Got something for ya...

Hey, remember that secondary blog I started way back when, put in some decent posts, and then pretty much abandoned? Yeah? Well, now the abandonment is official (I'll leave it up unattended for posterity... for now).

Well, if you took the time to read the post on the other end of that link (did you? be honest) you may have noticed that I have started up a kind of multi-author youth ministry blog/ezine/journal thing. Here's the logo (linked):



The idea is simply this:

Absolutes ring hollow for your average Post-modern because our perception of truth is essentially relative (don't argue: I'm setting up a straw man--just go read the Blindmen & the Elephant). Truth, therefore, is better communicated as experience: tales from the journey and shared paths.

Open Source (ie: software that allows you to read the code and understand how it arrived at this point) is applicable to Faith (& philosophy) as revealing the "code" that brought us to where we are and plots out where we may be going. Get it? If not, read the blog and eventually it will make sense... I hope

(note: though 'open source' is 'free, as in speech,' it still requires dedication and understanding to examine/read it--in software that would be an understanding of programming languages--therefore, though it means things come out in the open, it still requires investment on the part of the observer/reader/interact-er)

For a fuller (read:"stream of consciousness") take on what OpenSourceYM.org is about, read the About Page.

Anyway, check it out. Spread the word. Add your say. And let me know if you'd like to post something (it's all Creative Commons so I have no issues with posts being on there and your own website at the same time). BTW, I will be asking some of you in particular in the near future to consider writing something... or even being a regular columnist if it turns into anything more than a casual experiment.

Cheers,
~Jon

(I use Twitter like RSS, so you can get updates on the new site here: http://twitter.com/opensourceym)

Simply Glorious:

Project Natale, eat your heart out!

Something to think about...

Hey all,

It's midday and the lil'uns are napping. Opa L is here and we're enjoying the delightful weather (remember the Montreal icestorm back in the 90s?).

A while back I heard about a small-time independant documentary called "Prince of Peace, God of War." John Campea (of the Movie Blog) made it in response to his own questions of the divided opinions of pacifism and justified war within Christian circles. I ordered the DVD.

As with all documentaries, it's made with a bias (pacifism, in this case), but that isn't a bad thing. Sometimes the bias could be right. Sometimes the bias can challenge the audience to look into the facts. Regardless, I found it to be an interesting flick and a good discussion starter.

Here's the good news about that: Campea has decided to make his movie freely available online. So, if you're interested in watching it you can do so for free and at your leisure here (you can read his synopsis, or just scroll down to the download links).

Whether or not you watch it, feel free to post some opinion in the comments about whether you think Christians should be pacifists, soldiers, whatever. I'll not tip my hand and reveal my own opinion quite yet ;)

I miss my little family...

Just a quick note while I'm at the Ski Rally. Fran is a brave mommy and is taking care of Finnan and Anna all by herself for the weekend. And, I miss them so much!

Well, here's the latest set of pictures. Click on the pic to see the whole album.

Finn & Anna too

Here's a video back from January 23rd when Finn first met his sister:




And here's another from the following day:




Alright folks... I've got stuff I should be doing.
~Jon

And the answer is...

Well, I thought about recording a video and kinda jerking your chain for a while about whether we had a boy or a girl... well, I wont do that after all (mainly, because the microphone levels are a little off).

At 8:38 AM (AST) Anna was born... that's right, a little girl! 8lbs 12.5oz (around half a pound bigger than Finn was). Everything went great. It was oddly relaxed and mellow in comparison to when Finnan was born. Momma's doing just fine: no problems. Anna was latching properly at 1.5 hours old. Oh yeah... she's got brown hair ;)

But enough of my jibber jabber... you all just wanted to read the words "It's a girl," the name "Anna" and to see some pictures. So, without further ado:



Isn't she just beautiful!

~Jon

Um... I have a daughter... that's cool!

6am...

Here we go again. At 6:00 AM (AST) we are scheduled for a caesarian section. In other words, it's time to meet baby #2. I'll be sure to post some info and photos when I can. Anyone care to take bets? Is it a boy or a girl? So far, only the medical staff knows...

Let's examine the evidence, shall we? On two regular visits to the OB/GYN Fran was put on a heart rate monitor because the heart rate was fast. Traditionally this suggests a girl, but it may just have been that both Finnan and I were at those appointments and, therefore, what better time to immobilize mommy and have daddy chase a 2 year old around a hospital for 2+ hours each time. Hmm...

Another piece of evidence that suggests a girl: both Fran and me were born into boy then girl (then boy, for our side) sibling equations. So the "million dollar" make-up seems probable. However, as my sister will point out, the very fact that "everyone" is expecting a girl means we will have a boy. So, does this point suggest boy or girl? I don't know.

Well, we have had an easier time figuring out boys names... so that could mean it's a boy (though, Bethany's logic may apply here too). Besides, so far the statistics show that Fran gives birth to boys 100% of the time... though these results are somewhat misleading.

Well, what do you think? If you read this before you find out the facts, post your prediction in the comments. If you read this after you find out if we have a boy or girl, pretend like you're posting before you find out and everyone that reads it will be impressed by your confident and "accurate" forecast.

Regardless, we are looking forward to meeting this [insert-gender-term-here] and not only getting to know this new baby but loving both the baby and Finnan in ways we can't even comprehend.

Pray for strength, courage, and peace for Fran; comfort for Finnan (we have to leave him with friends for the duration of the "procedure"); and, of course, health and safety for the baby.

~Jon(athan) aka "daddy"

This'll work...

Well, maybe Japanese potty training videos will help get us off diapers. If only I could remember the "wee wee" rhyme in Japanese... that must be our issue...



I take no responsibility for the translation, though this is better than some other versions I found.
Enjoy,
~Jon

Happy New Year!