On Monday (Nov28) two Buddhist monks from The Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) in eastern PEI came in to have a discussion with my Religious Studies: Buddhism: East & West class. Liu and Frank were not what I had expected. Frank spoke the better English so he did most of the talking. He had a PhD from Colorado in metalology or something, so he could pretty much tell us anything about any kind of metal. He was easy to talk to and quite funny.

There has been a lot of ignorance-rooted talk about the Buddhists down east. Being from Montague myself, I know how closed-minded things can be in that area, especially regarding Taiwanese monks coming into town with a culture that is completely reversed from our own! It's a good thing they didn't show up 15 years ago, when my friends and I were in high school; we probably would have lynched them!!

And then there are the demon-hunting Christians who are quick to judge, and unfortunately  slow to understand. Its hard to have discussion with someone when the only words coming out of your mouth are ones of superiority and condemnation. Oh, to remember our lives before the sweet grace of the Savior worked on our hearts. Humility need not be discarded after we accept Him, in fact its needed just as much, maybe more?

I listened to 'teaching' about the demonic motive behind the GEBIS, and how they worship demons, hold seances over the land, corrupt the fishing industry, leave a path of perversion and lust across the land, and seek to destroy all we hold dear, so, I decided to personally ask them.
All the students in the class had the opportunity to ask ANY question they wanted. No topic was off limits. Knowing that Buddhism strongly prohibits lying in any form, I was confident that the monks would not be in a deceiving kind of mood, and would answer as truthfully as they were able to whatever was asked, as should the Christian be.

The first question I asked was this: 
What are your aspirations for PEI? What is your plan for the next 5yrs, 10yrs? What do you desire to see happen here?
Answer: Frank answered that the monks came to PEI because it is quiet and peaceful; conducive for meditation. They want to train Buddhists from Taiwan and China, and then send them back there.
That was it. No plan for Island-wide domination?! No plan to sacrifice Christian babies to Lord Buddha?! Weird.
Oh, they also had aspirations to cultivate Island wide organic farming, working with local farmers, and they want to save the forests. Blasphemous! I almost threw my book at them!

The second question I asked them:
What has been the response of Christian churches in the area towards you? Have you been contacted or received well?
Answer: They said that they did go to the Catholic day of prayer last month, when 'in the Spirit of Assisi' Catholicism promoted a day of inter-religious prayer. They also went to a Christina funeral of the mother of a girl who they knew. But other than that, they said that they did not have any contact with the churches in the area. Noone has extended a hand to them, but neither have they sought out communication. "Maybe we should," Frank said. "It would probably be a good thing."
Indeed it would.

Things we Christians can learn.

#1 Be healthy
They made they point that organic farming is good because it makes your body healthy and its hard to meditate long if your body is unhealthy. 
Christians need some of this revelation. Maybe the reason we forsake the discipline of prayer is because our bodies are filled with garbage that we accumulate mainly through our Western diet? Just a theory.
Most of the Christians I know take little thought to what they put in their bodies. This needs to change. We need to be healthier. Jenny and I went vegan mainly for ethical reasons, partly for diet, partly for environmental. We recognized that our diet was not conducive for Kingdom glorification, so we are making changes so that it is. To be healthy is to be more effective in regards to anything we do, and you know what, when you're healthy, you feel better!

#2 Respect Nature and Creation
The monks said they want to keep the forests and farm organically. Pretty good things, me thinks. They also have an immense respect for other living nonhumans to such an extent that they bought and released lobster back into their home (the sea), and they also buy land so that they can put "some horses and cattle on them so they can live their lives out. These animals are not for killing - they're giving these animals a good retired life".
Many Christians I know do not have respect for the land on which we live. Sure, there is a lot of talk of 'taking back the land' and 'blessing the land' and 'reversing the curse' but this is usually nullified by the fact that we plunder the land and exploit it just as much as any greedy secular. As with a lot of areas, what we preach and what we do are different things. This needs to change. The earth was not given for us, but to us. There is a stewardship that has been neglected. Even in regards to animals; their killing and eating has become so lackadaisical in our lives that we see them only as resources and not sentient beings whom God has endowed with the breath of life as we ourselves. CHANGE. Animals are not resources to be plundered for our selfishness and greed. What would they say to us if we could but understand them? What boundaries should we put on compassion in light of how compassionate God was (and is) with us? God did not give us nature to rape it, He gave it to us to care for.

#3 Select Who Influences You Wisely
And thirdly. They said that you cannot practice Buddhism by reading books, it must be through mentorship. Reading books will gain you knowledge, having a mentor who is more mature than you will help your practice.
How do you know if the one you have selected is more mature than you? 
Apart from the obvious things, they said that if you need to give them $$ for teaching, you had better look elsewhere.
Um...........
Christianity seems to fall short in this area as well. I cannot count the number of 'Christian teachers' that highly promote their new teaching series that is your key to, well, just about anything you need. It's a valid point, if you need to pay for impartation, they it may be good to look elsewhere.
This also needs to change. Things have gotten so complicated in Christendom; a return to more simplicity would be welcome.

