You watched me from afar with longing in your eyes
You approached offering a gift
Your affection took me by surprise
I tried to hide from you, but you found me
I took your gift and I clung to it unopened
I looked up and I saw your eyes, they where captivated by... me
I saw the longing, intrigued I opened the gift
Inside on a piece of paper where three simple words, " I love you"
I looked up at Him in wonder
He loves me, I whispered
Again I tried to hide, and again He found me
I can not explain His love and I cannot accept it
Again and again I run away not knowing why I so desperately fear His love
"Punish me", I say "Just don't love me!"
Wishing I had never opened the gift I sit engulfed by my tears, my pain, my misery
Are you like me do you run from His love? Is there some unseen reason that you just cannot seem to accept His love? Do you believe that He is captivated by you, do you believe that He sees you as beautiful, as a hero? Do you believe that He is longing for you, not comparing you to anyone, or anything?
What is love? Love is active, love is beauty, love is creative, love is freedom, love is constant, triumphantCurrent books - The Ragamuffin GospelSearching for God Knows WhatYour God is not Safe
There is talk of a casino in Maple Ridge. What do you think about that?
What do you think about trustee Dave Rempel saying 'Vdovine's recommendation was well intentioned, the school board should not take a stand because it doesn't fall within the board's mandate'.
What do we need to do to stand in our personal convictions for the bettering of the community around us?
What would you do?
If you could do anything and distance, time, money and education didn't matter, (you had the money, education etc...) what would you do?
Today in Our World
Just say 'no' to casino, school trustee says By Laura JansenStaff ReporterMay 31 2006One school trustee is hoping to encourage others to take a stand against a
potential casino in Maple Ridge.
First-year trustee Stepan Vdovine will bring a motion to the school board table tonight to propose the board take a stand against the possibility of a casino or new gaming centre here, claiming that such an endeavour holds too much potential harm for youth.
“I think the biggest concern is, what kind of impact is it going to have on the young people?” Vdovine said Tuesday.
He’s not requesting that the board send a letter to Maple Ridge council, which has been consulting the community about expanded gambling in Maple Ridge, but rather asking trustees to back him up in his conviction. If everyone agrees, he said he may propose an official letter be written.
Vdovine lined his motion with a number of excerpts from a 2003 provincial government study on problem gambling, which cites relatively high numbers of British Columbians in the 18-24 set as having problems with gambling.
“I think it’s going to be disastrous,” he said.
He said he feels his fellow trustees will support the motion, referencing the letter sent by the board supporting the call for Grant's Law, which would bring about strict pay-at-the-pump policies for gas stations open late at night.
The campaign came following the death of gas station attendant Grant De Patie in March of last year.
The board supported the campaign to protect youth working in potentially dangerous environments.
While gambling is illegal for all persons in the K-12 age bracket, Vdovine said he feels it is still an issue the school board should be concerned about.
“What I’m asking the board to do is send a message to council,” he said.
Vdovine said he hasn’t dug around to see if gambling is having a negative impact on youth in nearby communities with casinos, such as Coquitlam and Langley, but is certain it can do more harm than good.
He said this is especially the case since the government puts so little of the money it generates back into helping those with gambling problems, which is mentioned in the report referenced in his motion.
“If we bring this in, it will create some problems,” he said.
At the same time, he said he realizes that as with drugs or alcohol, gambling will not spell doom for all youth, and that if people want to gamble, that is their choice.
The motion will be presented at tonight’s school board meeting at the District Education Office, 22225 Brown Ave., at 6 p.m.
© Copyright 2006 Maple Ridge News
