bensonrd's Xanga

Test Day

Thu, 03 May 2007 14:08:30 GMT

Today is a big day for Robin and I.

As you know, Robin has been sick with Asthma since November. This illness has included an eleven day stay in the hospital and more than a month away from work.

Robin has slowly been getting better and today is an important step in that process to recovery. She has an appointment with an allergist and hopefully will get a full test that will reveal what has been triggering this latest struggle.

Please pray that God will direct the doctors as they seek to discover the cause and ultimately search for a treatment.

This morning I heard Ginny Owen’s song, If You Want Me To on the radio and her lyrics seemed appropriate:

“So if all of these trials bring me closer to You

Then I will go through the fire

If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen

When You lead me through a world that's not my home

But You never said it would be easy

You only said I'll never go alone”

I am very proud of how my wife has handled this illness. She has been strong in the face of adversity and set-backs. When she’s felt weak, she has leaned upon her Savior. At times when it’s seemed like there was no where to turn, she’s kept going. She has not given in to depression and doubt, but has remained steadfast.

People go through hard times; some more difficult than this. I am grateful that we are not alone. God is with us and He has a plan.

Hockey Heroes

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:44:14 GMT

Charles Barkley once said “I am not a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.”

While I agree with his assessment and the limited influence that professional athletes should have on children, I believe there are a great number who deserve our respect.

When I look back on the teams and players I rooted for while growing up, “thank you’s” are in order.

Guy Lafleur was selected first selected first overall in the 1971 hockey draft. It was also the year I was born. Images of the Canadiens and their epic battles with the Bruins define my earliest memories of hockey. – of course those memories are in black & white.

Mike Bossy was another that I loved to watch. Though not the pure skater that Lafleur was, Bossy had an amazing shot. He was a real sharp-shooter. With nine 50+ seasons, four Stanley cup rings and as an inductee in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Mike Bossy is a proven winner.

Wayne Gretzky revolutionized the game of hockey. He has set and reset almost every major record in hockey. Along the way he inspired and captured the imagination of countless fans. I had the pleasure of meeting “the Great One” at the 2003 draft. I was speechless. How do you say thank you for so many amazing memories?

But perhaps the greatest hockey hero I know is my Dad. To my knowledge he never played for a team, but he did play in the backyard with me plenty. My Dad was an accountant which meant late nights during tax season. Yet I remember him coming home well after dark and passing the puck with me despite his exhaustion. It wasn’t his puck handling skills that impressed me, but that he made time for me.

It was also my father who would take me to the Fredericton Express games at the Aitken Centre. The Express were a farm team for the Quebec Nordiques before the team moved to Colorado. While not the NHL, it was still exciting to watch up & coming players who were still honing their skills. Yet it wasn’t the hockey that mattered most, but that he spent time with me and passed along his love for the game.

So that’s my list of hockey heroes. What’s yours?

Changed in a Lifetime

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 01:22:07 GMT

Here's an article I wrote several years ago for Wesleyan World Missions Magazine. It was originally posted at: http://www2.wesleyan.org/gp/gp_online/World%20(Fall)%204-5.pdf

Perhaps our lives should not be measured by the number of years that we have accumulated, but by the events that have shaped us. Whether it has been learning to ride a bicycle, finally getting our driver’s license, voting for the first time, or attaining that high school diploma—we are the sum total of our experiences.

Would I be the same person if I had not spilled that bag of popcorn in front of my friends at the roller-skating rink? If I had not said “yes” to the chance to teach that Sunday school class when I was only in junior high—would I still be who I am today? Probably not. Standing on top of a table while fourth grade boys “marched around the walled city” not only taught them the story of Jericho, but it ignited in me a life-long passion for teaching. This may be starting to sound like a Star Trek time-travel episode, but the idea is that landmark events in our lives play a significant role in determining who we are, as well as who we will become.

I can think of many examples to illustrate this point—most from my own life. Though I was a good student in school, the events that shaped my life seldom happened in an academic setting. I think I was most changed through the short-term mission trips that I experienced. As a college senior, while perched on the roof of a house our team had just completed in Tijuana, Mexico, the Great Commission took on a whole new meaning. I had heard countless sermons and read the passage numerous times before. But this time, without words, God taught me what it meant to reach out and touch this world in His name.

It is nearly impossible for me to put into words how my life was transformed by saying “yes” to God and accepting the challenge to be a part of a mission team to Russia. Up to that point in my life, I had been comfortable in my spiritual journey, but God used those precious weeks to change me for all eternity. By going places and doing things I had never dreamed of before, God exploded my world view, redefined my self-image, and breathed new life into passion for ministry.

