Ten Things to Do Before You Go to Canada

1.) Know who the Prime Minister of the country is.

2.) Know the five major cities of the province or territory you're visiting (so you'll have a general idea of where you're going and where you want to go.) For example the major cities in Ontario are Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, North York and London.

3.) Know how big Canada is; this isn't usually for Americans but it can be for Europeans. The whole of European can fit into Canada so you'll difficulty seeing all provinces in a week.

4.) Know how cold it will be--if you're traveling to Canada during the months of December, January or February you can expect temperatures as low as 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit.) The Canadian winter is legitimate.

5.) Know all the Canadian provinces and territories by name.

6.) Memorize the Canadian anthem.

7.) Sing old fashion Canadian songs that even Canadian immigrants don't know; such as The Maple Leaf Forever and Come on You Brave Canadians. (Although Americans might have a problem with the latter.)

8.) Don't Expect to find maple syrup or a lumber jack around--they're not as common as you might think. But the part about the great northern wilderness is true, in fact over half of Canada is known as "crown land" which means it officially belongs to the monarch whose authority is used to give away that land as our population grows.

9.) Practice being polite--many of us would be thankful if you would!

10.) And lastly, if you really plan on visiting Canada then please watch this video.

Four Alternative Ways of Life

In a world where almost all people live in a similar way: They go to school, get a job, get money, be with someone they love, retire and die. Some people actually bother to think about the typical life, as they watch almost everyone else move together in one line going through the same six steps over and over again they question it.

They question a world where almost everyone lives like insects enslaved to their societies habits and they question why having more pieces of paper (that seem to have no value unless adults play pretend)  actually matters. And then they question why they would acquire a mass of things only to lose them all when they die. But then they wonder "But is there really a different way?" A minority of people throughout history said yes to that question.

Here are four of the most alternative life styles:

1.) Christian Asceticism: Some Christians have chosen to live a private life and go into the wilderness because they are seeking to live in the eternal depth of Truth--which in Christianity is embodied in the person of Jesus Himself. (John 14) This is considered extremism because it goes beyond what any known first century Christian did, but going into the wilderness for a set time isn't unfounded--Jesus Himself spent forty days in the wilderness fasting. An example is St. Antony from Egypt.

2.) Living in the Wild: Sometimes people go to live the wilderness not mainly to meditate, worship and pray sometimes it's because they're tried of living in a society where they have to constantly depend on other people or they see the world as corrupt. So they go somewhere alone. They grow their own food, cook their own meals and live their own lives happy to not depend on others for things they can do themselves. An example is Masafumi Nagasaki of Japan. 

3.) Living in a Commune : Some people want to try sharing--working for their community not themselves personally. They may go to school and work but all the money they make goes towards the needs and wants of every member of the community. An example is the Judean Christian community (Acts 4:32-37) who did so in love of God and their fellow believers.

4.) Choosing poverty: Some people recognize the vanity of wealth and the corruption it can lead to the soul--but they don't want to leave society as a whole. So they give up everything they have and become beggars. An example is St. Francis of Assisi.

Center for Medical Progress releases Fourth Video on Sale of Baby Parts

Two weeks after posting their first video which quickly went viral and got over two million views a fourth video providing strong evidence of the American Planned Parenthood has been selling of parts of unborn children has gone public.

The killing of children under three months has been legal in America nation wide for forty-two years. It began with concern that women were suffering as a result of secretive abortions that damaged the mother.

Since the Roe vs. Wade decision individuals of different religions as well as Agnostics have condemned the toleration of abortion.

Well-known individuals who have strongly criticized the toleration of abortion include: The late Christopher Hitchens, Evangelist Billy Graham and Pope Francis.

The Roman Catholic Church has always condemned abortion and the vast majority of Biblical theologians agree that it is a sin. Most Muslims are also against abortion believing that the human life begins either at conception, the first movement of the baby, after 40 days of being in the womb or at the latest 120 days.

The world's best known Tibetan Buddhist, Lhamo Dondrub said this in a 1993 interview with the New York Times: "Of course, abortion, from a Buddhist viewpoint, is an act of killing and is negative, generally speaking. But it depends on the circumstances." He goes to explain that if the child is mentally retarded and would cause difficulty for the parent the killing is acceptable. With that said a number of Buddhists condemn abortion outright. 

A number of American Republicans have committed themselves to supporting no bill that would give additional funds to Planned Parenthood. 

Jewish Man Stabs Homosexuals in Jerusalem

Thursday July, 30, 2015.

Just hours ago Yishai Schlissel, an Orthodox Jewish man went on a stabbing spree in Jerusalem wounding six individuals, two of whom are in critical condition. The Orthodox man felt outraged because the  Gay Pride paraders insisted on demonstrating in Israel's most religious city. Only about 30% of Israelis are religious, with the largest consecrated of Orthodox Jews being in Jerusalem (a city of eight to nine million people.) 

