This week at The Lion's Den

Well we are meeting at 5pm and a potluck will be had. Let us know what you're bringing! Post it... That would be best and that way everyone can see what everyone else is bringing... We will talk about the Lion's Den and its objectives for the coming year. The Den will begin collecting canned goods (non-perishable stuff) as of this Saturday and we will help support families in the area and throughout Hamilton. So Bring'em! We will also begin collecting tithes which will be applied to the ministry itself. We will use the money to help purchase things for the needy and to help supply our ministry needs and ressources (there aren't too many of those so most will go toward any project that we decide to support or take on). All of the decisions of where to spend the money will be decided by our official board. Feel free to let us know if you would like to be a part of the team. You can also describe the area that you would like your money to be designated on an offering enveloppe. All offerings given in a marked donation enveloppe (available on the piano) will receive a donation receipt for 2007 (for tax purposes, to be received in 2007).

Ok so after all of that... We will be talking about um... loving each other...

Bring your musical instruments and let us know if there are any song requests that you would like to sing/play for worship! Ok I know... Days of Elijah... Well um, we do have the music.... I think that if we do this song we'll have to have dancers! Even those with sprained ankles! Yes that means you Brynna! lol ... ok so it was more like a kolol (kind of laughing out loud...) ha ha

Resolution to get more sleep...

Well you probably already knew this but I thought that it would be nice to post because I know that most of us don't actually get enough sleep...

One major factor for maintaining good health is getting an adequate amount of sleep. Perhaps you’ve had the chance to catch up on some zzz’s over the Holidays but on a regular basis how do you rate?

Many of us will be attempting to revamp or adjust the ways in which we take care of ourselves in the New Year. Let’s not forget the sleep factor when assessing our well being needs.

Typical Sleep Needs


Age Group or Special Group


Amount of Sleep Needed



Infants


* About 16 hours per day of sleep

Babies and toddlers


* From 6 months to 3 years: between 10 and 14 hours per day. Young children generally get their sleep from a combination of nighttime sleep and naps. See: How Much Sleep Is Enough for My Child?, especially for tips on shaping nighttime awakenings in young children.

Children


* Ages 3 to 6: between 10 and 12 hours of sleep

Ages 6 to 9: about 10 hours of sleep

Ages 9 to 12: about 9 hours of sleep



Teenagers


* About 9 hours of sleep per night. Teens have trouble getting enough sleep not only because of their busy schedules, but also because they are biologically programmed to want to stay up later and sleep later in the morning, which usually doesn’t mesh with school schedules. See How Much Sleep Do I Need?.

Adults


* For most adults, 7 to 8 hours a night appears to be the best amount of sleep, although some people may need as few as 5 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each night.

Older adults


* Current thought is that older adults need as much, if not more, sleep than middle-aged adults. Taking a midday nap may help. See Sleep and seniors: Insomnia isn’t inevitable as you age

Pregnant women


* During pregnancy, women may need a few more hours of sleep per night. See Pregnancy and Sleep: A Contradiction in Terms?.

The REAL gift exchange...

So for all of yall who are actually gonna make it out this week... we'll meet at 7pm. Do our study and then open gifts... I have a little surprise for us all!!! lol
See ya then!

"TO the YOUTH of AMERICA" by Andrew Strom

This is Jason. I found this as a blog posting on the band Seven Systems' MySpace. Makes you think about what it is we should really be striving for in this short life that we have here on Earth to serve God and in turn each other with more than simply just physical ways such as appearances and musical taste/style...it needs to be much more deeply rooted than that as you will see. Don't just stop at being a "Cultural Christian" but strive to be "EXTREME" in all you say and do for Christ's sake, being set apart from the world without compromise so as to be a shining example of the Message Christ gave us to go out and make disciples with yo.

"TO the YOUTH of AMERICA"

by Andrew Strom.

I write this as a musician and a radical. Christian Youth of America, your generation is dying, and I need to ask if you are EXTREME enough to provide the answers. We know there never was anyone more "Extreme" than Jesus. But what about you?

Christian Youth, I need to ask why you sit in the padded pews of your fathers while all around the darkness takes your cities and your friends.

I need to ask why you worship the great god of Entertainment, just like your parents before you - but a bit 'louder' - and think that is "radical".

I need to ask why you think it is "extreme" to slam and mosh, when all the while the devil owns your streets, and fat Record Companies line their pockets with your cash.

I need to know why you have allowed the system to make you a slave - a "consumer" - a clone. I need to know why you can be sucked into buying $150 shoes and $200 sunglasses - while 30,000 children die of starvation every day.

I need to know why you will not cry out to the rich money-preachers "REPENT". I need to know why you still enjoy it when they tickle your ears and never speak of Hell. I need to know why you accept it when their gospel sounds like a toothpaste commercial - all slick and no substance. Well-dressed drones with plastic smiles, selling you the latest line in snake-oil. WHEN WILL YOU WEEP?

I look at your piercings and your tattoos and your hair and I still have to tell you: You are nowhere near EXTREME ENOUGH. The outward appearance will not do.

The time is coming when an army of young warriors will hit the streets - fearless and bold beyond anything we have ever seen. Even death itself will hold no fear. They will cry to the church "REPENT" and to the comfortable, "SELL what you have and GIVE TO THE POOR". They will be hated and despised by religious authorities. They will openly decry the TV preachers and eschew the watered-down pap that passes for 'gospel' in our day. They will reject sin and love people - even the homeless and the very least. Utterly pure of heart, they will befriend the prostitutes and the gang bangers. They will look and sound just like Jesus.

