Pray for my west-side neighbours
In this settled community, built in '71, you can quickly see that all the neighbours are very much the same; in terms of age, ethnicity, and income level. All but one. On the west side of my home I have seen children crying as they removed their school back packs from the family mini-van as it is repossessed. I have watched as two police cars were parked in front of their home for over an hour. And I did nothing as the parents desperately tried to jumpstart a beat-up camper van.

With a broken freezer and old vehicles decorating their front yard this family certainly stands out from the rest in the neighbourhood.

My husband and I haven't lived here long, but it doesn't take long to notice this family is afraid to even wave at anyone passing by. How can I pretend to be an ambassador for Christ if I treat this family no differently than the other community members do?

But I admit that I am unsure how to start befriending them without making them (and me) feel awkward. Since God often uses prayer to reach hearts, it occured to me that the better way to start is to pray for this young family. I certainly can sympathize with them having experienced similar events in my childhood.

It would be awesome to share with them the Hope, Peace, and Freedom from Chaos that is available through Christ; our Lord and Saviour! What a joy that would be - especially at Christmas.

How important is a name? Does your name accurately reflect something of your character or is it just a convenient way for people address you? Even though the most common name for North American baby girls born in the late 60's was Teresa, I have learned to appreciate my God Given name. Like any teenager, I have done some experimenting on what I wanted to be called. Sometimes that was met by absolute refusal by others to accept my new name. But other times, it was a welcome relief to have a name to be proud of.

My parents decided that they would name their first child Terri whether it was a boy or a girl. If it was a boy they would put “Terrance” on the birth certificate. If the baby was a girl they would write “Teresa” on the birth certificate. So I was born. “Teresa” was written on the birth certificate but I was known by all family everywhere as simply Terri; except for those Dennis-the-Menace moments when exasperated parents loudly call out your full name.

When I was in elementary school we were still required to fill out all papers with our Christian Name and our Family Name. So, in grade school I was known as Teresa. Contrast that to today’s generation where you are asked to fill out your Given Names and Last Name. It's funny how things have changed in just one generation. Your given names can be pronounced or written any way you want, as long as you are not signing a legal document. For example, I have friend named Donna who spells her name “D-a-w-n-a.” Maybe one day she will legally change the spelling of her first name. Also, there is a growing trend where husbands take on their wives’ last name; especially if she is well-known celebrity. While many other wives either keep their last name or hyphenate it – joining their family name with that of their husbands’. I wonder how they decide what their children’s last name will be.

Growing up in an Italian neighborhood on the East Side of Vancouver, most of my female classmates had the same first name as mine, with the Catholic spelling that adds the ‘H’ to “Theresa.” As a matter of fact, the name Teresa was the most popular baby girl name across North America in the late 1960’s. By the time I started Van Tech High School, whenever a teacher would call out "Teresa", at least 10 of us would answer. Driven by a teenager’s natural desire to be unique, I started going by the handle "Terri." In fact some of my oldest and dearest friends don't recognize me as anything but Terri.

Many would describe Terri was a bit tough, a little snobby, somewhat promiscuous and very independent. She would manage by herself, thank you very much. But ten years after high school something amazing happened.

Just weeks before my 10 year high school reunion, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My life changed in that moment. Not everything changed at once but many things did. I was no longer so hard hearted and I no longer took pleasure in false love. I knew that God loved me and He had given me not only a new life, but also a new name. My Christian Name. Teresa. Many family and friends refused to accept either this new name or my new found faith, but I kept the name God gave me.

Teresa is translated “Harvester” in the Greek. I am honored that God gave me this name and I pray to show Him my love by helping to bring in the harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God, and for His Glory.

For the Curious:
• Vancouver Technical Secondary stood in as Smallville High in the first season of the television series “Smallville,” before the filming location was moved to Templeton Secondary School.
• Vancouver Technical Secondary was also used for the backdrop in the first “Scary Movie,” in the beauty contest scene, and as the school location for the movie “Air Bud,” in which all the classroom and indoor scenes are filmed. Students from the school were also used as extras in that film.
• In the movie “Paycheck” with Ben Affleck, the outside of the school as well as the main hall are the locations of scenes.
• Vancouver Technical Secondary was also used for the set as Cornwall High School in the movie “She's the Man” starring Amanda Bynes. In the second scene of the movie, after the credits in the beginning, actual students from Vancouver Technical can be seen playing basketball in the background.
• Notable Alumni include the Rock and Roll Band "Trooper."

From: http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Vancouver-Technical-Secondary-School#History

Today is the Day That I Happily Refuse to Purchase and iPhone

Live one day at a time, experiencing one moment at a time, accepting things as they are, knowing it will get better.