Unfolding Neurons

Things I like about my country (Happy Canada Day)

By Darren on July 1, 2009

Credit to Chris Lancaster

Well today is Canada Day and even though I think I’m a pseudo-American (my birthday is on July 4th) I was born here and am really grateful for my roots in this country. Here’s some reasons why I’m glad I’m a Canadian. Read more... (297 words, 1 image, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

Freedom. Even though there are some trends that are a bit unsettling I still have the freedom to write what I want on this blog and publicly profess my faith.
Security. Relatively speaking – I feel pretty safe here.
Free Health Care. It has its faults of course and still needs some work (it’s also kind of not free because our taxes pay for it) but I can go to the hospital or my doctor and not worry about how much it’s going to cost me. That’s nice.
Hockey. Our hockey teams/players rule. ’nough said.
Travel Perks. It’s kind of cool that wherever I go in the world people are really receptive to the fact I’m a Canadian. Just being a resident of Canada gives you a sort of “special recognition” (probaby due to the friendly role Canada plays on the foreign relations scene).

...This is a preview of Things I like about my country (Happy Canada Day).
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Posted in Home Turf | Tagged canada, canada day, likes | Leave a response

What I tweeted the past week.

By Darren on June 28, 2009

#notetoself – chk out ths and see if there's things I can learn for orgSeries (also upgrade my own copy of twittertools) http://bit.ly/cTndn #
My daughter Jenna made this for me on Sunday. http://mypict.me/52tE #
Looking at my schedule for this week and <wincing>. A LOT I want to get done before I take two weeks off beginning Monday. #
Out for a late lunch and I'm hungry! #
I love the look (and smell) of fresh cut grass. Yes I did my lawns tonight – finally. They were starting to get embarrassing… #
about to do some of my family finances… <cringe> #
//NLB// Reconnexion conference Live Blogging #
Koinonia has a beautiful church building. #
Difference between fame and influence – influence is about relationships – David McFarlane #
Is what is on the wall happening down the hall – mission statements – David M #
We need to be asking ourselves – who are we and why are we here – david m #
The church must shft its focus from istitution orientation to community orientation if it is to survive – jack dennison #
For those following my twitter – I'm tweeting from the Reconnexions Conference. #
David's observations – vibrant churches have influence in their communities. #

...This is a preview of What I tweeted the past week..
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(1890 words, estimated 7:34 mins reading time)

Posted in Aside | Tagged tweets, Twitter | Leave a response

Reconnexion conference Live Blogging

By Darren on June 23, 2009

8:58:33 AM: Koinonia has a beautiful church building.

9:14:11 AM: Difference between fame and influence – influence is about relationships – David McFarlane

9:21:47 AM: Is what is on the wall happening down the hall – mission statements – David M

9:23:12 AM: We need to be asking ourselves – who are we and why are we here – david m

9:27:02 AM: The church must shft its focus from istitution orientation to community orientation if it is to survive – jack dennison

9:28:21 AM: For those following my twitter – I’m tweeting from the Reconnexions Conference.

9:30:31 AM: David’s observations – vibrant churches have influence in their communities.

9:36:34 AM: Roundtable discussion about what changes we’ve seen in the church in the last five years (I need to do a blog post on this)

9:37:55 AM: Wow – 70% of cdns think that new forms of spirituality are replacing traditional religions! (Vision TV telephone poll 2003

9:44:19 AM: David M – churches are training their own people rather than relying on seminaries. (Trends)

9:45:46 AM: The church exists by mission as fire exists by burning. Without mission there really is no church. – Emil Brunner

9:47:17 AM: David M – churches need to regain their sense of mission in Canada.

9:49:07 AM: We need to be a people of mission – David M Read more... (1567 words, estimated 6:16 mins reading time)

...This is a preview of Reconnexion conference Live Blogging.
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What I tweeted the past week.

By Darren on June 21, 2009

Think I'll hold off upgrading my blog to WP2.8 when I have more time to do any fixes I might need #
Heading back to work a day earlier than planned today. Just too much to do this week. #
Forgot my rule of making sure my desk is clean before going on vacation…makes it harder to have that "fresh" start when I get back! #
P1: On standards… what "standard" are you known for when it comes to your work habits and character? Do you have any? #
P2: On standards… People will see you through the lense of what they perceive to be your standards. What are you known for? #
I've got to try for this. Hopefully I'll win an iphone in the great #squarespace giveaway! #
Heading for lunch at the Mandarin and I don't have to pay. Bonus! #
I used restraint at lunch today. Hard to do – but I think my body thanks me for it. #
Home after a long day. Some days seem longer than others. #
catching up on my feed reading…took a while to get the kids to bed tonight – they're very restless and it's a HOT evening! #

...This is a preview of What I tweeted the past week..
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Day Nine (Jan 5) – Last Day [Ukraine Missions Trip]

By Darren on June 17, 2009

This entry is part 9 of 9 in the series Ukraine Missions Trip 2009

This is the ninth (and final) entry in the series I am writing about my trip to Ukraine – I didn’t have daily internet access while there so I recorded each day for later publishing. And later [much later actually] is now.

Woke up around 9am and left the Bible College around 10am. Traveled to a square downtown Kyiv. The architecture is amazing and got lots of pictures around the square. Interesting that a lot of the shops and stuff is under the city. Some of the team traveled by subway.
St. Micheal's Cathedral

We had a quick lunch at a McDonalds and then we made our way to St. Michael’s. We entered the church – guys had to take their hats off – ladies had to wear hats. Couldn’t put hands in pockets or take pictures or video. Incredible paintings and artwork BUT sad that it’s the church is really doing nothing for the people of

A mural at St. Micheals

Ukraine….(with all the money poured into the building…was this really what Christ was thinking of when He started His church?)
St. Andrews Cathedral

From there we walked down the road by St. Andrews Cathedral (known as St. Andrews descent because legend/history has it that he was led to his crucifixion down that road.

Read more... (639 words, 5 images, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

...This is a preview of Day Nine (Jan 5) – Last Day [Ukraine Missions Trip].
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(639 words, 5 images, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

Posted in God Stuff | Tagged kyiv, missions trip, short-term-missions, ukraine, ukraine missions trip | Leave a response