"The first time"

Now I know when you read that title you might now want to keep reading because normally that title is connected with something else about life but please keep reading and trust me.

Yesterday I did two things with people for the first time.

The first was I went golfing with a friend from work. Last summer we went to the driving range for the first time. This summer we went golfing. As someone who has golfed since I was like 13 and almost golf’s once a week in the summer, the only time I have a first time is when I play a course I have not played before but to go out with someone for their first time ever playing is exciting. To hear them ask questions about what to do and why I do what I on the golf course. It was a great time.

The next thing was going to see the racket play at a place called the boat last night with two friends from school. Here is a side bar we got lost going to the place. I had directions from Goggle maps but it did not work out for me. I ended up calling my mom and getting her to look the place up and tell me where to go till I got there: end side back to story. The racket is my friend’s band he plays drums. I looked at their faces while they listened to the band rock out. What's exciting is to hear them talk about the music that was sweet too!

One thing about doing these two things with people for the first time and see how they liked things I do a lot and have not really thought about them because it is just part of my life. I was drawn to passages in the Bible when people met Jesus for the first time and how they reacted to seeing Jesus and hearing him for the first time. I think about the way the followers of Jesus just left everything to follow him. For some of them it was their first time meeting him. I want to keep being a part of people’s lives as their first time encountering with things. I love to see people have their first time with Jesus too!

That is the joy of being a Student Youth Leader and being a part of people's lives.

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"Yes I find the proof I need"

I know I have written a thought in a few weeks almost a month. But life got busy and it was hard to get time on Sunday to write a thought. So I might move the day again so check out for a new day for the thoughts to be posted.

So I have returned to the night shift at Maple Leaf Meats LTD. this summer. I get to work on Sunday night 6:00 pm to 2:30 am on Monday and the rest of the week I work 10:30 pm to 7:00 am. Yes that is all night and I try to sleep during the day and I find it hard. I need to cover the window in my room soon.

So back to the proof that I have found. At work we have a board where stuff can get posted. Someone posted a article. I found this article great, I ever stopped to read it the whole thing one time on my way to the office. People always ask me if I like working nights I say it is o.k. but I do not believe people were made to work nights. I never had proof for this but now I do. Here it is:
Irregular hours take their toll on workers
By JENNIFER YANG
for Metro Toronto
Thomas Edison was reputedly once fired from a job after spilling sulfuric acid during some late night work.
Perhaps graveyard shift fatigue got to him. Statistics show that it’s far easier for mistakes to happen when working the night shift, which incidentally, was also brought into common existence by Edison’s most famous invention. With the light bulb, graveyard shifts became much more viable and one in four Canadians now work a job outside of regular work hours. Unfortunately, the human body simply isn’t programmed for a nocturnal existence. “It’s not a normal function,” says Dr. Colin Shapiro, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. “You don’t see dogs going out and doing shift work. The human is just another animal and we aren’t wired to do it.”
We follow what’s called “circadian rhythms,” which slow us down at night and prime our bodies for action during the day. To work an evening job is to fight your body’s natural processes and night toilers are therefore more vulnerable to health issues, experiencing greater instances of digestive, cardiovascular and mental health problems. Recent studies also link shift work with certain types of cancer.
With these added risks comes a greater need to stay healthy. “Shift workers have an extra onus to make sure that their sleep and health needs are cared for,” says Shapiro. “They have to do the best they can with their environment and situation.” This certainly isn’t easy, however, and anyone who’s pulled an all-nighter before knows how tempting it is to resort to junk food and caffeine.
Daylight sleep often also equals less sleep. “Darkness is stimulus for sleep,” explains psychologist Dr. Gerry Goldberg. “Light stimulates hormones in your brain that literally wake you up.”
For John Johansson, a security guard who’s worked rotational night shifts for the past 10 years, sleeping during the day still poses a challenge.
“I get two to six hours of sleep at most. I’m happy with four,” he says. “It’s starting to take its toll.”
Workers punching in after midnight also suffer socially and it’s been shown that shift workers have higher divorce rates. “You’re out of sync with other people,” Goldberg explains. “You’re winding down, they’re gearing up. You tend to be in a world of your own."
Despite the pitfalls of evening work, however, night shifts also aren’t going anywhere so people should know what they’re getting into when taking one on. “Most people tend to not be realistic,” says Goldberg. “You have to plan ahead for it and know how you’re going to get your physical and social needs met.”

So here is what I need to to give me the proof that I was right about the effects working nights has on me. But however I still need to do it for the summer. I have 11 weeks left as of today.

