There's no place like home...
It is a beautiful day. Not only has it been nice out for two weeks straight, but I also happen to be in a very nice mood.
This is mainly because of one thing:
The sermon in church this morning was amazing. Well, the service started at 10 instead of 11:15. which wasn't all that cool, but I think we all lived. Except maybe Amy, who showed up when we were leaving... Poor girl!! But she looked beautiful, anyway. The sermon was about how to be a Christian Canadian (or American if that applies to you instead), and what our duties are as such. The number one duty named was to pray. To pray for our country and for our leaders instead of bashing them. To pray for our society and for our friends. This was a great reminder, because since I'd moved to the States, I'd really been making a commitment to pray for my Canadian friends. However, it's easier to forget them in prayer when I'm home with them; but now that fire is rekindled! I always pray for my Americans, so don't worry about being left out! I guarantee that anyone possibly reading this post, I have prayed for. You are loved!!! :D
Well, my Americans, as some of you may know, yesterday was Canada Day. It was fun, but seeing as how Canada Day is also my longest-bestist friend's birthday, it's always been more about her than about Canada. Yeah, we dress up in red and white, and go to the fireworks, but they're really all lighting up the sky just for Michelle.
Anyway, this morning we sang the national anthem in church, which I've never done before. Let me recap the words in case you're not familiar with them:
O Canada
Our home and native land
True patriot love
In all thy sons' command.
With glowing hearts, we see thee rise
The true North strong and free
From far and wide, O Canada
We stand on guard for thee!
God keep our land
glorious and free
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
Now comes the amazing part. There is a second verse of O Canada that hardly anyone knows. I have never heard it before in my life. Singing these words was one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced. The pastor touched on not emptily singing something we don't really mean. We should mean what we say and what we sing. I kept this in mind as we sung the following:
Lord of the lands
beneath Thy bending skies
On field and flood
where'er our banner flies
Thy people lift their hearts to Thee
Their grateful voices raise:
May our dominion ever be
A temple to Thy praise.
Thy will alone
let all enthrone;
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own.
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own!
If only all of our anthems and pledges and oaths were this God-centred! Think of it! How different our world would be.
I've gotta say, I was feeling mighty patriotic. Don't mistake me here. I love the United States, and I love Kentucky very very much. Kentucky will always feel like home as well. But I want you all to know that I love Canada very very dearly. I have a very sweet affection for it. There's nothing in the world quite like the place where you're a fish in water.
PatrioticNess!!
This is mainly because of one thing:
The sermon in church this morning was amazing. Well, the service started at 10 instead of 11:15. which wasn't all that cool, but I think we all lived. Except maybe Amy, who showed up when we were leaving... Poor girl!! But she looked beautiful, anyway. The sermon was about how to be a Christian Canadian (or American if that applies to you instead), and what our duties are as such. The number one duty named was to pray. To pray for our country and for our leaders instead of bashing them. To pray for our society and for our friends. This was a great reminder, because since I'd moved to the States, I'd really been making a commitment to pray for my Canadian friends. However, it's easier to forget them in prayer when I'm home with them; but now that fire is rekindled! I always pray for my Americans, so don't worry about being left out! I guarantee that anyone possibly reading this post, I have prayed for. You are loved!!! :D
Well, my Americans, as some of you may know, yesterday was Canada Day. It was fun, but seeing as how Canada Day is also my longest-bestist friend's birthday, it's always been more about her than about Canada. Yeah, we dress up in red and white, and go to the fireworks, but they're really all lighting up the sky just for Michelle.
Anyway, this morning we sang the national anthem in church, which I've never done before. Let me recap the words in case you're not familiar with them:
O Canada
Our home and native land
True patriot love
In all thy sons' command.
With glowing hearts, we see thee rise
The true North strong and free
From far and wide, O Canada
We stand on guard for thee!
God keep our land
glorious and free
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
Now comes the amazing part. There is a second verse of O Canada that hardly anyone knows. I have never heard it before in my life. Singing these words was one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced. The pastor touched on not emptily singing something we don't really mean. We should mean what we say and what we sing. I kept this in mind as we sung the following:
Lord of the lands
beneath Thy bending skies
On field and flood
where'er our banner flies
Thy people lift their hearts to Thee
Their grateful voices raise:
May our dominion ever be
A temple to Thy praise.
Thy will alone
let all enthrone;
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own.
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own!
If only all of our anthems and pledges and oaths were this God-centred! Think of it! How different our world would be.
I've gotta say, I was feeling mighty patriotic. Don't mistake me here. I love the United States, and I love Kentucky very very much. Kentucky will always feel like home as well. But I want you all to know that I love Canada very very dearly. I have a very sweet affection for it. There's nothing in the world quite like the place where you're a fish in water.
PatrioticNess!!
posted by CrazyNess @ 6:02 PM
3 Comments:
At July 02, 2006 11:11 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hey davie, don't make fun of our little brother. I think he might get alittle upset. Just kidding. I totally understand the feeling Ness. It would be cool if it was, "we stand on God for thee" instead of guard. and oh yes, our own celebration is going to be hip! lots of fireworks that symbolize the celebration after Britian surrendered on July4 1777. And yes the french are good for something. They cut off the british retreat by sea so they were forced to surrender. Bet you didn't know that. But all this is to agree with you that there is no place like home.
JU
At July 02, 2006 11:23 PM,
Heather said…
I guess I've never had the experience of living abroad, so its more like Saskatchewan is home for me... rather than canada is home for me. Does that make any sense? And canada wouldn't be the same without Ness. And Canada day wouldn't be the same without a Michelle to sing Happy birthday to, and fireworks to see!
At July 04, 2006 1:28 AM,
Anonymous said…
Please don't lose sight that not everyone is a Christian. There are many religions in this country and there are also many people who are ethical people and not religious. Also, please don't equate our Conservative government with your Christian religion. Quite a few MP's aren't Christian. If God exists, he or she isn't just listening to one religious voice. You folks are far too young to be so narrow minded. You need to expand your minds outside your Christian religious education. Please remember also that the First Nations people were in this country first and some terrible things were done to them and others all in the name of Christianity. Right now, the Bush government has cut off aid to many countries, including many in Africa, who advocate birth control. For many women who are monogamous in their marriages, they now don't have access to condoms to protect themselves from their husbands who have gone outside the marriage for intercourse. That was Bush's bright decision. The world is much more complex than you know. You need to educate yourselves. Many things that women have access to in North America are not available in other countries courtesy of the so called Conservatives in the U.S. Many leaders in the past have proceeded with what they believed to be God on their side, they have made some terrible mistakes and made a very large mess in the name of God. My children don't pray, but they exhibit and carry out good will toward man regardless of their religious affiliation. Too bad more households weren't more inclined to do so. Again, expand your education and investigate the world beyond your religion.
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