#4 Discipline
The monks day starts at 3:50am (to fight laziness) and ends about 9:30pm. It is filled with: prayer, ritual, classes, cooking, cleaning, maintenance, management, etc etc. 
Enough said. They are working towards a goal: enlightenment.
Christians may not need to 'work' to attain salvation, but they need not be lazy either. There is also much work to be done. While our motive may be different, our output should not be.

There is an interest on PEI towards Buddhism. GEBIS holds an open house each July in Montague where people are invited to come and see what they are all about. This past July over 600 interested people took part.
For the brave churches who read this, hold an open house this spring and see how many interested 'seekers' come take part. My guess is that their will not be near 600; why? 
Because we haven't done our job. We have misrepresented Christ, and we should repent, and bear fruit in keeping with that repentance. 
Let's Love; agape filled, charity filled, unconditionally filled, simple, active Love. Let's let that be what characterizes us. To any and all, deserving and undeserving, Christian or Buddhist. 

In saying all this, I just want to make Christians more aware of the world around them, and the differences it contains. I do not believe that the Buddhists have their theology (yes, they believe in gods, millions, perhaps billions of them) straightened out, and am more than willing to confess that the historicity behind their core founder is far from solid. 
Jesus is unique in history, undoubtedly. 'He' is the Savior, none else. But there is room in our tradition to love those whose position is like the one we used to be, estranged from a relationship with God's Son that is a fulfillment of the assurance of salvation. Buddha sets a path before you, but Christ promises assurance, and that is a BIG word. Assurance of salvation. 1 John 5:13
We Christians need to learn some things from them there monks though, in regard to living our lives with a Kingdom focus at the forefront; this includes rethinking our views on ecology, compassion for nonhumans (animals), and the environment, discipline, and health, to name but a few areas.
The most beloved saint who has ever lived, Francis of Assisi, exemplified these traits to a degree that maybe no other Christian has, and his simple life still speaks to millions over 700 yrs after his death. People are still captivated by what he did, and what he stood for. We can learn from those like Francis, but that is not enough. We must also exemplify, or practice those same things. We are here to steward the world, not plunder it for our own selfishness/shortsightedness.
There is more at stake than we might think.

Crunch time! Indeed. 
Things are winding down here at UPEI for the Fall semester. I have not blogged for awhile simply because I do not seem to be able to find the time, and I shouldn't be now because I have an exam Thursday, another next week, and a 20 pg paper on 'Thomas Aquinas' doctrine on Heresy' to work on!
My actual classes have been interesting, some moreso than others. The other day I was busy trying to finalize what courses I would take next semester, and I think I have them down:

Religions of the World: Western Traditions (1st yr)
Understanding the Old Testament (2nd yr)
Politics of Russia & Its Borderlands (3rd yr)
Myths of Hate & Evil (1st yr)
Religion, Violence & Terrorism (3rd yr)

It should be a busy, but interesting semester. Two of my courses are 3rd yr, so I anticipate very busy workloads from them. The two 3rd yr courses I am taking this semester (Modern Christian Thought {which is anything but Xian} and Thomas Aquinas) are both very busy!
Things are progressing quickly though, and I am almost 1/8 of the way to my degree. It can't come fast enough though, other things await us.

I watched Ray Comfort's mini-movie twice this week, and I admit, it gave me some things to ponder over. I actually like Ray Comfort. Whether or not I agree with him 100% doctrinally or not, the man is out on the streets speaking to the majority. I know a lot of people who knitpick much about his methods who are doing far less for the Kingdom. 
So far, this video has over 1.4 million views, and over 23,000 comments on YouTube.
So, have a view, and share what ya think. It's definitely a hot topic, and I think it should be.

Volonte was Haitian, and his family did not have it easy (1). His father died when he was 8, and two days before that he had lost a brother. His mom's business went bankrupt because of medical bills, and the smaller house she built was destroyed in the earthquake. Her church helps the family out right now.


Volonte, by the way, had bone cancer. Before the devasting earthquake, he had been suffering from a painful, swollen leg. A doctor (medical missionary) helping out in Haiti after the quake met him and took a biopsy to have it looked at in the US. Getting the biopsy was no easy thing because of the massive level of devastation, so to preserve it while it made its way to the States, they preserved it in Vodka. A diagnosis of bone cancer was proclaimed, and the doctor offered to pay for Volonte's travel expenses and treatment if he could get him to the States. After a complicated ordeal, it happened.