Clearly, I am not the only person who has been changed by following Jesus. All throughout the Scriptures we see how the lives of the disciples were turned inside out through their encounters with Christ. Jesus was a master at seizing the moment and presenting it to His listeners as a life-altering sermon illustration, just as He did when He confronted me with the Great Commission. As onlookers were awestruck by a miracle He had just performed, He would hammer in a truth that pierced them to the core. Don’t you think that when Jesus reviewed the “trust in Me” lesson after calming the storm, it hit a lot closer to home? Through all of these times, Jesus was doing an artisan’s job of shaping and molding.

Sometimes I think we overuse the word “discipleship” in the Church. It is not a mere class to take or a sermon series that is preached. It is a lifelong process in which we are molded into Christ-likeness, similar to His first twelve followers. They demonstrated their willingness to be shaped by Christ when they abandoned their nets and immediately followed Him. It shows great discipleship, great determination to become like Him, when we say, “Lord, I’m not sure where this will end up, but I’m willing to follow you wherever you want to take me.” Certainly, the disciples learned a great deal from Christ’s teachings, but the events that they were able to live and breathe simply because they agreed to follow Him changed them more radically than what they heard.

As we are moved out of our comfort zones, the places where we think we have everything under control, and are forced to trust in God, He is able to transform us to the extent that He would like. The question then remains— Are you willing to be changed by God? It is God’s desire that each of us continue on the journey of becoming more like Christ. Christ-likeness does not come through osmosis. Merely sitting in a pew on Sunday does not automatically turn us into saints, but following the plan that He has for our lives does. Our responsibility is to listen for His voice and to be obedient to His calling no matter where it takes us. As we follow the Master on this journey, the sights we see and the people we meet will change us forever. They will change us to be more like Him. This is your time. Will you allow Christ to change you by following Him wherever He leads?

Winning the Right Way

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:25:02 GMT

We love winners and we want them yesterday. Flash-in-the-Pan is fine as long we had our cheap thrill for a moment. Get the crowd excited: let out a cheer, crank up the band and let’s do the wave.

Legacies or dynasties are passé. Not that we would turn them down, but who wants to put in the time or the sacrifice? No, we’re far more content with a streak or sometimes even just an upset.

Hope is good. As long as we can dream about next season or even “once we get our starters back”. That’s pretty good for most of us.

Sometimes we even like being the spoilers. The underdogs. The wall-flower finally getting her chance to shine. If a team is losing and victory is out of reach? Send out the fighters and give the fans something to cheer about.

But once in a while, in the world of professional sports there comes an owner who loves the game. Really enjoys it. Is a true student of the game. It’s not about the money or even the accolades. It’s not about the ad dollars or the endorsements.

Craig Leipold of the Nashville Predators may be one of those rare owners. It’s not the Forsberg deal that makes me say this; although I think it was a brilliant move. It wasn’t even when he acquired any of the other stars in recent years: Dumont, Arnott, Kariya or Sullivan. I believe what sets Mr. Leipold apart is that he has surrounded himself with talented individuals and has stayed loyal to them. Case in point: Barry Trotz; he’s the only coach the Predators have ever known. That’s rare and even more special given the rocky start for the organization.

Prior to the days of the salary cap, all that teams who were desperate for a championship need do was sign the biggest guns in the league. Eight months later, the Stanley Cup was yours to take home. The easy road is now gone and teams that had relied on that strategy are hurting – in an awful way. Fans in Detroit know this to be painfully true.

But for those teams who have built a solid foundation, they are now reaping the benefits of a level playing field. Because Mr. Leipold has trusted his staff, they have been able to scout the talent needed for down the road, not merely some talent who can put points on the board and fans in the seats right now. Nashville has seen a steady improvement in the caliber of the players suiting up year after year. It's this same trust that allows the players to take risks on the ice.

Patience. That’s perhaps the best word to describe the Nashville Predators organization. Patience is difficult in a results oriented society. For most of organizations it’s the quick fix or nothing at all. Team not winning? Find a scapegoat. Trade someone. Blame the officiating.

Coach Trotz has been able to pick the players that will fit with the vision and strategy that has been in existence for close to a decade. Few teams can say that. Tomas Vokoun came from the original expansion draft that helped shape the Predators. David Legwand, our first draft pick, is still with the team; still developing and setting personal bests with Nashville.

