Street Hockey Puck

Street Hockey Puck

Parents, Kids, Buddies Help Celebrate Edmonton's Family Day

Edmonton's annual Family Day was a celebration of all kinds of families, not even those who are blood-related. One family included three generations: The Taitinger children, parents and grandparents participated in the events hosted at the Alberta Legislature, which included ice skating, wagon rides and a picnic. The Hurutko family, a dad, two daughters and a son-in-law, toured the Art Gallery of Alberta. Although his two daughters are now adults, Don Hurutko said that to him, they are still his kids. At the Churchill Square activities, Tammy Beattie enjoyed games and performances with not only her two girls, but also her two dogs.

Outdoor events were well-attended with the help of mild weather. The temperature reached 4 C at City Centre Airport. The eight-year-old Buchsdruecker triplets and their parents, Kelly and Ed, enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy a day full of activities at no charge.

Since none of social worker Michael Tait's family lives in Edmonton, he spent the day with one of his charges, a nine-year-old boy named Joey. Joey participated in the fun by going after the puck at the Churchill Square street hockey rink. Tait, who relocated recently from Vancouver, said that he appreciates Family Day because he can see people in the community and discover Edmonton's cultural resources.

Having helped a child enjoy the event, Tait said he hoped that future Family Day activities could be more inclusive of children in foster care of group homes. He noted that not everyone in Edmonton is the beneficiary of a nuclear family.

About the Author

Graham Ogden - Edmonton Homes For Sale

Martian landings, cathedrals and celebrating genius

Halloween. 1938. A young radio host reads a fictional story about Martians landing in New Jersey. People listening to the broadcast believe it is real. Some say they can smell the poisonous gas, others claim to feel the heat rays, another begins to choke on imaginary fumes.

The police station receives a number of calls from panicked listeners who say they can see the fires from the battle and hear the sounds of machine gun fire. Thousands flood the streets in fear.

Before it was all over riots broke out and fifteen people were killed. To date it still stands as one of the oddest moments in mass hysteria. The events surrounding the reading of The War of the Worlds is a towering example of how important knowing the truth really is.

Wayne Gretzky was asked about his incredible skills as a legend in hockey. He repeatedly shared that he wasn't the fastest person on ice, but that most people go to where the puck is and that he had learned to go to where the puck would be.

For "The Great One" anticipating the outcome ahead of time served him well. We would be wise to follow his advice when it comes to making decisions and using accurate information when it comes to choices about life.

Indeed, Jesus said that we would know the truth and be set free. The "knowing" in his statement could be interpreted that we would know "by experience." The truth is not just an intellectual exercise, but it is something that is felt in the heart and lived day to day.

Once doing an interview in Calcutta, a reporter was overwhelmed at the poverty stricken environment Mother Teresa served in. She told the nun, "I wouldn't do what you're doing for all the money in the world."

Mother Teresa replied, "Neither would I." She lived by a different rhythm that was not dependent on accolades or external rewards, but by a truth she experienced in her heart of heart.

Ancient rabbis spoke of a bone in the spine that never decayed, saying that in the next age a new body would be grown from this fragment. Truth is like that as well, it never deteriorates no matter the time or place. Indeed, by its very definition truth never changes.

It was for this reason that Cathedrals in Europe were built to last for centuries. Those who constructed them believed the message they entailed would go on forever.

So may we know by experience that which doesn't change over time; wisely anticipating the outcome of our choices and living free indeed. It is a promise worth more than all the money in the world.

About the Author

A former pastor, Tobin holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in theology. Having traveled widely in the Marine Corps and as a graduate student, Tobin has spent the past 15 years gathering some of the world's most powerful life-changing truths. He's the author of The Life That Is Really Life: How Biblical Truth Can Transform Your Spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Relational Health which is available on Amazon and at his website twominutesermon.com