A pastor was contacted, who in turn contacted an amazing family who offered to take Volonte into their family and provide a home for him.

This is where I come in. I met Volonte at the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, NY this summer. HH is one of Paul Newman's Hole In The Wall camps for chronically and terminally ill children. He was in my Beaver Cabin, which is the oldest boy cabin on camp.

His amazing presence was immediately felt by all who came near him. He was funny, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, edifying, and most of all "a beautiful man".

I spent much time with Volonte over the next 5 days, possibly more than anyone else at the Ranch. I seen his fight with pain, as he tried to hide it when we were getting ready in the morning. We all bore witness to a self-sacrificing servant as he spoke of his desire to help people that were sick, and edify people who were downcast. His insight was admirable, especially when he asked Chocolate if he was a Christian. Chocolate replied that he was, and that he had a tattoo of a cross on the back of his shoulder. Volonte replied that just because you have a tattoo it does not make you a Christian. Chocolate agreed; but I think Chocolate convinced him of his sincerity throughout the week.

There is so much I could write about Volonte, and maybe I should, but I don't think I will. He was a 16 year old man, who was robbed of life. He spent what should have been a few of the greatest years of his life in dire discomfort, never asking us "Why?", but enduring it as a brave soldier.

Jenny & I (& Don Kephart) went and visited Volonte at his home after camp, and got to meet his family, and eat pizza with him, and play video games with him, and read the Bible with him. He loved Jesus, and exemplified his Savior's life.

The earth seems more dim without Volonte. I think about him not being able to come to Alumni next summer and my spirit weighs heavy. We had so much more to learn from him; and he had so much more life to live. But he will not be back. Volonte died a couple of days ago, and the world lost another one of those whom it was not worthy of. I consider it a gift of God to simply have known this amazing boy. He sang songs of Jesus at any given moment, anticipating the face-to-Face meeting that is inevitable for us all.

I'll stop now, because it is too easy to go on and on and on and on and on...........

I love you Volonte. Say 'Hello' to Jesus for me, and Francis of Assisi too.

Sometimes I'll check out what society says is good music on Billboard's Top 100 list. I'll usually listen to the top 5 or 10 songs to get a feel of what people are drawing entertainment from. While I admit that Adele (currently #1 w Someone Like You) has talent, I cannot see much else. Case in point: the video above! Coming in at #4 is LMFAO's 'Sexy And I Know It'. I know they are probably joking but the fact that this is a Top 5 song is indicative of societal depravation. I mean "What?!?!" I must admit though, the presence of Alistair Overeem (one of the best heavyweight MMA fighters in the world) at 1m31s was quite amusing. Other than that I am baffled.

School is crazy busy. I am currently into about a dozen or so books, writing papers, researching for numerous other papers, projects with accompanying presentations coming up, midterms, etc etc etc. It's really mind-boggling when I sit and think about it; good thing I don't have enough time to actually do that!!

Currently, in my Modern Christian Thought class, we are studying The Antichrist by the renowned Friedrich Nietzsche, who lived in the latter half of the 1800's. He is a complex figure, and I am enjoying his philosophy, if not his theology.

I just finished a draft of a review of Paul Waldau's book The Specter of Speciesism: Buddhist and Christian Views of Animals. This is for my Buddhism: East and West class (wish I'd have had this one under me belt before Cambodia) which I am enjoying immensely. Although I was at odds with some of his Biblical interpretation, I definitely found an author who's been added to my reading list. The review is approx. 12 pages, and I will likely post it on here after its graded. I think animal rights is something that more people need to be aware of, especially from a theological standpoint.

I am also working on research for papers dealing with the modern day relevance of the imitation of the life of St Anthony the Great and one on Thomas Aquinas' relationship with the nonhumans (or animals).

Supplementing all this academia is our involvement with Christ on Campus, a Christian group at university striving for revival at UPEI and Charlottetown. We are always brainstorming creative ways to make the Gospel known, and you can see a few of them on our 'Evangelism' blog.

All of this is towards a purpose. A purpose of the Divine. An answering to His call. That is what makes it all worthwhile, that is what makes it bearable, that is the reason for all the time, and finances, and work. All for a people we have not known yet. But He has. He has His hand on them as we speak.

Charlie's is an interesting story. He was raised from a wee one to be snake food. His owners then put him in with the snake to be devoured, but for 3 days the snake wouldn't eat him. There's gotta be some theological reference in there somewhere; I mean, 3 days, c'mon. So, the snake wouldn't do it, so his owners took him out and decided to keep him as a pet. For whatever reason they had to get rid of the snake, but their dwarf hamster Bud (who is gettin adopted Monday) and Charlie ended up at the Humane Society, where Jenny & I were introduced to him.
We were immediately struck by his funny personality, and yesterday decided that Charlie ought to have a home, and a loving family, like everyone else, so we filled out the adoption application and got word today that he was our's for the taking! I picked him up, put him in Sonnen's 'starter' cage and he's busy exploring as I write this. So far, he really likes running on his wheel, and snacking.
When I see Charlie I definitely see 'the least of these' no matter how out of context I have to take that verse to make it fit. To so many people, "Who gives a damn about a stupid little mouse?!" Well, we do. And we are going to give him a loving rest of his life cause we think he deserves it.