Most coach’s offices come with revolving doors. Not enough wins this season? Time for someone else. The whole apple cart gets upset. And the organization starts from scratch. Forget about the talent already in the pipeline or developing with the farm team. It’s time to trade them for players who will fit with the new system.

Had Alexander Radulov been with most other organizations, he would have been burnt out by now. The hopes of the fans and the team would be crushing this rookie. Instead, thanks in no small part to an owner who sees the big picture, Alexander has been able to develop and learn from the veterans. This is undoubtedly a luxury that many youngsters, thrust into the spot light and touted as saviors, would love to experience.

Nashville’s front office was able to make the deal it did for Forsberg precisely because they had already secured the talent needed for years to come. Ramzi Abid and Rich Peverley are proof that the future is in good hands.

Because of the quality leadership which starts with the front office, the fans of the Nashville Predators enjoy refreshing honesty from the coaches and the players. Rarely, if ever, do we hear of finger pointing or back-biting. Earlier this season, in a game against Calgary, there was a mix up with the team's roster for that night. In the post-game interview, Coach took responsibility for the mistake and even apologized to the players. Imagine: a coach saying he’s sorry to a player. That’s class and that’s refreshing. Excuses are cheap and easy to come by. But the Preds have a policy: no excuses. Vokoun doesn’t blame the defense. The defense doesn’t gripe about the forwards. The rookies respect the veterans and so on down the line. Each player is accountable both on and off the ice.

In the four years that I have lived in Nashville, I have never heard of one Predator getting arrested. Beating his girlfriend. Not even one DUI. I believe this speaks to the character of the players and a pride they have in themselves, their teams and this sport.

So when I hear the talk about the Predators moving to another city… I get more than a little sad… I get angry.

I get frustrated by these “experts” who crunch the numbers and have come to the conclusion that the Preds are on their way to Kansas City. These “fair-weather-reporters” don’t understand what makes this organization great. It’s not just the President’s trophy or even the Stanley Cup. It’s a belief in doing things right – for a love of the game.

I believe Mr. Leipold and the Nashville Predators are staying right where they belong. They’re not done. Afterall, our dynasty is only beginning.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 01:23:31 GMT

What is it with drummers?

Last night Robin and I attended a church service with a guest worship team. They did a great job, but the drummer looked… well… homeless. If I saw this guy on the street, I’d give him a dollar or offer to buy him a hot meal. I don’t want to judge based on appearances, but “scruffy” failed to do him justice.

Why is it that so many drummers seem to live by the beat of a different drum?

I once thought drummers “dress down” because drumming was so physically demanding. They needed to stick with tank tops and headbands. (Although this failed to explain why they never shaved.)

My new theory is that drummers tend not to care about their appearance or stage presence nearly as much as “the rest of the band” for one reason only. It has to do with their role-model. Drummers look up to the greatest drummer of all times: Animal from the Muppets. Animal didn't care about the audience, band members and especially not the way he looked. It was all about the music. Clothes, shaving or even soap weren't nearly so important -- all that matter was that Animal got to let loose on the skins.

If you’re thinking, “how can a Muppet be a role-model?” then you’re probably not a drummer.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:31:57 GMT

Most days I like my job.

It’s not really that difficult. I am a tutor for a community college. Mathematics is normally the subject that people come to me for assistance. And it’s basic math that they need help with – REAL BASIC math. It’s the kind of teaching that doesn’t require a lot of preparation or grading afterwards. Most of the worksheets I use I have memorized – questions and answers. For example, I know the answer to question number eight is $2.13 / gallon of fuel. I’m now able to really impress my students as I do these “calculations” in my head. (No, I’ve just done this same problem fourteen times this week.) But that’s not why I like my job.

The hours are good. REAL GOOD. When I started I was teaching two night classes that were three and a half hours – every night. Including breaktime, I taught eight hours each night. I would go in at 3:30pm and finish at 11:30pm – every night. Now, as a tutor, I set my own hours. You guessed it – no more 11:30pm for me. I am able to work two “long days” of eight hours each and two “short days” of four hours each. The change allows me to have more time at home for Robin, my Masters classes, puppies and watching hockey. But that’s not really why I like my job either.

The real reason I like my job is that I get to meet a lot of people. I’ve had students fresh out of high school whose parents are younger than I am and I’ve had a student who turned fifty in my class. Students who are wealthy and students who can only be described as poor. Of course, as a tutor I’ve also worked with students who run the gambit of academic giftedness (although I tend to see more of the academically challenged).

But where the real variance appears is in the lifestyle choices. I’ll admit I grew up with a pretty sheltered lifestyle. Most of the people looked and thought a lot like me: white / middle class / Christian. I can no longer make that claim.