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"Turning the radio down"

When I was a kid driving with my parents they would turn down the radio when they were lost and trying to find where the thing they were looking for was. I always thought it was funny yes turning down the radio is going to help you find what you are looking for. However now since I have started driving I find myself doing this. When I go to bank-thru bank I was turn my music down in the car. So I can focus on what I am doing. I now find that turing the radio down does help. I think so times we need to turn down more then the radio to be able to focus on things. I think we need to turn down a lot to hear what God is saying sometimes. We have so many thing around and we can not hear him say. I love you and want to be in a relationship with you. However you have so many things around us we can not hear him. And it wants for us to hear him.

The Bible says: Our God says, "Calm down, and learn that I am God! (Ps 46:10 CEV)

We need to calm down the things around us so we can hear God say "I love you and want to be in a relationship with you" and we can learn that he is God.

So maybe it is time to turn the radio down and hear what God has to say!

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"Birthdays"

So Today is my birthday. I am now 24. From the jokes I have been telling around the house I am now half way to retirement. I do not make a big deal about my birthdays. But today at church it was made a big deal because my pastor told everyone it was birthday so it was a bigger deal then I thought it would be.

I have a verse for you guys that was in the card my grandma gave me.

Your kindness
and love will always be
with me each day of my life,... (Ps. 23:6 CEV)

I think it is awesome that God kindness and love is alway with me each day that I live. It really makes you think of how much God cares about us!

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"Lent"

I got new feeds on my computer updated every few hours a day. This one I came across and like it. The title of it was: "Students give up social networks for Lent" the article can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/29/no.facebook.lent/index.html?eref=rss_education

First here is a bit about lent: "In Western Christianity, Lent is the forty-day period (or season) preceding Easter lasting from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (Easter Even) or Holy Thursday (in the Roman Catholic Church)." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent)

The girl in the article was going to give up Facebook and myspace up for the forty-days. I have not really tried this whole thing called Lent but it really makes me think maybe one year I should try giving something up for forty-days.

The reason they use forty-days is found in the Bible Jesus went in the desert for forty-days. Matthew 4:1-11 says:

"Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread." Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth." For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone." Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God." For the third test, the Devil took him on the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. 9 Then he said, "They're yours - lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours." Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness." The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus' needs. Teaching and Healing" (MSG)

Jesus went in the desert and gave up food. "For some, it's chocolate. For others, it's coffee or cigarettes. But as this Easter approaches, some young and devout Christians are anxious to return to what they gave up for Lent: Internet sites Facebook and MySpace." (Students give up social networks for Lent)

I think it cool when people do stuff like this if it gets in the way of their relationship with God, or to have a deeper relationship with God. This year I have given things up to get my relationship with God deeper and with me it was television in general. I wrote about in a past thought. For others of you who do or did Lent, may your relationship with God be deeper this year!

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"The Way I See It"

I have started going to Starbucks over the last few months. I know that is different because I do not drink hot drinks I get them and let them get luck warm then I drink them. Starbucks puts something on their cups called "The Way I See It." The reason they have this on their cups is found at: http://www.starbucks.com/retail/thewayiseeit_default.asp

Here is the reason Starbucks puts this on the cup: "Sparking conversation In the tradition of coffee houses everywhere, Starbucks has always supported a good, healthy discussion. To get people talking, “The Way I See It” is a collection of thoughts, opinions and expressions provided by notable figures that now appear on our widely shared cups."

This past week I got Starbucks twice well I was at school. On my cup "The Way I See It" said this:

The Way I See It #196

The greatest leader is a servant. Don’t be a boss. Be a real leader, a servant leader. A servant leader is a winner. Even when he loses everything, even when he loses his life, a servant leader wins it all.

-- Pat Williams Senior vice president of the Orlando Magic.

Reading this quote really got me thinking. I started thinking about the greatest servant leader very to walk on the world. It made me think of Jesus who is known as the greatest servant leader. It says in the Bible:

"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high
officials exercise authority over them.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to
become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Mark 10:42-45)

Think back to quote from Starbucks it said "Even when he loses everything, even when he loses his life, a servant leader wins it all." Jesus lost/gave His life for many yet He won. Think about that He was the greatest servant leader, He gave up things to come to earth to live a sinless life and then he gave it up by dying on a cross so I can have a relationship with God. He severed up His life so I might have life.