With great daring and ruthless aggression, this army will make war on the devil and the darkness. Their music will be hymns of battle. Their sound will ROAR over the crowd. Truly these shall be the 'Sons of Thunder'.

Christian Youth of America, can you not hear the call of God in this hour? All heaven awaits the moment when you will arise and ACT on behalf of your generation.

To the Christian Youth of America I say:
It is time to get "EXTREME".

God bless you all.
-Andrew Strom.

Our Christmas Gathering

Well thanks guys for the fun email replies regarding what you wanted for Christmas. I'm so glad that you all think that chocolate is NOT considered junk food... This week is our gift exchange and we'll study Christmas scripture... It should be lots of fun! Remember not to write who the gift is from and maybe we can guess who gave the gifts! That could be fun too!

Ok so here's what we'll be reading and studying...

Luke 2

2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
NIV

Discussion questions to ponder...

1. Why did God allow for such unfavourable circumstances surrounding the birth of His Son and our Savious Jesus Christ?

2. What might have happened if there were only favourable circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth?

3. What was the original message of Christmas?

4. How has Christmas strayed from it's original message?

5. If God were to send a messenger to earth today to proclaim the true message of Christmas, what would it be and how could it be materialized in today's North American culture?

The scripture highlighted in pink could be depicted through a wonderful art project (painting, drawing, whatever.... bring something to draw on and try it out!)

No meeting this week

The Lion's Den has a Christmas Staff luncheon in Kitchener... We will miss you. Pray about the ministry projects in the previous posts... OH AND REMEMBER! Secret Santa next Saturday!!! OH YEAH! I think I've got the names figured out! lol OH YA! I still haven't bought my present for that!!!!! Hmmmmm........

So, let's get the Lion's Den involved in this...

The day has arrived. It’s time to enlist.


Many of you have been introduced to the women of La Tienda. La Tienda ("the store") is a fair trade arts co-op for women located in the Dominican Republic. The women create originally designed items for sale. Beautiful jewellery, bags, candles, lip gloss, soap, paper and more. This co-op, lead by Rachel Sticklee, gives women of the village a way to sustain their own economy by creating gifts of beauty. Working at the Tienda enables these women to have enough money for rice and beans so that they and their children can eat everyday.
The Tienda however is not owned by the workers themselves. Often they are threatened of being kicked out of their place of work. If this happens their livelihoods are in serious jeopardy.





(La Tienda; inside the co-op)
edeva is taking the initiative to make it possible for the women of La Tienda to OWN their own land and building to ensure the sustainability of their economic futures. This will enable them to continue working without the pressures of landlord mood swings, and continue providing for their families. Without the opportunity to work at the Tienda often women are left with the options of rummaging through the dumps or prostitution as ways to provide for their children.
What is needed to make this a reality? $10,000.
What can we do? We can join the ARMY of 100. edeva is asking 100 women to commit $2 per week for 52 weeks to meet this goal. It’s a mere $104 per person, collected over the course of one whole year. In early December of 2007 we will present Rachel with the $10,000 (or more) for the women of the Tienda to own their own property, building, and futures. Together, we can do it!
Are you ready to fight for the freedom of these women? To help end the cycle of poverty? To use what you’ve been given to enhance the life of another? Then start today, December 1, 2006 to work towards your personal, familial, or group goal of raising $104 dollars for the women of LaTienda.

Join with your friends, your sisters, your daughters and mothers (whoever), and join the ARMY of 100.
army = "any body of persons organized for any purpose". (dictionary.com)
Ways to get started:
tell your friends
create an ARMY of 100 group
grab a container, jar, hat, whatever and start collecting
Ways to raise $2/week:
Eat breakfast at home one morning and forego that Tim Horton’s bagel and specialty coffee
Purchase a cheaper lipstick and donate the rest to the Tienda
Instead of buying those bags of potato chips that are on sale - donate. You’ll help feed someone else while watching your waist line decline. Now there’s incentive!
Have a brainstorming session with your friends and come up with what will work for you.
*Please email info(at)edeva(dot)ca and let us know of your ARMY of 100 group. We will feature your group on edeva’s ‘Feature Friday’s’ posts. Also, look for LaTienda product to be featured on upcoming Feature Friday’s.

Christmas gift ideas...

Here's another blog entry from a friend. I really think that this is important to support. I will do my best to support this. Let me know what you think or even forward this onto some friends and family. Lets help some less fortunate people this season and all year through... Isn't that what Jesus would want us to do? These women are slaves and are building this business to be able to get away from the brutality of their lives... Many women are being sold into the sex trade and these women are doing their best to keep their families from having to live this horror.

La Tienda is arts co-op for women located in the Dominican Republic. The women create originally designed items for sale. Beautiful jewellery, bags, candles, lip gloss, soap, paper and more. This co-op, lead by Rachel Sticklee, gives women of the village a way to sustain their own economy by creating gifts of beauty. Edeva supports the women of La Tienda by setting up "La Tienda Parties". At these parties you’ll hear more about this project and have the chance to buy some of the handmade creations. If you would like to setup a "La Tienda Party" in your area email us at: info(AT)edeva(DOT)ca



So Christmas is only twenty days away. Do you have everything you need? Consider purchasing LaTienda products for your special friends and family members. A new Products page displays these beautiful items. edeva will continue to add more product photos early next week.
Simply email info(at)edeva(dot)ca for purchasing information (shipping fees apply).

Or go directly to the site http://www.latienda.moonfruit.com/