It’s not that I’m surrounded by a godless horde either. Again, I see a wide range. My favorite coworkers to take break with include a Black gal who is a believer (and owns a motorcycle), a White guy, with a PhD. in philosophy, who describes himself as a mixture of Christianity & Buddhism and a Arabic young women who is Muslim. I really enjoy their company. We never have a shortage of things to talk about, debate or question each other. I think it’s because we have such different backgrounds, but respect each other so much.

Or maybe a simpler way to put it is that we are friends.

I think if you can go to place of work each day and enjoy the people you work with you are bound to like your job. At least most days.

Straining to Hear

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:55:42 GMT

Today’s devotional thought (actually it was yesterday, but I was procrastinating):

From My Utmost for His Highest: “If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. The attitude of a child of God should always be, "Speak, for Your servant hears." If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things— things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God’s voice today?” http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php accessed on February 13, 2007.

Lord, may I listen more intently to you and only you. Help me to drown out the noise of this world. It is you I long to hear. Your voice is precious. May I learn to cherish you more today. Forgive me for the times when I have failed to hear or even stop to listen.

-- No author assigned in CUT

Rainy Days

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:33:26 GMT

I love rainy days. Perhaps it’s the kid in me: splashing in the puddles I guess. It probably has to do with where I grew up: the Bay of Fundy. Every summer our family would head to the Fundy National Park where we were almost guaranteed to get rain every day. I remember walking on the shore… in the rain. Going to the saltwater pool (serious)… in the rain. Even golfing… in rubber boots… with my Dad… in the rain.

It’s a good thing Robin and I have "water dogs". Buddy & Holly love water. In any form: bowls, baths, bubbles, ice cubes, hoses, puddles, facets, lakes, streams, car washes and of course walks in the rain. It seems like the harder it rains the more they get into it. I know the neighbors must think I’m strange. That’s okay – Buddy & Holly think I’m cool. Or at least know that I have treats in my pocket.

Holly drying herself off after our walk. She's so pretty!

Holly relaxing after the walk -- how does she do that with her spine? Buddy waiting for the next time.

Snow Day!

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:03:52 GMT

What’s Better Than a Snow Day?

A Snow Day with Puppies!

This morning Robin and I awoke to yet another dusting of snow across our lawn. Not even an inch, but enough to create a winter wonderland for Buddy & Holly.

A Tale of Two Tails

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:50:47 GMT

Originally written: November 17, 2006

It’s interesting how Buddy & Holly’s personalities affect their perspectives.

Holly is the lead dog and she has to be in charge. She likes to stay busy. Whatever Buddy is playing with, she needs to have it – right now.

Buddy is the affectionate and laid-back one. He’s the snuggler. He follows his sister’s lead and is quite content with whatever comes his way. Except for squirrels – they still drive him nuts.

But both our dogs like to chew anything and everything: toys, sticks, shoes, towels, and furniture. So it only made sense when we had t-bone steaks to give the bones to Buddy & Holly. They each were given a bone to enjoy. These were their first real bones to gnaw on so I decided to take pictures.

Their responses were interesting to me.

First, I approached Holly, but as I drew near she tensed. Pulling the bone away and turning her back to me, her body language clearly said, “Please don’t take this away. I’m really enjoying this and I don’t want you to ruin it.” I was tempted to chastise Holly, “I don’t want your bone. I gave you that bone. I just want to be with you and make you happy.” But instead I merely snapped a picture and quickly retreated.

I was cautious as I moved toward Buddy. I wanted a picture of him as well, but I didn’t want to spoil his treat. But I didn’t need to worry for long. As soon as he saw me he crawled forward with the bone still in his mouth. His tale started wagging furiously. He proudly held up the bone in his mouth as if to say, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is so great! Would you like to have some? You gotta try this!”

Don’t get me wrong: both our dogs are great – even when they are running around the house with muddy paws. Yet the puppies reminded me of the importance of my outlook on life. I wish I were always like Buddy when God draws near: “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God you are so great! Thank you for all you’ve done for me!” But in my honest but “less spiritual” moments I find myself afraid and agreeing more with Holly: “Lord, please don’t take the good things in my life away.” or “I’m really enjoying this moment God and I don’t want you to ruin it.”

Lord, forgive me for doubting your goodness. May I welcome you in and invite you to enjoy both the good and the bad in my life. Help me to trust you more. I realize that every good and perfect gift comes from you so… when I am chewing on a bone, may my tail always be wagging!