This isn't Mr. Schlissel's first stabbing either; in 2005 he stabbed three people at a similar event. He had just gotten out of prison for his assault three weeks ago. 
Schlissel's attack follows a long tradition known as Zealotry that exists in Judaism as well as within other religions. Homosexual acts were condemned in the Jewish Torah under the penalty of stoning; although there are no examples in the Hebrew Scripture of this penalty ever being carried out there are plenty examples of zealots throughout the Tanakah: There's the grandson of Aaron who is praised for killing followers of the god Baal of Peor and the Prophet Samuel is noted to have killed a King of the Amalekites--a nomadic people who lived in south Israel and the Sinai region. 

Men such as Judas Maccebeus have served as an inspiration as a revolt leader against gentile influence after leading a successful revolt against the Syrian-Greeks in the 2nd century BC. 

Most Orthodox Jews who have spoken out condemned the attack with some hoping that the Torah will once again be the Law of the land and obeyed by all Jews. 

The city was hesitate to even allow such a parade in their conservative city. 

For the the raw text on events mentioned above, click the links:

Phinehas and the followers of Baal

The Prophet Samuel kills the Amalekite King

The Triumph of Judas Maccabeus

Ten Tips for Christian Sojourners

1.) Don't tell anyone exactly what you're doing. Clearly you'll want to give your loved ones some idea that you'll be going to somewhere alone for at least ten hours but remember that Christ taught to do your righteous acts in secret--and what you're doing is a righteous and sacred act. And remember Jesus taught us to pray in secret (to shut your door so that "only your Heavenly Father can see you") by going on about your plans to spend hours praying your clearly violating Jesus's teaching.

2.) Don't bring food--unless you have to. Unless you have a medical condition, you've chosen to go out on a day when there's a lead warning or you get uncontrollably hungry when you go without food for a while--you'll be fine without food for the greater part of a day. Taking food with you can attract insects and sometimes mammals. And remember fasting is a Biblical thing to do.

3.) Don't eat much the day before in the afternoon. Unless you've chosen a place to meditate, worship and pray where you aren't violating the law by "going in the wild"; I do suggest you eat as little as you can in the afternoon before you head out.

4.) Don't bring the phone, unless you have to. For most people there is no greater successful device at distracting them than their mobile devices. So why not just leave it at home for one day; unless of course you really need it. If you do honestly believe you need it than I suggest you turn it off and only check it as much as three times a day.

5.) Travel without the watch. This one might seem really weird but I've found there's something beautiful about not knowing the exact hour and minute when I'm sojourning. If you want to know what time it is you can easily put a stick in the ground and to know when it's time to head home just look for a sunset (it's hard to miss.)

6.) Consider bringing a chair or a blanket. Sitting outside for ten hours can be more difficult than you might think and you tend to get sore.

7.) Turn off the tunes. Bring music with you may assist in your worship but it can just as easily become a snare if you fall into the trap of listening to music for pleasure or mindlessness instead of using the music as a way to worship God. The purpose of a worship song is to direct you, as an individual to worship God--not for you to enjoy yourself. You must be active, not passive. You must truly worship God and not be hypnotized by sound and words.

9.) Don't repeat words. In their obsession for a "spiritual experience" some people repeat the same words over and over again, but while that may bring the mind into a form of fluffiness--you will never be in communion with God this way because it requires an act in the core of your being. A holy resolve to worship Him through Christ--don't let yourself be deluded by merely mental practices.
Jesus said this: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."-Matthew 6:7. Be conscious, don't empty your mind--use it but not only your mind but your soul and your heart also. 


10.) Don't be discouraged if you fail, but persevere. If you find yourself unable to stay out for the day know that you're not alone. God may let you go out another day and you should remember that God knows your heart.

What is Christian Sojourning?

Before going through the steps I want to note that this practice is solely meant for Christians to greater realize the glory of God; it isn't how to become a Christian and it certainly isn't for those who have no desire to know the Christ that so many people from all parts of our world have come to know.

These steps are meant for those people who have Born Again and who are bearing evidence of true conversion.

With that said, you may be asking "what is Christian sojourning?" Christian sojourning involves these five things: 

1.) A right worship: You must have the mind to go out to a place (idly alone--except from God) and you must go out to this place for the glory of God. You're journey and meditation must be with His honor in mind--it must be in Christ, by Him, through Him and for Him. 

2.) A proper spot: You must choose a location away from people, where you can spend the day meditating, worshiping and praying to God through Christ. 

3.) Proper dedication: Ideally you would spend the day in your chosen place; you would set out a few minutes before dawn and head back home shortly after sunset. There are obvious problems for sisters in the faith who are in a greater threat of rape and physical abuse in the early and late hours. However, it is highly encouraged that you make a real effort to spend the entire day in meditation, worship and prayer. 

4.) Proper preparations: Bringing things such as sunscreen, bug spray (both of which are highly recommended) as well as water if you think you'll need it. I would encourage you to fast from sunrise to sunset. 

5.) Proper wisdom: Knowing your area and how safe it crucial. But spending time away from people and in a real sense with God will change your life--not because of your location, your sun screen or bug spray but because of the glorious Presence of God which can be felt and God Who can be known in the deepest core of your being. 

Remembering that your relationship with God is possible because of what Christ did. If you lose sight of this--you're communion with God will cease in a way that is "feel-able" in the most real and the most deep sense.

Ten Tips for Christian Sojourners