Sunday, April 30, 2006
Half Marathon Pics
The film is still in the camera, but there are some action shots from the Waterloo Half Marathon viewable online from Creative Ambience. Enjoy!
Glenn Shot 1
Glenn Shot 2
Randall Rehkopf Shot
Glenn Shot 1
Glenn Shot 2
Randall Rehkopf Shot
Sunday, April 23, 2006
First Half Marathon Completed ... In the Rain!
Running a 13.1 mile (22.1 kilometre) race is a first for me. Doing it at 53 years old had one family member unsure about my sanity. When I laced on my shoes this morning, my hope was simply to complete the course. It was pouring rain when the gun went off at 10:00 AM in the Waterloo Half Marathon.
It went better than I expected. Despite the steady rain, the hilly course, and the cool temperatures, I felt good through the race and passed a bunch of younger runners in the last 5 K. I was able to give a good "kick" at the end and finished with a respectable chip time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 2 seconds.
Dianne and my friend, Randall Rehkopf, (who finished in 1 hour and 49 minutes!) were waiting in the rain at the finish line to congratulate me. The pictures taken aren't digital -- so it will be a couple of days before they are posted here.
I would love to do it again, but definitely need some recovery time! I would like to try it on a sunny day next time. GG
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Three EBC Alumni Recognized at Today's Graduation
Each year, the Honour Society of the Association of Biblical High Education allows its member schools to elect alumni members to the membership. This afternoon, three graduates from Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener were recognized with this honour. Here's a post ceremony shot of one of the award certificates from the kitchen at our home in Kitchener. GG
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
2nd Annual Ontario Church Planting Catalyzers Symposium - May 29, 2006
It was many years ago that my mom told me the joke, "What do you call a piece of paper with the words, 'holstein', 'angus', and 'jersey' written on it?" "A 'catalyst!'" was the answer that she gave.
Years later, 'catalyzer' is a word I use on almost a daily basis. It's "church planting" talk for a strategist who is responsible for starting new congregations. That's the kind of people I spend a lot of time helping in my ministry with Outreach Canada.
Last year, I brought over 70 such people together from across the province of Ontario for a one day symposium. It was so well received that I've accepted the task of organizing a second one and, just today, sent out the invitation to the "second annual symposium" on Monday May 29, 2006 to be held at the World Vision Canada conference centre in Mississauga. To learn more about this event, click here and then on "Ontario events" on the web page that pops up.
Thanks for praying for this important event aimed to stimulate the launch of more new congregations across the province! GG
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Getting Ready to Run My First "Half"
In late 2004, I set a personal goal of completing a 10 kilometre race in under an hour before the end of the following year. It happened (see the October 2005 blog archive!) and one goal tends to lead to another -- doing a half marathon (22.1 kilometres) in under 2 hours.
After training indoors through the winter, it's great to be outside once again to prepare for my first half marathon race on April 23 in Waterloo. The goal for this first "half" is just to finish. A picture (finish line, ambulance, or hearse) will be posted by the end of the day on April 23.
Going far enough comes first; getting faster comes later (along with staying injury free, if possible!). Doing one in under 2 hours will have to wait until later in the year. My target event for reaching the goal will be the Scotia Bank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon on September 24. At that race, I will be seeking to raise at least $200.00 per kilometre for the Kitchener-Waterloo Gateway Communities Research Project (more information about that project to come). GG
Thursday, April 06, 2006
OC Team Member Heading to Fuller Seminary!!
We are rejoicing with our teammates, James and Cathi Watson, about an exceptional learning opportunity that has come their way -- James has recently been accepted into a PhD program in inter-cultural studies at Fuller Seminary, School of World Missions!
So, James and Cathi, with their four sons (Isaac, Micah, Joshus, and Benjamin) will be heading this summer to Pasadena, California to commence one year of resident studies. James will continue to serve with Outreach Canada on a half time basis as a part of our Ontario Team. They will return to Kitchener in the summer of 2007 and complete both his research and thesis in connection with his missionary portfolio at OC during the three years to follow.
His research focus will be "gateway communities" (entry places for immigrants and refugees) and the role of the church in providing welcome and ministry there. A preparatory study will be undertaken this year in the Waterloo region and then expand to focus on Toronto and Los Angeles.
Dianne and I are agreed that a supervisory visit from the team leader and spouse (Dianne and me) will be required during this time of study at Fuller. We think the ideal time would be February 2007 when Kitchener is in the grip of Canadian winter. What do you think? Leave us a comment! GG
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Recognition Planned at Spring Convocation
This past week, I received a letter from the Alumni President at Emmanuel Bible College (where I graduated in 1975 and now am adjunct faculty) containing the following news:
"We want to extend an invitation for you and your wife, Dianne, to be our guest at the Graduation to be held on Saturday April 22, 2006 ... We look forward to this day and the privilege of joining the College and Alumni to honor you with the Delta Epsilon Chi Award. We want to recognize your outstanding work and leadership in Church Health and Revitalization here in Canada along with work accomplished over these past years in advancing the cause of Christ."
Upon reading this letter, one of my close associates responded with a quote from the comedian, Groucho Marx:
"I would refuse to join a club that would have me as a member!"
It's a privilege to be honored and is, perhaps, a sign of the troubled times in which we live ... GG