An ancient Indian story recounts how a traveler slips on a precipice and falls over the edge. As he tumbles down he grasps hold of a creeper and manages to stay his fall. At first he feels relieved, but looking down sees that beneath him is a pit of poisonous snakes. To add to his alarm, he notices that two mice, one black and one white, are nibbling away at the creeper he is holding onto. In this moment of despair he sees that honey is trickling down the creeper from a beehive that was overturned when he fell. As it reaches his lips he relishes the sweet taste and exclaims 'Oh, how wonderful is the taste of that honey!'

          The story depicts the Buddhist view of the human predicament. We are like the traveler, with death (the pit of snakes) staring us in the face. The black and white mice (night and day) are constantly whittling away at our lifespan. Yet in spite of this dire situation we, like the traveler, are captivated by pleasure (the honey) and forget all about the perils that surround us.

The first 'favorite find' from Cambodia happens to currently be for sale :( A full-length black leather tranchcoat! This beast weighs at least 10lbs and goes almost to my ankles. It is amazing, complete with a removable Thinsulate liner. The lady selling it wanted $60, but I only wanted to pay $50, so we met in the middle at $55. What a crazy deal.

          I am selling it because it is a little impractical for school and such. Trying to get a back-pack over this beast is kinda awkward, and it doesn't fit on the back of chairs!? Half the thing drags on the floor and people step on it and it gets caught in the legs, etc etc etc. 
My wife are also on a big 'animal rights' kick right now and we are trying to be a little more sensitive to the needs of all living things on this planet, not just our own. So, all these things have contributed to my reason for selling. And, I am eyeing up a nice Lumberjack hoodie/jacket thing but they expensive! So I thought if I could sell this, I'd buy that. If you are interested in buying, or even having a look, let me know.

The next 'find' is a pair of Emporio Armani frames I got for $40! We knew we needed an upgrade so we thought we could get a good deal in Cambodia instead of paying an arm and a leg back here in Canada, so before we left we went looking. Jenny got a pair of Christian Dior, which 'frame technitions' back home here are not impressed with quality wise, but the same people said mine were actually authentic and they were most undoubtedly real Armani frames. Whether they are or not is a matter of conjecture, what matters is, they are really nice, and they were cheap.

And finally my prized 'find'. I had previously bought two "Rolex" watches ($15 and $7) while in Cambodia, but seen this one with only a week or so to go before leaving. I fell in love with it instantly, but the lady wanted $30!?!? I tried to talk her down, but she wouldn't budge so I decided $30 was a good price for a decent watch anyways, even if it was a fake.

While at HH in NY this summer, the battery died so I took it to Precision Time at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury to see if they could change it. The fella on duty gave me a big spiel about how it was a "Rado" and it would be $60 to change the battery because Rado uses a special battery and it had to be specially weather-sealed blah blah blah. I told him about getting it in Cambodia and how it was probably a fake. He said it didn't look or feel like a fake but he could only really tell he took the back off and it was made of plastic (rather than 18-carat gold). If so, he would have to send it to Rado so they could destroy it!! I said no thanks and left.

I got thinkin how the watch was no good to me as it was so I took it back and got him to open it up. I came back 15min later and he said it was running again, and that it was indeed filled with 18-carat gold and the watch was worth between $2000-$4000. He said it could be a fake, but if it was, it was the best fake he had ever seen. Interesting.

So, maybe I have a Rado and maybe I don't. Don't metter to me. I like the watch either way.

So there ya go. A few stories about a few treasured finds in Cambodia.

$55 - full-length leather trenchcoat
$40 - Armani frames
$30 - Rado Jubile watch
-------
$$125!!

Ever since my time in St Petersburg, I have been a big fan of Чебурашка. It is a little Russian bear-like critter. Merchandise of him is kinda rare, but Jenny & I seen this book on Etsy awhile ago and I FREAKED OUT! I went back on the next day but it had been sold :( But.............it arrived in the mail a few days ago. It had been sold all right, TO MY WIFE WHO BOUGHT IT FOR ME!!! Isn't that awesome. Not only do I get to be married (3 whole years now) to an amazing woman of God, but she buys me Чебурашка things!
The book is completely in Russian and was sent from Ukraine. This is now one of my mostest cherished possessions.