunsets

* for the quiet voice of God

can you hear that?

i don't have time to write much but i want to say that relationships are much harder work than i ever imagined they ever could be... even when they really haven't started yet. or do we just make them more stressful than they have to be?

i don't need to have my heart ripped out again. but i'm afraid that's what is happening against my will.

pray for me.