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"Signs"

I know it has been a few weeks since my last thought. The last one I wrote was the day before I left to Guatemala I have returned. I am going to get back to writing my thoughts each week. I was going to write a few weeks ago but the last few Saturdays I have been busy with things. Like hanging out with friends, a school "mock missions boot camp." Yesterday I was going to write but I was to tried to think and I was so tried I was falling a sleep at 3 p.m. So my new day to write is Sundays.

This is a thought I have been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was going to have lunch with a friend of mine, Brad is his name. We were meeting the first Saturday I was back from Guatemala. We were meeting in Brantford at a restaurant called Montana's . I thought I know where it is, I do not need to ask Brad how to get there. I was driving along on the highway and I saw a sign that told me to get off the highway at a different exit then I thought but I said to myself I know where I am going and this exit is to early. I drove to where I thought it was and I was wrong it was not there. I called Brad and told him I do not know where it is he told me where to go to get there. When I got there I said to Brad I saw a sign telling me to get off at this exit . If I would have followed the sign I would have found it faster and I would not have got lost.


I thought to myself what if I would have followed the sign how much easier it would have been to find it. Now I am going to start to follow more sign. It makes me think of the song by the Five Man Electrical band called "signs" The one line in the song goes:

Sign, sign everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

The second thought I had was that Jesus is like a road sign. He said thins like I only do what the Father (God) does. Much like a road sign points us in the right way to go to get some where Jesus point us to God the Father. We can choose to follow Him and see what happens, or we can do what I did and say I know how to get there and I am not going to follow the signs.

I am making Jesus just a road sign. He is so much more then that He is God in the flesh, He is the Son of God. But He points us to God! and I think that is sweet!

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"The night before I leave"

Well tonight is the night before I leave for my missions trip. I am going to Guatemala. I am sitting here in a hotel. Because of the snow storm coming to Hamilton on Wednesday. I can not believe that the day before I leave all this snow comes. I think it is crazy that we are getting up to 50 cm of snow in Hamilton.

Well tomorrow at 12 pm I leave. I am flying for the first time. I hope everything works go and we leave on time.

When I get to Guatemala I am going to be working on the computer lab for this school to get the last 15 computers up and running and creating accounts for each student that is at the school right. The rest of the team will be doing different things. So of them will be building a wall.

I can not wait to get there and do that what we are going to do. But I can not also wait to come back and show everyday the pictures I have. I am going to take about 2000 pictures, I hope and I will show each one to everyone that wants to see them.

Well I am going to miss everyone at Rainstorm and CLA.
Rainstorm keep up with everything we are doing and have a great two weeks well I am gone.
And Know that I will miss you guys when I am gone, but I will be back soon with pictures for you.

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

My trip to Much Music

The first week of January I did a class for school. I was called popular and media. I really liked the class. It has been one of the best classes I have taken at school ever. We watch movies and music videos. We also listened to music. For one of the classes we went to Much music and got to interview two of the VJ Tim and Matt. That was fun. We also got the chance to talk to one of the producers. This guy was in 40s and he said that there are 4 or 5 guys in there 40s that decide what music videos get played. They also tell the VJ what to wear. One of the VJ said that they joke again with him about eating extra slices of pizza. It makes you think you always hear that about girls and the image they need to have on TV and now it is happening with guys too. I think it is weird that 4 or 5 guys in there 40s decide what is "in" or "out" in the youth culture. In October we attend an event called "Acquire the Fire" and one of the speakers said it was guys his age making the chooses for MTV and I thought that was different till, I went to much and saw it and heard it for real.

Think about that some of these guys are your parents age and they tell you what type of music to like, what band is cool, what clothes are in.

I would like to hear you comments about that!
How do you feel that some guys you parents age tell you what is cool for you?

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden

"The Week that Changed My Life"

I do not know what to write about my thoughts are all over the place right now. I have started school this past week. I am getting back to waking up at 5 am it is not fun. This I have just finished reading two books that have really made me think. They are "Engaging the soul of youth culture" and "Understanding theology and popular culture." I had to read them for a class I did for school last week. The class was called popular culture and media. It was a great class I learned a lot. We also made a trip down to Much Music. That was fun we talked to two VJ Matt and Tim. This book have made me think about the culture that we live and how much media influence us. For the class we went out on the street to interview people about the media. We talked a lady at Starbucks from Columbia. She told us that the youth from where she is from want to be like the youth they see on TV here in North America and it is wrecking the Columbian culture.
That really makes you think of how big of an influence we have on the rest of world.

What do you guys think do you have that big of an influence on the rest of the world?
Does the media have a big influence on people? How?
What is your favorite song or band, movie, and TV show?

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden